Saturday’s Routine, before breakfast and in forenoon. 1st part of Watch provisioned from “Chesterfield”. Make & mend in afternoon. Got head down.  Lovely day. Duty port.

March 28th 1916

Arrived Rosyth about 9.45. Started coaling from ‘Fernhill” about 10.30 Lovely day. Took in 1760 tons and finished about 6.0 pm. Cleaned ship by about 7.30. Very glad to turn in.

March 27th 1916

Had Middle Watch. Seemed a very long one. Glad to get into rack (?) once again. Scrubbed decks before breakfast. Started scrubbing mess deck but had only just started when “Action” sounded off. Thought there would be something doing this time. Supposed closed up all afternoon. “Secure” sounded about noon and so another disappointment. Heard afterwards that 15 German Battleships had been out, and as we had no supports, perhaps it was just as well we did not meet them. Head down in afternoon. Had first Watch. Rotten Watch. Ship washing down horribly the whole time.

March 26th 1916

Had morning Watch. Hands called at 3.45. Action Stations at 4.0.AM. Supporting air raid on German Fleet. Closed up all day until 5.0. pm.except for meals. Lovely day for an action but unfortunately nothing doing. Heard air raid was a success but do not know any definite details. Destroyers gone back to Vil (?). Think we are repeating dose(?) tomorrow.

March 25th 1916 A

March 25th 1916 B

Did not get much sleep as Stokers were returning bags & wheeling barrows about all night. Red and White watchs called at 3.15. Fell in at 4.0. White Watch on foc’sle. Got under way about 6.A.M. Exercise Action in forenoon. Notice on board to the effect that we should be near the German coast about 5.a.m. tomorrow and so good chance of scrap. Had last dog.

March 24th 1916

Snowing first thing in morning but cleared up later. Touching up tops of booms on Starboard Side all day. Duty Searchlight. Slept under fore shelter deck. Buzz about going to sea came round about 10.45. Got a shake and had to turn out and help torpedo party get fenders in as originally we were going to coal to-morrow. Turned in again about 12.0 AM.

March 23rd 1916

Told off for extra side party. Lowering stages on forecastle in forenoon. Over side in afternoon painting where it had been washed off.

March 22nd 1916

March 22nd 1916 B

Prepared for painting ships side before breakfast. Went to breakfast at 7 o’clock. Painted ships side in forenoon, all light colour. Frequent showers during process. 2nd past Starboard should have landed in afternoon but started raining as soon as we got in “Saxon” and so landing parties belayed. Scrubbed out hammock nettings on fore mess deck. Told off for Starboard after aerial guns crew. (Sightsetter).

March 21st 1916

Should have painted ship but it was washed out as it was raining. Working with Gunner all day. 1st picket boat got entangled in net defence under bridge and sank. Crew got off alright. Duty post.

March 20th 1916

Sunday Routine. March past Captain and Church in forenoon. Had yarn in Munition Factory in afternoon. Football protest granted. Match to be replayed. 

March 19th 1916