TOPIC: Life on board the transport ships

The accounts of troop movements to SA often contain no more than the start and end dates of the voyage.

I came across this brief account from The Times of 31 Oct 1899 about the Royal Dragoons:

"Spirits are carried as medical comforts" not exactly Royal Caribbean was it?

Frank,

See this extract from 'Diary of the 9th Lancers'.

Best,

Justin

And then there was the entertainment......

Mike

Thank you Gentlemen,
You have both confirmed my original thoughts on this!
Regards Frank

It doesn't sound a particularly nice time on board and I imagine the ratio of stewards to customers was a little below modern standards?

When they crossed the equator, I wonder if they went through any of the associated rituals as would happen on other ships. Presumably the numbers involved would have made this impossible?