Sidney D. Light's WWI Diary, Postcards & Letters, 329th Battery Book Accounts

(For map of Hoboken click here)

Made up our rolls after breakfast and stacked packs in front of tents. Had inspection and physical examination at 9 a.m. Hung around until noon and had a lunch, then marched to train. A bad wind, dust and rainstorm ushered us out of Camp Mills.

Arrived at Ferry docks about 3:30 p.m. and boarded Ferry boat. Unloaded from Ferry to transport docks about 4:30 p.m. Served hot chocolate, cookies by Red Cross before boarding transport Maunganui at 5:30 p.m. Wrote a couple postcards before boarding the transport. Had supper on the boat and went to bed early. Slept in a hammock strapped to siding.

Mess is rotten. These damn Englishmen are mighty poor cooks.

Pulled away from the dock at 10:30 a.m. and joined the rest of the transport fleet in N.Y. Harbor. Passed the Statue of Liberty about 11:15 a.m. This ship’s capacity is 2400 and there is 2700 on board so it is pretty crowded (329th F.A., 310 Truck Co. & about 260 artillery casuals).

There are about 20 ships in our fleet including a couple of destroyers. Two hydoairplanes are flying around us and one of the cruisers is floating an observation above us. There is a rumor that submarines are in the neighborhood.

[This] boat is a British transport and has been carrying New Zealand and Australians. This is her first trip with Yanks.

Tried to write letters today but gave it up because the boat was rolling too much.

 7:00 a.m.

We are now about 200 miles out of N.Y. and the old tub is pitching and tossing in a rough sea. Most of the fellows have been seasick but I have felt pretty good. Expect to do my bit for the fishes before night if this keeps up. The waves are breaking over the bow and washing the decks so we are either up on the cabin deck or below.

6 p.m.

The sea is still rough and the boat is plunging. I finally got seasick about 4 p.m. and had an awful time. Noticed Lieut. Gregson feeding the fish from the top cabin deck. Oh! What a feeling. Ate a little supper in spite of the way I felt and at present am O.K. Guess I’ll turn in right away before I get sick again.

This is a beautiful day and I have been up on the top deck all morning having a sun bath. One of the destroyers fired 3 shots at a submarine last night. Had a fair dinner today but meat was very tough. Saw a large school of porpoises this a.m. Lots of seaweed floating in the water.

First Sunday on board. Weather has changed considerably since yesterday. It is cold, windy & foggy today and we are amusing ourselves playing cards indoors. Saw lots of whales today.

One of the boats fired six shots at something last night but guess they didn’t hit anything. Wish it would clear up outside. This weather makes one feel blue. Boat is rocking too much to do any writing.