H.M.T. Aronda

In addition to the large autograph album (Dora Frances Townsend) I have mentioned in other threads, I have a smaller one, containing fewer, but equally beautiful entries by crew members (including the captain!) of the above troop ship, Aronda.
It appears to have been active in the Persian Gulf towards the end of the First World War, and after, as many of the entries contain references to 'Basra' or 'Mesopotamia'.
Here is a little ink and watercolour sketch by the chief officer, Hemmings:

 

And here's another by fourth officer, L.H. Williams:

 

Just lovely. What a talented crew they were.

 

@Archie's Mum , and @Daft Bat , Weren't they just! I would love to know who this C.H.M. was; perhaps he went on to be a famous artist, and I'm sitting on a gold mine!

 

I'm green with envy! What fantastic treasures you have uncovered and what a talent C.H.M is.

Janet

 

And here is the contribution of W. Cox from 1918 (Mosul?)

 

That's nice, but I don't think it will be Mosul as that's in the far north of Iraq, a long long way from the sea.

Could it actually be part of his name, eg W. Cox Moore?

 

That was my first impression when I read it.

 

Yes, I realise that, but it really doesn't look like an 'r' after 'Moo'.

 

Here are two more photos from the album: a group of doctors, perhaps, and nurses in full sail!


Perhaps sometime soon, someone will recognise an ancestor.

 

I agree, but there is a medal card for a William Cox Moore.
I have no idea what the letters mean, but I think the Mespot might be Mesopotamia ?

 

@MollyMay , yes! There are frequent references to Basra and Mesopotamia in the album.

 

I hope someone can come along who knows just what GLIWT means

 

Try separating G.L. and I.W.T.
I.W.T. is here, with his name, approximately half way down the right hand column: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31872/supplement/4663/data.pdf

 

There is a death of William Cox Moore in 1956 March qtr
Newton Abbot 7a 698 age 81 (yob 1875 approx)

 

The Longlong trail has
IWT as Inland Water Transport

 

"The Army's Navy" by David Habesch and "The Unknown Fleet" by Reg Cooley touch on the IWT and its time in Mesopotamia.

 

"The Imperial War Museum (Lives of the First World War) Royal Engineers:
Inland Water Transport and Docks"
has this:-
In December 1914, as part of the Railways Directorate, the Inland Water Transport and Docks Section was formed to deal with transportation along the canals and waterways in France and Belgium. It became a separate section in October 1915 and grew rapidly in size with its headquarters in Richborough Kent. Sappers operated in a variety of roles, and worked to maintain communication and transportation of food, supplies, ammunition and the evacuation of wounded. In 1916 its work was extended to Mesopotamia and in 1917 to Egypt and Salonika.

 

Another one from the album; perhaps someone can decipher the signature (near the bottom right):