note at the top of the letter: 1st Saturday out.
Return soon please don’t loose these (24th Feb 1917)
Dear Mum,
This is the second weekend since we left Melbourne and the time has absolutely flown. I havnt yet had a moments spare time. And havnt started any books atall. I got your wire and later your letter at our last stop (Freemantle). We had really a lovely time there. I suppose you saw the place when you were through. We were alongside by 2 and all off by 3.P.M. Leave was granted till 8P.M. not very much but a better than nothing. I had to go ashore with the men & see them into the train & then come back & dress. I got out my new suit. There is a train every ½ hour & it only takes 35 mins. to run up to the city. A very pretty place. I got a car & went round a bit, got some stationary, & went to Govt. House, but the Governor & Lady Barren were out. I saw an aide. They had asked me to stay to dinner at 8, but that was impossible as we even if I had asked for leave we were to leave at midnight & I couldnt have got back. They leave this week.
I saw all round and had dinner at the Savoy Hotel with Miss Paramore & Co. A rather nice new place. We got a car & ran down the river to the steamer at about 40 miles an hour along a very pretty & good road. We didnt get off at midnight owing to the lumpers refusing to work overtime. In the morning we went for a route march for an hour round the port. Just at noon as we were going wireless was received that all lady passengers for England were to be put off. You can imagine the commotion. Everyone was howling at everyone else. The captain was beset by ladies all talking as hard as they could. We had to stop and then the question was raised as to whether those ladies could go to Cape Town & whether it ment meant all ladies or only those booked to England – quite a lot including Mrs. Heritage. They had to cable to England for authority. and it was 5 before we received word back. Any ladies were allowed to go to the Cape but a lot went ashore of their own accord. It was quite late when we got away about 6.30. It was blowing outside but not very rough. By that time I had quite got my sea legs and now I dont care how rough it wa is. I dont feel it atall. The next day it was like a mill pond, no wind or swell, and yesterday even smother.
Thismorn morning it was raining hard and pretty rough. The rain cleared off by breakfast time but the old tub is rolling & pitching a good deal.
I fe dont feel it in the slightest except you cant walk or stand straight. We have only two men really seasick. They have been sent to hospital. We have very little sickness on board. The weather is most extremely cold. Even in the sun you must wear a coat to be comfortable if you are not moving about, & we I let all the men wear coats on parade when not doing “jerks”, if they want to.
We are all having a most enjoyable time. The work drill is not very strenous but fills in time and leaves the men plenty of time for games etc. The ship is very crowded. I go on parade as often as I can which is usually only in the morn afternoon. & do the “administration” work in after hours. We are seriously inconvenienced by not having an office. I am far too frightened to open unpack my trunk. All the few drawers are full of papers.
The troops are all wonderfully fed and that compensates for everything else. We have very good fruit for everyone on board & plenty of it. The saloon has some lovely fresh figs. I have eaten plates of them. I have never seen better or nicer ones.
Everyone is jumpy this afternoon. We are going to have an alarm & everyone to fall in at boat stations in lifebelts, & passengers included. It is a nuisance as we cant sleep till it is over. All waterbottles have to be kept full, and all the boats have been inspected & provisioned. There will bea a certain amount of confusion at first but with frequent drills we ought to get better.
It must come soon so I will get down stairs to be ready.
I will write again.
Arndell.
(written on board the R.M.S. Osterley)
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