Major E.B. Sheppard's Diary, 10th - 16th September 1914

Ingham to Gibraltar

SS Ionian
Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies

Ingham

10th Sept

Got up at 1.30a.m. and marched off to Bury (St. Edmunds) station. Luckily there was a bright moon, so we had no difficulty. We took fifty horses and 142 men. I was glad I did not have to march further than Bury station as in Field boots it is no catch. My heel was raw by the time I got there. Some of the weaklings found their equipment very heavy – ninety rounds of ammunition, cloaks, rifles, etc. We entrained without difficulty and left Bury 5.20a.m. arriving at Southampton about 12p.m. On our way we pulled up at Gunnersbury and to our surprise there were Mr Holland Hibbert1 with all sorts of good things, Mrs and Miss Humphrey Ward and Mrs. H. Wyld2. It appears the former is director of the line so he found out the train was to be examined at this spot. Maitland Kersey was at Southampton to meet us and see to our comfort. I could not be more comfortable with a large cabin to myself, but my whole pleasure is spoilt by the horrible conditions in which the men will spend the next fortnight. They are packed in like sardines in hammocks or on tables below the water line. The air is awful even in this climate – God knows what it will be like when we get to a hotter one. However, the Colonel and I went round last night and I think we found a way to rearrange the men that might make it better. There is a Lancaster Infantry battalion and some Artillery and Army Medical on board. In all, I believe 1,800 troops. I only hope we have no alarm of fire on board. It would be too terrible to contemplate. Poor Ralph Barnett3 has had to go to another ship with only the vet to keep him company and 500 horses. However he has got a splendid lot of men with him for the job. Tom Howard who I hear was splendid getting the horses on board, young Wurr4, Douglas Pennant5 and all the grooms. I saw Satan6  looking quite happy. I wonder what he will look like when he gets out. I have at last got hold of a very nice groom, one Patton. He was with I think some people called Garrett at St. Margarets.

11th Sept.

We arrived off the Eddystone lighthouse about 10 a.m. which was the rendezvous for the Convoy. There are in all two lines of seven ships each with a cruiser at each end. We had a dreary day waiting for some boat but at last we got off about 8.p.m. We have had a terrible shock! Our speed according to orders is to be six knots! It is terrible to contemplate. It means three days in the Bay [of Biscay] to begin with and three weeks getting to Egypt. They cannot account for it as all the boats can go faster than that. Gurney’s7 idea is that something may have happened to make it doubtful whether they will send us. Possibly they will switch us off to Marseilles. It would be criminal if they did after having stuffed us with 30 per cent of recruits who know nothing.

We had a nasty swell in evening. I fear the men will have a horrible time. One of the Cruisers came up and semaphored from the bridge to know how many troops and what they were on board. One of our men had to go up to the bridge to tell the Captain what they were saying as none of the crew knew it! We are all ordered to learn it officers and men. I am afraid it is not much in my line. There is a terrible lot to learn which at my age is not easy.

12th Sept.

A beastly day! It came on to roll in a very nasty way and I should think 90 per cent were sick. How any of the men failed to be I cannot think. The stink down in their place in the hold was enough without any roll. Phillip was one of the survivors and I hear was working like a black cleaning up etc. the deck was like what a battle field must look like. A huddled mass of Khaki in all sorts of contortions most of them not caring whether they were dead or alive. To make matters worse we had the usual Captain of the ships parade. The men of course had to keep on falling out to be sick. Unfortunately we were on main deck and another squadron was on Promenade to windward so we had a nasty time from their sick men! Just to cheer me up I had had two bad eggs for breakfast. They tasted like nothing on earth and smelt. Where we had to stand for parade there was an open hatchway leading to the hold where a conglomerated smell of the eggs came up the whole time. Why I was Not ill I cannot think. However I wasn’t, but felt wobbly once or twice.

Had very good news from home re war. One that affected us, to say Turkey had agreed to strict neutrality, so it looks as if we shall not be pitted against the “unspeakable one”. We did nine knots yesterday which is the fastest our lame duck in the convoy could go. She looked like dragging behind at that.

SUNDAY 13th Sept.

There was a very nasty roll last night and I only had two subalterns left. The Captains parade was very difficult as a roll would suddenly come and send the men flying. It calmed down a lot during the day and there wsa a wonderful improvement in the men. The Lancashire Fusiliers Band played twice which I think did a lot of good. They were all singing in the evening. We are still crawling. The Capt. tells me we shall not get into Gib. for four days! This is about the time we ought to take to get from London to Gib.

MONDAY 14th Sept.

A lovely day. Received very good news from the front. All very chirpy. Passed in sight of coast of Spain. The Head very disturbed in evening as received long Marconi8 from Cruiser in charge in cipher and no one could decipher it. Noticed we were only ship a blaze with light. Should probably think it had something to do with that as other ships were nearly dark.

TUESDAY 15th Sept.

Had a very quiet day. My squadron was inoculated for typhoid. As I had a moment to spare while they were paraded for it I told them a few of the characteristics of Egypt. They seemed to delight in hearing anything of the sort. My arm pained me a good deal after inoculation and I had a twinge or two in my gouty toe. Hope to goodness I don’t get a go of that in addition to my other worries!

We had a scare to day. Wireless came in Portuguese. From what they can make out it is to the effect that there are two Criusers (German) in the neighbourhood. I believe they are Merchantmen turned into Cruisers. However it would be quite disagreeable enough if they came up under cover of darkness and planted a shell or two into these crowded ships. However it is no good fussing as nothing can be done. I believe we have to go to night practically with lights out and they have closed the line up a lot.

16 Sept.

A lovely day. Passed Cape St. Vincent this morning. They say we shall be at Gib. at 4 a.m. I am sorry we shall not go down the Straits in day time. We had an easy day to day as we were all feeling the effects rather of our inoculation. My arm was very sore and I felt very slack. We saw nothing of the German Cruisers last evening. I shall try and get this off tomorrow. It is very hot!

Notes:

1 Arthur Henry Holland-Hibbert, 3rd Viscount Knutsford became county director in charge of VAD hospitals in Hertfordshire during the First World War; father to Thurston and 2nd Lieutenant Wilfred Holland- Hibbert (4th January 1893 – 18th February 1961) .

2 Mrs H. Wyld presumably Marian Edith, wife of Major Hugh james Wyld.

3 Ralph Francis Barnett (27th August 1883 – 1968), Lieutenant. Served 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry August 1914 – April 1918 (A Squadron – Egypt; Dardanelles. Temorary Captain 28th August 1915; B Squadron – France; Egypt/Palastine. Commanding squadron 11th September 1916 – 15th April 1918 . Acting Major 6th February – 27th June 1917. Dispatches.)

4 Charles E. Whurr appointed 2nd Lieutenant, Hertfordshire 15th December 1917 after service in the ranks. Served 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry – Egypt, Dardanelles. 6th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry January – April 1918; 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry June – July 1918 (D Squadron – Mesopotania)

5 Hon. Archibald Douglas-Pennant (25th may 1881 – 3rd April 1971.) Appointed 2nd Lieutenant, Hertfordshire Yeomanry 26th March 1915 after service in ranks since August 1914 and service with Royal Scots 1898 – 1903. Served 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry March – August 1915; in Staff Appointments September 1915 – November 1917 (A.D.C. 22nd September 1915 – 15th July 1916; employed Ministry of Munitions July 1916 – November 1917); 6th Reserve Regiment of cavalry November 1917 – February 1919.

6 Satan was Sheppard’s horse

7 Major Samuel Gurney Sheppard (23rd March 1865 – 21st August 1915), Edward’s elder brother.

8 A wireless transmission.

SS Ionian built by Workman, Clark & Co Ltd in Belfast.  Launched 12th September 1901.  She had accommodation for 131 first class, 160 second class and 800 in steerage.  It was initially based in Liverpool travelling to Canada and back.  It later worked out of Glasgow to Canada/USA.  In 1914 it became a troop ship.  On 21st October 1917 it was sunk by a mine off Milford Haven with the loss of seven lives.

 

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