The long journey to a fresh start...

Suitcases packed, she waved goodbye to Leith, her husband by her side as they left home for a new life on the other side of the world.

Mary Brock, 35, had never left Scotland before. In fact, the closest she had been to a naval adventure was strolling around Leith Docks.

But her eyes were focused on Australia, where she dreamed of sunnier shores and exciting opportunities for herself and William, 38, a salesman.

This month 100 years ago, the pair followed those dreams and left Edinburgh for Sydney, arranging to meet with a brother of William who had already built a life in the land down under.

Excited by the journey, Mary Brock (nee Brown) kept a diary, recording every last detail of her epic journey as she sailed across the world on RMS Orontes through exciting lands. That diary survived the decades and is now a treasured possession of her grandson, Alistair Adams, 63, formerly from Carrick Knowe.

"I was given the diary after my aunt, my grandparents' daughter, died," he explains, now living in Giffnock, near Glasgow. "I've used it to travel the same course as they did to Australia, stopping off at the places she mentions."

To mark the anniversary of the Brocks' journey from Leith to Sydney, Alistair agreed to hand over the diary.

April 14, 1911

We left Edinburgh about 11pm April 13, and reached King's Cross, London, about 8am Friday 14. There was practically no sleep for any of us during the night, the fun and song was kept up until well on in the morning. I felt interested to know when we should cross the border, having never been out of Scotland in my life. On arrival at King's Cross we were driven to St Pancras. Here we left our light luggage and went in search of breakfast.

On our return we found our train, which was to convey us to Tilbury Docks. On arrival, we got our first glimpse of the Orontes. We were marshalled under a large shed where there were several wooden benches with palings erected in front of them to form the crowd into queues. Whilst passing through the doorway we were scrutinized by a person in uniform, but I did not know till afterwards that we were medically examined, and that a good few had already been told to stand aside.

On deck, we were conducted to our cabins. We were fortunate in being placed in first class, as third class was overcrowded. We therefore had better beds and ventilation. Of course we did not enjoy so many comforts as those who paid first class fare.

The boat was very crowded, over 600 third class passengers, about 270 second class, and over 100 first class. The highest fare in the third class was 21 for a share of a two-berth cabin, and 40 to 80 for second and first class respectively. The third class, those who were in the lowest deck, were very uncomfortable, many of course were going out as emigrants. As many as eight to sixteen in one cabin.

We passed the cliffs of Dover at 7pm and about 9pm the passengers settled down to their first night at sea.

April 15, 1911

We were awakened in the morning by one of the stewardesses going along the corridors shouting, "Quarter to seven, ladies, quarter to seven!". We all dressed as quickly as possible in order to get first to the breakfast table, then, we who were able, went on deck. Our proper place there was at the steerage end, but the crush was so great, we had to be allowed the forecastle, which is usually reserved for the use of the crew.

April 17, 1911

We passed through the Bay of Biscay during the night. We saw some little auks, and also some 20 porpoises or dolphins. There was a dispute as to which they were.

April 20, 1911

We were wakened this morning by a heavy land-swell. The ship had got what the sailors call a cork-screw motion, first a dip and then a roll. I felt sick, and rose and took some Sal Volatile. Willie would not take any. In an hour or two, he shot out of his bunk and tore down the patent wash-hand basin. He was not, however, very bad. Nine-tenths of the entire ship's hands were down. I was the only woman in our section who was able to be up and dressed.

April 22, 1911

Sailed into Naples at 6am. Were all summoned out of bed before a doctor before we were allowed ashore.

We had dinner in a swell cafe. The charge was 2/6 per head, and it was a very good repast. We had macaroni soup into which we shook grated cheese, then omelette, then chops and beautifully done potatoes, cheese and oranges.

We ladies wished to find lavatories, and Willie asked the proprietor for such a place. He called a waiter, and we were taken away down to the basement to a place which was evidently a ring for pugilists, hung with tawdry gee-gaws, and with disgusting pictures of women. In an opening in one wall was contained all the lavatory accommodation - a pail surrounded by filth.

We all then proceeded to the elevator railway, which runs up the side of a hill. Several young fellows with guitars came on at the various stages, tinkled their guitars for a second or two, then went further up the train. We got out at a station half-way up and had a magnificent view of the bay with Vesuvius on the other side, but it did not give a single puff in our honour.

We saw lemons growing outside of one house and a lot of women had on slippers with no backs and high wooden heels.

April 24, 1911

We left Taranto, Southern Italy, about 2am. The weather has not been too warm, but we have several cases of dysentery on board, and one of measles.

There is sometimes great fun in the dining cabin though. A young married couple, who are very spoony, are in the habit of coming to table late, and they always receive a great ovation when they appear. They have a two-berth cabin, and those in the next cabin can hear the billing and cooing going on.

April 26, 1911

Beautiful weather. The clock has been put forward half-an-hour and darkness falls at once. A shark was sighted this morning, close to our boat.

April 27, 1911

Entered the Suez Canal this evening. Port Said is at the mouth of it. We stayed to coal, but were not allowed to land as there was an outbreak of smallpox in the town. The first sight which greeted our eyes on approaching was large advertisements for Dewar's Whisky, Lipton Tea, Pears' Soap and Black and White Scotch Whisky.

April 29, 1911

Racing through the Red Sea at top speed. The heat becoming unbearable. No change made in our diet. Iced water served up twice daily. Lime juice can be procured at 1/6 per bottle, also whisky at 8 shillings.

May 1, 1911

Rose at 5am and got washed off the deck where I had gone for a breath of fresh air. A great many men are sleeping on the deck during the night, and a small portion is screened off for women. I saw today what I took to be two sailing ships. They turned out to be rocks called the Two Brothers. We passed between two lovely islands called the Gates of Hell. We sighted the city of Aden, in Arabia. Heat now so intolerable that I sleep on the floor, with no bed clothing.

May 3, 1911

Arabian Sea. Heat bad again. Sports are being started. Nearly killed myself laughing at a pillow fight. In a tug-of-war, the Scotch beat the English, the Irish beat the Scotch, and the Italians beat the whole lot.

May 6, 1911

Indian Ocean. Arrived at Colombo by 4:30pm. Sinhalese mounted on deck to receive the laundry clothes of the officers and the first class.

They had long black hair, knotted at the back, like a woman's, and tortoise shell combs round the crown of their heads, which signifies that they are lion-hearted. Their dress consisted of a tight white skirt and jacket.

Indian guides and hotel touts swarmed aboard. We engaged one. The charge per head for showing us round, supplying dinner, and also rickshaw to drive in to see the markets, whilst the dinner was preparing, was 4 shillings.

He wore a broad black sash over his shoulders, with the name of the British India Hotel on it. He was a fine intelligent fellow, with a head of black silky curls which he wore without any covering. He was just about my height. Few of them are really tall.

All kinds of vessels were in the harbour, including German trading vessels bound for China.

We found ourselves in fine broad streets, lit by electric light, and having handsome buildings on each side. There was a sound of ringing of bicycle bells, from rickshaws which were flying about in all directions.

The guide hurried us to the hotel, the British India, where we seated ourselves in the verandah in long-seated cane chairs, from the long arms of which we could draw out rests to support tumblers of iced lemonade.

We were here followed by sellers of silk, cotton and lace goods (all hand made), who knelt before us displaying their wares.

When we had left the British quarters behind we were followed by little native children turning summersaults. One little one had only one leg, but he was as nimble as the rest. They were all naked.

After dinner, we proceeded to the native fruit market. We found first the smell. There were stalls on which were displayed green oranges, bananas, pineapples, and other fruits.

We later got a glimpse of a Mohammedan temple. Worshippers, all men of course, were scattered round the floor in groups.

The diary finishes at this point. "The reason for this only recently became apparent," explains Alistair. "My grandmother gave birth to my aunt in Sydney, two days after the vessel's arrival. She had given no indication in the course of the diary that she was almost nine months pregnant."

Mary and William, along with their new baby, stayed in Sydney for two years, before making a decision to return to Britain in 1913.

In 1915, Mary gave birth to Alistair's mother, Isabella, in Birmingham where he presumes his grandfather was working at the time. The family eventually relocated to Carrick Knowe, before Mary died in 1937, aged 61, ten years before Alistair was born.