October 3rd 1919
October 3rd. Expect to reach the Shetlands on Sunday at noon that is if the weather holds good. Making good progress.
October 4th 1919
October 4th. Weather altered for worse during the night. Sea very rough and the boat is pitching a great deal. At times her stern is 30ft out of the water and then as the propeller races the whole ship seems as though she would break in pieces. Sighted the S.S. Cap Verde about 5 miles distant, apparently having as rough a time of it as we. Wind moderating a little and the swell not quite so bad.
October 5th 1919
October 5th. Sea much calmer but the ship rolls a lot and it is difficult work to keep the cups of coffee and plates of soup from sliding right across the deck or down the necks of those sitting at table.
October 6th. Sea rough, strong headwind. In consequence of having the 32 extra officers on board fresh provisions are running short so we shall be obliged to put into Lerwick. Ship is pitching a great deal. Reached Lerwick at one pm. The officers went ashore at 5 o'clock. I went at 6.15. Lerwick is a nice clean little town. Most of the inhabitants apparently are well to do. My mate and I strolled around the town after which we went to the little picture house. The film on the screen was “John Halifax Gentleman”. It was quite good. Coming from there to the duty boat we looked into the recreation room in connection with the “Mission to seamen” and I was surprised to see an old Newportonian, Mr Greenshields also at the bar was an S.B.R. who was at Hasler at the same time as myself. The duty boat left the quay at 10.30. Nearly all the officers were drunk. Certainly everyone had too much to drink. My mate and I out of about 40 who went ashore were the only two quite sober.
