"A Slight Wave of Depression"

Orde-Lees' Journal - November 22, 1915

"...The loss of the ship last night cast a slight wave of depression over the camp. No one said much, but we cannot be blamed for feeling the loss in a sentimental way. It seemed as if the moment of severance from many cherished associations, many happy moments, even stirring incidents was at hand as she silently upended & dived to find a resting place beneath the ice on which we now stand and, maybe, a mile below us!

When one knows every little nook & corner of a ship as we did & has helped her time & again to make the staunch fight she made so well the actual parting is not without its pathos quite apart from one's own desolation, & I doubt if there was one amongst us who did not feel some personal emotion when Sir Ernest standing on the top of the look out said somewhat sadly & quietly, "She's gone, boys."

It must, however, be said that we do not give way to depression for long, for this morning every one was as cheery as usual laughter rang from the tents..."