[Archivist Note: believed to actually be Saturday 20/11/1915]
Hobart
Sunday 20th Nov
Dear May
As we expect to go ashore here today I am writing a few more particulars & will post it in town. As you will gather from my other letter the trip across was a pretty merry one & although our boat stood up to it pretty well the other boat, the Tofua had a rough handling & lost a lot of her deck fittings so that instead of going straight to Albany we had to put in here to Hobart to get her repaired. I haven’t seen her closely yet but believe it will take at least two days to fix her up. On Fri night she was less than a mile behind us & next morning she was out of sight & we never saw her again until she arrived in port last night about 5 hours behind us. Of course they were in wireless communication with her all the time & I believe she was over 70 miles behind us at one time. The men on board her had a pretty sick time & according to a semaphore message I picked up it took her fit men all their time looking after the sick. Our boat – the Willochra, had the cover of one cabin washed in & the wall for four or five yards was flapping about like a piece of paper. That was the only damage done & they nailed it up in a few minutes. However there were numerous waves coming right
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over the top deck. She would roll over until the edge of the deck was almost on the water & then a big wave would come along & wash right up onto the deck & she would roll to the other side & the water would wash right across & off the other side. It was great sport. They say it is the worst trip she has had since the Govt took her over. A. B. C. & D Coy’s & the Artillery are on our boat & E & F & the Mounteds & Medicals & Engineers are on the Tofua. We go for a route march at 9 am & expect general leave after dinner. Now that I know what a rough trip we had I feel quite pleased to think that I was so little troubled with seasickness. They tell us that from here on the weather is good at this time of the year. Certainly it seemed to be improving just before we put in here. All aboard are well but I heard that there is one case of measles. There are three nurses aboard. We are now having a spell on a route march through Hobart – it is most delightful place & the weather perfect. It is all hills. Low in the town but high & bush-clad further back. The houses & gardens & charming. We have been showered with flowers all the way & just now a motor car full of pretty girls is going past throwing roses out to us while we are halted. It is a glorious life. Sat evening. Have been on leave from 1.20 till 7 p.m & have seen all round. Botanical Gds are very nice. Place much like St. Island but of course town much
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larger. Sending a lot of views – will continue to do so from each place we visit. You can keep them all together for me until I get back. We are having a great time & I don’t know how I’ll settle down to business when I get back.
Love to all
Len
