Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Charles Monaghan diary, 1916
MLMSS 7478

[Page 1]
[Cover]

[Page 2]
13
No. 6643 Pte Monaghan, R.A S.
Sec. 8th Fld Amb.

No. 151 Sapper E. Murray.
1st N.S.W. Field Engineers.

Pte. Lang H.O.
3rd. Reinf. 5th. F. Amb.

Pte. C.F. Short.
2nd. Div. Amm. Colm.
3rd. Reinf. Fld. Artillery. A.I.F.
Inter Base Depot
Egypt.

[Page 3]
Sergeant Ian Street
No 615
Machine Gun
8th. of 1st. Batt.

[Page 14]
[Pages 4-13, printed pages and addresses, are not transcribed]
1 January 1916
Saturday

What will the new Year bring forth?

Today marks the 5 month less 3 days since coming into camp. General leave today. Left camp at 10 am for Sydney en route to Master Sergeant Meadows & self dined at Marine Leaf Drive. Met Robbo at Quay. Journeyed furiously. Went on Motor Boat trip with Misses Ferguson &. Astbury &. Mrs. Lureford also Harold Whittey Ryan & struck an upturned boat off the Heads scarcely a smash. Landed for tea above [indecipherable]. Home again 8 pm. Sing song & walk around Fairy Bower. Ice cream see Bob off bunk at Millers for night.

[Page 15]
1916 2 January 2
Sunday

Jack rouses me at 7. 30 am for surf. Enjoy it immensely. Breakfast & church in forenoon. Go to Swansai for dinner. Leave at 4 pm. Go out to Robbins to tea at Waverly. Methodist Church at Junction with Bob in evening & see Charles Lette there. At Stburys & Jack Netria’s Lee Miss Noble Home with Rob. Back to camp with Astbury & Rob 11 pm.

Captn. F. G. Ward
Chaplin
3rd Battn.

[Page 16]
3 3 January 1916
Monday

Start night duty tonight. Receive letter. Mrs Wheatley & Misses Gibb come up to camp in afternoon Bring tomatoes & a fish Gave them tea in Rec. tent & saw them off by train at 6.30 Rob & Tony also. Rob & self to recreation hall nothing doing. Home to ward at 9 pm. Write to Mary Mitchell & Marget Graham

Mrs M. E. Waights
c/o G. D. Pickering
28 Acherhon St
Durham City
England

[Page 17]
1916 4 January 4
Tuesday

Slept till 11.30 am. Get up have shower, dinner & dress for parade. Governor General reviews troops in afternoon.
Rob & self go to English Hall to concert. The lassie with the goo-goo eyes. Negro. Confidences. Night duty Mosquitoes bad. Write to Geizer. Receive notes from Miss Palser & Janet.

[Page 18]
5 5 January 1916
Wednesday

Sleep till 12 noon. Shower. very hot & sultry. Key stone. stretcher drill in afternoon.

Wait for Janet & party to arrive. Don’t turn up. Bob & self go down line & have tea. Meet Cis & Essie Hewlett at station, just arrived, delayed through waiting for friend. Take them back to Sydney & "My Old Dutch" at Crystal Palace. Refreshments & back to camp. Take second night shift. 2 hours sleep.

[Page 19]
1916 6 January 6
Thursday

Sleep in [indecipherable] till 10.15am. Roused for genrl parade & medical inspection----once a month. Sergeant leaving ward. Tony to be given charge.

Lecture in Rec. Tent by Capt. Willis on Personnel & Equipment of Field Ambulances at Front.
Inoculated 2nd time.

Mrs Gelling & party bring flowers to ward. Invite me to tea. Go & enjoy it.

Back to "C" Ward at 7 pm to lecture by Capt. Willis—special class. Gotain’s Aspirator, Wright,s Capsule, Southey’s tube: Haematemeters etc.

Still very hot & sultry

[Page 20]
7 January 1916
Friday

Cooler, Advanced stretcher drill in afternoon. Loading wagons. New dixie dishes.

Rob & self attend Capt. Willis’ Lecture in "C" ward 7 pm. Enemata.

Night ward duties per usual.

Garden started in front of ward.
Tony Waights in charge. To be made corporal.

[Page 8 January P.O. Q from camp 6 am train, arrive Hewlett’s for breakfast --- strike McTavishes for dinner. Came on into town en route for Watson’s Bay & Deans. Find 3 girls at home. Eddie & Charlie also. After tea go for walk on Cliffs. Search lights ---Home & sing. Leave by 9.30 pm boat. Arrive back camp with out incident at 11.30 pm.

[Page 21]
1916 January 8
Saturday

[Page 22]
9 January 1916
Sunday

Afternoon shift. Very hot day. Nothing of any special incident occurs. Camp deserted by weekend leave.

[Page 23]
1916 January 1916
Monday

Morning shift all this week. Full ward.
Lecture by Capt. Willis in Rec. Tent this afternoon --- Venereal Diseases.

Mrs. Wheatley Mrs. McKenzie Hardie & Miss Napper up. Bring apricot tart, stewed peaches etc. Tea in Rec. Tent – bother. Bob. See them to gate. Feat.

Back to lecture by Capt. Willis. Digestive System.

Meet Mrs. Rehardt at entrance to camp on my way to Fairfield.

[Page 24]
11 January 1916
Tuesday

Tony bad with sore leg. Most horrible hot dusty day.

Lecture in Rec. Tent by Capt. Willis --- Fractures.

Bob & self go down to Petersham to tea. Trilby Doyle met on train. After tea go with Macs to Summer Hill Dr & Mrs Grant etc. Evening & supper. Hamper heavy – into town to catch train for camp 11.15 pm.

[Page 25]
1916 January 12
Wednesday

In charge of ward during Tony’s absence. Blood sample taken from Mr Boxald for exam. for typhoid germs.

Wagon drill in afternoon. Go over to see Tony & stay to tea & supper. Better. Underworld.

[Page 26]
13 January 1916
Thursday

Work as usual.
Go down to Fairfield to meet Mrs. Coleman. Have tea at Bloomfields. Back to camp early. Lecture by Capt. Willis on Preparing patient for Operation.

Received letter from Jack Martin from the Front.

[Page 27]
1916 January 14
Friday

Inoculated 3rd & final time this morning.

Shirk parade in afternoon on acc. of inoculation. Feel rotten. Tea & sleep. Get up for lecture by Capt. Willis. Apierients. Tumble into bed feeling pretty knocked out. Day hot & dusty.

[Page 28]
15 January 1916
Saturday

Morning shift. Pay morning £ 3.15.

Prepare weekend leave. Leave 11.30 am train. Crowded train 20 in box carriage 3 on rack 2 in lavatory. Civilian broke window getting through at Fairfield. Sanitary paper streamers.
Dinner on pot at Marine Café Gardens & sleep. Meet Mary at Quay go to Central tea. see Janet & [indecipherable] off by Nowra train Essie Mr Lang. Meet Jack, Ethel Evelyn & Essie. Say goodbye to the former. Home to Ashfield. Take Ess to pictures, stay night – Bed 11 pm.

[Page 29]
1916 January 16
Sunday

Rise 9 am. Shower. breakfast. Stay in pyjamas till 1 pm.

Meet Mary at Quay at 4 pm. Go out to Robbins at Waverly to tea. Pleasant afternoon & evening. Leave for camp at 9.30. Home without incident at 11.30 pm. Fast ride in motor.

[Page 30]

17 January 1916
Monday

Morning shift per usual. D McDonald transferred to C Ward. Enteric.

Lecture in heat in aft. on Blood stale. Left early.
Bob & self go over to new trenches & find them remarkably well constructed. Shown over sanitary depot. Lecture in tent at night – Food.:
H most disagreeably hot dusty day Temp 105.4°
Southerly buster at night.

[Page 31]

1916 January 18
Tuesday

Cooler today.
Patient brought in last night suffering from concussion. Removed to Garrison Hospital this morning. Sergeant received letter from Jack Norton.

Lecture in aft on "Water. Picked to go to Prince Alfred Hospital tomorrow.
Go to tea with Rob. Welby. [indecipherable] to Tony’s. Farewell to [indecipherable] "Tony" We all come down to Sydney after. I going to McT’s to stay the night, boys into town.

[Page 32]

19 January 1916
Wednesday

Up betimes homecoming. Meet 9 other at [indecipherable] at Prince Alfred at 8.30 am. Dr. Willis takes us in hand. View 11 adenoid operations, 3 circ. in forenoon. Go to lunch at Brodies. Back in afternoon to Hospital. View 3 major operations viz Adhesion of stomach, hernia & lump on neck. Tea with boys at Newtown & back to hospital after; Venereal. Back to Macs for supper. Home at 10.30

Ashley & Sid Woodward leave for front.

[Page 33]

1916 January 20
Thursday

Red letter day Picked in the 15th of 1st F.A. reinforcements. After being in camp since Aug 4 Rob in it too Tony sees his wife & baernies off to England.
Willy White receives news of his brother’s death at the Front Aug. 8th.

Mrs Wheatley & MacKenzie up show trenches see them to train.

Go to Hewletts & MacTavishes & tell news re reinforcements

[Page 34]

21 January 1916
Friday

Field Day Todays A.M.C. march out about 4 miles into bush. Do Ambulance work all afternoon. Tea. brook O.C swims. Boys raid vineyard. pay damages. Rob, Tony, Willy White & self pinch off home strike peach orchard. Have fill.

Willy receives appointment to P.M.O. office. Cancelled.
To bed early.

[Page 35]

1916 January 22
Saturday

Duty as usual 10 am to 10 pm. Go down limes in morning busy now. Strap for watch. Tony & Willy go to Manly. Rob on weekend leave.
Blackballed motor cars. Concert at Rec. Tent to night.

[Page 36]

23 January 1916
Sunday

Duty in morning. Tony & self go to Watson’s Bay in afternoon. Lunch at Marine Café. Walk along cliffs. Pull up at Dean’s. Afternoon tea. Mary & Jean Aberdeen arrive. Stay to tea, a little singing & home again 11 pm.
Motors still blacklisted.
Dwarf man on the Watson’s Bay boat.

[Page 37]
1916 January 24
Monday

Come down to Sydney again this morning. Knocked around all day, bought 2 prs. pyjamas & bathing suit.
Went to Annies & Idas to tea. Thence called at Robbins about 9 pm. Found them out but they came along in a few minutes. Had a yarn. & some passion fruit
Home to camp at 11.30 pm.
Two peculiar dogs on street
Go to Swiss Studios to get photo taken in overcoat

[Page 38]
25 January 1916
Tuesday

Duty as usual. Tony is put on our reinforcements. Great delight. Exam. on lectures in afternoon. Bob Tony & self go to Macs to tea. Tony lame foot.
Go up to town first, see proof of photo. No good, get taken again. Good tea at Mac’s. & pleasant evening. Southerly buster.

[Page 39]
1916 January 26
Wednesday

General leave. Anniversary Day. Duty as usual. Tony laid up with foot.

Fun in afternoon with horse. Bob, another chap & self, Bob’s spill & knock out. Horse bolts with three of us up, into bush, tumbles & pitches all, self underneath: Scratch forehead. For joke carry me up on stretcher. Scares Tony.
Trio into Liverpool at night. Park & pictures.

[Page 40]
27 January 1916
Thursday

Duty as usual. Tony’s foot better but still laid up. New nurse on ward –
Barry. Skip off parade in afternoon. Get second issue of boots.
Have group photo taken, comprising . Two nurses --- Murell & Cameron. Sergeant Meadows, Tony, Bob, Happy Dick, Dix & self. Self. Then Bob & self taken.

Concert at C of E Tent at night. Where I wrote this. – Bob comes back into tent.

[Page 41]
1916 January 28
Friday

A regular mix up. Camp commandant up this morning & stayed all day conferring with officers. Result. Afternoon parade & reorganising of whole camp. Divided into 3 sections. A. B & C. Tony & self & most of E ward in C section, Bob in B.

Miss Palser sends up hamper. Have good tea of dainties. Thunder storm breaks after tea, intermittent rain. [F]ive play cards & read in tent. 9 pm deluge falls & floods tent. Tony & hoppy leg looking for dry spot.
See proofs of photo taken yesterday. very good.

[Page 42]
29 January 1916
Saturday

Weekend leave. Dinner at Hewlett’s. Came down to Manly in afternoon. Tea with Mary. Venetian Carnival at night. Very pretty – Japanese lanterns. Alligator. Rene Sharp & her husband & Girls & confetti. Stayed at Illiwa the night. Church next morning. Go to Pyrmont in afternoon with Mary to Coleman’s. Called at Muirs. Mr Muir to tea. Mary back to Manly I to Petersham & home to camp. Met Burt Francis on way home.

[No entry has been made for 30 January 1916 - may be blank page and not scanned]

[Page 43]
31 January 1916
Monday

Do no shift today. Down town in evening. Call at Hewletts. Then on to Palsers. Take back portmanteau. Served with dinner. Come into town. Fool round go to pictures. Home camp at 10. 30pm, meet Tony on train.
Bob sick with ptomaine poison. New rules & regulations out. A.M.C. Col. Holman up Corps. divided into. 3 section. A B & C. Tony, self & Bob in B.

[Page 44]
1916 February 1
Tuesday

Morning shift. Get our final leaves made out & our allotment papers signed. Down to Sydney in evening. Bert Edwards up to see me. Go out to Bondi with Bob. Stay the night. Miss Astbury &
[indecipherable]ora – in later. Sing supper & bed
Bob still very unwell.

[Page 45]
2 February 1916
Wednesday

Go to Prince Alfred Hospital this morning. meet the other boys there. 8 all told. Attend at the casualty wards first help dress patients: cross cut saw wound, circ, abscesses etc, plenty of cases of all sorts. Visit the wards after. & watch dressing of wounds & sores – nurses very obliging – Let off at 11.30 am for lunch. Lunch at F. F &. I Co. lady at table talks war & Theosophy.
Wait for Tony at Farmers. does not turn up. Call at MacT’s then on to camp. Meet Mrs Brown & a lady at ward with palms. Secure my leave a railway pass. Back to MacT’ for night.
Go to pictures – Evie & Miss Baldwin come too.

[Page 46]
1916 February 3
Thursday

Ethel Mac has me up betimes to catch train for Nowra. Meet Bob on station. Entrain for Nowra on our final leave. Hunt about for carriage with entertainment in it. No success. Finish journey without incident. Lassie at Kiama gives us glad eye.
Arrive in Nowra to time. Met Dave McGuiness on train. Lunch at Stan’s. Stay the night. Take Bob up Showground & Depot. Not too well yet. Bed fairly early.

[Page 47]
4 February 1916
Friday
(Incidents of yesterday should be on this page.)

[Page 48]
1916 February 5
Saturday

Bob & self go to Falls Creek for dinner. Find all well. Sarah Peterson there. Go round falls & leave for home through bush. Call at Emery’s. Evelyn greets us warmly. Regaled with aft tea & fruit – visit bush house, new engine etc. Arrive at Mayfield about 5 pm. Mary gives us warm welcome. Tea & talk.
Bob getting better. Mary arrives from Sydney for a few days.

[Page 49]
6 February 1916
Sunday

We go up to church in morning. Meet old friends Mr. Kay Bannot preached. Mary & Stan with us. Stan’s to dinner.
Go to Cambewarra in afternoon. Church at night again. Visit Miss Glanville’s & meet Miss Barbara on way to church. Sit in choir for last time. Bob meets old Manse friend in Miss Taylor.
Walk home with Miss Tottie. Supper & bed.

[Page 50]
1916 February 7
Monday

Janet, Bob & self take trip up river. in milk launch. Beautiful calm morning & a pleasant trip. Side show companions. Land at Wogamia. have a snack & re-embark for homeward trip take pot - shots at rabbits etc. Expect Tony by mid-day train does not arrive. Bob & self drive out home to Mayfield.
New family arrive for. the farm Franklins.
Take Bob to Morisons at night.

[Page 51]
8 February 1916
Tuesday

After breakfast Bob & self drive down to Appletree. Find all O.K. stay to dinner. Back home at 4 pm call en route at Alec’s, Violet Bank & Orange Grove.
Mary very sick with bad knee. Mary Jane coming out from Nowra to look after them.
We go to Robson’s after tea & tea & talk fill in the evening.

[Page 52]
1916 February 9
Wednesday

First day of Nowra Show. Get up & help milk. Harry goes up early.
Mary not much better. Bob & self drive up in fore-noon & go to ground after lunch.
Called at Borrowdale’s & heard of Bob’s illness. Visit him at Private Hospital also see Lil Brown & Mrs Graham. Call then at Edwards & Annie Gardners. After lunch at Stan’s go to show for afternoon.
After tea Bob & call round at Baillies & take Miss L & B to pictures. Ice cream & home.

[Page 53]
10 February 1916
Thursday

Second day of show. Dull weather. Met lots of friends, talk all day to first one & then other. Rain in afternoon.
Bob goes home by afternoon train.
After tea visit Percy’s Hayli’s & Morisons. Get wet.

[Page 54]
1916 February 11
Friday

Leave Nowra for last time at 6.30am. Stan comes as far as Bridge Hotel. Mr. & Mrs. Robinson in carriage with me. She was a Miss Noakes. Trouble over tickets.
Waratahs travel Kitchener. Yarn with J. M. Watts in train.
More trouble over tickets at Sydney station. Some had to pay or be arrested. Arrive back to camp at 2 p.m. Too late for parade. Pinch off backto town to Petersham for tea. Sing song[indecipherable] after.
Grapes & Mr. Grigg. Home camp at 10 p.m.

[Page 55]
12 February 1916
Saturday

Reveille 6 a.m. Physical drill first time for months. Tony explains absence from holiday. Rotten time at Gundagai.
MacIndoe had a bad time with roughs in Sydney last night. Lost spurs, numerals & everything movable.
11.30 parade & down to Ashfield for lunch.
Took it easy for the afternoon & night. Ess & self went to Pratten Park about 4 p.m watched long-jumping – 20 ft 10 1/8 ins. & bike race. One chap fell & sustained severe gravel rash.

[Page 56]
1916 February 13
Sunday

Up at 8.30. had good shower. Wrote letters during morning. lunch & back to camp at 2 pm. Met Fairfield friends at Liverpool Station. Walked up to A.M.C. took some of girls to trenches. Mud. Tea.— Adams & Greensell. Pres Tent after tea. Wrote letters to Jack & Wall. Service. Nurses. Rev Paton good. Got Margot’s late letter.

[Page 57]
14 February 1916
Monday

A day of surprises & unfortunate happenings.
Strike by soldiers at Casula & Liverpool for shorter hours of drill.
Procession from Casula after breakfast to Liverpool. Broke up hotels & cleared out the drink.
Lighthorsemen came out after dinner. Grave position & [indecipherable] disgrace to the Army.
Thousands go to Sydeny & play havoc there.
Tony, Bob & self into Liverpool to view damage. Meet Bob Abernethy. Concert at Methodist Tent. Hotels wrecked & refreshment [indecipherable]

[Page 58]
1916 February 15
Tuesday

11 AM. Parade. Muster of whole camp in order to find out who were absent without leave.
Most of the strikers of yesterday back to camp. A man killed & several wounded in disturbances last night.
S.arn parade & pay this afternoon. Long wait & ultimate P. D.Q off parade. Dress to go down town. Tea at MacTavishes. Mrs Passmore there. After tea go on into town. Meet Bob, Frank Heylin & another chap – go to Ashmead Bartlett Lecture. City of Clyde Lantern slides good. Strong pickets in town & station. Soldiers had to buy tickets. Get through on old ones Tony pitched out of coach in accident – unhurt. Reinforcements & fleas make sleep impossible.

[Page 59]
16 February 1916
Wednesday

Physical drill. Move into fresh reinforcement tent. Sent Power of Attorney back to Marriot & Oliver also wrote letter to Cis in Gospel tent. Called out on afternoon parade before O.C. & have to report at orderly room Headquarters at 4.30 pm. Re [indecipherable]. –Latter a mistake – Met by railway official re travelling on warrant. Paid fare under protest.
Had tea down lines. Wrote letters to J.M. Watt.
Concert at Rec. Tent. Bob & take walk down to canteen. Rumours of another riot. All quiet.- Bed at 10 pm.

[Page 60]
1916 February 17
Thursday
Sergt. Sutherland takes over reinforcements this morning. Stretcher drill & talk under trees till 11.30.
Had sleep instead of dinner. Pinched off parade at 2 pm. Came down Sydney by 4 pm train. Saw Returned Soldiers procession. Crudens for photo – overcoat. Get pillow from Perdriaus. See Julius Caesar at Lyceum. Come out to Burwood & see Nurse Swiney at Mrs Keep, Broughton. Catch train at Strathfield & home.
The old lady & her query why [indecipherable] are not in Berlin.

[Page 61]
18 February 1916
Friday

Up at 6.15 after a fair sleep. Tony did not get home till 3 am. Pretty knocked out. Bob sleeps in too. Reinforcement drill in morning & lecture under tree on Nervous System.
Afternoon company drill beastly monotonous. Bob & self go to tea at [indecipherable] Tony too tired to come. After tea journey to Hurlstone Park to Patons. (Wilson Grants etc.) Broncho Bill, Willy Maxwell. Good evening tram to Summer Hill – train Strathfield. Home to camp at 1.10 am.

[Page 62]
1916 February 19
Saturday

Slept till breakfast time this morning – shirked early morning parade – Stretcher drill per usual with reinforcements. knock off at 11 am. get ready for town. Bob nabbed for weekend fatigue. gets off. Down town by 12.30 pm. Train crowded as usual soldiers on roof & standing on buffers. Intend going to Hewletts. Fall asleep & wake up at Redfern. Go out to Waverly instead with Bob. Enjoy afternoon there. Meet Mary & Cis at Central at 6.30. see Cis off to Ashfield. Mary, Jean Aberdeen have tea at Central. Home with Mary to Manly & stay night. The man & Admiral Jellicoe. Xx.

[Page 63]
20 February 1916

Stay in bed till mid-day. Mary brings me breakfast at 9. Stubby chin. Come into Ashfield in afternoon. Stay to tea. water the garden. Church Baptist. Hot & steamy. Catch train to Sydney. Meet Rex Chapman on station. Home 11 pm.

[Page 64]
1916 February 21
Monday
Reinforcement drill min morning as usual. In afternoon dusty dirty march & company drill. Back a shower. Still heavy heat. Slight rain.
Concert at Rec. tent. Sid MacDonald & party. Bob & self go down lines. former [indecipherable]
Y M.C A. & [indecipherable] ring up Sr tripper at canteen.
Receive acc from Marriot & Oliver re Power of Attorney. Hot.

[Page 65]
22 February 1916
Tuesday

Called out on tattoo this morn. First time since being in camp. Absent from parade on Sat – last. Let off.

Field Amb. Being picked today.
Drill in afternoon & hand seat drill.
Trio go down to Deans to tea. Mary arrives too from Manly & Cis & Ess Hewlett after tea. Nice evening. Dorothy – Charlie recite.
Rescue soldier from having been run over by train at Strathfield Station.

[Page 66]
1916 February 23
Wednesday

Heavy rain breaks up parade this morning. due to thunder storm. Gives the camp a good wash. We spend the morning in tent writing letters & general loaf.
Rain again interferes with afternoon drill. Good job. Came down in torrents. Cleared about 4 pm.
Go down to Fairfield for tea. returned to camp at 7.30 pm.
Mrs Wheatly going to Orange for health trip. Write letter to A.G. in YMCA. Home to bed at 9.30 pm.

[Page 67]
24 February 1916
Thursday

Church parade as usual this morning. Capt Bayer gave the address. Reinf drill in forenoon. First Aid to wounded. Squads had to go out in bush & find patient. Render first aid according to specification. [indecipherable]. Improvise stretcher & carry him in. interesting & good work done. 10th field Ambulance picked out finally.
Three McTavish girls & Miss Wilson up for afternoon tea. Trio & Willy Maxwell. Broncho Pearson & Frank Heylin. Go over to new trenches & back to concert. Down to station in crazy buggy. 11 all told in 4 seater Bobby [indecipherable] for driving overloaded.
Back to camp & supper.

[Page 68]
1916 February 25
Friday

Drill as usual till 11 am. Trio go down to Sydney after 12 noon. Bob waits for [indecipherable] form O.C. [indecipherable] at M. C. Comforts Fund. Does not get bit. We do some shopping. Give B. cap cover & T a knife. Meet a Miss Moore & a Miss Gow in A. Horderns talk passport – trunk. Buy a white bag at Walders. Get identification disc printed. Have tea at Majestic. Yarn to waitress. Sit in park. Go to "So Long Letty" at night. Two girls sit beside – By God. Glass eye. Letty & Tommy. Home at 1 am.
We got our final issue this morning uniform too big. Other things O.K.

[Page 69]
26 February 1916
Saturday

First aid bandaging over in paddock. Dress for 11.30 parade. Reinforcements called out for picket-duty for weekend. Protest & parade before O. C. No go. Get down to Ashfield at 2 pm. Call at Hewletts aft. tea. then on to Summer Hill stay to tea. on to MacT’s with Bill & Tim who were on their way to see the latter’s sister who is ill in asylum. Stay all night at Petersham. Take Whitehouse.

[Page 70]
1916 February 27
Sunday

Go down to Manly in morning. Dinner with Mary. Come back in aft. M coming as far as Quay with me. Meet Cis at station we go out to Muir’s for tea & church. Mrs Muir gives me 2 pr. socks. Home to camp at 10.30 pm.

[Page 71]
28 February 1916
Monday

Go down lines & get my tunic changed by Phil Prott.
Do nothing all morning & not much more in afternoon. Rain at intervals.
After tea go down lines with T & B. meet Francis Bros. at Methodist Club. Cigar & concert. former to strong dizzy & sick, latter to tame. Transfer our patronage to Y.M.C.A tent. I go to sleep on pile of bags. Home to bed at 10 pm.

[Page 72]
1916 February 29
Tuesday

Picked for guard duty this day. As we do not come on till 11 pm. Tony & self pinch off to town. I go to Ashfield have lunch & meet T. at Farmers at 2. 30. we journey down to Manly & call at 11 George St find them out. Round to Millys & discover P. Campbell. Jess Carrington. Elsie Gollan & Cis & Mary. Catch boat back to Sydney accompanied by Jess & Elsie. T & self do some shopping – bags marked discs engraved etc. Strike Macs for tea. Blackwood. Collect our woollens. Home to camp & go on duty at 11 pm. Stay on 7 am. S

[Page 73]
1 March 1916
Wednesday

Sleep all forenoon after guard duty. Draw fortnightly pay
at 11.30 am. Dull showery afternoon, clears later. Party including, Mary, Janet & Essie, Jean Aberdeen, Nurse S[indecipherable] & Miss Cameron come up. Have
boska tea in tent. T. Temperly & friend come too. Show ladies round &; hear concert at night. Farewell to Reinforcements & 10th Field Amb. Good. Scurry in getting guests off in motor.

[Page 74]
1916 March 2
Thursday

Do nothing much all morning. Heavy rain on 9 o’clock parade. After 4 o’clock Tony & self go town get several little items & pull up at Petersham to tea. after which we go to Audley Pictures all hands poor program, home supper & catch 11.15 pm train back to camp. Safely arriving about 1 pm

[Page 75]
3 March 1916
Friday

Much as usual. Bob & Tony go down to A.M.C. Comforts Committee & get 2 bags of clothing, comprising pair sand-shoes, 2 shirts, 2 undervests, handkerchiefs & fly veils.
I go down by 2 pm train, fool round, go to pictures: home again 9.25 train

[Page 76]
1916 March 4
Saturday

Cruise around all morning & get ready for weekend leave & Parade at 11.30. Order of dress no collars or ties & no cap covers. Parade at 12.5 again before O.C. who inspects. Wild rush for coaches & squeeze on to trains. Arrive at Hewletts for dinner at 1.45 pm. Go to Macs for afternoon tea. Thence down to Manly arrive there about 6.45 pm have tea & take M & J to pictures. sleep in till next morning at 8.30 pm.

[Page 77]
5 March 1916
Sunday

Go up to Pyrmont to Communion at Muirs church. Stay to dinner. Meet Ella McDonald. Go up to see Mrs Coleman & say goodbye. Thence on to Gardens & meet Tony MacT & J & M. take tea in Hyde Park Kiosk go to St Stephens Church [indecipherable]. Walk up to station & home to camp at 10.30

[Page 79]
7 March 1916
Shrove Tuesday

Heavy continuous rain up till eleven o’clock. Bob & self detailed for stretcher party for day. Tony for washing party. Send Mary & Ess wires cancelling parade. 10th of 6th & 4th of 8th Reinforce. leave for parade & embarkation next day.
Down town again in aft. Tony & self have tea at Majestic & see the waitress again. Buy present for H’s. I go to Hewletts to tea. Ess sick. After call at Palser’s get this pen presented to me. Home at 11.30. Meet Alexander at Strathfield station home with him

[Page 80]
1916 March 8
Ash Wednesday

Trio & McBurney pinch off to town after 9 o’clock parade to change knickers at Ordnance Stores. Dine at Station House. Walk down to stores get pants changed. seek information in regard to when we embark. fail. Go down to Manly. Aft. tea with Mary & Cis. They come up to Circular Quay with us. Very rough & windy. See "Star of England" go out Heads.
Get cards printed with name & address. Get to Petersham in time for tea. All hands go to Wilsons for evening. Goodbyes & home via Hurlstone Park station & Sydney.

[Page 81]
9 March 1916
Thursday

No duties. Bob, Tony, Mac & self go to former’s place to tea. On way down in train, girl newly married Charlie Chaplin – eyes – lice Get off at Petersham to go to dentist. not at home. – call at Macs for few minutes. pick up boys out at Waverley. Fine tea of duck vegetables sweets etc. Enjoyable evening. Leave for camp at 10.15 pm. Home without incident. Miss Teisher, Mrs. Robbins & slip of tongue.

[Page 82]
1916 March 10
Friday

Stayed on early morning parade Brown & physical drill. Help Turner Moir arrange tables in mess tent.
Put on tattoo this morning for being absent on parade on Wednesday. Get off with a little dissimulation. See about allotment money No duties in afternoon. Bob self Heylin go home with MacBurney to tea. Meet his family father mother brother & sisters. Nice old home at Kirribilli Point Australian flora. Sing & Miss Williams recites Reggie on beach at Manly. Home at 12 pm

[Page 83]
11 March 1916

After 9 o’clock parade did fatigue work. Hauled 3"Ethel’ round & picked up rubbish. Nearly hooked for weekend duties. Sgt. Chard good sort.
Dress for 11.30 parade. Dress inspection at 12 noon. Bob & self go to station together. Mrs. Janie driving. I reach Hewletts for lunch. Ess. sick during week. Get out at Petersham to see dentist fills 4 more teeth. Call at Macs. Down to manly to tea. thence to "Martyrdom of Nurse Cavell" with girls. Stay the night at Manly. Tony stays in camp sells his weekend for 7/6.

[Page 84]
1916 March 12
Sunday

Stay in bed till mid-day. Shower & dinner. Girls & self to Macs to tea. See unveiling of honor roll at Central Station. Back to Central at 9.30. girls home to Manly I to camp. Fleas very bad in camp could not sleep till 3 am Tony gets home 3 am. misses train.

[Page 85]
13 March 1916
Monday

No duties as usual this morn. Quartet go to river bank & read & sleep all morning. Bob has ulser on tongue. Fatigue work in afternoon. Hauling "Ethel" round again. Stay in camp this evening Go down lines after tea. Listen to band for while Perform on parallel bars. Not much doing. Come back to concert in rec. tent. Passable. Early to bed.

[Page 86]
1916 March 14
Tuesday

A little more work & a lot of leisure. Nothing of import. Oh yes though. Receive wire from Stan telling of his arrival in Sydney with Harry & Alice and Ted to see me off. Of course our day of sailing has been postponed till next Tues. Go down to Hewletts & meet them. Have dental leave till tomorrow night.

[Page 87]
15 March 1916
Wednesday

Go to dentist in morning & get 4 teeth attended to. Harry comes with me & goes on to MacIlwraiths where I pick him up later. Meet Jess Hunt. Call at MacTavish’s & thence into Sydney. Meet Stan Alice & Cis have dinner in town & spend most of aft. in waiting for the womenfolk whilst shopping. Meet Miss Taylor (Majestic) on street. The boys & Alice go home on evening train. Cis & I go to Manly to see Mary. Jean Aberdeen there. Have tea & take the girls to "So long Letty." Home at 1 pm.

[Page 88]
1916 March 16
Thursday
We do nothing much all day. Tony & self slip off to town in afternoon despite warning that no leave would be granted. Bob followed later. We take tea at Mac’s & spend evening. Tony ∓ self take coffee at majestic earlier in evening. Dad & T’s fun.

[Page 89]
17 March 1916
Friday

Tattoo this morning for all who was absent from parade last evening about 150 guilty. Some were fined 10/- including self. Bob Tony & self go off to town on leave & call at Comforts Depot & receive handkerchiefs & fly nets.
Then we go round to Woolloomooloo Bay & view the Armadale. No one preventing us we go on board & see what we have to make our home on for 38 days. Ye Gods! What a tub & dirty. I go home with Bob to tea & stay the night whilst Tony goes to Neutral Bay. We go to pictures at the Junction after tea.

[Page 90]
1916 March 18
Saturday

Call at Cary St to say goodbye prior to sailing on Tuesday. Ruby up from Nowra. From thence I met Bob. at the Junction, went into station. Got our bags from cloakroom. I went out to Dean’s stayed to lunch said goodbye & came on to Hewletts. Essie still ill. Left bags there. & called up at Palsers. Thence to MacT’s had tea. Tony & self into town. Give T. the slip & call at M. Down to Manly call at Misses Ferguson & Nolan say goodbye. Home to "Illilliwie" Mary in bed. Stay in bed till late next morn.

[Page 91]
19 March 1916
Sunday

In afternoon Mary & self went to Mac.T’s where Cis were also. Whilst down at Manly I called at Towners & said goodbye. After tea we sang hymns etc & made back to camp about 9 pm. Found when we arrived back reinforcements had to have kits picked by 6.15.am next morning. Set to work & finished about 12. 30 am.

[It appears that the following paragraph is a continuation of the entry made for 20 March 1916.]
We got lost in crowd on purpose My friends & Bob’s join forces & we all have tea in Hyde park. Deans, Edie Watts, Miss Wilson, Macs. The Girls, Harry & Stan. Robbins etc. After we disperse. See Miss M. Walk to station, park. Out to Hewletts say goodbye to Ess. Call at Mac’s H & Stan. Tony. more supper. Goodbye to Mrs. Mac & out to Show Ground.

[Page 92]
1916 March 20
Monday

Up betimes this morning & get our kits out to time. Feeling somewhat excited. At 10.00 we fall in for medical inspection by Capt. Moir. That over after some amusement we had dinner & afterwards were inspected by the O.
C. then at 12.15 we march off for the last time from the Hospital. thus commencing the first stage of our long journey to Egypt. Arrived in Sydney after a good send off all along the line & were met by all our friends. March out to the Show Ground & thence joining in with the rest of the reinforcements parade to the Domain People line the route & cheer us on. Beautiful afternoon & parade very successful. After it was over

[The diary entry for March 20 seems to have been continued on the previous page i.e. page for March 19 – Page 91 – q.v.]

[Page 93]
21 March 1916
Tuesday

The day of days. On arriving show-ground last night no provision made. bagged a couple of blankets & dossed in marquee with rest of boys.

Reveille at 4 am

[Page 114]
1916 April 11
Tuesday

Another sudden rain & wind squall struck us in the early hours. T & self stuck it out till reveille, but our blankets were saturated. Bob had to[indecipherable] retreat about 4 a.m. drenched. A hot day soon dried our clothes.
Tonight a discussion on Swearing. Large audience intensely intreated listeners. Tony first speaker, -- fine, then several others. Parsons follow it. an amazing address. Electrical. Great arguments for long after & no trouble improvement in language on board.

[Page 115]
12 April 1916
Wednesday

A blazing sun shining down on us all day. We cross the equator at 2 p.m. Bath has been erected on board in anticipation of Neptune’s visit.
He & his retinue came aboard at 3.30. & constituted a court. The O C & all the officers were haled before him & sentenced to various penalties all included the orthodox shave & ducking. Fun was fast & furious. Makes up were clever & original. Charges were smart & witty. Queen. Anti-swearing League. Ever hungry. Binoculars. Equator line. Pills. Sounding hammer. Soft soap & lead: yard broom & whitewash brush.
Chief officer’s way to end[?] the fun.

[Page 116]
1916 April 13
Thursday

Ward orderly this morning. very hot steamy. Shaved of moustache & had hair cut by A. M. C. barber. Geo. Laurence.
Grainus pudding. Debate on "Early Closing" Tony led off & made a good speech. others followed. The six o’clocks won hands down.

[Page 117]
14 April 1916
Friday

Tony & self mess orderlies. Still fine & calm. Heat tempered by cool north west breeze.
Nothing striking occurs except. a Sapper was sentenced to 5 days cell on bread & water for refusing to go under hose after stable duty. His excuse was a cold & the fact of having one shower already. Adjutant Laurence was prosecuter and odious man. Penalty far too drastic, merely vindictiveness on officers part.

[Page 118]
1916 April 15
Saturday

Usual duties. Boat drill in afternoon. Expect to see African Coast tomorrow.

[Page 119]
16 April 1916
Sunday

A day of note. We sight land at 9 a.m. great excitement on board. Quite a pleasant change from the endless sea. Cape Guardafin rises 200 feet up from the sea with a background of high mountains 3,000 ft altitude. Rough inhospitable coast passed 3 native sampans fishing smacks.

[Page 120]
1916 April 17
Monday

Usual duties. Wrote my home letter & a few others [indecipherable] Hope to enter Red Sea tomorrow

[Page 121]
18 April 1916
Tuesday

Entered Red Sea thro’ St. Babel Mandeb & Gate of Tears at sunrise. Perim over to the right, a British Naval Station guarding the southern entrance to the Red Sea. A most welcome sight after so many weeks of sea. Passed some remarkable volcanic islands & Abu Ali Lighthouse at midday. In evening passed Twelve Apostles islands &anp; another lighthouse & about 11p.m. another lighthouse. Received late news from passing steamer. the first since leaving Sydney.

[Page 122]
1916 April 19
Wednesday
Out of sight of land again. Nothing of unusual interest occurred.

[Page 123]
20 April 1916
Thursday

Strong gale sprung up & created a big head sea. Steamer pitched a good deal, making several sick including self. Continues all day.

[Page 124]
1916 April 21
Good Friday

Still strong gale but sea not so rough. No hot cross buns. Nothing decent on this old tub. Given up expecting it.
All awnings taken down. Sun hot tho’ wind cool. Barns dreadfully. Poor nurse suffered. Douglas Rock lighthouse visible this evening. 300 miles more to go

[Page 125]
11 April 1916
Saturday

Patient took epileptic fit last night. orderlies take it in turn night duty. Tony has horrible knees thro’ sun-burn yesterday. Great water blisters on each.
Pass frequent steamers all day indicating we are drawing near our goal. Red Sea only about 10 miles wide here. Great bare mountain ranges each side. Most inhospitable [indecipherable] grand looking. Pass 3 more lighthouses. Ward duties all day. Expect to land tomorrow morning. prepare accordingly. Bob & self take night duty from 3am. to 6. am. 4 a.m. on duty. A most miserable cold night wind nearly blew us out of our hammocks.

[Page 126]
1916 April 23

At daybreak we entered the roadstead at Suez & dropped anchor at sunrise. Signalled for health officer & customs. Breakfasted. received instructions to berth at docks. made fast at 11 a.m. Everything of interest. Natives of the lowest poorest class. Cripple. Horse landing & entraining. One broke & tumbled over pier. rescued. Niggers fight like children. Disembarked after tea & entrained for Fel-el-Kebir. in coal truck. Arrived at camp at 2.30 a m. to bed at 4 a.m. Oh! The bumping & jolting of that train ride. a nightmare.

[Page 127]
24 April 1916
Monday

Getting used to new quarters, medical & inoculation for paratyphoid. Visit Y.M.C.A. tent & send postcards & cablegram. Help hoist piano on to motor wagon & visit cemetery where victims of Soudanese war lay buried.
Visit native Bazaar in evening buy pair smoked glasses each Pay 5 piastres to go to circus. Good. Little boy on horseback. Another little chap contortionist 6 acrobats. Clowns, one-eyed beauty.

[Page 128]
1916 April 25
Tuesday

Anzac Day. Holiday in camp. Sports. Did not go. Party went for walk up line. Very hot, back for dinner. Fatigue work on motor wagon drawing stores. Go to pictures at night –peanuts, cake & beer. Clever club swinged.

[Page 129]
26 April 1916
Get up 6.15. parade. Breakfast, parade. Line picket W.A, A.M.C. arrive. 200 men in camp. Flyies bad A very hot day

[Page 130]
1916 April 27
Thursday

Nothing of import. Go to pictures again. Not much good. Write second home letter addressed to Stan. Underwood taken ill & had to go to hospital

[Page 131]
28 April 1916
Friday

Picked for guard duty for next 24 hours. Howells, Parsons, Tony & Jock too. 2 hrs on 6 off. sleep down in guard tent.
Bob goes over for my watch at Bazaar. found shop wrecked & owner gone.
Dave Watts comes down from Light Horse lines & finds me. Glad to see him, have a good yarn. D Waddell & Ern Noble in same regiment.

[Page 132]
1916 April 29
Satsurday

Nothing of import. Make enquiries re the chances of getting my watch back. To go back tomorrow.
Start meals in mess room. Great babel & confusion.
Dave Watts, D. Waddell & Ern Noble come down to see me after tea. We all go up to Y.M.C.A. & yarn over cocoa & biscuits. All look well & fit.

[Page 133]
30 April 1916
Sunday
Issue of tobacco & cigarettes this morning. church parade at 10.30.
Go for walk out to trenches of Tel-el-Kebir. 1882. seemany bones of slain Arabs. pick up shells.
Go up to Y.M.C.A at night. church service Chaplain offers nice prayers.
Epileptic fit of soldier

[Page 134]
1916 May 1
Monday

Mirage in desert yesterday.
Underwood & his artificial teeth.—sick – slop bucket.

[Page 135]
May 2 1916
Tuesday

Pictures at night new attraction of French. petite & sleight of hand – incident of flags.

[Page 137]
4 May 1916
Thursday

Native wedding over at quarters. Bride enveloped in sheet & hidden from view Camels, family party. Music(?). Single sticks
Hospital messenger.
Concert in Hospital mess-tent. Sang "My Old Shako".
Dave Watts down again. Ashley appears from Convalescent Home.

[Page 138]
1916 May 5
Friday

Chosen for service 180 picked. Cooks fatigue
Jockey & the flurry.

[Page 139]
6 May 1916
Saturday

The day Bob, Tony & I were picked for service in France. 20 chosen. Expect to leave any day.

[Page 140]
1916 May 7
Sunday

350 A.M C. men arrive at Tel-el-Kebir including 150 from Liverpool under Sergt. Brown. MacIndoe Beamish etc. among them. Nearly 700 in camp. Provisions scarce & hard to get . Very hot.
Underwood not at all well. Dave Watts down. All go up to Y.M C A to church. D & self yarn till mid-night. Poor chap. Crowded tent.

[Page 141]
8 May 1916
Monday

Scramble for breakfast. Assist to put up hospital tents
Went up to see Dave Watts to Light Horse Camp. Indian wigwams. Yarn & restaurant. Get a ground-sheet.
We get definite news that we leave camp for Alexandria en route for France tomorrow.

[Page 142]
1916 May 9
Tuesday

Parade at 10 a.m. & told to be ready at 9p.m. to entrain. Bob Tony ∓ all prepared. Muster to time
Farewell to the boys. Regrets. Underwood still sick. MacBurney, Bill Parsons & Jockey help us with our packs & see us off. 20 of us all told. Train loads off infantry engineers etc move off. Leave Tel-el-Kabir at 11.27 p.m. in trucks

[Page 143]
10 May 1916
Wednesday

Arrive in Alexandria at 5.20 a.m. after a rather uncomfortable ride. taken straight on to wharf & embarked on S. S. Caledonian. 15.000 Australian troops said to have left Tel-el-Kabir last night embarking all morning. Delta of Nile, low flat land, marshes. Pull out into stream & stay there all night. Bunk on deck.
3,000 troops on board. All the Nowra Waratah boys on board. Also our shipmates on S. S. Armadale, the Engineers. Rather strange coincidence.

[Page 144]
1916 May 11
Thursday

Weigh anchor, & depart from Alexandria at 10 a.m.
Dense fog settled on harbour from sea just at sailing time. Steam slowly out on wake of S.S. Scotian which is to be our consort for voyage.
Sea as calm as proverbial lake. Fog lifted about mid-day.
To bed early on deck. No lights visible, life belts issued to each man, ordered to wear them day & sleep with them by night. Boat takes zig-zag course changing every 4 miles in order to dodge likely submarines. Strong guards & look out posted all over ship.

[Page 145]
12 May 1916
Friday

Slept well. Up betimes sea very calm. Pass thro’ Grecian Archipelago at noon. Both boats still persuing erratic course. Crete passed in late evening. An island rich in history. To far from it to form any idea of its worth. Snow capped mountains upon it. To bed early, no lights allowed on. Strict lookout for submarines. In hourly danger of their attentions.

[Page 146]
1916 May 13
Saturday

Safely through another night. Sea continues as calm as mill-pond. Destroyers come & go convoying us all the way. A British Submarine passed us this afternoon, first I’ve seen. Thankful it was flying British ensign.
About 6 p.m. a submarine alarm was sounded -- for practice. Did not realise twas only for practice at first, great excitement & scurrying to get to places, & don life-belts. Chap sprained his ankle in the rush.
M

[Page 147]
14 May 1916
Sunday

Sunday in mid-Mediterranean Think of it!!
Another night passed without incident.
Food pretty rotten. Indigestion rife among the troops – Bread poison.
Church parade on promenade deck at 9. a.m. Pres. Chap. Hutchison No singing. Bob, Tony & self take communion in company of about 30 others in Sergeants Mess Room at 10 a.m. Rev. Hutchison [indecipherable] officiating
Cold wind rising. & sea with it. Sailing ship at pitch & toss.

[Page 148]
1916 May 15
Monday

Still cold. Breakfast consisted of 3 spoonfulls of porridge without milk or sugar. tea & musty bread & marmalade, Ugh! Bought steak & egg.
Posted letters to home & Ruby on board. Nothing else doing all day.

[Page 149]
16 May 1916
Tuesday

A rumour spread this morning that a transport very near us was torpedoed by An Austrian submarine. Awoke with sore throat. Feel a cold coming on.
Come in view of Marseilles at 3.30 p.m. . our goal. Spirit of thankfulness that we have come thus far safely prevails. First impressions: – Stately light-house uprearing out in the sea off the coast. – An immense chateau dominates the town. very striking from the sea. – A convent I found out after, surmounted by a great brass statue on top of a high tower. blinking & glittering in the setting sun. just as one reads about. Enter the docks about 6 p.m. & moor to a buoy in the stream. First sight of French soldiers. Red pants. old style uniform.

[Page 150]
1916 May 17
Wednesday

See first German prisoners this morning. Under strong French guard they matched down to wharves & work at coal-lumping. Thick haze obscures everything.
Indefiniteness as to landing Pull into wharf after breakfast expecting to land. Fooled about all day till 3 p.m Disembark & march 1 ½ miles to garden camp. Idyllic spot. Hot tiring march with full kit & baggage. Pinch out, tunnel, hayfield, poppies, beauty. Catch tram to Marseilles. Trio. Lovely town. Tout,- tea, stroll streets. Chemist, post-card shop " combien montez street girls, street conveniences tout. Café. miss tram, long tramp home
Sore throat, feels like a cold coming on

[Page 151]
18 May 1916
Thursday

Up betimes, wash. Breakfast a la carte.
Move off at 8 a.m. for entraining platform. Start long train journey at 10.30 p.m. French rural scenery one long delight. The beautiful orchards and white & pink blossoms, poppies daisies red clover, lovely great meadows, rare coloured avenues, white ribbons of road, red tiled houses, quaint chateaux, ever changing panorama of rural beauty. Peasants wave & cheer us all long way. French ladies, roses from balustrades Halt at Orange for tea. Carriages comfortable 11 class. Red cross french nurses meet us at Orange. French officer, Legion de Honor. Montlemar. Hot water, dog-dames retiring, "Don’t swarhe"[?]. Difficulties of lavatory accommodation. Bob & his diarrhoea

[Page 152]
1916 May 19
Friday

Still going north. Breakfast at Macon. Bob & self pinch down to baker’s buy loaf. taken to café. coffee & rum.
Scenery still beautiful & ever changing from one delight to another, valley scene, ribbons of green crops, chocolate soil background of hill, houses, road a lovely sight. Waving acres of grass & crops. Harvesting & hay making. Avenues along every road. River scenes, arched bridges, barges.
Dijon. French officer talk English Red cross nurses, cold coffee, bitter.
Tony & self hospital orderlies for night. Cold troublesome, head very full.

[Page 153]
20 May 1916
Saturday

Pass round Paris in early hours thro’ Versailles, oval lake statue St Cyr. aeroplanes wrecked, hangars aeroplane over train. French woods.
Arrive at Armiens at mid-day. on to Epaple – our destination as things fell out. arrive 5 p.m. disentrain. march thro, hospital to camp out on sand dunes. Recover bags & blankets. erect tent scratch for tea, to bed tired & worn out with my cold.

[Page 154]
1916 May 21
Sunday

Up betimes after good nights rest. Scratch breakfast. fatigue work. Go across flats with Bob & Tony to bathe. Rapid tide.
Open air church parade. Scotch minister glengarry cap. fine sermon straight from shoulder.
Wrote my 6th home letter. also several postcards to friends. Twilight till 9 p.m.

[Page 155]
22 May 1916
Monday

Cross to inspection full marching order to parade ground other side of line at 6. 30. a.m. 4 Batt. Artillery. Engineers & A S.C included. Breakfast. Med. Exam. pass. Dinner. Light rain breaks aft. parade. Sit in tent & listen to stories related by returned men.
Pay parade wait 2 ½ hours then dismissed till next morning. a la military style.

[Page 156]
1916 May 23
Tuesday

Another inspection parade at 9.30 a.m. address by camp commandant on "Playing the Game" Washing parade in
fore noon.
Route march to Etaples & back 6 miles. Etaples a dirty hole, fishing village, inhabitants poor, common & ugly. Squalid & filthy streets stink.
Stroll round after tea. meet & yarn[indecipherable] to Gog Aldous Alexander, Piper & Elliot. The latter to be boarded for medically unfit.

[Page 157]
24 May 1916
Wednesday

Empire Day at home. Wonder what they have been doing? Nothing special doing here Fatigue work all morning Bob & self told of to Y.M.C.A. to clean up round about. Listen to band practice & indulge in apricots & biscuits.
After dinner Bob Tony self & B
lake called out for stretcher party. Carry patient to road across railway, stiff work. Deliver him into hands of ambulance. We visit graves of fallen then tour hospitals – outside. Look at hospital train, every comfort Long walk. Home to tea. Go over to Market after then walk round beach, apricots & biscuits. Bed. Caught glimpse of Arn. Beattie on march.

[Page 158]
1916 May 25

Thursday

Light rain this morning breaks up parade. Do nothing much all morning. Fatigue work in aft. Tony falls into creek. Joy unbounded. After tea write to Miss Barbara & send postcard to Cis. Also wrote to Edie Watts.
Take our usual stroll round beach. Weather somewhat cold. Sergt. Barr reads us extracts from an officer at the Front to his people. Very fine literature & full of human feeling. Barr a good reader.

[Page 159]
26 May 1916
Friday

Up 5.45 a.m. Breakfast of bread & jam, bully & pickles. Bob, Tony self & F. Cartwright 3– stretcher party. Carry diphtheric patient over 1 road. Ryan. No amb. there. secure land amb. at Mortuary & wheel him down to Isolation. 1 mile away. watch funeral from mortuary no less than 4 land amb. shrouded by Union Jacks each bearing a corpse cross to cemetery. Just a chaplain & a few soldiers in the procession. Poor chaps! Each a mother’s son. Shift our camp next door. Board floor. After tea, do our usual stroll over to market & then round beach, back to Y.M.C.A & tea & cake then bed.
[indecipherable] Aeroplanes & 1 dirigible seen today.
Sergeant reads us more letters from a soldier to his people. Fine.

[Page 160]
1916 May 27
Saturday

Reveille 5.30. a.m. Tony Bob self & Cartwright told off for stretcher party again. 5 aeroplanes up scouting round at breakfast. Cold night.
Paid 20 francs. in forenoon. "In the field." entered in pay book. Do no work all day.
Trio go for long walk to beach after tea. 3 miles. Bob & his bog. Back to tea at Y.M.C.A. joined by Sergt. Barr. To bed & more "letters" read by Barr. "There is one corner in this foreign land, that is forever England."

[Page 161]
28 May 1916
Sunday

Second Sunday in Etaple camp. Ye. Gods, isn’t it slow. No where we are allowed to go. Nothing to do. Everywhere out of bounds save our own hut & immediate surroundings. We suffer from the misdemeanours of our earlier comrades. Church parade at 9.30.a.m. breaks the monotony. Over in half an hour. Preacher not as convincing as the Scot. of last Sunday. Usual walk after tea. wrote letters to Uncle Bob, & Glad. Robbins, Postcards to Bert, Cis, Annie Gardner.

[Page 162]
1916 May 29
Monday

Reveille’ 5.30 a.m. Fine. Trio had bath in stream. washed clothes. In afternoon, Raf. No. 843. our draft of A.M C. marched to No 1.T.C. Stadium, kerosene tins & sand
Lecture by Lieut. on Gas & Gas helmets. Practice trying them on turned over to Sergt. demonstration of sandbag building. Back to Stadium instructed by a Sergt. in first aid bandaging. Home to 6 o’clock tea. Stroll to house with tower among hills Back to biscuits & apricots. Bed. Letters by Sergt. Sky overcast not so cold.

[Page 163]
30 May 1916
Tuesday

Light rain. Ref. No 483. march out to Bull Ring for training 8.a.m. Arrived there taken over by English officers. Assembly of troops. We march off to gas trenches. Each were issued with 2 gas helmets bag & tear goggles at 6.30 parade. In file we marched through the trench of death with our helmets adjusted. Come through safely without much discomfort. Queer sights with helmets donned. Officer with his monocle,’
Semaphore drill by Sergt Barron sand in aft. After tea usual walk. The struggle between Bob & I on sand bank. Damage to coat sleeve. Strenuous struggle for tea & cake at Y.M.C.A.
French class after. Chaplain, very good plan, he worked on, 3"Pourquoi voulez nas pas etc."

[Page 164]
1916 May 31
Wednesday

Detailed for stretcher party today. Reg [indecipherable] one of our comrades, removed to England from hospital. Dropsy & complications.

[Page 165]
1 June 1916
Thursday

Bob, Tony & self get evening leave to visit – Etaples. Bowering comes along too. Begging youngsters. Squalor. Visit church. congregation just emerging from some
confirmation service. Great number of women folk in black. Boys& girls for confirmation dressed in black suits, white collars ties & satin streamers from arm & white dresses & veil respectively. Very interesting. Tea, next door, 2 francs. Old man & history of church. Built 1437 at instance of Edward 111 together with Cathedral at Calais & Bolonge. Statue presented by Napoleon 111.
Tart shop. Home at 8.30 pm. First letters await us. From Mary {2), Cis, J. M & T. Palser, Wilson. Bea T., Jean A. Essie H. Joy! After 10 long weeks of waiting.

[Page 166]
1916 June 2
Friday

We exchanged news of our letters. Bob 14,self 12, Tony 6. Glad to hear all was well with our dear ones at home.

Go on route march to Paris – Plage (forbidden ground usually) A beautiful route, Avenues of silver poplars & firs. Pretty little chalets & chateaux. Town very pretty indeed. Purely French watering place, elaborate houses & ornamentations. Esplanade. Convalescent hospitals, British & French Park-like grounds all around. Back to camp 2.30 & dinner walked 14 miles.
Stretcher party called out at 10.30 p.m Bob, Tony Cartwright & Nettleton volunteered

[Page 167]
3 June 1916
Saturday

Captured for cooks fatigue. Nothing doing much, all day.
Stretcher party. Bob Tony & self take man across to road. cut up fall into trench.
The "Tommy" & his opinion of things in general.
Got a letter from A. G

[Page 168]
1916 June 4
Sunday

Our squad to Bull Ring in morning for instruction in Goat First Aid.
Went for walk up to Headquarters P.O. Nearly mulcted of 10 francs only for Bob’s intervention .
Meet Cartwright & Nettleton. & we stroll thro’ Tommies’ Camp Well appointed. Anzacs barred from all refreshment & recreation rooms.
Back, to tea at our own Y.M.C.A Church after.
Hospital train & wounded

[Page 169]
5 June 1916
Monday

Nabbed for linesman. Empty garbage tins. Write letter to Cis, Mary, Jno Watt. Cards to Annie. Mary Brodie, Alison & Lex Mrs Craig & Janet McLean (Violet Bank).
Tony & Bob’s argument. Former’s hot headedness latter’s fine restraint. All ends well

[Page 170]
1916 June 6
Tuesday

Raining & very cold. Went for a walk after tea to hospital ostensibly to see Nestle but more for a stroll. Sisters. Incident of the lady chased by sergeant of guard.
News of great sea battle off Jutland came through. Conflicting reports. Heavy losses on both sides.

[Page 171]
7 June 1916

Did no drill or fatigues today save take patient to ambulance from segregation ward. Trio walk up through hospital grounds to Tommies’ camp & Gordon Hut in No. 2 Div. Aust. Camp. Boiled eggs & bread for tea. 9[penny] Post-cards.
"Soldiers’ Christian Hut". The English woman & the gratuitous snub she gave us. Trespassing--- hut barred to Australians
Same old tale.

[Page 172]
1916 June 8
Thursday

Linesman again. Sick to death of these endless . worthless fatigues. Bob gets position in orderly room as assistant pay clerk. He intends moving on with us when we go. Write a letter to Stan re enlistment. Customary tea & cake before turning in.
Lord Kitchener drowned by sinking of H.M.S. Hampshire blown up by a mine in a great storm off the island of Orkney.

[Page 173]
9 June 1916
Friday

No fatigues today for a wonder. In morning we go for a route march to Canniers, a village about 3 miles down the road. New church, single street, Pond. Rest beyond the village & retrace steps. In aft. retire to sandhills & loaf. Bob getting tired of being separated from his mates. After tea Tony & self go to Army P.O. & post Stan’s letter, green envelope. Sergt. secures us a supply.
Russians begin a big offensive about this date. Capture many Austrian prisoners.

[Page 174]
1916 June 10
Saturday

Nothing doing again, retirement to sandhills for loaf. rotten life. Draft chosen from A.M.C. No luck.
Bob gets pass into Paris Plage from 2 p.m. to 9 p. m. Return . teaze. Cider. Abcess in my nose very painful, breaks about 5 p. m. easier. Rotten country for colds.

[Page 175]
11 June 1916
Sunday

Fourth Sunday in Etaples Camp. Church parade as usual at 9. 30 a.m. Chaplain’s address on Lord Kitchener. Two chops play cards during service, sacrilege. Write letters to Bess Haas & post cards to Nell, Jessie Mon. Jack & Arch.
Bob Tony & self go for walk to Camiers, blocked by military police. Same old story. Anzacs barred. French peasant, chicory. Rain, shelter in dug out. Tony receives parcel from England. Cake & apples. Former crushed but nice.

[Page 176]
1916 June 12
Whitsun Monday Bank Holiday

Nothing doing today. Bob resigns his job in orderly room.
T loses his block at cards. Walk after tea with Sergt. still cold wet & dreary.

[Page 177]
13 June 1916
Whitsun Tuesday

Picked for stretcher squad Route marched to Paris Plage for compulsory surf bathe. Cold & wet. Bob &
Tony have to go. "I gloat" as the Sergt. would say.
Called out for stretcher duty at 1.30 p m before dinner. A 14 stone man. ‘Ye Gods’. He was heavy. Shameful delay of Ambulance. Back to tent at 3 p.m. got dinner. Found boys returned. Cold & wet. Tony & self go into Etaples on leave. Haircut, lady shaver. Restaurant francs. grocers, 2 girls, roses, postcards strawberries. letter from Tim Palser.

[Page 178]
1916 June 14
Wednesday

Letter from Mary No 3. dated 16th Apr. giving later news.
Go for route march thro’ Etaples & halfway to Paris Plage, cold. Big Serg. & quick walker. Inspection parade by O.C. Several chaps crimed for not shaving.
Afternoons nothing doing. not usual. more at night Time put on hour. Summer time daylight saving
Made marker. exempt from fatigues

[Page 179]
15 June 1916
Thursday

Daylight Saving Bill brought into operation All time pieces put on I hour
Reveille really blown at 4.30 instead 5.30a.m. Likewise Lights Out. long before dark.

[Page 180]
1916 June 16
Friday

March out to old hulks on beach & stay there all morning. Bathing parade in Aft. March up to Russian Steam Baths. Good. Enter vapour room first. Get good sweat up. Then hot & showers. Feel nice & clean.
Tony appointed aerial expert.

[Page 181]
17 June 1916
Saturday

Another march right out to beach. Large hotel undermined & fallen. Cartwright shows us how rings are made. Cuttlefish used for moulds.
Miss Ada Wright entertains us in Y.M.C.A. Tent. Very clever. Men & Women. Sketches.

[Page 182]
1916 June 18
Sunday

Church parade 9 a.m. Parson & violet hood. Could hear no word of his address. Wrote letters & read for most of day. Trio walked up to Gordon Hut Tea no good. Walked to 4th Div. Met Sergt. Barr & nurse.

[Page 183]
19 June 1916
Monday

Cold & drizzly rain. Go on parade but dismiss on acc. of rain. Write letters in Y. M. C. A. tent all morning. In aft. do usual loaf on beach. Sergt. reads chapters from the R.A.M.C. book. Tony Bob & self. Go on leave to Etaples. Tea in restaurant near church. View interior of church after Postcards. Back street latrines. Tart shop. Pay evening. on acc. on going on leave we miss pay.
Cernovitry captured by Russians. 117,600 troops captured for 8 days

[Page 184]
1916 June 20
Tuesday

T. loses his job as "Aerial Expert". thro’ a contriatry of Staff. Sergt. going on leave last night without reporting to him. Mad Demonstration on loafing & first aid this morning.
In aft. go for a route march to Paris Plage for surf bathe. feel tired. Handy swim at end of march. Hundreds of men bathe on beach opposite to where [2 indecipherable] is wrecked boats washed ashore. Woman selling chocolates among the naked bathers, think nothing of it. Home 7 pm. Tea, cold & to bed & read.

[Page 185]
21 June 1916
Wednesday

Mid summer day. It is somewhat warmer than has been the case hitherto. out to sandhills again all morning."It’s a poor bum that never rejoices". Meals continue very bad & unappetising. Complaints appear to effect no improvement. Afternoon sandhills again. Wrote to Mrs. Dean during forenoon session.

[Page 186]
1916 June 22
Thursday

Tony & self detailed for dispensary. Dress wounds all day. In aft. Staff Sergt. Smith asks us to go into temporary hospital as orderlies. After consideration consent also Bob. It means that we remain together & have something definite to do.

[Page 187]
23 June 1916
Friday

Dispensary again. Taken off all parades form henceforth. & put on permanent staff.
Nettleton & Cartwright endeavour to get into Aerial Corps. prospects good.
Talk of former patients of Harve hosp. 4,000 men. 200 officers. 4 parsons. Man & his sister.
Camp hospital started at Ditails Camp. Tony, Bob & I chosen by Staff Smith as orderlies.

[Page 188]
1916 June 24
Saturday

Dispensary in morning.
Tony out in charge of hospital tent. Heartburnings of Box & Payne: two other aspirants. Victory for Liverpool. Busy all afternoon fixing up hospital. 5 patients admitted.
This "soldiering game" is a queer thing. Everyone for himself. "Bunky pulls the strings, & the puppets dance".

[Page 189]
25 June 1916
Sunday

Another Sunday round again. The days slip by. Presbyterian Church parade at 8.30 a.m. On ward in afternoon. Boy bad with sprained ankle. Church service in Y.M.C.A. tent at 7 p.m. Y.M.C.A. parson very deadly.

[Page 190]
1916 June 26
Monday

First news this morning is that 37 have been picked to go forward up the line. Tony & Bob omitted self chosen. Two former put in names to go. Staff Smith dies not want to let any of us go. Consents ultimately. We had a soft easy job on the wards & could retain it if desired, but we decided it was our duty to go forward. Rest of day taken up preparing for departure in morning.

[Page 191]
27 June 1916
Tuesday

Among 37 others I am packed in a truck waiting at Etaples station for the train to start on its way to the Front. Morning dull. Walk from camp hard going with pack up & two bags Y.M.C.A. motor at station with tea & biscuits Leave Etaples 5.30 a.m
<2 letters indecipherable/>longe Munition factories, Sea, Napoleons monument tall lighthouselooking structure nearest to England. St. Mor. ruined Cathedral. Hazelbrouk. Steenwaurk disentrian. Leave kitbags. Trek thro’ town halt for refreshments. Then thro’ peaceful country lanes. Crops growing luxuriantly, peas, beans, everything lovely. Sound of guns in firing line only indication of war. The pity of it.
Arrived Sailly, destination at 1p.m. 3 miles behind trenches. raining as usual, mud, quiet soldiers, coming & going to trenches. Gas helmets, universal. Sailly captured by
Germans in 1914. Cathedral ruined & burst, houses wrecked & fruits pitted with rifle fire. Put into barracks at 6 p.m. tea in shop. To bed thoroughly tired out.

[Page 192]
1916 June 28
Wednesday

Raining as usual. Up at 6 a.m. after sound night’s sleep & rest. Lecture in picture palace at 7 a.m. Gas – "the terror of the trenches". Breakfast of bacon. March out to gas trench in rain & put through gas again, very strong slushy mud up to ankles, off main road. All main roads paved granite blocks for military traffic. mile of it. Tear shell exploded for our benefit. Stings eyes, most copious weeping. Back to billet. Coffee across road. after dinner march down to 2nd Field Amb. not wanted apparently. Stay in billet there for night. Stables, rat infested & leaky. Go for walk toward trenches after tea, then go to Sailly Empire Pictures. Perkins & his gerkins. Horse stables & rats. Tony’s anxiety to get in middle. Heavy bombardment all night, reports of big explosion near by. Slept in our clothes in anticipation of sudden call to duty.

[Page 193]
29 June 1916
Thursday

Australians made a raid last night. Were successful in capturing a few Germans, but the enemy caught them coming back. result. 10 killed. 2 Germans brought into dressing station. one seriously wounded. Blood drenched clothes & stretchers. Hunt for souvenirs.
At 2 p.m. draft of 37 (ours) called out. & names read out for different units – The heavens fell! Bob Tony & I were each allotted to different units. Bob to 2nd, Tony to 3rd & self to 1st. After being together right up to the firing line & then to be separated just when we needed each other most. Hard fate.
Au Revoirs were said, we each determined to try every means to join up again. I with Cart. & Net. & 4 others tramp out to Delvison to 1st Field carrying kit. 6 miles Heavy going, tired. Get 5 letters on arrival makes up somewhat.

[Page 194]
1916 June 30
Friday

Slept in stable last night billet. Pigs fowls, cows & horses. Did not prevent sound sleep tho’, Tired after long walk. Heavy bombardment continued all night. Tony to see me after tea, -- re transfer. Cart. Net & self put on gardening all day. Receive 5 more letters. To bed early. Great difference in tucker here than anywhere else. Cocoa, ham, puddings. "tres bon". Receive pay. 20 francs. also note from Bob. per ambulance waggon Watched a thrilling air fight this evening. 32 aeroplanes up at one time. Plenty of excitement in that game

[Page 195]
1 July 1916
Saturday

Change of duties. Join chap named Phillips on "paddy-barrow remove garbage from mess room & cook house 3 times a day.
In afternoon go into Estairs with Cart & Net. Get lift in Amb. waggon. Quite a holiday feel in air, taubes & observation ballons are there. Go right thro’ Estairs, meet Nev. Porteais See Tony at No 3. F A. go on & pick up Bob at his "possy." Tea in Sailly. We walk back, meet T & trio walk into Estairs on my way home. Both have put in for transfers to 1st. F A. hope nothing prevents them getting it.
Anticipation of something big doing tonight. Frequent air fights are taking place.

[Page 196]
1916 July 2
Sunday

The expected happened. Terrific bombardment of German lines opened up about 9 p. m. & continued all night. Billet shook with the concussion. There must have been some damage done somewhere.
Usual duties. Saw W.O. about T & B. Informed me that the O. C. would see their respective O’s C. personally.
Lettuce salad & custard & fruit for dinner. Tres bon encore.
Go up to village Donlieu with washing this morn. Just in time to see Grand Fete of Corpus Christi. Decorated street. banners. Procession. adoration of Host. Yellow satin angel. frizzy haired girls if white confirmation dresses. mourning women & black coated & hatted men. Tres interesting.

[Page 197]
3 July 1916
Monday

Usual duties occupy day. Preparations for a day’s sport & dinner at night – for tomorrow prematurely knocked on the head by order coming thro’ that Amb. must remove to --- by 2 p.m on morrow. Active preparations for trek.
Tony comes across after tea. Tells of his adventures out at the trenches yesterday. He holds the distinction of going into trenches first of the Trio. Walk part of way back with him & had parting cup at crossroads. When shall we meet again! soon I hope. I miss the good old chap & also Bob more than I can tell.
Dinner & smoke concert in messroom at 9 p.m. Beer & skits. Some enjoy.

[Page 198]
1916 July 4
Tuesday

Up at 5.30 & to work. moving. Parade at 2 p. m. & set out on our march of 8 miles. Sent on black bag & blankets for transport. Carry equipment & overcoat. Thunderstorm breaks as we leave. Rained all the way. Do a forced march all the way. Thoroughly fagged out at termination. Cross the frontier between France & Belgium. Now on Belgian soil at Neuve Eglise. Crowd of 20 in tent wet clothes & mud

[Page 199]
5 July 1916
Wednesday

Breakfast at 8 a m. Parade at 9.30. Have to drill all day at this joint. Squad & stretcher drill till 12 p m. Commence again at 2 p & finish 4 p.m. Tea. Cart. Nett. & self with another chap. go down road & have fried eggs & coffee Belgian. Repair to Y.M.C.A across the road. Impromptu concert & later address by Y M. C. A. official. Power oration. Heiland Laddies, other
"Other refuge have I none
Hang my helpless soul on Thee.
Leave oh leave me not alone
Still support & comfort me
All my trust on Thee is stayed
All my hope on Thee I fling.
Cover my defenceless head
With the shadow of Thy wing.

[Page 200]
1916 July 6
Thursday

Reveille 6.30. a.m. parades & drill the order of the day.
Went for a walk up the road this evening to Neuve Eglise on my own. Came back &; went down to Y.M.C.A. tent. A very tragic thing happened about ¼ hour after. Our 12 pounder gun had fired 2 or 3 shells & the enemy replied. One shell caught 3 of our 1st Field men who were walking down the road. Killed one. Stan Bull from Newcastle tore arm off another Warren, B G Nairsby unhurt. A Tommy was also killed from shock. One never how soon he will meet his fate in this area.

[Page 201]
7 July 1916
Friday

Assisted Naisby prepare killed of yesterday for burial. Rather gruesome task. Pin them up in a blanket & bury. Poor chaps.
Drill all day. Big Australian mail in. Receive 10 letters. from home & different ones. Take walk up road with Cart. & Net. & saw tree & place where bomb fell. Terrific force, shattered large tree, cut iron nails like cheese. Bombardments carried on all night.
Met Jack Coulthart.

[Page 202]
1916 July 8
Saturday

Drill all morning. In afternoon Cart. Nett. & self get leave for Bailleul. walk across get lift little way in car. Have good afternoon’s poke around. See church, fine reading desk. Organ. door which Germans hack open. Met several Liverpool boys. Ride half way back in transport waggon. Fine view over flats. Football match between A & B sec. decided latter winning 27 to 3. Keen rivalry

[Page 203]
9 July 1916
Sunday

Orders to be prepared to move off at minute’s notice issued Pack only to be carried. Great sorting out of clothes & kit. Quite useless a lot of clothes & stuff away with one. All have to be ultimately discarded Left my white kit away back at Doulieu, now throw away my black.
No parades today. Great cricket match between A sec. & B. sec. keen rivalry. A beaten hands down. B get their own back from yesterday’s football.
Old Joe Graham the cook gives us good dinner & tea Custards & jellies plum pudding & sauce.

[Page 204]
1916 July 10
Monday

Route march occupied morning. Afternoon no parade. Cricket match between A & B grade of A Sec. Former wins by narrow margin. "Bertha" speaks again at dinner time. Jars our teeth Rumour is that we leave tomorrow morning.

[Page 206]
1916 July 12
Wednesday

Left our billet at 12.30 p.m. marched 4 miles before spell. Arrived Sain Ouen had soup & omlette in cafe. Resumed march. way lay over hill & dale beautiful views from hill tops, flowers growing by the way side in luxurious profusion. March thro’ Lignacourt where 1st Brigade quartered. halt at farmhouse at 5 p.m. & bivouac for night. Sweet sleep is ours that night. Big mail of papers distributed here. Papers form Harry & Sydney. Very welcome they were.

[Page 207]
13 July 1916
Thursday

"Weighed anchor" at 3.30 p.m. after having a good rest. Incident of the throttled hen & old French woman’s anger. Passed through Flessnes. Crossed railway line on road to Amiens. Aerodrome. Plodded on with full pack up thro’ one village after another, all filled with soldiers.- finally pulling up at Allaville where we are quartered for night in hay loft. Very comfortable till old French woman comes in & kicks up row for tramping over her threshed wheat. Village sold out of eatables. That lovely avenue of trees.

[Page 208]
1916 July 14
Friday

Up at 6.30 a.m. Ready to start off again at minute’s notice. Day goes by without further orders. A great & pleasurable surprise this evening. Bob comes in just as we were having tea. His unit has been following us up all this time & and is at present just camped outside the village. We have great yarn. He saw tony the day before. His lot also on trek. Saw our W. O. re transfer. His colonel won’t grant it without exchange.
We visit the aerodrome & see about 20 planes. Examine them all over. Watch one mount & go over enemy lines on a scouting expedition. Each to our own billets Receive letters. from Mary Janet Mac. Tim, Jean Aberdeen.

[Page 209]
15 July 1916
Saturday

Another good night on hay despite the old lady & orders not to use it for bedding. Start route march with light pack up, in morning. Still the flowers. They are everywhere. the beauty of them is beyond description. Bob up for short while before dinner. I take him down a letter after dinner & later after tea take him some more. His transfer still in abeyance. We get new issue of gas helmets.

[Page 210]
1916 July 16
Sunday

A Taube dropped bombs overhead about midnight last night. Whistle of shells & report of explosions nearby. Tirade of 2nd Batt against Field Ambulances. Ambulance moves off from Allonville at 1 p.m. pass thro’ Beaucourt, & other villages & arrive Vadencourt at 4 p.m. 7 miles, where we camp for night in a thick wood. Cart Nett & self go down to village for something to eat. Coffee, cakes, eggs etc. 1st French refugee, 2nd not, little 2 year old boy mother quite girl. Rain All 1st Brigade moving up to firing line. distant about 8 miles
More mail. Letters from Harry, Ruby, Evelyn & Mabel.

[Page 211]
17 July 1916
Monday

Rained all night, slept in huts on bumpy ground. Feeling good, pack not so heavy. discarded more of my belongings at last place.
Stay in our billets all day. Huts unhealthy, damp mould on ground.
Pay in afternoon. 40 francs. Short rations for tea, go down to village & supplement same with eggs and cafe. Mud & slush on road very slippery. Talk with some French soldiers. Mutual effort to speak each others lingo. not too successful.
Impromptu concert in hut on return

[Page 212]
1916 July 18
Tuesday

An exceptionally furious bombardment began at 7 p.m & continued without interruption till daylight. Something must be doing This part is considered one of the hottest of the line.
Stayed about our billets all day expecting orders to move on. Did not come. Went to see some trenches further in wood. Wonderfully constructed, deep & long. Artillery arrive in wood several batteries. Mud & slush. Short rations Go down to village and augment our tea with fried eggs & bread.

[Page 213]
19 July 1916
Wednesday

Up betimes no word of moving on Go on route march Capt. Graham leading. See barbed wire entanglements trenches dugouts, etc. Pass thro’ village where 3rd Batt were getting ready to go out to trenches Big patches of light coloured flannelette sewn onto back, to indicate to artillery our own men when a charge is in progress. Great activity continues at this point. Heavy bombardments continue day & night. Artillery move on tonight. An inspiring spectacle to watch them moving out.

[Page 214]
1916 July 20
Thursday
A rumour gained currency this morning that the 1st Field was not to go into action just yet. Great disappointment among the boys. Issued with steel helmet.
Move of from Vadencourt wood not back, but foward still to next village & take over casualty clearing hospital for an indefinite time. "Chatty" blankets. Hunt for a feed, 1/3 rations "no bon". 12 a crowd in tent. Fierce fighting going on foward. Germans shell Albert heavily. Numerous casualties among Australians. Admission to hospital bullet wound in hand self-inflicted.

[Page 215]
21 July 1916
Friday

Short route march before breakfast Put on sanitary fatigue with Phillips same as at Doulieu fairly easy job. Beautiful warm morning, took opportunity of washing clothes & airing same. Nothing doing much. A few casualties brought in victims of gas shells Shortage of rations. Met Stewart Gibson, in Machine Gun Sec. of 5th Brigade.

[Page 216]
1916 July 22
Saturday

Rumour that a big push is to take place tonight orders are that we are not to leave billets on any acc.
12 midnight. Are standing by ready to go out in motors to trenches. Hope to do my duty as one should. Wounded beginning to come in, We go out in last car & arrive Albert at dawn. Ruined town. Taken farther out per motor & then walk into battlefield. Such a scene of desolation. Set to work stretcher bearing at once. Heart shaking bombardment, horrible sights. War in all its hideousness. "Casualty" corner. Stack’s Poat . Carrying backwards & forwards. The horror of those first few hours. such a revelation.

[Page 217]
23 July 1916
Sunday

All day the battle raged with furious intensity. Artillery on both sides shrieked & roared. High explosives & shrapnel. Not a yard of ground that was not torn & rent. Hairbreadth escapes were our portion every hour! The words of that grand hymn, Jesus lover of my soul. continually was thro’ my mind --- "Other refuge have I none hangs my helpless soul on Thee", Cover my defenceless head with the shadow of Thy wing. A merciful Providence protected me from all harm.
Incident on our journey to 4th Batt. Stretcher bearers & patient, whiz-bang & concussion pitched me headlong into dugout on top of dead German [indecipherable] return – another explosion, duck, piece just misses my head & buries itself into the earth instead of my back. Lost watch

[Page 218]
1916 July 24
Monday

Scene last night baffles description. Awful & awe inspiring. continuous star shells, gas attacks, liquid fire, high explosives. Cold. Sleep fitfully for hour in trench At it again. brief halts for hasty meals, Phillips Dingle & self work together. 3rd & 11th Batt. stunt. up Suicide Gully or the Valley of the Shadow of Death. 2 miles with absolutely no cover. miraculous escapes continue our portion. E’en tho’ I walk thro’ the Valley of the Shadow of Death I will fear no evil for Thou art with me". Wonderful fortitude of our boys, take more trenches, Germans bombard & reduce trenches to pulp, still they carry on.
the German dugouts. – Marvels of comfort electric light, & all conveniences. Slept in one for a couple of hours.
Meet young Irquart of Nowra. Meet poor old Tony yesterday & today. great work he is doing.

[Page 219]
25 July 1916
Tuesday

At it again no cessation of hostilities. Bombardment increased with furious intensity. Our boys got mixed up in advance last night. heavily peppered at daylight. many casualties difficulty of clearing from front trenches. Get played out but recover again after short rest. so on throughout day. We are to be relieved today 6th Field come in. Meet Jack Freeland & Clarrie Slender. Leave the battle field about 6 p.m. & come back to Wallog via Vadencourt per motor trolley. Hot bath & go straight on duty at hospital till 6.30 a.m. 2 hrs sleep during night. Lose all my gear, overcoat pack. & waterproof. Constant stream of casualties. over 1000 go through clearing station alone

[Page 220]
1916 July 26
Wednesday

Slept all day till 6 p.m. Feel in very good nick. Go up to Vadencourt mile up road to see Bob. 2nd Field running clearing station. Found him in dressing room. Glad to see him, had a good yarn about my experiences. Back to 1st Field &and carry from ward to dressing room from midnight till breakfast. Bill Coulthart passes thro’ with small wound in neck. Mar had & arterial bleeding at ankle. Shrapnel pellets out of wounds Make up "possey" in garden, quiet & pleasant. Sleep & read till 4 p.m. Go on duty in charge of ward.

Incident of General Birdwood & supposed corpses

[Page 221]
27 July 1916
Thursday
Make up "possie" in garden, quiet sweet & pleasant. Rest all day. Go on duty in sole charge of ward at 7 p.m. continue thro’ night till 8 a.m. 1st Div. passes thro’ Wallog on way back for rest & reformation – what is left of them. Death from gas poisoning of one poor chap. Distressing & painful. The stream of maimed & wounded still continues. Fritzy is strafing our boys with a vengeance yet he cannot make them withdraw

[Page 222]
1916 July 28
Friday

Knock off work after cleaning up at 8 a.m. Seek my possie again & sleep all day. On duty again at 7 p.m. in operated patients ward. Missing arms & legs. Young Roy amputated arm. mortification, wonderful heart. His gallant fight.

[Page 223]
29 July 1916
Saturday

Off duty at 8 a.m. Tony’s unit camped alongside us last night. Had a good old yarn to him. They move back this morning. also our tent division clearing hospital handed over to 4th field. Stretcher bearers remain behind. Say farewell to Tony. I wonder how long it will be before we see each other again.

[Page 224]
1916 July 30
Sunday

Bivouac in orchard under trees. weather continues fine & mild. Nettleton still dopey since battle. Go up to see Bob with Cartwright. He comes back with us.

The old lady objects to us camping in orchard & destroying grass. Compromise by paying her 1 fr. Each.

[Page 225]
31 July 1916
Monday

Rest all day & write some letters.
Receive old letters in bunch dated Feb & March.
Post my home letter dealing with our late fight also note to A.G.
Bob down to see us. paid today. Lash out with tinned fruit, chocs. & biscuits. He is sending home joint cable.

Hostile Tauabes pass overhead at lunch time. Nose caps from anti-aircraft guns drop perilously close.

[Page 226]
1916 August 1
Tuesday

Up in time for breakfast. Get a hair cut & go on route march this afternoon. battle continues on front but not with former intensity.
Dawdle around village in evening. These evenings are beautifully mild & balmy. Summer has been ushered in in earnest. The wheat fields are rapidly ripening the scenes from the hills are both varied & lovely. If only the grim spectre of war did not continually overhang all what a delightful time it would be

[Page 227]
2 August 1916
Wednesday

Eight o’clock breakfast. Recd & wrote letters all morning. Route march in afternoon. thro’ Vadencourt.
Colonel’s message of praise & commendation read at 9.30 parade
We visit photographers & see proofs of snaps taken at Doulien order a doz. Spinning & weaving Buy 2 scarfes & send them to Mrs. Mac.T. & G.R. Bob comes up to visit us. Walk part of way home with him.
2nd Anniversary of declaration of war between Germany & France. Two days later Germany & Britain

[Page 228]
1916 August 3
Thursday

Heavy bombardment recommenced last night. We have been warned that we may shift off today. So far nothing eventuated. Wrote more letters & read. "Knight on Wheels". Drifting parachute

Order to stand by as we will probably get orders to move off. No order came through. Go up to see Bob before going away. Walk into Contag. Eggs & coffee. See freshwater spring. nettles

[Page 229]
4 August 1916
Friday

Order cancelled about going away. Go for route march instead in aft. hot windy & dusty. Do usual stroll about village. 4th Brigade leave village for the trenches. still heavy fighting going on. T’is the 2nd anniversary of the war. Our boys took two more trenches last night & consolidated their gains. Fritz strafes pretty hard tho’

[Page 230]
1916 August 5
Saturday

We relieve 4th Field Stretcher bearers at Clearing Station, who go up to trenches. Cartwright & self take over 2 tents & attend to patients till 9 p. m. Several German wounded pass thro’ hospital well fed and very fine specimens they are too. The quest for souvenirs

[Page 231]
6 August 1916
Sunday

Cold night under the appletree. Go on duty again at 8 a.m. bit of a rush slackens off about9.30 a.m. A beautiful morning, but one hardly realizes it is Sunday The peaceful quiet is broken by the heavy boom of artillery from the firing line presaging more broken limbs & mangled bodies, -- the pity & horror of it. All day long the street is crowded with the impedimenta of war, trolleys, waggons, cars etc etc.

Left to do duty on own heavy day’s work. Knock off at 8 p.m.

[Page 231]
August 8

My birthday! Most novel anniversary I suppose it will be of my whole life. At least that’s my hope.
A slackening of in the number of wounded coming through. Fritzy is shelling the road preventing the motors from coming through.

Improve the spare time in writing several letters.

[Page 234]
1916 August 9
Wednesday

Slackness continues thank God. It indicates that not so many of our boys are bowled over. I go to Senlis on a service waggon for rations. Good view of observation balloon we pass right under it. French artillery camped nearby.
Bob down for a while returns letters I gave him to read.

[Page 235]
10 August 1916
Thursday

Quiet on front.
Started to rain this morning first for 3 weeks. Dust has been terrific. Go to Albert on service waggon for coal. Very misty. not much doing on front. Pass through Henencourt & Millencourt

The King, Prince Wales, Generals Haig & Birdwwod visit us. Nearly missed them, thro’ having shave. Caught them up at Hospital Good view.

[Page 236]
1916 August 11
Friday

Same duties this morning. 1st Field under orders to move off to rejoin unit this afternoon. Leave Warloy at 3 p.m. march thro’ Contay[?] to Herrisart. Hot & tiring walk. Link up with rest of our unit. Fresh reinforcements included. Heylin, McBurney, Parsons Dando. just fancy! Such congratulations & swapping of yarns. Our "possie" a rotten place, dirty straw in a room 8 x 10. 5 of us.

[Page 237]
12 August 1916
Saturday

Up for breakfast, -- difficulty of getting a wash. Resort to cupful of water in dixie.
Parade & knock round all day. meet Hulort Brown & have good yarn. Mac. B & Stewart & self. cafe au lait. Disgusting soldiers. To bed, & shickered mates. Murphy vomit.

[Page 238]
1916 August 13
Sunday
Church parade at 9. 30 a.m. outside village. All 1st Brigade in hollow square. Gen. Birdwood attended & presented military crosses to 9 men. Speech: @[?] stretcher bearers & runners specially commended by Gen.
Scene on hill side across valley. browns & greys.
View of firing line from windmill. 37 balloons Service under trees. --- Fighting Mac.

[Page 239]
14 August 1916
Monday

Rain, Drill in morning. Move off at 6 p.m. for Albert. Arrive about 10.30 p.m. after a hard & tiring march of 14 miles. Bivouac on stubble field. Not long settled down when enemy shells begin to shriek overhead & land about 100 yards further on from 8 mile range. Shift our possie a few yards. Not much sleep.
cold & uncomfortable. war conditions.

[Page 240]
1916 August 15
Tuesday

Reveille at 6 a.m. breakfast of tea & bread & butter. Move off into firing line at 7 a.m. arrive Beecourt Chateau at 8. Go into action almost immediately. My trust in the Everlasting Arms is unshaken. My hope is that we come through unharmed. Thoughts of dear ones at home are our portion. Arrive at Casualty Corner about 10 a.m. Place wonderfully changed. Green grass growing again. Sausage Gully to Dressing Station Safe tho’ Pozieres. carrying. Rain, mud & slippery clay. Hot wet tired. Difficulty of carrying thro’ saps. Toby. Barlow shock Demented one. Fitzy shock. Wheel bearing tho’ dark. cold shivers. Bombard continues without ceasing. Do not feel half the fear of previous stunt. Thou art with me. Thy rod & thy staff they comfort me."

[Page 241]
16 August 1916
Wednesday

Janet’s birthday!!! Out in the battlefield. Return to Casualty Corner at 7 a.m. breakfast(?) short rations Seek "possie" in dugout & rest all day. Dugout chats & billet chats wage war on my back. Can’t sleep for guns continually bombarding overhead. Incident of boy dying at Casualty Corner wound in chest. Aeroplanes. Fritzy has 8 balloons & 3 taubes up. We have 20 odd & aeroplanes by day. Incident of boy dying at Casualty Corner. Poor lad so quickly he went out. stayed in dugout all night. Slept fairly well.

[Page 242]
1916 August 17
Thursday

Up at 6 a.m. Do shunt down to Stack’s Corner a couple of times then breakfast. A slice of bread & scrap bacon. Tea. Feeling O.K. except for left arm, aches with rheumatics in elbow & wrist. Report back to Capt. Lee’s post at head of "Death Gully", just below Pozieres. Not getting so many casualties as last time. The battle is not nearly so severe.
Saw a Taube brought down by our battle planes this morning. – a thrilling sight but awful. plane enveloped inflames. 2 aviators locked in each others arms falling headlong to earth. Over & over they turned till lost to sight behind hill. Heavy rain again this eve. Trenches & roads a quagmire awful work. Pozieres trench. Stayed there till [indecipherable] a.m. terrific bombard. Lehane, Cunningham Eliot & Smith killed at 5th Batt. Poor Frank Cartwright bad shell shock. Also two others. The terrible slaughter goes on. Oh that it all was finished.

[Page 243]

18 August 1916
Friday

Carry 3 times to Lee’s Post for Pozieres. Knocked clear out. thoroughly exhaust
Get budget of letters in dugout last night. What a read, & what a brief respite from the awful surroundings. Flies in dugout 3– black, sleepy crawly horrors satiated with offal, seek comparative quiet in the bowels of the earth. Concussion blows candle out repeatedly. Too tired to rest. Meet Tony in afternoon & have a good old yarn. Warwicks hop over this evening. Drizzly rain sets in again it makes the roads & saps well-nigh impassable. 6th F. Amb bearers come up to reinforce. a big stunt anticipated to night by our boys.

[Page 244]
1916 August 19
Saturday

The night proved of varying incidents. Part of the stunt was successful & part failed. Fritz was particularly active & sent 2 shells on to Casualty Corner. Capt. Graham received leg wound & shellshocks. Slept fairly well & felt much better this morning. Artillery very quiet on both sides this morning. back to Lee3’s Post this afternoon, carry back to Corner. Patient shell wound in back, horrible sight.
Birthday cake arrives from Jean a magnificent beauty in perfect condition. Give half it to boys, rum & cake up in German dugout. How pleased Jean would have been if she could only have seen we It could not have come at a better time.

[Page 245]
20 August 1916
Sunday

Another Sunday. Here away out on the battlefield with guns firing & shells exploding.-what a contrast to a peaceful Sunday morning at home among all our dear ones. My thoughts have taken wing & are back to the dear home scenes. God grant that we may all see them once more. Have no fear, but one wearies of this awful slaughter & longs for the quiet calm & peace of the homeland.
Fairly quiet night, nothing special doing shell caught fatigue party. out in front of dressing station. Terrible head wound of one victim, just at sunrise. Receive papers from Macs. last night & a letter 2nd from Arch; this morn. His letters are highly amusing & so like him. Spent all aft. in shell hole with Tony & Jean’s cake. Good old yarn. Did us both good. Note from Bob. re Cartwrights & Nettletons haversacks.

[Page 246]
1916 August 21
Monday

No duties last night. slept fairly soundly in dugout at Casualty Corner. Up with squad to Casualty Lees’s Post. Write note to Ethel MacT. Go thro’ sap to wait patients 6th in Pozieres. Heavy shell in while up there. Carry from there to Lee’s Post. Are to be relieved tomorrow. Stay at dugout all night.

[Page 247]
22 August 1916
Tuesday

Up again to Pozieres at day break. Heavy mist. 14 odd patients to carry. Do 3 carry before breakfast. Motors come up to head of Death Valley for 1st time. cut out a lot of carrying. 5th Field relieves is at 11a.m. Gladly we get our gear together & clear out. Leave Casualty corner after dinner. Arrive safely at Brickfield Hill Albert about 4 p.m. After tea go for swim in lake about 1 mile away. Bonser. Quite anew man after shave & work up. Meet MacB. Jockey. Banner etc. to bed early in dugout.

[Page 248]
1916 August 23
Wednesday

Up betimes after a good night’s sleep. Ready for the road. Move off at 9 a.m. march steadily & with ease 8 miles to Warloy without pack; where we arrive at 12 noon. bivouac in orchard. Mac. Jock Danilo &self get omlette at Albert refugee place. Prove superior people. Tax collector. Madamoiselle plays & sings for us. Also accompanies me in "Dear Homeland". Spent a couple of pleasant hours there. Tea, Mac , Jock & self go down to Vadencourt to see Bob & Cartwright found them both flown. Ride back it motor waggon. Meet some of "Waratah" boys in Warloy. get news of others. Doss in barn as rain commenced.

[Page 249]
24 August 1916
Thursday

Breakfast 8 a.m. Resume our march at 9.30. Packs carried on waggon. Pass thro’ Vadencourt, Contay, Harrisart’s Ro[indecipherable] Val de Maison, to Beauval. bivouac in calf shed for night. Rather better class town. Fine church in commanding position. Tea at French house. Constan[indecipherable]--officers. Chips & milk. See Tony for minute matching out. Cartwright joins us up en route. Lost all his kit. Deaf in one ear. Bloodstained tunic, gruesome. Glad to see him back.

[Page 250]
1916 August 25
Friday

Breakfast 8 a.m. Do not move off till evening. Spend morning writing letters card etc. have another look at church with Cartwright. Fatigue duty for humpy backed old Frenchy Mean beggar grudges us a bit of wormeaten wood for fuel. Have to carry it back. Mail – letter from Bill Haas. Put on guard over prisoner till morning Slight rain.

[Page 251]
26 August 1916
Saturday

Relieved of guard at 8 a.m. Cold wind with indications of rain. We move off from Beauval at 2 p.m. carrying pack arrive Doullens about 4. Take couple of hours to entrain. Run down town for a few minutes hurried look at church etc. back just in time to catch train. Bump along in cattle trucks to Hazelbrook. Coffee given out by Y.M.C.A. on again into Belgium & disentrain at Hopunge about 2 a.m. Dark. March 3 miles to camp.

[Page 252]
1916 August 27
Sunday
Up at 10 a.m. [indecipherable] in huts recently vacated by Canadians. Mail. Letters from Cis, Ess, Mat Wilson, & Janet Mac. Had clean up. washed clothes as best I could. No good at washing clothes get into a ball. However if they are not clean they are sweet. Will Parsons held a small service on green after tea. Attendance not very big. Went for stroll down to neighbouring village. [indecipherable]alians & Canadians. Entered church. service in progress, candles & incense. Bob.Robbins lands in just as we were turning in. His amb. billeted across road.

[Page 253]
28 August 1916
Monday

Reveille 7 a.m. Gas helmet parade. Do a little fatigue. More mail, letters from G. Rob. & paper slips from Janet Mac. Bob over for yarn.
In afternoon Mac, Bob, Frank C & self go into Poperinge 2 miles ride on motor trolley. Hop picking by convent women. Poperinge a big town, semi-deserted by inhabitants, bombarded by Germans, St Kilco fromYpres. Visit shops lace, postcards, churches, market squares, Cinema, orchestra. Cartwright & wedding presents. Enjoy outing. Home betimes.

[Page 254]
1916 August 29
Tuesday

Up 7.45 a.m. breakfast. parade 9.30. Write letters all morning. more letters PC.GR. Parcel from Eva. Parade 2 p.m. squad drill. For hour issue of clothing secure overcoat. Pommy get leave to Poperinge. Jock, Mac, Cat &; self again. bob does not come afraid he might be wanted re transfer. Ride in motor lorry. Rain begins & pours down nearly all time. Circama. Rain clears & we get home dry.

[Page 255]
30 August 1916
Wednesday

Day breaks wet & stormy. Nothing doing in morning. Hut leaks during night. 22 men packed in these low pig sheds 3"no bon".especially when it get swamped. However its the joys of a soldier’s life. Are taken on another march for want of something better to do. Walked 6 miles thro’ driving wind & rain. All get thoroughly soaked & have to remain in wet clothes. Uncomplimentary remarks re officers by men & with reason. Tea & retire early.

[Page 256]
1916 August 31
Thursday

Sanitary fatigue. Finish early. Cart, Fitz &Lamp; self go to Reminghelot to
Y.M C.A in morning. A very big concern there. caters for Canadians & Tommies. Pay day. Go into Poperinge after tea. Cart, Mac. Jock & self. Rained very heavily all time. Are removing to Rest station tomorrow. A couple of miles away. C & self camp in barn on return from Pop. to escape the noise of the men who come home shickered after pay

[Page 257]
1 September 1916
Friday

Nearly missed parade tho’ sleeping in barn. Dress in record time. Breakfast & move off in forenoon. 3rd Field take our "possie". Arrive at Remi Siding & take over "Rest Station" a good "possie" so outward seeming. Baths, washing places, mess room, library "tres bon". 4 Casualty Clearing hospitals adjacent. also Y.M.C.A Tent & only 1 mile from Poperinge. Live in tent once more. Yankee sanitary method. Each man his own carrier. [indecipherable]ogh!

[Page 258]
1916 September 2
Saturday

Carpentering jobs round the hospital. C & get leave to go into Poperinge Town Major, Cinema, Beer, Ugh – Tarts.

[Page 259]

3 September 1916
Sunday
Quiet day. Reading "Barlech of Guard". Mess orderly for day. After tea C & self & Mac go across to Canadian Hosp. to English service. Two parsons, 3 nurses. High Church. Swift exit of parsons after conclusion of service Y M. C.A. tent. Speaker & good teeth. Good singing

[Page 260]
1916 September 4
Monday

Day overcast & somewhat cold. More carpentering(?) 11 o’clock tea & biscuit at Y. M. C. A. Leave pocket on counter carelessly Returned by Y.M.C.A man. Thanks. Leave again this evening. C Mac & self go into Pop. Tea & bargains. Cinema at Station. Good orchestral band. Enjoy entertainment. Fysh’s razor strop. Pretty girl. Home & cold
Cinema. praying chairs out of cathedral

[Page 261]
5 September 1916
Tuesday

Nothing doing just dawdle round pretending to carpenter. Over to Y M.CA for morning tea. after tea C & Self go over to C of E service rain only a nurse & parson beside ourselves present. Short. Yarn to parson. Canadian Fysh’s feet. Pong.

[Page 262]
1916 September 6
Wednesday

Have job of help put up meat room in cook house – Mitchell & self drift over to Y M for cup tea & biscuit at 11 a.m. strenuous work, needs nourishment. Great & pleasant surprise. Bob arrives having had his transfer fixed up at last – Johnston leaves for England to see wife. Fysh sick.
Bronchitis. Bob, Cart & go for walk. visit cemetery. then hop pickers. Talk to Belgian girl. Daughter of farm. help pick hops . Y M for supper.

[Page 263]
7 September 1916
Thursday

Cartwright, self, Fistz Gerald, Carruthers & Sergt. Clifton with Capt. Lee, chosen to attend 2 days at Div. Gas School. Lectured on Gas, its uses deadliness, helmets, new & old. 800 cas. 300 deaths
Dinner at corner eggs & chips, getting sick of these. Tony happens along; go with him to his camp nearby Back to school. Lachrymatory & Gas tests. Cart & self meet Tony after 4 o’clock Go into Pop. Rains Pictures at railway stat. Good band. Home to [indecipherable]

[Page 264]
1916 September 8
Friday

Back to school 9.30 a.m. Further demonstrations with the new pattern helmet. We traipse into Pop for dinner about 2 miles & arrive back for the afternoon session when drill was the order of procedure. Call again for Tony & into Pop again meet Bob & tea of pork peas & potatoes Pictures after. Tony looking well & in fine fettle.

[Page 265]
9 September 1916
Saturday

Do nothing much in duty line today. Half holiday Cricket match between Aust. & Canada former wins. A great pleasure & surprise today. 3 big birthday parcels arrive from Home, Macs & Robbins Such a grand lot of dainties & things useful. Very popular today

[Page 266]
1916 September 10
Sunday

Scotch – Canadian conducts service in mess Room at 10.30 a. m. very good. Fine singing. In aft. we wait for Tony who does not arrive. Cart, Bob & self go for walk [indecipherable] to next village. Fascinating waitress in tea room. Buy two brass serviette rings. Back to service at Canadian hospital. Another good time. Y.M.C.A after, then tea & biscuit.

[Page 267]
11 September 1916
Monday

Carpentering work, palmstand. Frank C. gets transfer to nursing staff. Bob takes his job as mess orderly to patients. Our tent taken down & shift into large oblong one. Fresh reinforcements blow in & fill tent. Glee Club formed at meeting this evening Cricket match between A & B sec. resulted in win by batter.

[Page 268]
1916 September 12
Tuesday

Duties take up most of day. Football match Australian Rules, very tame display. Bob a bit seedy. Write letters to home Macs & Robbins.

[Page 269]
13 September 1916
Wednesday

Duties. Cloudy dull days. Nothing doing much. Tug o3’ War. Stroll across to Y. M. C. A with Bob & Mac. After writing several field postcards to friends. Coffee & biscuits & yarn to members of 47th Batt. To bed. Luckow & his doings in London. Ugh! That such could boast of such

[Page 270]
1916 September 14
Thursday

Duties per usual. Cutting tent pegs. Very cold dull & raining. Trys out for sports meeting on Sat. 440 yds. Cock-fights [indecipherable] etc. rain interferes Bob & self take stroll down road, pick up Byrne Johnston. Expeditionary Canteen. Flour mill. Stewart.

[Page 271]
15 September 1916
Friday

Cut a few pegs for guy ropes. Bob, Keating & self leave to Poperinghe in afternoon. Nose round shops, picking up trifles here & there. Hot tea & tinned pears. 3– tame Belgian flies. Gourmands at next table – tin fruit each. Pictures & home to Y.M.C.A. coffee & bed. Bob alright again.

[Page 272]
1916 September 16
Saturday

The Great Sports Day. A fine clear sky, crisp & bracing. Transport display horses, harness & vehicles shined to the nines. Sports start at 10 a.m. 440 yds. Higgins. Long jump Ditto. Cock fighting, V. C. Race, Gretna Green, Point to Point, Potato Races. All went with swing & interest. Host of visitors in afternoon. Molly International Tug o’ War. Highly exciting. 1st Aust v Canada – Aust won. 2nd Heat. Eng. v Scots. – latter won. Final – Aust. v Scots. – Aust won after a keen contest amid great excitement. Bob &; self go over to see Tony after tea. showed me Mary’s letter to Mrs. W. Walk back part of way.

[Page 273]
17 September 1916
Sunday

Scotch Canadian holds service at 10.30 a.m. in mess room – Sermon on "Samuel". MacB &; self go for walk to Mont Des Cats in afternoon. Looked into church at Boeschep on way. Sunday school, swarms of youngsters, Climb Mont des Cats a magnificent view – country spread out as a map. Creep into Chapel after Priest. Prayers house Villa-Crucifix & Windmill. Post cards. Belgian bowls. Back at 6 p. m. after tea at Boeschep. Tony over. Give him his gifts from home. interview W. O. Bluff. Church at C.C.S Prodigal Son. Another fine effort. Walk back part of way with T. Bill Parsons Mac. Bob & self.

[Page 274]
1916 September 18
Monday

Heavy continuous rain all day & cold. Nothing doing. Read & write letters all day. Rains nearly every day in this country. Goodness knows what it will be like in mid-winter.

[Page 275]
19 September 1916
Tuesday

Start work on shelter for cooks. Bush carpentering. Usual morning tea with Mitchell at Y.M. C. A. Leave to Pop. in afternoon with Cart. Mac. Anderson, Jockey Bob & Potter round, dinner. Pictures. Letters from Glad R. & BT. Put in leave for Blighty. Wrote to Reg.

[Page 276]
1916 September 20
Wednesday

Continue on cooks shelter. Difficulty of getting roof straight. Wrote to Dave Watts. Gen. Birdwood visits Rest Station. MacBurney sent to Div. Batts.

[Page 277]
21 September 1916
Thursday

To work roofing mess room. Go to Bible Study at C.C.S Reception Room. Capt. Guthrie about 40 there.

[Page 278]
1916 September 22
Friday

Erecting shelves in mess room. Half holiday. Pay in afternoon. Into Pop. in evening with Cart. Join by [indecipherable] Bob & Tony. Sing song at Soldiers Club. Pictures.

[Page 279]
23 September 1916
Saturday

Usual "joinery" work all morning. Half holiday in afternoon. Took a stroll along new road with Bob & Cart. Estaminet. Cart’s payment for tasse d’eau Sing on way home.

[Page 280]
1916 September 24
Sunday

Church as usual at 10.30.a.m. by Chap. Guthrie. A fine old chap. Tony comes over as promised for tea. All hands go to church 7 p.m. Capt. Guthrie is creating quite a stir & crowds are beginning to attend his services. Meet Peter Taylor & Scotty Clarke down near baths on our way to see MacB. Look thro’ baths & appropriate some underclothes.

[Page 281]
25 September 1916
Monday

Cart, Bob, self, Jockey, Mac, Tony & Bill Parsons get our phizogs taken in group in Pop. Tea after, & get it cooked by waitress. Cart, Bob & self back early carrying sponge cake for trifle for banquet tomorrow night.
Glee Club practice. Soldiers’ Chorus, Little Tommy went a-fish & Dear little Shamrock.
Views of 2 Zepps destroyed in England.

[Page 282]
1916 September 26
Tuesday

1st Field Amb. Dinner. Canadians Scots, & English. Song & quip. 6 to 10 p.m. Sang ‘Melisande’.
Great victories for the Allies on the Somme. Saw a balloon fall in flames this evening. Not sure whether it was one of our own or Fritz’s.

[Page 283]
27 September 1916
Wednesday

Usual duties, leisurely done with frequent spells. Cart, Bob & self go for walk on country road. rather pretty & picturesque. Call in at a couple of estaminets. Hot milk & biscuits & tinned prunes (home parcel.) over to Canadian Hosp to weeknight service. Lecture by Capt. – from Winnipeg. not much chop. Coffee refreshments & song. Bill P. perturbed on acc. of being away from billet after 9 p.m.

[Page 284]
1916 September 28
Thursday

Usual duties. – erecting cupboards in rear of wards. Mitchell & self. Usual morning refresher at Y.M.C.A. Cart & self into Pop at 4 p.m. fail to meet Bob & Tony at Talbot House at 6 p.m. Go to Cinema at Railway. Good programme of singers. Met Bob coming out. He was late & came on after. Home to Y.M.C.A. refreshments. To bed & "chats." Further great victories on the Somme. Combles & Thiepval fall.

[Page 285]
29 September 1916
Friday

Usual duties.

[Page 286]
1916 September 30
Friday

Usual dittoes. Half holiday. Nothing striking of note to chronicle the past two days. Reveille, breakfast, duties, read papers & book. Dinner duties, tea & wander walk. etc. Frequent adjournments to Y.M.CA. for coffee chockolats.

[Page 287]
1 October 1916
Sunday

Great general clean up at camp in anticipation of visit from G.O.C.
Gen. Walker. Sweep duckboards, a noble work!
Capt. Guthrie holds service in Mess room as usual --- Eternity.
General Parade at 11 a.m. Stay on parade for 1.40 hrs Gen. late. arrives ultimately cursory inspection & dismiss. Poof!
Bob & Frank into Pop on bikes to get photos. disappointed.
Collared a couple of boards [indecipherable]. Service at C.C.C.S. in evening. 2nd address on St. Paul. Begin to read "Little Minister". Barrie.

[Page 288]
1916 October 2
Monday

Usual duties. Mitch & self start on byclists Hut. demolish portion & fix roof. Letter from Tony. sick. Also from his Mrs. Apologising for silly letter of week before.

[Page 289]
3 October 1916
Tuesday

Wet weather set in again last night. More mud. Do nothing all day on account of wet. To bed early & read.
Bob. Mac & self into Pop. buy, some souvenirs. Tea & Cinema. Some Sketch. . 29th Div. leaving for Somme tomorrow.

[Page 290]
1916 October 4
Wednesday

Trot over to see Tony after tea. Bob not feeling well only comes half way. Find Tony somewhat better but still with bad cold. Have good yarn. Take him tins of smokes. He presses Balaclava upon me also Pickwick Papers. Walk home at 8 p.m.

[Page 291]
5 October 1916
Thursday

Still dull & showery. Cupboard making again. Rob & self go for walk to Baths to see Mac. Y.M.C.A. Glee Club practice. Rob goes to Capt. Guthrie’s Bible Class. Cart. on afternoon duty this week. busy making souvenirs out of bullets.

[Page 292]
1916 October 6
Friday

Received letter from Nurse Siviney in answer to one written at Doulieu Pay afternoon. £ 2.16.4. Bob & into Pop. Talbot House. "Scotty" Cinema. Pierrots.

[Page 293]
7 October 1916
Saturday

Usual duties in morning. ussued with new box respirators in afternoon. MacB & self go for walk to Abeele. Motor lorry – Steenvoored . – Church – lace – tea – 3 francs – French.

[Page 294]
1916 October 8
Sunday

Usual morning service at 10 a.m. wrote letters in afternoon. & after tea went to hear Rev. Guthrie good service. Tony not turned up for some time. Rumour hath it we are to move on in a few days. Sorry to leave this possie

[Page 295]
9 October 1916
Monday

Usual duties. Rain & cold.
Bob & self open joint acc. with Bank of Australasia in London & send over 17£. 10£ mine 7£ his

[Page 296]
1916 October 10
Tuesday

Ditto.
Rumour confirmed about us moving. Leaving at end of week for St. Omer – for short course of training. 1st Div. & then into action somewhere (Somme probably)

[Page 297]
11 October 1916
Wednesday

Rob. self & Rigd. into Pop. find nothing worth buying. Go to Cinema for an hour. Home & supper at Y.M.C.A.

[Page 298]
1916 October 12
Thursday

Ridgway Bob & self – walk to L’abeele after tea – souvenir hunting – Maria in grocery. Fond farewell. Tea at shop lower down. Flem. & Palmer.

[Page 299]
13 October 1916
Friday
Busy preparing for departure of morrow. Down to baths & get change of underclothing. Bob & self post our souvenirs & presents home. Y.M.C.A. before turning in. farewell prayer by Y.M.C.A. manager. Glee Club practice. Piccaninny’s Lullaby.

[Page 300]
1916 October 14
Saturday

Leave Remi Sidong Rest Station where we had 5 pleasant weeks. at 12.5 & march to Steenvoored 1st stage to St Omer. arrive there at 3 p.m & camp in a pretty open spot. Green hill & running stream. thatched huts. Incident of Moylas & Dickson fight. Bob. Cart. Mac. Jock & self hunt for tea. C & self lace shop. damoiselle miss the others. poor tea. back to lace shop. madeselle’s bro. Home to bed thatch waterproof. Receive acknowledgement from Bank of our draft & enclosing cheque book.

[Page 301]
15 October 1916
Sunday

Away on route at 11 a.m. fine cold bracing day. Pass thro’ Cassel, beautiful situation, better class houses, top of hill, pretty dells. Halt for lunch. Resume march pass thro’. Couple more villages, church spires, country roads, lose our way. March on & on thro’ winding lanes, darkness falls & very tired at last reach farm house at 6 p.m where we billet. Hay loft. Manure pit outside. On rise. Flour mill. Dog treadmill churn butter A beautiful view. Here farm yards do "pong". All rubbish & manure is thrown into middle of yard & left to rot.

[Page 302]
1916 October 16
Monday

Slept well in hay barn about 60. Up at 7a.m. A beautiful sunny morning cold & bracing. Without doubt France is a bonny place. The hedges, green green fields, everything of Nature is lovely. But man’s handiwork is ugly very ugly. The farmhouses are unsightly & the filthy yards & manure pit in the centre most revolting. Blackberries. Sit in sun in lee of hedge & enjoy the passing hour. Move off at 11 a.m. ‘twas fine marching along in the bright clear air. Enjoy it thoroughly. tho pack gets heavy Lunch. & along top of ridge. Grand view over wide expanse of country, towns, spires, canals woods old castle. down into Watten. canal barges – march on & on. thro’ one village to next Hedges & trees, all so pretty & romantic. Darkness falls before we reach billets Another barn & hay. Spiders, black dog pitched out. 3rd Field billeted here. Scramble for tea & eat it in dark.

[Page 303]
17 October 1916
Tuesday

Up at 8 a.m. Breakfast. Stroll up town & down road. Parade at 10 a.m Vote on Conscription – YES. Fancy the Infantry will poll a big majority NO Rest all day. Look Tony up in afternoon & visit his possie after tea & yarn. Up to our hay loft early. Bob not to well

Bob gets small parcel from home

[Page 304]
1916 October 18
Wednesday

Get let letter of Aug 21st from G. R. Pay. this morning once more financial. Go on route march in afternoon. & get hit off for breaking off parade. Write letters in old dame’s kitchen. Good fun.

[Page 305]
19 October 1916
Thursday

Heavy rain last night & this morning. Parade dismissed at 9.30. on acc. of inclemency of weather. Smart route march in afternoon led by Major Wilson along Calais road. Meet Tony in afternoon & take 3 cafes with him. Jock Heylin & MacB. call for me & we go 2 k.m. to Tournhiem. A quaint old fashioned village. Stone gate 600 yrs old. Water wheel & electric light. So in cafe. Tea & walk home – pitch dark. Mirage of lake & trees.

[Page 306]
1916 October 20
Friday

Notice to move off this aft. given out on morning parade Nordasques: Assembly parade at 3.30 p.m. Move off at 3.45 for St Omer. 12 k.m. Halt for tea on wayside just before dark. Ridgeway & Bob not too good. Get their packs carried. On again for 6 miles tramp. Darkness falls. arrive St Omer station about 9 p.m. entrain 10. Bitterly cold a hard frost. Eight to carriage. Make ourselves comfortable as circumstances permit & rumble along till daylight.

[Page 307]
21 October 1916
Saturday

Cold & stiff we disentrain at Longpre in Somme area. Scratch breakfast at cafe coffee & biscuits. While frost & icicles on railway carriage Take up our march at 10 a.m. & walk 4 miles thro’ villages – Tolim L’etoile & Bouchon at which latter we billet. – a dirty poor hole it is. nothing to buy & little grub. Wander round to get warm. & pinch wood. buy straw & eat green apples. Make fire in old fire-place & warm ourselves as best we can.

[Page 308]
1916 October 22
Sunday

Still the white frosts & October & winter set on. I don3’t know how we will weather the long cold nights. Nothing doing today. Rumoured that transport goes on today & we follow tomorrow in motor bus. MacB & self go for walk in afternoon. View from church, service & precentor. Battalions. Billeted. Band. Meet Stewart Cowper of 3rd. Batt. Pretty walks along roads. The hunt for firewood. Ridge &self pinch some. Apples

[Page 309]
23 October 1916
Monday

Reveille at 7.30. a.m. Breakfast scratch of biscuits & bully. Fall in at 8.30 a.m. Move off & march 3 k.m. to Merfluirs. French motor transport 500 cars to move whole of 1st. Brigade. The sight of a life-time. Thick mist. Board motors & set out. 30 in each
A pleasant easy way to travel much better than humping pack. Pass thro3’ Telincourt, Amiens, & leave motors at Ribecourt Then march thro’ misty gloom miles darkness & mud, mud & darkness No tucker. Manage to get some stuff at canteen. Tents overcrowded no room to sleep. Bivouac & rain sets in. Squeeze into marquee. & pass uncomfortable night, & bombardment all night. Fricourt common.

[Page 310]
1916 October 24
Tuesday

Rain & thick mist. Scratch for breakfast. Fall in for moving off at 9.30. Stand about for 1 hr. Move off slip & slide down hill & up another, falls & guffaws. Main road. Block off traffic. 5 yards & stop. most tiring, slush & creamy mud. Immense convoys the "pomp & circumstance" of war. Mud bespattered horses & men. This is the side that has no charm. Took till 4 p.m to make 2 miles. Pass thro’ Fricourt, Montbaum & Mametz. Camp in Mametz wood.. search for dugouts. Such confusion of holes & fallen trees. Manage to get into a warren & make ourselves as comfortable as damp smelly hole would afford. Back to pre-historic times. living in the ground. Beaucoup bombard all night.

[Page 311]
25 October 1916
Wednesday

Up at 8 a.m. breakfast, stand to all your meals. Wonderful what one can put up with. & what he will eat when hungry. Still rain & more mud. Do a little fatigue & dinner & consolidate our dugout. Line up at canteen in valley for hour for bottle sauce & chocolates. [indecipherable] & mud. Transport difficulties. Tea & scrap. Camp fire & humping of logs. Song & Hymns round fire before turning in.

[Page 312]
1916 October 26
Thursday

Up 7.30.a.m. Breakfast & scrap. 9.30 parade, rain. clean up camp. – picking up rubbish out of mud. 11.30 parade – box respirators. dinner. junk meat & potato in hand. relish it too. 2 p.m. parade. – salvage thro’ Mametz wood. – what desolation & ruin.! ! Tea – biscuits & dripping. Camp fire, humping of huge logs in slippery mud. fun & merriment (?) To our funk holes at 7 p.m. fine evening & consequent aerial activity. Fritz send over a few shells.

[Page 313]
27 October 1916
Friday

Usual muddy duties, Put in day, slithering up & down road for our tucker, trying to keep warm round fire, gathering wood & generally mooching round. A great batch of letters arrived – 17. all
redirected A.D.B.D. such a read & how welcome they were. They are our chief delight

[Page 314]
1916 October 28
Saturday

Rain as usual. The endless mud & slush. Nothing special doing. Stand 1 ½ hours in queue at carhon to get served with a few biscuits 2 letters from Bill & Flo MacB. The lights of surrounding hills like a great city thousands encamped in the mud. Operations are greatly hampered. well nigh impossible to carry on.

[Page 315]
29 October 1916
Sunday

One more Sunday at [indecipherable] Front. The travesty of a peaceful Sabbath. Short tucker, Augment supply from canteen. Nothing doing today. Improve our dugout. Rain as usual. Intermittent bombardment all day & night. our artillery do not give Fritz much rest Another great bundle of letters. – 19. 50 letters in 3 days – a record & oh.! how welcome each one is

[Page 316]
1916 October 30
Monday

After 9.30 parade, Ridgway, Bob, Andy Carruthers & self go for tour over old battleground. Visit Bazentin – le Grand & Petit. then over unspeakable roads to High Wood. The Herculean task of the horse transport to get along the tracks an army employed keeping them in some sort of order; Visit 2 disabled Tanks in High Wood. the much talked of Tanks – rather disappointing when seen. H.M.S.L.S. Deelphine. Walk back against strong gale. Reg meets me in our dugout in deluge of rain. At last we come across each other, mutual delight. V great yarn. he looks well. Drive in transport in 8th Field in action in the line. We relieve them tomorrow.

[Page 317]
31 October 1916

The heavy rain of yesterday afternoon, floods our dugout play slips on the floor. Oh’ the joys of winter camp aignising? Land slips, side of dugout falls in half burying me after we get to bed. Later in night ground sheet which we rigged up over head to catch drips, collapsed with weight of water & drenched us. we still slept on or tried to & woke apparently none the worse except for discomfort. Orders to move into the line at 9.30 a.m. Hurried pack up of wet clothes & fall in [indecipherable] breakfast. Move off & travel about 2 or 3 miles farther up to the front line & pitch our packs in another mud area which is to be our base. 40 in on big tent.

[Page 318]
1916 November 1
Wednesday

Last evening was one to be remembered a brilliant sun-[indecipherable] after sharp rain. 32 aeroplanes patrolling the sky in the level rays of the setting sun --- 24 balloons up all within range of vision, a lovely purple haze over everything. The ceaseless comings and goings of transport & troops The huge undertaking of war. This is indeed a life’s experience. We stretcher bearers start out for our different posts at 9 a.m. tramp thro’ mud & slush about 3 miles & drop different sections at their posts. 4 squds of us at Flers Ally Corner. Not a great deal of casualties on acc. of weather. Fritzy shells in aft. 14 cas. 20 yds away one dies leg blown off. Rain. Great aerial activity in aft. after [indecipherable].

[Page 319]
2 November 1916
Thursday

Very poor accom. For us or pati[indecipherable] Had to sit up all night, one carry. Poor unfortunate infantry & trench feet. Bog up to thighs. Meet Bert Rauch & Stewart Cowper. Harry also inquires. Still the bombardment goes on without a second’s
[indecipherable] on our part. Fritz must get particular hurry up. He replies viciously at intervals but rarely with success. Contemplated stunt postponed. Not sorry. Expect to be relieved tomorrow for 2 days. Received another budget of letters from Mary. M. Brodie Ess, Miss Bullin, Eva & May, & Bert Edwards. Good oh! all Aug. letters. [indecipherable] near Fritz’s trenches & with a view of Bapaume.

[Page 320]
1916 November 3
Friday

Had a good easy night, Bob & self slept in a dugout we discovered & appreciated the opportunity. Lieut. Col. of 3rd Batt. Brought down from trenches at breakfast time with bullet wound in cheek & base of skull. Unconscious. Scurry to get him away. The officious Lieut & Capt Wilcox. "Take your hands out of your pockets & spring to attention when you speak to me." "I am a Capt" – Collapse of Lieut.
Relieved at 10.30 a.m by 3rd Field Bearers. A long heavy tramp back to 2nd F. Stat. & find on arrival no accom. in sea of mud. Bob Ridgway & self set to work after dinner to build dugout out of sandbags & pieces of tin. Make one quite respectable light fire dry our socks & enjoy decent sleep. Fritz sends over some nasty close shells. ‘Tis a marvel that he misses with such a wide field.

[Page 321]
4 November 1916

Up at 8 a.m. wash off some grime in a shell hole where about 50 others had done the same. Breakfast & have to turn to with the rest of bearers at fatigue work at 2nd F.A. one shell lobbed perilously near dugout last night, chucked dirt on to roof & woke me out of a sound sleep with a start. Fatigue work we have to turn to & do at 2nd Field Dressing Stat. filling sand bags. This is our rest from the trenches! Sleep ill tonight cold & windy. Off tucker last 3 days. slight diarrhoea. Our squad goes on duty at 2nd Field at 7 p m. stretcher bearing from waggons into operating theatre. all night job. Heavy rain & poor unfortunate wounded & strays arrive in pitiable condition. Big stunt on tonight. 1st Brigade to hop over --- take on advanced position.

[Page 322]
1916 November 5
Sunday

A sad unfortunate day for us all. The stunt last night was not the success anticipated. Batts. cut up badly & had to retire Many wounded thro’. Poor Arthur Fleming sniped in no man’s Land under white flag --- premonition. Another very unfortunate happening. Squad of our B. Sec. chaps almost arrived home to Base, when shell caught them on road near ammunition waggon. Killed North, dangerously wounded Sweddle, also Briggs & Westle, killed 9 Tommies also & wounded doz. more. & so the toll goes on. Poor old Phillips was killed last night too leading his men over the parapet. Eric Hurt shot thro’ eye. A co-incidence that I should have been carrying with Phil. In first Stunt at Pozieres & with Fleming in second.

[Page 323]
6 November 1916
Monday

Night duty all last night. Felt pretty rotten & weak. bays good & I sleep most of night. Better in morning. Sleep all day & benefit by rest. Ridgeway takes my place on duty tonight. We are due to go up the lines in a day or two. Terrific gale of wind all last night cold as Antarctica, then more rain. the ground has not been dry for over a month now.

[Page 324]
1916 November 7
Tuesday

Take it easy all day. Stay in dugout. Still cold & rainy. The usual. Feeling better.

[Page 325]
8 November 1916
Wednesday

Nothing much doing all day. Go the rounds of Canteen & We
Y M C A for something to eat but nothing doing. Our old dugout is not exactly rainproof, but ---

We go up the line tomorrow morning.

[Page 326]
1916 November 9
Thursday

Up at 6.30 a.m. scratch breakfast of bully & bread. We get wretchedly fed up here. One gets very weak on the tucker provided. The difficulty of getting dry to cook even tea is great & mostly we have to go without Get off on our long walk to the lines. 4 miles over a sea of mud. Arrive thoroughly fagged out & take ½ day to recover. Awful accommodation. dugout ankle deep in mud & leaky as collander. Set to work & try improve domicile. Bullocking work dragging moved iron over mud. Tired & we all are.

[Page 327]
10 November 1916
Friday

[at top of page, rt side] Siummer
Popping
Gatheredat
Herrisart
Aug.13th.
No carry last night one early this morning. Broken leg. At this moment of writing one of our airmen brought down a Fritz aeroplane not far away. A thrilling sight. Met Bert Francis on the 3"green" across from Flers. First meeting since leaving Aus. Hardly recognised him for his unshaven face. We are all dirty & unkempt. Weather is fine for a wonder.

[Page 328]
1916 November 11
Saturday

Had an easy night. only one carry about 11.30 p.m. the bright moon is a great help to guide us among the shell holes. Fritz put several over but none fell very near us. Good weather continues fortunately. Ridg Bob & self make an excursion into Flers village after wood. such a scene of wreckage & desolation. Household furniture & bedding mixed in one great broken - confusion. – the awful ravages of war. When will it all end? Bombardment continues with greater or less intensity all day & night.

[Page 329]
12 November 1916
Sunday

Another Sunday under shell fire! What would we give for a quiet peace of a Sunday morning at home to the strain & turmoil of this hell. Helped carry a Brig. General down this morning. Fuss, & 2 squads employed, suporfluous
Fairly quiet day. Fritz tunes up toward evening & & there in a violent bombardment on both sides. We anticipated some work tonight. By a marvellous dispensation there was hardly a casualty.

[Page 330]
1916 November 13
Monday

We were relieved by 12th F. Amb at 9.30 a.m. pack up & wend our way back to Longueval Camp without incident Found on arrival a shell of the previous night fell outside one of the marquees where 35 men were sleeping. Blew half the tent to pieces, even blowing the earth from under some of their heads & not a man injured. He shells this place heavily. Taube dropped bombs on Rest Station night before last. killed 3 [indecipherable] men & injured others. 13th F.A. arrive. no accommodation & great overcrowding in our tent.

[Page 331]
14 November 1916
Tuesday

Passed night at so so, a few shells over. Fool round all morning waiting for orders to move back. Whilst waiting Fritz began sending over more shells. One unlucky one lobbed on to the tent where we slept last night. One poor 13th FA Linden by name was killed & also 2 pioneers on the road. It settled us all somewhat. There are some marvellous escapes. After a lot of useless delaying we got off from Longueval about 2 p.m. 1st 2nd & 3rd F. Amb. bearers under Lieut-Col. Hearne of 2nd F.A. A long tiring march brought us to Biscaudal where we encamped for night.

[Page 332]
1916 November 15
Wednesday

After breakfast we up packs & continue our march, pass thro’ Albert on to Armiens & Albert Rd, arrive at camp on a road-side about 5 miles from Albert. Bitterly cold. Germans on road work Over to Rest Station at Buise in aft. for bath & change of clothes, how welcome after 28 days of no wash or change. See F. Cartwright & others. Back to camp & cold. Shiver all night Get 15 letters. Good as a tonic Paid 80 francs. 2 pays

[Page 333]
16 November 1916
Thursday

Do nothing much all day except try to keep warm – a hopeless task in this God forsaken country Ice & frost everywhere. mud frozen hard. Bob Johno & self over to village & canteen.

I have an acute attack of indigestion & suffer some all afternoon & evening

[Page 334]
1916 November 17
Friday

Visit from New Lieut Col. Col Shaw has been transferred to C. C. S. at Estairs & is succeeded by L. Col. Williams. He has a good man to replace. Short squad drill. Ice & frost continues. The coldest day ever I experienced, a piercing wind blowing all day. Cuts Australians up this weather. To bed early & read local papers 2nd batch arrives Sent by Cis . Sept 20. also 4 letters.

[Page 336]
1916 November 19
Sunday

Rained all night, not so cold yet bad enough. B & self go into Albert 2 ½ miles, in aft.. there being no parade. Poke round, wrecked railway station cathedral etc. Buy souvenir salt spoons. Band, drum & fife in courtyard. Tommies give us tea & we have tin pineapple & condensed milk. Home & bed.
We get leave to Armiens tomorrow

[Page 337]
20 November 1916

Up betimes & prepare for Armiens. Scratch breakfast we get ourselves. Bob, Johno. & self catch car on road & heights of the city at 8.m. A good run in thro’, La Houssye, Pont Noyelles & Querrieux, Barrier, Passes. Land in centre of city at 9.30 a.m. cafe & shops. Enjoy the change.. Chemin-de-fer. Meet Jock Heylin, visit cathedral – a magnificent beautiful structure. John Baptist’s bone. Postcards. Dinner of bif-stik, at restaurant. Promenade. Canals Belfrey, Jehic & Museum. Y. M.C.A. Dentists. Arcade. Souvenirs. Supper. Catch, French car to near barrier. Wait here for ¾ hour at 7.30 p.m. Aeroplane. 3 moving lights among the stars. Uncanny. Jock &amo; the officer. Collapse. Board amb. car which lands us ½ mile from home. Spent a good, enjoyable day.

[Page 338]
1916 November 21
Tuesday

Receive sudden order to pack up & be at Buire by 8.30 a.m impossible to be there in time Arrive late. Blown up by O.C. We are destined for Biscaudel C.C. Station for duty. Arrive after tiring march with pack at 12 noon. No dinner. Allotted to our several duties.. Bob, Ridgway & self on night duty in undressing tent. Strip all the patients & put clean pyjamas on them. Not many thro; during night, cold.

[Page 339]
22 November 1916
Wednesday

Off duty at 8.30 a.m. Sleep all morning. In aft. B & self visit Tony at Niaulte Baths where he has been for past 4 weeks. 2 miles distant Find him in all his glory dealing out clean clothes to men. Delighted to see us. Stay all aft. & he treats us to high tea, 3 meats cold roast Pork & tongue, Toast & butter & & such a feed we never had for days & weeks. Do full justice much to [indecipherable] pleasure. Then we have hot bath another luxury; & he fits us out with complete set of brand new warm underclothed. We feel new creatures. Good to be rid of chats for while. Leave for our camp about 7pm. One of the densest fogs. Can’t see 2 yds in front of us. follow the railway & arrive to time. Go on duty at 8.30 p.m.

[Page 340]
1916 November 23
Thursday

Another fairly easy night. Sleep all morning as usual. Have a shave & general clean up. Nothing of moment occurs during day. Frost & ice this morning. Fog lifted in early morning.
Nothing doing all day. Sleep most of the day light hours.

[Page 341]
24 November 1916
Friday

Another easy night. A chap of 56th brought in about 3 a.m. smothered in mud, hair, eyes & mouth – over supply of rum, his own complaint. Lost his teeth, such work to get . . hsis clothes off. no more disturb’. thro’ morning. Sleep during forenoon. B & go to canteen in aft. Plenty Fritz’s on roads. Nothing doing. Wrote letters & New Year Cards.

[Page 342]
1916 November 25
Saturday

Established a record last night no patients through. Nothing startling, usual routine. More rain & mud.

[Page 343]
26 November 1916
Sunday
Easy night. last night. Plenty of trench feet through. The poor fellows suffer untold agony. but this state is common now in the army. Lack of proper provision by the military authorities chiefly the cause.
Bob Ridgway & self go down to see Tony in aft. visit canteen & take tea along with us. [indecipherable] very busy. Have tea of salmon, toast, butter, pineapple round a brazier of coal. Fritz prisoners arrive fro bath. Chorus singing in dressing room. "Watch on the Rhine," Hymn of hate, quite entertaining for ½ hour. One cannot feel enmity against the rank & file. They do not feel much different form ourselves.

[Page 344]
1916 November 27
Monday

A few extra patients through last night. Still cold & foggy. 4 letters. one each from E. Emery, M. Wilson, Ruby Brown & A. Godfrey. On duty at 8.30 p.m.

[Page 345]
28 November 1916
Tuesday

A very busy night. Bad management of this place is deplorable. Congestion needlessly caused by bad organisation. Get cleared up about 2 p.m. Change on to day shift, remain on duty till 2.30 p.m. 18 hours. Visit Tony in aft. & take him great coat. Tea in Y.M.C.A Biscuits & cold cocoa. 3 ¢s for tallow dip to eat it by.

[Page 346]
1916 November 29
Wednesday

Day shift begins at 8. 30 a.m. About 30 cases through. majority trench feet. Very painful & somewhat serious. caused by standing in cold mud & water for days on end. Hundreds on hundreds are affected. Got another good mail last night -21 letters, up to October 16th telling about floods & receipt of my Pozieres letter.

[Page 347]
30 November 1916
Thursday

To work as usual 8. 30 a.m. Every day is cold & dull. the sun never pierces the grey. foggy air. Daylight at 7 a.m. dark at 4.15. Bob goes down to Buire for parcels which we hear are lying there for us. B. back before midday Xmas parcel form Macs. & 3 for himself. Good & welcome. Another chap brings along my Xmas cake from the girls later. High tea of lobster & cakes. Met Bill Galbraith & Ray Rowe.

[Page 348]
1916 December 1
Friday

Up betimes frost. frozen mud. To usual duties, fairly busy mostly trench feet. Still the cold. Secured good tunic from patient. Our search for clothing & boots from patients continue. The military often fails to supply our needs when most wanted.

[Page 349]
2 December 1916
Saturday

A hard hoar frost set in at sundown last night. This morning the mud is as hard as stone. -- a treat to have clean dry boots at last first time for six weeks. Usual duties all day. Issued with bonsor snow boots laced to knee. Not before time.

[Page 350]
1916 December 3
Sunday

To work as usual Nothing doing up line , not many cases. We have our marching orders for up the line tomorrow. Fix up a couple of small parcels of souvenirs one for Cis & Mary other for May & Eva. Heard Frank Cartwright got transferred to No 1 A.G.H.

[Page 351]
4 December 1916
Monday

Get parcels censored & posted Prepare for moving off. Major Wilson leads us. off at 10 a.m. our old packs never seem to get lighter our blankets etc. are weighty thing & indispensible. Back to our former possie at Longueval Dressing Station That’s located now much more comfortable. Coffee Tea Room at Ledagan. Settle for night.

[Page 352]
1916 December 5
Tuesday
Up betimes. After breakfast move off once more for our allotted stations. A different track on duck-boards thro, Delville Wood. much more comfortable. Rain hail & sleet & snow as we go in enough to wet us. Our squad elected for advanced dressing post. Arrive in front line about 2 p.m. 12 in a German dugout, pushed for room. Could not make tea. Fritz no sport, would not let us gather any fuel. One carry only

[Page 353]
6 December 1916
Wednesday

Up at 9 a.m. Our squad take on cooking for day. I fry the bacon in a dixie top cleaned out with a muddy sand bag. No water for tea. for dinner we make a dry hash very good. Water arrives & tea also. Fritz shells persistently all day & night but does little damage. No cases. Tea we have fried mutton chops very tasty. Receive 11 more letters. Rev. Inglis, MaLachlans, Emmie Gulliford etc. Our latrine blown sky high last night.

[Page 354]
1916 December 7
Thursday

No carries thro the night. Do not get up till 10 a.m. as there is nothing to do & we cannot roam about outside for Fritz can spot us & send over a few coal boxes to nab the unwary. Another squad on cooking today, No tea for breakfast A carry just at dark. rather welcome the chance to get out. Receive papers & parcel form Mrs. Gelling -- pad & handkerchiefs.

[Page 355]
8 December 1916
Friday

Lay abed till 10 a.m. scratch breakfast, wet wood & sulky fire. No 3 squad on cooking. Nothing doing all day. Fritz shells consistently & makes us remain under ground. Write a couple of letters to Em. Gulliford & Mrs. Gelling. also card to Rev Inglis, Ain MacL & Bob. Case at 11 p.m. dies at station

[Page 356]
1916 December 9
Saturday

Up at 8.30. our squad’s day at cooking. Trouble to get fire started. Fritz wont let us get out, dirty dog. Narrow escape of Paddy from shell fragment, whizes into bank at mouth of dugout. No carry at all to day two walking cases. Dinner of roast meat & potatoes Rain & sloppy mud. Fritz shells persistently

[Page 357]
10 December 1916
Sunday

Lay in bed till 10 a.m. Cooks trouble with fire breakfast at 11 a.m dinner at 2. 30. Dry hash good No carry for the last 36 hours. Write No 23 Home letter also notes to Nancy & Stewart. Nothing doing Get news that Bill Parsons was seriously wounded last night -- 4 wounds 2 in legs, one in arm & one in chest. Trust he will get through. A fine chap. Capt. Hughes one of our new capts also had both legs blown off by same shell. Only a young fellow just through. 10 days in France. Receive parcel from Jean Aberdeen containing magazines, lollies & biscuits

[Page 358]
1916 December 11
Monday

Had a carry before breakfast. 14 of fatigue party lost their way in early morning & wandered into German lines. 6 returned 5 missing & 2 or 3 wounded one succeeding in getting back. shot thro hip. Very wet & slushy underfoot. Stuffed roast & potatoes for dinner. We are living like fighting cocks this past week doing our own cooking. Reynold’s squad had narrow escapes coming up with rations after dark, Fritz shells lob in front & behind. Rattled them all.

[Page 359]
12 December 1916
Tuesday

What a transformation this morning! Woke to find every thing covered with snow.—a pretty sight Soon the rain melted it & oh! how wet everything became. The water ran down the steps of our dugout & made thing more comfy. Our squad on cooking again Bob & self get breakfast. Bacon & tea.
Dinner braised steak gravy & onions.
Tea. Cocoa, plum pudding quinces & white sauce.
Something doing on the front lines tonight – great shelling. Fritz sending up a great many star shells & red lights.
Our squad gets shell at them just as they arrive at dugout with rations. Splother

[Page 360]
1916 December 13
Wednesday

For a wonder no casualties brought down after last night. one man killed. We are to be relieved today. Relief comes in afternoon. Fritz gives us a few parting shells as a farewell. Back to Longueval without incident. Mud & more mud. Shiver & groan all night with the cold.
Mary’s Xmas parcel arrives & what a mine of wealth it contained. Sweets & dainties of all sorts. How welcome they are.

[Page 361]
14 December 1916
Thursday

76 of us detailed for evacuation. Carry patients down to tram trucks, wheel them ¾ mile, then carry ¼ mile to waiting rooms. Not a great deal doing during the day, but all night we are kept going.

[Page 362]
1916 December 15
Friday

Feeling off colour this morning with a cold coming on. After 24 hours duty we have 24 off. Stay in hut all day. Tony comes in with a cake from home & we partake. Bob receives parcel from Mary Also both of us receive a good mail up to Oct. 29th .

[Page 363]
16 December 1916
Saturday

Up at 9 a.m. Feel a bit better. On duty at evacuation point. Still the dull cold days. nothing much doing all day, but all thro night, Oh what graft. Humping heavy 13 stone patients thro the darkness & slush. Hardest work of my life. Snowing today & cold into the bargain. The wheeling of trucks a horse’s work.

[Page 364]
1916 December 17
Sunday

Over 24 hours off. Get into bunk & stay there for the day. Get. Letter from Mary 29 Oct & pair gloves from Mrs. Muir.
Write to latter, Ian, & Reg.

[Page 365]
18 December 1916
Monday

On duty today as usual at evacuation. Ordinarily busy all day & till 9 p.m. cold & light fall of snow. Very dopey with a cold.

[Page 366]
1916 December 19
Tuesday

Off duty today. Get into bed & stay there as warmest place. Hard frost, frozen mud., Snow fall this evening. Great Xmas Boxes arrive from ‘Calala’, & Mrs. Waights. Write home letter to No. 24

[Page 367]
20 December 1916
Wednesday

Off evacuation duties, put on road making & stone quarrying. Take things very easy & only work 3 hours a day. Fritz evidently has a new gun to work. he shelled h—out of the surroundings with high explosive. Several huts blown up, and some casualties occurred. Frost thawing.

[Page 368]
1916 December 21
Thursday

To work as usual, very strenuous. Its unnecessary work what we’re doing so why bust one self? Carroll.
Bib home tight covered in mud. Sully & wordy warfare. Evas biscuits go the rounds.

[Page 369]
22 December 1916
Friday

Rain during night & early part of morning. Fatigue down lone on duck boards & pickets, Nothing startling.

[Page 370]
1916 December 23
Saturday

Fatigue as usual. Get up at 8 a.m. breakfast of fat pork & tea. Big wind storm & rain. tents blown down. Get Xmas box each from "War Chest Fund" comprising tin tobacco & cigarettes, tin lollies, handkerchief, handkerchief, throat losenges, mint, chewing gum, ginger, etc.

[Page 371]
24 December 1916
Sunday
Up at 8 a.m. Xmas Eve. No difference, useless fatigue as usual. Sunday & all. We have to thank 3rd Field Col. for that. He is a notorious nigger driver.
Kept at it till 4.30. p.m.
Fairly quiet day, usual bombardment.

[Page 372]
1916 December 25
Monday
Xmas Day!!! In the field. Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men. Man’s answer --- the roar of guns – in charge of death dealing shells. Christianity travestied. We are all let off fatigue as a great concession. Get dinner of mince & carrot, with plum pudding & custard. We supplement with tin fruit, tin plum pudding & cream. Called up for duty at 5p.m. on evacuation. Several wounded brought down, extra activity to celebrate the day, No less than 4 poor fellows die within hour in dressing room. Thus was Xmas spent.

[Page 373]
26 December 1916
Tuesday Bank Holiday

Rest & sleep during day. On duty again at 7 p.m. Some of the boys shikked up today on Rum. Sully, Paddy, Sol, Mac & Bib. Paddy gets D.T’s. struggle to keep him down. Lob G. kicks over stove & nearly sets hut alight – a lot of logs.

[Page 374]
1916 December 27
Wednesday

Day spent as usual. On duty at 8 p.m. Fairly busy night

[Page 375]
28 December 1916
Thursday

Go for bath & change of clothes to Meaulte. Ride in train left Quarry Dump 1. p m. side tracked Fricourt. From there get car to Meaulte’ G good luck. Lee McBurry. Bath & new clobber. Home 7.30 by train. Bitterly cold. Ice & frost.
Horses bogged & drowned in liquid mud.

[Page 376]
1916 December 29
Friday

Easy night last night no carry. Put in day writing Mob go to Meaulte [ indecipherable] bath. Have Guy’s oysters for tea. made some white sauce. Tres Bon.

[Page 377]
30 December 1916
Saturday

Easy night, few casualties Nothing doing specially.

Sunday Dec. 31

The last day of the old year.
Go on duty at 8 p.m. We see the old year out & new year in in rather pensive mood. Gathered round a smokey brazier. At midnight we drink each others health in Port & whack up a couple of Xmas parcels. Continue duties till morning. No fusilade of shells to welcome in the New Year. Just the usual desultory firing

[Page 378]
[Diarist’s notes re days in the month for some personal calculation]

[Transcribed by Helen Monaghan and Rosemary Cox for the State Library of New South Wales]