Turned out at 5.45. Had cocoa & cake at Lockharts and caught 6.20 train back to Walker. Cleaned flats. Told off for working Cable on foc’sle. Carried on with same in afternoon.

March 10 1915

Quarters clean guns at 7.40. Told off for Stewards Party. Got gear from Armstrong’s yeard into pinnace. Got all gear onto after deck before dinner and shifted it forward after dinner. Did a ? for rest of afternoon, until 3.30 when got spuds in. Cleaned and went ashore with Sid, Selous, George and  a Sick Bay Attendant. Went to 1st house at Empire. Not bad show. Found we hadn’t time to catch the 10.30 boat and so after we had a bit of grub at Lockharts put up at the Waverley Hotel for the night. Turned in about 10:30. 

March 9th 1915

March 9th 1915b

Arrived Newcastle at 5.15. Strolled about and caught train for Peland at 10.40. Arrived on board at 12 o’clock. Did nothing in afternoon except cleaned up decks and worked main derrick.

March 8th 1915

Frank is on leave until the 8th, despite the fact that the 4th was mentioned earlier as the end of that leave. We suspect the leave was extended for a few days since nothing consequential was happening on the Lion at that point. 

For today, here are some shots of the coaling procedure that Frank writes about quite frequently: 

View of dreadnought-type battleship HMS Orion being refuelled by a coaling ship drawn up alongside. HMS Orion, like many of the early dreadnoughts, was powered by coal-fired steam turbines, providing them with greater power and efficiency than pre-dreadnought ships. Previous to HMS Dreadnought ships were fitted with vertical triple expansion engines. Triple expansion engines reused the steam they made, they were more economical using less coal and manpower. The turbines of the Dreadnought however, proved even more efficient and economical making the Dreadnought the heaviest, but fastest ship of her time and rendering steam engines in HM ships obsolete.

Above photo courtesy of http://www.seayourhistory.org.uk/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=13626

Coaling the HMAS Australia. Note that the side rails have been removed.

Above photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/4534707591/in/photostream/

Leave.

February 25th to March 4th 1915

Port Watch returned from leave at 7 o’clock. Cleaned flats and fell in at 9 o’clock. Left ship at 9.45. Caught 10.25 train from Pelaw. Changed at York. Had to wait 2 hours for train and so had grub and a stroll around York. Left York at 1.30. Arrived King’s Cross at 7.10. Arrived Sidcup about 8 o’clock.

February 24th 1915

Got screen over damaged hole aft. Had forenoon in diving boat but diver did not go down. Packed bundle in evening.

February 23rd 1915

Scrubbed decks. Cook of Mess. Put canvas screen over damage on side. Amidships. Started wire splicing in afternoon but told off for diving party at 1.45, so got head down for rest afternoon. Had 1st dog in diving boat. Nearly blew diver up in air by putting in too much pressure. Packed up at 5.30. p.m.

February 22nd 1915

February 22nd 1915 (2)

Fetched Liberty men off at 7 o’clock in launch. Stood off from both Watches. Piped down for day at 9.30. 

February 21st 1915

Fell in with hands. Working cable again in forenoon and afternoon. Had to take liberty men ashore in launch at 5 o’clock, & brought bread back to the ship. 

February 20th 1915