Transcription
Psalm 100-1:2 Make a joyful noise unto the
Lord, all ye lands
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before
his presence with singing.
When shall we pass the line
when shall we cross the Equator? Was
the question on the lips of many for
several days prior to the 23rd
It is the usual procedure on board
vessels to have sort of "initiation" in
passing the line. This, in previous
trips I've taken a somewhat serious
turn + after having the hose turned
on you 'ducked' into a bath of cold
water fully dressed, beladded with sand
shovels etc etc. you come through the
ordeal no better for having parsed the
line but sometimes very much worse.
Hence it was decided that when
the "Aineas" crossed the line there
would be no initiation ceremony.
I was at work in the ward in the p.m.
on the 23rd wondering where we
were + when we should see land
looking no doubt like a lonely
sparrow on a clothes line on a snowing
day when when the Major smiling like
the rising moon on a frosty night,
especially at sea, advanced + in
his tenderest tones asked
Cpl did you know that we are to
cross the line this pm? "No Sir. At
what time are we to pass over? "At
dinner time probably 5.30pm"
So at 5.20 pm we crossed the line
without any ado, no even a cheer, to
many a mate of sadness for did
it not mean a leaving of the south
behind, even the dear old Southern Cross
that beacon of light known from
childhood with us familiar memories
Crossing the Line
The line is crossed.
No sound. no stir to tell
That we are leaving far behind
The place we love to dwell.
But into fields anew we go
With dauntless friends; to face the foe
Who wronged us, wrenched us
From our homes, our loves
And all that we held dear.
EAB Original
Having crossed the line we were
told that a couple of days would bring
us to sight of land. Early next day
word came into the ward that
something was seen on the horizon
Many guesses were made but
with my glasses (thanks to Ellendale
School children) I swept the
horizon + exclaimed "a schooner!"
I was right, soon she hove in
sight her white sails shining
on the blue ocean as pearls
shine on a golden background.
Soon a grey line was seen
on the horizon again a call
for the glasses "Land" I declared
It seemed so high that land was
improbable but soon it stood out
+ was evidently a rock at least 3000ft,
appeared like a cloud
in the distance but
soon became visible
we veered to the right
+ left it doing it's sentinel
work on the Port side.
Illustration in the bottom right corner of a cliff, labelled:
Rock 3000 ft high
Expanded
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Psalm 100:1-2
When shall we pass the line, when shall we cross the Equator? Was the question on the lips of many for several days prior to the 23rd.
It is the usual procedure on board vessels to have sort of “initiation” in passing the line. This, in previous trips I’ve taken a somewhat serious turn and after having the hose turned on you ‘ducked’ into a bath of cold water fully dressed, beladded with sand shovels etc etc. you come through the ordeal no better for having parsed the line but sometimes very much worse.
Hence it was decided that when the “Aeneas” crossed the line there would be no initiation ceremony.
I was at work in the ward in the p.m. on the 23rd wondering where we were and when we should see land looking no doubt like a lonely sparrow on a clothes line on a snowing day when when the Major smiling like the rising moon on a frosty night, especially at sea, advanced and in his tenderest tones asked,
“Corporal did you know that we are to cross the line this pm?”
“No Sir. At what time are we to pass over?”
“At dinner time probably 5:30pm”
So at 5.20 pm we crossed the line without any ado, no even a cheer, to many a mate of sadness for did it not mean a leaving of the south behind, even the dear old Southern Cross that beacon of light known from childhood with us familiar memories
Crossing the Line
The line is crossed.
No sound. no stir to tell
That we are leaving far behind
The place we love to dwell.
But into fields anew we go
With dauntless friends; to face the foe
Who wronged us, wrenched us
From our homes, our loves
And all that we held dear.
— EAB Original
Having crossed the line we were told that a couple of days would bring us to sight of land. Early next day word came into the ward that something was seen on the horizon. Many guesses were made but with my glasses (thanks to Ellendale School children) I swept the horizon and exclaimed “a schooner!”
I was right, soon she hove in sight her white sails shining on the blue ocean as pearls shine on a golden background. Soon a grey line was seen on the horizon, again a call for the glasses. “Land” I declared.
It seemed so high that land was improbable but soon it stood out and was evidently a rock at least 3000 ft, appeared like a cloud in the distance but soon became visible. We veered to the right and left it doing it’s sentinel work on the Port side.
