Z549/17/132

Letter sent from HMS Nile by Cyril Verdcourt to Mama [Helena Verdcourt]. Written in pencil.

Thursday 8 May 1919

From: 1919 To: 1919

Dear Mama, We left Taranto about 6 o’clock on the 5th May and boarded the ‘NILE’. It was a fearful job that embarkation stunt, and we were hanging about for hours. The accommodation on the boat is very bad for the men also, although the officers of whom there is over a hundred, are very comfortably quartered. The boat set sail the following morning and going was very smooth during the time we were in the Gulf of Taranto, but once we rounded the point and left Italy behind a great difference was perceptible. This happened about 6 o’clock and the wind arising to almost a gale, the ship pitched and rolled terribly in the now rough sea. Stew had been served up for dinner and it was brought up after tea, which few tackled. More than half the fellows were fearfully sick. I am acting orderly man for my table and upon going below to serve our tea I found the atmosphere so awful that I was glad to escape above again. Making my way up to the top deck, I lay down with one of our sergeants in a disused life-boat. My headache etc speedily passed off and we found our position so much more preferable to the stuffy ‘cabin’ that we scrounged a piece of old sail, fetched the blankets and we settled down for the night. Fortunately on the next day the sea was much calmer and Alf, Cazaly and I spent the morning and afternoon on the top deck. About 3 o’clock in the afternoon we sighted Crete. It rises out of the water like a range of mountains and there are very little signs of life on it. We had a splendid view of its entire coastline for we passed within two or three miles parallel with it. The sight was glorious for halfway up the mountain sides low clouds could be seen hanging, looking like the smoke from an engine disappearing into a tunnel, only it was stationery. The lower slopes were half-hidden by dense mist while the peaks shone clear again the blue sky in the golden blaze of sunshine. Crete, on the map looks very small, but at 8 o’clock at night it was still in sight. The top deck was discovered to be so comfortable breezy and advantageous in every way that the officers decided to annex it to their preserves. Already 160 officers had more room than 1169 men. Caz, Alf and I slept or ‘kipped’ on the fore deck or prow last night and enjoyed quite a good night’s rest. We are expecting to arrive at Port Said or Alexandria about 8.30pm to-night. Well, no more, mama dear, at present. You see, there is no need to worry about me, for we are having quite a good time, although we long to come home. Love to all Yours lovingly Cyril

2 pages

item

Verdcourt, Cyril,
Verdcourt, Helena Annie

army, HMS Nile, Crete