Soldier Boy The Play:

Act 2, Scene 1: the troopship Southland

The first scene of Act 2 of Soldier Boy play: Under Fire. A newspaper drawing of the troopship Southland, torpedoed by a German submarine as it was carrying Jim Martin and troops of the 21st Battalion across the Mediterranean from Egypt to Gallipoli on 2 September 1915.

Some 30 men were killed – but the ship stayed afloat to wallow into Mudros Bay. Jim was rescued after spending four hours in the sea and then an open lifeboat. Under fire, indeed.