On one occasion the pipers left the security of the Highlanders' quarters and invaded the precincts of the 14th Battalion, who retaliated by turning the hose on them.

A genuine battle between the contending factions was only averted by the diplomacy of the O.C.
I had made friends with the wireless operators on board the ship, and every night I used to go up to their cabin on the upper deck and they would give me reports of the news which had been flashed out to the leading cruiser.

They told me of the continued German successes and of the fall of Antwerp.

The news was not calculated to act as a soothing nightcap before going to bed.

I was sworn to secrecy and so I did not let the men know what was happening at the front.