Ahoy Shipmates

The Christmas of 1908 was celebrated by the Fleet as it crossed the Indian Ocean enroute to the Arabian Sea. During the holiday underway, the ships were decorated with palms, colored streamers, coconuts and other fruit. Holiday routine was set throughout the ships and sailors enjoyed a number of competitions, including potato races, three-legged races, sack races and bobbing for oranges.

The Fleet completed in northern transit through the Red Sea arriving at Suez on January 3rd, 1909, two days ahead of schedule. The transit through the Canal would be the largest in history started on three successive days in groups of four, five, and seven leaving the Canal closed to other traffic.

By the time the battle fleet arrived in Suez it was not in the best of shape. Long months at sea with hulls barnacle-encrusted and corroded pipes and boilers was amplified by the lack of spare parts and the lack of enthusiasm in the crews. Sailors were growing restive and homesick.
At Suez, before entering the canal, a hundred first class seaman from each ship, comprising a party of 1600 were granted two days liberty to visit Cairo and the Pyramids. No officers could be spared and they were on there on with the civilian tour manager.

Sailors ashore found the tour manager had under-estimated the number of train cars needed for the trip to Cairo, and they found themselves riding on the roof of the train, on window ledges, and platforms of the train.

Cheers



Sean