Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
Darchy war diary, 22 January- 16 June 1918
MLMSS 1178/Item 2
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136021
Book No 2
My Notes on
[indecipherable]
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Commonwealth Saving Bank Ac No 136021 opened Liverpool N.S.W Branch June 1917
T. Darchy
No 4072
1st Pioneer Battn
11th Reinforcements
Enlisted 18/1/17
Sailed from Sydney
June 16th 1917
Watch No 2971.807
Recrute No 70873
Enlisted Jan 18th 1917
Went to Camp 8 Feb 17
Landed England 25th Aug 17
Left England for France Wenesday 23rd Jan 1918
Landed Thursday 24th
Tuesday Jan 29th 1918 Joined 1st Pioneer Battn A Co 4 Platoon 14 Section
Rifle No 2743Z
Wouded 30/3/18
Landed England 8/4/18
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Jan 22nd 1918
Left Sutton Viny on Draft. Arrived Southampton 1PM.
Embarked about 6 & got of again & marched about 2 miles to Rest Camp. Issued with 3 Blankes & put in a fair night. Has been allmost like Summer the last few days. There is a lot of fun in going on Draft
What, without asking, hither hurried Whence? And, without asking, Whither hurried hence?
Of course there is a good deal of Drinking & any sort of travel
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is always exciting to some extent.
23rd January 1918
Have fared well for tucker 5 of us got 4 tins of Bully between us & were able to buy good bread on the Boat
Thursday 23rd Wednesday
Had a very light breackfast Bacon & Bread at 6 & started right away for the Boat Southampton seems a fine place Went straight on to the Boat & anchored in the Harbour until 7.15 P.M. There are a lot of horses on board
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Wed & Thursday
& a good many troops No sleeping arrangements have hunted all over for a decent camp but given it up. It is a dead calm night & there is no sickness. The engines have just stoped 4.15 am so expect we are at Le Havre Later Left the Thursday boat about 9 & did about 5 miles to the rest camp. What we saw of Le Havre it is a verry dirty place in fact the mud was 2 or 3 inches deep on the Road in places, Had a good feed & got the balances
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of our Kit. Waterproof sheet & Cape combined Rifle & Tin Hat. Got blankets & sleept in the Picture Show Had to wait for the Show to finish at 8 & then sleept the sleep that is issued to very small children & soldiers
Friday 25th January
Had a march about 6 miles with full loads less Ammunition Quite a hot day & the troops felt it. Good road nice country The tucker here is the best I have struck in the army
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& they have better quarters than we have Left it too late to find any decent place to camp in so sat up & poked about all the time A verry mild & perfectly calm night
Went to Pictures to fill up to bed time
Saturday 26th January
Left Camp at 9.30 a m with full Kits including ammunition & rations 5 or 6 miles to Railway La Havre left about 4 32 in a cattle truck just enough room to lie down by fitting in tight. Tea was supplied about 9
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Plenty of Bully & Biscuits some jam & cheese. Not a cold night had a fair sleep The march this morning took it out of most of us it was quite hot & the road was bad
Traveled slowly all day & left the train / 4 Oclock at Castre & marched about 1 ½ miles to camp getting there at dusk
Put in tents & given an extra blanket. It is flat uninteresting country saw a few shell holes at Hasellboch a fair sized place about 6 miles back. The only real signs
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Of war so far. This is up to Sunday night
Monday 28th January
Had a very short march this morning without Packs Nothing in afternoon
Can hear the guns from here & saw some shell bursts around a plane this morning & some to night behind us. They were a good distance away.
Tuesday 29th January
Left Castre this morning at 9.30 & marched to the Battalion about 12 to 14 miles. Got here about
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4 P.M. Did not have our packs on. Am in A Co & had to carry our packs about a mile to there lines It was the last straw Got a plentifull issue of good tea & made an execelent meal
Did not feel the march much to day Crossed into Belgum about 5 miles back Came through one village that has been completely smashed up. The weather is beautifull & quite warm
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Friday Wednesday 30th Jan
Put into No 4 Platoon 14th Section & had to march to where we are working about 4 miles with full loads. Spent the afternoon making a dugout Our Camp is where St Eloi used to be it is hard to find a full brick let alone a piece of wall standing
Saturday Thursday 31st January
Went out & did a shift on our job a concrete
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observation Post in afternoon. Did a bit to Dugout in morning. Foggie today for a change
Friday 1st February
Same as yesterday
Saturday 2nd February
Shift changed now go out at 6 A.M. & return at noon. There are a lot of guns about here and a lot of shooting goes on but so far Fritz has not replied since we came here
Sunday 3rd February
Same as any
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Any other day
Monday 4th February
Very clear day plenty of our Planes up no Huns
Tuesday 5th February
About 1 point of rain last night the first I have seen in France Fritz sent a fair lot of shells over this afternoon for a change the closest were 3 or 400 yds from our camp
Thursday 7th February
At least I believe it is Thursday so have missed
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a day somewhere it makes no difference Rain & wind today not very pleasant
Friday 8th February
As usual a few showers
Saturday 9th February
As usual until just before knocked off Fritzy put about 20 shell over close to us some of the dirt fell around as the closest were only about 20 yds away He had 1 or 2 planes about this evening so we will probably
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get more shells in a day or so
Sunday 10th February
As usual Pross & I went salvaging this afternoon & got a full tin on Biscuites 8 tins Butter 3 of Jam besides other odds & ends useful about the humpy. One can get almost anything about here The waste is terrible.
Monday 11th February
The daily round as usual Go out at 6 AM back at noon
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Tuesday 12th February
As usual Pross went to Hospital with some slight internal complaint showery to day
Wednesday 13th February
A fairly wet day A parcel from Riverina with nourishment Thompson got 2 so we are set for luxiouries
Thursday 14th February
As usual
Friday 15th February
Just work a parcel from
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Aunt Mirna more tucker & a pair of sox
Saturday 16th February
Work as usual. A very clear day plenty of Planes about Fritz seems to be kept well back Bell & I walked to Ypres this afternoon about 2 miles A few houses are left standing except for a few shell holes through them. The Cloth Hall & Cathedral are terribly battered even today 3 shells
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were dropped on the road near the Hall & although there are a lot of men about he only got a Y.S. Wagon & 2 houses.
Had a very nice Xmas parcel from the Victorian patriotic Fund. [indecipherable] Cigs Biscuits Cream Curry powder Soup Cubes. Ham Paste Boot laces. Chocolate Spearmint Gum Every man got one & most of them were different
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Sunday 17th February
Same as any other day Fritzy droped a couple of H [indecipherable] near our job just before we knocked off. A lot of Arial activity today, Fritzy got well over our lines several times & got away allright one of our machines came down. Hit with one of our own shells I believe.
Monday 18th February
Still working Fritzy came over the same as he has
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for the last day or so But did not return 5 of our Planes came out of the Heavens there was some circleing about & machine gun fire He was gradually forced down & then plunged headlong As it was just knock off time some of walked over to see the machine it was a complete wreck on the bank of the cannal. The Hun was not killed but badly smashed the first wonded
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man I have seen Later one of our Planes caught fire & plunged down the pilot only being scorched a bit so we hear
Tuesday 19th February
Nothing out of the way. Pross rejoined us
Wednesday 20th
As usual Rained a bit today there have been fairly heavy frosts all week quite an inch of ice on the shell holes but the days have been beautifull
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Thursday 21st February
As usual Bill & I went to the Divisional Baths & came back clean & bright. Good supply of hot water & new underclothes. Bill is not a bit windy. But he was very funny aalday about a 9 in shell that lobbed quite close to him
Friday 22nd February
Finished our Observation Post proper still a few days digging & cleaning up to
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do. It is a very solid job but not as good as it would be with one good boss on the job Payed today
Saturday 23rd February
Did not go out until 8 this morning as the other shift came in early yesterday for pay. A very mild cloudy day. Some big stuff lobbed close to the camp this morning He is evidently looking for the 9 guns
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just down the road
Sunday 24th February
As usual. Fritz sent us more stuff than usual today. Did no harm that I know of. His machines did not seem to be able to get up for observation
Monday 25th February
As usual A nasty cold wet morning
Tuesday 26th February
Finished the Observation Post. A beautifull day
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Wednesday 27th February
Did a bit of messing about fixing a new camp for a fresh Platoon that is to join us
Thursday 28th February
Same as yesterday
Friday 1st February
Went out in the evening to start a new job It is about 2 ½ miles away on what has been Hill 60, We are sayed to be 1800 yds from the
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Huns front line & as he has a good view of our job we are to do it at night. It is another concrete Observation Post Things were not ready so we did very little & got home about 9
Just got to bed when our guns started in earnest & he repled putting a good deal of shrapnel in & about our camp Our humpie rocked
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a good deal a bit of stuff fell on it once & Pross who is an old hand decided to clear out so we hopped out of bed & started down the road. The other two came back into the dugout but Pross & I went on & got into a Dugout about 30 feet deep it is only 2 or 300 yards away & a very wet vast place As the Hun seemed to have finished for the time being we
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soon came back & went to bed again No one was hurt a few had narrow escapes. Have heard since it was a Hun raide & we captured 120 prisoners.
Saturday 2nd March
Went out on the job until about 9 & got some stuff together a cold windy day with a little snow
Sunday 3rd March
Same as yesterday
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Monday 4th March
On the job for about 3 hours a dark wet night
Tuesday 5th March
Weather has cleared up again All went out this evening & got back about 10
Wednesday 6th March
Went to the Baths this morning Am now waiting until 9 PM as we are to go out then as a second shift The time was changed for going
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out to 3 AM & work until daylight
Thursday 7th March
Same as yesterday
Friday 8th March
Same as yesterday only did less work than usual. A slight frost the last day or so beautifull days Pay day did not draw anything as I have most of last pay in hand.
Saturday 9th March
Went to the job as usual. But
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some shells droped close & we ducked for a for a Tunnel near by started again & once more He put his shells in Us for the Tunnell again Got at it again & finished of quick & lively. Another chap & I were last to leave & just as we got on the Tram track a gass shell droped plomp just close so we ran for it & the next one dropped just behind my mate. It kept us moveing, but they started to drop pretty thick in front so we stoped a bit & then went on
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with our Gass Helmets on & got through without any trouble, In fact it does not seem very dangerous stuff, Not as bad as the H.E. shells although they can lob very close & do no harm
Sunday 10th March
A change of programme went out at 10 PM 3 of us stayed until 3 AM putting in iron reinforcements for the concrete. A cake & sox from Aunt Mima today
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Monday 11th March
Went out to the job at midnight a very quiet night
Tuesday 12th March
Went out at 2 AM until daylight
Wednesday 13th March
Out 12 till 5 foggie & dark
Thursday 14th March
Steady rain all morning Night shift as usual
Friday 15th March
Worked in afternoon for a change getting stuff for job
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Saturday 16th March
Did a day shift again
Sunday 17th March
All hands went out in evening & finished job by about 10 oclock. Had to stop work twice on account of gas shells. Fritz started to put over a lot of mixed stuff when I was about ½ way home was just nicely in front of it only had to duck once. Things livened up at the Camp soon after we got there Mostely Gas
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Shells some HE one of the later dropped about 10 yards from our front door. Had just made some cocoa & started on a feed when we got orders to put on our masks & go down the road. Most of the show was over by then but we had to hang about for fresh orders & eventually had to get our blankets & go about 1 mile to where the rest of the Co are camped getting there about 1.30 AM Was luckie enough to strike a hut
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with a couple of old mates in it & got a good camp for the night Alltold 14 men were gassed out of our platoon only 2 or 3 any way seriously, ant say I even smelt it.
Monday 18th March
A day off to recuperate
Tuesday 19th March
The Platoon or what is left of it went on Bath Paraide. Had an exelent bath & a good change. Rained nearly all day, the wettest I have had in this country
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Wednesday 20th March
Four of us went out to fill in the cracks & holes in the O. Post. Like kids makeing mud pies - & just about as usefull The Major came along he did not like the job some of it badly done so our Oficer took some men out at 3 am to fix things up. They got in a barrage about ½ way out & spent some hours in a dugout before they could move 2 or 3 got gassed slightly A few shells got near the camp
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but no damage was done
Thursday 21st March
Did nothing all day
Friday 22nd March
Went out this morning at 6 & & nearly finished the job. Quite a hot day. Put some sand bags & dirt on our humpie to make it safe from Shrapnel or pieces of Shell not sea shells
Saturday 23rd March
Three of us went out to put finishing
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tutches on the Observation Post on Hill 60 Pay Day drew 20 £
Sunday 24th March
Same as yesterday. Finished the job. The rest of the Platoon started a new job yesterday
Monday 25th March
Unloded some trucks this morning. Moved Camp in afternoon about a mile back to the rest of the Co. The 4 of us still have a dugout on our
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own much smaller than the last one got hold of some good bunks & have made our selves quite comfortable Yesterday was a real hot day, Tday quite cold A lot of rumours about that we have had a big reverse about Bapume Hope they are untrue
Tuesday 26th March
Went out at 7 AM in a Motor transport. Very crowded rough
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trip. Excavateing for the concrete work. It is to be a Machine Gun position It was a very clear day & we had a good view over the Huns lines
Wednesday 27th March
Walked out to the job. Got shelled a good deal going out & after we got there some very close but no one hurt
Friday 29th March
Have missed a day somewhere, As I believe it is Good
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Friday. The only way we have of keeping a count of days is that we draw Matches on Thursday & Job on Sunday Worked in 2 shifts today I went at 7 AM. Things seem to be going against us in some parts. The yarn is that we go to the Somme in a day or so. Thought this would be a good quiet Camp but He has droped a few big ones fairly close to us yesterday evening & again this evening
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Saturday 30th March
Went out to the job until about 11 till in about 2 PM with full packs for inspection. Were just dismissed & had got into our Humpie when he started drooping 5.9 the last one fell just out side our door & caught the 3 of us Pross & Thompson very badly. Damaged my R hand a bit. Bell was out side near the back he only got one in the leg. Walked to the Dressing Station at Vormassle. Fresh
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dressing put on & was put in a car on a stretcher. They made me into a stretcher case because I colapsed for a moment in the dressing Station Was taken out of the Car at another Station & inoculated, Put in another Car & brought here Gottweter seems a fair sized Hospital was given Gass & wounds fixed properly Have not had much pain. Had 2nd inoculation
Sunday 31st March
Stayed in bed
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all day & slept a good deal of the time
Monday 1st April
Same as yesterday only did not sleep so much. Did some reading instead
Tuesday 2nd April
Feel quite lively again today have been up most of the time & written up these notes it is very slow work. The RAMC chaps are first class It is quite nice to hear fowls ducks & an old cow
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here in the morning seems quite a long time since I have heard anything but guns Quite some rain the last few days. We get good meals 4 per day. Porrage Bread Bacon & War Breckfast. Stew & Pudding Dinner Pudding Bread & Butter & Tea. Tea Bread & Cheese & Cocoa Supper
Wednesday 3rd April
Got on Red X train about 1 PM & got to the 14th Sationary Hos about 7 Had a Bath & got into a reall Bed with sheets & Nurses
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Thursday 4th April
Hand dressed again first time since Sat
Friday 5th April
Fresh paking put in wond Inoculated again Very comfy here
Saturday 6th April
Packing taken out of wond. Heard I was for Blighty
Sunday 7th April
A very fine day. This ward is filling up again mostly Aussies coming in
Monday 8th April
Up at 5 a cup
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of tea & bread & butter Motor to boat. Left about 10 got Dover 12. Had 2 eggs B & B before starting Stew & tea before landing tea each time. A short train trip & Motor here 3 miles (splendid car) Quix Park VAD hospital
Tuesday 9th April
A quick day getting used to place
Wednesday 10th April
Motered about a mile to another Hospital to see a chap decorated with MM- A private place something like this
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Thursday 11th April
Went for a walk in Vilage Cabled home (Wond very slight cable 5)
Friday 12th April
Another walk got to the beach The first sunnie day we have had here
Saturday 13th April
Usual thing
Sunday 14th April
Explored the grounds. Found a Bell tower but could not get in to ring the Bells
Monday 15th April
Started out for Margate did not ask the way so landed
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in Westgate quite a larger place. The sea front has barb wire entangle
Tuesday 16th April
Rather wet & cold 14 patients left & 14 new ones took there place did not go out
Wednesday 17th April
Walk to Birchinton as usual
Thursday 18th April
As usual. Have a job in the forenoon now helping Nurse to dress the patients
Friday 19th April
Walked to Margate quite a fine place Buss home
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Saturday 20th April
Quite a bussy day went to the Church to the christening of Christopher Powel Cotton came back Had cake & champain & planted a tree. Evening the Major showed us some of his stuffed beasts & later lantern slides of one of his African trips giving a lecture each time all very interesting
Monday 22nd April
A very fine day wheeled one of the lads about the grounds for a time
Sunday 21st April
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Sunday 21st April
Had tea with Aunt S. found Mrs Matthews. Very nice people live about a mile away
Tuesday 23rd April
Just an ordinary day except for getting 4 Aussie letters
Wednesday 24th April
Got the sad news that I am to move tomorrow Letters from Ann dated 18/3 Farewell concert in evening & we gave Master Cotton a silver backed C & Brush cost us 9 each it was quite nice
Thursday 25th April
Left Quix
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at 8.20 after many farewells & good wishes arrived Dartford at noon & realized I was still in the army (Yesterday afternoon went home to tea with Nurse Stone they have a nice old home a big farm) Her parents are like
Friday 26th April
Went for a walk but there is no where to go as the only road leads through Dartford & it is out of bounds
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Saturday 27th April & Sunday 28th April
Nothing in particular. The weather is fairly cold & wet
From Monday 29th to Saturday May 4th
Have been to [indecipherable] to fill this in. Can write with the right H again thum & finger still stiff & bandaged. Have been vaccinated again. Programme here is Breckfast 7.45 your bed has to be made before that Ward is then cleand scrubbed twice a week swept other days
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Dr come at 9 or 11 Dinner 12.45 Tea & Supper & Lights out 9, Can go out from 1 to 8 PM late leave can be had & parties go to London nearly every day three Concerts per week very good , Whist Drives Pictures Etc most other nights. The only road leading from here goes through Dartford & it is out of bounds so there is practically no where to go. The Australian Nurses strike me as being much more competent than the
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English.
Sunday May 6th
Have packed on again today ready to leave tomorrow Monday, Have been able to write with the R hand for last few days.
Monday 6th May
Left Dartford about 10.30 & Marched to the station Changed trains at Waterloo for Winton. The train took us right up to Forant & Cars from there about 2 miles to No 3 Command Depot Hurdcotte. Went through the usual perforfmance
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of giving name age had we seen active service Etc. Signed for knife fork & spoon particulars again over it all again for Blankets & then after a fair wait got a feed. It has been a beautiful day & the country looks beautiful with the diferent greens of the leaves.
Tuesday 7th
The Dr had a look at us this morning. Rain most of the day. Am back to the old camp life again
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Wednesday 8th May
Fell in twice but did nothing
Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th May
Hand dressed every day. Beautiful weather. Doing nothing but reading & loafing about
Monday 13th May
Nothing as usual Wet day again
Tuesday 14th May
Was marked B.A. today as my hand is quite healed. Walked to Forant & back this evening about 4 miles longest walk I have had for a long time
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Wensday 15th May
Saw dentist & had a tooth stopped
Thursday 16th May
Moved from Hut 34 No 1 Co Camp 5 to No 5 Co, Hut 28 Camp, only a few 100 yds
Friday 17th may
Am down for Massage & R C treatment (exercising the affected tissues) But was sent to the dentist waited there until he was knocking off & as he had not got around to me got nothing done. It is an easy
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way to put in time, One gets the paper & has plenty of time to read all the news, Was on fatague in the morning scrubbing out a hut
Saturday 19th May
Was on fatigue for about ½ an hour this morning. Writing & reading rest of day Very hot.
Monday 20th May
Up for classification dont
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dont know what I was marked yet. Had Massage & R C treatment.
There is an old Roman fort on the hill near here. The earth is banked up about 6 ft high in a rough circle about 150 yds across. They Heard some chaps discussing what it had been made for & concluded it must have been a Sports ground or Bike track.
Tuesday 21st May
Nothing out of the way
Wensday 22nd May
Not as much
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fuss as usual for the day before leave. Did not even see the Dr
Thursday 23rd May
Roused out early & had to put our Blankets & cooking eating utensils away before we had breakfast. Got Passes sugar & meat tickets Etc marched to Forant & got the train there. Arrived London about 12 Got a Railway Warrant for Goralwood Had Dinner at War Chest.Bussed to Bayswater & spent afternoon with Aunt Susie Caught train at 8.20 from Euston for Hollyhead
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know what I was marked Had Massage & R.C treatment
arrived ther about 1 am a good trip straight on to Boat. Not a bad night a bit rough & a good deal of sickniss a little bit cold towards daylight. Not much accomedatn on board & a lot of Soldiers Arrived Kingston about 4 straight on to Dublin, Amiens S Station. Plenty of tea & sandwidges free on the warfh Got a train almost straight away for Goralwood got there about 9 & after a little wandering found Aunt M
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Friday 24th to Thursday 30th May
Had a very exelent time at The Hill & feel much better for it Aunt Mary is a quick bright kind little person. She could not do enough for me and is like Aunt Mina in one way.You never eat quite enough to satisfy her. It is a very pretty country Hilly & a great many hedges. Most of the houses are old fashioned little places. Jim does a good deal of farming keeps about 50 sheep & some cattle milks 7 or 8 cows. The weather was glorious all the time except the first day being showery
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Went to a Fair at Bainbridge one day motored about 50 miles & saw a lot of pretty places about Guilford being particularly fine. Some large estates with fine trees, Also about Kilmarnock. Sheep & catle are all sold privately in the main street. Was in Newing quite a large place, & Visited a lot of the neighbours, All very nice people. It seems to be a nice life, The work is not very strenuous. They all know each other & there people before them knew each other. There is a high standard of
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education or rather learning & most of the people I met were anything but narrow minded & take more interest in out side events than most country people.
Friday 31st May
Left Goraghwood about 4 & had about Ύ of an hour to put in at Dublin waiting for the boat train. Walked to Nelsons Monument & back It seems a fine busy place.The beggars are a nusance but certainly they pray for your soul while
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trying to sell you a paper. Kingston looks a nice place. Quite a hilly coast line, Had a very smooth passage arrived London about 6 am Walked down the Embankment passed Cleopatras Neadle which has been splattered by a bomb & a few holes made in the bronze Sphinx at one side of it, Had breakfast Bath etc at WarChish & caught a train about 10 for Harwich Nab met me on Station & we went took our tea out to Penmill that evening
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& went out boating for a time
Sunday 2nd June
Cycled to Hollbrock for tea, D, Nab Miss A & self. A very pretty wood with a nice sheet of water
Monday 3rd June
Went through the Boys Naval Training school in the morning It was most interesting the Boys made a very poor attempt to learn to swim Went to Captain Lynes for tea & tennis
Tuesday
Nab & I Cycled about 7 miles to a friends Cap Ellis I think was the name to lunch He had been blown up on his mine sweeper & had his leg broken
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Wensday 5th June
Cycled about 14 to Hatford up the River that runs between Harwich & Shotley Took lunch with us & got a boat Rowed a couple of miles this very pretty river Came back to Allens for tea & stoped for Diner
Thursday 6th June
Left Harwich about 10, Bussed to Bayswater quite a long trip from Liverpool St Station & spent a few hours with Aunt S
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Left London at 6 & got to Forant about 9 Reported drew blankets etc got some letters & just had time to read one before lights out
Friday 7th June
The usual routeen, Medical inspection Dentist Etc Got 12 letters & two parcels one from
Ann one Aunt Nima Am Marked B.A4 so will not be here long The Dentist has my teeth it is uncomfortable without them.
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Saturday 8th June
Went sick this morning as my eys are a bit sore Massage & R C treatment
Sunday 9th June
Nothing to report
Monday 10th June
Did nothing Have finished R C & Massage treatment Quite cold today & some rain.
Tuesday 11th June
Got my teeth back am very glad to say as my mouth was getting sore, There is nearly
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always some Chap in each hut who is the special clown or in some way is more noticeable than the others In my present hut theres is a chap Bluie O,Brian who is very funnie especially when he comes in about 11 oclock at night He has been in some of the Concert Parties & has a lot of funnie sayings & can imitate a Gramaphone quite well
Wensday 12th June
On Draft for the Oversea Training Brigade, Sutton Veny Medical inspection Etc
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Thursday 13th June
Marched about 4 miles to Wilton train to Warminster about 4 mile march to Camp arrived about 4 oclock drew 3 blankets & had a good tea. The marching made me a bit tired today as I have done so little of any thing for so long.
Friday 14th June
Swimming paraide Marched about 4 miles to Sheerwater a very pretty little Lake on Lord Baths estate, A bit cool for most of us to swim so only a few went in, Afternoon Medical & dental inspection put in
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spare kit drew Rifles Equipment Gasmasks Tinhats Etc. Warminster [indecipherable] at night
Saturday 15th June
Fatague, Put 1000 Rifles into 2 M store, Went to the opening of new YMCA at Sutton Veny in afternoon Quite a mansion in very nice grounds Tennis Crocque Etc.
Sunday 16th June
On guard for the first time since last December. Not a bad guard. (Continued in book three) This day last year sailed from Sydney
[Transcribers notes: Pages 75 to 82 show a record of addresses for correspondence including dates of letters sent home]
[Transcribed by Gail Gormley for the State Library of New South Wales]