DIARY: Left Grand harbour Valetta at 5pm and proceeded to sea in company with a collier. Escorted by two ships of the Flower Class, Geranium and Cyclamen. HMS Geranium, was launched in 1915. In 1920 she was sold to join the Australian Navy and sunk as a target ship in 1935. HMS Cyclamen was a… Continue reading 30 April – 1917 – Sails from Malta
Category: April 1917
29 April 1917 – Visits St John’s Cathedral and finds lots of old mates in Malta
DIARY: Went ashore to Church with Haigh and Pegler in morning. Afternoon went ashore and rowed round harbour at Sinlea. Had tea and went to view S. John’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, a most splendid and beautiful church, containing a small chapel and altar of every great nation. Ceiling very beautifully painted by an Italian artist. … Continue reading 29 April 1917 – Visits St John’s Cathedral and finds lots of old mates in Malta
28 April 1917 – 300 more mines loaded on board
DIARY: Again visited Mr Dooley & spent the evening there. Took in 300 extra mines. James once again was able to explore Valletta:
27 April 1917 – Finds old friends in Valletta, Malta
DIARY: Went ashore with Smith and visited some of his friends. Mr and Mrs Dooley. Their daughter had married a Mr Bradbury of Norman St, Middleton, brother of Bradbury killed in explosion at Hunt & Moscrops. A photograph of Valletta:
26 April 1917 – Exploring Valletta
DIARY: Went ashore and looked round town.
25 April 1917 – Goes ashore in Valletta, Malta
DIARY: Sighted coast of Sicily about 8 am. Sent W/T message to Malta arrived Malta at 5pm and entered Grand Harbour. Went ashore in Valetta, and had a look round town. Goats provide all milk for island and are driven around and milked as people want milk. Most of them have bells round necks. Go… Continue reading 25 April 1917 – Goes ashore in Valletta, Malta
24 April 1917 – Heavy Rain at Dog Rocks
DIARY: Passed Dog Rocks about 5 PM. Very heavy rain. We cannot find any reference to a place called Dog Rocks, in the Mediterranean.
23 April 1917 – Heading East
DIARY: Proceeding along Algerian coast. Heavy rain.
22 April 1917 – Sailing East along African coast
DIARY: Off African coast where the coastline is very rugged but not so much as the Spanish. Proceeding along Algerian coast passed village of Berit Shesel about noon and Algiers at midnight. The port of Algiers in 1895:
WW1 Letters of James Simpson 