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15TH FEBRUARY, 1919
O mihi prceteritum referat si Jupiter annum I
FROM Hawkcraig House 1 I view the dismal
scene ;
No more divisions 2 start the day's routine.
No more at nine the twice-repeated 3 bell
Lends haste to 'Powsky, 4 Peter, and Durell.
5
No more will Wilkinson aboard Couronne,
At nine so full of life, at twelve so wan,
Peruse the Scotsman, and select the share,
Discuss with Shearing whether c bull ' or c bear. 5
No more will Eden's Fidra 6 call a laugh,
Nor Spence's sleep be broken through the
6
graph ' 7
;
1
Hawkcraig House was a somewhat derelict domicile within
a few paces of the instructional listening hut, next door to the
Captain's cottage. Three weeks spent there reflect the tone of
depression running through these lines.
3 '
Divisions ' : The naval equivalent of parade.
3 '
Twice-repeated bell ' : two bells 9 a.m. naval time.
*
The vigour of their work amply atoned for the lateness of
their arrival.
*
H.M. Drifter Couronne, when available, was invariably used
for instructional purposes.
6
Eden brought back from Fidra a remarkable rumour about
the local rabbits which would paralyse the biologists if it were
true !
7
The ' graph ' was a test in imagination to which every
student aboard H.M.D. Couronne must submit. It will be
described in detail in a later chapter.
12