OSE WWI Transcriptions from the Archives

02: C. L. Bird – H.M.S. Worcester, Greenhithe – 1914 Dear Sir,

It is, I am afraid, some time since you have heard from me. And since you last heard many things have happened. At the time the war broke out I was on board S.S. Chulmleigh in the Mediterranean, and we had the pleasure of an interview with the Goeben. Of course, you are not supposed to know this! She fired 4 shots at us, two passing overhead, and one bursting under the stern was had [which hit] the poop, and the fourth burst on the poop; carried away the hand sterring [steering] gear of the boby hatch, the rails and a samson post. A piece of mettle [metal] flying from the explosion caught one apprentice and so his head joined the happy party going overboard. I was really too frightened to take a photo of her but I [it] did not occur to me until too late. However, I took a photo of the French flag ship which rescued us. Well, it seems funny, but having had a narrow escape there, when I got to port I was feeling fit, so of course I had to have a rough with an Arab boat man; he tried to hit me on the head with an oar. Well, since I have been on the Worcester, I have learnt boxing so I dogded [dodged] the oar and let him have one on tow. He immediately he had [sic] recovered from being winded got out a knife and had a jog at me. I had had enough then, so I jumped out of the boat into the canal, but his knife just caught my shoulder as I went. However, I was picked by Dowrie’s motor boat (Dowrie is the Port Said engineer) none the worse. I hope to get in the RNR in July. From yours truly, Christopher L. Bird.

6