Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Alfred Bray diary, 16 August 1915-23 August 1916
MLMSS 1273/Item 1

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[Cover]

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Pte A.E.C. Bray
No 3014B
"A" Company
3rd Batallion
1st Infantry
A.I. Forces

Diary on Camp life & Active Service

Pte Address

"Charlyle"
Park Road
Hurstville Sydney
N.S. Wales
Australia

Finder please return to private address to
Mother (Mrs Bray)

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Blank page

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August & September 1915
Enlisted at Board of Health Department Circular Quay on the night of the 16th of August 1915.
I went into Camp at Holdsworthy on the 23rd as the 4th Depot Battalion. Had to report at Victoria Barracks at 11 am on 23rd was given refreshments by Ladies league & left for Central Station about 2 am There was about 1023 men and occupied 2 special trains. When we reached Liverpool we were formed up in fours & marched to Holdsworthy. We remained at Holdsworthy till the 15th September when the whole Battalion was marched to Liverpool. We were at Liverpool about three weeks when we were transferred to the 7th Reinforcements of the 18th Battalion. We did not receive our issue of uniforms till the 22nd of October. Started first course of elementary musketry on 28th & received issue of equipment on 29th. We went to rifle range on the 30th & I succeeded in getting a good average. While at the range we were encamped at Roseberry Racecourse & could go home of an evening. On the 3rd November we returned to camp at Liverpool. We received our issue of kits & kit bag & left on final leave on the 4th returned on the 18th Nov.
October & November 1915

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November & December 1915
On the 29th we left Liverpool & went to Casula camp & stayed there till we embarked. At 3-45 am on 23rd December we were formed up & left for Liverpool Station & entrained about 4-15 am. & left for Sydney. On reaching Sydney we had to walk to wharf at Woollomooloo Bay and embarked on the S.S. Suevic Transport A 29. The streamers were broken & pulled away from the wharf at 8-30 am. We layed out in the stream all day & passed outside Heads about 5 pm & experienced my first voyage at sea. Next day it was found that we had an Australian Girl on board in Uniform and her name was Maud Butler. She was thought a real heroine by all on board & a good collection was realised for her. She was quartered in the Captains’ cabin & was transferred to the Archilles [Achilles]a blue funnel cargo boat on the same day of her being found. The Archilles [Achilles] has since been sunk by the Germans & it took her to Melbourne. For several days things were quiet till the 28th when a man was arrested on suspicion of being a spy but afterwards found that he was not &
December 1915

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January 1916
was released. Xmas passed very quiet & we drifted into the 2nd day of the New Year when it was found that one of our men had fallen overboard on the night of the 1st. His name was Brown & was a very bright fellow & was missed by all who knew him. On the next day a man of another Reinforcement has lost his reason & had to be kept under close arrest. During the next couple of days things were all excitement for we crossed the line about 2 am on the 11th. There was a big tank erected on the well deck & had Father Neptune & his family in attendance & had a very decent turn out.

January 1916
At about 11 am on the 14th we had the first glimpse of land which was the first land seen since leaving Cape Lewin in Western Australia. It was Cape Gardefewee [Guardafui] the most easterly point of Africa. We past Aden on the early morning of the 16th & Jugla-Paw lighthouse about 9-30 am. During the remainder of the day we passed a group of islands known as the Twelve Apostles. Things went very quiet and uneventful for a couple of days and on the 17th we were issued with clothing etc. which was given by the Red Cross Society. We were also told about the sinking of the passenger boat "Persia: in the Meditterranean Sea.

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January 1916
On the 18th we saw the coast of Africa & also another lighthouse & several small islands. A peculiarity about these islands is that they are huge masses of Iguana rock which is used as a fertilizer & some of them have been quarried. On the 20th we were issued with our brown kit bags & also with 24 hours rations. We reached Port Suez during the early morn of the next day & waited outside till about seven o’clock & then pulled into the stream. Several Man-o-wars & other naval boats & liners could be seen & dozens of native crafts with three cornered sails were sailing about loading & unloading Cargo boats etc. Sea-Gulls flew round the boats in thousands & schools of small fish swam round the boats also.

The Town of Suez could be seen from on board & the first things that attracts the attention of the eye is dozens of big round white tanks right on the waters edge which contain oilX during the afternoon the "Caloola" an Australian Hospital ship pulled out from the wharf laden with soldiers bound for home & when they crossed our bow & went passed us there was great cheering. We stayed on board all that night & the next morning the 21st another Hospital boat pulled out & we took its place at the wharf. The harbour is divided from the sea by a big brake water & is not a very big harbour inside.
The train runs right onto the wharf & there is also a coaling stage. The first sight

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January 1916
of the Egyptians who are nearly all black & their customs are very funny. We disembarked from the good ship Suevic about 11.30 & went straight into the train which was waiting for us. The train ride which lasted 8 hours was very monotonous for the travelling was slow & half the journey was through the desert. We passed through some very good agricultural country which is spotted with palm trees & gives a very beautiful scene, We disentrained at Zeitiun [Zeitoun] at 7-30 am & had to march about 1 ½ miles to camp at Heliopolis. When we arrived at camp we were put into a hut & were issued with two blankets & a good hot cup of coffee & were told that we were not recognised for twenty four hours & that we could have leave the following day. Next morning we had to fall in for inspection & roll call at 10 o’clock & then were dismissed for the day. After being dismissed two others & myself set out for Ciaro [Cairo]. We travelled by electric tram & when we reached Ciaro after twenty minutes ride. When we got out at Ciaro we went into the European Quarters first & it had some fine building in it & then had a look at poorer parts & it is absolutely the most filthy & degraded place Ive ever seen & likely to see. The Y.M.C.A. have a fine place situated about the centre of the city & inside the Ezbekieh Gardens. We left early for Heliopolis & had tea & then went for a walk round the town & it is a fine

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January 1916
place with high white stone buildings & several Australian Hospital of which the Palace is the biggest. On Sunday the 23rd I made arrangements with cobbers to go & see the Pyramids. We set out about 10 am & caught the tram to Ciaro & then another tram to the Pyramids. When we reached the tram terminus we paid 2/- each for a ride on a camel as far as the Sphinx. On reaching the Sphinx we had our photos taken on the camels & then hired a guide to show us round. First we were shown all the ancient toombs of the old Kings & every time we stopped the guide would wont to tell our fortunes but did not succeed. He then handed us over to another guide to show us through the Pyramids.
We had to take off out boot’s & crawl through a small opening near the bottom & then slide down a narrow passage about thirty yards long. On reaching the bottom of this passage we had to climb up another about the same length & width. At the top of this passage is a big chamber about sixty feet square & about the same in height, It is supposed to be the burial room of the ancient kings & there is still a big granite coffin in the chamber. Right underneath this room is another only smaller & this is supposed to be the burial place of the Queens. After having a look at this room we came out & climbed to the top outside X which is 450ft high & was a very strenuous climb.

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January 1916
The top of this Pyramid has been levelled off & a pole has been erected to show the original height. On the way home we went via another route & passed the Zoological Garden & crossed over the River Nile. The Nile is a dirty looking river & has hundreds of house boats on it & has some very fine bridges across it. From the next day onwards we had to settle down to drill & it was a strain too for we had had none since leaving Sydney. On the 27th we were inspected by Lt. General Birdwood the Commander of the Australian Forces. Next day I met Bert & went for a walk & at Night went to see him at No 2 Auxil. Hospital & saw through it.

January & February 1916
On the 30th I went out to see Ghezireh Hospital which is situated on the banks of the Nile & is a fine building. For the next few day I just wandered round in my spare time looking mostly at the things which I’d seen before. But on the 6th February I went to No 3 Auxil Hospital or it is also known as the Sporting Club & is in Heliopolis. While there I had a good look round inside the wards & round the grounds. The grounds are divided into a Polo field, football field, Tennis courts & golf links & all these are surrounded with beautiful hedges & gum trees. I also went & saw the Aerodrome the same morning & saw Aeroplane

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February 1916
ascending & descending & also the hangers & it was very interesting. The next thing to happen happened on the 14th when we had to strike camp & get ready to move off. We fell in about 2 am & moved off at 2-30 am & went to Zeitiun [Zeitoun] station. We had to wait for our train & when it arrived it consisted of about forty open trucks & had about 30 men in a truck. The train ride was very cold for the wind was fairly strong & in Egypt it is hot of a day & very cold of a night. We reached Tel-el-Kebir our destination about 8 am & disentrained & was told that we were to reinforce the Third Battalion . We were lined up & told off into Companies & I was put into "A" company, and when we had been told off we marched to our companies lines & had to bivouac for the night. Major Howell Price is our Commanding Officer of the Battalion & Captain Edwards our "O.C" of the Company. Next morning we fell in for parade & was marched out into the desert & had to start squad & section drill all over again. Our parade ground was the battle field of the "Soudan War" & the Arab trenches still to be seen there. They are not like the trenches of to-day for instead of being dug into the ground they are built up about eight feet high on top of the surface. Thing went on very quiet for days with the same drill & on the 21st

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February 1916
we went for an all day route march & passed through the village of Tel-el-Kebir. It is only a small place but some of the most foul air I ever smelt were in that place. There are also some big orchards & orange groves for orange are grown in abundance throughout the whole of Egypt. We marched right to the far side of the village & into the desert the other side & had musketry & I put my foot on the first patch of grass since leaving Sydney. On the 25th we had an artillery formation across the desert for several miles & it was very interesting work, then again on the 28th we went into the desert for musketry. On the 29th we had to strike camp & get ready to move again & I was put on baggage guard. before leaving we were issued with 150 rounds of ammunition & from that onwards always carried it. We got into the train at 10.30 am. & went back towards Suez to a place called Serapeum where we branched off & went to a siding near the canal. There is some very heavy sand to get through before reaching the canal but now they are making metal roads. There is a punt & also a pontoon bridge across the canal & it was across this that we had to go. Our camp was about 1½ miles the Arabian side of the canal & was a terrible sandy place. We were issued with a pint of water for 24 hours & sometimes it had to last 36 hours

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February & March 1916
& we had to use this water for drinking, shaving, & washing our hands & faces in.
The name of the Camp was East Serapeum. On March 1st I had my first swim since leaving Sydney & it was in the Suez canal. At this part the canal is about 110 yards wide & is very deep & dredges are working all day & night for the sand gets blown into the canal by the wind & if it was not dredged it would fill up in time. Man-O-Wars could be seen on patrol & stationed. On the 2nd we had a 4 hours march with full pack up through the heavy sand & it was hard work. The third was my Nineteenth birthday & we had another route march & a big sand storm rose & it kept up for a week & it was that bad that everything inside the tents was smothered with sand & even our food was full of it. We were paid the night before & therefore I had to shout on my birthday & so I went to the canteen & bought some small luxuries etc. On the 4th we were taken to a miniature range & fired five rounds. On the 5th I was detailed off for ferry fatigue for a week & had to roll my kit up & march to the canal. We were camped in sand bag dug outs & our job was to pull the punt across the canal which was worked by two chains & I worked four hours shifts. While there I saw dozens of liners passing through & also Transports & also the Pistolet & Fromde French-gun boats. I also saw a small British

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March 1916
Monitor & several other naval boats and launches. This part of the canal is very busy with native boats carrying stone & water & supplies etc. There is also a big pumping station & the terminus of a railway & the engine is worked by petrol & is on a small scale & has a run of about ten miles to the trenches. On the 12th I finished ferry fatigue & returned to camp. On the morning of the 14th we had musketry at a miniature range & then went for a route march out towards rail head & in the afternoon we were inoculated & I received four letters. Next day we had to fall in at 10 am & were inspected by General Sueval the Ex Divisional Commander who
[Two pages of original diary missing]

March 1916
train took us right into the wharf & when we got out we had to wait till 1-30 am before we embarked on the S.S. Grampian Transport E620. It is an Imperial Transport & arrmed with a 6" gun. We pulled away from the wharf at 6am & sailed out the harbour. The harbour is a fair size & had a lot of Transport & naval boats in it & it also has a very big coaling stage & a break water. When we got out into the Meditterranean Sea twelve machine guns were added to the armament of the boat & everybody had to wear life belts at all times except when actually sleeping. The food was very poor on this boat & not sufficient, it had

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March 1916
just returned from the Persian Gulf where it had taken a lot of Tommies to.
On the 24th I was put on ships guard & it was very monotonous but at about 11 am. That night we were supposed to have passed a transport which has been torpedoed by the Aleins. At 2 pm the next day we passed the island of Malta & very pretty it look too but we did not call in. On the 26th we were all inoculated & the following day I was put on Submarine Guard & the same afternoon pulled into Toulon Harbour where we stayed till the next morning. We entered the harbour just after dinner & it is one of the prettiest places Ive ever seen for you have to pass a big brake water to enter & at the land end of the brake water are some fine big building of white stone with red tiled roof & big green lawns surrounding them. There is also a township built-on the water edge at the foot of a big mountain on the right hand side when entering. On the left are some more fine buildings & at the head of the harbour is a big naval base & coaling station. Near where we were tied up was the remains of some sunken vessel & it is several feet above the water. Ferry boats were busy running about & several other transports & French naval boats occupied

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March 1916
their place in the harbour too. That evening we had a concert on board & was the first bit of enjoyment we had had since leaving Egypt & it was a fine turn out. After the concert I was again told off for submarine guard the next morning & I took my first post at 6 am. We left Toulon at 8 am & set sail for Marseilles which we reached about 2 pm. To look for the entrance to the harbour is a puzzle from the ocean for there is also a big brake water here too & we were guided through this towards our wharf. It was then raining but the band struck up the Marseillaise as we passed the wharf & the cheering was deafening. When the boat was tied up to the wharf & the gang ways swung I was detailed off to help unload our gear off the boat & it was then that I first put my foot in France. Marseilles Harbour is a fine big place & there were dozens of boats of all sizes there & the wharfs are also fine with their big storage sheds etc. We did not disembark till about half past nine that night then we were lined up & marched in fours to the Railway station which was about a quarter of an hours walk from the boat. On reaching the station we had to sit down & wait till the gear etc was put on the train first &

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March 1916
it was not till about 1-30am the next morning before we got into the train. The train was a fair length & had 1st 2nd & 3rd class carriages & I was lucky enough to have a 1st class. There was about fifteen hundred men on the train & eight in each compartment & with our equipment there was not much spare room.
The French railway stations are different to ours for they are only raised about a foot from the ground & not near as finished off as our own. We passed through the wine growing area & there are some fine scenes to for the grapes are grown up the slopes & on top of the hills and mountains. Fruit is also in abundance & at this time of the year all the trees, vines & hedges are beginning to get their leaves & everything is green As you While passing through among the mountains snow could still be seen of the tops of some & it was a great sight. As you go north you get into pastoral country & now all the young crops are showing their heads & look well. France seems to be a net work of roads & rivers & the roads are made of white metal & with green fields it makes a grand scene. The train took us within a few miles of Paris & then branched off & we were all disappointed for we were wanting alook at Paris

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March 1916
We passed quite close to the English Channel & the masts of some sunken vessel could be discerned from the train as we passed through. We only touched the outskirts of Calais & it looked a fine big place & after we had passed Calais we passed an Aerodrome & saw a big Dirigible Baloon & its Hanger & was the first Ive ever seen. We got out of the train at 4 pm on the 31st at a siding about a mile & a half north of Hazebrouck. Throughout the trip we we treated well & welcomed by the French people but like a lot of prisoners by our Officers for when the train would stop quards we placed along the line to prevent us getting out of our carriages & were even stopped from buying bread or filling our water bottles. All the horrors of war could also be noticed during the trip for nearly everybody wore something black & Women & children could be seen doing mens work in the fields & vineyards. At every station dozens of young women & children asked us for souviners & near Calais the kiddies were crying out for bully beef & biscuits.
When we disentrained we were issued with rations & some were allowed to fill their water bottles & then we set off for our billets. We wandered about till midnight & then had to sleep in a big barn at a place called Wollon-Cappel [Wallon Cappel] & then in the morning we went to our own

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April 1916
billet in the same district. We were settled down & given leave at about 11 am & nine of us set off to explore the surroundings. We found our way to a hotel & had a good meal & then set off to the town of Hazebrouck. Hazebrouck is a fair size town & we had a good look round it & in the centre is a big square & some fine shops & when we had seen all we wanted to see we set back for home & arrived at our billet about 9 pm.
On the 6th I volunteered for company scout & had to report to headquarters at Ebblingham at 2 pm the same day. Next day the Battalion had to go through a gas test with respirators on. The gas cylinder was placed at the end of a trench & we had to pass through the trench & could not smell the gas at all after going through this trench we had to take off the respirator & go through the weeping gas test which makes the eyes water & sting. The next couple of days was spent in long route march which proved very heavy walk on the morning of the 10tth we left Wollon Cappel & set out towards the trenches. We marched about 10 miles & billeted again at Moonlonacker & had to passed through the town of Strazelle. While there we had to go through some long route marches & was inspected by Divisional commander General Walker. At this place there are Divisional hot baths for troops & whilst there we had

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April 1916
had two baths & changes of underclothing. At Reveille was at 4.15 am on the 20th & we had to get ready to move off which we did about 6.30 am. We marched as far as Saille where we billeted for about 5 hours & then we had to move off again. We passed through Saille which has been bombarded at an earlier date & after walking about two miles past Saille we came under the Artillery fire & observation of the enemy. We had to advance in the dark in artillery formation & reached our billeted occupied by "C" Company 9th Batt with out any loss. That day this billet had been hit by a shell & also other billets & the 9th Battalion had seventy five casualies that day. The next day being Good Friday it was celebrated by big gun fire all day & we were shelled on all sides by neither our billet nor any men were hit. Air duels were very frequent & we could see the enemy blowing several villages to ruin. That night we moved back toward Saille to another billet which is not so open to observation by the Aliens. During the night of the 24th I was detailed off with a fatigue party to go to the trenches. We set out under cover of night & on reaching the firing line was informed that our duty was to enlarge the sand bag parapet. This was my first experience of

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April
trench warfare. We worked for several hours & had to leave the trenches again in the early morn still under cover of darkness. The 25th being the Anniversary of the landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula all the Azancs Anzacs were given a speech & also an issue of rations to celebrate same. Atl At 8 o’clock of the morning of the 26th I had to fall in with a fatigue party for the trenches & when we reached them was detailed off with the Engineers & we worked all day and arrived back at our billet at 4 mp. After having tea we had to fall in again & was taken to the light tramway depot & had to push trucks of Engineers gear to the firing line under fire. We arrived back at our billets tired & wornout about midnight thus doing fourteen hours fatigue that day. The next morning we were awoke at reveille had breakfast & then fell in & went for a hot bath & altogether had about 5 miles to march & all marching in these parts is done is small groups in single file on account of the enemy’s artillery fire. At 11 pm the alarm was sounded & we had to turn out & stand to in our billet for about half an hour & then it was found that the Germans were bombarding on the left of our line so we got the order to stand down & everyman had to sleep in our clothes but we were not disturbed again that night but it was found that the Aliens had also used gas. On the 28th we had to go out to the trenches again & also at night & thus did about fourteen hours work

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April & May 1916
On the 29th I received answers to the first mail which I sent home. We had to fall in at 7 am on the morning of the 30th & was sent to the trenches on fatigue & was working till 12.30 at midnight & we arrived back at our billets worn out & fatigued. On the night of the 3rd of May we took over the trenches from the 1st Battalion & my platoon No 4 was put in supports on guards & ration fatigue work. We were also told about the Germans who several nights put a placard out in front of their trenches saying "That it is a disgrace insult to the German Army for them to have to fight the Australians who are a low down lot of bludgers criminals, thieves & murderers" & one of the 1st Battalion Sergeants went out the next night & brought the board in & our interpreter answered by writing on the placard "That we are all that we are cold footed afraid of lead & steel come over & take our trenches" It was hear that I found out I had to stand to arms morning & evening & on the evening of the 5th we had to stand to for three hours as there was a gas attack & bombardment by the Aleins on our left. It was the second Division of Australian who received the attack & they met the Germans half way between the trenches & drove them back & took their position. During the afternoon of the 7th our platoon relieved No 2 platoon in the firing line & that night I was detailed as one of a covering party over other who had to fix wire entanglements. Whe Just after taking our position outside the parapet & began work we received orders to retire as the Welsh Fusaliers we going to give a bomb

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May
attack that night which afterwards proved a great success. It was also this night that I fired my first shot on active service. I was again detailed on the night of the 8th as one of a covering party & I was placed several hundred yards from the (our) parapet & during my watch I could both see & hear the enemy working outside their parapet but we were not troubled by them & and after our lads had finished a good nights work we retired uninterfered with & turned in. On the night of the 15th the Welsh Fusaliers gave a rifle & machine gun demonstration which lasted about twenty minutes. During the afternoon of the 19th the enemy opened out with artillery fire on our lines & five casualties were sustained in our company & our parapet was knocked about in places. We were relieved by the 9th Battalion about 11-30 pm & we left the trenches in sections in single file & had to march to our billets which were situated several miles the other side of Sailly Croix-de-Bac & it was not till day break that we layed down for a few hours rest. During our stay in the trenches we experienced some very wet weather & my duties for twelve days were barb wire fatigue in no mans land between the trenches of a night. One night I was on covering party & the next on wiring & were very lucky for several night’s the enemies machine gun opened up on us

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The total casualties for the Battalion during our stay in the trenches was fifty one wounded & killed & sick but sniping of shell fire was the only thing that was carried on & the trenches opposite our companies front was from three to four hundred yards apart. After a day or two in our billet when things again settled down we were taken for a hot bath & change of underclothes. The Battalion was put on divisional duties & we had to walk from our billet at Criox de Bac to Armenties a distance of about eight miles from their to our fatigue & arrive back home late in the afternoon. The artillery on both sides opened a bombardment during the evening of the 30th & we were aroused from our sleep & had to get into our clothes & be ready to move off in case of emergencies. On June 1st our Brigade was inspected by Mr Fischer High Commissioner & Mr Hughes Prime minister for Australia & a few small speeches were made & then the parade was dismissed.. At 2.30 am on the 5th we were pulled out of bed & had a fifteen mile route march before breakfast which was 10.30 am & then the afternoon had a lecture on bayonet fighting by a "Tommy Sgt Major"
We left our billet at dusk on the 9th & marched to fresh billets at Fleur-Baix where we relieved the Seventh Batt. A couple of days previous to moving

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June 1916 & July
off we were told about the death of Lord Kitchener which was a blow to all the troops. When settled down in our new billet I was detailed off for Company orderly work. On the night of the 23rd we relieved the 1st Battalion in the firing line. Just a dusk on the 26th we saw one of our aeroplanes set fire to three enemy ballons on our extreme left & was a great sight to see the big flames in midair. During our stay in the trenches it consisted of series of bombardment with artillery & trench mortars which was always opened by our men & Fritz always retaliate & our company suffered very heavily. We were relieved by the 45th Battalion on the night of 4th of July & marched back to our billet which was in the centre of Sailly & while there I had a look round some of the old ruins & we had a rest & a few route marches & it was while on one of them we passed through the town of Estaires on the 8th & it is a fine big place with some fine big buildings. Our next move was on the 9th & we marched to Merris & passed through Outerstiene en route & billeted there th till the following night when we left for Bialleul which is another fine place & entrained at 3 am on the 11th. Our train ride lasted seven hours & disentrained at Fienvillers & had an hours spell for it was impossible to sleep while in the train for we were packed in fairly tight & my section was put on train piquet-during the trip

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July
After having a spell we set out on the marched & reached the town of St Ouens in the afternoon & it is a big town & had a good time there that night & the people in the town were very good to us for we were about the first Australian troops they had seen. After staying over night we moved off next morning & marched to Vignacourt a distance of about four miles. At the place all the houses & barnes are fitted out with electricity but the town is partly deserted for very few people live there. We only stayed there one day & next morning moved to Allonville where we were put in tents in the grounds belonging to Hennissy the brandy distillers. We stayed there about three days & went through training in wood fighting & during one skirmish passed through an aerodrome & some planes ascending & descending.
On the morning of the 16th we again moved off to a place called Warloy-Baillon where we remained for several days. It was here that details were formed & I was made a wire cutter & and had to wear navy blue armlets about two inches wide on each arm & we were also give pink material about four inches square to sow on our back which is was used in the advance so that our artillery would be able to pick us up & not be firing on us. In the afternoon of the 19th we left Warloy & marched to Albert where

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July
we remained till dark & then marched off & relieved the Royal Welsh in support trench & the 1st & 2nd Battalion took our firing line. Albert is a town of ruins & one thing especially catches the eye it is the monument of a woman with a child in her arms on the top of a church steeple lying over at the angle of 120 ° & is a shiny bronze colour & glistens in the sun. There were some great sights to see in the first lines that the Tommies took for the Germans had great dugouts from thirty to sixty feet deep & lines inside with timber & had a sleeping department, a kitchen fitted with a small stove, a pantry & electricity & accetaline gas. We were put on fatigue carrying up ammunition etc to the firing line preparing for the attack. On the Friday night our company had to go & dig a reserve trench just behind the firing line but could not finish it before daylight so had to go back to our own reserve trench. On the Saturday afternoon we were told that we had to attack that night & were fitted out with bombs etc as A & B Coys of our battalion were reserves & it was there job to carry tools etc. At dusk we moved to the reserve trench which we had been digging the night previous & finished it & we had to lye in it till we were wanted.
Our Artillery opened up just before midnight & after the 1st Battalion & "C" & "D" Coy of the 3rd had gone over we moved into our original firing line where we waited till we were

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July
wanted. The fi First Battalion took the two first lines & "C" & "D" Coys of the third took the third line & dug in at the edge of the village of Poziers on the morning of the 23rd. Things were very quiet all day sunday & half of monday & so gave us a chance to dig in but during the afternoon of monday Fritz opened up a bombardment which lasted all that night till about nine o’clock next morning when it lifted & it was then that they gave a half hearted bombardment

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August 1916
from the noise of battle for nearly everybody was worn nerve strung on account of concussion. On the morning of August the 9th we had to pack our gear & started to wend our way back to the firing line. Our first march was as far as La. Vicogne which was a good distance & where we rested till next morning & then marched to the village of Herissart & remained there training for a couple of days. It was the morning of the 14th that we made our next move & then went as far as Vadencourt where we went into huts situated in the centre of a big forest but our stay was sort for next day we marched to the hills at the rear of Albert were we bivouaced for a few hours & prepared for the firing line. It was at dusk of the same day when we moved off as platoons at long intervals & marched to a reserve trench behind the lines of our big guns & we remained there till 1am next morning. The rain began to fall & when we were awakened at 1am it was fairly heavy & then our orders were to move. "A" Coy was the last to go & we marched through mud over the tops of our boots to the support trench on the far side of Poziers & we took up our position about 5am & the other companies took over the firing line. We remained in supports all day of the 15th & orders came out for

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"A" Coy to relieved "D" Coy of the Fourth Battalion in the firing line. We started about 2am & No 1 platoon lead off first & I was detailed to stay at the end of the company & when we reached the end of the communication trench we had about a quarter of a mile of open country to cross to get to the firing line & over a big ridge & as soon as a man would make a run Fritz would open up with his small artillery & many of our boys were buried wounded & killed in the attempt of getting across the open country. I was near the end & just as I started to move across the open country it began to rain & as the ground was of a very clayey nature it made progress very slow & by the time I had cover half the distance I was completely beaten & had to take shelter behind an old piece of trench which proved good cover for the few minutes spell. On reaching the line I found it a narrow trench about shoulder high & had been filled in in places by artillery & all that night I had to do my share widening & deepening the trench & at day break we had the first glimpse of the landscape in front of us & there was not Alien trench opposite our front & the enemy was

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August 1916
lying about in shell holes & did not have much cover & the day was spent in sniping the few who dared to show themselves & they suffered a few casualties. During the afternoon of the 17th our own big artillery bombarded our front line & also next day & we suffered very heavily through same & it was afterwards found out to be a mistake on the maps of our front line for we were further advanced than shown on the maps. It rained on & off the whole time on & off in the trench & it was very uncomfortable for it was impossible to carry either overcoat of waterproof & we were wet through & through. It was during the afternoon of the 19th that our relief came & our battalion was relieved by the 10th Battalion & it was not till dark they we moved along the communication trench & we had to move at a good pace for Fritz’s artillery was playing at different intervals & when we reached Albert a little after midnight we were all fatigued & had a much needed rest. Between the first & second time we were at Poziers our troops had gained over three miles of country & then there were two divisions to follow us & have been advancing. We remained in billets in Albert till the morning of the 21st & then we had to move back to Warloy where we rested till next day & then marched to Val-de-Maison where we encamped in the first Anzac

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August 1916
reinforcement camp & t was great to be in tents again for its was the second time we had experienced canvas cover since leaving Egypt. On the 23rd we were inspected by General Birdwood & he decorated several men & officers in the Brigade which had been won in recent fighting. He also informed us that we were about to move to a quiter front & also to be reorganised again.

Rough. Diary on first Years Active Service & Camp life.

Account of places been on last three pages.

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[Page 34]
Camps etc & time stayed in each

Holdsworthy – August 23rd till Sept 15th 1915
Liverpool – Sept 15th till Nov 29 1915
Casula – Nov 29th till Dec 23rd 1915
At Sea – Dec 23rd till Jan 21st 1916
Heliopolis – Jan 21st till Feb 14th 1916
Tel-el-Kebir – Feb 14th till Feb 29th 1916
East Serapeum - Feb 29th till Mar 21st 1916
At sea – Mar 22nd till Mar 28th 1916
In Train (France) – Mar 29th till Mar 31st 1916
Wollon Cappel – Mar 31st till April 10th 1916
Moolanacker – April 10th till April 20th 1916
Rouge de-Bout – April 20th till May 3rd 1916
(Fleur Baix)
Trenches – May 3rd till May 19th 1916
Croix de-Bac – May 19th till June 9th 1916
Fleur Baix – June 9th till June 23rd 1916
Trenches – June 23rd till July 4th
Sailly - July 5th till July 9th
Merris – July 9th till July 10th
St. Ouens - July 11th till July 12th
Vignacourt - July 12th till July 13th
Allonville – July 13th till July 16th
Warloy-Baillon July 16th till July 19th
Trenches – July 19th till July 26th
Albert – July 26th till July 27th
Vadencourt – July 27th till July 28th
La. Vicogne – July 28th till July 29th
Bonneville – July 29th till July 30th
Pernois - July 30th till August 9th
La Vicoque – August 9th till August 10th
Herissart – August 10th till August 14th
Vadencourt August 14th till August 15th
Albert – August 15th till August night 15th

[Page 35]
Continued
Trenches – August 15th till August 19th
Albert – August 19th till August 21st
Warloy – August 21st till August 22nd
Val-de-Maison August 22nd till August 24th
Gezaincourt – August 24th till August 26th

[Transcribed by Lynne Frizell, Adrian Bicknell for the State Library of New South Wales]