re. He
thinks the preparations against our landing there would be too
complete by now. He is in distress over his shortage of water as none
is to be had in the small islands. This shortage of water got me into
trouble with the O.C. the troops on board at general parade this
morning. Many of the men had not shaved for two days, and some looked
untidy and unwashed, but all put this down to their being denied water
to slake their thirst, which must come before washing and shaving but
the order was "see that it does not happen again". I advised one
particularly hirsute chap to lower his shaving brush into the sea
to-morrow at the end of a string.

It is a remarkable thing, noted and spoken about by us all, how seldom
the thought of home enters our minds. I merely note this as a curious
fact. There is no excitement about the "bloody errand"--as some one
called it this morning--we are on, so that that is not the cause.
Perhaps it is just as well for us that we have worried so little.
There is far too much pity lavished on us when we go forth to war.

The officers are in a state of wild excitement to-night. Wishing to
have a game of baccarat some of them asked Whyte and myself to join
them, which we did willingly, feeling that it was possibly our last
night in civilisation. I did not understand the game but ended 7s. to
the good.

_April 10th._--Reached Lemnos about noon. We passed numerous islands
in the Archipelago, many small, and none showed signs of life except
for an occasional lighthouse, but all the larger ones are inhabited,
and grow currants, figs, and grapes in abundance.

Lemnos has a huge roadstead, open to the south, and at present
protected at the two southern points by big guns and searchlights. A
long arm forming the inner harbour extends to the right, and here a
large number of ships is lying, eight battleships being among the
number. We and another transport are anchored in the middle of the
roadstead, awaiting the arrival of the other members of the
expedition. It is said that over 100,000 will arrive from Egypt. The
greatest warship afloat, and one that figured largely in the
bombardment of the Dardanelles two months ago, the "Queen Elizabeth,"
lies a short way off on our starboard. The whole is shut in by steep
hills, rough and rugged, some of which must be over 1000 feet high.
The land between these and the water looks well cultivated, the
brilliant green of young crops being a relief to our eyes