Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
James Lindsell diary, 10 February-31 December 1915
MLMSS 7991/Item 1
[Transcriber’s note:
James Charles Lindsell (1502) enlisted in the 13th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements, on 11 Dec. 1914. His father, also James Charles, (1572) enlisted in the same unit on 16 Jan 1915.
This, his first diary, commences in Sydney, Australia on 10 Feb 1914 and finishes in Cairo, Egypt on 31 Dec 1915. He departed Sydney on HMAT Seang Choon on 11 Feb 1915 and disembarked in Egypt on 23 March 1915 after a voyage via Brisbane, Thursday Island, Colombo and Aden. After further training in Egypt he embarked on the "Osmandich" on 02 May 1915 bound for Gallipoli where, after waiting on the island of Lemnos for transport for a few days, he landed on 06 May 1915. He turned 20 years of age on 14 Jul 1915 while at Gallipoli. He was involved in fierce fighting over a considerable period of time including action at Quinn’s Post and Hill 971. His Battalion sustained considerable casualties. He was wounded in the left foot on 21 Aug 1915 and evacuated to Imbros Island on 26 Aug 1915 and then to Alexandria on the "Assaye" on 28 Aug 1915. After recuperating in Cairo he was discharged fit for duty on 20 Oct 1915. He then attended a School of Instruction there from 14 Nov until 31 Dec 1915 completing several courses including the Machine Gun course.
His father had been evacuated from Gallipoli due to illness prior to him being wounded and was also in Cairo during this time. They spent a lot of time together during his recuperation.]
[Page 2]
Mrs J. C. Lindsell
"Moana"
Simpson St
Auburn
N.S.W.
Aust.
[Pages 3 to 4 from Letts Pocket Diary for 1915, Not transcribed]
[Page 5]
Personal Experiences of.
Sergt J.C. Lindsell
No 1502
3rd Reinf. 13th Bat
2nd A.I.F.
JCL
[Page 6]
Personal Reminders
Owner’s Name and Address J C Lindsell
[Page 7]
10 February 1915
Wednesday
Final preparation for departure
Departure of Baggage
1915 February 11
Thursday
Embarked on Troopship at 11.30am. at Wooloomooloo
HMAT Seang Choon A49
4.30pm First taste of mal-de-Mer. do not like it
7 pm Feel alright again
Have a meal of 1 ship biscuit & cup of coffee
Turn in on deck at 10pm
[Page 8]
12 February 1915
Friday
6am Rise & stow Hammock
Beautiful weather in sight of coast all day
1pm Ship begins to Roll a bit
Plenty of wind all night
2a.m. Deep Sea pilot comes aboard
1915 February 13
Saturday
8 am Arrive at Pinkenba sea port of Brisbane
Find sister Troopship Seang Bee already alongside wharf
11 am Brisbane Troops come aboard
Take in provisions & cargo all day
5.30pm Seang Bee pulls out
6 pm Seang Choon follows
Many cheers & Auld Lang Syne
(Play Banker & win 6/-.)
[Page 9]
14 February 1915
Sunday
Quinquagesima Sunday
Wake up & find Seang Bee in line with us but much closer to shore which is just in sight
9.30 Church parade
Sit on rail all afternoon and look at the sea which is dead calm
Course NW BY N all day play hide & seek w/- Seang Bee.
1915 February 15
Monday
Keep Seang Bee in sight all day
Bee Keeping very close to reef our officers think it very dangerous. At about 12 noon we Pass Collier "Titanic" bound South give her a good old cheer.
4 pm bee Turns inwards & cuts into the inner passage to try & pick up some of the lost distance
[Page 10]
16 February 1915
Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday
Our company on duty Have a very busy time
No sight of the Bee all day
pass light ship in the afternoon
Get a good view of the Barrier Reef. Some of the islands look very pretty
1915 February 17
Wednesday
Ash Wednesday
Continue Northly course all day & do nothing
The Heat is terrific with not a breath of wind to relieve it.
Not a ripple on the water. watch flying fish during the afternoon
Write letters home We should make Thursday Is. In the morning
Wonder what has become of the Bee
[Page 11]
18 February 1915
Thursday
2am Receive wireless message from the Seang Bee. She has piled herself on a sandbank in the Inner passage. We turn about and race at 14 knots to her assistance
6am Catch sight of her with steam up
7 am Stop engines within ¼ of a mile of her. She is trying to get off by backing her propeller.
10 am We pass a wire hawser to her to give her a tow off it breaks as soon
1915 February 19
Thurs. cont.
as strain is taken
Repeat this two or three times without success. We stand by all night
At 10 pm the S.S Empire passes us but does not stop.
Continue same tactics but no good.
Get all boats out & take turns to go for excursions to (wreck) Government Launches arrive from Thursday Is.
[Page 12]
20 February 1915
Saturday
We remain quiet & wait for high tide.
9.30 Flood tide we pass wire hawser again but it breaks as soon as we put on the strain
9.45 To our great joy Bee slowly moves astern & frees herself. Luckily she has sustained no injury. She turned about and moved straight forward. We make Thursday Is. about 4 pm.
6 pm All hands go ashore
Most of them come back drunk
1915 February 21
Sunday
1st in lent
Change places w/- the Bee. We move away from the peir & she moves up and takes in stores. Her men get a run ashore but cannot get drunk which is a great advantage. Weather very hot nearly everybody gets prickly heat. Lie about all day watching the pearling schooners. Divers examine Bee & report all serene. Leave port at 7 pm.
[Page 13]
22 February 1915
Monday
Continue course W by N Steady East wind all day slightly cooler. Seang Bee in sight all day
Sight land on port side at 3 pm.
We are issued with rifle & Bayonets Very disappointed w/- the state they are in a lot of them are condemned Citizen Force rifles
1915 February 23
Tuesday
Travel W by N all day Hardly any wind very hot again
Seang Bee changes over during the night & is on port side & slightly in advance of us.
[Page 14]
24 February 1915
Wednesday
Our. Company on duty again a fairly busy day.
Strong West wind sea a bit choppy
Sports held during afternoon
1915 February 25
Thursday
Rains all night
Air much cooler WSW wind all day
[Page 15]
26 February 1915
Friday
More rain last night
Everybody sleeping on deck come down about midnight
Weather continues cool with light wind
1915 February 27
Saturday
A lot of potatoes & onions stowed in the Aft hold right under our quarters begin to rot & stink (horrid.)
A gang of men are put on hauling them out & dumping them overboard.
The work is very slow & dirty.
[Page 16]
28 February 1915
Sunday
2nd in Lent
Work on spuds suspended for the day
Church parade at 10 am & 8 pm. Nobody attends.
1915 March 1
Monday
The Spud Job commences again on new line. We rig up a set of pulleys & set to w/- the steam winch result – about 10 times as quick & hardly any labor.
Weather continues fine & cool.
The old man is made Armourer Sergeant
[Page 17]
2 March 1915
Tuesday
Finish the work at 11 a.m
The mate personally thanked us for our trouble. We get 2 or 3 bottles of whiskey for the men from the officers.
We get a sight of the south coast of Java about 2 pm
1915 March 3
Wednesday
Continue along the Java coast all day. Surprised at the height of some mountains which seem to rise sheer up from the water
Much hotter the wind having dropped to a light breeze.
[Page 18]
4 March 1915
Thursday
The first serious case of sickness brought into hospital Find it is appendicitis. Make signals to Seang bee about 2 pm for their doctor. Bee does not respond until we send up rockets about 6.30 we come together about half an hour later
The operation is successful.
1915 march 5
Friday
Getting very close to Equator now Weather Horribly hot. There is not a breath of wind Sea like a mirror not even a swell on.
[Page 19]
6 March 1915
Saturday
Cross Equator at 1 am this morning
Father Neptune comes on board w/- his retinue & court They start w/- the major then the rest of the officers But the fun started with the men Neptune’s police had numerous fights with some of the victims
1915 March 7
Sunday
3rd in Lent
We get the first sight of Ceylon in the morning
Keep just off the coast all day expect to make Colombo tomorrow.
[Page 20]
8 March 1915
Monday
Arrive off Colombo at 1 pm. Pilot comes aboard & we steam in past the breakwater and tie up to bouy at 1.30
Leighters with water & coal come alongside & start work at 4pm
Have some fun watching black boys diving for coins which they swallow when they get them.
1915 March 9
Tuesday
We all go ashore in barges for a route march through the town returning by way of the native barracks where we were given a free ration of beer & lemonade which was very welcome after the march in a very tropical sun.
Get permission w/- several others to go for a run ashore in the afternoon
Return about 7 pm & I take charge of the Guard. We have a very lively time of'
[Page 21]
10 March 1915
Wednesday it. A boat load of men more or less drunk would come aboard about every 10 minutes.
Wednesday
Take aboard a quantity of provisions & also change the crew taking a black crowd instead of the Chinamen.
Troopship "Nile" w/- a regiment of Punjabis ties up near us amid much cheering & playing of bagpipes which the native troops play very well Clear out of port at dusk.
1915 March 11
Thursday
Take up the usual routine again.
Time is beginning to hang heavy the novelty has worn off & we want to be at it again.
[Page 22]
12 March 1915
Friday
A Great many rumors about our destination
Somebody spoke about disembarking next week & excitement is high as to where we would be landed.
1915 March 13
Saturday
The new crew are a lot more careful about their work They srub the decks with sand a thing the Chinks never did.
But they are very poor firemen, the Engineer complains continually about their ability to get up enough steam
[Page 23]
14 March 1915
Sunday 4th in Lent
More rumors, the chaplain says it is the last Sunday we will be on the ship & he ought to know.
A steamer shows up astern of us this afternoon but is too far off yet for us to make her out.
Weather cool & pleasant steaming W.N.W. ever since leaving Colombo
1915 March 15
Monday
Wake up to find the Seang Bee & the S.S City of London quite close to us but travelling much faster
City of London nearly out of sight ahead of us by 10 am & Bee slightly in the lead.
At Sunset the C of L out of sight & the Bee on the horizon
[Page 24]
16 March 1915
Tuesday
Nothing in sight today
We are nearing Aden & the straits
Weather very warm & sultry.
An Irishman’s Gale blowing that is straight up & down the funnel.
1915 March 17
Wednesday
Bank Holiday, Ireland
Making better speed again, we can just see the Bee ahead so we must be gaining on her
Pass Aden &
enter the red Sea
Start the big fans in our end of the ship today
Our company on duty
Irish concert in the evening
[Page 25]
18 March 1915
Thursday
Land on both sides of ship this morning
See several craft in the distance
Reports by wireless that a ship ahead of us has been fired on from coast.
2 p.m. Round bend of coast line we come up w/- the Bee & another large dark three funnel steamer but are not close enough to make out what she is.
Pass one of the Empire Boats & small tug or trawler.
1915 March 19
Friday
Plan of defence for the ship is being prepared
Rather heavy weather during the night
Ship rolls a good bit
Weather very pleasant for the Red Sea
We practice fixing bayonets this afternoon
[Page 26]
20 March 1915
Saturday
Sea continues choppy
Weather cool w/- strong strong north wind
Our company is paid 20 days at 1/- per day.
Large Japanese steamer comes up astern of us about 2pm.
We get news of the sinking of the Dresden.
1915 March 21
Sunday
5th in Lent
Arrive at Suez
Make first aquaintance w/- The Bumboat men
No leave or orders
[Page 27]
22 March 1915
Monday
Hang on all day but no news about our future movements
Get news of fighting further up the canal which is supposed to be mined & not safe for our passage.
10 pm get orders to pack up & be ready to disembark in the morning
* Town of ZAGAZIG
1915 March 23
Tuesday
Up early in the morning and get ready to get off.
Ship pulls in to wharf where trains are ready to carry us up country.
3 pm. Get into the train but have a long wait. Train starts at 6 pm for Cairo. Travel for about 4 hours & stop for about ½ an hour & have a feed of eggs & Bread * Arrive at Cairo at midnight but are shunted back to the town of Abbassia. 1 hour’s march brings us to the camp at 3 a.m, Bitter cold.
[Page 28]
24 March 1915
Wednesday
The cold wakes us up at 5 in the morning all worn out & stiff from sleeping in our boots & puttees.
Find that no arrangement have been made for feeding us. So make a breakfast on Tinned Beef & Biscuits brought from the Ship.
More biscuit for tea, no dinner.
Get some tents & settle down to make the best of it
1915 March 25
Thursday
Set our own cooks to work and draw rations for the day, so all joyful again, now we have had a good feed.
Do our first drill this morning in the sands of the desert.
Terrible tiring on the feet & legs & damn hard to get the men to keep step
[Page 29]
26 March 1915
Friday
Begin to learn experience by finding trouble. Our rifles are chock a block with dust & sand. So we buy rifle covers & avoid any more hours work cleaning.
Big detachment of Army service men from Kitchners New army arrive w/- waggons & mules
1915 March 27
Saturday
Things progress in a quiet manner.
Receive you first letter from home Very glad to hear about the people there
[Page 30]
28 March 1915
Sunday
Palm Sunday
Holiday today so make a tour to the town of Heliopolis
This town was built with the object of making a huge Casino to outdo Monte Carlo & encourage English & Yankee tourists here during the Winter, which is very pleasant.
Some of the buildings are magnificent especially the casino itself but the British Government put a stop to it & have turned it into & military hospital.
1916 March 29
Monday
On the move again, first thing this morning we get orders to pack & shift to join our Battalion camped some distance the other side of Heliopolis to take part in a great review by General Sir Ian. Hamilton. The whole division of New Zealanders & two companies of moaris & our ALH & INF. making a total of about 20,000 on this station
[Page 31]
30 March 1915
Tuesday
Have the pleasure of meeting several old friends namely Leuit Stan Perry & Sgt Jack Holman & Cpl Nelson all from Auburn & In our Bat. All very glad to see us.
1915 March 31
Wednesday
13th Bat out field firing & Outpost work so have the camp to ourselves.
do a bit of drill & have a half day off
Make first trip to Cairo. Find it the dirtiest & most immoral place on the Globe.
Have a delightful dinner of Soup, Roast, Fish, chicken, salad, & dessert
Return to camp 9.30pm
[Page 32]
1 April 1915
Thursday
Batt off on route march & Bivouac until tomorrow
Go for a stroll into Heliopolis & watch the pictures & have several cold drinks & Ice-creams as night is very warm.
1915 April 2
Good Friday
Early morning parade only. Holiday for the rest
Battalion returns to camp about 11 am
The Australian and New Zealanders take charge of the rough part of Cairo & wreck & Burn the contents of about 6 houses & cut the hoses of the fire brigade. In the riot which ensued several of our men were shot & a couple were shot dead by the M.P. & Red Caps.
[Page 33]
3 April 1915
Saturday
The 4th Brigade gets marching orders but to our great disappointment the reinforcement’s are to be left behind.
But our range practices are cancelled so think there is a chance yet
1915 April 4
Easter Day
Nothing to do all day with one of my cpls. visit the N.Z. Artillery & examine the new Howitzers & Field Guns
They are all painted in patches of dark red yellow & brown which makes them blend with the ground a lot better than any one color would.
A very bad sand storm springs up at dusk
[Page 34]
5 April 1915
Monday
Easter Monday, Bank Holiday
The storm continues all day. It is not possible to clean the tents at times without goggles which can be got here very cheap
In spite of it the Battalion go out w/- full compliment of transport for a trial run.
Storm abates & finally run out about 7pm. for which we are thankful
1915 April 6
Tuesday
Easter Tuesday
Turn out all our belongings & give them a thorough shaking to get rid of the dust.
The work of preparation goes on but no definite day for departure.
[Page 35]
7 April 1915
Wednesday
date of leaving fixed for f Friday night
Still Hot days & cold nights
We get paid at 8 pm.
1915 April 8
Thursday
Several of our men missing. off on the booze
Piquets bring in a couple through the day & shove them in the clink to get sober.
[Page 36]
9 April 1915
Friday
Three men still away.
We go for a short forced march of about 4 ½ miles which we do in about 45 mins out & 40 m. back which is very fast over the sand
Have a good shower as soon as we get in.
1915 April 10
Saturday
Richies Birthday
Quiet morning in camp for us but a bustle for the Bat.
All their Kit bags are packed in the mess huts & boarded up.
I come back to camp from Cairo at 11 pm & am warned for Guard to mount at 6.45 am on Sunday
[Page 37]
11 April 1915
Sunday
Low Sunday – 1st After Easter
Sunday morning 5.30 arise & get my gear ready mount Guard at 6.45 a.m.
take over 16 prisoners most of which are released to join their Battalion.
Bat moves of at 6.30 pm followed at half hour intervals by the 14th 15th & 16th with all baggage & Kitchens.
1915 April 12
Monday
The work of reorganising the remains begins
All told, there are in camp about 400 of all ranks.
The 1st ALH lend us three officers to help us along as we have only 3 of our own left.
[Page 38]
13 April 1915
Tuesday
Turn the whole lot into one unit & call ourselves the 4th Inf Bgde Details A B C & D companies.
Pitch camp all in one spot near the old Brigade Headquarters which is used as orderly Room & Officers Mess
1915 April 14
Wednesday
Go on a route march to the first Tower a distance of about 3 miles from camp along one of the roads built by Napoleon during his occupation of Egypt.
[Page 39]
15 April 1915
Thursday
Repeat the dose but go on to the second tower 6 ½ miles from camp.
Return very tired & footsore.
1915 April 16
Friday
We receive reinforcements in the shape of about 15 officers from the CPRC that is The Ceylon Planters Rifle Corp.
They are very nice fellows but not very good instructors.
[Page 40]
17 April 1915
Saturday
Make a short excursion to Cairo through the native Quarter & Moslem bazaars.
Our men build a barbed wire enclosure round the Quarter Guard to give the sentries a better chance of keeping the prisoners in.
1915 April 18
Sunday
2nd After Easter
I miss Church parade having to make out a whole lot of lists of names & numbers.
[Page 41]
19 April 1915
Monday
The fourth Reinfs arrive & are sent into camp at a place by the name of Zeitoun
We are set to work cleaning up the the whole camp at Heliopolis on account of an order that we may have to go on to Zeitoun but later the order is cancelled.
1915 April 20
Tuesday
Finish cleaning & burning & have our first proper parade with our new officers
[Page 42]
21 April 1915
Wednesday
Squad & section drill in the morning & platoon drill & musketry Inst. In afternoon.
1915 April 22
Thursday
Nothing to report.
[Page 43]
23 April 1915
Friday
Weather getting hotter
We do very little drill now just passing away the time
1915 April 24
Saturday
Work & play as usual
Half Holiday but no money so the men stop & have tea in camp and then go and see the free pictures in town.
[Page 44]
25 April 1915
Sunday
3rd After Easter
No church parade because we have no parson.
Clean up the lines & have a good rest.
6 pm Get orders to prepair to shift but do not know where to
Allied Troops make first successful landing on Gallipoli peninsula
1915 April 26
Monday
Everything packed & on the New Zealand Transport waggons when we find it is only to Zeitoun a large reinforcement camp about two hours march from aerodrome.
Arrive in Zeitoun very much disgusted with the new state of affairs.
Pitch our tents on a rather low & loose sand patch in the burning sun
[Page 45]
27 April 1915
Tuesday
Monday Contd.
Have considerable trouble about drawing rations so have nothing to eat but the dry rations we brought with us.
Tuesday
Find sanitary arrangements in a shocking state but am glad to see that men are at work making a new set of latrines for us
1915 April 28
Wednesday
Settled down again and begin our usual parades but as very different hours
Reveille 5.30
Breakfast 6.15
Parade 7. To 11
dinner 12
Parade 2.30 to 4.30
Tea 5.
by which can be seen that we have practically no time in the morning for either washing ourselves & again for breakfast while we have 3 ½ 3 & 1/2 hours for dinner time
[Page 46]
29 April 1915
Thursday
Parades as usual
5 pm Just sat down to tea when our C.S.M. comes in with the news that we are to be off in a few hours & to get everything ready to move.
We work nearly all night on our Conduct sheets & Casualty sheets so as to have the whole day for packing
Go to bed at 2.30 am
1915 April 30
Friday
Read out the orders to the men at 6 am this morning much to their joy
Spend the day in preparing to evacuate
Our kit bags are all stored in a shed. While all we carry is our packs & 1 Blanket & W.P. Sheet w/- 24 hrs rations.
Leave camp amid much congratulations at 8 pm & entrain for Alexandria
[Page 47]
1 May 1915
Saturday
Arrive at the dock-side at 5 am & find that one ship the "Saturnia" is already filled w/- Australians & New Zealanders while we have an hour’s wait till our troopship arrives She turns out to be the "Osmanich" a small very fast vessel.
We are all safely stowed in her numerous 1st and second class cabins while our mess room is below deck.
1915 May 2
Sunday
4th After Easter
Sat. Contd.
We remain in port all day taking in men & provisions & a large consignment of ammunition.
Leave at midnight
Sunday
Wake up & find we are far at sea which is very calm & weather still & cold to compare w/- the desert.
Have a rifle inspection in the afternoon
[Page 48]
3 May 1915
Put ship in state of defence against the German submarine supposed to be in these waters.
All the men are allotted alarm post and the passages are to be used as to take the ammunition forward.
My job is to report on the bridge for orders when the alarm is sounded
1915 May 4
Tuesday
Arrive at Lemnos Is. (which is about 4 hours run from the part of Gallipoli at which we are to land) at daybreak it proves to be a large hilly Is. Covered with short green grass but no scrub or trees.
Our arrival makes a total of about twelve troopships & Ten ships of war.
[Page 49]
5 May 1915
Wednesday
Remain Idle idle all day.
Can hear heavy Bombardment in the distance
Ships of war & Transport are coming & going all day.
1915 May 6
Thursday
Leave L'emnos Is at daybreak. Arrive in sight of our destination three hours after, (about 9.30 a.m.). We can see the hills in front of us being shelled w/- shrapnel Two destroyers come alongside about 1 pm and start taking off the troops. We receive 200 rds of ammunition & 24 hrs rations & get on shore at 5 p.m. At 8 pm start out for the trenches which are occupied by the 13th Bat. Arrive at 10 pm. sleep under bushes that for the night
[Page 50]
7 May 1915
Friday
We are woke up by the sound of a big gun close to where we are about 5 a.m.
Later on some of the old Battn come down from the fire trench & tell us about the terrible time they have had. In two splendid charges they took several of the positions held by the Turks but lost nearly six hundred killed & wounded including nearly all the officers
1915 May 8
Saturday
When not in the firing line the men live & cook in the holes in the hillside known as dugouts. During the day Dad & I dig out a hole for ourselves & start batching. We have plenty of preserved tucker in the shape of Biscuits, Bully Beef, Bacon, cheese, Jam, Ham, & any amount of tea & sugar.
At seven in the evening we take our first turn in the firing line
[Page 51]
9 May 1915
Sunday
Rogation Sunday
After a quilt quiet night with only intermittent firing we take a stock of the position
Our trenches are on the ridge * & the Turks are on a ridge opposite about 200 yds away & the valley in between is covered with dead bodies of Australians and Turks. At other parts the distance between the Turks & us is only from 15 to 30 yds & at night both parties throw hand bombs into each others defences
* Pope’s Hill
1915 May 10
Monday
At daylight the 13th are called out to support the 15ths positions * (who lost heavily in a futile charge during the night) but were not required. While we were near their trenches the wounded kept coming down in all stages of mutilation, Heads shot off, faces smashed & bullet holes in almost every possible place. the sight was shocking.
* Quinn’s Post.
[Page 52]
11 May 1915
Tuesday
Several of our men sniped while getting water & one killed by a shell
They are working on a 24 hour system A & B coys do one shift & they come down & C & D coy take their place.
We get the first real rain since leaving Sydney everybody gets sopping wet as we have only one W.P. sheet & 1 blanket each
1915 May 12
Wednesday
Get up damp & cold & try to make a billy of tea & luckily having a supply of dry wood have a good hot drink w/- a ration of rum in it by six o’clock
Our turn in the trench to night
[Page 53]
13 May 1915
Thursday
In firing line all day. Not much doing
Our position on Popes Hill seems like a home compared w/- Quinn’s Post where the trenches are only 10 to 20 yds from the Turks.
1915 May 14
Friday
The first installment of Light Horse arrive on the peninsular & take over Popes Hill from the 13th A.I. & we are sent to a quiet spot for a much needed spell.
We fairly enjoy ourselves for a couple of days clubbing in w/- two more chaps Sgt Leans & Cpl Craig so make 4 real good pals sharing work & tucker & doing well
[Page 54]
15 May 1915
Saturday
All parties doing well. the A L H lose a lot of men, in their eagerness to outdo the infantry they put their heads above the parapet & get hit
This is a place where you learn most by the mistakes of others, because the one who makes the mistake does not learn any more, he gets planted.
1915 May 16
Sunday
Sunday After Ascension
Get a new visitation in the shape of a few 8 ½ inch high power shells which burst w/- a tremendous explosion but do comparatively no damage except break down a few barricades & kill one or two men
[Page 55]
17 May 1915
Monday
More big shells & a whole lot of shrapnel during the day but very few hit
It is very droll to pick up a Sydney newspaper about a month old & read about the it Turks being short of men & munitions & then listen to the shells bursting about every five minutes
1915 May 18
Tuesday
More sapping & repairing Head – Quarters which has been damaged by the 8.5 in shells.
The dad not at all well.
[Page 56]
19 May 1915
Wednesday
13th Bat sent to Quinns Hill for 24 hours support & then 24 hours in firing line.
Sgt Leans of No 12 platoon wounded in hip so leaves me in charge of the platoon.
The Turks make a general attack all along the line but only lose heavily
Australian casualties about 500
Turkish casualties about 7000.
1915 May 20
Thursday
Go into trenches during the morning & do some heavy firing
During the afternoon a red crescent flag appears in the Turkish Trench on the extreme right of the of our position followed by others at intervals right along the whole line.
It appears the Turks want an armistice to bury the dead which is becoming a nuisance both to the eyesight & the intolerable stench of bodies lying in the open for nearly 3 weeks. Somehow no arrangement can be come to and
[Page 57]
21 May 1915
Thursday Contd
Friday
the firing is resumed about 2 hours later & kept up nearly all night together w/- heavy artillery fire.
Friday 21 may
Firing eases off during the morning & we are relieved about midday
Return to camp & find dad very bad w/- piles. Go down to field Hosp. with him & see him off to Hosp Ship about 8 pm.
1915 May 22
Saturday
Have a welcome rest for a few hrs.
Nothing doing except a little fatigue duty
[Page 58]
23 May 1915
Whit Sunday
Our turn at trench sapping
Work the four platoons in 4 reliefs during the day.
This blooming navvy work was something we never bargained for but it is as necessary as eating & nobody ever complains
1915 May 24
Monday
Whitsun Monday, Bank Holiday
We are awakened early in the morning & told to get our breakfast as we would be burying the dead all day.
A successful Armistice having been arranged from 8 am to 4 pm.
The job is absolutely awful. The corpses having been exposed to sun & rain for nearly a month & when we attempted to move them they fell to pieces
It was simply gastly searching them for papers. & Identification discs
We get an issue of rum when the job is done.
R.I.P.
[Page 59]
25 May 1915
Tuesday
Whitsun Tuesday
Continue the sapping job.
Rains intermittantly all day
1915 May 26
Wednesday
More fatigues & sapping
Weather bright again
[Page 60]
27 May 1915
Thursday
We fall in & +march to Quinns Hill to do a 48 hour shift in the trenches at 10 am
All quiet, not much firing, no body hit during the day in my post (no 5)
Am on watch until 4 a.m Friday then have a snooze till daylight, about 6 am when I am woke up to a welcome dixie of hot Tea
1915 May 28
Friday
We go relieve the men into reserve trench on Quinn’s Hill for 24 hrs. at about 11 a.m.
All tired out by the previous 24 hrs. in the firing line
Have a good nap during the afternoon & wake up to find a good wholesome stew waiting for us, to which we do justice returning to "bed" about 9 pm
[Page 61]
29 May 1915
Saturday
At 3 am we stand to arms At 3.15 the Turks fire a mine under our no 3 & 4 posts & immdiatly charge the position throwing in a shower of bombs.
After a sharp couple of hours our boys manage to retake the blown up trench driving the Turks into the open under the machine Gun fire. Out of about 60 Turks who charged not one got back.
Our losses fairly heavy "C" Coy lost 2 killed & 25 wounded including my chum Cpl Partridge shot dead & our Col & O.C wounded.
Are relieved by 15th & N.Z’s at 2 p.m. (dead beat)
1915 May 30
Trinity Sunday
Provide Burial party at 5 a.m. to bury the dead from yesterdays Battle
10th A.L.H. charge & take the Turkish trench opposite & fill it in & are cut off & have to be got out by sapping to them.
We are called out to stand in reserve all night but are not required
[Page 62]
31 May 1915
Monday
Get orders to shift out to another part of the country. but owing to our late arrival back in camp it is put off until tomorrow
Get everything packed up ready to move.
1915 June 1
Tuesday
Move out of old camp at 8 am
Find the track to our new position very hard to climb winding in & out of the hills
Reach new spot about 10 am. just as the New Zealanders are leaving
We locate a position but it is nothing like the old one, the hill being too steep to allow of much digging
[Page 63]
2 June 1915
Wednesday
We have a little drill w/- rifles by way of a change. in the morning & an address by Major General Sir Arthur Godley complementing the 4th Bde. on their past good work & hoping for more of it in the future
We go for a swim in the evening & return to find w the whole Bat is to go on a big sapping job at 8 pm.
1915 June 3
Thursday
We are not relieved until 8 am this morning
Return to camp tired & Hungry
Get a bit of breakfast & have a sleep till 12 o’clock
Get orders to stand to arms at 10 pm as a big attack is to be made from Quinn’s post & we may have to support the N Z’s & Light horse.
Stand by till midnight but are not required
[Page 64]
4 June 1915
We hear this morning the attack has been successful but we can get no details.
1915 June 5
Saturday
"C" Coy detailed for inlying piquet, nobody being allowed to leave the lines & to be ready to fall in at a minutes notice.
Nothing doing all day.
[Page 65]
6 June 1915
Sunday
1st After Trinity
Church parade Roman Catholics at 7 am & C of E at 9.30
No work today
1915 June7
Monday
Go to work on a long sap leading to one of our outposts at 8 am & work till noon
Clean rifles & equipment in afternoon
Receive a letter from Miss Coulson
[Page 66]
8 June 1915
Tuesday
Start out at 7 am this morning as we have further to go on the same job.
One of A co’s men wounded not far from us.
Get good news of one of our submarines having sunk several warships & transports belonging to Turkey.
Write letters home.
1915 June 9
Wednesday
Inlying piquet again
Have a turn out & inspection at 9 am.
[Page 67]
10 June 1915
Thursday
Sapping again 8 am to 12 noon.
1915 June 11
Friday
Receive letters from home.
[Page 68]
12 June 1915
Saturday
Go on a sapping job at 8pm & get the order to dig a hole for [indecipherable] for cover then to continue to connect them into a new line of trenches. Under fire the whole time during the night one man killed & 2 wounded one of whom dies next day
1915 June 13
Sunday
2nd After Trinity
No 12 platoon detailed for permanent Water party which makes my job easier having no fatigue parties to tell off.
The two men killed last night are buried
[Page 69]
14 June 1915
Monday
Weather getting very hot
But we do not mind it much as we have the use of the beach
1915 June 15
Tuesday
More working parties road making & improving several communication trenches
[Page 70]
16 June 1915
Wednesday
Continued work in reliefs & make good progress.
Shrapnell drive the men out of the water during the afternoon
1915 June 17
Thursday
Inlying piquet
A lot of rifle fire through the night but nothing comes of it & we do not have to turn out until 3 am & stand to arms until 4.30
[Page 71]
18 June 1915
Friday
Another spell no work today so do a bit of washing & mending
1915 June 19
Saturday
Quite a lot of our men are going down to a kind of dysentery & several have to be sent to Hospital
[Page 72]
20 June 1915
Sunday
3rd After Trinity
Church parade is graced by the presence of General Godley & staff
Very hot.
1915 June 21
Monday
Inlying piquet, all quiet
Big mail arrives from Aust much to our joy.
[Page 73]
22 June 1915
Tuesday
Nothing to report
Several men hit by shrapnel at ASC Deport in Rest Gully.
A battery of the City of Glasgow Territorial Artillery land with 5 inch Howitzers
1915 June 23
Wednesday
Very easy day hardly any firing both parties seem to be resting on their laurels & waiting for the other to make the next move
Enemy fire a few shells over but do no damage
[Page 74]
24 June 1915
Thursday
Turkish Aeroplane flies over & drops in several places an ultimatum to the effect that the Allies have undertaken an impossible task in trying to capture Gallipoli
The town of Shanak reported to be in flame from the bombardment by the Fleet
1915 June 25
Friday
Inlying piquet all quiet
Enemy shell Anzac cove to good effect kill several & wound about a dozen
Big parties at work making a ZIG ZAG road up the side of our gully apparently for the use of wheeled transport
[Page 75]
26 June 1915
Saturday
Sapping 7.30 am to 12 o’c
The Turks shell several of our trenches on Walkers ridge & use machine guns killing about twelve & wounding upwards of 40 Light Horsemen (including their Colonel killed)
Letters from Home.
1915 June 27
Sunday
4th After Trinity
Sapping again from 7 am The job is now practically finished being in all 7 ft deep 5 ft wide to allow the pack mules through & about three miles in length
The Turks gave us another little surprise this afternoon by infilading Anzac Cove with a new 4.7 in. Howitzer from the right of the position. It tore up the beach & killed about 9 & wounding quite a crowd.
[Page 76]
28 June 1915
Monday
Allied troops make several very successful attacks on Achi Baba. Advance about 1000 yds & hold the ground won.
1915 June 29
Tuesday
The Turks furiously attack our positions at Quinns Hill & Walkers Ridge but only succeed in losing heavily themselves our loss only seven killed & a good many wounded while the estimated Turkish loss is about 1500 to 2000, 250 dead were buried by our men they having got through our lines & promptly cut up.
[Page 77]
30 June 1915
Wednesday
Put in part of the day in going along our firing line & having a look at the dead Turks who are lying in heaps in front of our trenches
Heavy thunder storm overtakes us while returning from a sapping job at 8.30 pm & wets us & our camp while we are away
1915 July 1
Thursday
Sun shines brightly again this morning & the wet is soon forgotten
Six men wounded while getting water this morning by shrapnell
Sapping again 4 to 8 pm
[Page 78]
2 July 1915
Friday
The heat is very unpleasant after the rain but we are getting used to anything
Working party again to night with better luck no more wet
1915 July 3
Saturday
The enemy put several shells into our water tanks this morning so it is decided to remove them & the supply depot to another spot better protected as we lose men here nearly every day.
[Page 79]
4 July 1915
Sunday
5th After Trinity
I think the Turks must have been celebrating the glorious Fourth because they kept up a heavy big gun fire all day & the best part of the night
1915 July 5
Monday
The 16th Bat left here for Imbro. Is this afternoon in a number of trawlers which were heavily bombarded w/- shrapnel by the Turks.
We hear from some N.Z. artillery men that the cause of all the shelling of our water tanks was an old water cart which looked just like a Howitzer from their position & the Turks must have thought the same.
[Page 80]
6 July 1915
Tuesday
Inlying piquet.
Our new commanding officer takes over this morning he is a 16th Bat officer by name Col. Tilney V.D.
Stand to arms 3 am to 4.30 & then sleep till about 8 am (Wednesday)
1915 July 7
Wednesday
Write a letter home
Very quiet all morning but get a few shells over during the afternoon.
Very hot.
Hear that 16th lost four killed & about 30 wounded in crossing on Monday.
[Page 81]
8 July 1915
Thursday
Very quiet along the firing line except where the Turks put a few shells into Courtenay’s ridge
1915 July 9
Friday
Inlying piquet again
16th Return during the night
[Page 82]
10 July 1915
Saturday
Duty Company
We have to find about a dozen guards & fatigue parties
14th leave during the night so as not to run any risk of shrapnel like the unfortunate 16th
1915 July 11
Sunday
6th After Trinity
Church parade this morning
Turks make a rally & make a devil of a row but do no damage
The Monitor fires about a dozen large shells (10") over our heads during the afternoon.
[Page 83]
12 July 1915
Monday
Piquet again
About 3 am we are awakened by the arrival of our 5th Reinfs
Great disappointment I get five letters from Sydney but none from home & can’t make it out why it can have missed
1915 July 13
Tuesday
Officially take over the new men & set them making homes for themselves
Are called away without any warning to do a four hour job without any tea
return & have a good old supper at 9 pm.
[Page 84]
14 July 1915
Wednesday
Well this is a rather personal day for me
I am 20 yrs old today so have reached my first score.
We receive an advance of 10/- pay in anticipation of our visit to Imbros.
Weather beautiful
1915 July 15
Thursday
Weather still Hot
Provide working parties for the new water works which is being undertaken by the Engineers so as to be able to supply all the outlying posts without having to carry the water long distances
[Page 85]
16 July 1915
Friday
Continue the work & carry a lot of iron pipes along the roads to different points for th distribution
1915 July 17
Saturday
Inlying piquet
No fatigues at all today, very windy
[Page 86]
18 July 1915
Sunday
7th After Trinity
On account of a late issue of rations I miss church parade.
A huge pile of mail arrives but proves to be all old letters returned to us after being re-sorted.
Working party from 4 pm to 8 pm making ledges or terraces on the hill side for the accommodation of a lot of troops who are to arrive here shortly one man wounded
1915 July 19
Monday
No rations at all this morning A.S.C. are taking stock.
take on the same job as yesterday
[Page 87]
20 July 1915
Tuesday
At work today on the water works splendid advancements being made
Weather very hot & Sultry
We "Stand to arms" at 3 a.m.
The period of the Mohamedan Ramadan is at present in force & our people are expecting trouble.
1915 July 21
Wednesday
Terracing again
The valley is nearly finished now & we expect to start in another part next shift
Turks fire twenty shells at our aeroplane without getting near it
[Page 88]
22 July 1915
Thursday
More mail arrives but no letter for me.
A Turkish shell wounds seventeen men on the beach this afternoon none killed.
1915 July 23
Friday
The Turks put four high explosive shells on to a road close to our bivouac but do no damage
[Page 89]
24 July 1915
Saturday
At work this morning from 5 am to 9 am.
Carrying pipes & laying them
On again from midnight to 2.15 am then "Stand to" until 4 am until the Moon sets
This job is permanent until further notice
Rum issue at 6 pm
1915 July 25
Sunday
8th After Trinity
Great doings in camp our Brigadier has been promoted to Brigadier General John Monash
Usual midnight job but not hard work this time
[Page 90]
26 July 1915
Monday
Work at night & Rest all day
Get news of the Allies win at Bagdad on the Persian Gulf side & hope this will influence the enemy here.
When the good news was told the men in the trenches they raised such a cheering the Turks kept up a tremendous rifle fire for a couple of hrs thinking we were going to kill the lot of them
1915 July 27
Tuesday
Work at night & Rest all day
This game is beginning to play hell with our constitutions many of the boys have to give up altogether & go away for a spell
[Page 91]
28 July 1915
Wednesday
We get orders to shift our belongings off the hill this morning to allow them to terrace it but:-
They left us camped on the road all day & all night except while we were working (12/4 am) and never touched it. so decided to shift to more commodious premises
1915 July 29
Thursday
Build a regular bungalow of sticks wp sheets an old blanket & some bags
It is very good & comfortable but very fragile as the wind a couple of nights later proved
I am not feeling well at all to night not being able to rest & a bit feverish
[Page 92]
30 July 1915
Friday
Not much better this morning but get over the issue of rations all right
Lie down nearly all day & feel better in the evening
Get orders to supply several Guards & fatigue parties for tomorrow. "C" coy finding Bgde duties
Rum 6 pm.
1915 July 31
Guards go on at 8 am & so relieve me of my worry for the day.
I go & have a look at the new 60 pounder field guns landed during the night & apparently intended for the big general advance to take place shortly
[Page 93]
1 August 1915
Sunday
9th After Trinity
The Guards & Fatigue parties return about 8.30 am
We are Inlying piquet so do no work today
Get news that the 11th Bat fan have taken two trenches during the night & are still holding them
More big guns landed
1915 August 2
Monday
Bank Holiday
About 2 am the 6th Reinfs come ashore & wake us up at 2.30
Just get to sleep again when it is time to "Stand to Arms" at 4 am
Have a devil of a day finding homes for them & making up shortages etc.
More rumors of a big advance to be made inside the next few days.
[Page 94]
3 August 1915
Tuesday
We settle down to live peacefully in our new home
No fatigues to speak of & we wonder what it means
The Turkish Artillery has been very busy again consistently shelling Anzac beach & the Gullies
1915 August 4
Wednesday
get orders to see every man has his equipment complete & Iron rations.
so expect the move to be made soon
Several officers from the native Indian Regts have been inspecting our gully so we expect the Indian Troops will take part in the new move
[Page 95]
5 August 1915
Thursday
We are shifted again to make more room for Indian troops who arrive during the night
The Gurkas picked a bad spot to bivouac for as soon as it was light the Turks started to pour in shrapnel but they (Gurkas) soon cleared out and as far as we know none were hit.
1915 August 6
Friday
Our Brigadier makes the announcement of the big attack to take place to night
March out of camp at 9 pm & get away along to the left to a range of hills
We can hear firing & cheering on nearly all sides. We are shown a hill which we are to take
Only a few shots are fired at us but gets some of our men
The Turks all clear out
[Page 96]
7 August 1915
Saturday
Improve position taken up & see Gurkas at work doing same on our right
Main position appears to be far in advance of us & we can see the Turks on the run from N.Zs & Tommies
Move into Bivouac in a sheltered Gully & settle down for the day
1915 August 8
Sunday
10th After Trinity
Pulled up about 2 am & get into a position to prevent the Turks making a turning movement
About 6 am the 15th & 16th Bats make a charge on Hill 971 but lose hundreds & have to retire
We keep busy improving our trench & they put a M.G. in right near us.
We have to relieve ‘D’ Coy some distance further along the firing line
Work watches all night
[Page 97]
9 August 1915
Monday
4 am Sentry wakes us up to tell us the spot we are guarding is full of Turks.
We open fire with rifles & machine guns & apparently drive them out
No more are seen after daybreak but some snipers must have been left for we keep getting bullets over
We lost several men killed & some wounded.
Expected relief does not arrive so make arrangements for another night
1915 August 10
Tuesday
About 3 am Sentry in my trench yells out & fires which immediately starts the whole line firing
Find out later he has shot one of our own Sergts who had come to the front of our trench in mistake. He is wounded in leg & foot. get him into trench & bandage wounds. Get relieved at 7 am & retire to have a much needed rest after 52 hrs continuous fighting
971 still hotly contested 29th Division nearly killed but
About 4 pm the Enemy attack
[Page 98]
11 August 1915
Wednesday
our right w/- machine guns & Bombs. They fail to take the trench but kill 8 & wound a good many
We are sent up to relieve the men in the firing line for the night
Wednesday
We are relieved about 7 am & get a fair issue of rations but very little water & told to make our own arrangements about getting it. Manage to obtain a good supply
Go into Trench again at 9 pm for a 24 hr spell
1915 August 12
Thursday
After working nearly all night improving the Earthworks, (no attack being made) we find in the morning that very little or no water can be got
The heat is intolerable but later we get about a pint of water a man.
up to now we have been in the firing line every night since Friday 6th.
[Page 99]
13 August 1915
Friday
After a nights sleep we start a long continuous round of fatigues
Water carrying, sapping, digging & carrying provisions & ammunition all day long
Manage to get a few gallons of water put by for next day.
go into trenches at 7 pm
Very quiet all night hardly a shot fired
Bury two men who have been lying in front of trench since 6/8/15
Awfully gruesome job. X
1915 August 14
Saturday
Put in some good work improving firing line & cleaning up. & making snug.
are relieved at 7 pm.
Get mum’s two cards.
Two Faube aeroplanes had been hovering about our position all afternoon but make off on the approach of a British Biplane
[Page 100]
15 August 1915
Sunday
11th After trinity
Our day off sleep well all night & have a good spell through the day
The heat is a great nuisance we not having means of making shelters except w/- Brushwood which is very scarce.
Not having any means of shaving we are beginning to look like wild men. x
1915 August 16
Monday
After a very quiet night we receive a little mail & I get Richies letter dated June 18th glad to hear all well
We are getting very sick of it all.
The mens health is breaking down under the constant strain & hard work ‘C’ company’s Sick list averages about 10 men to Hospital each day.
Later Receive Mum’s Letter but we are not able to answer them from here. At 2 pm a man in my trench got his head nearly blown off by an explosive Bullet.
[Page 101]
17 August 1915
Tuesday
After a good nights sleep I have to send a sapping party of 24 men out at 6 am.
4 more of my platoon go to hospital this morning.
Not much doing that we hear of. A few shells come over but do no damage. x
Go into trenches at 7 pm
We are making the trenches very safe & comfortable but hope that no rain comes yet.
1915 August 18
Wednesday
do a bit more work to the parapets & then have a bit of a spell one man in six keeping watch
We keep hearing about the new Australian Bdes landing but nothing comes of of it.
We are releived at the usual hour & have some tea.
during the night it sprinkles a bit & we get slightly damp as we have no coats blankets or anyting to cover us at all
[Page 102]
19 August 1915
Thursday
Sky is overcast this morning but it may clear up
Our packs arrive to day for which we are truly thankful for after 13 days our shirts & sox are pretty ripe.
The Fifth Brigade has landed at last. Now that they are here we wonder which Bde they are going to releive or assist.
1915 August 20
Friday
During the morning Brigadier General Monash & his staff make a tour of our trenches & decide that an advance will have to be made & the ridge opposite cleared of the Turks.
The time set is 3 pm to morrow & we are to have the place of honor which is first out of our trench.
The navy fire several sighting shots to get the range & the bombardment is fixed for 2 pm on 21st.
[Page 103]
21 August 1915
Saturday
Written after leaving Anzac
After a beautiful sleep in our blankets I have a busy time issuing rations & attending to a whole lot of little details
At 2 pm me we move up into the firing line & see the bombardment which tears the Turk trenches about a lot
At 3 pm we start to get out of the trench into a bit of a valley out of sight of the Turks but some of us were not lucky enough to get down quick enough I got my first hit in the left foot about 1 minute after getting out of our trench
1915 August 22
Sunday
12th After Trinity
Saturday Contd
My experience for the next few seconds trying to regain our trench w/- rifles & M G’s playing all around was a thing not to be forgotten in a day.
From the dressing station I was carried to the beach & onto the Hosp Ship.
Sunday
Taken to Imbros Is. on a trawler & installed in Marquee Hosp. Tent
Luckily I can hobble about w/- a little difficulty & pain.
[Page 104]
23 August 1915
Monday
Last night all the patients who were able to get about w/out assistance were installed in a large camp of bell tents (about 10 in a tent) which for men in all stages of mutilation is not good business.
For breakfast we were treated to a boiled egg & piece of dry bread & a dixie mess tin of tea which we drank & had filled about 3 times (a mouthful each) stew for dinner & Bread & marmalade for tea
Some talk of removing us to night but it looks too rough
1915 August 24
Tuesday
We had a variation in diet this morning, Boiled Bacon & Bread. Bully Beef for dinner & Boiled Egg for tea so we did not do so bad.
One good thing we can get plenty of grapes here as well as chocolate etc.
Went for a stroll to Y.M.C.A. tent to get some paper & write home
A big batch go away to the Base to-day so may not be here long
The little bay is so full of shipping you could not get another fish into it.
[Page 105]
25 August 1915
Wednesday
After breakfast this morning I went for a bit of a stroll & heard from one of the medical officers that they were going to clear all the patients out to day.
About 4 pm we were all marched down to the Peir & put onto a trawler & she took us to the Hosp ship
About 8 pm we had some beautiful Bread, Butter, jam & tea which was most welcome because we had nothing since 12 o’clock
1915 August 26
Thursday
The ship moved out at daybreak this morning and at 8 am we had breakfast of Porridge Bread & Butter & Tea
We passed through a heavy downpour of rain.
Arrived at Mudros about 11 am.
Move in & tie up alongside of Hospital Ship "Assaye"
During the night we are told that some of us are to go to Alexandria & the rest to Gibraltar
This
Rains most of the night
[Page 106]
27 August 1915
Friday
Find out this morning I am for Alexandria by the "Assaye"
A whole lot of slightly wounded are taken ashore during afternoon in lighters
About 7 pm all the men for the Assaye were transferred &
put into wards.
Put in a very comfortable night
I hear today that through some mistake the 18th Bat has been terribly cut up only two days after they had landed!
1915 August 28
Saturday
First thing I knew this morning was my mate waking me to come for breakfast.
We are given clean shirts & Pajamas & so have a chance to get clean again
Move out of Mudros at 8 pm.
Retire to bed at 8.30 pm. but am unable to sleep so go on deck & make a bed there w/- better luck & do not wake until about 6 next morning
[Page 107]
29 August 1815
Sunday
13th After Trinity
Out at sea which is beautifully blue but a bit choppy & a cold breeze blowing
Pass an Island on starboard side about 10 am
Have a rather restless night on deck my foot was troubling me
1915 August 30
Monday
Soon after breakfast this morning we started to look for land
Get into Alexandria about 1 pm & tie up at 2 pm.
All Australians & +Z N.Z.’s are sent by train to Cairo. Tea & Bread Butter & Cheese are served on train at 6 pm
On arrival at Cairo we are taken direct to No 2 A.G.H. & installed in wards according to our various complaints
Have a hot bath & get into a clean bed
[Page 108]
31 August 1915
Tuesday
The difference in treatment here from our previous knocking about is marvellous.
The sisters cant do enough for you anything you want you have only to ask for it.
The tucker too for dinner we had roast chicken & Baked spuds & Custard w/- a big cup of lemonade.
Our wounds are dressed twice a day
They injected some juice into me to stop any infection from the foot
1915 September 1
Wednesday
Everything very quiet.
Write a letter home but cannot get it posted yet.
My throat gets very sore towards evening & I get something from the sister which fixes it up by morning
[Page 109]
2 September 1915
Thursday
Get a bit of a surprise when in walked dad.
He was overjoyed to see me & could not do enough for me.
He brought a bag of grapes & figs & gave me another watch mine having gone a bit cronk.
He had a bad time physically but is making up for it in other ways.
He is drawing Gun. Sgts pay (Viz: 12/- per day) & doing nothing for it.
{Another victory for me I stuck on the peninsular longer than any of the other Lindsell’s}
1915 September 3
Friday
About a dozen sisters & large number of Patients leave here for Australia this morning
Am not feeling too good must have caught a cold or something
foot getting on well.
Dad comes in about 6 pm & brings a tin of Pineapple which goes down very well.
Sleep a little better than for several nights past.
[Page 110]
4 September 1915
Saturday
Now that the excitement is over & I have nothing to worry about I begin to realise how completely run down I am
When I wake in the morning all my joints ache & I feel terribly tired but the feeling wears off through the day
I can see now it was only will power that was keeping us going & as soon as you release that you simply go to pieces
1915 September 5
Sunday
14th After Trinity
Things go on as usual am feeling better generally
Dad brings in some reading matter in the afternoon & has tea w/- us.
One of our chaps comes in w/- the news that my officer Lt Ford has been shot dead
[Previous paragraph shows question mark dated 10/9/15 and then annotation Incorrect 15/9/15 and initialled JCL]
700 wounded arrive Cairo today
[Page 111]
6 September 1915
Monday
The days are very hot & sultry & lying in bed is very trying but hope it wont be for long
Doctor very well satisfied w/- foot, healing lovely.
Send all N.Z. patients to another Hospital for N.Z’s only
1915 September 7
Tuesday
Things very quiet & rather monotonous but we have plenty of reading matter English & Aust Illustrated papers & magazines & a fine library at our disposal
We are very well fed having boiled chicken everyday. as a matter of fact it is becoming a sort of byword in our ward
[Page 112]
8 September 1915
Wednesday
Foot getting on well but have a queer swelling of the glands of the neck which is both painful & annoying as it is very difficult for me to move in bed.
Dad comes in after tea & cheers me up a good bit.
It is very queer how I look forward to seeing him.
1915 September 9
Thursday
Neck slightly easier this morning & I feel brighter generally. My writing can be taken as a fair guide to the state of my nerves & muscles. I am as weak as a kitten
[Page 113]
10 September 1915
Friday
No improvement still feeling rotten & seem to be getting weaker
Write letters home
1915 September 11
Saturday
Neck improved but otherwise no change, full of aches & Pains.
days very hot but nights cool & very cold in early morning
[Page 114]
12 September 1915
Sunday
15th After Trinity
Very hot all day & am not feeling too good
Plenty of music in the afternoon
Dad comes in for a chat in the evening
1915 September 1915
Monday
Things getting very monotonous begin to wish I was back again among the boys. There was always a bit excitement out there to keep you going, but here it is like a big dull ache
[Page 115]
14 September 1915
Tuesday
Feeling a bit better but still pretty rotten, I don’t seem to have a particle of strength left, it is quite an effort to sit up in bed even.
Foot doing well it will be right long before I am well by the look of things
1915 September 15
Wednesday
A little improvement not so many pains but still weak & miserable
Taken the bandage off my foot & painted w/- iodine to allow it to finish healing in the air
[Page 116]
16 September 1915
Thursday
Feeling very much better, temperature down to normal & beginning to get my appetite back.
Foot feeling real good
1915 September
Friday
Still improving feeling quite young again
Foot doing well but getting very hard underneath
[Page 117]
18 September 1915
Saturday
Still going strong temperature normal & eating like a horse.
Put hot foment on foot to try & soften it a bit
Expect to be allowed up soon.
1915 September 19
Sunday
16th After Trinity
Feeling a heap better to day & am allowed to get out of bed for which I am truly thankful.
I was getting pretty sick of lying down after 20 days
[Page 118]
20 September 1915
Monday
Go for a bit of a stroll round the building in the sunshine & find out I am very weak still
But it feels good to be able to walk about again
1915 September 21
Tuesday
A crowd of sisters & patients leave for England to day on No 1 Hosp Ship
Feel a bit stronger on my pins today & wont be long now before I am right again
[Page 119]
22 September 1915
Wednesday
Progress so favorable that doctor thinks it advisable to send me out to Mena Convalescent Hosp.
So I am to be discharged to morrow
Feeling splendid
Dad comes in during the evening for a chat
1915 September 23
Thursday
Get my Kit Bag & new set of brush gear having lost mine as well as boots, puttees, overcoat, etc. We got out here * about 1pm & had dinner, were sent to various wards & then have a look round. It seems to be a very easy going place, very few restrictions & about a quarter of a mile from the largest Pyramid which is immediately in front of the Building
*Mena
[Page 120]
24 September 1915
Friday
Proceed to make myself at Home which is not difficult. There are very few restrictions. Leave is granted to a limited number each day & the remainder go out without leave if they feel so inclined
1915 September 25
Saturday
After dinner today I make a tour of the Ghizeh Pyramid district.
Visit the Pyramid of Cheops & the smaller ones in the vicinity as well as the Sphinx & excavated tombs, some of which are covered with Heirogliphics & carving
[Page 121]
26 September 1915
Sunday
17th After Trinity
After church parade this morning I get a suit of Hosp uniform & make a trip out to Zeitoun via Cairo
500 reinforcements for 6th Bde arrive at 6pm. very young looking & only partly trained
Everybody wondering what the Balkan row will bring forth
All Greeks in Egypt have been warned to return home
1915 September 27
Monday
Have a quiet day at home to day. it does not take much to knock me up in my present condition
I make good use of the extensive library in the Hosp which is filled with real good reading matter.
[Page 122]
Visit the Cairo Zoo this afternoon, they have on the whole a better collection of animals than Sydney & the Place is much better laid out, not to mention that the whole Gardens is a mass of trees which is very pleasant for both Animals & Visitors
Dad comes out in the evening for a chat & brings a few necessities he had in store for me
1915 September 29
Wednesday
Put in a quiet day at home & Have a sleep in the afternoon.
After tea a notion strikes me to go for a car ride & catch the 7 pm tram to Cairo & return home at 10 pm
[Page 123]
30 September 1915
Thursday
Spend my time reading & resting & in the evening writing my experiences home
1915 October 1
Friday
Meet an old friend who came in here yesterday He was w/- us on the old Seang Choon
We go up to the Pyramids for a walk after dinner.
[Page 124]
2 October 1915
Saturday
Get leave & go out to Zeitoun to see the old man.
Clean & oil my pistol which is getting quite lonely it having never been being off my belt for 4 mths
Have tea w/- him & return via Heliopolis
1915 October 3
Sunday
18th After Trinity
I have a restful morning & go to church
Doctor thinks me fit to go to Alexandria so expect to leave here shortly
Very good concert this afternoon
[Page 125]
4 October 1915
Monday
Just an ordinary day not much to report.
Our doctor transfered to Base details
200 patients come from Ghezireh Hosp
1915 October 5
Tuesday
Find out they are cleaning No 2 Gen. (Ghezireh) for a large draft of Tommies who it is undecipherable rumored are being killed in large numbers & wounded in thousands.
[Page 126]
6 October 1915
Wednesday
First thing this morning I was warned for Al Hayat Helouan Convalescent Hosp.
Pay a flying visit to dad to let him know & to get some more gear.
1915 October 7
Thursday
The journey out was very interesting first 1 hour tram from Mena to Bab-el-louk station & then 1 hour in a very slow train from Bab-el-louk to Helouan, 10 mins march to El Hayat.
It is a very big concern several Hundred Australians are housed here but too much like a prison.
[Page 127]
8 October 1915
Friday
Make myself at home in a new camp. am in a room with 4 other Sergts one of whom was on the old Seang Choon.
1915 October 9
Saturday
Nothing to do & all day to do it in
Pictures at night
A Mr Bradley of the American mission gives a very good discourse on practical religion
[Page 128]
10 October 1915
Sunday
19th After Trinity
Great joy I get a packet of letters & parcel of cigarettes after nearly three months of waiting
Church services at 10am
Go for a tour round Helouan with a couple of old friends & Dad.
See dad off & then go to church at 7pm
1915 October 11
Monday
Very warm & sultry during the morning but cool wind from the Nile in evening
Pictures at night
[Page 129]
12 October 1915
Tuesday
Very quiet & restful
receive two parcels of chocolate through the post
Interview Dental Surgeon to have my teeth repaired & put in order while I have so good a chance.
1915 October 13
Wednesday
Not much doing lie & sit about all day & read
Write a couple of letters in evening.
I am now practically right again my foot is completely healed & I have no inconvenience from it at all
expect go back to duty shortly
[Page 130]
14 October 1915
Thursday
Things as usual am going along steadily but getting as lazy as a Turk.
Very good Pictures at night.
Nights very cool. making use of blankets again.
1915 October 15
Friday
First interview with dentist. He filled one tooth very well & I have to go again in a couple of days.
A big draft of Reinforcements & men returning is being got ready to leave for the front next week.
[Page 131]
16 October 1915
Saturday
Get leave & knock round Helouan for a couple of hours but soon get full of it.
The usual pest of locusts have invaded Egypt again just as it did when Moses was here.
1915 October 17
Sunday
20th After Trinity
Church at 10 am
Dad & I go for a drive to the Nile & see Sakkara Pyramids in the distance
We catch 5.30 pm to Cairo for a ride & I get back home about 9 pm
[Page 132]
18 October 1915
Monday
Write a letter home mail closes 7 pm today.
Pictures at night
1915 October 19
Tuesday
The doctor at last reckons I am fit to go back to duty so am to be discharged tomorrow
About 24 men are to be sent back to Australia tomorrow
[Page 133]
20 October 1915
Wednesday
Leave Helouan at 9 am & reach Zeitoun at 12.
After dinner I am installed in a sleeping Hut with some 50 more of the 13th Bn ready to return to the front
At 2 pm put in the time till 4.30 on the miniature Range.
Very glad to be back at work again
1915 October 21
Thursday
Am orderly Sgt not much to be done.
The 9/13 are in camp here but at present on a 3 day musketry course at Abbasia
[Page 134]
22 October 1915
Friday
A quiet morning. "A" Company training on Abbasia Range No Afternoon parade
Put in Afternoon & evening w/- Dad. & have tea in his Mess.
e.i. (3rd T.B.)
1915 October 23
Saturday
The Company returns to camp about 3pm tired & dusty from the sandy desert
[Page 135]
24 October 1915
Sunday
21st After Trinity
After church parade go into Cairo with Dad & visit the ancient & Historical mosques of Sultan Hassan & the Coronation Mosque
Later we are shown the old Coptic church & the Crypt in which the Holy family hid from Herod. it contains Pictures 900 yrs old.
1915 October 25
Monday
This afternoon all details in the Bn. were lined up to find out how many were fit & ready to return to the front
[Page 136]
26 October 1915
Tuesday
Things are going on quietly hear no more about going back yet
1915 October 27
Wednesday
The weather is very queer. the days are like Australian summer & the nights like Aust winter
the difference is remarkable.
[Page 137]
28 October 1915
Thursday
An easy morning. Musketry instruction & Bayonet work
No parade in afternoon but a night advance from 7 to 9.30
1915 October 29
Friday
I am orderly Sgt & lucky enough to miss the route march over the desert in about 125 ° of heat
I make a draw of P.T. 500
[Page 138]
30 October 1915
Saturday
I send off some money home for Xmas & Despatch cards to all acqu friends
1915 October 31
Sunday
22nd After Trinity
Church parade in the morning
After dinner I go down to Dad have tea w/- him & we go into Heliopolis
[Page 139]
1 November 1915
Monday
The 10th Reinfs arrive to-night
Some of them are put in an empty hut for the night
1915 November 2
Tuesday
Am surprised to find old Glennie amongst them
Put in the day working in the office
[Page 140]
3 November 1915
Wednesday
We are all examined by the medical officer to see if we are fit to return to the front
He will not let me go. My foot is too tender yet
1915 November 4
Thursday
The details leave Zeitoun for Alexandria en-route to the front
Clean the Sleeping hut thoroughly.
[Page 141]
5 November 1915
Friday
Am having a very easy time of it.
Days are still hot but very cold nights
1915 November 6
Saturday
Same as before
[Page 142]
7 November 1915
Sunday
23rd After Trinity
Dad & I go into Cairo after dinner & have a very pleasant afternoon in the Sgts mess belonging to the Ordnance Dept of Kasr-el-nil Barracks & Also go through the Cairo Museum.
1915 November 8
Monday
Spend most of the day pottering about in Dad’s work-shop. having nothing to do in my own Coy.
I have applied to attend a School of instruction in Zeitoun.
[Page 143]
9 November 1915
Tuesday
Read all morning & sit yarning w/- Dad in evening.
1915 November 10
Wednesday
Loafe about & watch the Arabs building a large brick Picture Palace
[Page 144]
11 November 1915
Thursday
After a long spell I get a job in charge of fatigue party which was alright but I had to get up at 5.30 am
1915 November 12
Friday
Nothing to do again
[Page 145]
13 November 1915
Saturday
Go for a bit of a run to town
1915 November 14
Sunday
24th After Trinity
Get my traps together & go down to the school
Work to start in the morning
[Page 146]
15 November 1915
Monday
Rise at 5.30.
Organised into squads
N.C.Os from all arms
Some Imperial
" N.Z.
" Australians
1915 November 16
Tuesday
Training on a sound progressive basis
The sudden change from laziness to hard work tells very hard on me.
[Page 147]
17 November 1915
Wednesday
Am feeling completely done up
At end of day I can hardly stand up
1915 November 18
Thursday
Training is getting the upper hand I am not so leg weary now
Still very trying on my bad foot
[Page 148]
19 November 1915
Friday
Rumors of Native risings at Khartoum & in the Tripoli zone.
They are preparing some A.L.H. & Yoemanry in readiness
1915 November 20
Saturday
All Imperial Yeomanry recalled
Fortifying all canals & lines of communication
Musketry Exam. at school
I do well
[Page 149]
21 November 1915
Sunday
25th After Trinity
More excitement, all English troops are recalled to join their regiments in the event of having to move out and take a hand in the expected native rising
Composite Light Horse Regt. leave camp mounted
Destination unknown
1915 November 22
Monday
Things as usual at school. No more news.
Receive two parcels from home
[Page 150]
23 November 1915
Tuesday
In the afternoon we do a bit of a manoeuvre in the desert & I am rather tired
1915 November 24
Wednesday
Drill & Musketry again
[Page 151]
25 November 1915
Thursday
Work as usual
1915 November 26
Friday
Coy drill exam
[Page 152]
27 November 1915
Saturday
Second Musketry exam I am right at last
100/100 points for me.
1915 November 28
Sunday
1st In Advent
Our day of rest
Dad & I have supper in Cairo & go to the pictures
[Page 153]
29 November 1915
Monday
Start work again as usual
1915 November 30
Tuesday
After parade I go to our Batn & draw £ 5/-/-
[Page 154]
1 December 1915
Wednesday
Night operations Outposts
1915 December 2
Thursday
Work as usual
[Page 155]
3 December 1915
Friday
Batn drill exam before breakfast
Musketry Inst for rest of morn
Bayonet competition in afternoon
1915 December 4
Saturday
Final Exam a rather hand written paper.
I am able to answer all the Questions so hope for the best
[Page 156]
5 December 1915
Sunday
2nd In Advent
Dad & I go out for dinner & visit a picture show at night
1915 December 6
Monday
Learn the results of the school today.
I have finished up with a total of 96% .
I have decided to remain & attend the machine Gun course
[Page 157]
7 December 1915
Tuesday
Read all day & go to town at night
1915 December 8
Wednesday
Pass the afternoon & evening w/- dad.
[Page 158]
9 December 1915
Thursday
Read all day & go to pictures in Cairo at night
1915 December 10
Friday
Continue the Lazy life
[Page 159]
11 December 1915
Saturday
Men for the new school march in this morning
I have to shift into another tent.
1915 December 12
Sunday
3rd In Advent
Another holiday
go into Cairo again & knock round for a couple of hours
[Page 160]
13 December 1915
Monday
5.30 this morning we jump right back to work
Work Description of gun
1915 December 14
Tuesday
Work today mounting & dismounting Lecture
Care & Cleaning
[Page 161]
15 December 1915
Wednesday
Stripping, Lecture
Half Holiday go along & have tea w/- dad
1915 December 16
Thursday
Load laying
Landscape targets
Lecture
[Page 162]
17 December 1915
Friday
Landscape target & fudging distance
1915 December 18
Saturday
Exam, Description & Care & Cleaning
95 & 83 respetively
[Page 163]
19 December 1915
Sunday
4th In Advent
Holiday go to pictures w/- dad
1915 December 20
Monday
Work again
Mechanism this week
Lectures
[Page 164]
21 December 1915
Tuesday
Mounting loading laying
Lecture
Mechanism
1915 December 22
Wednesday
Stripping
Lecture
Map reading
[Page 165]
23 December 1915
Thursday
Signalling
I pass the semaphore test.
1915 December 24
Friday
Ball firing on Abbasia Range
Very funny first time but soon get used to it
Exam Mechanism 93.
[Page 166]
25 December 1915
Saturday
Christmas Day
Christmas day.
Have dinner w/- dad & spend evening by going to Heliopolis Music Hall.
1915 December 26
Sunday
1st After Christmas
Church Parade after which I go & see after letters but am disappointed
Have tea w/- dad.
[Page 167]
27 December 1915
Monday
Bank Holiday
Set to work to wind up.
Four Exams this week so will have to work hard
1915 December 28
Tuesday
Stoppages & Lectures
[Page 168]
29 December 1915
Wednesday
Ball firing on Abbasia Range 300x Stoppages
Lectures
1915 December 30
Thursday
Ball Firing Abbasia Range 300x Competition
Most hits out of 20, in 1 minute
I get 15 on out of 17 get 1 stoppage
First written Exam 96 points for me.
[Page 169]
31 December 1915
Friday
Final wind up
My total is.
Description - 95
Care & Cleaning - 83
Mechanism - 93
Stoppages - 88
1st paper - 96
2nd " - 88
Note Book - 98
Drill - 94
8/733
92
92%
Machine Gun Sgt.
Telephone Numbers
Name Telephone.
Important Dates
Leave Sydney – Feb 11
Arrive Colombo – Mar 8
Arrive Suez – Mar 23
4th Bde Leaves Egypt- Apr 11
We " " – May 1
1st Landing Gallipoli – Apr 25
We land " – May 6
Armistice – May 24
Quinn’s Post Blown up – May 29
Go into Reserve Gully – June 1
Combined attack on Hill 971 – Aug 6-7
I get wounded – Aug 21
Arrive Hosp Cairo – Aug 30
" Mena House – Sept 23
" Al Hayat Helouan – Oct 7
Discharged from Hosp. – Oct 20
School of Instruction – Nov 14
[Page 170]
Summary
Chap 1. Aug 6
Chap 2 Aug 7 to 10
[Page 171]
(Cpl Walsh)
Miss Carroll
31 C Talford St
Glebe Point
Sydney
NSW
Aust.
12 th July }
22nd July } something eventful to happen
entered 31/5/15
[Transcribed by Colin Smith, Betty Smith for the State Library of New South Wales]