Discovered pinnace had been moored under shutes on ships side all night and was consequently full of water. Bailing her out all the forenoon. Cleaned and went ashore with Selous & George. at 1 o’clock. Booked rooms at Mrs Griffins. Went to first house Hippodrome, having to stand the whole time. Not a bad show. Had grub at the North of England Cafe and then turned in. 

March 20th 1915

Cleaned snow off upper deck. Frozen pretty hard. Started snowing again & very cold. Rigged coaling derrick & thought we were coaling tomorrow but it was delayed. Carried on with lacing party in afternoon. Port watch had night leave as Starboard Watch are having week end. 

March 19th 1915

All hands called at 2.30. Fell in at 3 o’clock. Taken in tow by two tugs and shifted billets to the other side. Very cold job. Finished about 7.30. 10 o’clock. Still Cook of Mess. Carried on with lacing party in forenoon and afternoon. Snowed very heavily about noon. Had good fun snowballing until hands fell in. “Malaya” launched from Armstrong’s slipway, but was just too late to witness it unfortunately.

March 18th 1915

Cook of Mess. Cleared up decks and then carried on with net lacing party in forenoon. Heard we were going to sea so prepared to be taken in tow during afternoon. No night leave.

March 17th 1915

Called at 5.30. Turned out & caught 6.20 train. Carried on with net lacing party. Have had very decent weather lately. Sun quite warm. 

March 16th 1915a

March 16th 1915b

Told off for lacing (?) party. Splicing eyes in wire for lashings. Went ashore in evening with Sid, George & Selous. Went to 1st house at Empire. Good show. Had grub and put up at Waverley Hotel.

March 15 1915

Waverley Hotel

Told off to pump water out of bathroom. Rigged church. Service at 10.30. Piped down afterwards. Got head down in afternoon. Buzz that we are leaving for dry dock about Wednesday.

March 14 1915

Turned out at 5.30. Had coffee at Lockharts and caught 6.20 train to Walker. Cleaned flats. Nothing much doing all day. Knocked off work at 2.30.

March 13 1915

Lockhart\s Newcastle Upon Tyne (c. 1900)

Cleaned flats. Cleared up decks. Finished by 10.30 and did a menu (?) for rest of forenoon. Got meat and spuds in in afternoon. Finished by 2.45. Went ashore with Jock and Selous. Had grub at “Rendezvous” and then went to Hippodrome. Went to Griffon Hotel. Had supper and booked bed. Everything very comfortable. Turned in at 11.45. 

March 12 1915

Cleared up decks. Told off to fetch organ from Armstrongs Yard in pinnace. Took all afternoon over it. Took organ out and returned empty case in afternoon. Went ashore with Sid & Selous in evening to Newcastle. Went to pictures then had grub at the North of England Cafe. Returned on board by 10.20 boat. 

March 11 1915