Sister Dorothy Moroney (Lilydale), Australian Army Nursing Service: In a letter to her sister while on board the RMS Malwa travelling from India to Egypt:‘But I must begin with our visit to Aden which appears to be nothing but an impregnable rock, most uninviting, with no growth, not even a blade of grass. Well, we took gharris, the most dilapidated conveyances I have ever beheld, and when we got in they swayed and rocked in a most alarming manner. The harness was all tied together with pieces of string, and the horses were the most pitiable objects. However afterwards, we were able to hire taxis and drove out to the only spot of interest some very old tank, very wonderfully built in the solid rock to save any rainwater which falls only about once a year, and which has to be carted to the town by camel teams. They were built centuries ago and historians have been unable to identify by what race of people. The whole place is a military centre, and I must not say too much about it.  

We returned to the ‘Malwa’ for afternoon tea and oh! the different atmosphere on board here to the boat in which we left Australian twelve months ago. Then the other passengers seemed to resent military nurses even travelling in the first saloon, whereas here no one can do enough for our entertainment and our little party really has the jolliest time. It’s a lazy life, but oh! so restful. Yesterday, as you know, was my birthday, and when I woke I discovered presents from a lot of the girls all over my cabin, and when I went to afternoon tea, a beautiful cake was on the table with roses and fruit and inscribed ‘A happy birthday’. Really they are all very good to me.

After dinner, we had a dance till 11, then supper on deck and impromptu speeches. It was really beautiful – the most brilliant moon light – as clear as day – and such a glorious light, and the bluest of blue skies, and just a ripple on the water. I think the girls were all trying to keep me from thinking of home. We had a gymkhana on board the other day, and derived a good deal of fun from it, and in the evening they gave us a dinner party and some very nice things were said of us, and we were toasted with the usual songs. Then we danced until 10.30 in the glorious moonlight. I wonder where we shall go, and what will become of us. It is such an extraordinary feeling to know nothing, for under ordinary circumstances we should have it all cut and dried, and stick to it unless some un-foreseen thing occurred; whereas now we are simply disposed of by others. It makes one feel rather a cypher’.