Very dirty weather. Went splicing. (?) Heavy seas washing over ship in afternoon and two or three feet of water on Mess Deck. Closed up at gun from 6/30 expected something doing but as usual nothing happened. Very hard day. Had last dog Watch.
December 26th (1)
December 26th 1914
Had Middle Watch. Went to Communion at 4 o’clock. Cleaned up shop until 10 o’clock, then went to service. Had good dinner. Lady Beatty’s turkey and Daily News Xmas Puddings. Admiral Beatty and officers made a tour of Mess Deck when all seated. Had sing song in afternoon and on the whole had quite a good day considering. German submarines supported to have been sighted during afternoon, but nothing official. One seaplane made successful attack on Cuxhaven and we were supporting them.
December 25th 1914
Usual Routine. Went to sea at 8.p.m.
December 24th 1914
Usual harbour Routine.
December 23rd 1914
Arrived Rosyth. Coaled shop 350 tons. Soon finished and cleaned ship.
December 22nd 1914
Turned in at 2.30 a.m. Prepared for coaling otherwise usual routine.
December 21st 1914
Cleaned ship. Took in ammunition and piped down in afternoon. Service at 6 o’clock. Turned out at 11 p.m. and got under way.
December 20th 1914
Arrived Cromarty. Coaled ship all day taking in 1560 tons. Finished at 5:30 p.m. Hard day’s work.
December 19th 1914
Expect to return to harbour on Friday. Did some 13.5 & 4″ firing. Improvement in R.N.V.R. crew. Had Middle Watch.
December 18th 1914
Still expected to meet enemy at any moment but again nothing doing.
December 17th 1914