Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

W. E. Bendrey diary, 16 May-5 October 1915
MLMSS 761/Item 1

[Transcriber’s notes:
William Ewart Bendrey was born in Armidale, NSW, on 21 June 1892. His father came from the English village of Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, England and his mother probably from Leeds, Yorkshire. He enlisted in Tamworth on 9th May 1915 at the age of 23 years and 11 months with his mate Harry Williams; they were both telegraphists. They arrived in Sydney on 16th May, and on the 18th May passed their medical at Victoria Barracks and transferred to Liverpool Camp and joined the 6th Reinforcement, 2nd Battalion, Australia Infantry. From this date he began to keep a diary and rarely failed to make a daily entry.

After exactly one month’s training he embarked on the "Karoola" for "destination unknown", actually Gallipoli. On the 18th July they disembarked at Suez for Cairo and two weeks route marching and rifle drill before embarking on 1st Aug on horse transport Z32 for Lemnos, the jumping off point for the landing on Gallipoli.

They went aboard the fast boat "Sarnis" for the trip to the landing point at Anzac Cove which they reached late on the night of the 5th Aug. Next day they went into action as part of a major attack on Lone Pine. The 2nd Battalion, together with the 1st, 3rd and 4th battalions, were part of the 1st Infantry Brigade AIF. The 2nd battalion was positioned at the southern flank. Bendrey wrote in his diary "On Friday 6th 800 of us went into action 170 returned fit for service on the 8th".

He survived the hazards and horrors of the next three weeks only to fall ill with gastro-enteritis (dysentery) and reported sick on 27th August and was taken to Lemnos and then Alexandria. The dysentery and later jaundice kept him out of action for the next seven months which he spent in hospitals near Cairo until he returned to army camp in November and joined his battalion at Tel el Kabir in January 1916.

On the 22nd March 1916 they sailed for Marseilles and joined the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front. They landed at Marseilles on 29 March then travelled by train to St Omer and the village of Renescure in Flanders. He left for the front line on the 10th April and arrived in the trenches on 19th. On the 25th April while "drawing a bead" on a German sniper, the sniper fired a shot which struck the plate of Bendrey’s loophole and as a result he suffered a wound to the head and the loss of his left eye.

He continued to write his diary every day although, not surprisingly, the quality of his usual small neat writing deteriorated following the loss of his eye. He was treated nearby and at a hospital in Boulogne before being repatriated to England. He was hospitalised at the 3rd London General Hospital before transferring to Harefield, a hospital for Australian and New Zealand troops near Uxbridge, Middlesex. He was declared unfit for active service on 31st May 1916 and ended his service in England at Westham and Monte Video camps near Weymouth, Somerset.

During leave he visited his father’s and mother’s families at Portishead, near Bristol; Wootton Basset near Swindon; Leeds in Yorkshire and Wimbledon, Middlesex. He sailed for Australia on "Marathon" on 8th Aug 1916 and arrived in Sydney, 24 September 1916 where he was discharged from the AIF 11th Dec 1916 as medically unfit. He married Dulcie Osborne Gibbes of Ashfield NSW in 1932. It is not known if they had any children. He died in Campsie NSW, aged 65, in 1957.]

16.5.15 to 5.10.15
Diary No 1
Priv W.E. Bendrey 2110
A Coy. 2 Batt.
Galipoli
Uralla
N.S.Wales

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War declared Aug. 4. 1914
With love from Mother
Xmas 1911

W E Bendrey

Priv W E Bendrey 2110 6/2
Liverpool Camp
Sydney
NSW
18.5.15
Priv. address
c/o W Bendrey
Uralla
NS Wales

Diary 1915
1915
Arrived Sy 16.5.15
Went Vic Barracks owing rush of recruits had to return on Monday when succeeded in passing. Left for Liverpool Camp on 18th (Had good time in City between 16th & 18th)

Arrived Camp 18/5/15 Joined Signallers – Applied Transfer to infantry & joined 6/2 on the 19.5.15. Secured all outfit but no uniform – Given rifle on 20/5/15. Struck good tent mates (19 of them) Dry canteen here "good thing too" say the majority of the chaps Plenty of canteens. One can buy almost anything
Harry & I are feeling

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21/5/15
fit. Reckon if the Platoon Sergt is correct & we make a crack Coy we will make a name for ourselves at the Dardanelles, or in Europe. Very decent chaps here now, a few rotters of course.
22/5/15 Ordinary Routine until 9 am Cooks fatigue up to dinner time & then the afternoon off
23 Rise 6 15 Pioneers fatigue for about 2 hours (rest of time off)
Church at night - Feeling anyhow (ditto my mate Harry)
24 Cold improved but still feeling stiff & tired Empire day, no afternoon parade – Plenty of Visitors –
25.26.27 Usual thing. Was tent

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orderly 25th - cleanest tent in lines of (13)
27th Costelloe the 63 year old marvel (permanent instr.) gave us an hour or 2s hurry up
28th Short route march in m’ng extended order drill in afternoon
29th Expect uniforms shortly
30th No uniforms yet. Ordinary routine
31. No pay yet. Rifle instruction. Expect to leave for the front Saty week
June 1 Rifle instruction all day. Paid at night. Big rush on Canteens –
2 Left for Sydney special leave Saw Mill. Good time Camp night of 3rd Left for home on

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4th final leave. Returned to Camp 7th.
8th & 9th Rifle shooting
10th Issued with Webb Equipment (Blank)

11th
16th Left Sydney 3 pm for an unknown destination (per Karoola) 7000 tons fairly calm. Slept deck
17th Big swell sick as blazes (am mess orderly too) No dinner – Sky threatening o’cast. Number gulls & porpoises. (Hugging the shore) 3.30 pm Feeling better sea calmer
18th 19.20.21 Land in sight Sea a little rough.
19th Getting rougher Land fading -
20 – 21 No land in sight entered Great Australian Bight. Heavy swells. Little

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or no drill. Our parade ground – the boat deck being rather rocky & unprotected Digg La Touche 1st Lieut fined half the Company for being late on early parade (fine 2/6 each) He’s great on shaving too & lectures us frequently on Sexual intercourse & the evils attendant thereto. therewith. Cairo he mentioned as an example of the worst kind –

22 Sighted land on the Starboard side. One high mountain stands out distinctly through the haze. Just washed Towel & Sox. Sore throat & giddiness. Had throat painted & took some medicine (Orient liner Port side)

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Heavy swells. Shipping fair amount of water. (Rottenest thing on board is the Canteen – Fancy only 1 Canteen for 1000 men? Takes a chap from 30 to 60 minutes to get anything & mostly standing all the time. Only 1 man is served at a time – through a 3 by 3 opening.
23 Turned out at 6 am Sighted Cape Naturalist on Starboard side at 6.30
Intermittent lighthouse. Land in view all day, passing Rottnest Is’ at 4.30 pm (2 Lighthouses) This island is a concentration camp for Germans – Rather a good one too. Ship has been sailing almost due N. for last 12 hours but is

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now turning East & making for Fremantle Fell marching at parade 2.15 pm. Probably route march tomorrow but am mess orderly, what rotten luck!
5.40 pm passed Cottesloe Beach (Long line of clean white sand) on Port side shining in the moonlight. Fremantle just ahead its lights twinkling a welcome to the boys of NSW –
Here & there an electric glitters along the beach line while the Quay light shines out intermittently like a great lone star
6 pm Entered between 2 breakwaters (Fremantle) & anchored within short distance of shore
24 Our Company is on guard etc today

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so cant go ashore. All the other Companies have gone. 2 Colliers loading coaling us one on either side secured fruit & a paper over the ships side. --
Many drunks returning from stolen leave. Some of them are a disgrace to their Companies. Hope our boys behave better tomorrow. Another troopship "Wandilla" just ahead of us.
25th Went ashore at about 10 30. am. had fairly good time returned to wharf at 11.45. Streets rather narrow. Town quiet. Main part of town on slight slope background of small hills in places. Mostly flat sparsely wooded

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country surrounded the town. Wandilla left at 4.35. Karoola at 4.45. Wharves lined with people. Liners, Coasters, coalers sailing boats tugs launches etc all assisted in giving us a hearty send off.
Wireless connected at 4.50 pm. Struck heavy seas, wind blowing half a gale. Caught a few wireless signals.
26th Heavy seas. Shipping good deal water Mess deck swimming in places (with water!) A62 "Wandilla" wants to return to Fremantle but our skipper refuses. Been waiting on her since leaving port. Very interesting watching A62 riding the swells. She ships good deal of water. Looks A1, Lighted up.

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27th Sunday
Beautiful day. Slight swell, doing 9 Knots. Church parade 10.30. Did some washing & button sewing. Wandilla travelling slowly.
28th Beautiful day only slight swell. Doing 12 Knots. (Inoculated). Reading morse light signals from Wandilla
29th Very little water for washing or drinking No drinks (except Sarilla) at Canteen. Full marching order with great coat boots & Mess tins. Weather calm – getting warmer Sighted whale few hundred yards away (on the 28th)
30th
Getting warmer. Glassy sea with strong under current. Think

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wireless operator sp’king to Convoy, Msg’s in code. Officers revolver shooting. Dance for Nurses & Officers. Commenced growing moustache 28/6/15
July 1 18.30 am We are now X very close to the spot where the Sydney left the Australian transports & sank the Emden at Cocos Island. Pay day today £1 each. I drew nothing. Dont want any. Rather hot. Fair swell rippled surface
2nd Guard 7 am to 9 am 3/7/17) Choppy sea. rather heavy storm driving us forward (our guard is one of the best yet)
3rd Off guard at 9 am. Washing day today. All over the ship one sees a multitude of shirts, underpants, towels, hanks, sox, cardigan jackets etc. – Washed

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mine in a small bucket of condensed water with the aid of a cake of toilet soap. Heavy sea running wind still behind us.
4th Sunday Fair swell. Church at 10.30 as usual. No apples today. Getting warm. Boxing contest last night. This child was reading, & eating tinned pears. Theyre A 1. Will be pleased when we see land & get the latest war news. The privates get nil here.
[In margin] Day of American Independence
5th Appears all towels white hats, dungarees pants etc which we miss are stolen by our own mates (that is the crookies) & sold to the crew for cash, food, coffee etc. Pretty rotten when a chaps clobber isn’t safe in his own mess, Some one opened my sea kit bag & nicked

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sundry articles. Burial service at 5 pm (a Q’ld light horseman)
Boat hove to for 3 minutes. Imagine the ever moving waters of the Indian ocean (luckily free from Monsoonal weather – so far)
The sharp rattle of rifle fire as the dead hero’s mates fire a parting volley. The long lines of Khaki clad figures standing firm & erect at the "present" arms as the "last post (our sweetest bugle call) breaks upon the tropical stillness. As if in keeping with such a sad event the sun lies hidden behind the ever thickening cloud veil whilst the remains of our first hero glide swiftly to a watery grave

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6th Getting warmer. Crossing the equator tomorrow. Address by OC regarding range finding etc. – This ocean infested with sharks. Some have been noticed following & swimming alongside the ship. Lime juice served out for dinner today. Will be available for a few days during the hot weather in the vicinity of the equator. Prunes for tea tonight. Ye Gods! What a repast for a common private.
Water supply now good although it was pretty rotten during the past couple of weeks
7th Holiday today early m’ing parade only (Crossing the equator) nearly everybody in the ship was dipped. I was

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calmly reading on the upper deck when 2 chaps spotted me. So I went quietly in shirt & trousers only Sat on a board which tipped me into 4 feet of water. Half a dozen chaps then dipped me 3 times. – Later on all officers & NCOs including the Colonel were compelled to kneel to Father Neptune. They were then lathered all over the head & face with a flour & water paste shaved by a barber with a badly dented wooden razor. Then they sat on a collapsable seat which tipped them into the water where they were ducked. Half a dozen nurses acted as Neptunes daughters. Many of the

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7th costumes were very funny & some rather ingenius. The Crown Prosecutor read the charges against the prisoners & Father Neptune pronounced sentence
The Counsel for the defence wasnt in it, all he could say was – "on behalf of the accused" – when a wet towel or something equally appropriate would put X an end to his defenceX.
8th Our mess orderly is sick today (inoculation) so I am taking his place
Confoundedly warm on the mess deck & the job isn’t much. However the Colonel complimented my mate & I upon the spick & span condition of our mess so whats the use of growling? Slight sea today.

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Atmosphere close & muggy sky threatening. X Swimming bath not available on the well deck –
9th Threatening. Sea getting rough. Making for the African Coast at 13½ Knots to avoid an expected hurricane. 7 pm Just finished 1 hours pack drill. La Touche 2nd in charge gave me 3 days pack drill because I hadn’t shaved for 24 hours. Paraded to the OC who reduced sentence to 2 hours & promised to look into the matter. Rotten when a man has to needlessly shave every day.
10th On fatigue duty today but have done nothing except read & wash a few clothes

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July 10
Sighted land at 3.35 a Cape on the North East Coast of Africa. Sea green now instead of deep blue.
11th Beautiful cool night last night with glorious sea breeze yet terminating in a hurricane.
6 am Entered Gulf of Aden. Somaliland (NE Coast of Africa) on our port side This is where a fair amount of fighting occurred during Boer War. All lights out from now on.
Temperature 85 in shade at Sunrise becoming unbearably hot. Perspiration oozes out of one even under cover.
12th Sighted entrance to Aden 5.30 am entered Harbour 6.30. Entrance guarded by 2 rocky headlands sloping from

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12th
Just read farewell letters 9 letters recd from Dad & Mum on my enlisting.
All the country with exception of 2 headlands appears be flat & sandy.
Left Aden at 5.25 for the Suez. Convoy – (Auxiliary Cruiser) at the lead.
117 in the shade. First aid lecture
13th Oppressively hot Early parade only. Not even a lecture. Everybody spread out on deck under cover. Entered Hells Gates last night Passed island port side about 7 am. Water reeking with lime & almost undrinkable.
12 Noon. Beautiful breeze getting us head on Passed group islands at 2 pm (lighthouse) Sea bright blue few porpoises swimming

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in front of us. Passed several steamers, windjammers & small schooners. Good many birds & porpoises about. The latter look strangely weird as they slip through the water in the deepening twilight & one can only liken them to ghost like serpents. The effect is accentuated by the glittering phosphorescence of their foam splashed wake. Passed 2 cruisers & possibly a submarine during the night
14th Hot as usual rather strong undercurrents from 1 pm on. Washed towel etc. Spoke Wandilla last night. Heat abated a little Passed suddenly from disturbed to smooth glass like sea covered with an apparently oily scum.

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15th
4 sharks seen this m’ng swimming just ahed of noses. Kit & rifle inspection.
Wandilla on Starboard. Shaving daily. Its a fair cow. Good breeze so far since entering Red Sea
16th Full kit inspection today. Expect to land tomorrow. Good deal shipping including our own passed close together Mainland visible on both sides greater part afternoon. Not so hot. Haven’t been able to get a decent sweat up (what?)
Rugged but rather Lost barren hills form coastline
17th Arrived Suez early this morning. Rocky on left uninhabited. Town is on right & in front on low lying country

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plenty of shipping. several Troop ships in Harbour Natives in sailing boats selling sweets, papers & pcs. A few melons also available. Prices fair. Am on guard today. Just our luck. Fairly warm
18th Entrained at Suez for Cairo at 11.15 am Fairly hot. Few Imperial Officers, Natives & Indian Police to twig us – the former to judge, Ay what? Train travelling fairly fast but rocking - I am perched on back of seat trying to write x (suburban seats) x Canal (lined with banana groves grapes corn etc) on right for first few miles. Mail boat just passed bound for Suez

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18th arrived Aerodrome X Camp 7.15 pm.
19th Vally at 5 am, parade 6am bread jam & tea for breakfast
(Last night tea & biscuits for tea. Inspected Bazaar at Cairo paid guide 10 piastres & driver 4 piastres. Little or no news from The Dardanelles. Drill about 5½ hours & one hours lecture.
20th Parade 6 am & 5pm Lecture. Plenty of ices & drinks. Tucker plain but fairly good. Had a look at Heliopolis (or new Cairo) Some splendid buildings but roads & streets as yet only half formed. Walking in the sand makes one tired. No mosquitoes but a few flies. Hav’nt seen

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any immorality so far but there is a great deal in Cairo.
21st Vally at 4 am fell in 5am for picket duty at Railway. Good job too. Plenty of grapes & melon –
7 to 9 pm Route march through outskirts of Cairo. Beautiful cool moonlight night. Marched between avenues of trees.
Visited the place where Mary sat under Sycamore Tree (Saw tree, also well from which Mary drank)

22
Usual parade & lecture. Met an old mate yesterday & had a long chat Pay day today £1 –.
23 Had a mimic attack. Sent home pcs & views (32 piastres) Wrote letters. Visited Wazza at Cairo. Very immoral.

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24 Parade 6 to 7.30. All rest of day off – Went Cairo, Met Ross of Armidale at the Gardens. He was at the front in first landing with ASC Wounded in leg Is returning to Australia - We Returned to camp broke. Gardens are rather nice, shady walks, plenty of green grass & trees etc.
25 Church parade at 7.15 am on the sands of the desert. Visited pyramids (& Sphinx) 3 large 6 small largest 457 ft Cheops (Pyramids, Sphinx & Tombs composed of limestone, Granite & Alabaster. View of Nile Valley from Pyramids beautiful. One carpet of green broken by Palaces native villages etc. with

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Cairo in distance. "Absolutely stony" Sergt paid for our tea "4 piastres" – no drinks. obtained water at fountain Never so stiff before. Cut out donkey ride Cannot stand strain. Returned to camp at 10 pm Tramline runs alongside avenue of trees.
26 Slept like a top. 2¾ hours drill today. We expect leave for front this week. If theres anything doing, the 6th of the 2nd is always called on, but we’re always dead last if anything good happens along. Route march tonight 6 pm to 7.45. at 7.15 pm Moon just risen behind clump of gums. Nestling in this clump of our own native trees

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26th is a small palace, (showing pure white in the moonlight) & a few humble native residences while the foreground is composed of one beautiful green carpet of green herbage. 20th Batt arrived –
27th Usual parade. Saw Jack Curtis (20th) & he looks A1 Had surprise attack 5 to 7 Showers & then bed
28 Parade as usual. Put in good work Pay day today 200 piastres. Expect leave for front shortly Washed some clothes. Had good shower
29th Parade 6 to 7 then full kit inspection Half holiday. Visited Zoological gardens. Simply beautiful. Well laid out far before Sydney Zoo. Tiled walks

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glorious avenues. Good animal collection. Everything clean & well laid out. Admittance ½ piastre (1¼) expect leave for front tomorrow morning. Went Cairo at night. Had good time. Donkey ride, 5 piastres for 1 hour. Very easy to stick on. One donkey tripped & fell & the rider went clean over its head & sprawled ungracefully on the road. Cafes open here until 2 am –
30th Route March 6 to 8.15 felt damed tired. Wrote letters in afternoon
31 No more pay today. Parade 6 to 8 am. Full kit inspection. Half holiday. Cairo in afternoon. Leaving tomorrow

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31 All boys dead broke. –

Aug 1 Left camp at 7.55 entrained at 8.50 pm. Very warm. About 500 of us. Discipline good Not many water melons en route nearly all boys broke. Country near Alexandria appears to be productive. River Nile beginning to spread over low lying parts. Arrived Alexandria 4.30. Very hot in Carriages (with full packs up)
Embarked 5.30 on Z32 a horse transport (which also carried some crack British Regiments) Mess in F’castle head. Very warm.
2 Slept fairly well. Breakfast porridge tea, bread, butter & jam. Sea not exactly calm. Fair swell (water dark blue) Beautiful day inclined to be warm. nice cool breeze. The old tub

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is rather chatty. In certain places one may see the sportive few playing "touch wood" leap frog & having a good time generally. No showers on board except a "private Showers", he’s a – poor substitute. Rotten dinner. Greasy soup, rotten spuds & 33rd class meat.
3 Slept boat deck, rather breezy. Have to hang on to blankets. Sighted land 6 am on port side. Appears barren & rocky. Fair dinkum this is a cow of a ship. Chatty all over, rotten accommodation, crook tucker - But then this is a British ship not an Australian Ship. The English Tommies call us Andy Fishers 6 bob a day Tourist Army – Dinner time Tucker rotten. Tied meat

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to post with rope then charged with fixed bayonets. Kicked dixie of soup all over mess deck. Waved red flag at one piece of meat & it charged me up the gangway – La Touche orderly Officer was howled down & then hooted – appears as if the 6th of the 2nd has broken out at last (R.I.P.)
"Harry chucked in his stripe" – Hoo – blooming Ray.

4 On guard last night on look out for Submarines. 150 ball cartridges issued. Nothing sighted. Entered Lemnos Harbour at 11 am Fleet of battleships on Starboard. Small town, rather deserted Harbour fairly big, military camp & plenty of troopships. Semi-salt water & rice pudding

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4 for dinner Tea not too bad. Expect leave for Dardanelles tomorrow.
5 Still here. Dont know when or where we are going. Tea, bread & butter for breakfast. Good Harbour, plenty of shipping – Surrounded by low barren hills. Left Lemnos in Sarnia for the front at 3.45 a fast boat. She’s only small but can do 24 knots an hour – Think going to new landing
6th landed late last night in lighters got lost for a while walked a mile or two. Plenty of rifle & gun fire around us.
6th In depot trenches Some shell fire. Tucker fair. Carried water in cans. Fired on by Turkish snipers –

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6th Charged Turks ( was in 4th line) Took 3 lines of trenches. Hellish fire, shell rifle, machine gun Dont know how we got through. Mate & I lying in front parapet for 3 hours under shell & other fire. Got in after flare fire from burning bushes had died down behind us.

7th Big attack by British & French. Hundreds of guns booming Thousands of rifles flashing. Usual fighting all day Bombs are the worst & do deadly work. Getting nervy dodging bombs.

8th Turks nearly cut 6 of us off. Retired few yards. Not in actual front line but getting plenty bombs & shrapnel – Our [in margin] (Sunday)

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8
bombs are not a patch on the Turks. Take too long to light. - 3.30 pm. Sent back to old firing line for rest. Dead tired
9th 8 am. Instructed get ready to reinforce – Very little rest after 48 hours fighting. Feeling a little better. Stated that Turks are massing for a retreat. Our cavalry waiting to cut them off. On Friday 6th 800 of us went into action 170 returned fit for service on the 8th
9 We went into old trenches at 2 pm but are now going into firing line again at 4pm. War is hell. Absolute unlimited hell. The papers say "Glorious Victory 2nd Batt captured 3 lines trenches. Losses slight" The real thing should read – "We

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9th Charged in face of a murderous fire, took 3 lines of trenches. Losses very heavy – "Still it was a great victory" - 5 out of 8 of us (mates) left.
10th Had good quiet time on left flank. Digging & building hard.
Picture us digging deeper & deeper into beautifully hard rocky clayey soil. Millions of flies buzzing round – Bullets zip-zipping above shrapnel bursting near our trenches & best of all near the X Turks X Rather warm too. One man on each parapet is watching the enemies trenches for a chance of getting in a shot or noting where our shells fall. No wash yet & no shave. War supposed to be over in week – perhaps!

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anyhow we are gradually surrounding them. I hope to get there soon.
11th (Wed) Firing incessantly with rifle last night expected Turkish bomb attack. – One enemys guns smashed Rather cool during night & feel really hungry – Dug out a new latrine during afternoon of 10th Our Sergt Major shot couple Turk snipers.
French aeroplane chased Taube but German too fast – Cleared out. Left at 3 pm for resting base after 48 hours in the trenches .
12 Few shells – went for dip in briny Jolly nice after 6 days trenches & no wash Hospital ships 4 cruisers in distance mules & men busy drawing water etc.

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12 Glorious sunset last night. Never to be forgotten Believe my cousin Ron Bendrey has been killed. Rum & lime juice issue. Goes well with water. Few big shells about
13 On H Q reserve last night Called out for observing 9 pm to 5 am Plenty bullets & flares. Had wash this m’ng after another man (water rather soupy but great luxury) First freshwater wash yet. My mates (3) & several others had wash also. "Hot" Harry & I applied for positions Telegraphist. Left for firing line again at 2 pm. Had a rough time shell fire etc.
14 Applied vacancy for Telegraphist. Harry got it. Only one position. Better luck tomorrow.

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shelled fairly heavily during day. No casualties
15. Gun & rifle fire last night very little damage done, Off again for 48 hours Just discovered cousin R W Bendrey killed by shrapnel fire while carrying stretcher on night of 6th inst – being night on which we attacked the Turks. Written his people –
(16) Quiet last night. Had good sleep. Water fatigue this morning – Visited place where Ron buried. Makes one feel sad & home sick Bomb-throwing practice & swim tonight. Fairly quiet all day. Had game with Gordon Mann old school mate – now Reg’tl QMS
17 Not too much sleep last night. Some mug told us to stand by but we were not having any. –

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17 Bread issue this morning first since arrival. Feel homesick Dreamed of the home-land last night. Back into firing line 2 men wounded. (Rice)
18 Fairly quiet last night. Harry gone to Hospital Think Taffy gone too. Few shells today very warm plenty flies & chats etc.
19 Another quiet night raining lightly this morning. Looks threatening nearly shot by one our own chaps. 4th time now, close shave – (1) shell grazed me, (2) shrapnel tore coat & knocked me down (3) shell cap hit me in testicles. Left for rest trenches at 11 am 48 hours rest.
20 Had good nights rest Shrapnel plentiful this morning. Piece lobbed

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20 in our possy just before we returned to it. Weather cooler, fewer flies. Nearly had head blown off by mates rifle
21 Bad night, feel anyhow this morning. Nearly X missed breakfast X Very quiet. Into firing line at noon fighting on left flank. Naval bombardment. Our guns also busy
22 Dr says we leave in a weeks time. (what?) off duty during day (fairly quiet last night Light rain) Golden Syrup today. My mate has Neuralgia – [in margin] (Sunday)
23 Mimic bombardment by our right flank last night. Drew Turks fire beautifully. Cramp in stomach off duty all night. Better today. Left trenches at 3 pm for 48 hours
24 Slept well last night water fatigue morning Few shells today. like

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24 1st letter date 15/6/15 recd today. Rain. (Later) No rain, fair number shells
25 water fatigue. Into firing line at 12. Think going Embros for spell. Aeroplanes busy. Italy declared war. Heavy naval fire on left.
26 Warm quiet. Paper Langford today. Bonus AMP. Letter from Essie. Sent cable Mum on 25th (week-end).
27 Turks went dilly last night fired thousands shots – Quiet today. Feel crook. Think going Signalling corps. H.Q. – Roper gone. Hospital ship sick - Only Reynolds & self left out of 8 mates (1 Killed 1 missing 3 wounded 1 sick & we two left) Ordered take white patch off back – Dysentery
28 Ordered to 3rd F.A. chill & diarrhoea – feel rotten. Arrived Hospital ship afternoon. Glorious to have good bath & bed & decent food

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29 (Sunday)
Had pretty crook night. Making for Lemnos rest camp. Broke – Letter from Millie 27th.
Not too well all day but felt little better towards night (Lying at Lemnos)
Service during afternoon
30 Fair night. Medicine dysentery. Think going Alexandria (Left for "A" at about 10 am) Milk diet, feeling better.
31 Feeling fair. Dysentery eased but feel weak & giddy after getting up. "Injection" – Weather warm (90 here No 3 ward)
Sept 1 Good night. Feeling better - milk diet – arrived Alexandria about 4 pm Disembarked. Had lemon drink biscuits etc at Palace Motor to Lunar Park
2 Feeling better – cool – imagine me lying in bed reading now & again using the fly

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2 disturber – while an Egyptian pulls the big fans to & fro. Music we have too at times. Plenty of showers & baths.
3 Feeling not so well. Had good night though. Plenty flies. On brandy & water only for 24 hours.
4 Good night, feeling better not hungry either. Chap next me, Englishman, growls too much altho he is fairly crook. Many chaps punch out during night – Getting hungry but its no go. Weak
5 Fast broken after 48 hours, improving. Funny to watch chaps nicking into town some wearing slippers, & others pyjama coats in lieu of missing parts of uniform (2 violins piano & piccolo – some class)
6 A1. Plenty gum trees here Cant change 50. Sat deck chair outside few minutes. Nurse first class. Good Dr.

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6 Good tucker & plenty of it.
7 (Herald here dated 21.7.15)
A1. good appetite. Wrote 13 pcs. Paid 50 piastres – Also got 100 on 3rd. No chocolate boy now Rotten luck I reckon.
8 Rather sore throat. Not bad night. Gramophone is counted out to no end. Rotten machine. YMCA few yards away very handy. Concert tonight. Songs, Comic & otherwise, some class too. Obtained chocolate at last
9 Bit off. Stiff neck. Too much chocolate perhaps. No letters yet. Pcs handed round
10 Feeling better. Heard 2 Batt be relieved shortly. Pest in next bed has gone to Palace Hosp "Poor Palace". Met Alf Cooper tonight. He’s X wounded in leg X Bungoo Krippner was wounded by bomb. "What a night !" A glorious, starlit Eastern night: and here am I sprawling in a deck chair

[Page 48]

10 neath one of our own dear gums, while faintly, from the distance, strains of martial music are wafted to my ear by the gentlest of zephyrs. (But im homesick, so homesick) G N.
11 Parade yest’y of men for light duty. Permanent orderlies going to front. Fruit on now; bought pears yest’y. Nurses here are A1. & Dr is OK.
12 Feeling better but ricked ankle. App’t Typist AMC Went Cairo got belt etc. Band in gardens at night
Sunday
13 Feeling off. Too much walking yesterday. Start duty today. Took Communion yest’y (Sunday) Minister photographed us afterwards. Off at 6 pm, doing fair but lot to learn. Col’ is fine but don’t like W.O.
14 Cairo last night. Got "Pittmans Shorthand". Feeling alright – "Nervy"

[Page 49]

14 Started on shorthand fair amt of work. Off at 9 pm did fairly well
15 Feeling A1. Batch chaps going Aust’ Tm’w. fairly busy today. Still feeling lonely. Wrote several letters
16 Would like be going with chaps who are getting ready for Australia. Bad dream last night – plenty work today.
17 Still little dysentery. Fairly busy in office Slept well. Not many patients here now. –
18 End of week plenty work on till 8.30 pm. Not too good. Rather like bed now.
19 O K. Shave this morning. Must see Dentist. Will try get off for Communion at 9.30 A chap works 7 days a week in Military, but gets paid for it. Would sooner not work, & forfeit the extra pay – Went to Communion (Methodist) also went [in margin] Sunday

[Page 50]

19 Spt 1915
general Service (CE) at 8.30
20 More patients by train last night. Have a nice new bed now – spring- mattress. Toil fairly plentiful. ½ piastre left. How will I invest it?
21 Slept soundly on top of bed. Nurse came & covered me with a blanket I was too tired apparently to get into bed. Many cases rupture here. Our Surgeon Capt Teague is excellent. Has not lost a case yet at this Hospital. Off duty at 2 pm today Having a rest just by way of a change.
(22 ) Bad night. One of patients came in shickered – Went Dr yesty got medicine. Ordered back to bed today. Feeling weak Pay day today. Drew £4-5/-. Batch of about 90 new patients came in last night.

[Page 51]

23 Bad night Dys worse despite medicine. Taken to milk diet again. Dysentery better. Lying down & taking milk stuff makes all the difference.
24 Feeling A1. Met an old mate of [indecipherable] Run this m’ng He’s going to Australia.
Left at 4.30 pm motor for Mrs Mason’s Villa & arrived a few minutes after. Tea & cakes to no end in the garden arbor, inside which was lit up with lanterns after dark. Reading & writing rooms with abundance of literature & ping pong etc inside the house. Had fairly good time & left again at 8.30 Jolly cool for pyjamas. On nearing Luna Park the famous water schute stood out plainly in the moonlight. Its a great structure & must have afforded much amusement when in full swing.

[

Page 52]

25 Spt 1915
Another cool morning. Large percentage of eggs for breakfast are rotten (Not too good.) Several operations lately. Rupture & appendicitis all patients doing well.
26 New Orderlies on now so tucker slow in coming – Colonel told me have good spell, & take things easy when I return to Office – May not return to Office at all – all depends; – Glorious music this afternoon, piano, 2 Violins & flute - Rec’d letter from Mrs Robson dated 19 July – 1st since l’vg Gallipoli. [in margin] Sunday
27 Had good night. Didn’t go Church yest’y – Felt not well enough.
Spending about 1/6 per day. Must go easier.
28 Nurse wont let me go out for meals, altho’ I feel OK. Getting colder every day. Cool inside

[Page 53]

28
early in morning. My friend A R Tait still Missing. – All pleased to read of great victory in France.
29 Dull – cool weather. Just like a cloudy winters morning in Australia. Reading Lord Lyttons works & doing a little short-hand. Rumours of fighting Gallipoli
30 Had 5 fillings put in on Tuesday in 45 min’s. Only small holes mostly – Excellent appetite of late. Another recurrence dysentery. D—it. Dont think I will return to Office
Oct 1 Shower makes one feel tip top. Must write Eric. Number chaps leaving for Alexandria. Dys gone.
2 Some wounded came in last night. Heard Narrows were rushed.

[Page 54]

2 Oct – 15
Nothing in papers though Australian papers to no end yes today but the Bulletin is the only one I got any satisfaction from.
3 Rather heavy mist this morning. Winter’s commenced alright. Didnt go Church. Much too tired. 2 Malingers here from Australia –
[in margin] Sunday
4 Another fog. Everything damp. Slept for 11 hours. Not bad going, Dr says I can leave – when i’m strong enough.
5 Big batch patients last night mostly sick men some reckon the betting is 15 to 1 Constant, before 15th inst – others say there’s nothing doing. Concert Y.M.C.A last night. More patients tonight only few wounded.
(See Book 2)
(End of Book 1) 5.10.15

[Page 55]

The OC Aust Section Intermediate Base Depot
C No 11 Shariah emad el – din Cairo
2nd Batt 1st Inf Brig A I F (Date)
The OC Aust Base Depot
Through OC 2nd Batt
Sir, I should be glad if the following week end cable can be despatched on my behalf & my a/c debited with cost of same
(Name
(Rank
Cable
Weekend Cable instructions

[Page 56]

OK A Reynolds
W Phillips
W Williams
W McGlynn 2 Pearson
W Powell c/o Mrs Watkins
M Tait 2217
S Roper
S Bendrey Self
K Jacomb
(List of Mates)

[Page 57]

Atchison St N Sydney
85 Church St Liverpool
Tamworth NSWales
Balmain East NSW
Ivanhoe W. Guildford WA
Colebrook St Hermitage Flat Lithgow NSW
Hospital for Insane Beechworth Vic
Tamworth NSW
C/o Miss Jacomb East Melb
53 Powlett street Vic

"Still follow Sense,& of every art the Soul"
Pope

[Page 58]

The Dennis E (Manly)
Rev H Johnstone.
Campsie 26.5.15 1P
pps
1PP1 Mother - 1 11111111111 PP11
1PP Kathleen - 11
1P Hillgrove - 1PPPP1
1P Armidale - 1P11
11P Robson - 1111111P1
11PP Millie - 1P1111P1
111PP Essie - 1P11P1
PP Tamworth - PD 1
PPP Eric - 11
PP Langford Cooma pc
1 Ron Bendrey died I A. 6.8.15
Eily 1
Others.
PCs 911111
Arthur Curtis 11

[Page 59]

Rates of exchange in Egypt
Sterling - Egyptian
£ 1.0.0 - 95½ piastres
10 - 471/2 "
2 9½ "
1 4½ "
6 2 "
3 - 1 "
Money in circulation in Egypt
Piastres (English value)
½ - 1¼
1 - 2½
2 - 5
5 - 1 0 ½
10 - 2 .1
20 - 4 2
50 - 10 5 - Notes
100 - 1. 0. 10 - "
[In margin] Approximate values

(please send all my private belongings to –
Mrs W. Bendrey
Uralla
N S Wales
Aust.)

[Transcribed by Peter Mayo for the State Library of New South Wales]