Buzz about airing bedding, but it started raining and so noting doing. Cleaned pinnace for painting in forenoon. Training class in afternoon. Mr. Purdy passed us out in Field Training and ammunition. Finished training class thank goodness.
February 17th 1916
Refitted yeuth-rope in forenoon. Training class in afternoon. Emptied & refilled Maxim belts. Cook of Mess tomorrow and so had dinner to prepare. Pork and so made a bit of seasoning. Haddocks for breakfast.
February 16th 1916
Out net evolution in forenoon. Has to wash down under foreshelter deck afterwards. (Joys of being a Flagship) Make & mend in afternoon to make up for Saturday. Duty Sub and so my Beauty sleep was broken by the Beef Boat coming alongside about 12.30 P.M.
February 15th 1916
Overhauling coaling gear in forenoon. Gunnery Lieutenant passed training class out of 4″ stripping in afternoon.
February 14th 1916
Scrubbed decks before breakfast and cleaned ship in forenoon and then went to divisions and church. Went ashore with Landing Party in afternoon thinking they were going for a walk but Colin and I were very disappointed in finding the party were marched straight up to the Canteen and stopped there all the afternoon. However, Harry Dunlop invited us into his place so things might have been worse.
February 13th 1916
Arrived Rosyth about 7.0.A.M. Started coaling from Agnes Duncan about 8 o’clock 11 o’clock. Took in 980 tons and finished abou11 o’clock. Went to dinner and cleaned up ship afterwards.
February 12th 1916
Had Middle Watch. Watch seemed very long especially as we had turned out at 3.45 A.M. and did not turn in again until 4.0 AM. Action sounded off about 7.0 AM. There had been a strong buzz during Middle about having scrap with enemy for dead cert. Battle Cruisers or something being out. However fate was against us again and nothing doing. Secured about 9.30. “Arabis” (minelayer) sunk by German destroyers off Dogger Bank and so something evidently had been out but can’t say what, although heaps of buzzes were about, but it is best not to believe too much until it is official. Very glad to get head down in afternoon and slept like a top. Had First Watch.
February 11th 1916
February 11th 1916 B
(Link to H.M.S. Arabis from the Wikipedia)
Starboard Watch called at 3.45 AM and fell in at 4.30. Got ready for going to sea. Thought there must be something doing but as soon as we had got ladder triced up, everything was belayed. Scrubbed decks with sand before breakfast and went to cleaning quarters after breakfast. Hands finished off painting ship. Scrubbed paint off deck with Caustic and Wire Scrubbers. Training class in afternoon. Field Exercise. French & Yankee journalists visited ship. Prepared for sea at 9.30 p.m. Got under way about midnight.
February 10th 1916
Very nice day though rather cold 1st thing. Hands painted ship but I was told off for provisioning party. Landed at stockyard in forenoon and fetched provisions and rum in Saxon. Got them on board before dinner and stowed them in afternoon. Cook of Mess.
February 9th 1916
Blowing hard all night. Snowing practically all day. Put new sewing on coaling strops in forenoon. Training class in afternoon. Shell Room and Magazine Drill.
February 8th 1916