PAGE 2
In less than two hours we will be in Plymouth. Behind us are the Bermudian and Royal Edward. Where the rest of the fleet are we do not know. Some might be in Plymouth already, but more likely to some other port.
The wind was very strong last night and I had a hard time getting a message to the Eclipse. First they sent by flag, then the spray kept breaking over the man-o'-war so at last they had to use their electric signal light. Finally it took over an hour for us to get it. We could hardly face the wind on the bridge, and had to come down on a lower bridge at last.
During last night half the fleet must have hauled uout, as this morning there were only 15 boats. We sighted Lizard Point Light, near Lands End at quarter to four this morning. I was on watch from four to eight this morning.
At 8 a.m., the signal went up on the flagship and we parted from the rest, the Bermudian, Royal Edward and , and us at full speed , and by 11 a.m. four or five little torpedo boat destroyers met us, and have been playing around us all the time till now.
1.30- I see them taking the waves, going clear over them they look just fine. About 1.15 we passed the famous Eddystone Lighthouse. I have taken a snap of it. I hope it turns out good.
One of the crew said it was a pity we could not have come up on a sunny day. Then we could have seen Bournemouth and several other ports. I have not yet realized we are in English waters, and am anxious to get on deck and see all there is to see.
S.S. Megantic,
Devonport, Oct. 14
I sealed up the last letter in two envelopes as I had none large enough for the whole and I did not finish it quite. I stopped as we entered Plymouth which was our destination also the Canada (Bda troops aboard) Bermudian, Royal Edward, Franconia, us and the Laurentic, the later a sister ship of these is lying alongside us now. I can't describe all I would of our entering Plymouth and coming up in tow of a small tug, along a long twisting channel to this place; the Torpedo Boat Destroyers escorted us up to the Breakwater inside of which are moored two torpedo boats ( the real M Class) also several men of war. We led the line of the troopers and how the crowd on the other bank cheered us as we passed the old time Man of War (Nelsons) all covered to the mast tops with Jack Tars, our yell was C-A-N-A-D-A Canada and we got ringing cheers back, all kinds and numbers of boats tooted to us and everything seemed to welcome us. What a quaint old place it is, the entrance, and I counted twelve forts. Outside torpedo boats are manoeuvring all the time, its about four or five miles up to here, Devonport they tell me. Coming up we saw here and there troops camped out, it looked very familiar.
First Heavy Battery,
West Down,
North Camp,
Salisbury Plain,
Wiltshire, England.
Oct. 16.
Please forgive my not writing before, we are still upset and have done nothing but do marches since we arrived last Saturday. Two miles from bar to Plymouth station, tram to Putney, eight mile walk to camp Dick Day and I fell out after two miles, dead beat, slept where we fell by the road till daylight.
The march started at 4.30. Something on the ship the night we left poisoned all of us, some threw up, all were sick and in no condition to march, we reached camp next day at noon, then on Tuesday we had to march to Amesbury, twelve miles for our horses leaving at 10 p.m. and ride and march them back to camp, arriving at about seven next morning, twenty four miles. Another march on Wednesday of eight miles after some more horses, its been nothing but march, but yesterday Major M--- the man in charge of us when we marched from St. John, who was transferred to the Heavy Battery has asked for Day and I and two more chaps and we transferred last night.
EDMUND TUCKER