Training

December 1914 - The 6th Essex Regiment are based in Stamford, Lincoln.

"We arrived quite safe. I am billeted in a very nice house. There is three old ladies + no men. I am with one other chap who is very nice. We had a nice bed to sleep in + a good breakfast this morning. It is lovely country round here + some very old places, churches etc. There will be 1000 solders here when all have arrived. There is the 4th, 6th and 7th Essex + the A.L.C.? + A.M.B.? here with us. The town seems quite full with us. We were 5 hours getting here, it was a rotten journey. We had a good send off from Stratford. We all have to be in by 9.30, we parade outside our billets at 9.15 for roll-call. My mate + I overslept this morning + missed church parade, a good start wasn't it. We saw our Col. Sgnt. + he let us off with a warning. We have a nice park to drill in, it belongs to the Earl of Exeter. We are not far from the park ('we' is the chap I'm living with + myself). I couldn't find Edgar last night, I don't know where he is billeted. I shall have to wait till parade. Tell dad that I shall be living like a lord here. Just like being at home only among strangers. I've only been here a few hours I know, but in that time I have found out that we are welcome to everything, just picture three old ladies sitting by the fire in armchairs, watching us have supper, each waiting to pile us up with bread + cheese + mince pies. That's how we were last night. We have got a bedroom to ourselves + an empty chest drawers for our clothes. I would have sent a telegram last night but the post office was crowded out." 

Lionel King, 5th December 1914, Stamford, Lincoln.

Guide To Stamford

Guide to the soldiers for their stay in Stamford during their military training. 

"I am getting on fine here, my cold if nearly well now. I only sneeze a few times. Our drills are getting monotonous the same old things every day. I shall be glad when we get our rifles. We had a concert last night all solders preformed. I should have liked you to have heard our own band, they played lovely. Ladies + Officers had reserved seats, the hall was crammed full. It was 3d each + the proceeds went to help send Xmas puddings to Stamford solders at the front. We all went to church this morning + had a very nice service. I took 9 shillings wages this week + Edgar only took 8. I don't know why." 

Lionel King, 13th December 1914, Stamford, Lincoln.

" I am getting on alright here. The scarf is just what I wanted, it is quite good enough. We went for a good long route march this morning, it must have been about 9 miles we marched. My heels got a bit tender but I put some Vaseline on them, We had a medical examination yesterday afternoon. I got through without any trouble at all. It was the fat + teeth he looked at most. I had my photo taken last night. 'Yes' I am getting rich, if you can you might as well put it in the Bank for me." 

Lionel King, 17th December 1914, Stamford, Lincoln.

"I am getting on alright here. I don't think any of us will be home for Xmas. I heard all leave was suspended till further notice. If we have any luck we may get off at the last moment. So I may come home + I may not, most likely the may not. I am sending you my photo I had taken here, it is very bad + I paid 3/6 a doz for them. We had a 15 mile route march today + I feel quite alright after it. They have dished us out another pair of boots + a pair of mittens." 

Lionel King, 22nd December 1914, Stamford, Lincoln.

"Entertainment - With music by the 6th Essex Regiment Band, and topical pictures, wounded soldiers at Stamford had a most enjoyable time at the Picturedrome one day last week." 

Kinematograph Weekly, 24th December 1914

"We had a lovely Xmas dinner, pheasant + roast pork. We had an awful time as regards to amusements, had to walk about that was all. I hope you enjoyed your Xmas alright. I shall have to make up for what I've lost when I come home later, The Colonel gave every man a shilling very good of him wasn't it. We aren't doing much here only going for long route marches, the last one we done 15 miles. Wallie has been doing some shooting + having a sham fight with blank cartridges + fixed bayonets." 

Lionel King, 27th December 1914, Stamford, Lincoln.

"We have been warned not to write anything + speak to anyone about military affaires so I haven't got much to say, as it is not long since I left you. We've had our second suit dished out." 

 Lionel King, 10th January 1915, Stamford, Lincoln.

"I am quite well. I am going to be inoculated next week." 

Lionel King, 15th January 1915, Stamford, Lincoln.

"I'm getting along just the same as usual. I haven't been inoculated yet, but I expect to be this week. We get 3 days at home + I'm told if you are very quiet the first day you won't hardly feel it afterwards. Our company went trench digging twice last week + it's fine sport. Other than that we don't make much more of a move." 

Lionel King, 31st January 1915, Stamford, Lincoln.

"I am getting on great here but it won't last long as I am booked for Norwich Saturday. Edgar and my housemate are going too so I shan't be on my own. We shall try to get together all three of us as Edgar + George get on alright together. We haven't been inoculated yet. We will have to wait till we get down Norwich. We will have to work pretty hard to catch up with them. Wallie had enough to do + we will get it still harder. But never mind I shall be a soldier then as Wallie says. If you want to write to me here don't post any later than Thursday night. Have you got another towel you can spare if so I should be glad to have it. I will let you know my new address as soon as possible. We had a 15 mile route march today + had an afternoon drill after it." 

Lionel King, 16th February 1915, Stamford, Lincoln.

February 1916 - The 6th Essex Regiment move to Norwich. 

"I arrived here quite safe. I am billeted with 2 other chaps. I couldn't get in with either Edgar or George. I found it rather hard lying on the floor. We got two blankets + a paliass  but we couldn't get any straw so that wasn't much more. The food is fairly good here. It is brought round every night to our billets. For one meal yesterday we had to go to the stores , we got a great big hunk of bread + a piece of butter, a pretty large piece of cheese a piece of bully beef + some sugar, tea + milk. Last night they gave us some sausages for breakfast, meat + some rice + prunes for dinner + the same as I said we had for one meal for tea and supper only perhaps a bit more. They all seem pretty strict down here. If you do anything wrong, I mean miss a parade or insult an officer or anything like that you get detention that is put in prison + have to break stones or pick oakham. The town is almost under martial law. We have no roll call but we have to be in our billets by 9.30pm + all lights out by 9.45pm. I think we will be getting all our equipment tomorrow. I'm told Tuesday we're go for a 22 mile route march with full pack, that will tell the best men wont it."

 Lionel King, 21st February 1915, 78 Spencer Street, Norwich.

"I am beginning to get used to the floor now. I had a pretty good night last night, the floor didn't seem half as hard as it did the first night. Edgar reckons he hasn't had 4 hours sleep since he's been down here. We didn't go on that route march after all. The old men were called out for 5o/c this morning + they had a big field day, my two mates didn't get in till 5.30pm this evening. They marched out for 15 miles + had to fight their way back. The 4th, 5th, 6th + 7th battalions of the Essex Regt were the enemy. They go all over ploughed field etc. My mates looked tired out. They said they don't get such hard days often. We just had the ordinary parades. It is a bit different form Stamford. The first parade is at 7.30am + we have an half an hour running drill. The next parade is at 9.45am till 2.30pm + then we are done for the day. We learnt how to slope? arms etc today. We haven't had any pack or rifle issued out to us yet. I think we're are going to have new rifles as the ones we had this morning were old Victorian arms. All our food is good and there is plenty of it. The lady of the house cooks it for us + we have our breakfast + tea with her + her husband, but we have dinner in our own room. the room is practically our own. The door hasn't to be locked + officers and N.C.O.'s can walk in when they like. Edgar often comes in with me for an hour, so it's not so bad. Of course Wallie went home when he had leave. He has been to a place called Swaffham for his firing course. He has only been back 4 days + now he's gone to Acle? to guard roads, so it was lucky we came down when we when we did or we might not have seen him. Why they are so strict here is because we are considered on active service I am told that if the battalion hadn't been so young it would have been out the front by now. That shows it wasn't all married men that joined the 6th. I am writing this in the Y.M.C.A. there is a concert going on at the same time also there are games billards + draughts, and a refreshment bar. It is only for soldiers." 

 Lionel King, 23rd February 1914, 78 Spencer Street, Norwich. 

"Pleased to say my arm is quite alright now. I am getting on alright here so far, not so bad as some chaps make out. I will have to have my 2nd dose of inoculations Friday. If I get through it like I did the first dose I won't mind. We are all supposed to have a paliass supplied by the landlady + and she gets 3d a night for them, but our landlady has refused to buy them so we are going to change our billets. Edgar + I with a few others went to the Workhouse yesterday + had a wash + had our clothes baked. About 50 went all together. We started about 8.30am I got home a little before 4.00pm. We also had our blankets baked. We wore the workhouse clothes while we were in there + we did look a sight in white trousers + jackets + blue shirts." 

Lionel King, 28th February 1915, 78 Spencer Street, Norwich.

"Pleased to say I am getting on quite alright. We had a 22 mile route march + I done it alright. I haven't got full pack yet so that made a difference. My two mates could hardly walk after they had an hours rest. We started at 8.30am, had our dinner at 12 noon which consisted of bread + cheese + we arrived home a 3.45pm. I must tell you we have changed billets. I have now got a mattress to lay on. I find a lot better than the boards. The people are very nice. I am still with the two same chaps. As it has been raining today we haven't been on parade. I don't wonder at anyone having cold this weather, it’s been awful here, rain + snow pretty nearly everyday. Edgar + I were orderly's tonight, we had to take rations round, you can bet we kept plenty for ourselves. My arm is quite all right now + I feel A1 in myself." 

Lionel King, 3rd March 1915, Norwich.

"I have had my 2nd dose of inoculation + my arm is nearly better except being a little swollen beneath the elbow." 

 Lionel King, 10th March 1915, Norwich.

"Nothing extra going on here, we have been issued out with our own rifles. They are old rifles converted to fire pointed bullets." 

Lionel King, 14th March 1915, Norwich.

"Edgar, Wallie and Me where granted a late pass till 12o/c so we went to the theatre. We had a pretty good tea in my billet. Edgar + Wallie coming in there was 5 of us altogether counting my two billet mates so we had a fairly decent time of it, didn't we." 

 Lionel King, 17th March 1915, Norwich.

"We have had some pretty bad weather here this last two days. The snow has been quite 6” deep. We didn’t have any parades today so we had a snow fight instead. We only broke one window. We had night operations on Wednesday night + the section got lost as we were retiring through a wood." 

 Lionel King, 19th March 1915, Norwich.

"I have just come back from church parade. We have some very nice services in the cathedral. I think we are going to begin our firing course on Monday + it’s about time too. " 

Lionel King, 21st March 1915, Norwich.

"The weather has been pretty good. I have been on the miniature range firing twice + I am going to the proper range on Monday to fire ball cartridge. I am please to say we are going to move from here to Colchester one day between the 5th + 10th of April. We are going to march there. It is a distance of 72 miles. I reckon we will do it in 4 days. It will be quite near home wont it only about 50 miles from London, I daresay we will do about 20 miles a day + then billet for the night. Our first stop I think will be Diss + then Ipswich. I hope you are all getting on alright. Wallie is getting on alright + so is Edgar. Edgar + myself went up the Hippodrome last night + it was jolly good." 

 Lionel King, 25th March 1915, Norwich.

"As you will see we have not gone to Colchester yet. I expect we will be going on Wednesday. I have got through my firing course alright. Tell Dad I got 5 bulls at 300yds with sand bags that is a possible + 3 bulls 1 inner + 1 outer without the bags. At 500yds I got without sand bags 1 bull + 4 inners + at snap shooting up for 5 seconds + firing at the head + shoulders of a man I got 2 bulls 2 inners + 1 outer. At quick firing 8 rounds a minute I got 2 bulls 4 inners 1 outer + 1 poker that is off the rings but on the board. So I didn't do so bad did I. I have got my full equipment + when its on you feel like a chicken trust up. This last four days we have had to walk 14 miles besides doing our firing. It was a sweating day today + half the chaps looked half dead. I wasn't quite so bad but felt fairly worn out but I'm always on the sing song so I get along a lot better." 

Lionel King, 1st April 1915, Norwich.

"Tomorrow is our last day here. We have got to pack our kit bags tonight + they have got to be given in before 8 in the morning then we are going to have a picture, that’s all we're going to do tomorrow. I think we are starting about 6 am on Wednesday morning. I hope the day is not to hot. We are carrying all full pack + 100 rounds of ammunition. We have got to take two clean pairs of socks in our haversacks + they are going to give us some boracic powder." 

 Lionel King, 5th April 1915, Norwich.

"Please to say that I'm here quite safe + sound. I done the march without one blister. Edgar got through alright but his feet was very bad. Hr is going sick tomorrow with them. We are billeted in an empty house. There are 15 of us sleeping in one room. Last night I slept under the table. The food is pretty good. We have it just as if we were in camp, shackles + tea etc in big dixies. We done 18 miles the first day + we slept in an empty house. The 2nd day 22 miles + slept in a big barn. The third day we done 25 miles + slept in a church in between the seats."

 Lionel King 11th April 1915

"I am getting on alright here. I slept on the table now + it is more comfy. We get shackles and stew as it is called everyday for dinner. We are not stopping here long. We are going to a place called Thetford we will be under canvas there. When we have done our firing I shall put in for leave. We have got to go before the doctor again tomorrow. We are a long way from the town." 

Lionel King 13th April 1915

"I would have written last night but we were confined to billets as air-craft was reported off the coast."

 Lionel King 16th April 1915

April 1915 - 6th Essex regiment moved to Mile End Camp, Colchester, and were based at Severalls Hospital, Colchester. At the outbreak of the First World War, Severalls Hospital was commandeered by the Military.  Initially, the complex was used as a Military Camp – some 3,600 soldiers are believed to have been stationed there, in the grounds and ‘Satelite’ villas. 

"We are going on a forced route march tomorrow, 20 miles, will only have one halt. That means march 10 miles without a rest. It is going to be a Brigade march that is the 4th 5th 6th + 7th battalions of the Essex Regt also detachments of the R.T.A., A.S.B. + R.A.M.B. There will be about 4,000 of us altogether. This is not the first time we've had. I was told at Norwich that it took 25 minutes for us to pass so I presume we were about 11/2 miles long. It is said that the Essex Brigade is the smartest + longest trained Territorial Brigade in England."

 Lionel King 18th April 1915

"We have finished our course of firing on Monday + Tuesday they gave us a 20miles route march. It was a bit off after doing 18miles a day for 5 days running except Sunday. It made my feet pretty bad. I think we get to much route marches. I lost my extra money by 17 points, there was a lot worse than me so I don't mind. We are still getting stews for dinner but we get a little better food for breakfast + tea than we did at first." 

Lionel King 21st April 1915

May 1915 - The Essex Brigade was redesignated as 161st Brigade, 54th East Anglian Division.

"I am sorry we have got to march back tomorrow for we have been having decent food since with been here. Some chaps have had beds to lie on but I was one of the unlucky ones + had to sleep on the floor. We are marching to Sudbury tomorrow 22 miles + we are doing the rest (18 miles) on Wednesday. They made us march nearly 100 miles altogether to fire 20 rounds of ball ammunition. Today our company advanced + made 222 hits. The company consisted of about 100 men who had 10 rounds apiece so that everyman would have hit 2 men each of course if it had been real warfare we would have lost some men." 

Lionel King 3rd May 1915

"Dear Mother as we passed through Bury I saw one of the houses that was struck by a bomb. It was smashed to atoms, bricks all over the place. I done the march alright. We have had a day of bayonet fighting today. We had sacks full of straw to charge at. At Sudbury on the return journey I slept in a public house in the Lap room, there was 6 of us in there so we were nice and comfortable. At Risdy on the Sunday about 9 of went to church in the evening + I enjoyed it very much. It was a little old church I don't reckon there was many more than 30 people there altogether. I think we are going in good billets at Manningtree, feather bed etc. Do you know I haven't slept on a bed since I left Stamford." 

Lionel King 6th May 1915

"We had parade from 8 till 12 + then I had to go to London Colney 3 miles out with some orders + I didn't get back till 11pm. Yesterday we were out from 9am till 12 + then we had night operations from 4pm till 11pm so I didn't have time to write yesterday. We've been on parade this morning + we are going out again at 4 till 7 for ???? loading. They don't mean to give us much time to ourselves do they. I arrived here about 12.25 on Monday morning. I got to St Pancrias 1/2 hour before time. I have just had a letter from Nellie saying she arrived home quite safe + she said she had a very enjoyable time. The socks you brought me made my feet all pink, the dye came out of them. Miss Di Havilands the owner of the house we were at in Colchester sent us all a pair of socks + they were very nice ones. I will send the others home before I wear them again. Everything is just the same here except they have issued some new blankets. The butter has nearly gone + so has the jam. We are having a bit of a concert tonight with our £3 we won for that long march." 

Lionel King, 9th May 1915, St Albans

"Our Battalion is making another move soon to St Albans. I daresay we will follow on by train. We are going there to be properly equipped. I don't think it will be long before we're sent away. I am feeling fine + fit to meet any German. What do you think of the Huns latest? It's shocking isn't it? If the Americans don't ship in now, they never will." 

Lionel King, 10th May 1915, Cattawade, Nr Manningtree.

"We arrived here quite safe about 11.30 pm last night. We came from Manningtree to Colchester about 1o/c then we marched to the station + left Colchester by the 7.10pm . We came through Ilford, Manor Park + Stratford, we were so near + yet so far. We were put in an empty room + we had no blankets to cover over us. I was as cold as ice. We've been treated rotten as regards to grub today, we haven't had enough to feed a cat. I have spent 1-3d on food. There is a rumour that we are going on leave now we are here but if you would like to come up + see me you could but there would be no place to go to like the was at Manningtree, but we could go to our meals outside. We are almost sure to get leave here so it doesn't matter much about you coming. We are not so nice billeted here as we were at Norwich or Colchester. I don't suppose we will be here longer than two or three weeks. Dick Walker left here yesterday so I could not see him.  It has been a rotten day, rain, rain + nothing else but rain." 

Lionel King, 12th May 1916, St Albans

"Well what do you think of the Army life. Edgar, the tall fellow who you saw + myself gave the floor a good scrubbing today + tacked up a few PC over the mantelpiece. We were all taken in batches to a hospital today to have a bath + have our clothes + blankets baked. We are going on the route march tomorrow. They are letting all the chaps have their leave weekends so I expect I will be home Saturday week."

 Lionel King, 17th May 1915, St Albans

"Pleased to say I am getting on alright. I have just peeled all the potatoes for tomorrow’s dinner. It's a rotten job doing them but it is nice when you have the peeled for dinner. We are having a field day tomorrow + we haven't got to carry our overcoats. They have found out the men are having to much training so we having it a bit easier. We did not do one route march last week. We are having our big battle on Wednesday till Friday + we are sleeping out two nights. The whole division are going to be on the job." 

Lionel King, 18th May 1915, St Albans.

"I am on guard tonight at the Piahen Hotel where all the officers are."

 Lionel King, 23rd May 1915, St Albans.

"The route march yesterday was awful, I have never seen so many men fall out before, there was about a 100 out of our battalion. Edgar nearly had to fall out. I carried his rifle for a long way. He did not get back from leave till 2 in the morning + he was tired." 

Lionel King, 26th May 1915, St Albans.

"They are having several field days lately. Lord Kitchers is going to inspect us sometime next week. I hear our next move is to Winchester but I don't know if there is any truth in it."

 Lionel King, 30th May 1915, St Albans.

"We all did the march in 'A' Coy. There was 30,000 troops on parade. We was the first company of all. We got back at 2.30pm + the last arrived home at 7.30pm. The line was 8 miles long. My new boots I had issued hurt my heel a bit. We are having some very busy days lately, we went out for 3 hours this morning + we are parading at 3.30 till 11.30 pm for night operations. Whistle has just gone for fall in so I can't write more." 

Lionel King, 3rd June 1915, St Albans.

"We have arrived back quite safe this afternoon. I found it rather cold the first night, but I slept alright last night. We had a busy day yesterday. We march 6 miles yesterday morning + then we advanced for about 11/2 miles under artillery fire + then we skirmished for a mile + charged the enemy. Then the enemy returned fire for a 1/2 mile + we had to follow firing all the time. There was about 2,000 men in action. On our way home our band played for an hour + 5 minutes without a stop, they did this as to win a bet. I reckon it's a record. I could send last night as we bivouacked in the park of a big house + the village some distance out was out of bounds. On the first night we had an alarm, we were all ready in 10 minutes + on the move. We had to sleep all in lines with our rifle piled up between them. We washed in a river + got our water from a spring. Dear Mother we have not heard any thing about going away. I think it is the munitions keeping us back." 

Lionel King, 18th June 1915, St Albans.

"We are parading at 12 o’clock for the bivouacking I told you about. We are going out about 9 miles + then have a few hours sleep + then attack the enemy about 2 in the morning. We are going to sleep in trenches which we are going to dig. So you see we are going to have a busy time of it. We are due back here 11 o’clock tomorrow morning." 

Lionel King, 24th June 1915, St Albans.

"Pleased to say I am getting on quite alright, I will just tell you what we have done in 24 hours from 1 o’clock yesterday till 1 o’clock today. We have marched 35 miles up all the night except for a few hours sleep we had after we had advanced to our position to wait for dawn so as we could charge the trenches in front of us. It was an awful night of drizzly rain all the time. Our blankets were absolutely soaked. Where we done the maneuvers was a big common covered with large ferns. When we ran through these our clothes below our waists was wringing wet. There was no water for us to wash in, so we had to go dirty. Our lads were a bit downhearted coming home. One reason is we went 3 miles out of our way. I got one blister on my big toe. The Brigadier General was very pleased with our performance + he is going to put it in the papers. If you have been to the pictures this week + seen "Pathe's Gazette" you will see part of our East Anglian Brigade on the divisional route march we had the other week. Well Dear Dad I think we are having training with a vengeance now." 

Lionel King, 25th June 1916, St Albans.

"We are going out bivouacking for 3 days next week. We had a night alarm on Friday about 11.10 pm. A Company was out in full kit + a mile out of town by 12pm, it was pretty quick work. We got back about 3am. It was a fine night for marching. Daisy could not get off this Sunday, I was rather disappointed. Edgar hasn't gone home for leave yet. I have written for another lot." 

 Lionel King, 4th July 1916, St Albans.

"Edgar is not going home this week after all. There is an inspection by the General tomorrow so the leave has been stopped. I have had a busy evening cleaning up. We had a route march today, not very far only 14 miles + it was a good road. Thanks very much for the stamps they are always acceptable. I am glad Dad wasn't grumpy. I have got to write to Daisy + make arrangements about meeting her on Sunday. I hardly know what to write about as I write so often. We are having a day off on Thursday for some sports. I think we are going to have an easy week. We are all (A Coy) going to have our photo taken tomorrow. I hope they come out alright." 

 Lionel King, 17th July 1915, St Albans.

"We did not go out bivouacking after all as it was too wet. The 5th Bedfords got all the way there + they had to come back. They where drenched right through. It was a good job we weren't starting early our time for leaving was 3.30. We were supposed to make another start today but it rained again. I didn't mind. We had our photo's taken today, we look a nice group with the machine guns in front, Dear Mother do you think you would be able to get down early enough to see us after church parade. I should like you to see our "Drums" on the march. Edgar is going home this week. I have asked Wallie to come around to our Billet to see you." 

Lionel King, 8th July 1915, St Albans.

"Dear Mother I am so sorry I can't get home again. Some poor chaps haven't been home at all for the last time. It is hard luck for them isn't. All the chaps are writing home for their people to come down. I bet it will be a bit of confusion. The helmets fit us alright. We are being issued out with our clothing tomorrow. Ernie, Wallie, Edgar + myself had our photo's taken on Sunday. We had a good time together." 

Lionel King, 19th July 1915, St Albans. 

"Pleased to say we are all getting on alright, although there is a lot of excitement. We have all got our complete kit now. We are expecting orders any minute now to leave St Albans. Things have changed the last few days haven't they. Edgar, Frank and myself had a photos taken again. You will think we are photo mad." 

 Lionel King, 20th July 1916, St Albans.

"I am writing this in the train, we have been traveling for 6 hours, we started a 3.50 this morning. We are on our way to Devonport. We were paraded at midnight so we where messed about for 4 hours. I am writing this now as I may not have time when we arrived. I will write as often as I can. It has been a nice ride down."

 Lionel King, 24th July 1915.

"We were paraded at 11.45pm on Friday night. The battalion marched down to the station. I and the rest of no 4 Platoon were left behind for baggage guard. The Battalion left St Albans about 2am but we did not leave before 3.50am. The first part of the journey I don't remember as I had a good sleep. When I awoke we were just 86 miles from London. We hadn't the faintest idea where we were going. When we got to Bristol some children came around the train (it had stopped for water) and sang to us. They made [??] good [??] too. Our next stop was Exeter. Here we had a surprise. The Mayoress of Exeter gave us a bag of eatables and some tea. After 8 1/2 hours riding we arrived at Devonport. We where taken right up to the troop ship. The troop ship is docked by the White Flag pub. The name has been painted over, but from what I can find out it is 'Southland'. We were soon put on board and shown to our cabins. I was lucky and got in a 2nd class. After we had dinner we set to and loaded the ship. We worked in shifts and she was not loaded till late at night. At 10 o’clock I went below and settled down for my first nights sleep on a ship." 

Lionel King, 24th July 1915

"I am writing this on troopship. We left St Albans at 3.50 this morning + we got here about 2pm. It was a long journey. We are better off here than I expected. There are 4 of us in a little cabin. We have got nice bunks to sleep in with nice white sheets. We have our meals as if we were passengers. I think we will be pretty comfortable on our journey, that is if we don't get a bad attack of sea sickness. Dear Mother I shall write as often as I can. I don't know whether we'll allowed to send letters on board." 

 Lionel King, 24th July 1915, Devonport

"I did not wake till 8.30. I expected to be out at sea but when I went up on deck she (the ship) was still in dock. At 11am we began to move. Out band played several tunes including “The Girl I left Behind [??]” and “Auld Lang Syne”. The were no civilians to see us off only a few [??]. [??] gave us a cheer. We had two Torpedo destroyers as an escort, one being the "Louis". At 11.30 100 men, myself being one, were issued out with 50 rounds of ammunition. We were placed all around the ship. We were the submarine guard. Not very far out we passed the Eddystone Lighthouse. Soon we lost sight of land and then I began to feel a bit funny. About 5 o’clock a ship was sighted, it had no flag flying. One of our escorts soon went after it and after going around her 3 times she came back. After this it went and I had my tea. By the way so far we have had plenty of food and it has been really good stuff. It was after tea I felt the sea sickness most and about [??] I fed the fishes. Being on guard what sleep I did get was on deck and the wind wouldn't let us sleep in comfort." 

 Lionel King, 25th July 1915.