Wednesday, 10th November 1915: Embarkment Day

On Wednesday 10th November, Thomas embarked from Port Melbourne on the troopship Ascanius ( known by its wartime codename 'A11') with the 29th Battalion. The Ascanius steamed its way around southern Australia before heading out into the Indian Sea.  The ship past the east coast of Africa (Somalia) before entering the Red Sea and heading towards Egypt. 
 

Below is the picture of the Ascanius embarking from Port Melbourne dock.  Our (Grand)father along with other soldiers of the 29th Battalion are waving back to port.  It would be 5 years before Thomas would return to Australia.   

Did you know that on 30th Jul, 1944, a German U-Boat (U-621) torpedoed the 9000 ton Ascanius in the English Channel whilst it was being used to transport army personnel.   The Ascanius was damaged and needed to be repaired at a Liverpool dock.