wanting as he put it "to go with the soldiers". His keenness was genuine although he had seen shiploads of wounded & we all felt proud of his breed although of course the Colonel had to see that he was kept on the transport & sent back to Alexandria.
May 12th The destroyer "Ribble" was alongside when I awoke on the morning of 12th May. it was commanded by a typically breezy naval man who joined us in what for many there was to be the last civilized meal for many a day. Disembarkation commenced after breakfast. The men were loaded like camels. Thankful I was that I was exempt from being burdened with ammunition so I was able to cling to a little bag of Church outfit instead. We first descended on to the Destroyer which soon came within range of enemy machine gun fire as we neared the shore & then on to open barges which were towed by pinnaces. So crowded were we on the barge that it would seem impossible for a bullet to hit the barge & not a man, yet
