Allsop Diary

[Top Left] November [Top Right] 11th Month 1916 could see a big battleship at Anchor. To all appearance [Centre] 20 Monday I should judge it to be a French warship. The Naval & coaling station may be round here some where & possibly the buildings are connected with them. It was a very impressive sight [Centre] 21 Tuesday to come suddenly upon to see such a weird and wonderful headland, for one annot help but feel that it must be one of the most important positions as far as Australia is concerned yet from [Centre] 22 Wednesday outside appearance every thing seems to be hidden. It was certainly an experience for one to see the place in daylight. The Arabian Coast is very mountainous and the country is nothing

[Top Left] 1916 30 Days [Top Right] November but a dry desert. [Centre] 23 Thursday So much for Aden - Towards eight p.m. the same day we came throughthe Straits of Babel-Mandel. This, then, is one [Illegible] day on the Red Sea and all I heard at school and elsewhere [Centre] 24 Friday convinces one that the Red Sea has been rightly named. My word the heat is some alass. Hells Gate is a good name for the Enterance. We haven't seen land on either side since we entered this [Centre] 25 Saturday Sea last evening [this morning] there are two or three steamers to be seen on the horizon. Arrangements are being now made for disembarkation [Centre] 26 Sunday - 23rd after Trinity [Illegible] So that will end our sea trip. We aught to reach

27 November 1916

Monday

Suez tomorrow and then our mails we get away. I'm sorry the letters could not be taken at Aden but possibly there was no boat passing to Australia.

28 November 1916

Tuesday

It is pretty [certain?] from reports on board that the object of most of the signalling at Aden referred to mails. However it can't be helped & I'll try to send a cable home from Cairo.

29 November 1916

Wednesday

Today a number of dolphins were jumping round the boat and it was funny to hear our chaps yelling & cheering every time these fish jumped out of the water. It was as though we were watching

a hurdle race. I had no idea that this part of the globe was so big, from Cape [Guardafur?] to Suez. It is a fairly long trip by boat all the same and where we are now one would think were on the middle of the Indian Ocean. Tomorrow will see us through and no doubt we shall have a few interesting experiences when we see Land.

Tuesday 7th Arrived Suez yesterday afternoon about 3.30- still on board ship 9.30 am. Disembarking at 1.15 pm. About 30 big[Amorers?-ships?]in the harbour, mostly British India Boats. Passed British [Cruiser] (Mount Sinai in distance)

[Top Left] December [Top Right] 12th Month 1916

[Centre] 4 Monday

Yesterday afternoon. Great enthusiasm on both steamers. French Battleship Montcalur with 4 funnels came to Suez from Red Sea way last night. Mails were put off [Centre] 5 Tuesday last night & I could see a boat which looked very much like a mail steamer bound for Aden way shortly - afterwards so possibly our mails went on this boat. If so you ought to hear from [Centre] 6 Wednesday me about 2 or 3 days before new year. Suez looks a pretty big place from where we are lying out in the stream. News from the war is practically nil except fro a few [prisoners]. Landed Port Suez 4 pm 8th Dec Entrained in rough wooden