The Major-General had us all on deck, officers and enlisted men, at 0600 hours for 3 hours of morning calisthenics to 'cleanse the body of the effects of the previous night's impurities', he explained. He was so enthused about the potential benefits he considered we would feel, that he proceeded to tell his adjutant that this would be written down as a standing order for 'all personnel' twice daily for the rest of the voyage, and possibly beyond. This was voiced to the muted groan from 'all personnel', especially the enlisted men.
Their reaction prompted further blustering from Basilworth as to the requirements of 'all personnel' to accede to every request, by the directors of Her Majesty's forces, for obedience and discipline...etc, etc. Any further groaning was immediately attended to by an infusion of Sergeant-Major high-decibel commands into the earhole of any offending Corporal or Private. These actions produced a crescendo of laughter from the wharf below as groups of Egyptian dock labourers watched the comedy being played out on board ship.
