Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
George Lambert letter diary 20 January 1919-25 July 1919
MLMSS 97/4/Item 1
[Transcriber’s note: The letters of George Lambert commence in January 1919 from "Paris en route to Gallipoli" when he is arranging for payments to be made to his wife in England while he is carrying out his work as a War Artist with the War Records Office of the A.I.F. Most of the letters are to his wife describing the places he is visiting, the work he is doing and include many drawings. He travels from Cairo to Gallipoli, Damascus and back to Cairo in July where he is awaiting a passage to England.]
[Page 1]
July, 1919
[Page 3]
Paris en route to Gallipoli
Jan. 20th 1919
Dear Mr. Box
Will you kindly arrange with H.Q. Horseferry road Pay Master’s Office that my wife Mrs. Lambert 25 Glebe Place, Chelsea be paid a separation an allottment out of my pay, amounting to £1.0.0 per diem. I suggest that you might arrange that she receives this allottment fortnightly, that is £14.0.0 every two weeks. This arrangement to come into force on or about 1st March and made by fortnightly regular payments.
I further beg you to notify the paymaster at Cairo or Cairo through H.Q. Horseferry Rd. that I have made this arrangement. I take it that the allottment would be sent to my wife in the form of a cheque.
So far the journey has been very enjoyable compared to my first sojourn in the East.
I have just seen Gullett & Mr. W.H. Hughes at the Majestic, they both looked optimistic.
Yours truly
G.W. Lambert.
[Page 4]
En route to Lemnos
Feb. 2nd 1919
Dear Mick
The wicked sea we suffered on our voyage from Taranto to Malta evidently gave "The Mission" its sea legs for the voyage from Malta to Crete was a joy ride.
The Island Crete is really wonderful, better than Teneriffe, steep foot-hills rise bang up from the sea & are surmounted by higher contours until ones eyes wander up amongst snow clad mountains with here & there the outline lost in clouds. A perfect place for a painting tour. Unfortunately we dropped the hook in the evening and were under way next morning 1st (this morning) at 11 10 o’clock. No time to sketch even had I felt that way – really I was content to look on as my idea is to save myself for Gallipoli, also a touch of malaria produced a not uncomfortable feeling of lassitude.
The ‘Princess Ena’ is making quite good weather of it & the Skipper & first Engineer keep a fatherly eye on me & would if encouraged
[Page 5]
treat me too well.
We have just past the Island of Milos where the Venus of Milo was unearthed, and my great regret is that we do not go ashore at any of these wonderful Islands, bar Lemnos.
Should there be any difficulty in re separation allowance, see High Commissioner’s Secretary Box, not half a bad chap & refer him to letter which I wrote him in Paris Jan. 20th page (1) one of this book. To quote the passage which is important I said, "£1-0-0 per diem: I suggest that you might arrange that she receives this allottment fortnightly, that is £14-0-0 every two weeks. This arrangement to come into force on or about 1st March and onwards by fortnightly regular payments.
We should reach Mudros Harbour in Lemnos tomorrow evening where I will post this & also letter written before reaching Crete.
From Lemnos I hope to give you further news.
Yours Ever
G.W. Lambert
[Drawing of "Island of Crete"]
[Page 6]
En Route to Lemnos
Feb. 3rd 1919
10 o’clock a.m.
Lecture by Bean on Gallipoli
Notes. Quinns post & other posts in vicinity.
1st Sunday after landing, attack from Quinns & Popes.
Shrapnell Gully & Monash Gully
[Drawing of "Monash" and "Shrapnell" gullies.]
Lone Pine.
7th August 8th & 10th L.H. 3rd Brigade – The Neck.
Lecture lasted two hours and was thorough, interesting & highly instructive.
[Page 7]
E.E.F.
C/o H.Q. A.I.F. Cairo
Feb. 14th 1919
Dear Mick
For the past 7 days we have been more or less stranded at Chanak on the Asiatic side of the Gate of the World. Snow Blizzards, Ice & general discomfort. No coal or wood and a damp gloomy fifth rate house called the Lion Hotel, may I live to forget it.
Apart from the delay & the temperature this place is interesting & the surrounding country very beautiful & fertile and not at all what one is led to believe from the geographical lessons of childhood which gave me the impression that Asia was barren rocks & desert.
The Turks here are a most murderous looking lot but awfully like Gilbert & Sullivan opera. The troops (British) in occupation here have established themselves fairly well & there is a theatre when a jolly good imitation review is performed by remarkably able soldier actors.
I have managed to make four sketches, quite passable, of points of interest but we look over towards Anzac & I
[Page 8]
am glad to say we start for Kilid Bahr the fort on the Peninsular side today & go into camp on the ground. The long & difficult travelling from London has rather upset my programme and it is a question whether I can get through my Palestine work & get back here before May or June – but the future is on the knees of the Gods & the weather is taking up.
A I very nice man called Vollingony or some name of that kind introduced himself to me here. He is O.C. education & he was at one time dilettante artist & knew the Canish Crew. Also was a great friend & admirer of little Savage. * His pencil drawings are quite good & artistic. (Miss Valentine Savage, his model for "The Actress".)
I hope you & Maurice are managing alright & that there will be no difficulty about the separation allowance.
As usual the voyaging has cost me dear & I am looking forward to a while in camp to reimbourse me for Cairo & further expense. I’ll write from Anzac.
Yours Ever
G.W. Lambert
Capt. A.I.F.
War Records Section
[Page 9]
Gallipoli Peninsular
Feb. 16th 1919
Dear Mick
We are at last under canvas having moved over from Chanak to Kilid Bahr spending an afternoon and night at a Turkish Hospital camp, now occupied by the French. We moved on yesterday with the full marching outfit mule teams in and limbers, pack mule, chargers & the whole issue; quite a picturesque little lot and we are now camped on ground on occupied by the Turk during the operations. It was a great disappointment to learn that the 7th L.H. and the Canterburys had returned to Palestine, but fortunately there are two L.H. officers still left with a small unit engaged in grave registration & photography & they are doing everything in their power to assist us, so that in a few days we shall be properly fixed.
While camp was being established yesterday afternoon I rode with Bean & Wilkins over the Turkish trenches across no mans & along the front of ours, & one gets the situation at a glance. At one place only about 30 yards between the opposing jacko & us,
[Page 10]
a perfect rabbit warren and too ghastly to people with the image of fighting. We also rode down to the landing & all that I had been told about the beauty of the formations & colour was realised.
[Drawing]
It seems incredible that our fellows could land, climb & establish themselves so quickly.
The gruesome is in fact scattered all over the battlefield.
[Drawing]
My friend the Jackal surrounded the camp & nearly encouraged me to get out and have a shot, but it was raining & I saved my fire for a future warm night when I hope to get revenge for Palestine.
Today it is raining & this gives me an opportunity for writing you.
[Page 11]
[Drawing]
Despite the rain the fatigue party are hard at it. Wilkins has discovered a tank and has had it rolled up to the old well, which is the cause of our selecting the ground, no water no life; he intends using it as a darkroom and we threaten using it as a target. The cook is grudgingly acquiescing in the building of a new cook house, though he would much sooner use one established in 1915 by Jacko across the gully & submit to the Asiatic flea bug & louse & carry water & grub about a hundred yards than get into something new and efficient – hence the war.
I am longing for a bright day to begin work and if this rainy period lasts I shall perforce to a series of the flora in water colour & shoot as many of the fauna as possible.
[Drawing]
In case you want to cable through Australia House to me before I reach Egypt (we shall get there about the end of March leaving here about end of 2nd week in March – address Capt. Lambert A.I.F. War Records Section C/o 28th Division Chanak. Messages & letters come over with the rations.
[Page 12]
The chief local colour is made up of low scrub about 2 ft. high average on sandy clay with stones & gravel. The scrub is greenish with nice dead stuff showing grey purple here & there. I propose getting a record of the various plants & flowers.
In the gullies there are relics of cultivation & olive groves, but fortunately all this patch of the world has a distinctive character and when the God, whom you and I have come to worship, simply because he has been so much hidden during our lives, deigns to look out of his possie I think that my touring England and country here at the wrong time may be justified.
It will be difficult to keep up a correspondence with the boys so suggest that if my letters pass your censorship they may be passed on.
Yours Ever
G.W. Lambert
Capt. A.I.F. War Records Section
C/o A.I.F. H.Q., Cairo
[Page 13]
Gallipoli Peninsular
Feb. 17th 16th 1919
sixteenth seventeenth (17th)
Dear Mick
I sent in this mornings letter to Kilid Bahr & hope the best.
This afternoon I walked over to Anzac Beach with young Lieut. Balfour, Capt. Bean’s offsider, a very nice chap & on the way we came across the remains of what must have been just about the quickest attack on Lone Pine that ever was;
[Drawing]
at one spot the relics lie close up against Jacko’s forward line, but so close together that one cannot understand the onward rush.
I did a sketch of the ‘Sphinx’ from near the landing but a very dull afternoon flattened the interesting modelling clean out and left little else than I fine sky line & flat tone against a grey sky.
Tomorrow the 15th we cover the the most interesting ground on block the day after I cut loose & choose my subject
[Drawing]
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which will probably centre about The Neck where three lines of gallant Australians went down to a man and a fourth line * was about to go over & was stopped by command of some sensible person on our side.
I walked home at a terrific pace set by my temporary man a Tommy who struck out for dinner but generally in the wrong direction & had to be yarded up occasionally. His delight at seeing our tents & lights was amusing. He thought I had fluked it. ‘A demain".
* (part or rather a small party did actually get out and went west like their forerunners, the rest were kept in our trenches by command.)
17th, 6.45 evening.
We returned from our reviewing expedition by nightfall and a good square table & seats put up in our absence helped the comfort of warm grub. I was conducted by the "Mission" from the a point on the beach where part of the Australians landed right up to "The Neck" which is the ground whereon the terrific sacrifice abovementioned took place. Descriptions are all too true; evidence grins coldly at us non-combatants and I feel
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thankful that I have been trained by circumstance to of the past to stop my emotions at the border line.
From the point of view of the Artist Historian The Neck is a wonderful setting for the tragedy and I could not wait for the proper time which was just before sunrise but abandoned the "Mission" & did a sketch which is Buckshee Souvenir, about 3 o’clock to 5 o’clock. The Sun smiled nicely but a howling wind made it difficult for detail and many miss fires struck my new trench coat and other parts of me.
The fleas have found us out and are co-operating with the Jackals in night disturbing.
I wonder in my resting moments how you are managing with yourself the offspring & the house, but can only at this distance rely on your never failing good management & fairly reliable instinct.
The horses are a Godsend & this evening I am a bit sore in the seat but fresh in the brain.
A demain.
[Page 16]
[Drawing of "The Neck".]
18th-19th-20th-21st
Two fair days out of four the daily programme being a ride or walk out in the mornings to a position on Plugge’s Plateau which commands a fine view of the "Sphinx" and a razor edged neck of sandy clay ridge which runs up to Russells Top a plateau which on the sea side ends at the Sphinx and on the landward side goes on & up to the Neck. In this morning’s possie I sit perched up on the edge of what you would call a precipice and wait for the Sun to shine occasionally getting in a dash now and again. My bad temper is kept under by the presence of a Dinkum Australian but by the Hughes-James Camp, close by
[Page 17]
Hughes & James are the Officers beforementioned engaged in grave registration & photography.
The said Dinkum accompanys me carrying my painting gear, himself and odd bits of salvage on a pack mule a female with of character. I ride a very ugly plug, a small draughthorse which though unspeakably plain is useful & has a fondness for the mule. The mule breaks loose every 15 minutes or so when we camp for painting & the Dinkum shows the stuff he’s made of by sliding down the side of the precipice & catching her, tethering her by some special stunt which he says will make her feel as happy as a Jew on the hobs of hell. Then he climbs laboriously back to me & by the time he reaches my summit she’s off again, quite a good circus for a grey day.
[Drawing]
If the weather serves we move on, after mungaree, to the neck & I swat at painting leaves, grass, & small pebbles into the sketch of the Neck.
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One afternoon I varied the programme by doing a sketch of the the little gully called Rest Gully where the Fifth Field Ambulance from Sydney & commanded by Dr. Roth was camped during the occupation. With the horse & mule in the foreground it made a decent sketch. Another variation was a sketch of the Valley where we are camped & this though small was successful. Our Valley "Kara George" or "Black George" is dull but interesting as a problem in monotonous colour. One evening I wandered into other valleys back of this, the country resembles moorland in Yorkshire or South England, som not unlike the bare stuff around Frensham Ponds. I startled a fine hare but no chance with a revolver with the close scrubby bushes. As the sun went down my friends the Jackals began their requiem accompanied by the yapping of wild dogs & wolves, quite cheery. Home James says I & on the way back I had the good luck to see quite a big wolf-like creature, but almost out of revolver range. He lost a little hair however and I’m sure has returned by the shortest route to Constantinople. Continued under different tones.
Yours
G.W. Lambert
Capt. A.I.F.
[Page 19]
Feb. 22nd 1919
Today I was invited to go with Bean and most of our party for a tour of the positions on our left flank, and although it has been a long tiring day it was most enjoyable. We have now with us a Turkish Major lent to us by H.Q. & Turkish Commissioners, with a view to helping Bean with the History. He carries on conversation in French, a language which Bean does well and I "compred assez" so we are getting valuable help from him; also I hope to get him to sit for me. This evening two minions arrived from nowhere who are to "look after him", but I fancy they, poor devils come in for a feed, as the Turk officer doesn’t seem to remember any order that was issued commanding to report. However they too will make excellent models. One of em has a uniform of which at least six square inches is of the original issue, and remains much worn in its original position.
[Drawing]
Referring to the tour of today, our itinerary took us along the beach and on towards Suvla Bay & the Salt Lake, where Dugdale, by the bye, saw action. The country in this direction grows more & more picturesque and fertile valleys or pockets with bits of cultivation & olive groves break up the monotonous sandy
[Page 20]
clay & green, too green bushes. We overtook a most artistic looking gang of Turkish peasants in ragged but finely coloured costume, driving bullock waggons with wooden disc wheels.
[Drawing]
They were engaged in the staple industry, namely "salving" the unconsidered trifles from the battle grounds, tanks, tins, boxes, &cs. The homeward ride was extraordinarily fascinating; a Turkish road or communication trench (hereinafter to be called C.T.) winds around the contours until it cuts the summit of the highest hill about here. On the summit two eagles waited our advance without turning a feather and I asked the troop to steady while I tried a shot. They let me get up to within 20 yds. & I should have got one for a hat suitable for a woman of your age but some feathers and a hell of a scare is all I scored off the old bird lost. The feathers go into my souvenir package which I hope to bring home some day. Trench jumping is the principle necessity & sport combined and I am pleased to boast that I more than hold my own at the game though my gee gees don’t like it. By looking at a rough sketch over leaf representing any part you like of Anzac Battle ground you will realize
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how necessary the jumping horse is.
[Drawing]
The weather which please note I mention last was fine & Spring-like. Flowers which I remember did not interest you in my Palestine letters, are beginning to show timidly, and bar the Iris are a repeat of the Palestine catalogue. I managed small sketch of a "Valley of Military Interest:, for you ‘nough said.
A bien tot or rather a demain.
Yours Ever
G.W. Lambert
Capt. A.I.F. War Records Section
C/o H.Q. Cairo.
[Page 22]
Gallipoli Peninsular
Sunday 23rd Feb. 1919
10 p.m.
Dear Mick
I have accomplished the whole day without painting and I feel quite important. The boys may be interested to learn that I determined early this morning to rest or rather loaf about like a schoolboy on the first day of the holidays without a set programme of enjoyment. The net result is a strong bench put up in my studio tent, a swell clothes stand & boot shelf in the sleeping marquee, last & not too dusty a very elaborate Jackal trap, so complicated and at the present untried stage so efficient-looking that our Sergeant suggested that notice boards be put up in the surrounding gullies inviting or directing enterprising Jacks to come in & have a treat.
Tim who I hope is quite alright, may be interested in the appended design. If no luck tonight we intend transplanting * Anemones, Crocus, and other wild flowers to give the trap a homely & encouraging appearance.
[Drawing with the caption "Isn’t it lovely".]
[Page 23]
[Drawings]
Drawing of detail inserted here direct on letter.
Over.
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[Drawing]
Monday 24th Feb. 1919
The above is what we hoped to see on the 24th but the Jackalls seemed to have sent out notices & the nearest was ¼ mile away & howling derision. The sparrows almost as numerous as the fleas but not so friendly seem to think the trap was erected with the sole purpose of giving them food & shelter.
The weather improved on this morning and with my light horseman I footed it to a very interesting Turkish trench on a hill called "Johnson’s Jollie" and there did quite a good correct study of a Spruce, the light horseman aforementioned, as a stiff. It was quite exciting in that I had the right kind of man in right clothes and right ground.
[Page 25]
[Drawing]
In addition to correct surroundings & light I may mention the clothes & equipment – webbing equipment. In fact everything right. A four hours stretch and worth it.
Tuesday 25 Feb. 1919
Dull & rainy with fairly strong wind. Painting again out of the question so with Spruce I hunted among the stunted bushes or small trees for pieces likely to make passable sticks or hunting crops which I hope to bring back as souvenirs of the peninsular. We covered a lot of ground & destroyed the original gloss of uniform & general appearance by scrambling through thorny scrub in search of straight pieces.
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Spruce is as good a bushman as myself and we did excellent work. Specimens fairly straight already won are, Scrub or holly oak,
[Drawings]
Pine (never higher than 10 ft.) dwarf yew, and a kind of Willow and a very thorny thorn. The pine was the more plentiful and I got two specimens of this wood but taking it alround the stuff is really scrub & not meant for walking sticks.
In the afternoon the rain came on fairly stiff and Spruce went back to Hughes’ camp with a touch of malaria. I waited patiently in bed for my bout but thanks to extra blankets & a good afternoon sleep I dodged it although I got rather windy when the temperature rose to uncomfortable degrees.
Wednesday 26th Feb. 1919
Today I felt quite well thank you and with our Sergeant Rogers made the best of a dull wet day by building or rather helping
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Rogers to build a swagger fireplace with chimney of sheet iron or tin & real bricks for fireplace. This job kept us warm & fairly happy throughout the day. The fatigue party whose greatest effort was making exclamations of admiration at the result of our ingenuity are nowing now discussing where we learnt to do make so many "gadgettes". They have placed me as a chap who rose from navvy to artist (quite correct) and Sergt. Rogers as an architect who descended from a high position in civil life for the purpose of helping his country. Our prolonged stay here means no mail from you until we get to Cairo unless I can get a cable through asking for letters to be sent on here.
I trust always in a merciful providence that watches over you; it is the habit of bad husbands so to do.
Yours Ever
G.W. Lambert
Capt. A.I.F.
War Records Section
C/o A.I.F. H.Q. Cairo
C/o A.I.F. Headquarters
[Page 28]
27th Feb. 1919
Gallipoli Peninsular
Dear Mick
Yesterday I despatched three portions of camuflaged diary to you & trust the same will find you quicker than it left me.
Today the Mission visited Gaba Tepe from whence Jacko used to pound Anzac beach. I managed to get a small painting of the stuff one sees of Anzac & environs from Gaba Tepe. The expeditions are nearing the end of their course and I think from now on I shall be able to concentrate on the necessary data for my picture or pictures.
Spruce is up and about but a bit Malarious.
Today I rode a one eyed cob or Welsh pony which has been tried & found wanting by every other member of the outfit and I had a most enjoyable ride. The little chap is a gentleman but fastidious and it is not boasting to say he performed like a show ring hack or saddle horse under my fatherly hand.
[Page 29]
And we walked gaily home leaving the field jig jogging & prancing like a schoolboy parade in a bad riding school.
[Drawing]
Sheer swank but true.
We discovered quite a wild garden today & I am fixed for a flower piece tomorrow if it rains. I forgot to mention the most important happening namely that the sun behaved quite well today though the wind was icey cold. Two small snakes took a rather distant interest in me while I was cutting two more oak hunting crops.
The Turkish Major I believe leaves us day after tomorrow, he has been very useful to Bean and is quite nice mannered.
Here endeth, with hope for the best as regards your welfare, the account of the 27th.
[Page 30]
Feb. 28th 1919
The twenty eigth (please note coincidence of number of this page) has been cold & bleak with intermittent showers. My forethought of yesterday in gathering flowers & plants saved the situation and I have had a long day at still life.
The Turk Major left us to-day for Constantinople and before he left made a most elaborate & flowery speech of appreciation of the Australian both as a scrapper and a host.
I managed a pencil portrait of him before he left us which will I suppose go into the archives. Zeki Bey was his name and a more unassuming little chap one could not find, still a Turk is a Turk and a nation is not made up of exceptions. Tomorrow’s breakfast will be bacon, this staple breakfast food having been docked during Zeki’s stay out of deference to his weird religion.
We are supposed to close up this outfit in another two weeks & I am getting worried about the weather. It may mean staying on and I feel Palestine is calling a bit. There one does get sun.
Still the weather may tack oop tomorrow.
Yours Ever
G.W.L.
[Page 31]
March 1st 1919
Again the rain, and therefore the account of my day is easy. The flower piece is finished and my offsider Spruce settled down by the fire and steaming sticks for straightening.
The whiskey which has been delayed for over 4 days arrived tonight & a drop of summutt to keep out the cold is grateful & comforting, but the quality is not what it used to be and I really think that army rum is better for one’s health.
[Drawing]
The flowers are in a biscuit tin sitting on top of of a bed for a tent pole. It The work is up to standard. Flowers & walking sticks! And I should be painting against time up at the "Neck". Still there are a few days left yet and I am still hoping.
Yours
G.W.L.
[Page 32]
Near Anzac
Gallipoli Peninsular
March 1st 1919
Personal
Dear Colonel Fulton
By the above address you will notice that I am still wandering round the old battle fields on behalf of the Australian Govt. collecting material for pictures yet to be painted.
Since last I had the pleasure of seeing you & Mrs. Fulton my experiences have not been of the best but checks are to be reckoned with in every job and now it seems the only bar to my work is the weather which is really most unkind to the "Australian Historical Mission" of which I am an humble part.
Presently we go to Cairo and it is my sincere hope that you will be there and that you will again give me the great pleasure of a meeting & some conversation on and about the many subjects in which, without boasting, I believe we both take a common interest.
Yours truly
G.W. Lambert
(Hon. Capt. A.I.F. War Records Section)
[Page 33]
March 2nd 1919
Dear Mick
Again rain and added a cutting wind suggestive of snow. Dodging the showers I rode to Anzac beach and did a topographical pencil drawing of a likely background for a landing picture. The wind tried to tear the paper out of the book and my hands wh were nearly "fruz" so * "Bokra fil mich miche" as usual. In the afternoon I mounted a new horse lent by the Division at Chanak, a good Irish hunter & rode over to Hughes’ camp & back at a hard gallop up & down hill & across obstacles; this ride restored interest in life and I believe the horse enjoyed it, though I hate the human presumption that fastens thought to dumb animals. Late afternoon I did a water colour of the first of a series of bushes & plants which I think should be recorded, a study of "Arbutas", that I believe is the name, rather a wax like leaf with a sort of blossom something like a laurel but with red res stalks or sticks.
You are about due for your first separation allowance and
[Drawing]
* (Tomorrow when the apricots appear!)
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though worrying from this distance will not help you. Cairo which I should see in about three weeks will be able to give me information about the finance of the pay book.
A bien tot.
March 3rd 1919
To-day a high wind with a suggestion of snow, a few flakes gusting me as I came out for the morning stroll (one to the "wee widden hut".) The rain held off however and I made an attempt to finish a sketch of some trenches on "Johnson’s Jollie". Spruce made a fire of old trench stuff & bushes near my feet but my hands were nearly fruz although I had my lined gloves on. Stuck it for two & a half hours but had to turn it in and return to our camp where the fire was blazing & trying to warm the marquee. I made another trap for jackals, but I shall be surprised if it catches ‘em. My traps are too well made. We move on to Helles, where the Clyde is still lying, the day after tomorrow. At Helles 2nd Brigade (Victorian) and N.Z. Infantry Brigade did big deeds of
[Page 35]
heroism.
This peninsular is damn melancholy and I am quite ready to chuck actual contact and visualize from a distance.
A Bien tot
March 4th 1919
The Blizzard has passed, but this morning we found ice on the water tins and a biting wind; the Sun however was shining and I filled in the morning trying to finish the sketch from Pluggie’s Plateau and nearly got through but Mungaree time and frozen fingers hauled me up – after Mungaree. I went over to Johnstons Jollie & finished right out the sketch I began a week ago of Spruce posing for a stiff. Jinny the pack mule got properly landed today in her attempts to break for home. Spruce attached her to some strong bushes with telephone wire and hobbled her as well. She managed to tie herself up into a knot on the edge of a ledge but wisely waited
[Drawing]
[Page 36]
until Spruce had administered a hiding & and a lecture and had liberated the beast before she put her ears back and resumed arguments.
We have two more days here and I really believe we may have sun, but there is too much to do in the time as usual.
[Drawing]
Wilkins is sick but will I think be alright tomorrow. He works too hard at night in his cold dark room.
I rode today a horse that is nearly blind but we managed to get along. Although he comes from an English unit he bears an Australian brand and is quite a gentleman.
Yours Ever
G.W. Lambert
War Records Section
Capt. A.I.F.
C/o H.Q.
Cairo
[Drawing]
[Page 37]
March 4th 5th 1919
To-day dear Mick the Sun has been splendid and I have been at it from about seven sparrow song to sundown.
I managed to get my sketch of the knife edge otherwise known as the Sphinx from pluggies – finished – this morning.
In the afternoon I did a picture not a sketch of Anzac Cove, chiefly Palette Knife, and quite like it. Spruce seemed to catch the seriousness of the afternoon and made tea in an old billy he found on the beach saying as she boiled. Now Sir you can enjoy yourself as an Australian should. Either the water or the billy was foul and the tea was not a success.
About sundown when we were due to come home the mule broke hobbles, telephone wire & chain & bolted through a communication trench into Shrapnel gully – Spruce surprised himself in tactics and chased her through a honeycomb of trenches finally jumping almost on top of her head from the parapet
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of a ten foot deep C.T.
Spruce says he has always had a leaning towards art & beauty and he thinks that Port Stephen is the most beautiful place in the world. When I told him he would never be as good a painter as a mule catcher he very cleverly replied that a man does not value his the gifts that are handed to him with his birth.
I am getting keen to reach Cairo and some news of you. This trip has indeed cut me off from you but I need not I think dwell on the fact that it would be good to have you alongside when I am working even if I was snappy & even if you said the wrong thing about painting.
I am hoping for the best news of the boys though naturally I am prepared to hear of breaks in behaviour & breaks in health knowing or rather feeling that they have enough of you in ‘em to get through well in the long run.
Yours Ever
G.W. Lambert
Hon. Capt. A.I.F.
C/o H.Q. Cairo.
[Page 39]
March 6th 1919
This morning I was out at twenty minutes to sunrise to get the effect of light for the charge at the "Neck". Very cold, bleak & lonely. The Jackals, Damn them, were chorusing their hate, the bones showed up white even in the faint dawn and I felt rotten, but as soon as I got to my spot the colour of the dawn on this shrubby scrubby hilly-land was very beautiful and I did my little sketch quite well before breakfast.
Ten thirty saw Spruce & self struggling with a water colour of a very impressive subject – impressive both in art and military tradition.
The worst feature of this after battle work is that the silent hills & valleys sit stony, unmoved, callous of the human and busy only in growing bush, & sliding earth to hide the scars
[Page 40]
made left by the war disease.
Perhaps it is as well we are pulling out tomorrow, this place gives one the blues though it is very beautiful.
In the evening I painted a little farewell of the Isle of Imbros which with Samothrace are the two blue snow-capped Islands that one sees from the heights of Anzac – floating in the sea. Really wonderful.
[Drawing]
I write you next from Helles or Kilid Bahr.
Yours Ever
G.W. Lambert
[Page 41]
March 7th 1919
A bright morning smiling at our departure was ironical but I can safely say I know Anzac its ‘gullies’ bushes flowers trenches & bones. My small collection of paintings amounting to 20 pieces are fair souvenirs and most useful reference notes.
I certainly find it a lone hand game without a batman and look forward to Palestine and a small outfit of my own. Repacking my "Coffin" as my material case is called is no light task especially at sunrise.
We got away in good time and bright sun on beautiful landscape made pleasant riding; midday saw us at Kilid Bahr and a charming N.Z. Captain one Bigg-Wither made us welcome at lunch. We got under weigh way again about two p.m. and made good riding of it to Helles, a grand ride, the country looks more like Palestine hereabouts with the advantage of the blue water of the Dardenelles. My horse carried me well, a heavy weight hunter, Irish, and made nothing of
[Page 42]
25 miles, and coming in as fresh as paint.
We had time to ride down to the beach and see the Clyde, from which the British troops disembarked, and the Messina, an old French Battleship run ashore for a breakwater, both vessells look like ordinary wrecks and refuse to speak a word of their tragic past.
The settling down for the night was uncomfortable, bell tents are not what the used to be as far as I’m concerned and I am looking forward to Constantinople and a fair to moderate hotel, where I can stretch my old bones in a bed & have a bath all over when I get up.
March 8th 1919
Day began grey but muggy, we were all a bit stiff from the ride & short in the temper until grub & tea came along or rather was prepared in the tent. The Old Bean had a great day among the old trenches about the plain before Cr Krithia. Achi Baba makes a fine contour in the background, and the plain is covered with bushes of heather & sage bush with a very few small
[Page 43]
thorn trees and olives with one or two only of short pine. The whole landscape is a dull mauvy grey with a sage green admixture and very delicate if sombre in tone. The dead or the rather their bones spoil it of course and the melancholy is ready for him who lets his thoughts wander.
I got my subject by about lunch time and settled to it at 2 p.m. getting a panel ready with a preparatory lay in so as to get a quick shot at the evening light. The dramatic advance of the Australians here came off about 5.30 evening and I got the same time and effect to finish with. I made a very carefully considered landscape and one from which I can do a big one if necessary.
I missed Spruce whom I left regretfully at Anzac, but I was glad to see the last of Jinny the Mule.
This afternoon I was left alone and didn’t really mind it, the work was very absorbing and the weather perfect, also I had an old crock to keep me company having swapped my hunter
[In margin] 2nd Infantry Brigade, General Mackay.
[Page 44]
as he does not fasten up quietly and the old Crock poor beast has not had a very good time lately. Neither the Historians nor the tommy grooms seem to worry much about how the horses are doing. The old crock I hobbled & attached by the singled rein to an old tree surrounded by the most luxuriant grass or barley and the old chap blew himself out like a tick. This horse I remembered I mentioned in March 3rd page 34 and gave a sketch.
[Drawing]
Tomorrow God willing I finish the Peninsular with a sketch of the beach before lunch, then Constantinople & Palestine and a letter possibly from you in about two weeks. I’m glad it’s nearly finished. The work has been very trying and I’m due for a rest.
Yours ever
G.W. Lambert
Capt. A.I.F.
War Records Section
C/o A.I.F. H.Q.
Cairo.
[Page 45]
March 9th 1919
The last day of my Peninsular work. And the hopes of yesterday namely that God was willing were justified; at the same time it took more of my humble co-operation than I generally put up. I did my final sketch this morning of choosing Helles beach with the ruined fort called ‘Seddel Bahr’ on the left and Helles cliff or promontery on the right, the Clyde and two other vessells beached & ruined houses & green grass in the foreground.
[Drawing]
I managed to work it to stay on at Helles until I finished my sketch coming on to Kilid Bar [Bahr] by tin Lizzie
[Page 46]
accompanied by Capt. Biggwither [Bigg-Wither]. Before leaving Helles I was fortunate in receiving an invitation to lunch from the officers of a Destroyer whose names I have unfortunately forgotten but their light beer is likely to remain a bright souvenir. It was a very pleasant break and old as I am it was nice to see these hardened youngsters admiring my sketches and in their amateur way really appreciating them. The tin Lizzie brought us to Kilid Bar in good time and bumped over the road which squirms through gullies and around hills in a way that gives me a reminder of the road from Desert Corps to Jericho. At K.B. I had food and drink with Bigg-Wither and Hughes, a lively time with a delightful air of farewell & hail and after dinner Hughes and an English Officer also a bone digger otherwise Graves Registration accompanied me to where the others are camped and where I sit at this present writing you and wondering how you are and trying not to feel too much concerned.
Our camp tonight you will or may find mentioned in letter Feb. 16th Page 7.
[Page 47]
A very natural coincidence came my way today at lunch on board the Destroyer. I mentioned Dick Ussher and found he was known; incidentally one of the British Graves registration who was also a guest mentioned that he had received an enquiry from a Vicar of that name from Westbury. Of course I have had it in my mind to look up not only Beverly’s possy but many others who passed out on the peninsular and I always make enquiries at what I think is the proper quarter but naturally any unit engaged in grave registration has a difficult job when it means digging for identification.
Captain Beverley Ussher killed in Gallipoli.
However I got the position of the Cemetry near Crithia (Krithia) where Beverly is reported to have been buried and broke the journey from Helles & sprinted by foot over to the ground & made a pencil drawing of the spot from which I hope to do a small colour sketch for poor old Mother. I personally have no sentiment about bones but at the same time I might feel queer about playing pitch & toss with
[Page 48]
with the skull of a lady that I had loved. I am writing Dorothy (Ussher) on the grave subject when I have the sketch prepared or ready and I think I can trust her to use her discretion as to whether she sends on my letter & sketch or not. The point is that my official duties took me past the cemetery and I managed to take half an hour off to visit the cemetry the grave of a friend. Just that and nothing more.
We embark on a French boat for Constant. tomorrow at 10.30 and I cannot tell you how pleased I am at getting clear of this graveyard beautiful as it is nor can I explain how satisfied I am to have done what work I have done.
My side is alright at present and the question is how are you and the boys? I shall hear soon.
Yours Ever
G.W. Lambert
Capt. A.I.F., War Records Section
C/o A.I.F. H.Q. Cairo
[Page 49]
March 10th 1919
We are now on board the French boat mentioned yesterday.
There was a holiday atmosphere in the air this morning and I found myself singing in grand opera style to an accompaniment of raucous Lancashire tommies who also felt a certain sense of relief in getting away from the graveyard work.
While waiting for transport to the wharf only a matter of a half mile I was again fascinated by a cheap modern Turkish well close to the hut in which we slept last night. The Turks, Italians & Bedouins put on cheap paint or tempera on anything they intend to be flash and after a year or so the colours fade to an antique quality suggesting good backgrounds for decoration. I draw in pencil a Madonna & child on a framed space in the so called decorative pattern
[Page 50]
with which the Turks had attempted to embellish the well. For audience I had the whole bunch of the Mission & the Tommy gang who have been our servants but despite this handicap I did my drawing and I have a strong feeling that walls is what I was intended to paint or draw upon.
[Drawing]
We were forced to wait both on the wharf, the tender and the French steamer long enough to occupy the hours from 10.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the time seemed to pass excellently well the Mission amusing itself by copying the Artist by in whittling at walking stick souvenirs. By the bye our farewell with our Tommy gang was interesting, they all looked as if they wanted to shake hands but such a thing is not done in the English Army so we waved farewells, a Welshman engaged to a girl in Haverford west semaphored vigorously from the back of my hunter as we left the wharf at Kilid Bar [Bahr].
[Page 51]
Heterogenous a difficult word to spell is the most suitable for describing the motley gang of Turks, Armenians, Greeks, Gurkhas, Tonkinese, niggers (no capital letter) and others on the lower decks. In the Saloon fortunately reserved for Officers we are seven Australians to about 25 French. They, the French are amusing, interesting and hospitable and appear to be very admiring of the Australians. Altogether we are not having a bad passage up the Dardanelles, the water is flat thank Heaven and we get off tomorrow at Constantinople about eight du matin. So good night to you and the boys. I sleep on deck which will suggest to you two reasons, A it is mild, B there is no other place available.
A Bien Tot
G.W. Lambert
Capt. A.I.F.
War Records Section.
[Page 52]
[Drawings of faces.]
[Page 53]
March 11 & 12th, 1919
The Turks have flat backs to their skulls. This has nothing to do with the diary of the last two days barring that the Turks living that I have now seen in Constantinople conform in type of skull to the bones that I studied at Anzac. The difference between the British type, that is Irish, English, Scotch, etc., or to give them one name, the Northern type is most strongly marked. Herewith a chart.
[Drawing]
It is only fair however to give the front view of Jacko which is as a rule full and not brainless.
[Drawings]
[Page 54]
To Resume the Diary I may say that the night on deck was a complete failure. High wind, sleet & rain and I got little sleep and much chill.
We arrived in Constant. under the very worst auspices and a weary waiting on the wharf for transport of our luggage did not improve matters. The nice General (one) Croker who had been kind to us at Chanak passed by and recognising the outfit followed Bean & self into ordnance where we were trying to buy necessary details of equipment for Palestine and passed us the time of day & gave us good wishes. (A very nice General too.) We got somebody to take notice of us finally and got a good possy in the Offices Rest House where they do us better in regard to grub and do us less as regards charges than would a local hotel.
Constantinople from the picturesque point of view consists of the picture so
[Page 55]
so many times photographed namely the bridge that is the new bridge that spans the Golden Horn with the opposite shore with its mosques and old walls. The streets are if possible more filthy than Jerusalem or a Bedouine village. Decay of architecture and decay of physique are very noticeable. The creative faculty is lacking in these people. Trading & spoliation or what is known in polite England as high finance and in Australia as pinching or borrowing seems to absorb the Urban population. The waters of the Golden Horn are crowded with the various craft of the World and yesterday aftern in the afternoon we enjoyed watching a very good replica of Sydney on a Saturday afternoon. The breed of the inhabitants is distinctly Cosmopolitan chiefly Greek, Turks, Jews, Armenian, Spanish. The Tarboosh as I spell it gets on one’s nerves, also it is so absolutely opposed to the greasy green black London overcoat with velvet collar that nearly every male inhabitant wears and which is so cruelly wrong in this the East.
[Page 56]
Despite the fact that one gets 4 Turkish pounds for one Bradbury everything is very expensive except bread, and I shall be glad when we pull out again for the road.
Tomorrow may see us getting ready. We expect to travel in open trucks by goods train from Haidar Pasha on the Asiatic through Palestine to Cairo. I could say much more about the Terrible Turk but at this present it is as well to wait the issues of the Peace conference with a view to passing the censor. The Turk has quite good manners when one asks him a direction or bumps into him by accident.
The foregoing I may take with me to Cairo with other following notes of the day as the mail here would not be much quicker.
[Page 57]
March 13th 1919
Marching orders came through and and they are that we embark for the Asiatic shore Friday 14th per lighter. This day I used up fairly fully by doing a solitary wander over on the other side of the Horn where the Palace and Mosques form the Baedeker attraction. Grey decay which like unto the ruins of Palestine does not suggest a Venerable old age but rather the remains of a grandiose and fleeting period of pomp & display too artificial to be permanent. It appears that I took risks in meandering through what corresponds in Constantinople to a London slum but it is so much better to do a thing and hear about the dangers after one comes through unscathed. Then too it is most difficult even with my studies of the human to discriminate between the gentle and the un-gentle Turk. They all carry the National expression on their faces, an expression that has something to do with rapine & sudden death and I argued that perhaps it, the expression, may have been established at a very early period of their History. Facts gathered later however seem to point to the fact out that the moral
[Page 58]
standard is not high.
A fuller discription of Constantinople and its people must be left until we meet again. The evening saw me playing skittles fortunately provided by the Germans at the Hotel which is now the Officers Rest House. I did remarkably well considering it was my first essay and I put my success down to time wasted at the C.A.C. After a very fair dinner we went to a Café Chantant called Les Petits Champs and a more rotten show I have not before suffered and so home and to bed.
March 14th 1919
Terrific hustle in getting away, everything seemed to stick. Canteen purchases dragged out, ordnance was not ready with our stuff purchased, supplies had to be rechecked & little trifles like bread & blankets omitted by some careless genius had to be put right. A missing stud too delayed me two minutes. That the loss of this time should upset me may amuse you but I think you realise that when I’m on my official job I’m a perfect pest at pun`tuality and hitting the tin tack correctly.
[Drawing]
(This as a reviver.)
[Page 59]
We caught the lighter without as much minus as we expected and crossed over, a voyage of 30 minutes or so, to Skutari and there were appointed to two horse trucks in which we were to travel the long long trail to Madana Adana at least and possibly further along in the Damascus direction. Rogers and self were left to stand by baggage and trucks and as we were to sleep in ‘em and were not getting a start until next morning we did not lose a second in getting one of the trucks converted into some sort of kitchen. A carpenter belonging to the Railway and two others of some lesser calling made several attempts to help and I honestly believe that their intentions were sound and not actuated by a desire for buckshee but unfortunately not one of ‘em was worth a damn at the very simplest boys guide to carpentry stunt. So it was tunics off, and thanks to odd pieces of cases, stolen nails, borrowed hammer & saw we got together a table, seats, meat safe & other receptacles likely to be useful.
On long journeys crowding is the great trouble, a little loneliness seems priceless even when one is with the right kind of people so I appointed myself as cook’s orderly & Rogers is cook and my "Superior".
[Page 60]
We turned in very tired, our last job was getting water, this commodity is poorly conserved curiously enough, the lean years having failed to impress the oriental mind, and "Maleesh" that is "No matter, or leave it till tomorrow" is as popular in Turkey as it is in Egypt & Palestine. We found that an order turning off the water synchronised with our effort but I managed to unearth almost literally a decayed murderer from the subterraenean base of the Station building and he guided me to a supply of water for the Electric Light plant. When boiled hard this water is almost indistinguishable from the ordinary Turkish water about which nuff said. We slept the sleep of the over-worked and next morning were rudely awakened by the appalling rattle & thunder of train crawling over obsolete metals through the suburbs.
March 15 1919
March 15th to which should be added 16th, 17th and 18th which brings me up to were I am sitting and sitting in comparative comfort on a hard biscuit box, and writing on a table which is still. The rail journey from Skutari to Adana
[Page 61]
where we now rest has taken us through what I think is the most spectacular country in all that part of the World that I have travelled in. One has not only to appreciate with an artist’s appreciation but one has also to be able to write really well and I can only give my own poor attempt. Both Rogers & myself have managed to cook, serve, and wash up without losing any of the sights as seen from our truck. I can safely cut up the description of the scenery into five departments. First a delightful skirting of the sea through rich cultivated undulating country peopled here & there with charmingly costumed people folk rather reminiscent of Francesqua.
[Drawing]
[Page 62]
Train under weigh way again hence erratic style of write of hand.
If you or the boys get hold of a decent map of Turkey & Turkey in Asia you may be able to follow our route along the coast of the Sea of Marmara down to the point or end of the Gulf of Ismid where the famous Goeben is now lying at anchor with the some small craft of the Allies chiefly British squatting on the water around her. The dead spit of & the end of of a good day’s (shunting) hunting. (All still for the moment so will get a move on.) After Ismid, we passed through country not unlike the Midi and a lake on our left hand reminded us of Italy. This brings us to the end of a more or less perfect day, that is hard work in cooking, cleaning, eating, drinking, spit & polish, surrounded or rather flanked left & right by beautiful country to look at. We rather turned night into morning without the use of alcohol as the road left the coast and mounted the contours towards Biledjik giving us moonlight and mountainous country. Eskisher unfortunately for us we reached and left before sunrise, unfortunately in a double sense as warm invitations
[Page 63]
had been extended to us by two charming Scots officers, who made themselves acquainted in the honest unreserved way they have when away from Scotland and who were stopping off (American) at Eskisher where they were stationed, In & secondly, another sense we lost what I am told is good scenery.
[The following sentence crossed through.] March the sixteenth and the second period or phase saw us on fairly flat country.
Correction –
Eskeshir we were bumped & shunted into at an unearthly hour and it
[Page 64]
Destroyed, not written in a manner or under conditions suitable for a diary.
[Page 65]
Dramatic interval. It was my pigeon to get up, light fire & produce morning tea.
Reviewing the foregoing pages, I feel that the best thing that I can write is a description short, and perhaps acceptable, of the hiatus which must unfortunately bridge over the gap from the time when my self-imposed train duties & the vibration of the horse truck.
[Page 66]
Unlike most writers of diaries at page sixty three I shoot the rails and take up the story at the spot where I come to rest after 68 (sixty eight) days of travel. I have yet to learn why 68 days of travel should appear to be important. To Drove (Australian Grammar) umpteen hundred sheep, umpteen hundred miles is a job that would not disturb the average bushman but the performance which the Aust. Historical Mission has achieved in travel from London through Europe to Anzac & Constantinople, through Turkey in Asia, over the Taurus Mountains to Cairo seems to be held in the light of a great achievement. All I can say is that what time I was washing dishes I managed to look out and see the country and note the subtle differences between the country through which we were passing and Australia. (The Difference was chiefly snow capped mountains here & there & different customs & costumes.) (later notes)
[Page 67]
Before I resume the Diary or Amateur description of my voyaging here on page 64, I must record that on my arrival I collected from H.Q. a letter from you dated Feb. 2nd (second) with reference to Rome, and I am disturbed that only one letter should be lying here. Possibly a letter or two has gone astray. There is another Lambert also a Capt. in A.I.F. and as I was handed one of his letters today He may have been handed one of mine.
[Page 68]
Cairo
April 6th 1917 [1919 ?]
Dear Mick; two days ago I wrote you from this place thanking you for two letters and assuring you that I would send on the diary the last batch of which I think I mailed at Constantinople. I also told you I was in hospital with Dysentry and as this letter referred may not have been mailed by a rather jovial visitor I write you after two days of rather rotten moments. Let me briefly say that I am over the worst & quite on the mend though the starvation business leaves me weak. Every body here is charming & my treatment wonderful. It’s a good rest & costs nothing – I am not allowed to write or talk much so can only say cheerio & hope you & the sprigs are fit.
G.W. Lambert
Capt. A.I.F., War Records
Cairo
[Page 69]
Continental Hotel
Cairo
April
To Colonel Croll
[Page 70]
Continental Hotel
Cairo
June 2nd 1919
To Colonel Croll
Dear Sir
I beg to thank you for your letter of the 29th May in which you offer me a commission to paint the subject already agreed upon for the Second Light Horse Field Ambulance Memorial Fund.
The time stated & conditions stated in your letter are quite right and acceptable namely that the price of the picture she shall be not less than 100.0.0 that a deposit of £50.0.0 be deposited on a/c & that the picture shall be painted as soon as I am released from my present contract with the Australian Govt.
[Page 71]
26/7/19
To my Wife
My pocket book, left hand breast pocket of my tunic contains £50 English (Bradburys) also please find Draft £:50 Anglo Egyptian Bank. This latter being deposit on commission Field Ambulance picture to be painted after Govt. contract leaves me free.
In the event of my not being able to complete this picture the £50 (fifty pounds) must be returned to the Field Ambulance Office, Ref. Col. Croal [Croll], Romani Sand Cast Incident.
G.W. Lambert
[Page 72]
Continental Hotel
Cairo
June 2nd 1919
To Colonel Croll
Dear Sir
I beg to thank you for your letter of the 29th May in which you offer me a commission to paint the subject already agreed upon for the Second Light Horse Field Ambulance Memorial Fund.
The time stated & conditions stated in your letter are quite right and acceptable namely that the price of the picture sha shall be not less than 100.0.0 that a deposit of £50.0.0 be deposited paid on a/c & that the picture shall be painted as soon as I am released from my present contract with the Australian Govt. I quite agree that you should reproduce the picture in colour photography.
[Page 73]
Continental Hotel
June 2nd 1919
To Colonel Croll
(Second Light Horse Field Ambulance Memorial Fund)
I beg to thank you for your letter of May 29th in which you offer me, formally, a commission to paint a picture recording an incident in the history of the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance.
I think the subject which you mentioned in our conversation at the 14th A.G.H. most suitable and most interesting.
I quite agree to your terms which I hereunder re-capitulate –
That the price be not less than £100.0.0. That a deposit of £:50.0.0 be paid on a/c. The balance to be paid on completion of the picture. That the commission be carried out, that is to say the work will be undertaken, as soon as my present contract with the Australian Govt. is completed. Also I give permission to the 2nd L.H. Field Ambulance Memorial Fund
[Page 74]
Committee to reproduce the painting by colour photography & distribute the replicas so made according to their wishes.
Finally I thank you for the honour which you do me in selecting me to do so memorial a work and one which interests me so much.
I am Sir
Yours obediently
G.W. Lambert (Capt.)
Official Artist
A.I.F. E.E.F.
[Page 75]
Cairo
June 3rd 1919
My dear wife & twice Mother by the gifts of God and humble co-operation.
We are again to become Heroes – I use the plural advisedly, but not in the same sense as used by Royalty nor by the little boy with a worm but in the sense that I am with you or rather what is left of me is with you and the boys included. The sense of duty w of duty is a personality in itself and I am really going up with it to see that it does its best.
Two hefty henchmen, tried & hardbitten scouts, go with me so I am alright & possibly will regain my health & optimism.
I would like to rub my beard against your very soft cheek by way of benediction but bully & biscuit will have to do.
I leave Cairo within two hours returning from the blue within two weeks.
Yours Ever
G.W. Lambert
[Page 76]
June 3rd 1919
To Officer in Charge
Ghezira Kit Stores
The bearer F. Lucus, Lance Corporal, 10th L.H. with Trooper T. Dineen will leave certain parcels to be stored at Kit stores against our return from Damascus.
I beg that you will receive these.
G.W. Lambert
Official Artist
A.I.F. E.E.F.
War Records Section
[Page 77]
Semakh
June May 7th 1919
Dear Mick
I am writing form Semakh which is a railway station a picturesque conglomeration of not more than usually dirty Arab huts and a few tents & horses of the occupation people on the Shore, southern end of the much famed Sea of Gallilee.
It is really very beautiful here the Sea or lake laps very pleasantly against the warm grey face of the edge about 10 to 20 feet high & bathing morning & evening is most enjoyable.
I am much better than I thought I could be and tearing out pictures by the yard.
I visited & sketched Tiberius to a motor ride of about six miles from here. Tiberius is really lovely & if one could only begin Palestine from this end instead of the Desert it would give a much better impression.
Round about here there are wonderful subjects just now.
[Page 78]
The Bedouins are reaping their corn all along the flat country of the Jordan valley or plain and Boaz & Ruth are scattered all over the landscape also donkeys, arab horses, camels – pictures by the mile, but the everlasting sense of duty forbids & I stick to "military interest".
My fellows of the War Records Unit are quite jolly & my two troopers look after me well, so everything in the garden is lovely except flies, mosquitoes & sandflies.
We move on to Jisr Benat Yakub a crossing of the Jordan about 20 miles above the Sea of Gallilee day after tomorrow & then on to Damascus, Amman, Salt – and home! Can’t believe it but queer things happen & I may yet live to show you how to drive tacks into linoleum but it must be in my shack in the bush.
Yours Ever
G.A. Lambert (Capt.)
Official Artist
C/o H.Q. A.I.F. Cairo
[Page 79]
June 9th
Jisr Benat Yakub
Dear Mick
My last letter to you was dated May 7th instead of June 7th.
Yesterday was devoted to finishing my small picture of Tiberius & killing a snake on the way back to Semakh. The sketch I think will please you, the snake would not neither would the skin. Sketch 8 in. by 4 in. Snake five feet six & ½ inches a coppery dangerous looking creature which took 3 bullets to settle as he was well [indecipherable] between rocks down by the beach or shore of Gallilee. A bullet is better than a brazen image in these cases. Referring to miracles I took a dive off the little wooden pier by Semakh this morning entirely failing to realize that I am still marked hospital leave and came out feeling very fit. Of course I did no stunts just kept afloat.
[Page 80]
Having made a final sketch of Semakh where the 11th regiment with one squadron of the 12th Reg. both 4th Brigade, with 4th machine gun squadron attacked just before dawn on 25 Sept. 1918 – my conscience is easy, and also I felt very luxurious & contented when I found that my two stalwarts could pack up & get me ready for the road in double quick time. The drive around Gallilee by the western shore through Tiberius to our present possy namely Jisr Binat Yakob was really a ride of joy to the artist and the knowledge that we were getting gradually above sea level was also encouraging – for Semakh is 691 677 below. The Sea of G. is 682.5 below, quite enough to remind us unpleasantly of the Jordan valley near Jericho and its 1292 ft. below.
At Semakh there were rumours of Arab stealings from & a killing of one Jew from the Colony also the local Arab village lying between the Railway Station where we camped & the Sea, had the wind right up & sent a small boy to spread the glad news to the 3 pip Bim Bashi (myself) that at least a hundred wild Arabs from the hills were coming in to clean us all up.
[Page 81]
Having referred my informant to the O.C. of the unit of occupation I slept undisturbed save for the old Webley and sticking in my soft parts & a pouch of 36 rounds under my ear. In fact should you ever visit the scenes of this any second were was I am afraid I could only show you the place where I outdid Aaron & perhaps a small wooden cross, should it still exist, put up outside our possy under a beautiful tree pomegranate I believe & carrying the simple but explanatory epitaph. In loving memory of the ginger cat that used to live next door.
This afternoon with my tall scout a real scout of the 3rd Brigade I have done a recognaissance of the two places I am to paint & really they are wonderful, one a fording place of the Jordan just below the Lake Baheiret El Herle. The Lake, hills & Mt. Herman in background. But enough for tonight. It is cool & refreshing and so home & dry & more tomorrow.
Yours Ever
G.W. Lambert.
[Page 82]
May 12th
Jisr Binet Yakob
To Trooper T. Dineen
Please take train with the rest of the party left at Semakh, bringing on the case of materials & basket. We meet you at Damascus.
G.W. Lambert (Capt.)
Official Artist A.I.F.
E.E.F.
War Records Section
[Page 83]
Victoria Hotel, Damascus
June 14th 1919
Dear Major Greenwood
I propose visiting Amman where I am told you are a big power in the land.
My work here should be completed within the next 4 days and I strike out for your country with two other ranks, two tin Lizzies & many pleasant anticipations of meeting you again.
From Amman I go to E. Salt & then back into the swelter of Cairo.
Hoping to be fortunate enough to find you.
Yours Ever
G.W. Lambert (Capt.)
Official Artist, A.I.F.
Please forgive omission of your correct title & Decorations which I have forgotten, they must be on the increase.
[Page 84]
Victoria Hotel, Damascus
June 18th 1919
Dear Major Greenwood
I do not know if my letter of the 14th of this month reached you but my proposed visit to Amman and its British representative is off for the present. Colonel Bruxner of Anzac Mtd. Div. has collected me & he tells me it is better to approach Amman from the Jerusalem end and as he is my superior officer & also a knowledgable man I give in and look forward to meeting you in the near future.
Still hoping I remain
Yours truly & Ever
G.W. Lambert
(Capt. Official Artist
C/o A.I.F. E.E.F.
A.I.F. H.Q., Cairo)
[Page 85]
June 18th
Damascus
Dear Mick
I’ve ‘done me job’ here and tomorrow I push out with four other ranks & Colonel Bruxner, whom portrayed in pencil last year, for Kantara, which is near Ismailia & Cairo that is home, & the base. Amman & Salt must be left to some future date as I find that I am not the only weary man in the outfit.
I have a job to do at Kantara of the Field Ambulance work, very interesting and this and a week or so of camp life may do me good & leave me fit for the only two places still unrecorded by the Official Artist, after which Home! with four aitches.
Yours Again
G.W. Lambert
Health Normal
[Page 86]
June 24th 1919
Dear Mick
Adding to the scribble I made at Headquarters this morning I think I must have got most of your letters if not all. A steady & most comforting stream and I’m very sorry if my worrying about Maurice should have made you unhappy. I cut it out as you suggest and get on with my own work which will have to be strenuous to enable me to get all I want in the time. My first arrangement with Aust. House was to be terminated 17.7.19. The extension which came through the other day takes me up to on or about the last day in August but I intend pulling out from this country about first week in August so barring delays should see you before the end of August. For me time gallops at a nerve racking pace & it is only on sleepless nights now thankfully few & far between that I realize I have not seen you for ages. I get all information about Aust. Artist through Aust. House so don’t be tempted to give me any accounts
[Page 87]
of their progress but keep on about yourself timing your last letter to reach me about July 30th.
There is nothing hereditary about my cardiac trouble, it was brought about purely by over Athletecism, & not drink or tobacco but the latter has decidedly increased the trouble. The real reason for the collapse now almost forgotten was the Gallipoli tour. Too strenuous after what I had been through.
However no more about myself and I am looking forward to nursing you a bit down at Cornwall or some country place when I return.
Yours Ever
G.W. Lambert
Frmr. Capt. G.W. Lambert, Official Artist
A.I.F.
Cairo
[Page 88]
Cairo
June 14th 1919
Dear Maurice
I am very glad to learn that you are taking things seriously.
You must not be discouraged because I do not altogether swallow your choice of a profession. Seldom are Father & Son in agreement on this question: but acting on the memory of my own rather pathetic lack of sympathy & support from my own people I do not wish to obstruct but only to help. When I return we can go into the matter in a careful & friendly way and find out if there is a way to help you and a way to help Mick & myself to get some satisfaction in watching your progress. It is most satisfactory to learn also that you are keeping steady, that is an asset in itself which the employer namely the World gives big money to hire, and gives to the owner of the asset more satisfaction in later life than the gobbling up quickly of the adventures of life.
Yours Ever
G.W. Lambert
[Page 89]
Moascar
July 1st 1919
Dear Colonel Fulton
I have hopped in here & propose working at studies of men & horses for 2 to 3 weeks after which if you are still in Cairo I trust I shall have the enjoyment of winding up my own little war with a few Egyptian sketches and your society.
I hear dreadful rumours as to the handling of my Plastescine child but have complete trust in you and do not anticipate much more than an ear or two or a head or two having to be replaced on my return.
Will you Sir please give orders for the case of materials left in War Records cellar to be put in right order that is a cover nailed well down & the case sent or conveyed to Moascar as soon as possible.
Thanking you for your kind offices,
I remain
Yours truly
G.W. Lambert
[Page 90]
Moascar
July 1st 1919
Dear Mick
As you see by above address I am in my first Palestine possy when I joined up about 18 months or more back. Remounts are still here and many of my old pals but a lot of Desert has come back and a lot of tents have been folded and a lot of good & tried men have left for their home in Australia. It is not nice to be a left over but I like this place and am feeling fit and hopeful. This is practically my last month of service. It is hard to believe, but I am going on steadily and keeping the jumps down as low as possible.
Yours Ever
G.W. Lambert
[Page 91]
Moascar
July 9th 1919
Dear Mick
The Gap in letters now means that I am rushing my work and am naturally unsettled by the nearness of my release. Health on the whole pretty good though it is difficult to get the right kind of food up here and I am forced to eat at the French Club, Ismalia to get soft grub. I still swim a little & feel the benefit of it. Everything is closing up here & there is a beastly left behind feeling about us all. I am going to wind up in Cairo & try & get away in three weeks from now, not a long wait.
In the meantime I can only worry about my work & look forward almost with trembling anxiety for our meeting.
I had a nice motor drive last night to Ferry port & this afternoon I give myself "leave" & go into Ismalia for a sketch of the Sweet Water canal.
Yours Ever
G.W. Lambert
[Page 92]
Moascar
July 10th 1919
Dear Major Jarman
I am very interested in your scheme for presenting a picture of the Ghezira Cricket ground to Goseken and think the subject very suitable for "paint".
I hope to be in Cairo within 3 or 4 days from now and we could go into the matter in detail.
I certainly think that my present contract would not prohibit me from doing the job & it is only a question of time which is getting short and of health which is not too good. However I shall see you presently.
Yours truly
G.W. Lambert
Not undertaken.
[Page 93]
July 12th 1919
Moascar Camp
Met Captain Elwell here today. Leonard Elwell whose pigeon is Count Marshall.
July 18th 1919
Dear Mick
Above note was put down the other day, comment is that said Elwell’s sister I believe was a friend of yours anyhow he is a nice man & knows all about your family & also Waddells in Cairns. He is a rather fine well set up well bred looking man & has a good reputation as an Officer in A.I.F.
Another meeting which I don’t think I mentioned was Marguerite Ussher in Port Said what time I was saying farewell to General Chaytor. Marguerite was looking quite smart & collected & promised to see you & give you un-camuflaged information as to my health.
[Page 94]
The "Leeds" reference was to a proposal from the City of Leeds Training College that Lambert should paint a presentation portrait in oils of its first Principal. The price offered was £’250.
[Page 95]
contd. from page 90.
I have just had two enjoyable days in Cairo. A large cool room & soft white bed – slept 12 hours on end. Collected your letter June 15th – which also did me good. The enclosure from the Leeds people I answered merely stating I was much interested but felt that they would have decided before my return to England also the money would have to be £350 to £400. Re Carnegie Institute – Have received no papers just your mention & hopes that I send Important People. Send ‘Important people’ or if time write them that I am sending it. I’m quite uncertain as to sending in date.
I am applying for transport to England on to take effect on or about 28th July so that it is just a question of sitting tight (not boosed) for a few days or few hours & then you & I for a holiday.
[Page 96]
It is very difficult for me to be business like just now, especially as my hut is the hottest stuffiest hut in one of the hottest places on the earth and the sweat is simply streaming out of one – but I know you appreciate being told where you are & "as long as you know &c."
Now let me state calmly that it will be a bit of a job for me to travel from Egypt to England but there is every indication of a still further improvement in my health. I may have to break journey & rest at either Marseilles or Paris but that doesn’t concern you and in fact it this paragraph is only to give weight to the following.
I must get away from London as soon as possible after I report H.Q. & hand in my batman (who is a reliable caretaker).
Now then, as soon as you get this get money sufficient even if a borrower you become &, taking Maurice possibly, have a hunt
[Page 97]
round such places as Hounslow & Bushy or any place that has paddocks & neglected broken down places that might be habitable for a week or two & not too far from or containing some sort of Stable. Stay! consult first Lynwood Palmer if not by word of mouth by letter, ask him if he’ll let his place for September & last week in August. If he says no ask him if there is anything likely to do for me, an old barn to work in and a horse available as model. Then try Talmage in re a possible place in Cornwall. Write also Syb Hodgson or Mrs. Somebody as to cheap place for one month near her & horses. In the meantime I write Australia House urging their providing studio accomodation but this is bound to drawn blank, I fear. Fred Liest is another source of information if approached without fear or prejudice. Now out of this you get a request to try & find house & some kind of barn if possible within an hour of London for six weeks at least beginning second week in August.
[Page 98]
Other sources.
Connard
Longstaff, Jack
Burgess – Aust. Marine Painter address through Longstaff.
Hookie Walker
Secretary of Imperial Arts League – Rendall – by letter.
Don’t think that I want to take you away from your present drugdery & promote you to a more strenuous job of waiting hand & foot on an invalide. I want you about the place & I fear I shall want a bit of coddling but I am perfectly sane & muscularly fit & no venereal disease meeself not having taken no risks. Just this finally we must have a place of sorts no matter how makeshift out of London.
[Page 99]
My castle in the air is to get through as much work as possible between August and March next as I intend going to Australia about that time either with or without the family, I hope with.
If we could rent Palmer’s place even at a stiff rent it would be worth it and we could maintain perfect upkeep & even improve if he met us fairly.
I don’t know what Maurice is like as regards his work or intentions but if I can carry out all my various programmes I shall need an assistant.
This will probably be the last of my long letters & I shall just send you short notes to keep you in touch so that my wire asking you or Maurice or both to meet the Crock will not come as a surprise.
My very best love to (Conky Weedle) Constant.
Yours Ever
G.W. Lambert
[Page 100]
4th Brig. Semakh
Rations
Horse- 48 hours
Grain, Barley, 18 pounds
Man, 48 hours
B. Beef, two tins
(one tin haversack, 1 tin wallet)
water bottle carried on man).
Left Beisan 1900
reach Jisr El Jami 2340
rested 0200
attack
at 0420 enemy m. Guns opened up when about 1000 yds. from station.
Semakh Note
Ref. Clifford (Lieut.)
[Page 101]
Moascar
July 20th 1919
Dear Mick
A short letter to you to acknowledge yours dated July 4th for which many thanks. You mention matters bearing on the break-up and my letter July 18th to you also deals with the possibilities of working conditions on my return to England.
Well don’t worry if you find too many difficulties in studio hunting. I propose taking a roaming holiday with you & looking around say for a week in search of a broken down shanty that might give us shelter & breathing room for the Autumn, that is August one week end of, to Sept., end of. The only Damascus blade will be myself. Sorry but I refuse to load myself with souvenirs.
Tomorrow I say goodbye I hope finally to the Desert sailing for England I more than hope on or about 28th.
[Page 102]
I notice the number at top right hand of this page and I am recalled if not to a sense duty at least a desire to wind up this sadly written sadly interrupted diary come love story. It would require a genius to give you an impression only of this place, this people, this atmosphere. I can only give a badly put together catalogue.
To you who will want something personal & something of what "People said" I can only give a sketchy paragraph.
I am writing in the mess room of the Aust. Div. H.Q. a room famous in the time of "Biscuits" otherwise Colonel Arnott who practically "made" the well appointed camp that two years ago spread out from here to the Desert for miles and umptine miles, a white city of tents. There are still tents, a mile or so but not a wide line a mere nothing to even a two year old soldier, but the tents are slowly coming down, the incinerators are throug throwing off long low lines of blue smoke and Gypos rake in the ashes for the very last trifle of buckshee bits that Australian Light Horse might leave behind.
[Page 103]
25/7/19
Dear Mick
Two Golden Butterflies skim gracefully over the House tops of Cairo. I say Golden Butterflies because Maurice or Tim failed to instruct me properly in the intricate nomenclature of aeroplanes or they lost interest too soon.
These two beautiful Machines swoop, twirl, & describe beautiful curves in the air and note you that even the Kitchener Kite (Cairo Hawk) perhaps the most wonderful of flyers is impressed and keeps out of the way.
[Drawing]
I am about to find out if I go on board tomorrow or Saturday.
[Page 104]
The charm of writing with a black leaf as it was called, what time I earned my "living" (Why?) at the age of 12½ years, is that one can review, next day, one’s mistakes. Rotten English but you will catch my idea. Today or rather tonight – tomorrow to be accurate (0100 – 25/7/19) – I sit in quite a good room which is smelling of paint, it is true, but not my paint, thank goodness, with half a suit of pyjamas on my silly old weather beaten body, after having got rid of or having lost 4 charming guests, male, and one or two of ‘em got away with sincere introductions to Chelsea.
In re Black Leaf, * I was about to rant or rave this morning about on the wonders of planes under certain effects scimming Cairo.
* Original lost & found – tissue mistaken for original of Duplicate book, explanations later.
[Page 105]
These pages have no number because they give you the last and possibly the most intimate thoughts of a man who, though he may not have taken as many risks as the front line Light Horseman, has been with them and has observed them and has been perfectly willing to go with them anywhere any time; and it may be that these haphazard notes or writings will some day be interesting to our boys. There remains much to be said and in my anxiety to record not only the deeds but the atmosphere & character of the L.H., that which it did & thought and looked like.
[Page 106]
During the Desert Campaign and as far up as Damascus I have been forced to jot down certain notes which even you may not understand or appreciate because you have not been out here and England has not yet been out here.
My hope today 26/7/19 1600 is that it may be arranged that you cease temporarily, if you can manage it, your domestic duties and undertake the compiling & editing of my writings. I have with me the notes on the journey from Scuteri to Cairo. I have still to join you in London.
G.W. Lambert
[Page 107]
You would not have (wuddneh hae gotten)
Yon
Geo. Henry
John Cameron & others of the Scottish fraternity which I have foolishly tried to educate!
[Page 108]
At this I have to pull myself together and a disappointment namely the Cold Fact in capital letters that I do not get away tomorrow. Some of my best Pals go on the Boat ("Juliana") but I am high & dry B B & B Far From Home & restless and must face another week without grousing & take my chance – I am booked for a ship seven days from now and she does the all sea route & saves myself, my (escarrie) esquarie, offsider, my work a certain amount of knocking about, and further there is the evidence in me that I retain of the Desire to play the game as there was at Moascar, and one must not give in, so ‘stay with him lad’.
[Drawing]
Yours Ever
G.W. Lambert
[Transcriber’s note:
Eskisher – also spelt Eskisehir – P. 62
Galilee – misspelt as Gallilee – P. 77
Scuteri – also spelt Skuteri – P. 106]
[Transcribed by Judy Gimbert and Betty Smith for the State Library of New South Wales]