MEDITERRANEAN DIVISION.

DIVISIONAL DIRECTOR: Miss L. M. JERMYN

This Division, which is a mere skeleton of what it would have been had the armistice not been declared, consists of sub-divisions at Malta (Divisional Headquarters), Gibraltar, and a tiny unit of one officer and four ratings at Genoa.

 Thirteen are non-administrative officers, nine at Malta and four at Gibraltar; these are doing important work of a confidential nature, mostly cipher duties. The administrative officers are myself (Divisional Director), Principal Malta and an Assistant Principal doing Quarters Supervisor's duties, also a Deputy Principal at Gibraltar and an Assistant Principal at Genoa.

In addition to these, two Deputy Principals and two Assistant Principals who arrived at Malta after the armistice. These officers were on their way to Egypt, where the three sub-divisions - Ismailia, Alexandria, and Port Said - were being started, I being in Egypt making arrangements at the time. It was decided that these four officers should remain in Malta and take up any work that was required, and they at once settled down to ciphering and accountant work.

Naturally they were disappointed at the change of plans, but all most loyally set to work to learn their new duties, and do their best.

 All the ratings in the Division are clerical except one Hostel C.S.L., and four telephonists; an immobile orderly was enrolled, but turned out to be a useful typist, and was transferred, to this much needed branch. There are fourteen mobile ratings and seventeen immobile ratings at Malta, which with sixteen officers makes a very uneven unit of forty-seven members.

The work is done in a satisfactory manner. Malta is an extremely gay place, and the members have seen a great deal of the Navy, having had the most wonderful opportunities of going over very interesting vessels of almost every kind and of several countries. The greater number of workers are in the offices of the British Commander-in-Chief, known as the M.N.S.O., or Mediterranean Naval Staff Offices. Quite a large number of immobile members were being absorbed, who were working in H.M.S. Egmont (depot ship), and Admiral Superintendent Offices; their enrolment was not completed when the armistice came, and we have only one representative there, an officer who replaced an assistant paymaster.

Gibraltar, where we started the Mediterranean Division, is doing wonderfully well. I was fortunate in beginning operations with a very energetic officer and two extremely capable C.S.L. shorthand typists, who attacked their work with great energy in spite of the intense heat, and no one who has not experienced a levanter at Gibraltar, or a sirocco at Malta, can have the faintest idea of what it is like. I hardly know which it affects most, one's brain or one's legs, which are both turned to cotton wool.

The Gibraltar Sub-Division has the great advantage of being able to get into Spain for little trips, a delightful experience for the ordinary stay-at-home girl, and everyone has a bright and pleasant time when off duty. Some of the officers and ratings have been to Tangier by torpedo boat for a day's trip.

Had the sub-divisions been started in Egypt, those who were fortunate enough to be drafted there would have found delightful quarters at Alexandria, in what had previous to the war been a German yacht club, and had the charm of being right on the harbour. The "Wrens" would have bathed from the quarters and had tea on the landing-stage, etc. The S.N.O. had taken a great deal of trouble getting ready for us, and we were badly wanted. Ismailia is a beautiful little oasis in the desert; there would have been a very small party here working in the office of the Admiral. Ismailia is on a lake, and is reached by a most interesting journey through the Suez Canal or by train from Port Said. The "Wrens" would have been housed in a small villa.

The scenery is beautiful, and the whole place most picturesque and eastern, with camels and golden sand and blue skies, lakes, palms, sunsets and Arabs complete. Port Said would have had a larger sub-division and the "Wrens" would have lived in huts almost on the beach. This being the gate of the East, the harbour is wonderfully interesting as there is a continual flow of ships in and out, and new faces to be seen in the streets where shopping is done, the street known to every traveller who goes East, and which is filled with natives of almost every country one can think of, where money pours from the pockets of the travellers into those of the shopkeeper in exchange for much rubbish which is almost attractively displayed. The noise in this street is almost deafening, with the shouting of merchants, donkey boys, syrup sellers, and carriage drivers.

Bizerta, on the coast of Africa, is two or three days by sea from Gibraltar, and the sub-division here was almost in being, but the first party was recalled on their way out from England. This a very French place, and it would have been necessary for all the members to have had a working knowledge of that language. They would have lived in a very pleasant villa with a flat roof on which to sit in the evenings and enjoy the cool breeze, and view of the shipping. There is a big inland harbour. It is very Moorish looking, and there are a great many Arabs and an Arab quarter, which is very picturesque.

Had the war continued there would have been a very large Division in the Mediterranean, Adriatic and Aegean, and we should have had "Wrens" at Corfu, Taranto, Naples, Syracuse, Marseilles, and possibly Oran and Mudros.

This Division considers itself very fortunate, and I think everyone in it fully appreciates the opportunity it has given of interesting travel and social gaiety.

The "Wrens" have been remarkably well received and much entertained in every station, and have had a really charming time. They are now hoping the hot weather is not so hot as it is painted.

L.M.  JERMYN