Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Bryan war diary, 17 August 1914-4 July 1918 / Edward Patrick Bryan
MLMSS 729

[Transcriber’s notes:
Edward Patrick Bryan’s Service Record shows that he enlisted in C Company, 6th Infantry Battalion (2nd Brigade) at Richmond Vic. on 17 August 1914, two weeks after the declaration of war. His age is shown as 19 years and his trade as labourer. His father, Edward Bryan, is shown as next of kin. It also shows that he served for 2 years on the John Murray, a training ship for young offenders in Melbourne. On 15 June 1917 he signed a Statuary Declaration stating that his correct age at enlistment was 15 years and 9 months.
He embarked on the troop ship, A20, Hororata, on 19 Oct. 1914 for Egypt. He trained at Mena Camp until sailing for Lemnos on 4 April. He was aboard the Galeka for the landing at Anzac Beach on 25 April in the first wave. He took part in the attack on Lone Pine on 6 Aug., was evacuated from Gallipoli on 13 Dec., returned to Egypt, departed for Marseilles, 27 Mar. 1916 and saw action at Pozieres, Mouquet Farm, Albert and the Somme. After returning to Australia he was diagnosed with neurasthenia. He was discharged from military service 4 July 1918, married Ellen Sayers in 1923 and died in 1956 aged 58 years]

[Page 1]
E P Bryan

[Page 2]
17/8/14
I was swarn in for the 1st A.I.E.F at the Richmond drill hall Vic Aust

18/8/14
I had a very busy day saying good by to all my friends before leaving for Broadmeadows Camp it is a small camp about [indecipherable] miles out of Melbourne

19/8/14
We mustered at Sturt St South Melbourne of 1am We had to carry our dinner. Sturt St is next to the Victoria Barricks. We then went in to the Barricks where we

[Page 3]
where given a lecture and wished the best of luck. We then marched through the streets of Melbourne where we where heartly cheered by the people all the rest of the troops went by train all bar the first of us

At dinner time we halted at the Sera Sands hotel Brunswick. We had some gifts given to us by the people during our stay at Broadmeadows
We had our grand march through

[Page 4]
Melbourne streets and also a lecture from the governor general at camp

18/10/14
I said good by to my friends before embarking for the front it was the day

19/10/14
At six oclock in the morning we entrained at Broadmeadows Station and went through to Port Melb there was no one on Flinders St Station being Sunday morning We got on to the pier and went on to the A20 Hororata no one was allowed to come on to the pier it was a very dreary

[Page 5]
send off that is how we left Australia we then went out to outer anchorage at the Gellibrand light house for the night

20/10/14
at day break we left for the sea it was very calm and we reached the heads at breakfast time porridge for break

26/10/14
We arrived at Albany a little West Aust sea port where we remained a week during such time the rest of the troop ships came in every day and night

[Page 6]
2/11/14
In the morning we all left Albany we went under a good escort of war ships we went in three rows of about 8 ships in a row the Star of Victoria was in front of us and the Omera in the rear of us the Sydney was on our right flank

9/11/14
early in November one after noon we were having a little lecture on the forcastle head when we saw the ship making to the left of us in a short time We heard the bands playing god save the King and then

[Page 7]
We got told that the H.M.A.S. Sydney had sunk the Emdon at Cocasiselan we where under full steam and between Calambo and Albany when it happened it was lucky for us

16/11/14
We arrived at Calimbia it is a nice little port and the niggers can run some with the rickshaws they are very nice to ride in there is plenty of cocunats and oranges there they come out to the ships with them

[Page 8]
at little later we arrived at Aden it is a nice place you can buy nice fans and ostrich fethers very cheep it is mutch the same as Colimbia only it is very well fortified
later we arrived at Port Suis it is a town at the mouth of the Suez Canel we remain a little while there then we went up the canal it is a great peace of work it is nothing but sand each side of it it took us 18 hours to go

[Page 9]
through it. every ship has got a small sirch light on the bow of the ship so that it can see where it is going when two ships pass the one going towards Australia has got to tie up to the side
then we arrived at Port said it is mutch the same as the others plenty of sand and pine apples cocunats and oranges the niggers are a horrible lot for buckshies

[Page 10]
5/12/14
We arrived at Alexanderia where we disembarked and marched to the train we where in the train just on 7 hours then we arrived at Cairo late at night we then marched out to Mena Camp with full packs up it heart to because there was 2400 troops and to [indecipherable] transport horses on board and there was heardly room to move We arrived at Mena Camp at 11.30 and slept in the open with our over coats

[Page 11]
6/12/14
I and a friend went up to the Pyrimids and Spyinks where we had a good look around in and out all sandy desert during our stay at Mena Camp we had some good hard work on the sand & we where inspected by Sir George Reed and a big inspection by Sir Ian Hamilton it was then he judged if we where fit for our enemy and the field

[Sir George Reid, ex-Prime Minister of Australia]

[Page 12]
3/4/15
We marched from Mena Camp to Cairo and embarked for alexanderia there we embarked on to the troop ship Galeka

4/4/15
We left Alexanderia for Lemnos ireland arriving there on the 7/4/15

7/4/15
We arrived at Lemnos ireland it was a Greek ireland till the war started then England took it over it was about 20 miles in with and about the same in length it was a rum old spot

[Page 13]
plenty of windmills and old houses We remained on the troop ship all the time for having a few dummy landings there was a good few war-ships in it including the queen Elizibath and the old Triumph

24/4/15
We left Lemnos Ireland and steamed to the far cost if it where we remained till 11 PM all lights where out and not a sound could be made or heard from any of the ships that was with us at

[Page 14]
11 PM a little destroy came along side and gave us orders to fetch up the anchor and get under way in which we did with not a sound

25/4/15
We came in sight of Anzac at about 4 oclock in the morning a lot of troops where on destroyers and war-ships but we where on the troop ship until about 5.30 AM when a lot of small boats and naval steem pinices came to take us ashore

[Page 15]
I got on the first lot of boats to leave our ship I just got on board when I heard the first burst of fire from the enemy They had spotted the boats loaded with troops that where near the shore than we it felt very funny when I first got under fire but it soon wore off when I landed I waited on the shore till my [indecipherable] came ashore then we

[Page 16]
went over the first hill and I was put in charge of the packs I started helping a doctor to fix up some wounded but it got so hot for us they where pelting the shrapnil all along the gully it was later called Shrapnal gully I then went up to the left flank with the N.Z We had no [indecipherable] the first day and we could see the enemy

[Page 17]
see the enemy as we can see one another in the street it was funny firing at one another to try and git his life
The bullets where zipping parst at all angles and the boys where going down pretty quick the machine guns where cutting the bushes all around us my heart was in my mouth all day, at about 9 pm I went down the gully for some

[Page 18]
water I got to a bit of a whell hole the enginers made when I heard a spent bullet comin my way I ducked but it got me in the left boot just below the ankle the bullet only went in half way but it stung some and I did not know what to do for the minute but I soon hobbled down to the beach where I had my boot taken off and

[Page 19]
the bullet taken out and had it dressed Then I got put onto a little boat and sent out to look for a boat we went to a lot of ships singing out for any room for some wounded but they where nearly all full at last we got taken on board a troops ship [indecipherable] where we where treated for our wounds and the ships crew did all

[Page 20]
they could for us during the night a naval boat came along side and gave orders that all small boats where to be sent ashore to fetch all troops aboard again they where going to evacuate the place that night and the second Brigade where going to be reinforced to [indecipherable] it while the others got aboard but the 4 Brigade and

[Page 21]
some N Z troops came so they cancelled the evacuation
We layed out for to days and a half then we steamed to Alexandria
We arrived at Alexanderia about two days after that we where taken by ambulance to Victoria hospital I remanded there for about a fortnight, I then went to [indecipherable] a converlesent camp about 7 miles

[Page 22]
out of Alexandria I remained there for a while

25/5/15
embarked again on to the same ship as whitch I came away from Anzac by she was a clean ship

27/5/15
I arrived at Lemnos ireland where we remained for a few days
there was a good few war ships in the ireland

1/6/15
at 11 30 PM we landed again on Anzac at Watsons pier
the place looked a lot diffrent than when

[Page 23]
we made our first landing the scrubb was nearly all cut and the place was full of dug-outs. I found my Battalion in a rest camp at the bottom of Shrapnil-gully. I had a good look around but there was not many of the old boys left I then joined the signallers we used to have little practice now and again it was a lot quiter than the first day

[Page 24]
1/7/15
The 6th Bt and the 7th Bt went up to Steels Post we went in as one but we where not full strength then we releaved the 8 Bt who where always lucky went for a spell to Embros ireland. We where the first to expearance Howatsers shells on Anzac they gave it to us properly we had about 200 hundred casuelties in about one hour the first day they sent it into us

[Page 25]
6/8/15
The landing of suvelar bay was made, The afternoon before at 4.30 PM a terrifick bombardment took place at 5 PM the 1 Bde charged and took Lone Pine our 7 Battalion helped them with the aide of our bombers hold it, the enemy flatoned our trenches
at 12 PM we the 6 Battn charged the german officers trench it was a trench in front of us on Steels Post

[Page 26]
we got to the paripit and some one sang out to retire
at 1 AM the next morning we charged again but the same happined again at 30 AM we charged again but the same happined again at larst we found out that it was only a dummy charge to draw the enemy from suverla bay so that the english could git on mutch better with less enemy

[Page 27]
7/8/15
At 10 AM we where taken over to the left of Lone pine we took over a lot of the firing line for the few men we had left we lost about 300 men the night before we had a lot of work to do

8/9/15
We where releaved by the 22nd Battn we went out just behind the firing line and sleept for the night a few shells came over and it was new to the 22 Battn

[Page 28]
9/9/15
at 10 PM we went down to the beach and embarked on trawlers and went to lemnos ireland again it was our first spell and we where very glad of it a lot of men went to the Hospitalls it was quite a treat to be able to by a few things again such as fruit

11/11/15
we where mustared up in reviue order and inspected by Lord

[Page 29]
Kitchner he gave us a good lecture and said that he was pleased with our work

13/11/15
we packed up and embarked on a trawler for Anzac
we left lemnos ireland and got as far as embros bad weather made us put in there for two days it is about 14 miles from Anzac

15/11/15
we landed again at Anzac and took over a small part of

[Page 30]
the firing line to the right of Lone pine it was a very quite place and we had good trenches on high hills

29/11/15
The turks bombard Lone pine cousing heavy casualties they had good big shells and plenty

28/11/15
we got our first shower of snow it come heavy and we had to sleep out in it it remained on the hill tops for a week a lot got frost bittin

[Page 31]
13/12/15
We evacueated Anzac we got orders to pack up at 6 PM we left the trenches at 10 30 PM and marched to the beach where we embarked on the abbesear and went to Lemnos ireland and waited for a good while we where glad to git off the place but it made me down hearted when we heard that the where all clearing out because we

[Page 32]
lost a lot of good men there

23/12/15
We where given a present supprise by gitting issued with a Christmas billy each and a plum puddon between two men
the contents of the billeys where all useful to us especially where cards and shaving material I lost the address of the sender of mine and could not corespond with the sender of it

[Page 33]
3/1/16
We embarked on the SS Empress of Brittan she was a verry big ship we here carring 800 troops we where not propelly full up then we did not lose any time in gitting away

4/1/16
We left lemnos for Egypt leaving at 8 AM we where glad to git to old Egypt again

5/1/16
We disembarked at Alexanderia and entrained for Tel-El-Kebir the

[Page 34]
old Sudan Battle field it is where the British square was first broken I had a good look around the trenches and gun pits I found plenty of peaces of old shell and bullits the trenches look as if they where just dug instead of 1882

28/1/16
we entrained for Serapion it is over the other side of the canal there is no town

[Page 35]
it is just desert for about 200 miles we want smokes

2/2/16
We marched 9 miles over the desert to Serapion East where we camped and dug trenches to meet the Turks if they came
all our tucker and water had to be brought out on camels
We got as good as ever we got I had a good job in a signalling station on a hill top

[Page 36]
22/2/16
The battalion was broken up and every second man was sent to a new Battalion ours went to the 58 Bt The idiar was to git some men that had been under fire mixed up with the new men it was not a happy parting because they took half of the old men out of what was left of them it was my luck to stay behind

[Page 37]
6/3/16
I was made Lance Cpl of C companys signallers

10/3/16
We left Serapium East and marched back to the canal we where issued with new rifles and new ammunition

10/3/16
Camped on the canal

26/3/16
We embarked on train for Alexanderia and boarded SS Ballarat

27/3/16
We sailed for Marcails all the boys where glad to git over there

[Page 38]
28/3/16
Passed the Ireland of Crete

30/3/16
We droped anchor out side Malta leaving again same day

31/3/16
We passed between the ilands of Corsica and Sardinia

1/4/16
anchored out side Marcals

2/4/16
We steamed into Marcaills and intrained for a town called Goddersvale in the north of France

[Page 39]
3/4/16
Passed through the town of Lyons it is a very big place and the people gave us all sorts of things I had a good few kisses off the french girls they are very prity and plumpy

4/4/16
We passed through the town of Aimes it was the same as ab

5/4/16
We detrained at Godersvale and marched to billets at Balleul

[Page 40]
it is a nice big place and the people treated us well especially one nice little who used to take me to tea every evening I did not mind

5/4/16
We left above and marched to a village called Erquingham
it was a nice little place about 3 miles behind the firing line

26/4/16
the germans shelled above causing little damage

[Page 41]
and few casualties

25/4/16
We had a bit of a blow out in memery of the landing of Gallapolie

27/4/16
We where inspected by Sir D. Haig

30/4/16
We took over a part of the firing line at Flewerbay releaving 22 Battalion

5/5/16
germans shelled us heavily for two hours the raided the 20 Bt on our left we where lucky having 30 casuelties

[Page 42]
11/5/16
enemy aeroplane brought down in our lines

14/5/16
we were releaved from the firing line by the 8 Bt we went to Elbow farm in reserves to them

25/5/16
our billets shelled no casualties

29/5/16
We took over our old part of the firing line

30/5/16
We shelled german firing line

[Page 43]
gitting no reply

1/6/16
I went out to no-mans land and found a telephone wire I connected one to it and brought it back to my phone I tried to git some news but no luck

2/6/16
I went again to no-mans-land to look for more wire but got no more

4/6/16
in the morning we shelled the german

[Page 44]
firing line gitting no reply in the evening they shelled us for an hour we did not reply to him in the night at 11PM we then started a terifick bombardment on him he did not like it I can tell you

6/6/16
we shelled the german lines gitting little reply for 1 hour

8/6/16
we had a good bomb dual with the enemy he used

[Page 45]
bombs waying from 9 to 18 pounds our chapps where using from 5 to 60 pounders it was the night before leaving the trenches

9/6/16
the germans threw a few shells over into our trenches

10/6/16
with artillery cover we bombarded fritz with 60 pounders it is a big bomb with a long steel rod

[Page 46]
11/6/16
we were releaved by the 2nd Bt we had a lively time gitting out because fritz had every road and trench played on with machine guns
when releaved we had to march 8 miles and it was raining all the time, we arrived at Salley at 330 AM and we where all ringing wet and they had no rum to issue us with Salley is a nice little place

[Page 47]
12/6/16
I was given a supprise by gitting a letter from Miss Ella White

13/6/16
I was given another supprise by gitting two photos one from Florrie and one from Millie

17/6/16
We where awakened at 2 AM and we had to don our helmets because we where given some more gas by fritz it lasted ½ an hour

[Page 48]
18/6/16
then next morning I was examined by our Bt doctor and he said I had a touch of bronchitis I had been very bad for the parss week or more

18/6/16
I was sent to the second Fld Ambulance and was taken in with above

19/6/16
I was sent from above to Balleul to the divisional rest camp we where well looked after

[Page 49]
for once and good tucker same day my Battalion moved from Sally to Neuve eglise

22/6/16
I walked to Balleul a distance of about 4 miles there and back it knocked me clean out after been crook

26/6/16
I was discharged from the rest camp I went back to my Bt in a motor ambulance to Bulford camp the same afternoon
three of our aeroplanes

[Page 50]
brought down three german observation ballons

29/6/16
at 1130 PM we where given the order to stand to they where expecting some thing to happen but it was all postponed thank god because it was raining

6/7/16
we packed up and at 8.30 the Bt went up to the firing line
I was sent to Bde Hqrs for our Bt Despatches

[Page 51]
I then had to walk about 7 miles to the lines I had to sleep at Bt Hqrs for the night because no one was going up to the line and I did not know the way we had a lively time gitting about because the enemy machine guns where firing and the bullets where flying around the line was [indecipherable] ridge it was pretty high

9/7/16
We where releaved from the trenches

[Page 52]
by the North Stafords an english regiment We then marched to Aldershot camp arriving there at 4 AM we sleeps and knocked about till 7 PM We then packed up and marched to Bailleul ariving there at billet at 2 AM we remained there for a few days

11/7/16

At 130 we packed up and marched from the city of Bailleul to the railway station

[Page 53]
where we entrained we left at 4 AM we remained in the train for 8 hours at 11 30 we disembarked at Dullens had dinner and marched all day till 7 PM a distance of 15 mile to a village called Halloy a nice place

12/7/16
At 10 AM we started off again and marched till 2 PM then we had dinner We then marched one more mile to a village called Flessels where

[Flesselles is not on the route between Doullens and Albert]

[Page 54]
we remained for the night

13/7/16
At 3 PM we marched to a village called Cardinet where we remained for 2 days and 3 nights it was not to bad

16/7/16
At 9 30 we left our billets and marched 14 miles to Lealvillers arriving there at 5 30 The people are prow germans they took the handles off the pumps and hid

[Page 55]
them away, I can see trouble here very soon here we left our packs and blankets all we carried on was our over coat towl and shaving gear and equtmins

20/7/16
We left above and marched to a village called Senlis about 6 miles

21/7/16
We left above and marched 4 miles to Albert
the old statue of our vergin Mary is

[Page 56]
still hanging the same as when the germans hit it with shells

22/7/16
We left above at 9 30 PM and marched to the old British first line before the advance began there we remained for the night as only the eyes that saw the bombardmens would beleave it you could read the paper with the flashes of the guns the place fairly shook and

[The attack on Pozieres]

[Page 57]
the place rumbled at 12 PM the 1 and 3 Aust brigades charged carrying three lines of trenches and the village of Pozziers and woods in 20 minutes the heads thought it would take them 5 hours they suffered very heavy and so did we

23/7/16
At 5 30 AM we where moved to a support trench just behind the firing line there we remained

[Page 58]
25/7/16
early morning we where rushed up to the firing line to support the 3 Bde. We had to advance through the berage of fire the enemy counter attacked but was repulced with heavy losses
at 5 30 PM we where with drawn and taken to the support trenches where we remained for the night

26/7/16
we where carting rations all day to

[Page 59]
the firing line such as [indecipherable] water ammunitions and rations it was hard work and there was plenty of shells flying about

27/7/16
At 4 30 AM we where releaved by the 22 Bt we marched down and remained for the day behind the guns at 6 30 PM we marched on to albert and there we had a good sleep

28/7/16
At 7 45 AM we marched to a village called warloy there we remained the night

[Page 60]
29/7/16

We left above and marched to a village called laviogne where we remained for the night

30/7/16
we left above and marched to bonneyville where we had a good spell the people where very kind

7/8/16
We left above and marched back to laviogne where we remained for the night

[Page 61]
8/8/16
we marched back to warloy 12 miles we where revewed by ther King and general Bird ward the later presented some of our 5B with M. Medal

14/8/16
At 8 AM we left and marched to Albert we had dinner and then marched to reserve trenches where we remained for the night prity cold

15/8/16
We went to the line 1 platoon in firing line

[Page 62]
1 in reserves and 2 in supports that day the enemy shelled us heavily causing heavy casualties to us

16/8/16
enemy counter attacked but was repulsed with loss

17/8/16
We where releaved by A & B boys we went down to reserves for a spell

18/8/16
At 7 PM I was sent up in advance of my Coy to Bt Hqrs for flares

[Page 63]
at 9 PM we hoped out into no-mans land the artillery opned up at the same time shelling the enemy. We went out into no-mans and dug in at 400 yds from the larst line it was pretty hot out there

21/8/16
the 5 Bt releaved us from the new line and we went back to supports
We then went back to Albert where we had

[Page 64]
a well earned sleep that was needed

22/8/16
At 8 30 AM we marched back to warloy where we remained for the night

23/8/16
At 9 AM we left above and marched to Rubempre where we remained for the night

24/8/16
At 12 30 we left above and marched to a village called Amplier

[Page 65]
where we remained for the night and till late next day it was warm

26/8/16
At 1 AM I was sent to the railway station as baggage gard at 4 30 we left in the train. we arrived at Godersvelder [Godewaersvelde]
At 12 we disembarked there and marched to a village called reninghelst a distance of 7 miles. we are know again in belgium

29/8/16
At 1 30 we left reninghelst and

[Page 66]
marched to a town called Poperingie there we remained for the night and the next day fine town

30/8/16
At 8.30 we marched about ½ m to the railway we traviled for ½ hour then we remained for a good while At this end the train takes us up pritty close to the line

31/8/16
We releaved the essex just to the right of

[Page 67]
the town of YPRES it wsa a fine big place before it was shelled and it had a lovely Cathederal in it I was put in a strong point with a phone

1/9/16
4 15 PM My great and best cobber Sig John Hall came up to my sig station when he had left his kit a couple of days before when returning with it he was hit in the face with a

[Page 68]
peace of shell going through to the neck cutting one of his juggler vanes. I was very sorry to hear about it because he was one of my best sigs and was very kind hearted he would never refuse to do what he was told and cool under fire. May he R.I.P.

12/9/16
to day I spent my birthday in in a strong hold about 400 yds behind the firing line & about a ¼ of a mile to the right of

[Page 69]
Ypres City, the same day we took over some of the line about dead in front of our old position And I hope that I spend no more away from Australia not while the war is on any how
you get nothing extra out here

16/9/16
I put in a transfer to the R.F.C hoping to get out of the infentry

17/9/16
I receaved a message from Hqrs

[Page 70]
to leave the sigs and join my Coy again and 12 Platoon

18/9/16
I went up to the firing line and releaved another Cpl and I took charge

25/9/16
I gave 25 franks to Mr Shrimpton to cable home for 10 £ for me having it sent to the Commonwealth Bank of Australia London [indecipherable] leave
During our stay in the trenches

[Page 71]
We had 3 bombardments on the enemy using 60 powanders bombs and artillery it was pritty hot and also a bomb raid on one of his strong points

26/9/16
at early morning we where releaved from the firing line by the 2 XX Bt we marched a good way behind the line then we entrained we traviled for ¼ of an hour when we disembarked and had 4 miles march to huts near the town of Ouderdom where we remained 13 days

[Page 72]
8/10/16
At 5 30 PM we the above place and marched to the Belgioum Chateau it is a fine place Gen Von Bissing had his Hqrs before the war he is the german that shot Nurse Cavell. We dropped our packs and went from there to the front line for fatigue and then we returned to our dug outs we where dead tired

14/10/16
the Battalion

[von Bissing was Governor-General of occupied Belgium]

[Page 73]
left there position at 2 30 PM I was picked as one of the Brigade billiting N.C.Os. We marched to and there we got into a motor car and taken to Steenvoyd we got billits the Brigade arrived next day big place

16/10/16
at 6 30 AM we got into another motor car and was taken a [indecipherable] distance through some lovely country to a place called Arnick I think we are going to the

[Page 74]
Somme again because it is our division on the march again the same as before

17/10/16
At 7 30 AM I arrived at Eperlecques as Bde billeting
The Battalion arrived at night

18/10/16
I went for a trip to St Omer is a very nice place

19/10/16
[indecipherable] went for a trip up the river Heulle as far as Watton nice place

20/10/16
At 7 PM left

[Page 75]
Eperlecques and marched 10 miles to Arques where we entrained we where travelling 12 hours then we disembarked at St Requier and marched 3 miles to [indecipherable] that was on 21/10/16

23/10/16
We left above and marched 5 miles and then we got into busses driven by French soldiers we did about 20 miles up to the somme we billeted the night in a village called Dernan Curt[Dernancourt]

[Page 76]
24/10/16
at 1.30 we left above and marched 6 miles to Fricourt we had to walk about all night being so wet and cold we had no where to sleep

25/10/16
My self and a cobber made a good dug-out when finished we had about 2 minutes notice to pack up and fall in and of course we had to pull down every thing then they said it is canceled and we had to build up our dug-out again nice and cold

[Page 77]
26/10/16
At 8.30 we fell in with every thing and marched 4 ½ miles back to Albert because our larst quarters where condemmed not fit for us

28/10/16
We where isued with a yellow patch to so on our packs it is for the aeroplanes and artillery to reckernise us. The first time we where down here we had pink ones on Anzac we had white ones 6/2/15
We have been isued with our steel helmets and box resperators again

[Page 78]
29/10/16
At 8.30 we left Albert and marched 7 miles to a bit of a cover in place and remained for 3 hours we had a isue of tea and two sand bags to carry under the sholder straps A lot of us got extra ones to rap around our legs it was very wet and we where up to our knees in mud we then marched up to the line we sliped all over the place we remained in reserves to carry rations and

[Page 79]
warter up to the line

30/10/16
We carried rations up to the line we where up to our pips in mud we had to carry them a long way

31/10/16
we carried rations up to the line very muddy. we then went back
2 ½ miles for warter the enemy seen us and shelled us heavy all the way back we then had to take it up to the line on our way back it rained hard and drenched us all

[Page 80]
to the skin. my bed was to sit on a tin in a foot of warter all night
a lot of the enemy came in to us to take them up

1/11/16
At 5.30 we packed up and marched back about one mile we releaved a coy of the 7 Bt the enemy shelled us heavy.
one casuelty I slipt on the steps of a dug-out good bed that night we did two trips back to Bde Hq for rations very muddy

2/11/16
At 545 we

[Page 81]
packed up and marched right back 3 miles we had a bit of a dug-out. I died for the night very soor [indecipherable]
3/11/16
we where isued with sheep skin coats and lamb skin gluves very nice and warm we where glad

5/11/16
At 4 AM we where woke up and made get into fighting order we had about 5 minutes to get breakfast and fall in we had a trip to the firing line carrying bombs

[Page 82]
7/11/16
we had to fall in and marched to a dump we got spades and had to go cleaning up roads plenty mud

9/11/16
At 145 AM we where aroused up and had a hurried breakfast
we [indecipherable] fighting order and marched 5 miles to Hqrs then we got rations and went another mile plenty mud

10/11/16
At 5.30 PM we packed up and marched to a reserve

[Page 83]
trench where we stoped the night plenty shells

11/11/16
At 5.30 PM we packed up and marched 2 hours to the firing line the ground is torn

12/11/16
At 9/30/ we where heavily shelled by the enemy seen releaving

13/11/16
2 AM we where releaved by the 46 Bt we walked 6 miles to the rear. had 5 hours sleep and then we marched 4 miles to huts and there we sleept the night

[Page 84]
14/11/16
At 9 AM we packed up and marched 6 miles to Dernan Curt. where we remained the night we where isued with gloves forks spoons shaving brushes

15/11/16
At 9.30 AM we left above and marched 7 miles to Ribemont remaining a few days we had a fall of sno
At 9.30 we left above and marched 2 miles then we where isued with coffee at 12 [indecipherable] we got into motor busses

[Page 85]
and travilled 4 hours through Armiens and and billited at a town called Vignacourt plenty of drill

30/11/16
At 30 we where aroused and woke and had to pack up and at 4 AM we marched about 1 mile and ½ to the railway station we stood about till 8 AM then we intrained we disimbarked at a village called Abiel we remained there the night and a day very cold

[Page 86]
2/12/16
At 5.30 AM my platoon was aroused and we had a hasty breakfast. Packed up and marched to Bde Hqrs we got into a motor bus which took us to Frecourt. Then we had to walk to Longerval wood we camped there in a hut and went on fatigue. remained a few days

5/12/16
At 4 PM

[Page 87]
we packed up and marched to a hill called where we remained the night with our Bt. very cold

6/12/16
early morning we where aroused and had breakfast packed up and got ready to go to the firing line at Fleurs when they notefyed me that I was to go to england on leave. I did a lot of running about to get my pass

[Page 88]
I arrived at Albert at 8 PM. I was supposed to catch the train the next morning but I was asleep and missed it and had to wait till the next morning

8/12/16
I entrained at Albert for leharve we where in the train 25 hours. very cold

9/12/16
We disembarked at leharve and slept in stables on concreat floors

[Page 89]
10/12/16
At 10/30 we embarked on a small steam boat At 12/5 we left leharve it was very calm at sea pretty crouded

11/12/16
At 7 AM we disembarked at South hampton got into a train and went to Waterloo station London We marched to horse ferry road got new uniform and went to the bank and drew my money very pleased
during my stay in London I visited the St Pauls the museum

[Page 90]
seen Nelsons and Lord Roberts and the Juke of Wilingtons carriage it is 12 ton weight & is made of solid iron of guns he has captured in difrent engagments it has 6 wheels and it took twelve of the bigest draught horses in London to draw it through the streets of London
I did not like return to france so I stoped 8 days over leave I gave my self up to the police and was

[Page 91]
sent to my Bde training camp

4/1/17
I was tried at orderly room and given 32 days pay and 8 days detention I was not striped

12/1/17
I was releaved from the detention and was paid 30 bob

13/1/17
we cleared out to London on French leave and had a good time

12/3/17
I serendered to the police warick square

15/3/17
I was escorted to lark Hill Camp to be tried

17/3/17
I was tried and given 28 F P No 2 51 days R W on saint Patricks day

[Page 92]
19/3/17
I was examined by my doctor at Lark Hill and sent to Fargo Hospital with run down nerves it is a very nice place considering it is all huts they are well fitted up in side we have a couple of deasent nurses

20/3/17
I was discharged from the Hospital because they could not do any good for me. The doctors said I would have to be sent to comverlesent from

[Page 93]
my training Bt for several days after my return to my DPt
I was going to be sent away but the doctor keept for getting it. I was off duty all the time and said at last that I would have to be sent to Perham downs

24/3/17
I was given a railway warant to travel to Petworth to number 1 Command to be sent from here to comverlesent.

[Page 94]
25/3/17
I was examined by one of the doctors here and marked B1 A4. that means one month spell

26/3/17
I and some more Australians where sent across to No 3 Camp to spend our spell very cold

30/3/17
I was picked for perment gard in London for 2 months I passed all the officers and all inspections I got dressed and packed up and was

[Page 95]
just going to march away when I got chucked out they went and sent men that had only been away from Australia a short time. And I an Anzac can not go this is the way all the old men get treated here

31/3/17
I was taken to orderly room and tried for not answering a statment when called upon I told them the position I was in and they remanded me to the Comidant

[Page 96]
2/4/17
I was tried by the Comidant I told him the position and he said that no man can be crimed to not telling them what crimes we had had before so for the sake of not making a fool of the Sargent Major he gave me three days CC.

3/4/17
I was classefied by the doctor and marked B2 A that means a good spell I have been marked for six months home

[Page 97]
service good cop

16/4/17
I was picked for job as orderly to the boss they said I would have to be very regimental no good

18/4/17
I seen the adajant and he had heard some thing about my my previous crimes it seems that the two men there know told him some thing because they do not want to loss there job
wait till I catch them alone

[Page 98]
20/4/17
I was taken on the staff mess room again washing up panickens good job

21/4/17
I receaved the sum of six pounds from the Commonwealth Bank whitch had been sent by my Father in Melbourne

25/4/17
early morning we had Church Perade in memory of the landing of Anzac All the men that where in the landing marched first there was very

[Page 99]
few of the old boys left to march in the morning we where isued with the days [indecipherable] whitch had the following articles for us.
Breakfast [indecipherable] cook house 7.45 AM Anzac hash bread butter dripping [indecipherable] to coffee

dinner 1PM Cook house 12 45 Pick up 12 55. Rost beef Suvla Bay sauce or boiled leg of mutton Rost [indecipherable] onion sauce

[Page 100]
Potatoes Peas, Poziers Pudding Dugout Sauce

Tea 5 30 Cook house 5 20 Pick up 5 25
Cold Meats A la Bapaume Pickles Fruit Cake A la Lemnos
Bread Butter Dripping Tea good feed day

Programe
9 45 AM Church Perade and March Past 11 AM Cricket Match & Billiard Tournament 1 PM Dinner 2 PM Cricket match Wrestling and Boxing Contests

[Page 101]
5 30 Tea
7.30 Consert

Same day put in for leave to London

27/4/17
At 12/17 PM I left Luggershall for London I arrived at London 2/30 PM I was not sorry to loose sight of the camps for a while

30/4/17
I returned to camp on the 1 PM train When I was just ready to leave my friends they receaved news that there son had been wounded

24/5/17
I was given 7 days CB for being absent

[Page 102]
from the camp for half an hour

4/6/17
I came on leave to London for three days leave good cop

6/6/17
I sent a cable home for ten pounds and also visited the bank for the purpose of fixing up some matters Bank of N.S.W. I also sent a wire for a days extintion whitch was granted

7/6/17
I seen Bert fowler off at Euston for

[Page 103]
his departure for Wales after having leave to see his brother

7/6/17
I also seen Jim off at Euston Station his departure to his converlesent camp at Birmingham

8/6/17
My pass expired at ten AM, but I was going to catch the 5 PM train for camp when I got to the station I found I had lost my ticket I went to the R.T.O. at waterloo he said I would have to buy one, So I never had

[Page 104]
enough money to buy one, and I guessed where I left my ticket out at my friends. So I went out and had to stop the night as the last train had gone, I was very angry

9/6/17
At 10 30 AM on Saturday morning I cought the train and traviled to Lugershall arriving at 3 30 PM, I had found my ticket in some letters I left at my friends

11/6/17
I was classified

[Page 105]
and marked A 4 that means that I am to go to my training unit until I come of age Same day I was tried and given 2 days pay 10 shillings I was also transfered to No 1 Coy to be drafted away

16/6/17
I was drafted to Lark hill to 2nd T Bt we intraned at Tidworth changed at andover and at Sailsbury I had to walk 2 ½ miles from amberry station with my kit hot

[Page 106]
1/7/17
I waent on sick perade to see the doctor I told him I had a bad heart and was suffering with bad nerves he told me to come up on Monday morning to see me

2/7/17
Monday morning at 9 PM I was suffering with pulpertition of the heart he examined me and told me to come to morrow morning again

3/7/17
I was examined

[Page 107]
again and he said I was un fit for any fighting or hard work So he has put me up for a Medical Bord

16/7/17
at 2 PM at No 12 Camp I was borded there was five doctors on the bord I was marked C.1 by Major Miller

[Page 108]
at 10/8/17 at 5 AM I cought a train at Euston Station for Birmingham, I had to change at Rugby and I arrived at Birmingham at 8 AM, I then got on a car and was taken to Selly Oak where I seen some of my friends, At four PM I went up to the University hospital and was examined and admitted emidately with shingles

[Page 109]
22/8/17
I was discharged from the above hospital at I asked for a few days leave but they would not grant it. So I took it my last chance I went up to London by the 12 30 midnight train arriving in London at 3 30 AM I then went and sleept at a Salvation Army place for soldiers & sailors

23/8/17
At 10 AM I left the above place and went to my young ladies palce where I stayed and enjoyed my-

[Page 110]
self with her Mother and a few friends tray bon

27/8/17
Well after having a few spear days and thwe wek end with my young lady I went and cought the 5.30 PM train from Waterloo and returned to Hells dip Lark Hill arriving there at 9.30 PM raining

Hells dip is what I have called Lark Hill or no-mans land squear dimkim

[Page 111]
28/8/17
I was tried at the Companys office for five days A.W.L. by the Company Comander Cpt Bond He remanded me to the CO Col Walstab

29/8/17
I was tried at B.O.R. for the above charge by Col. Walstab and he went to the kind necesetry of giving me 20 days F P. No 2. thick
[Field Punishment No 2]
29/9/17
I went into town of Salisbury to brake the monitey of the camp for

[Page 112]
a while instead of that I had to walk home and I nearly broke my heart. I started att 12.30 PM arrived at hut at 3 30 AM I was that sore I could hardly walk the next day distance 10 miles

12/9/17
I spent my 19 birthday in Lark Hill Salisbury plain. I got a box of sigarettes and seven shillings as a present from my young lady and a cupple of

[Page 113]
cards one from her Mother, very nice

16/9/17
I had to walk ten miles home to my hut on the planes again from Salisbury long walk 10

12/10/17
all my camp left Lark Hill and marched 20 miles to Sutton Veny
I and half a dozen of my mates stays stayed behind with me as a rear guard A lot of tommies all 18 years old came to

[Page 114]
take over hour camp

16/10/17
I and the rest of the rear guard proceaded to Sutton Veny by train and we got a nice wet hide when we arrived nice welcome
Sutton Veny is a nice place and we have nice surrounding country here it is a much better place than Lark Hill. nice bike rides

26/10/17
I was made Lance Corporal in

[Page 115]
in charge of the sanation of two camps, not a bad job

2/12/17
We where isued with christmas cards three each with our badge on it and a few battle honours

10/12/17
I receaved my third cable of 10 pounds from Melb

25/12/17
we where issued with a little christmas box containing a stick of shaving soap, a pack of playing

[Page 116]
cards three ankerchieffs two packets of cigarettes a wallet from the Y.M.C.A.

1/1/18
we spent new years day there was sports all day, at dinner time we had a one pound pudding each and very nice

2/1/18
I receaved my fourth tenner it came in very handy as I was as broke as the world would let me be

[Page 117]
7/1/18
I receaved good news that I was to go to Weymouth as all the old boys C. Class where to go home for a spell 1914 class

8/1/18
at 8 AM I was packed up and had to say good by to Warminster and I proceeded to the station at 1055 The train left and we had to change at Westbury station train 12 20 we proceeded to

[Page 118]
Weymouth arriving 2.20 PM the remainder of the boys going on to camp I and another chap where left behind to load our kit bags arriving at camp at 4 PM - Westham

9/1/18
We where classied by the doctor to see if we where fit to be borded

10/1/18
Where where shifted from the receaving huts to B. Coy. 2 Command Dep

11/1/18
at 10 AM I

[Page 119]
was finilly borded and marked B2B that means a trip home for six months spell home

13/1/18
We where put on a boat role W.

15/1/18
We where transfered to D. Company where we had to wait our boat

18/1/18
We all went to the doctor and he examined us and marked us to eather a birth

[Page 120]
or a hammock I got a hammock
during our stay at Westham camp we had to pass through a lot of doctors, red tape

29/1/18
we where issued with our boat tickets they where very careful and they compared our signatures with the ones on our pay books and our boat tickets

[Page 121]
30/1/18
at 4 AM we had revaley and at half past we had breakfast
at a quarter to six we fell in on the perade ground we had a lot of shifting about finelly we marched to the station with two bands
at half past seven we got a cup of coffee each man from the Australian red Cross at 8.40 we left Weymouth Station
at Exeter station at 1 PM

[Page 122]
we where given a hot cup of tea and a scon from the Mayeress of Exeter at 2 30 we got off the train and marched strait on board the ship Euripidies she was a nice ship and we had a big baison of sugar on the table and real butter from Australia and dimson IXL jam these things it is very hard to get in england

[Page 123]
at times

31/1/18
at half past seven we pulled out from the pear and went right down the stream to the breakwater at the end of the harbour
there we dropped anchor about [indecipherable] boats is gone out this morning so far while we have been laying here

[Page 124]
3/2/18
at 12 30 PM we left Plymouth 11 ships 8 destroyers 1 exiliry crouser. doing about 8 knots.
1 mistery ship

4/2/18
two all of our ecsort left us

5/2/18
We passed a another convoy of four ships on there way to england pritty R

14/2/18
at 6 PM while at sea we burried the body of an first soldier Pte White he was burried

[Page 125]
with full militery honours Calm sea

15/2/18
at 7 AM we steamed into Sierra lone there was seven ships counting one exilery crouser we where the fourth ship
when we came in we passed the boat with the Australian soldiers
wives and fiances they gave us a good cheer and during the day any man who had his wife on board went

[Page 126]
across to see them and during the day we also took warter on board the niggers tried hard to sell there fruit but being just after the rainy weather the fruit is dangeris it carries malerier
White mans grave

16/2/18
6 30 PM we left Sierra lone for the Cape there was five of us counting one battle ship 3 Line Brittania and us

[Page 127]
three troop ships and ionic with the wives and fiances

20/2/18
we steamed ahead at 15 knots for about two hours two get a lead on the others at about 4 30 PM we stopped and the Battle ship lowered a life boat whitch came over to us we loaded her with meat and she went back to the Battle ship and we started on our way the others with us

[Page 128]
23/2/18
4.30 the manawar came along side again for more rations
fine weather

28/2/18
at 11 30 AM we entered Cape town and pulled along side the peir and had dinner at 2 PM we fell in on the pier we marched up to the dock gates and we where dismissed
I had a good time reported on board again at 11 PM lovely weather Cool night

[Page 129]
29/2/18
At 9 AM we fell in on the peir and where given leave gain until 11 PM and I enjoyed my self

30/2/18
owing to good beheavior we got ashore again from 9 AM intill 8 PM

3/3/18
at 7 AM we left Cape town and steamed ahead for Australia about 2 two hours out we we passed the ionic and passed her the wommen waving

[Page 130]
that evening we where given grapes that the people of Cape town had given for us

5/3/18
at 2 PM we where given another issue of grapes very cool on deck

20/3/18
at 9 30 we first sighted the Australian coast we where all anxious to see port Melbourne at 5 30 PM we sailed through the heads and went down

[Page 131]
channell to the Jellibrand Lighthouse where we dropped anchor and remained all night

21/3/18
all the boys where up early to have a look at Melbourne at 10 30 AM we where towed into the new pier it was not there when I left Melbourne
we were examined by a doctor from ashore and we where also given our passes for 18 days leave The new S.W.

[Page 132]
men went ashore at 1 15 and where put straight on the train for N.S.W. The next was the queenslanders who also got on a train and where taken to Broadmeadow Camp and where given a pound each and a pass for the remains of that day and night and up till 12 PM the next night
at 2 30 PM The Vic where taken off and we got strait

[Page 133]
into motor cars that where provided to take us through Melbourne up to the Barricks I was in the fifth car from the front when we started we where heartly cheered and flowers and fruit and cigarettes where pelted in to the cars.
We arrived at Barricks 4 PM and I met my Father and Auntie and Mrs Newman I was paid 2 £ at the Barricks

[Page 134]
My Father and I went strait out to Crofton to Mrs Newmans where they had the place deccorated with flags and a lot of friends to welcome me home we had a great spread and a dance I met a lot of my old friends

22/3/18
I went out to south Melbourne to see my grandmother and a few more friends there was

[Page 135]
a great change in my grandmother since I had last seen her

23/3/18
I and my pal went to healsville for the week and and we had a real good time meeting some old friends

4/4/18
I reported to Caufield Hospital and admitted with neuresthenia and [indecipherable] I remained there for tree days

[Page 136]
it is a lovely Hospital and we where well fed & looked after

7/4/18
I was transferred to Mont Park Hospital at MacCloud I jumped out of the train in town and had a few days rambling around
when I returned I was fined three days pay
During my stay

[Page 137]
at Mont Park I was put through a special training for my heart which did it a lot of good and also through a lot of examinations

4/7/18
I was borded by Dr Black for my pension and giving my discharge I think that was the best

[Page 138]
day I ever expirinced in my natural

[Page 139]
[indecipherable]

[Page 140]
Beatie Stalker
19 Henderson St
[indecipherable]

[Page 141]
Miss Doris Golgersh
Eltham

[Transcriber's note: Pg 68. His Registration of Birth cannot be traced but this date conflicts with the Statutory Declaration in his service records]

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