Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

William Burrell diary, 20 December 1915-12 November 1916
MLMSS 1375/Item 1

[Page 1]
No 3461
Pte W H J Burrell M.M.
B. Coy 17th Batt Reinforcements
5th Inf Brigade
A. I. F.
Please return this book to
Mrs J Burrell
51 Dunblane St
Camperdown
Sydney
N S W
Australia

[Page 2]
Diary from Sunday 12/11/16
To Tuesday May 1st 1917
Lost with mails to Australia
[signature] W H J Burrell

[Page 3]
Lily Oliver
Lily Oliver

[indecipherable]

[Page 4]
Will the finder please return
To Mrs J Burrell
51 Dunblane St
Camperdown
Sydney
N.S.W.
Australia

(addresses) S.B.s.
1660 : Beale.C.E. Olinda St. Quarry Hill:Bendigo : Victoria australia
562 : Gibson. L.K. West Narrabri : N. S. W - australia
636 : Miller. A. "Knightwick" Fleet St Carlton N.S.W.

[Page 5]
1915 & 1916
Diary of Pte WHJ Burrell M.M.

Entered into training at Lithgow Camp on Saturday Sept 4th 1915.
Transferred to Holdsworthy Camp on Monday Sept 27th

Transferred to spcl Tramway reinforcements on Wednesday November 3rd.

Embarked on "T.S.S Aeneas" "A 60" on Monday Dec 20th

The following units were on board
Infantry- Light Horse
13th of the 1st - 13th of the 4th- 13th of the 1st
13th = = 2nd - 13th of the 13th - 13th = = 6th
13th = = 3rd - 8th of the 17th - 13th = = 7th
8th of the 18th

[Page 6]
1915
Monday 20th Dec
Embarked at 7am:
Pulled out & anchored in the stream. Sailed about 4.30.P.M. & cleared the Heads at 5. P.M. The weather was fair though a bit rougher as darkness came. Slung my hammock & slept below. Passed a sailing ship under sail & was a fine sight.

[Page 7]
Tuesday 21st Dec
Raining early but cleared up into a lovely day with a very calm sea. Lost sight of land on & off during the day. Slept on deck.

[Page 8]
Wednesday 22nd Dec
a very calm day ; lost sight of land shortly after dinner ; passed some islands out at sea. Slept on deck ; started skipping for exercise : passed a boat but too far off to make her out. passed another sailing boat under sail & was a fine sight : sighted land again just before tea

[Page 9]
Thursday 23rd Dec
a very calm day ; no land sighted all day. our pay boo? Slept on deck passed a whale

[Page 10]
Friday 24th Dec
No land sighted all day a very calm day: Our pay books were handed out to us in the morning . Slept on deck Concet on board & voted nottoobad
Christmas Day
Saturday 25th Dec
a very calm day : Christmas dinner consisted of ;-roast beef, boiled potatoes & plum pudding, washed down with water. We followed on with a private supply of pudding, cake,& nuts : In the afternoon I obtained the autographs of the Lithgow boys on board; Tea consisted of :- mystery

[Page 11]
Christmas day 25th Dec
Continued
hash, being a mixture of p mashed potatoes & mystery, with cheese to follow on with; then bread & jam washed down with tea : we followed with a private supply of tinned fruit, pudding, etc, & drank each other’s health in soft drinks.(bottled). Sighted another whale slept on deck. No land sighted all day.
Monday 26th Dec Sunday
A fairly calm day : land sighted at dinner time also at dusk. Just a blue range

[Page 12]
in the distance. Passed a boat but too far off to see anything. The wind freshened up toward night & the ship rolled a bit. Slept on deck& had a wild night the waves breaking over the lower deck& the spray wetting our blankets. Church in morning & Bible class in afternoon
Monday 27th Dec:-
A wild windy day: Revellie at 6 am. Paraded on boat deck for physical drill but the boat rolled too much for drilling. Ship’s paper issued (first edition) During the day waves broke over the lower deck. Passed Cape Leuwin early in the morning about 1 am

[Page 13]
& that was our last sight of Australia. The boat rolled a lot during the day & a lot of the boys were sick. Slept on deck .All the birds have deserted us.
Tuesday 28th Dec
A dull day & rather rough : Revellie 6 am : parade for physical drill 10 am but the boat rolled too much: After dinner at 2 pm we were inoculated this making my fourth injection & also had a medical inspection to see if any were suffering from venereal disease this making the second one I have passed; slept on deck but

[Page 14]
had a restless night owing to my arm being sore. No land sighted neither any ships
Wednesday 29th Dec
A fairly calm day; though dull with a few light showers & the boat still rolling a bit : Revellie 6 am parade for physical drill 10 am ; A Private out of the 13th of the 3rd Batt died during the morning & was buried at 4 pm with full military honours It was the first burial I have ever seen & was very impressive. All on board were in full dress & stood to attention. The coffin was

[Page 15]
corpse was draped with a union jack & the officers &men of his Coy on one side of it & the firing party & buglers on the other side. After the service by the Rev R A Gordon (Chaplain) the firing party fired the salute & the buglers played the "last post" making a very impressive ceremony. My arm was still a bit sore during the day & my wrist has also been troubling me a lot being very week. Slept on deck. No land or ships sighted : Bible class in afternoon : boat stopped during burial

[Page 16]
Thursday 30th Dec.
A calm day : ship steady again: The weather began to be tropical & very hot & oppressive : the least exertion making one perspire a lot. Revellie 6 am physical drill 10 am (tug of war, skipping etc, followed by showers which seem the only way to keep cool. Our first active pay received (10/-) : Vic Berghoffer admitted to the hospital with influenza : A lot of flying fish have been about lately & Tom and I went to the bows after tea & watched them. A shoal jumped up

[Page 17]
every few hundred yards & seemed like grass hoppers ; in fact some shoals were no bigger in size individually & must have been young ones. The larger ones seemed able to fly a hundred yards comfortably ; providing they did not bump a wave. Slept on deck but the weather was too oppressive for sleep. No land or ships sighted.
Friday 31st Dec
A very calm day & hot as per usual. Revellie 6am : no drill as I was on cooksfatigue : but I did not do a thing all day

[Page 18]
long excepting the usual sun bathing reading etc. The heat was so bad that a lot of the boys (myself included) got about clad only in knickers & shoes. I went to the Doctor about my wrist but he said the only thing to do was to paint with iodine every morning. No land or ships sighted. Bible class in the afternoon. A concert started about 9 pm & kept going till after midnight : the New Year being ushered in with cheers & the singing of the National Anthem. Slept on deck but the weather was

[Page 19]
still very oppressive.
End of
1915

[Page 20]
start of
1916
being just four hours behind Sydney time

[Page 21]
New Years Day Saturday Jan 1st
A very calm day : Sunny & hot : Revellie 6 am : Two birds were following the ship; the first since our Australian feathered friends left us. Had my wrist dressed with iodine Vic came out of the hospital : Sports on board & went off a great success. They consisted of :- tug-of-war, scratch pulling, pillow fight, cock fight, treacle bun eating, floury mop etc. The pillow fight had over ninety entries & as the pole was over a large canvas tank with about four feet of water the contests were very amusing : especially when

[Page 22]
the spectators sitting round the edges were all pushed in, clothes & all : One of our boys 8th of the 17th just a fraction over ten stone divided the first prize of the scratch pulling with a chap over fourteen stone as neither could gain an advantage. In the heats he pulled men over fourteen stone & beat them. For his size he is a marvel. After tea our platoon fell in on the boat deck for a voluntary physical drill parade under our Sgt Wheatley. It was a success & is to be held every night. Another concert on

[Page 23]
board. Slept on deck but very oppressive. No land or ships sighted.

Sunday Jan 2nd
A very calm day hot & sultry Revellie 6 am : church at 10 am & very nice : bible class after dinner; the two birds seen yesterday have departed. After tea we had a sacred sing song & it was very good A lot of us attended in "evening dress"; stripped to the waist on account of the heat. Slept on deck ; no land or ships sighted. Had our physical drill class on boat deck.

[Page 24

Monday Jan 3rd
A very calm day : hot. Revellie 6 am : had my wrist painted : physical drill 10 am slept on deck : "hot"; no land or ships sighted : attended our after tea physical drill class. Second issue of ship’s paper.

Tuesday Jan 4th
A very calm day & hot : Revellie 6 am : had my wrist dressed. Lock, Alf & myself are to be mess orderlies for four days; this is, till Friday. A storm came up after dinner & heavy rain fell which kept

[Page 25]
up on & off during the night : attended drill class after tea : no land or ships sighted : one bird followed for a few hours only. slept on deck but got a bit damp with rain.

Wednesday Jan 5th
A fairly calm day : cloudy & cool after yesterday’s storm : Revellie 6 am : had my wrist painted : mess orderly all day : attended bible class at 1.15 pm : boxing tournament started & some willing bouts were witnessed : slept on deck no land or ships sighted.

[Page 26]
attended physical drill class after tea

Thursday Jan 6th
A very calm day : hot : Revellie 6 am : mess orderly all day : had my wrist painted & it is a lot better : our Coy on guard so we had no after tea physical drill class. This made our second time on guard since coming on board. Boxing tournament continued & more willing bouts : slept on deck but rained toward midnight & got damp a bit : but that is better than being packed

[Page 27]
down below in hammocks. No land or ships sighted. The last few days birds (large & small) have appeared now & again. Fresh water has also been scarce for the last three or four days & we have had to wash in salt water. & it leaves one pretty clammy. We have the salt water shower often: sometimes twice daily & am in splendid health & pretty fair nick:

Friday Jan 7th
A very calm day :though cloudy

[Page 28]
& raining before daylight : which by the way seems to be getting later Mess orderly all day : last day of my term : attended bible class 1.15 pm : Boxing bouts : physical drill class after tea : slept on deck no land or ships sighted

Saturday Jan 8th
A very calm day : a bit windy but still hot : Revellie 6 am dressed my wrist. fire alarm in morning : at the fire alarm we have to rush on deck with life belts on & stand to attention in our allotted spaces. Those picked for fire fighters to

[Page 29]
be ready to obey officers(fire) orders ; also had a "alarm" On this sounding on the boats whistle we have to act the same as for fire. excepting that the ones picked for boat parties go on to their respective boats & prepare them : concert on deck : slept on deck : no land or ships sighted : still plenty of flying fish : boxing carried on another stage : Vic fell down stairs with our dinner : physical drill after tea

[Page 30]
Sunday Jan 9th
A very calm day : fine : Revellie 6 am : dressed my wrist : church 10 am :& very nice. The music was a piano, violin, hobo, cornet & bassoon & Lieut Boyd sang a solo in his usual fine style. Bible class 1.15 pm & just on forty present. No physical as the officers wanted the boat deck after tea. Sacred sing song after tea slept on deck : no land or ships sighted.

Monday Jan 10th
A very calm day : fine & warm : Revellie 6 am : dressed my wrist :

[Page 31]
parade for physical drill 10am boxing finals : Neil won the 8 st 6 lb for our Coy & Madgwick was runner up in another division so our Coy done well : Land sighted at noon & amp; proved to be Cape Guardafui the most easterly point of Africa. We drew close in & passed into the Gulf of Aden not a mile from shore. It was a splendid sight : Very high mountains running right to the water’s edge & sheer cliffs of rather a white looking stone but the country seems rather on the barren

[Page 32]
[map of the Allied lines before the advance]

[Page 33]
[this looks like a poppy stuck into the diary]

[Page 34]
side : passed about six dhows & they seemed to be fishing : passed a large steamer but could not make her name. About 8 pm we caught up two more large steamers & they kept asking in morse "who are you" but apparently got no answer. Then one signalled "Advance Australia" & "Good night" & the lads gave a hearty three cheers. A chap near me signalled with an electric torch "who are you" & the ship replied "Clan" but the rest we could not read. The ship was on our port side &

[Page 35]
the one on our starboard side was rumoured to have signalled "Persia sank" 300 lost". The sight of land & ships had a very exciting pleasure for us all, this being our fifteenth day without seeing either : attended physical class : slept on deck : the day was also remarkable for the large flocks of small birds seen also a lot of jelly fish & schools of porpoises some forty in number easily. Also seen large birds : third issue of ship’s paper

[Page 36]
Tuesday Jan 11th My Birthday (23rd)
a very calm day : hot : Revellie 6 am : congratulations from my cobbers (Birthday) & Just make a small sailing boat we had passed early in the morning : parade for physical drill 10 am : attended physical class after tea : slept on deck : no land sighted & only the one boat as above :

Wednesday Jan 12th
A hot windy day : Hazy & a big swell on : We were supposed to have passed through the straits of Babel Mandeb early hours of morning. All day we kept
Revellie 6 am

[Page 37]
passing islands small & large & they presented a fine sight A few of them had light houses on the summit. They seemed of volcanic origin : just poked up out of the water : one especially seemed like a volcano & had valleys running to the water’s edge which put one in remind of lava that had broken away. They all seemed very barren ; passed a lot of large steamers (eight) Had a very interesting bible class : no physical class after tea : Lecture on first aid & arabic language during

[Page 38]
the day : Slept on deck & very hot. Not properly daylight at 6 am : We are nearly seven hours behind Sydney time now:

Thursday 13th Jan
A very calm & hot day : Revellie 6 am : Lecture on venereal diseases by the Doctor at 10 am ; no physical class after tea : no land sighted but passed a fair few steamers slept on deck : very hot & this is the middle of winter I pity the people in the summer Found that Joe Garbut & S Eather were in Hospital with mumps.

[Page 39]
Friday Jan 14th
A very calm day : Revellie 6 am : our Coy on guard but I did not strike it at first but was put on at 10 am & my post was the hospital : Handed one blanket each in to be sent to our camp It cost us 1 ½ pence each for carting but it was better than carrying them. The 1 ½ pence each also included the carting of our rations. No physical after tea. No land sighted : passed more steamers : Sighted a lighthouse about 7 pm on the African side. The night turned on rather windy & cold Slept on deck during 4 hour spells could not get to bible class

<

[Page 41]
in the centre : we were all very excited : slept on deck but was very cold : last issue of ship’s paper:

Sunday Jan 16th
a fine day : not a ripple : very cold in early morning; the difference to our "tropical & Red Sea night" was a startler especially as we all had to hand one blanket in yesterday leaving us with only one. Revellie 6 am: communion 6.30 am twenty one present : church 10 am : In daylight the scene was interesting the harbour is nothing for looks, but the boats including three warships & the port & town for a background was interesting to us . we seen

[Page 42]
a lot of large steamers going up & out of the "canal" they seemed to be going over the land. Some nigger boats came round but got pelted with spuds & a "red cap" police boat appeared & kept them off. A boat from the Karoola came over a few times crowded with "our lads" who came to see if they could spot some mates : They told us that the Dardenelles campaign had been given up & that the troops were all along the canal expecting an attack : Taylor’s sister came over from the hospital ship & they let her on board. I was introduced to her & felt quite shy; a month since I had seen a girl : another boat from the hospital ships with a lot

[Page 43]
nurses in passed round the ship & the boys gave them a cheer : a few steamers anchored near us after coming out of the canal & also a few before going in . The boys still excited & coo-eeing to the ships. It seems a very busy port for steamers. The neutral steamers have their colours painted in big bands along their whole length & their names in letters 3 or four feet high : bible classes in the Chaplain’s cabin at 2.30 pm no after tea physical class : slept on deck & very cold

= Impressions of the voyage =
The strange feeling as the boat drew away from our friends on shore, it seemed as though we were cut right off from the land we love so much; the wonderful beauty of the sunsets & sunrises at sea : the vast quantity of water there must be in the world : the millions of flying fish we passed : the large birds that never seemed to rest : also the small birds we passed so far from land: the barren ness of the land (African) & also on the other side : the volcainic look of the islands we passed in the Red Sea & the amoount of ships we passed in the Red Sea & Gulf of Suez : the busy shipping in the Gulf of Suez : the strange feeling of unsteadiness after the boat stopped : the calmness of the trip : the amount of gambling done on board : the rotten tea, coffee, bread, & meat, we got on board :

[Page 44]
Monday Jan 17th
a bit cloudy : not a ripple on the water : Revellie 4 am : breakfast 6 am : disembarked at 9.30 am : picked for baggage fatigue & had to load it into trucks. Suez is an artificial port made after the style of a semicircular breakwater. The natives were very funny with their yabbering & seemed very dirty & ill clothed. The children were there in hundreds & all they seemed to do was beg: "Backchees cigari" even the children smoked & a large number had sore eyes & a lot only one eye. We were issued with twenty four hours dry rations before leaving. Left at 10.30 am. Men & children chased the train begging : native police beat them with canes to keep them away. The town seemed to be built before the ark & never finished : mud house : roof & all : very dirty : every thing. The first couple of hours through barren sandy country : passed large camps of soldiers which we found out were men from the Dardanelles : eighty thousand or so of them : stopped at a few crossing loops one had a few huts & the train was besieged with natives selling eatables : we are only told to buy things that we can peel so the oranges went well 12 for 1/- : then we passed for a couple of hours through the most fertile country imaginable : It was all irrigated by primitive means & was one long field of green crops : no fences seen : passed a fairly big station Zag Zig also a lot of cemetaries which seem very quaint with their mud tombs painted queer colours

[Page 45]
arrived at Zeitoun station at 6 pm & had to load our baggage : Gave our war cry coming into station : rode to camp on baggage wagon : had our blankets issued slept in a large hut : extremely cold although I never got undressed : trains pretty well as ours : 3rd class carriage to travel in : baggage wagon like our Bogie Louvre only made out of steel : air brake through passenger cars : worked on a sort of staff system : same guage as ours : coincidence that it was slightly raining on embarking & also on disembarking

Tuesday 18th Jan
A bit cloudy & one drizzle of rain during the day : Revellie 5.30 am though we did not rise till after 6 am : had breakfast : involved : inspected at 10 am : even a lot of aeroplanes overhead from flying school : dismissed till 10.00 pm : went into Heliopolis & caught train to Cairo : sent a cable about 12 noon : found the city very interesting though full of beggars & the cry of "Backchees mungarea" seems on every natives lips : silks & other native work beautiful had lovely dinner 5 courses 15 piastres : had to buy a stick to keep native beggars away : all hands carry a stick for this purpose here : went down a side street & the scenes were disgusting can tan dances etc : very immoral : had a very exciting day & returned to Heliopolis about 7 pm : had a look round & got back to camp at 8 pm . Had a talk over the events of the day & then retired : had a very cold night. The natives

[Page 46]
have no morality at all : you have to obey a call of nature in the street, in fact, where ever one happens to be.

Wednesday 19th Jan
Revellie 5.30 am did not rise till after 6 am still a bit cloudy : had breakfast : parade 10 am & dismissed to rearrange our kit & equipment parade 2 pm had to arrange blankets & dismissed for the day. Work starts in earnest tomorrow : plenty of aeroplanes flying around : hundreds of eagles fly in the camp & act as scavengers : a view of the pyramids can be had from the end of our hut : after tea had a tour round Heliopolis with a couple of Alfs mates (returned). It is a suburb of mansions the tea gardens all have free picture shows while one has his drink : the hospital (No 1 ) has nothing in Sydney to compare with it. All the buildings made out of lime & sand bricks & the architecture is excellent & no two are built alike. Slept in hut : plenty of acrobats : little kids like babies doing wonderful acts & seem to have no backbone at all : some come on parade ground during smoko

Thursday 20th Jan
Still cloudy I did not rise till about 6 am Revellie 5.30 am parade 6.45 physical & drill : breakfast : parade 9.45 drill : dinner went for a route march through the sand : two hours marching : discipline very strict : marching through sand with full kit very heavy work : plenty of aeroplanes about

[Page 47]
any time of the day : after tea went into Heliopolis for a roam round : Bought a couple of silk Batt colours cushion covers : rained a bit during the day :

Friday 21st Jan
Clear cold day : cold wind : Revellie 5.30 am : parade 6.45 to 8.45 am : Breakfast 9 am : parade 9.45 to 12.30 am : dinner : parade 2 pm till 4 pm : cleared a place for our tents : went into Cairo after tea & bought shawls also went broke all but two piastres (5 pence)

Saturday Jan 22nd
Clear fine day : cold morning : Revellie 6.30 am parade 7.45 am : breakfast : parade till 12.30 went to Cairo to post some letters : took Alf & Lock to Wagga : Y. M. C. A. has the use of the main park & is very good : skating, pictures, latest cables : drinks & afternoon tea at reasonable rates : writing tables etc : came home for tea (could not afford to pay for one in Cairo) George Davis came in after tea & we had a good chat. Got two letters from Ethel. Tom Ormsby came up & seen me he came on the Suevic

Sunday Jan 23rd
Clear fine day : cold morning : Revellie 6.30 am : breakfast : church parade 9.30 : whole brigade of reinforcements formed up in mass : full brass band for music : our battalion is inlying Battalion for today, tomorrow & Tuesday, so that means we can’t leave the camp. The lads in in 7th of 17th (Suevic) told us about their voyage. They had a girl masquerading as a soldier. She had two brothers & her boy at

[Page 48]
the war & was going over to see them. She must have been afraid of sleeping below & was spotted the first night out & put onto another boat next morning. The boys collected over £50 for her & cheered her off. A medical exam showed that she was a virgin so she was genuine enough : also had a madman on board & another chap walked overboard & was drowned. Tom Asprey in the 7th of 17th also of Skidmore : had to stay in camp. Rained a bit during the night.

Monday Jan 24th
Dull cold day : had a touch of dysentry & did not go on parade in morning had an "alarm after breakfast. Revellie 6.15 am went on Parade after dinner as medicine had fixed me up a bit. When we got on to the parade ground the "alarm" sounded again & we were doubled back to get our full kit up. When the alarm sounds wehave to get our full kit up & fall in inside of ten minutes then ammunition & rations are served out & we are ready for the front. This proved to be another practice one. When we fell in again we were marched away for a route march. The column was half a mile long easily. Had a shower of rain in the middle of it (the route march

Tuesday Jan 25th
Dull cold day : a few showers " revellie 6.15 am on musketry (elementary) in morning. pitched

[Page 49]
tents in the afternoon & went into them Vic taken to the Hospital with mumps last day of our inlying battalion for duty : very cold in morning

Wednesday Jan 26th
Dull cold day : very cold morning revellie 6.0 am : elementary musketry all day long : Tom taken to hospital with mumps. Our tent had to be "struck" for twelve hours in lieu of putting us into contact : rained during day. Paid 50 piastres (10/5) after tea : went to Cairo to post some letters

Thursday Jan 27th
dull cold day : very cold morning : rained during the day : Revellie 6.0 am elementary musketry before & after breakfast : other companies inspected by General Birdwood : no parade in afternoon : went to Cairo but came home for tea : wrote & read in tent until sleepy Reg threw up his stripes & Taylor got the job

Friday Jan 28th
Fine clear day : cold as usual in morning & night : Revellie 6 am : elementary musketry up till dinner time : miniature range after dinner. (Grouping) I landed 4 bulls eyes three cutting into each other but the fifth went just out of the "possible" ring & I scored 15 out of 20 : If it had been target shooting I would have done splendid : went to Heliopolis after tea & got a few P. G. views

[Page 50
]
Saturday : Jan 29th
a fine clear day : cold morning & night : revellie 6 am. physical before breakfast : while out on physical drill we doubled over to a camel corps that was passing & and it was very interesting thousands of them & the natives have complete control over them : they get down & up again at a word from the rider : the tin affair on their jaws seemed to me to be a bit on the cruel side ; altogether it was a weird looking mob : done nothing after brekfast ; went to zoo in afternoon & had a good trip. It is very big & there is a splendid collection of birds & animals. There are two pontoons there where the turks attempted to cross the canal last year : they are bullet & shot ridden : the kangaroos have all been presented by the Australian "boys". The "Hippo" was a beauty & came out of the water at the keeper’s bidding & also went back again when told. The crocodiles were nasty looking : the giraffes splendid while the monkeys & pelicans ran a dead heat for first prize on the humorous side : taken all round it was a good interesting outing : came home & finished the evening writing : the tram journey was also interesting : we crossed the nile & the bridges were fine & of the "swing open" type. In the zoo there is a splendid suspension bridge over the water about fifty yards long & it is very pretty : bought some P. Cards at the Zoo

[Page 51]
Sunday Jan 30th
a fine clear day : cold in the morning & night : revellie 6 am : nothing before breakfast : chirch parade 9.45 am & very nice : we had made arrangements to go to the deadcity trip & had to meet the guide at 11.15 am. Just as we had got our tucker & water bottles out & ready to leave on our trip the "alarm" sounded & we had to double up & turn out in full marching kit. The ammuntion &am; rations came out : It was fair dinkum this time : camel corps & light horse turned out : we were all happy with the expectation of having a scrap : the rumour was that the natives had risen : after a while we were marched to our tents for dinner & told to stand by our arms & equipment : had to turn out again about 2 pm for another "alarm" after standing to arms for a while : we gave the general salute which looked very pretty with fixed bayonets at the "present". This must have been rather "real’ as the A.M.C. also turned out & the officers had their revolvers buckled on & aeroplanes buzzed around overhead. We were very disappointed at not having a scrap. It is a funny feeling no sign of fear : just a desire to be in it & doing something : I learned afterwards that a riot of some sort had occurred out Mena way with the natives but I don’t know whether it was a fact

[Page 52]
Monday Jan 31st
clear day : cold in the morning & very foggy & night but hot in the day. Revellie 4.45 am breakfast & marched to the Abbassieh range. Issued with rations before leaving (bully beef & bread) Had over an hours march to the range : done some fairly good shooting & returned about 5 pm : pretty tired after the long day : the flying school is near the range & we had some good views of the aeroplanes rising & landing : got a letter from Ollie : on the way to the range we passed through a big Tommies camp & a lot of kilties were also camped along the route.

Tuesday Feb 1st
clear windy day : cold in morning & night Revellie 4.45 am : I was mess orderly for the day : had breakfast & marched out to the range : dry rations issued : I done pretty fair on the day considering the conditions : a bad cross wind was blowing which mean’t that we had to aim off nearly six feet at the 400 yds range as the use of the wind guage is not allowed here ; the elevation on the rifles was very inaccurate being 100 yds out at some of the ranges : A light horse chap had a narrow squeak : a detail of our chaps were ready to fire & he rode across the range from behind the side banks. The red flag was up & he must have been blind. another couple of seconds & he would have

[Page 53]
been riddled with bullets : someone spilled our jam during the night & poor Dick Taylor rolled in it & was rather "jammy" in the morning

Wednesday Feb 2nd
clear day : windy : cold in morning & night Revellie 6 am : breakfast & marched to the range : finished our musketry & returned about 12.30 pm : had dinner & handed our rifles back . spent rest of afternoon making our borders along the tents : on completion the lines look splendid : McKinley taken away with mumps which are rather prevalent in our Coy : Isaacs has shaved his mow off & looks queer : my boots has been giving me blazes & a big corn has worked up on my toe: I have got permission to wear shoes for a day to let a bootmaker stretch them for me.

Thursday Feb 3rd
clear day cold night & morning. Revellie 6 am I had a day on fatigue to allow my boots to be stretched. I was put on cleaning up our lines & "roo shooked" about 10 am & wrote letters : done nothing in afternoon. Alf & McCrop on musketry for three days

Friday Feb 4th
clear dusty day : cold morning & night : Revellie 6 am : two hours physical : breakfast : company drill till dinner : dinner : advancing against

[Page 54]
artillery & rifle fire alternately : passed a lot of trenches : every sort imaginable : very interesting : tea : Joe Garbutt came along after tea & I went to Cairo with him : he bought some silk : I got a few strings of beads : heard that Dan Rowe was in a convalescent home & that he had been sick for seven weeks : seen a couple of good nigger fights in Cairo.

Saturday Feb 5th
dull cool day : a few showers : Revellie 6 am : two hours physical : breakfast : general inspection after breakfast : no drill : after dinner Arthur. Harry & myself went into Cairo on a ramble. We got out at the shop after the station & went looking for the famous mosque. After a walk round we got the right tram & got out at the citadel. the tram trip was through very "low" quarters. On getting out of the tram we bargained with a guide to show us over three mosques for 1 piastre each : On entering each mosque we had to pay 1 dieaster for our shoes : (everyone before entering has to get the slippers on) The first one was the blue mosque & the architecture very good the interior carvings etc being splendid. There were also tombs of one of the Sultans : his wifes & mother. The next one was the famous SF RAFFAI mosque & to get any idea of the interior one wants to imagine himself in fairyland : The walls are of slabs of alabaster & marble with beautiful grainrings & markings running through them. The roof was simply bewildering all beautiful domes painted beautiful colours & with gold. the chandeliers were of silver about 10 ft across: the wood work (doors etc)

[Page 55]
were marvellous being inset with ebony & ivory & must have taken years to do. The "pulpit" in each one was also marvellous work. The gold all round the walls was bewildering. We have been told that this mosque cost nearly £3,000,000 to build. Some of the stone used was taken from the pyramids : next was the mosque that Napoleon fired at & was fairly interesting the marks of the cannon balls being visible:one hole about 60 ft from the ground still having the ball embedded in it. The exterior of all the mosques are rather on the worn side but the interiors are wonderfully preversed : all of these mosques are anything from 500 years old upwards. After the mosques we went into the citadel (Napoleon’s fortress) The mosque there is also marvellous: the lighting being supplied by hundreds of lamps suspended from the roof by long chains. The chandeliers here were magnificent (about 10 ft across) the roof was a series of domes each one forming the support of the next one. Outside was a well down to the level of the Nile. Rumour says that the builder was asked if he could build a better one & on replying "yes" had his eyes taken out: The old guns are still mounted there. From here we wandered out again & past the Egyption barracks & some very poverty stricken quarters to the Dead City & then up a pathway to the top of some high cliffs & the view was splendid. Pyramids in the distance Cairo on the right & the Dead City on the left & big quarries behind. These cliffs have rooms cut into them & are supposed to have been part of Napoleon’s fortresses. One archway through the rock is about 50 yards across & a splendid sight & seems to have been cut through ages ago

[Page 56]
We wandered back through the Citadel & some "Tommy" welsh miners volunteered to show us the well that Joseph was put in. It was getting dark but we went down. It is about 400 ft deep & about 25 ft by 20 ft : cut through solid rock : round the well is a passage about 6 ft wide & high enough to walk upright in by which we descended a couple of hundred feet. As the tunnel winds down "windows" have been cut into the well & the thickness between tunnel & well is about 6 inches : the work all through is wonderful. On reaching the landing we found one of the old cog wheels (wood) used ages ago to draw water from the bottom & a similar wheel on top (still there) used to draw it up to the top. It was too dark to descend lower so we dropped stones & it seemed a long way down to the water. After an interesting chat with the "Tommies" we took the tram back & had a feed at the soldier’s Club in the Y.M.C.A. "Park" (Esbekiah Park) This is a nice place for a cheap & good feed Then we took the tram home & altogether had a very interesting afternoon’s ramble. I got the neck of an earthenware bottle down the bottom of the well. It teemed after tea & we got wet going home. Tent pretty dry during night.

Sunday Feb 6th
Fine clear day : Revellie 6am : breakfast: church parade 9.45 am : After church parade our party (27) met our guide & we started on our trip that had been denied us for two Sundays.We walked to the tram & got in : alighted stop after the station & got into "Gharris" (carriages). We then drove through the "Wazza" & through

[Page 57]
Cairo past the Sultan’s Palace (a beautiful place) till we got to the ferry to the island of Rodah where tradition says Moses was found in the bull rushes. The garden of Pharoah’s daughter (where moses was found) is still there but we only got a view from the land side of the canal. Next we paid a visit to the Coptic church built 950 A.D. old. The altars were beautufully inlaid with ivory the altars being the Father in the middle Son on the left & Holy Ghost on the right : under the church the Priest in charge led us along a passage to the cave where Jesus & his parents hid when fleeing from Herod. There is also an altar in the cave & next to the cave a place for christening (all underground) Service is held in the church three times a week & in Jesus’s crypt once a year Coptic churches are protestant, the church was built over the cave : the church is now under repairs : We then went to another Coptic church 1400 years old & this was also interesting : round the wall was an engraving representing Jesus being welcomed on his return on an ass from Assyria. The altars were arranged the same as the previous one & inlaid beautifully : Then we went to the oldest mosque round Cairo (Amyr mosque) 1100 years old there were originally 666 pillars of which about 140 are still intact. This is used once a year to offer up a sacrifice to commemerate Abraham offering his son. The mosques are mahommedan & each one has an alcove in the eastern side so that the people will know how to Kneel so as to face Mecca when they pray. We seen a good few praying & they seem very earnest about it. One pillar is covered with iron bars to prevent from being touched. The tradition is that it was

[Page 58]
brought from the Soudan & the natives believed it flew from there & by touching it they received certain benefits One ruler did not believe this & to stop it had the rails put round it : In the centre is a building in which is a washing place to clean up before they pray : General Amyrs son is buried here. Then we drove through slums to the Tombs of the Marmeluks otherwise called the City of the dead. It is a beautiful place there being about 8 rooms & the tombs in them are splendid. The one of the Ibraham pasha grandfather of the present Sultan is a splendid one being 20 ft high & beautifully engraved. The chandelies & carpets were beautiful also the big clock. I got a string of the carpet as a souvenir. These are really the more modern tombs of the high men & take their name from the City of the dead which is the real tombs of the mameluks & is all round. The "mameluks" means slaves of the Arabs : The texts from the Koran hung round the walls & we also had a look at the Koran : had to wear sandals & a fair few people were there praying : They take their boots & socks off : Then we went to the mosques we seen yesterday "Blue" Sultan Hassan : & St Raffai mosques which I described yesterday : St Raffia the £3.000.000 one & some of the lamp globes cost thousands of pounds alone : the colours in the stained glass windows are beautiful & now alost art the pulpits beautiful : One door in sultan Hassan mosque about 25 by 10 ft copper & silver : then we drove to the bazaar untill the streets got too narrow for the gharris so we alighted & wandered through the bazaars pricing things. Some of the streets are only wide enough for two to walk abreast: we also passed a wedding : band in front then a lot of people

[Page 59]
singing & then the carriages : the occupants were gaily dressed : we also passed three funerals & were very weird : paid mourners in front singing & the coffin carried behind : then we walked back to the Y.M.C.A. & had a feed & then went home & had a well earned sleep :

Monday Feb 7th
clear day : very foggy in morning. Revellie 6am physical but fog came up like a big cloud & descended down on us & was so thick that we had to knock off : breakfast : company drill : dinner : we went for a route march (about 6 miles) through Tetoun & back through Heliopolis. it was real good as we had a pipers band immediately behind our company & it was splendid to march to : tea : W Wright came over & he looked well & had a nice moustache on We then fished Joe & Amey up & had a bosker night : just like old times : Allan wanted a feed so we wet to a "feed House" & had one.then had a walk : met a little acrobat & gave him a few coins to do some tricks which were good. then we went to one of the tea-gardens & had a "backshees" : picture show & a feed of pea-nuts : while sitting there we watched a kid do some marvellous sleight of hand tricks with coins cards & corks;Then we came home & altogether we passed a good evening together : I walked as far as Tetoun with W Wright

Tuesday Feb 8th
dull day : very foggy in morning : Revellie 6am : physical & saluting : breakfast : Lecture on military etiquette & then done extended order in morning : dinner : advancing against artillery & rifle fire in afternoon & very realistic (dead & wounded dropping

[Page 60]
out) & at the end the Sgt Major (who fought at the Aisne) gave us a very interesting lecture on what we had just done & also recounted a few stories & gave us some splendid hints : after being dismissed I bumped Sorrensen from Leichhardt & was real pleased to meet such old cobbers : tea : wrote letters & then bye-bye

Wednesday Feb 9th
Dull cold day with a few showers : Revellie 6am physical & drill : boys played up a lot with Dick : No.14 tent were ordered to be paraded for not having their blankets out on time. M Farlane also paraded for talking in ranks. They got two days. G. G. & one was let off with one day : breakfast : turned out in full kit & were marched off (all our brigade). After going a while we were formed up in mass formation & a photographer took a photo of the parade : dinner : march across the sand. We were going to do artillery formation on the way back but left it too late. We passed a lot of trenches & they are very up to date : wire entanglements & all : A few of the niggers were mobbed & their oranges taken off them. I think it is nothing more than German methods & my blood boils at the little notice the officers take of these assaults for they are nothing else : on the way back one officer was man enough to speak up & paraded all the N.C.O’s for allowing the men to break out of the ranks. He let them off with a lecture & a caution : paid 50 disasters after parade : tea : went to Heliopolis with Joe, Allan, & a mate of Joe’s (Bill Wright & E Chenhall did not turn up)

[Page 61]
had a fair time pricing things & knocking down prices which is great fun : bought a couple of strings of beads : got home about 9.30 & went to sleep : Tom came back from hospital & looks very well : he had good tucker there but says it was very monotonous. He says Vic & Mas were very downhearted when he left them.

Thursday Feb 10th
fine clear day : very warm during day : nights & mornings still very cold : Revellie 6am : platoon drill : breakfast : company drill under Isaacs & a long sit down. I am mess orderly today : dinner : Route march round Tetoun & was not too bad as we had two good drums near us. we came back through Heliopolis : tea : wrote letters then bed.

Friday Feb 11th
fine clear day : weather is still cold morning & night but getting very hot during the day & the days are drawing out : daylight about 6am : Revellie 5am : told to pack our kit & fall in in marching order : breakfast : fell in & issued with 100 rounds of ammunition each & rations for twenty four hours (1lb bread & I tin salmon each) then we marched off & ended up at one of the Egyptian barracks (Ablassich). We were then detailed off for guard one hour on & five off. All my mates & myself were on the main gate & it was amusing stopping the natives. We commenced guard at 8.30am. I done 10 to 11am : 4 to 5pm : 10 to 11pm. The night was very cold & we had to lay on a concrete floor

[Page 62]
under a sort of verandah & it was most uncomfortable & what with the cold & our equipment on sleep was very scarce. My impressions are that the "Gypo" reserve are not to be trusted. Today was their Sunday & they wanted to get out & crowded down to the gate. We were called out fully a dozen times during the afternoon to drive them back & they did not look at us too friendly at all. It was my first time on guard with loaded rifles. I got a few buttons for my collection. Reg & I went up to the canteen to try & get a small tin of jam. He wasted 3 piastres but we knew they only charged the reserves 1 piastre & that is all we would give him. He kicked up a row & the Lieut Colonel "Gypo" was just outside so I called him in & asked what the jam cost. He went pop on the canteen chap & gave us one "backshees". It was very acceptable as the rations were on the starvation side of things. The latrines here disgusted me. They all have a tap in each "compartment" & are the "wallaby" type & the methods of the natives were disgusting

Saturdy Feb 12th
clear hot day : cold morning : on guard at the "Gypo" barracks. My shift was 4 to 5am & 10 to 11am we were relieved by a Coy of New Zealanders about 12noon & altogether did not have a bad time excepting that we were hungry all the time. The rations worked out two small slices of bread & 1/3 of a small tin of salmon to a meal : washed down with water : during the morning we had to again force back a crowd of the reserves who had begun to hang around the gate & their glances at us showed that they loved us like

[Page 63]
the devil loves holy water. There are a fair few old cannon in the barracks ground also a fine pair kept polished (brass) at the entrance we were guarding. They look queer with their heep of balls behind them. The "Gypo" regulars seem a fine lot & look well in their black uniforms with white facings. The way they changed guard when their relief came was a picture : the march home was solid as armed guards have to march to attention all the time : they did not expect us back so soon at the camp & stew was short for dinner but we filled up on bread & jam washed down with water (no tea for dinner). After dinner we handed in our ammunition & then I took Alf & Lock over the Citadel. They were well pleased & the second look was just as grand to me. The inside walls are alabaster & that is the reason of the name (alabaster mosque) the hundreds of lamps are all fitted with electric bulbs now & it must look pretty when lit up. I got a thread of carpet as a memory of my visit. I showed them the well & they were surprised at the size of it also at the depth. We got in on a pass written out by myself. Alf & Lock stayed in town & I came home by myself : had tea & read till bedtime

Sunday Feb 13th
clear cold day : cold morning : Revellie 6am : I went to Holy Communion at 7am & there were 18 present : The service was very long & the Chaplain must have been a high churchman as he had candles burning : Breakfast : had a shower while the

[Page 64]
others went to Church parade. Vic came back from hospital. The names of the ones in our Coy who have to go to Tel-el-Kebir with the 7th Reinf was posted up also a notice that no one was to leave camp : Dinner : Joe, Bill Savage, S Eather, & Joe’s mate came down & asked me to go over & see Dan as he was going home to Australia next Thursday so I risked it. Dan looked fairly well but was rather thin on it. Bill Parry & Allan Amey were also there I did not stay long : got my parcels from William’s tent & repacked them : tea ; went to Cairo to post parcels but the P. O. was shut & I came straight back : bed :

Monday Feb 14th
Clear hot day : very dusty : Revellie 6 am : A lot of our Bgde left early for Tel-el- Kebir : physical : breakfast : company drill, artillery formation & a short lecture on attacking methods by "Lieut Bertha Battleaxe" & was fairly interesting. I forgot to mention that before coming onto Parade we were inspected by Brigadier General Cox commander of Australians in Egypt & 2nd in command of the Australian Forces : he seemed a good sort & asked us about Sydney & N.S.W. : dinner : Tom Hornby came down as he is leaving & said Goodbye . He is in the 7th of the 19th but now they will be the 4th of the 2nd Batt : on fatigue clearing up the lines in the afternoon but did not do much. Got a bosker letter from Ethel (No 2) & was sorry to hear about Darling & poor little Nell being laid up : sneaked out after tea & sent my parcels home : we have had orders since Saturday that no one was to leave camp : any absentee to be treated as a deserter : Had a lot of trouble sending the parcels : came home & had a read & then bed :

[Page 65]

Tuesday Feb 15th
Dull wet day : the weather here is very changeable : Revellie 6 am : physical : breakfast : company drill : Isaacs told us that we would be broken up & in his opinion we would never see France as we were taking so many camels & most probably Salonika, Persia, or Palistine would be the next Australian scene of action : dinner : after dinner those going away paraded for inspection & the remaining ones were shifted into the huts again & they were wet as it has been showery all day : twelve of us were put on main guard at the Bgde orderly room at 2.40 pm : It is a job with plenty of work attached to it : escorting the prisoners etc during our 4 hours off : there was about fourteen prisoners in the guard tent : my shifts were 7.30 to 9.30 pm : Got another bosker letter from Ethel (No 1) also a birthday card from Mum & Lennie : still no letter from home :

Wednesday Feb 16th
Cold clear day : on guard at Bgde Headquarters 1.30 am to 3.30 am & 7.30 am to 9.45 am : The weather cleared up about 2 am & came out a lovely moonlight, though very cold : I scored a waterproof sheet off the Q. M. S. : I was on the main Q.M.S. store beat : dismissed about 10.15. Had some fun before 6 am with a desert rat which are pretty little things & seem harmless. Dinner : the rest of the ones going to Tel- el- Kebir left : I "roo shooked" & had a chat with Dan at No 2 Hospital & gave him a couple of letters to deliver for me when he gets back : tea (eggs) : after tea Vic, Sid & myself went to Zetoun to see when

[Page 66]
the 9th would arrive but could get no information. The SM was very polite & I had a good chat on safe working & he showed me over the signal box. Tyer’s one wire three position instruments were in use & the bell code is the same as ours except for a few little differences in the pauses: we then went to the fire station & had a look round the engine : also had a roam over the police station & allowed the sergeant to handcuff us & put us in the cell (one at a time) the cells have chains in some of them : the sergeants were very polite &amo; explained the different birds that were proctected & also about their wages etc. He got about £ 1 a week. After a good nights fun we came home & went to bed : the huts were very cold after the tents. Some of the boys found "chats" on their clothes : our boys had a hunt & a few were found : Met Miller McBall & had a chat with him

Thursday Feb 17th
dull cold day : biting wind : Revellie 6 am : I was on Q.M. fatigue & reported 7.30 but done nothing : breakfast : mass parade for everyone : the remains of our Coy & also the 7th paraded together : had our roll called & went on fatigue again : had a ride to Zetoun in A.S.G. waggon & back again : dinner : Some reinf of the 1st Bgde came in during the morning & I struck Jock Currie among them. another ride to Zetoun in A.S.C. waggon for provisions & then imshied for the day

Friday Feb 18th
clear cool day : Revellie 5 am : breakfast : issued with rations & ammunition (100 rounds) & marched to Gyps Barracks : on reserve all day : relieved the main gate guard Gypos had some fun watching the reserves coming in late without a pass : a Capt (Gypo) was

[Page 67]
dwelling on them & banged them about & also hit them & prodded them with his stick : then shoved them in the cells : one of the chaps on reserve fired a shot (he did not know it was loaded) but luckily did not hit any of us:

Saturday Feb 19th
windy dusty day : on guard Gypo barracks : done one shift 6 am to 8 am : did not sleep too good : concrete too hard & also felt "chatty" : relieved by Helmia Camp boys & got home about 9.30. It was not a bad job as they gave us plenty of tucker this time : Handed in rifles & ammunition & had a shower : all the boys had a hunt & a lot of "chats" were found Tom & I got a beauty each : dinner : Dan came up from bomb school & told us about the accident : premature explosion : two killed & one badly injured : Well’s had a very lucky escape also our boys : Tom, Bill Fahey & myself went into Cairo & had our photos taken : Tom paid for them as we were both mafishfaloosh till Tuesday : Had a walk through the Wazza & seen some fine wood turning : done with a native lathe the chisel is guided by their big toe & the work is very fine met Williams (two) & Whichels at the Y.M.C.A: it was their first trip to Cairo : came home & had tea : read & wrote till bedtime : we have had butter each meal for the last few days. Seen a monkey Can tan

Sunday Feb 20th
Dull cold day : Revellie 6 am : on duty piquet to report at Headquarters 6.45 am : a sweet job one hour on & three off : I finished at 4.30 pm & after tea Alf, Lock, Bill Fahey, Ed Peatfield & myself went to Cairo (Alf shouted) to go the St Andrews Presbyterian church but could not find it & finished up at All saints C of E : We were ¼ of an hour late

[Page 68]
the usher said he would get us a seat & took us in the side door : we were taken aback when he led us right up to the choir seats & put us in with the girls (me with my baldy head) but we enjoyed it after the shyness wore off : The service was nice though rather (high). The choir wore blue & white gowns & looked well. The majority of the congregation were soldiers. The altar was of marble with beautiful carvings : came home & had a sing song in the tram : then bed.

Monday Feb 21st
clear day : Revellie 6 am : on Cairo piquet. breakfast : fell in 7.30 am marched to Kasr-el-nil barracks : marched with full kit & rifle : very solid : about 10 miles : told off for our different piquets : I missed "our mob" & was put on B.2 piquet to fall in 8 am at our beat tomorrow morning : our room was on the third story & about 40 of us got in : the barracks are very big buidings about 200 by 100 yards & supposed to have been built by Napoleon & they certainly looked it . Great big rooms & dreary corridors : no lights in them : rather inconvenient going downstairs for everything : passed away the day & then bed. Barracks on the bank of the Nile : three bridges within view

Tuesday Feb 22nd
clear day : no revellie sounded here : slept on a sack filled with straw & had a good sleep : breakfast : fell in & marched to our beat, the native bazaars : A gold job : marched through the bazaars & then had a sit down till time was up : our hours are from 8 am to 1 pm : but we fall in ¼ hour earlier to allow time for walking : came home : dinner : got a pass & went to look at Cairo main station : had a talk to a couple of guards : hydraulic buffers in use : tea : after tea : Bill Adshead : Blue Nimmo & myself went to the pyramids : got there just on dusk &

[Page 69]
only walked round the big one : only went for the trip & it was good : a native band on the tram played latest ragtime music : all tram rides "brickshees piquet" : the Wazza beat did not get home till about midnight : sleeping on a mattress is quice Kakira after the hard ground:

Wednesday Feb 23rd
clear day : up at 6.30 am: breakfast : marched to our beat ; mortality here is heavy as we seen a lot of native funerals : nothing exciting excepting a bike smash & making a nigger give a good disaster to an englishwoman (he had given her a crook one) bucks hused a few fruits & fags : marched home : dinner : went to the aerodrome & got paid 50 disasters : mac & Sid came to Zetoun to see if the 9th were coming in but S M said "lah" : back to barracks & had a read : Wazza lot home about 10 pm : exciting times pulling men out of bed & arresting drunks etc : scenes after dark down Wazza "mush quice" : The officers here are not showing the men much of a example : French girls : cigarettes & drink : had a look at Arab Museum : very old & interesting : glass : pottery : wood inlaid : clothes etc : bed :

Thursday Feb 24th
clear day : up at 6.30 am breakfast : fell in 7.45 am & marched to our beat : nothing startling happened except that we seen the prettiest girl I have seen over here : got some French boys to write their autographs : very intelligent : marched home : dinner : after dinner I went to the Egyptian Museum : very interesting : rock coffins marvellous : some eight ft square : mummies perfect & in great numbers : two big crocodiles there also a fine specimin of a big fish about 5 ft long : some nice mummies & skeletons of animals : sacred rams mummies perfect, wool & all tools cutlery & other things

[Page 70]
very good : Collossal statue of King Amenhotep 3rd & his Queen Thai 1400 B.C. perfect : about 25 ft high by 12 ft across : a smaller figure is cut between them : two old boats good 945 B.C. : tea : Dare & I went to Kursaal (buckshees) & it was a good show : a couple of items a bit smutty : tableaux of nations good : screen for each one : Italy, Russia, Belgium wrapped in thought & a few ribbons, Servia, Japan, France & England : each troupe danced & then all joined in a combined dance : qoice kakera : finished up with a tableaux showing a trench manned : other turns good : came home via Soldiers club & bed :

Friday Feb 25th
clear hot day : up at 6.30 am breakfast : fell in 7.45 am & marched to beat : arrested one drunk : seen a lot more funerals : one had a band in front & a lot of women followed riding on "carts" : had their faces painted blue : came home: dinner : wrote letters till tea : I am mess orderly to day : after tea I went to Walkers soldiers home (scotch): wrote & then had a good bible talk with one of the women on the Jews return to Palestine : also talked with the young man there & got some good reading in the bible shown to me : bed : sent home a guide book of the museum

Saturday 26th Feb
clear day : up at 6.30 am : breakfast : fell in 7.45 am & marched to our beat : shouted "coffee" all round by a Gypo : very nice, very good, very clean : nothing exciting on the shift : went home : dinner : had a donkey ride round the bazaars in afternoon (2 disasters) : found a cheapplace for cushion covers : tea : read & wrote till bedtime :

Sunday 27th Feb
windy dusty day : up at 6.30 am break fell in 7.45 am & marched to our beat : seen a flash funeral : white hearse & men running in front : nothing exciting : went

[Page 71]
home : dinner : went to Pyramids "backshees" : went in a bit of the way but there were too many in & I came out again : walked over & seen the sphinx : had a camel ride back to tram : thought my exercise book was worn through : tea : went to All Saints church on my pat : very good : posted letters at Y.M.C.A. & went home : had a bread & scrapfight : ended up with tea leaves : mush quoice : bed : memorial tablets at church "quoice Kateera"

Monday 28th Feb
dull day : up at 6.30 am. break fell in 7.45 am & marched to our beat : seen a lot of prisoners roped together : a daily sight on this beat : flash syrup seller having a row with woman & girl : plenty of native arrests seen here : went home : dinner : took Dare to the Citadel & mosques "Quoice Kateera" : seen a lot of Ghurcas at the Citadel : nasty looking customers to fight against : tea : wrote & read till bedtime.

Tuesday 29th Feb
clear day : slept in till 7 am break : fell in 7.45 am & marched to our beat : met our Coastguard friend : shouted "shea" by the old "fossil" who turns out to be a big land owner marched home : dinner : I am mess orderly : went to Aerodrome & got paid 50 disasters : no letters : met my mates in the 9th & heard that Fern M.P. deserted at Freemantle : came home via Abbassieh & seen the old slave market with the "blood stains": seen some Canadians A.M.C. read till bed. Had a tea leaf fight : bed :

Wednesday March 1st
clear day : up at 6.30 & had shower to get over my bad night : could not sleep: break fell in 7.45 am & marched to our beat : exciting arrest : two chaps one mad with drink : like a bull in a china shop. had to tie him up in the Gharri : native "ascarri"

[Page 72]
very funny baning the crowd to keep them back. marched home : dinner : went down bazaar & got my cushions for 50 diasters : roamed round : shouted Gypo Shea : quoice kateera mint flavour : tea : wrote & read & thought till bed time :

Thursday March 2nd
dirty dusty day : up at 7 am,BK fell in 7.45 am & marched to our beat : shouted pea-nuts by the Greek whose shop the "mad man" was mucking up in yesterday. Our coastguard friend showed us his girls photo : a real beauty : a white veiler & he said she loved him very much : told us a lot about veils & customs : kiss : kids round the museum amuse us every day also the escarri’s : native love sincere : black maria & man coming out of jail also blind men : came home : dinner : wrote letters & done up cushion covers : tea : posted covers to Ollie : got some information from first years course of Egyption History (College) : Cheops 830 ft square 25.000.000 blocks 725 ft high : 360.000 men 20 years to build : Sphynx partially cut from solid rock : 100 ft long went to Y.M.C.A. : good night : good boxing wrestling & pictures : free cigarettes came home : bed : hot close night : weather getting warm Jim Donnelly is now at the Esbekiak Y.M.C.A. boxed well :

Friday March 3rd
close day : up 6.30 am : breakfast : fellin 7.45 am & marched to our beat : more pea nuts : noses & legs : beggars : came home ; Dinner : found more chats : amusing this morning to see 10 of our mob sitting up in bed chatting : shower & wrote in afternoon : tea : posted letters then bed : seen a ptiful sight a woman & three kids sleep on hard asphalt ; gave all my falscoh ¾ of a millieme :

Saturday March 4th
dusty day : up at 6.45 am : breakfast : fell in 7.45 am & marched to our beat : more nuts : made a board & played draughts : more chats : kids amusing at museum :tram

[Page 73]
accident woman run over ; two bike smashes : one into a man : other into a bint carrying a baby : not hurt : came home : dinner : wrote : tea : Reg & I [indecipherable] into the Kursaal : much the same as last week : had a good old laugh : home : Tom got his blanket pinched & slept with me :

Sunday March 5th
Cloudy close day : up at 6.45 am : breakfast : I was m.o. & showed the Q.M. what was given us for breakfast (oily water) & he went pop on the cooks : gave us butter & jam instead : fell in 7.45 am & marched to our beat : lollies today : plenty of officers about they are not setting much of an example to us : flash women smoking etc : funny kid caught smoking by his mother supposed to be selling tickets : home : dinner : passed away the afternoon writing & reading : tea : Nepean & myself went to Church : sat next to a nice nurse : had no book so looked on : quoice kateera : close night I had my shorts on : service very good : bed : (lost chord)

Monday March 6th
foggy morning : hot day : up at 6.45 am : breakfast : Sgt Cook put in "boob" caught selling tucker : fell in 7.45 am & marched to beat : draughts : monkey can-can : came home : fresh piquets came in but our batt was kept on : dinner : fell in 2.30 pm & allotted fresh beats. My mates got 6.30 pm till 11.30 pm. I am on 11.15 pm till 4.0 am & I think it is down the wazza so there will be some fun : shifted into a marquee : 20 on this shift : tea : wrote till fall in time : fell in 11.45 am & marched to our beat the wazza.

Tuesday March 7th
hot day : raided native & french brothels : 11 arrests : nearly all in bed : fun galore raiding & searching the houses : officer stopped one with his revolver : what some

[Page 74]
were sleeping with a pig would refuse to lay down with : home & in bed 4.am : up at 9.30 am mess orderly : breakfast : dinner : Tom ; Nugget, Givney & self went for a ramble & seen some fun galore : tea : went to sleep : all "slept in" till woke by the officer 11.40 pm : fell in & marched to our beat.

Wednesday March 8th
raiding brothels again : french ones very elaborate & clean : native ones rotten : got 6 in bed : fun with cats : home & bed 4.0 am up at 9.30 am : breakfast wrote : dinner : chats plentiful 24 record catch by dopey Jack : dirty dusty day : went for a stroll : tea : went to a concert in barrack recreation room : given by Countess somebody : quoice Kateera : have seen a worse show on the tivoli : fell in 11.15 pm & marched to our beat : had two criminal investigations, one interpretor & our usual M P. Cpl who talks like a native : raided flash french places : very clean : more native "pig styes" :

Thursday March 9th
made about 8 catches : had to chase a couple : raided the two flashest houses in Cairo outside the Continental & S heppheards : home about 4 am : up at 9.30 am breakfast : packed up : dinner : relieved by the 9th/ 17th & marched off 3.45 pm : got home to Aerodrome 6.30 pm tea : bed : heard about the officer killing a chap

Friday March 10th
clear hot day : up at 6.30 am : got paid 50 disasters : breakfast : on fatigue : dinner : fell in in marching order & told off to move off somewhere in the first batch : all our mob picked : Alf & I went into Cairo to get a few things : went in Abbassich way & showed Alf the Slave market :

[Page 75]
met a chap just landed & showed him round, posted sheet of photos to Ethel: home: bed:

Saturday March 11th
dirty dusty dull day: Revellie 6am: breakfast: on No 4 Hospital guard Abbassieh: fell in 7.45 am & marched to tram & then trammed to hospital: a sweet job: brought dry rations but got hot tucker from cooks: roast & vegetables & tea for dinner: tinned fruit & fish for tea: I done 9 am – 11am, 3 pm – 5.15 pm 9.15 pm – 11 pm.

Sunday March 12th
on guard: 5 am – 5.40 am: breakfast: cold meat.pickles. & bread & jam: on guard 9.30 am – 11 am relieved at 11.30 am & trammed to home: Alf, Lock, Tom, Mac & Sid went to the Virgin’s well & Materieh church the well has a couple of bucket wheels so we had a drink. The tree where the Virgin rested is a gnarled old affair & fenced off to proctect it from vandals: a few leaves still on: The Church is a nicely built little place & the altar very nice: above the altar is an alcove with the stature of Joseph, his wife & Jesus as an infant: a window at the side of the alcove throw the light on beautifully: fourteen small statuettes round the wall illustrate the trial & crucifixion of Jesus: The are three nice painting on each side of the wall: the massacre of children by Herod: the angel appearing to Joseph & warning him to flee: the flight from Egypt: resting by the Nile: resting under the"tree": entering into Heliopolis: I got a few P. C. s. home & tea: Tom Vic & I went to All Saints church & it was very good: bed :

Monday March 13th
hot day. Revellie 6 am: fell in 6.45- 8.30 am: breakfast: fell in 9.30 am – 12.15 pm: only 140 of us are going to move

[Page 76]
off now & the new names were read out: dinner: kit inspection in afternoon: tea: posted a letter to Ethel at Heliopolis: went in with McCrop & Tom: weighed 10 stone 10 lb: had a feed of oranges & ice cream: packed kit & then bed.

Tuesday March 14th
Revellie 4 am: breakfast: fell in & moved off 6 am to Zeitoun siding: got into open trucks 40 in a truck : about 35 in length & a bit of a bumpy ride : left at 8am & arrived at Ismalia 12.30 pm: very sandy: had bully beef & O.F. biscuits for dinner& tea: had a bosker swim in the canal lagoon: very deep & was quoice katura: a few war ships are lying off the shore here & I seen my first observation balloon: like a big sausage: close to flying sheds: welcome bed;

Wednesday March 15th
hot day: revellie 6 am: fell in 7 am & inspected: breakfast: fell in & went for a swim: quoice katura: dinner: men required picked out: I & Bert Berry schemed in: some good views of aeroplanes rising & landing: medical exam & V.D. exam: tea: bully beef stew: marched up & joined our Batt: all our mob in no 7 plat B Coy: met Ern Beatty: bed: only about 60 tramway lot picked

Thursday March 16th
hot day Revellie 6 am fell in 6.30 am rifle inspection: breakfast: fell in & done some platoon drill: lecture by one of the officers & instructed as to our embarking routine: issued with "pamphlet": rifles & web equipm’t: dinner: went & seen the 20th boys. J Schulstad, J Marsland, Rogers, McNeil, Morris & others: F Poole is in the 7th: packed up kit: ammunition & rations issued: [indecipherable] things burnt in incinerator: tea: fell in about 6 pm & marched clear of tents: bivuaked till 2 am: Schulstad, & Marsland Poole & self had a good old yarn: doze: 3rd V D inspection I have had. seen Gen Birdwood & he looks a fine chap.

[Page 77]
Friday March 17th
Friday: fell in 2 am & marched to station: heavy load: train left at 4.20 am & arrived Alexandria 1.20 pm: 42 in length: good fertile country after Zag-a-Zig: plenty of eggs-a-cook en route: got a Tommie to post letters: embarked on H.M.T. Arcadian: H.I. : at 3.30 pm & sailed at 6 pm. Alexandria a artificial port, breakwater: shipping busy: about 2600 on board & very crowded: slept on boat deck: ran into a storm toward midnight:

Saturday March 18th
cold wet windy day: rain woke us up at 1 am 2 we went to promenade deck: crowded: up at 6.30 am wet: very sick all day but could not retch: very rough & deck crowded with sea-sick men: no breakfast or dinner: had some tea & jam for tea & felt better: slept on promenade deck & very cold: life belts on all the way: met Robertson from "All Blacks": been wounded:

Sunday March 19th
cloudy day: a bit calmer: I am M.O.: & felt a lot better: had a good breakfast: tucker good [indecipherable]: sewed on colours & wrote till dinner: dinner: ship mounted with a 4.7 in gun at the stren & a few machine guns on each side: plenty of life boats: extra collapsible: not very much "exit" for lower decks: passed a couple of corpses with life belts on: the ship is taking a Zig Zag course: tea: slung a hammock & slept on boat deck: very cold: passed a few ships but sighted no land:

Monday March 20th
cold patchy day: up at 6.30 am: breakfast: lay down. passed a lot of ships but no land sighted till after dinner: machine guns had a bit of practice: dinner: rifle inspection: tea: came up rough after tea: slept on boat deck: cold

Tuesday March 21st
fair day still a bit rough: rolling a lot: breakfast

[Page 78]
read extracts out of Army regulations also a lecture on poisonous gases by O.G.: dinner: I.N.F. AUST: wrote home & to Ethel: tea: slept on boat deck: very cold: passed a good few large islands on the trip

Wednesday March 22nd
rough day: went to Holy Communion: 30 present: missed breakfast: laid on deck: came up very rough could not tackle tea: slept on boat deck & very cold:rough day: It has been windy & cold & rough: all the trip: rotten: the lookout up in the cask gets a good shake up: V.D. inspection(4th): could not tackle dinner: struggled through a shave also a bit of tea: slept on deck & very cold: the tucker was good the first day, since then rotten: sea soup, see right through it: canteen prices exhorbinant: orders to be careful & not fall overboard as boat would not be stopped: met W McKinley & got the strength of Tom & Bond: arrived Marseilles 10.30 pm: pretty:

Thursday March 23rd
dull day: up at 5.00 am & packed up: another artificial harbour & the breakwater gets some knocking about by the look of it: town looks pretty: railway along the mountain a series of tunnels & viaducts & looks well: plenty of tiled roofs: breakfast: dis-embarked & had dinner: marched to station & entrained: train 40 carriages & 6 louvres long, partly air: left at 4.30 pm: German prisoners were working loading trucks etc: very few young men about: women doing most of the work & heavy work at that: had a good send off & all along the route the people were very enthusiastic & lined the crossings & waved from the houses: the girls threw kisses with both hands & a few of the women were crying: plenty of black is worn here probably on account of the deaths through the war: got cold towards night & we felt it : dry rations:

[Page 79]
Friday March 24th
in the train: issued at 1am with coffee & went well: the country is very pretty & very little land goes to waste: the mountains are cultivated right to the top: no dividing fences but hedges are along the road & beginning to bud: passed through Lyons which is a big city: the train is a "crawler" & we were side tracked here & there to pass the mails: the engines are a picture & simply fly along & they have up to 14 carriages on: the goods rolling stock do not come up to ours & have no air but the passenger are very good: our rations due for tea were not issued till about 7pm: issued with another coffee: snooze after tea

Saturday March 25th
in the train: wet day: early morning was a very heavy frost & plenty of ice but later turned out wet: towards dusk we branched onto another line: this was our nearest approach to Paris (about 15 miles) we had a distant view of Eiffel tower passed a big flying shed & seen a big airship also a lot of aeroplanes: very cold in night: chats plentiful Bill Fahey had to through his shirt away. passed a good few hospital trains during the trip also blast furnaces

Sunday March 26th
still in the train: wet & cold: passed a sunken ship off Boulognes also passed Calais: plenty of Tommies about also seen some French soldiers ready for the fray & they looked well in their blue uniforms & steel helmets: tried a helmet on: seen a hole at one station caused by a Zeppelin bomb: passed more air-ships & aeroplane sheds: arrived at Thiennes at 11.30 am & left the train making a sixty seven hour’s trip: it was very slow at times & very cold: the scenery everywhere was good especially on the mountains: there was plenty of water in the creeks & canals which run everywhere: existed on bully beef, biscuits, jam & butter: biscuits very hard: marched onto the road &

[Page 80]
were issued with another blanket this making us have two each: very cold & roads like a quagmire: billeted out: I am in a 40 lot & we are in a barn which is a bit leaky: straw on the floor but a bit wet: drew rations & made some tea: bed & very acceptable: Alf got plenty of chats

Monday March 27th
Revellie 6.30 am: parade march up the road 7 am: breakfast: rifle inspection & some marching: dinner: route march without pack & got caught in the rain: tea: stew: our first hot meal since leaving the ship also our first bread issue (1/2 loaf for 24 hours) Lock, Alf, Bert, Beale & self went to house & had two cups of coffee each & was beautiful: 1d cup: beer is also 1d a cup: we can hear the big guns booming away all the afternoon & tonight: the firing line is about nine miles away: plenty of crucifixes about: nearly every house has one somewhere: these places are real old farm houses & where we are billeted there are cows & calves all housed: each house has a head wheel to turns churns etc & they are worked by dogs which are nicely housed, we also seen a cart pulled by a dog:The people here have a beautiful colour up especially the kids: it snowed here a couple of days before we turned up & is bitterly cold now if this is Spring I never wish to see a winter here: bed

Tuesday March 28th
Revellie 6.30 am: hut orderly: bitterly cold: breakfast: our barn full had a great argument on the Gallipoli campaign & the result was a condemnation of the whole affair especially the water supply & they reckoned they were starved off: parade 9.am till 12 noon marched to a Lock & weir & back again: Capt. Harnett informed us thet future parade hours would be 9am – 12 noon & 1.30pm-4.30pm: he also gave us an idea where we are: the fighting line is a salient & looking up the road from our barn & starting from the left we have

[Page 81]
Ypres, Armentiers, Le Bassee, Lou’s & others: dinner: route march wet & very muddy: tea: wrote & read till bed: There are plenty of chats kicking round again: There is a lot of ivy growing in the bush & about the hedges in this country. bed:

Wednesday March 29th
revellie 6.30 am: brisk march: breakfast: baynet exercise & drill: dinner: slight snow fell during the day: route march & very solid: we passed a lot of trenches made probably in case of a retreat: tea: rations so far have been very short: paid forty francs & very welcome been broke since leaving the boat: went down & had a feed of chips & coffee also chocolate: The man & woman in the eat house are refugees & the woman has one hand blown off & part of her face: work of the germans: a heavy bombardment is going on all along the front: bed:

Thursday March 30th
Revellie 6.30 am: march & double: very heavy frost: breakfast: bayonet drill & march: dinner: seen a lot of aeroplanes also a observation balloon up over the trenches: also seen the effects of a shell aimed at a aeroplane: they are more plentiful here than Egypt: heavy bombardment still going on: lecture about abusing the green envelope: instructions in the use of gas helmet: all had to wear one issued with one each: tea: Alf & I went to village to buy dupain & confetuire: rations very small: dupain 1 franc (10d) a loaf: confetuire 1 ½ francs(1/3) a small tin: burre 3 francs a lb(2/6): eggs 2 francs(1/8) a doz: the boys were all merry again: bed : chocolate here is bosker: meat 1 ½ francs(1/3) a lb: a big blast furnace & munitions factory is just over the canal

Friday March 31st
Revellie 6.30 am: fellin for physical but was dismissed: fell in 9.45am & marched about six miles to some trenches : dinner; lectured by a Tommy officer on gas & gas helmets: passed through

[Page 82]
a trench filled with gas: told by the officer that this was stronger than we would ever get it in the firing line: the chemicals in the helmet smelt very stifling for a start: went to another trench & had a "taste" of weeping gas: this gas is not poisonous but causes the eyes to run with water & was very unpleasant: seen Lewis guns in action: heard that a Colonel & a private had died from the effects of gas in the afternoon: told by officers that Kitchener was to inspect us but we were too late getting through the gas & the 20th represented the 5th Bgde: A motor with two French officers & a man much like Kitchener passed us as we were marching back & the general opinion was that it was him. The march was very solid & we turned in & wrote in bed: the bombardment is still going strong: plenty of chats:

Saturday 1st April
Revellie 6.30 am: frost: bombardment very heavy & seems to be shifting more to the east: brisk march 7am: breakfast: bayonet practice & march to weir: seen the lock worked & also iron bridge loaded ontopontoon by Tommies: dinner: lovely day now & the lads were "chatting" well out in the sun: route march my corn is sore & I went to the a.m.c & got it dresssed: I am having plenty of chocolate "eat ups" & they go well: tea: F Poole brought down some Mercury’s & I had a good read: the "boys" came home merry & we had to put them to bed:

Sunday 2nd April
up at 7 am: frost: breakfast: church parade 10 am & very good: sermon on loyalty 10th Chap 1st Samuel & he introduced the life of St Louis : God: France & Margeret: Major Martin informed us that we would be going to the trenches in a week or so & that they were a bit damp & built up instead of being sunk, on account

[Page 83]
of the wet ground: he also told us there would be plenty of hard yacca but that we could get a bath & clean clothes now & again: dinner: F. Poole Beatty & I hard a yarn & "eat up" of chocolates: tea: wrote & read till bed: bombardment very heavy especially towards midnight.

Monday April 3rd
Revellie 6.30 am: frost: double & march: breakfast: bayonet practice: & musketry practice: dinner: route march & very solid: tea: had a bath in a kerosine tin & it went well: Tom & self had some cafe & chocolates: bombardment stopped during the day but started again towards night: it was a lovely evening & the boys were all under the trees writing & seemed very contented: bed:

Tuesday April 4th
Revellie 6.30am: fog: double up: breakfast: bayonet drill: dismissed at 11 am to sew our gas helmet into our tunic: The other one we carry in the haversack: Some of our Batt went to Steenbeque to see a demonstration of liquid fire: a fat old chap pulled along by a little dog caused much laughter: dinner: route march: tea: a part of the 6th Bgde marched past, transports & all: what a big thing this transporting of troops means? bombardment stopped during the day but started again after tea: bed:

Wednesday April 5th
No early parade & slept in till 7am: breakfast: fell in 9.30 am for a route march: home by 5pm travelling kitchens supplied tea for dinner & had stew ready for our tea: Tra bong: no band: marched past General Holmes: complimented on our marching: feet inspection: tea: the country we marched through was well entrenched: passed

[Page 84]
some old dutch wind mills: bombardments stopped during the day but started again towards night: cold dull day: bed at 6pm & wrote in bed: Fiddler told us about the Johnnie he killed:

Thursday April 6th
Revellie 6.30am: dull cold day: double up: breakfast: bayonet practice & instructional lecture on bombs & mortars: practice bomb throwing with mud: told that bombs were used up to 60 lb weight & they made a crater 12 ft deep & 16 ft across: mill’s grenade the most used: lecture on how to take a trench partly captured: shown by a party of eight men (grenadierparty) & very interesting: dinner: fell in but dismissed to "make & mend": Tom & I went down & had some cafe: girl there had wine instead: heard about a girl who three German officers disgraced: the mother wanted to go up & let them gratify their lusts on her, but they made the girl go up: what more do we want to justify us coming to the war? picture our own sisters in the same position: tea: Tom Jug & myself went to Thiennes & had a eat up chocolates: dates: biscuits chip potatoes & coffee with bread & butter & it was tra-bong: The boys were all merry & Ern & Dev were trying acrobatics & "high" diving: bed: bombardment still going strong: issued with extra helmet & goggles.

Friday April 7th
Revellie 6am: dull cold day raining up to 7am: fell in 7.30 am & set off: spelled for dinner 1 to 2pm: passed through Hazelbrouk a big place: part of the roads were cobbled & played havoc with our feet: finished up 4.30 pm & done about 16 ½ miles: travelling kitchen supplied soup for tea: billeted at a fine up to date farm house: we were up in a loft & had

[Page 85]
plenty of straw to sleep on: germans held this farm twelve months ago: bombardment still going: we seen a aeroplane & observation baloon during the day: the march played up with the "lads" feet some, mine were fairly right & after washing them & a little boracic they were O.K: passing through Steenbeque we were inspected by Gen Joffre: he is just as the photo’s show him & was attended by French & English "Knuts": The cattle here are well cared for & stabled night & day during the cold weather: had a good supply of chocolate chewing gun with me & it went well: bed:

Saturday April 8th
Revellie 6.30am: breakfast: cold day: the bombardment was very heavy during the night: fell in 8.45am & set off: solid marching till 12: rested till 1pm for dinner: passed through Steenwercke & were informed that we were in the danger zone for shrapnel: broke up into Companies: all the people wear helmets slung over their shoulders, kids & all: stopped at 4pm & camped in little huts: low built & painted black to baffle aeroplanes: seen plenty of aeroplanes being shelled & one just on dusk made a pretty sight with the shells flashing as they burst: one had about sixty shells after it but got away: big observation balloon close by also shelled: big guns & machine & rifle fire very heavy after dark: had a ride in the transport wagon to pick up blankets that had been dropped: plenty of star shells about: we are in a horse shoe here with the trenches on three sides of us: bed but very cold: Cock Robin was buried along the march

Sunday April 9th
Revellie 7am: heavy frost: breakfast: cleaned rifle & then went to Holy Communion at 10am: very nice: almost 30 men & five officers present: dinner: seen more aeroplanes being shelled but none were hit: on water & ration fatigue: tea: Mick came home merry & caused much fun: bed: singing & telling us about his ancestors photo: beloft:

[Page 86]
Monday April 10th
Revellie 7am: frost: breakfast: fell in & told a bit about the trenches: heard that Cpl Ikin & a couple of others had been wounded: dinner: had a good "chat": there is a big mill close by here & it bears signs of a fair few hits by shrapnel: plenty of aero’s bombarded during the day: some of the pellets fell on our hut: heavy shells were bursting on our right: tea: court martial on dopey hill as to whether he was "chatty": found guilty & sentenced to a wash: seven observation balloons were up at 5pm all round the horse shoe: counted over 130 shells fired at one of our aero’s but he got through: fell in 6pm & were marched off to the trenches: a big place in the village was on fire as we left: marched through the village singing & whistling then "silence": broke into platoons then sections in single file: passed through a village with every house either blown down or damaged: entered the communication sap & after a long walk along it (about 2 miles) reached the front trenches: bullets whistled overhead as we came down the sap : Relieved the Tyneside Irish (Northumberland Fusiliers) at 10pm: the firing line is built up instead of a trench on account of the water:

Tuesday April 11th
on guard over our traverse 1am & my first look over the parapet at a real trench: Lock: Bert: Mick & myself holding this traverse:fired occasionally to make them keep in the trench: about 300 yards between the trenches: tucker good: rained all day & a little sleet: tea: Sault Cropp Jeffries & myself sent to Btln, Q.M. for coke & wood fatigue: the trenches were awful, all mud & water: wood paths are in all the trenches but are very slippery: had to hurry past "Hell’s Corner" plenty of bulletts: got lost

[Page 87]
coming back & finished up in A Coy’s entrance: during the afternoon some bombarding was done by both sides: bitterly cold night: Mick nearly got shot:

Wednesday:april 12th
bitterly cold: raining all day: machine gun played on our parapets now & again: seen a German bailing water out but did not get a shot in: another yellow flag is up on their wire entanglements: two that our patrol brought in had "dammedEnglish" wrote on it: our dug out is not too bad but hard to crawl in & out of: we send up rockets occasionally during the night: rats are everywhere & as big as young rabbits: issued with steel helmets & long boots but I can’t get warm enough to sleep at all: after tea they opened up fire with a machine gun opposite our bay & played on the parapets nicely: tucker good but scarce:

Thursday april 13th : bitterly cold day: rained on & off all day: tucker good: we guarded the sap leading out all day: after dinner they gave us a good dose of shrapnel & high explosive & theykicked up a row some: one bit of casing came down at my dug out entrance: our guns more than repaid them & got in some good shots: the parson got in Mick;s dugout & was rather nervous: Capt Manafield thought the kitchen was a dug out & hopped in & spilt our tea dixie: there was plenty of machine & rifle fire after tea:

Friday april 14th snowed, [indecipherable] & rained all day: bitterly cold: officers went out on patrol early: I thought Lt Lowther was somebody coming up the breastwork & halted him: Lt Fay informed us that two spies were kicking round & to keep our eyes peeled for them: usual shells kicking about in the afternoon: the graves here are just behind our firing line & they have little wooden crosses: their machine guns played our parapets nicely again & splash dirt over occasionally: snipers are also pretty accurate:

[Page 88]
Saturday April 15th : patchy day clear at times: snowed early in the morning: very heavy bombardment towards Ypres like continual thunder: bombardment just the other side of Armentieres: had a wash: Gen Birdwood Brig Gen Holmes & some "knuts" had a look round the trenches & asked how we were doing as he passed: the usual shrapnel & shell exchanges after dinner: heavy firing from over Armentieres again: a couple of aero’s over the lines & they got a dose of shrapnel: two of eight platoon shot: relieved about 10pm by the 19th Batt & we marched to some billets at the village behind our trenches: bed about 11.30 & good after having practically no sleep for five days

Sunday April 16th :- heavy frost but nice day: revellie 5.15 am: breakfast & fell in for fatigue: went to the firing line in parties of six & filled sand bags with mud: went along to the 20th & seen some of the "boys": a heavy bombardment from the Huns as we came home: one house caught fire from a "coal box": tea: went to the outskirts of Armentiers & had a blowout: eggs-a-cook etc: paid 40 francs: the name of this place is Bois Grenier: bed : the mad major had a fly for life this morning

Monday April 17th
no revellie: up at 8 am: wet cold day: breakfast & then had some cafe & bought pretty cards: we passed a British cemetary yesterday & one grave had a nice crucifix at the head of it: the crucifix had been knocked down from the house opposite: another one had a plain wooden cross with these words:- Here lies the body of an unknown British hero: this village is in ruins: a fine church is levelled excepting part of the tower: we fell in 2.30 pm & marched like Brown’s cows in sixes to near

[Page 89]
Erquinghem & had our bath & it was tra bong: it is a big building & was formally a brewery: we undressed & had a good hot bath in disinfected water: the water was in vats & about 4 ft deep: while bathing our tunic & pants were taken away & fumigated & we were given clean underclothes & sox to put on: French women are employed to wash & mend the clothes & I believe it pays to do it as the men would have to throw their clothes away when they got too louzy & dirty: there are a lot of guns concealed round about here all sizes: I met Fred Riddle at the bath house:

Tuesday April 18th
Cold wet day: revellie 5.30 am: breakfast: fell in & went to trenches in parties of six: we were on engineers fatigue & were demolishing a small bridge & filling in under a parapet: Lock & I were working & a sniper got our position & sent four shots before we made ourselves scarce: the mud & water was very bad: met C Wilson & C Brodie: a heavy bombardment is going on over armentieres way: had some cafe on the way back: the people here have orders to quit: the rumour is that a big offensive is to be made & I suppose they do not want the people to be hit by return shells: went over the road & got a stock of chocolates for the trenches: the place we were working in during the day was named "Oxford Circus" & it was a circus to see the chaps slipping on the sliding board path: wrote to Ethel & home:

Wednesday April 19th
Revellie 3 am: cold wet day: off on fatigue to the trenches but found on arrival we were too early for the engineers & had to cool our heels in rain for an hour

[Page 90]
we were improving the support trench during the day: after dinner they sent over some "coal boxes" & shrapnel: there were no dugouts handy so we had to crouch close to the parapet & the pellets fell within a yard of us: too close to be pleasant: knocked of 2 pm & came home: tea: packed up ready to move off to the trenches: Alf was off with a bad back but is a bit better tonight: fell in about 8pm & moved off in the rain: we took the emergency road & it was awful half way to our knees in mud all the way & stumbling into shell holes: we were mud from the knees down: got to our old position at last & took over:

Thursday April 20th
in the trenches: patchy day raining on & off & cold: plenty of work & little shuteye: they dugouts were dripping from the roof & very wet. I worked my knut & got a dozen dry sand bags: our artillery gave them a good peppering in the afternoon & our machine guns made one of their aeroplanes hop along: I was issued last night with a nice pair of mittens & they had a nice little note in them from J B Jennings, Bath House, West Hatch, Taunton, Som, & I wrote a nice reply:

Friday april 21st Good Friday
in the trenches: patchy day: raining again towards dusk: plenty of aeros about today: one of ours chased two taubes & banged away at them with a machine gun & they bolted over their own lines: Fritz gave us a rough time after dinner with his "coal boxes" & they were very close. I was on fatigue 6 am-2pm & was just starting to get some shut-eye when they came over & my dugout used to tremble: one landed 20 yards away & the dirt came right into my humble home: our artillery then gave them a nice little dose & a bit extra: this is a game of follow the leader

[Page 91]
what one does the other replies with:

Saturday April 22nd
in the trenches: cold & wet & miserable: guarding the [indecipherable] post was a rotten nervy job after dark: same old routine: one of our aero’s fired a machine gun into Fritzs trench.

Sunday April 23rd
beautiful day: aero’s up like flies & shells chasing them everywhere: we had a rough time under a bombardment of "coal boxes" it lasted three hours & in the last ½ an hour 292 shells fell on our Coy’s front alone: there were some miraculous escapes dugouts tumbled in & dirt & water was flying everywhere: but a lot of shells were defective & did not explode: I got a nose cap for a souvenir: Heard, Higgs & myself were crouching behind a parapet & a bit fell between us then a bit of shell dinted Heards helmet & another banged mine: casualties practilly nil in our Coy & I wonder how any of us are alive at all: one burst in front of our traverse & we were covered in mud & water: our traverse partition collapsed: the "boys" were all wishing for the Fritzes to charge but they did not come: they would have got cut in slices like a bit of Fritz: after tea we were given a beautiful exhibition of flying bravery & madness by one of our airman (possibly the mad major) He flew only 2 or 3 hundred feet from the ground & about 12 machine guns were at him beside shell & rifle fire: he circled round them then would fly over our lines & deliberately turn again & fly into their fire: he did this four or five times & it is a treat to watch: we were relieved at 10 pm by the 19th : C. Brodie is in this traverse: had a rotten march home up to our knees in mud & water: we had a nice little communion in the morning in the officer’s dugout & it was then that the bombardment started mud was rattling on the roof & falling at the entrance while the

[Page 92]
service was on: at the conclusion the Chaplain said he was sure that he would never forget that Easter Sunday communion: bed at ¼ to 12 midnight

Monday April 24th Easter Monday
cloudy day: Revellie 9 am: had a bosker sleep: my feet were a bit swollen after having boots on for so long: breakfast: Bert & I had some cafe & biscuit over the road: lecture & Reading of routine orders & warned what offences were punishable by death & what had actually been carried out: dinner: aero’s kicking around & guns banging away : had a good lay down while I wrote a few letters: our batteries walloped it into Fritz & & the concussion from the guns round our billett was great: heard that two taubes had been brought down:

Tuesday April 25th Anzac Day
fine glorious day: Revellie 3am: march to trenches & had breakfast: on engineers fatigue laying duckboards along the main sap & it was a very muddy job: up to our knees in mud: finished up at 2 pm & came home to billets: Fritz was giving the billets a rough passage & got the one behind us. CCoy were there & also some ammunition. It looked pretty exploding & sending sparks up. The shells used to send up a lot of dirt: Our artillery walloped it into them a treat: there is a lot of twilight in this country daylight 3 am & light till about 8pm: had some cafe coming home from fatigue & while there an officer from the artillery came in & went off pop on the woman for causing smoke he reckoned it was a signal. the spy system must be

[Page 93]
perfect &even horses in ploughs are used as a means of signalling. These cafes are reckoned to have spies in some of them: it is remarkable that some of them are never shelled Our guns round this billet made a lot of concussion replying to fritz’s "coal boxes". One chap coming along the road had a miraculous escape. He was walking along the road when a shell burst close by: the concussion lifted him off his feet & landed him in a ditch at the side of the road: lectured about malingering

Wednesday April 26th
Revellie 8 am: glorious day: breakfast: had some cafe & biscuit, rest of morning writing: dinner: our artillery is giving Fritz beans & banging away a treat: we had to fall in for rifle inspection & then we had to go outside & lay down in little parties as they are frightened of our billet going: had a great argument with Tom, Alf, Lock & Bert on :- could all Australia be populated & cutivated on a payable basis: Beale & I said no: tea; Tom & I had a "eat up" & were amused at Mary’s big feet & bigger boots:

Thursday April 27th
Revellie 6.30 am: breakfast: glorious day: fell in 8.45 am & marched to trenches: our Coy are reserve Coy & it seems good job: the dugouts are very nice & hold two: (with the feet dangling outside) Fritz gave us a welcome with coalboxes: Jim the cook got a shock & had to "cut it short": after "stand to" we went to Q.M. cottage on engineers fatigue & while therethe gas alarm was given & then we had to double back & stand to at our posts: The gas cloud could be seen rolling along when the flares were sent up & owing to the horse shoe

[Page 94]
salient here it must have ended up in their own lines: Gee! but our artillery gave them something in return for their inhuman gas: guns seemed to spring up everywhere & what a noise & concussion: just one continuous roar all along the lines: after an hour or so it all quietened down & was as peaceful as a night in the bush: we carried engineers gear down to Jock’s Joy: Mr Cropp presided over a nice talk on marriage, children, women & other interesting topics

Friday April 28th
in the trenches: fine day with a few clouds: carrying engineers gear to Jock’s Joy till 2 am: sleep till 3.30 am: stand to & ration fatigue till 5.30: sleep till 6.30: breakfast: sleep: dinner: shave & wash: tea: engineers fatigue 8.0 pm till 10.30p bed: the usual aero’s around during the day: paid 20 francs in the afternoon:

Saturday April 29th
in the trenches: beautiful day: passed away the day sleeping & writing: Fritz put over a few shells & our guns returned a few: war seemed the farthest thing from our minds: the lovely green grass behind the trench spotted with myriads of dandelions, daisies & buttercups: the cherry & other fruit trees in bloom & only the bang of a shell to waken us into the reality that we are at war: fell in 8.0pm for engineers fatigue but were home again at 10 pm & then bed: "Fanny Durack" tried a few cases & passed sentence:

Sunday April 30th
in the trenches: glorious day: the 9th Bgde we gassed during the early hours but it did not get round our way: plenty of trench mortar bombs seemed to be banging away next door: a bit of an artillery dual during the morning: had another successful chat & had to shy my shirt away: read about the Sydney riots & the general opinion among the lads is that they

[Page 95]
ought to be shot & that they are the ones that won’t come away & are going [indecipherable] because for shame sake they had to enlist: wait till they get here & the starch will come out of their sails a bit: I reckon they are rotters to spoil Australia’s name like that: dinner: started to write to Ethel but Fritz started his "coal box" racket & I had to knock off & get out of the dug out : our guns replied & blew his trenches about some: after tea Fritz concentrated his fire on to one spot after our "how is it" that had been hurting him all day: it was one shell following the other all the time: packed up to move off somewhere: after "stand to" we were relieved & marched off to a new front about two miles further round towards Armentieres: Gee but we had a load: full kit, two blankets: steel helmet & thigh boots besides having to carry a dixie between us: we went into the support trench & settled down: on ration fatigue till about 11.30am the dug out was that damp & musty that we slept outside:

Monday May 1st
in the trenches: new frontage: stand to : breakfast: I took W.Wenhams job & started cleaning up: dinner: a fair few shells came over & we sent about the same amount back otherwise quiet: a fine day again: Alf got some shortbread from Scotland & we had a beano: gas was used again on our left & by the flashes from there Fritz was getting some shells in return: the shells also help to lift the gas: that was during the wee small hours of morning: after stand down I went to bed in my "tent"

Tuesday May 2nd
in the trenches: stand to : breakfast: potted about during the day: five of our aeroplanes gave a nice exhibition after dinner: two were very daring & they

[Page 96]
were a treat to watch: I had a close shave from a holiday wound, a bit of shrapnel from a shell fired at the aero’s fell only a couple of inches from my hand: packed up & marched off to the engineers dump: dropped our packs & went back to Tramway avenue on engineers fatigue. The sap is not banked up yet & the rifle & machine gun bullets chipped through the netting & we had to keep low: we were making dugouts out in the open & plenty of "canaries" were kicking around: it was solid work after going all day: I caused a stir in our "party" during the day with my French study

Wednesday May 3rd
We knocked off about 2 am & got to bed in our billet about 3 am: up at 8 am for breakfast: dug a couple of "pot holes" & had a good laugh when the pioneer chap told us his tale of "woe": married one month when his wifes old lover came on the scene: etc:etc:etc: now she’s married again & has been had up for bigamy: had some chocolates in morning: dinner: after tea had a read & then bed:

Thursday May 4th
up at 8 am: breakfast: Bert & I had some good cafe & biscuits & had a chat with Dare & a few more of the old "boys" of the 8th : dinner: lecture on attacks etc that had been successfully carried out: It appears that this was where the Tommies got too friendly with the Fritz’s & had to be shifted: They used to exchange rations etc & actually played a game of football between the trenches: Fritz has a different opinion of us & in the message he sent over to the 7th Bgde attached to a bomb with the fuse extracted he said: he did not mind fighting men but objected to fighting thieves etc: to quote the exact words:- we sons of kultur do

[Page 97]
not mind fighting white men or even black men but we do object to fighting thieves, cutthroats, convict’s sons & fatherless children: Gee! but if the kangaroos ever get to close quarters the fritz’s will know it: They reckon the Canadians do not take many prisoners but I think our "boys" will take less: There has been more artillery activity since we came than for months & months with the Tommies: Capt Harnett caused a "sensation" when he said that the medical officer considered that the rum issue caused colds & chills & on that account would be discontinued: gambling also had to cease: the boys were merry again & Taffy was amusing:

Friday May 5th : fairly fine day with a sprinkle about 7pm our mob was up at 4 am on fatigue but your humble slept in till 8 am: breakfast: pottered round till dinner: the Fritzes concentrated their guns on to a house & the adjoining fields & the house was soon on fire: after dinner I went on the wash parade & had a good wash & change: we passed the cottage that had been set on fire & it was just smouldering out: the womenfolk were standing about raking in the ashes for a few of their belongings & a cow was just alongside blown clean in halves: the surrounding fields were full of shell holes & we found two big shells that had not exploded: they were about 2 ft 6 in long & weighed about 100 lb each: tea: Bert & I went across the road for a feed of chips & were just enjoying them when hell broke loose among both Fritz’s & our own artillery & the "stand to" went: we bolted with the remaining chips in our hand & "stood to" at the billet: Then the gas alarm went & on went our helmets: then we were ordered to roll up our gas helmets & wear them on top of our nut ready to pull down: marched off to the trenches: we doubled most of the way & the

chemical in the helmet got into my forehead & burnt it into little sores: bullets were flying everywhere with shrapnel & "coal boxes’chucked in for fun: we acted as reserves & had to stay there till next morning: after 8.30 pm the fun seemed to quieten a bit: previous to that it was bedlam rifle & machine gun fire adding to the artillery: The attack seemed to be on the 20ths front:

Saturday May 6th
cold day with occasional shower early in the morning "standing to" as reserves: as we had rushed off without overcoats it was some cold & rained a little: about 3 am we marched out of the trenches up to the engineers dump & took tools down to the 20th then acted as their reserves for a while finally reaching our billet about 5.30 am: I picked a bunch of forget-me-nots for Ethel on the way back: heard that the 20th were knocked about a bit & that young McNiel was killed: after my job was through I turned in about 6.30 am & got up at dinner time: laid down again till tea: poor old Taffy got a rough time with his "joke": after tea some went on fatigue (Bill worked his nut) had to sleep with equipment ready at a moments notice

Sunday May 7th
cloudy day with occasional shower: up at 7 am & breakfast: Communion in officers mess at 8 am done my job & then dinner: went to the 20th billets to see how the "boys" got on: Sun Woods & young McNiel killed: Morris, Annesley, Braddock, & two other Lithgowites wounded; I am to write to the Misses McNiel a letter of sympathy: Rogers, J Marshland & Jack Schulstad just scratched a bit: Jim & I had a cup of coffee & biscuits

[Page 99]
on the strength of it: There seems some doubt as to what actually occured some say the germans got in & got a couple of trench mortars others say they never: after the bombardment the 20th had it is a wonder any were left: I went to Erquingham & got a watch strap also a couple of P.C.s: tea church in officers mess: good attendance & the sermon splendid: on Easter Season & failure & victory: failure when Christ was crucified: glorious victory on the resurrection day: more coffee & got some pansies to press:

Monday May 8th
up at 8 am: breakfast: dull day occasional shower: gas helmet drill: I got a parcel of smokes from J.B.J. & they were very nice: I handed them to mates that smoked: I wrote & thanked her & also enclosed a P.C.: Tom & I had a good feed: six eggs each bread butter & coffee & afterwards had the impertenance to eat our army dinner: wrote in afternoon: German report in yesterday’s paper that they captured some prisoners & trench guns in a patrol attack south east of Armentieres (our position) but I know from good information that they got no guns although a few "boys" are missing the list being for the 20th :- 27 killed 70 wounded & 5 missing but I bet Fritzy got more: D. Coy’s billets were shelled

Tuesday : May 9th
Dull day: usual routine during the day: I am off all fatigues & have a good sleep. I believe the roads here were full of guns on the night of the 20th shindy: our artillery will do me: posted my belt home

Wednesday May 10th
Dull day: occasional showers: usual work

[Page 100]
till dinner: went on the "wash" parade & it went well: there were hundreds of girls working there separated from us only by a bit of Hession: coming home we seen the big gun with the catapiller wheels fired & she does recoil: the muzzle rises fully six feet in the air & she also runs back: Gee! but there is some flash & noise: Fritz had seven balloons up & we also had a few: I was talking to G Davis & he said the latest is that the two mortars were lost besides the few prisoners: had a walk after tea: wrote some letters:

Thursday May 11th
Dull day: up at 8 am: breakfast: paid 20 Francs: read "Fragments from France" & am sending over for two to be sent home & Lithgow: it was a great cartoon work: got my wool off: tea: Taffy & Ern merry & made us laugh with his tales about the lodger etc: got a letter from J.B.J. who turns out to be a Miss, so I win the bet: had a yarn to Jim Marsland: one of our aero’s had to come down in our lines but all their shells were "squibs"

Friday May 12th
Dull day: up at 8 am: breakfast: cleaned up & then packed up my kit: W. Wenham is back so I lose my easy job: got a stock of chocolates in: tea Bert & I set off with a load for the trenches: had a long rest at the Dump so I went & had a look at the "boys" graves: there are a good few Aust there & the crosses are up: Woods & McNiel are buried in with the 26 that were killed straight out: the crosses just touching each

[Page 101]
other makes a fence all round & the Nº, name & unit is on a tin plate: the graves looked splendid especially this one: flowers have already been planted & pots were filled with blooms: I noticed a lot in front of the "boys" crosses: I suppose it is the work of Jim & Coy: I planted wallflowers & forget-me-nots in front of the crosses & also got some pansies to press: we passed a pathetic little grave at the side of the road: all on its lonesome with a wooden cross & the words roughly written: "unknown soldier . R.I.P.": Alf, I & two others are on guard at the western end of reserves & it is a fair job: took over guard at 8 pm:

Saturday May 13th
wet day: on guard in trenches: gave a Ginger beer sergeant a shock as he came round the traverse: slept 8 am – 12 noon: our guns gave Fritzy a shake up during the afternoon & after tea a very heavy bombardment started a couple of miles to the east: Gee! but they did shake things up: Capt M s great alterations

Sunday May 14th
cold wet day: on guard in the trenches: Fritz sent over a shower of "coal boxes" before dinner: I was rudely awakened from a good sleep by them: we were showered with dirt from a few of them: one burst in front of our traverse & another just behind our dugout & we did get some dirt: our guns replied & kept a steady share going at them all the aftrenoon: Last night some of the "boys" had to go out as listeners while the wire was being strengthened & it was a rotten job. Alf is getting a lot of his old letters but I am still "stiff" & can’t get one:

[Page 102]
Monday May 15th
cold fairly wet day: on guard in the trenches: Frity sent over another dose of "coal boxes" before dinner: a heavy bombardment is on again round to the east: Gee Algie! but I just got a shock: a "whiz bang" came over & I thought it was on my dug out, the floor seemed to lift & I thought I was going to play sky-terriers: our boys gave them a steady bombardment before tea:

Tuesday May 16th
fine clear day: on guard in the trenches: glorious morning birds singing lovely: our guns sent over some shrapnelabout 5 am & Fritz was also sending some heavy stuff into Armentiers: a fair few planes were up before 7 am at which time I retired to get my shut eye: made some good rarebit for breakfast: The Fritz’s sighted a big birds nest in a tree close by & must have thought it was a sniper & they turned a machine gun on to it & made the leaves & twigs fly some: a fairly heavy bombardment all day by both sides & aero’s galore all day: after tea some more Armentieres expresses went over & our guns returned them some: posted my letter for Fragments from France.

Wednesday May 17
on guard in trenches: glorious day: usual shells by both sides during day: after tea the gas horns & gongs sounded from our left & we had to "stand to" with helmets on turban fashion: we had "alarms" on & off all the night & did not get much shut eye: The first one was "fair dinkum" but after that I think it was the fog which used to roll up in big banks & of course it is not worth taking any risks. Our guns gave them a banging at the first alarm. Luiet pye from Lithgow was

[Page 103]
shot dead accidently while out on patrol: he was a fine chap & it is a pity: during the day Jim brought round some papers & a letter from Art. which was very acceptable: plenty of aero’s

Thursday May 18th
on guard in the trenches: glorious day but foggy morning: shells by both sides during the day: another "gas alarm" after tea but nothing came of it: our boys are getting worked very hard: Taubes very daring:

Friday May 19th
on guard in trenches: glorious day. foggy in morning: the birds sing lovely in the morning here: I got a good letter from Aunt Myra & a bosker from my Kiddie with the photos enclosed (no number) I was real sorry to hear about Aunt’s father & it was a real nice letter: The photos of the Kiddie & self seem very nice & she has a bosker smile up: I have filled out a lot especially in the face: I felt a bit "Fluey" & went to the A.M.C. for some "kill-me-quick" While there I went & seen Jim & also seen J Carr: They all had letters from Lithgow: Surprised to hear about bill chucking up the factory & also glad for Mum’s sake that George has married although we need every man we can get here: yesterday & this morning a church bell could be heard in the village behind Fritz’s trench (a sign that we respect churches) & a band could also be heard somewhere over there: three taubes were a bit cocky again today although they don’t come into the same street as ours: towards tea our guns gave Fritz a walloping: This was my fourteenth week without a letter from Aust so it was up to me to get some:

Saturday May 20th
on guard in the trenches: glorious day: usual

[Page 104]
aero’s & artillery fire during the day: after tea the mob next to us sent a lot of bombs over & Fritz replied with shells: we had to "stand to" till just on eleven p.m. : I don’t know what the joke was: a big aero or else an airship passed over to the German lines & dropped signals as it went: it must have been one of ours: a search light from over Lille way was trying hard to pick it up. Got some dope for my "Flu" off the Quack:

Sunday May 21st
on guard in the trenches: glorious day: chats are very busy: "Chat Post & Wireless Station" does a good trade & some of the "latrines" are very funny: heavy bombardment by our guns: Fritz pumped some in especially up the "salient" way: The fine big mansion behind the Fritz’s has "mafished" & is in flames: one of our ’planes has just flew right over their trenches very low at a great speed & walloped them with his machine gun: Gee! but it was a sight for the Gods: I started to write to Bon & the boys but had to knock off as shells came over like peas & it was the liveliest ¼ of an hour I wish to be in: Higgs got his pipe knocked out of his mouth & Nug got a butt of a shell (about 10 lb) lob close to him: I got a bit of the driving band: as sure as I start writing something starts to interrupt me: "route marches" are sailing overhead now from both sides: finished my letter just on dark: "stood to" till 10 pm: heavy bombardment left & right in distance

Monday May 22nd
on guard in trenches: hot day turned thundery & had a few showers in late afternoon & night: usual daily routine: packed up to go out & then told we were not going: shifted further up to guard Batt reserve bombs & ammunition: sleeping alongside a nice

[Page 105]
pile of fireworks if a shell struck them: rather an exposed post: poor old Dick very amusing the most nervous man I have struck: our guns banged a lot after tea & Fritz sent over a fair few. It is amusing to hear the lads asking Fritz when is is coming over etc:

Tuesday May 23rd
on guard in the trenches: fairly fine day: usual routine: Jim came along in morning & had a yarn: plenty of bombs down th 7th Bgde way. Fritz replying with shells: plenty of shells from both sides in afternoon: a "fleet" of five German aero’s passed over to the German lines but none were hit. I caught a mole after tea & they are funny little things. relieved by 19th about 9 pm & then billets & bed about 11 pm:

Wednesday May 24th (Empire Day)
dull day: wet afternoon: heavy firing in early morning & Tom told me a "fleet" of our aero’s came from the Fritzes lines in early morning & all got through the fire safe: Fritz set fire to a fine old place close to our billet: we "rose" at 9 am & had a fall in for kit inspection etc. Alf & I went up & got some fruit: all the estaminets are "out of bounds" only cafe & biscuits can be had: wrote to my Kiddie" & sent a P.C. to Mim, Darling & one to herself: paid 15 Francs: told that I am on permanent cleaning up while in billets so missed the fatigue.

Thursday May 25th
billets: patchy day: revellie 8.30 am: cleaned up round about: dinner: innoculated & then wrote home also sent a P.C. to Aunt Myra, Jess & Harold, & one for mum: our guns were busy in early morning: a nice scetch has been put up on the door showing a swagman with a wooden leg & hook arm

[Page 106]
& these words: What did you do in the great war eh? the reply is "fatigue": got a letter from Harold dated 20-3-16: my arm swelled like a young leg of mutton & I was very crook: I must have got a bit delirious for I was under the impression that I was patching up wounded men at the dressing station: I was very feverish & the cockles round my heart got cold & started running up my back bone in little shivers, a la the "Flues": concert:

Friday May 26th
Billets: fair day: "stand to" at 3 am while our guns gave them a shake up: went on sick parade (the first since I enlisted) & the Ghurka ordered me a couple of days off: laid down all day & turned in to sleep early: The boys are working very hard on fatigues at night & since we have came here the trenches have undergone some changes for the better:

Saturday May 27th
Billets: up at 8.30 am: fair day: I felt pretty right again so done my bit cleaning up: heavy bombardment by both sides in early morning also plenty of machine gun & rifle fire: shrapnel from an aero’ shell came through the tiled roof of our billet: Alf & I went for a feed as I couldn’t eat yesterday: while Alf demolished eggs- a –cook I got outside of a whole tin of preserved pineapples much to the surprise of Madam: after dinner Fritz started shelling with shrappo’ & coal boxes: some of the shrap’ came through our roof: one "coal box" landed in the middle of an old house & up she went. (mafish house): our guns

[Page 107]
gave them beans in reply: after tea as the mob were leaving on fatigue Fritz shelled one of the roads & it was a nice sight as it was just dusk enough to show up the flash: one of our ‘planes went up & Fritz shut up like a book & gave the aero some hurry up: then we seen flashes in the distance which came closer till an aero’ could be distinguished coming from their lines: it was a glorious sight & I am not exaggerating when I say at least 800 shots were fired at him (shells) & still he came through: had a look at some 4.5 shells & charges & felt the weight of one about 36 lb

Sunday May 28th
Billets: good day: up at 8.30 am: after finishing my work Alf & I went to the Cemetary & fixed up about the grave: J. McNiel is on my left & Sun on my right: the grave looks well & the forget-me-nots that I planted are growing: after dinner I went & looked Jim up: he is in what was "once" a school but has been "spoilt" a bit: Brummy Jim & I had some cafe & biscuits before parting: Our mob had a blow out for tea & finished up on tinned fruit, cake & chocolate: traybong: after tea one of our ‘planes repeated last nights performance with a few more shots at him if anything but he got through: I went to Communion in morning & church after tea: church was in our barn & the address very good: he shook the boys up about not praying & mentioned that as our love ones prayed so much for us we should pray for them as prayer was a sign of love: I must tell my Kiddie this: while service was on the guns round the billet we banging away & an aero’

[Page 108]
overhead was also being shelled some: what a difference to church at home: the hymns were bosker & how natural they seem: Where is death’s sting: where grave thy victory: also that one:- night waning & the Sun waking our brethren in the Southern skies: I was thinking at Commumion that all my loved ones one probably be at Church at home as it was held at 10 am & we are about 10 hours ahead: read account of that red balloom a "Fritz" dropped from his aero’ near us a few weeks ago; the paper report said it had an English paper attached to it giving a full account of the Irish Rebellion: dirt & rubbing it in: Peter got a machine gun bullet in the thigh at night:

Monday May 29th
Billets or rather the remains: cloudy day: up at 7.30 am & breakfast: finished my job & sat down for a read: early in morning five of our ‘planes went over Fritz’s lines & a little later a taube came over & had a good look at our billets: about noon a couple of coal boxes came close & we guessed they were after our billet: we got the order to fall in & did so then ordered to get everything & go outside just as we were getting in from the square "bang" came one right through the roof & up she went: a matter of 30 seconds sooner or later & our platoon would have been skittled: a few of the boys got hit: I helped young Andy over & done his leg up it was badly bruised: I felt a bit of a knock on my shin & discovered a small hole through my puttee & just scratched the skin: we lined along the road & the shells did rattle in some: after a while we went into the trenches up the road till tea: it was pitiful to see the women & kids

[Page 109]
they were terrified: I reckon they ought to be made to shift: after tea fatigue parties went & the rest of us went back, I slept under an old cart: this war racket is funny, blown out if house & home & an hour later things are as if nothing had ever happened: our billet especially the private portion is a wreck: the door we slept against is riddled with holes: we were to have had a concert & someone had written on the program:- by request no flowers & if coal boxes are seen in the vicinity concert is off: it came true with a vengeance: during the day & night artillery by both sides & expresses went into Armentieres some again: made a "posi" under a cart: religious images on our house intact although the glass case was shattered:

Tuesday May 30th
under cart: fair day: up at 8 am: cleaned up till dinner: bath after dinner: after tea the fatigues went out & there was plenty of firing (all sorts) on both sides & our roads were shelled: we had to "stand to" till about 9 pm: sent some P.C.s to Art & one each to Darling Elsie & Nell: also some home one each for Alf, Len, Bert, Harry, Eva, Anne, Jack, & two views backsheesh & one for Mum: aero’s galore got a "shrap" pellet that fell close:
Wednesday May 31st
under cart: good day: up at 8 am: cleaned up till dinner: after dinner got under cover in preparation for a bombardment by our guns but it was not much: Jim & Brum came down & brought some Mercury’s: I read Bluey’s letter & he said one of his eyes were gone (stiff luck). After tea plenty of aero’s about & Fritz started along our roads again: just one continual

[Page 110]
"route march": he must have some good fowls to keep up his supply of shells like he does: plenty of peace "latrines" the latest being that peace would be declared in a week or two: It would do me:

Thursday June 1st
under cart: good day: up at 8am: cleaned up till dinner: plenty of concentrated fire from Fritz about ¼ mile on both sides of us: aero’s galore & a few taubes: one of ours flew very low over their line & seemed to be hit: their’s are not game to come low: one of ours had a go with a "fok" but another "fok" came up & he had to come back over our lines: two to one non bong: our guns banged in especially after tea: our observation baloon broke away & drifted away towards Fritzes country: the two men came down in their parachutes & they did swing some: Fritz bogged a few hundred shells into the baloon but it was still un hit the last I seen of it, getting along like a big zep: altogether it has been a red letter day & I hope June doesn’t keep up like this:

Friday June 2nd
under cart: good day: up at 8 am: usual work shells etc: after tea I met Jim & Albert & walked up to their billet with them after we had "cafe’d": Jim gave me about a dozen "greens" & they are "tra-bong: we were all warned that we were wanted for fatigue in the morning: heavy bombardment at our front & also round Armentieres:

Saturday June 3rd
under cart: fair day: up at 4.30 am & went on

[Page 111]
fatigue (engineers): a few whizz-bangs came a bit close while working: knocked off ¼ to 12 & "imshied". Alf had a letter for me from J.B.J. & it was a real sensible & breezy letter & very acceptable as I can’t get them from Aust at all: packed up my kit & then wrote a reply: moved off about 8.30 pm & took over centre Coy position: this is not a bad traverse being just rebuilt: a "coal box" got in a few days ago & splathered it: necessitating the rebuilding: out of the six men in four were killed & two woundered. there are plenty of gore stains about even now: we are pretty short handed & reinf will be acceptable I had a good look at a "Lewis" & they are quite simple to work: Fritz was pretty liberal with his flares: we did not send up one on our Coy’s front:

Sunday June 4th
in the firing line: cold cloudy day: nothing much doing till dinner time: a very heavy bombardment over St Eloi way in early morning the sky was lit up like continual lightning flashes by the guns: heard that we had a licking on the North Sea & hope it is a latrine: in afternoon Fritz bogged into our line on left & right & our guns bogged into him, I think we got the "verdict": We had to go out listening at 9.15 pm & came in 12.30 am. It was not too bad only cold: plenty of nettles out in No mans land & they were not too pleasant: a party was fixing up our wire: Gee! but there is some wire there: we could hear Fritz working in front & on our right: but did not see anything: a violent bombardment started down La Bassie way & there were certainly some guns like continual thunder & the flashes were like continual lightning: Fritz got a bit nervy then & started sending

[Page 112]
up a lot of flares: a couple fell right close to us & they smelt like crackers as they burnt out: I got a few little flowers as a souvenir: a search light was flashing from Fritz’s trench but it did not play on us: the machine guns rattled off a bit:

Monday June 5th
firing line: slept till "stand to": sleep till dinner: after dinner Fritz sent over some "coal boxes": he has evil designs on the L.M.G. next door: they all burst close & one beauty with a time fuse burst in front of the parapet & how we escaped beats me: the parapet top was blown in & bits flew everywhere while the heat & concussion was rotten: I made sure my face was off & put my hand up to see & was surprised when Dave told me I was all right: Dave was also hit pretty hard with dirt & stunned for the moment like myself: Another proof that the Lord is watching over us: poor old Mac got a nasty knock & he was a good twenty yards away too: after tea we had to "stand to" all night as the 7th affair was to come off but it did not eventuate: there were plenty of bullets flying round & one of our machine guns walloped into them all the night: wrote to Mum (Lithgow) telling her how we were guarded by the Lord & just afterwards the shells whizzed over as if to prove it:

Tuesday June 6th
in the trenches: "stand to" till about 4 am: rained a fair bit but I was under the fire step & covered with my waterproof so did not get wet: we were issued with some cocoa & powdered milk from the comforts fund:

[Page 113]
Alf got a tin of biscuits from Scotland & they went well too: "stood to" all night as the 7th affair was to come off: it started at 11.15 with a terrific bombardment from our guns on both salients & all along between: Fritz sent up double red rockets & red "showers" & soon his guns were bogging in a treat: it was awful & the big howitzer high explosives were terrible: the concussion, smell of the powder, etc & the heat of the explosions were beyond discription I observed from 11.30 pm to 12 midnight & the scene between the trenches was magnificent: flares were up from everywhere & Fritz was landing shrap & shell between the trenches to repel the attack he thought was on : The larger shells banged into our trenches & the escapes were marvellous: How anyone escapes at all beats me as there were bombs all kind of shells bullets dirt & a mix up of everything flying about:

Wednesday June 7th
trenches: "Hell" still let loose: It finished about 1.15 am: Mr Lowther stayed in our bay most of the time & we picked out gun positions: The bay next to us was blown in & Lowther and I pulled the bags away as we thought Higgs was underneath but thank goodness he was not: poor old Fid & J Clark were blown about badly but it must have been a merciful though horrible death: I offered up a prayer for strength & am sure it was answered: we were all badly rattled by the concussion etc: after it ended we set to to repair next door but our artillery opened up again for five minutes & Fritz replied but it soon died down again: This is not war: men are not made to face these big shells. The lord is indeed

[Page 114]
guarding us: I feel I am going back & will never forget how I have been strengthened & guarded. Our Loved ones prayers are being answered I am sure: The "affair" was a success & I believe the 18th also had a successful one: we were on observation during the day but I managed to get a few hours sleep: Jock sent my parcel along: He was arrested for overstaying his leave & this was what kept him back: he "done the deed" while over there: I would like to get a letter from my kiddie badly: a few shells came over at tea time as a "digester" I suppose: had a quiet night although our nerves were none too steady:

Thursday June 8th
trenches: fair day: after "stand down" slept till 6 am then on fatigue till 10.30 am: had a clean up till dinner: slept till about 4 pm: we were paid 20 francs: felt pretty "downy" & wrote to my kiddie I think a bit too serious but it expressed my mind: a fair few aero’s up during the day also "sausages" Our gun gave Fritz a bit of a "bite" now & again: Alf told me of Mac’s sad affair before he left. also showed me the text in his book for the 6th June & it fitted in with our shake up lovely. Proverbs xxx & 5th verse:- Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. It rained after tea:

Friday June 9th
trenches: showery in early morning but fine after

[Page 115]
dinner: out "listening" 12 am till 2 am & not too bad excepting it rained all the time: wrote home: after tea we had a good time watching aero’s: six of ours were kicking about over his (Fritz’s) lines & there were "some" shots fired at them but none were hit: a fokker came over high up & give him his due he was a "game un" & attacked ours: when ours got up to a higher level he "imshied" off but he was pretty game: our guns opened up a bit at 6 pm: & Fritz also bogged over a few: went out working on the wire at 9.30 pm: I put up two whole coils on my pat & was working round a shell hole: I used to get in nice & lively when the "typewriter" used to start: They moon showed us up as it sank & I think some of Fritz’s men "mooned" us as a good few bullets came close & couple of us were hit:

Saturday june 10th
Trenches: cloudy day: finished wire working 12.30 am & made some cocoa when we came in: Our guns tickled Fritz up now & then during the day & he also walloped a few back: one got the third bay up from us & got three: after dinner I went up to see Jim & Albert but they were both out Jim with a bad boil & Albert a bit off colour: after tea wrote to Doug & the boys:

Sunday June 11th
Threnches: showery on & off: Artillery of both sides bogged a fair few in & our trench mortars gave Fritz a fair walloping & he couldn’t find them with his guns at all: told off as a "listiner" but we did not go out: on observing all day: a bit of a bomb set to

[Page 116]
in No Mans land: one of our patrols bumped one of Fritz’s I think: a heavy bombardment round Yres has been on for a few days. Took a "P" bert writing & self observing:

Monday June 12th
trenches: showery all day: usual shells: got a letter from J.B.J. J.O.Donnel. & anne & Jack: They were very acceptable & newsy: told off for wire work but it did not come off: warned that the 1st Bgde were having a "stunt" & to be prepared for artillery fire: about 11.45 pm heavy rifle & machine gun fire was on round that way: it was raining & bitterly cold all day:

Tuesday June 13th
trenches: showery bitterly cold all day: at 12.25 am the artillery opened up: Fritz sent up his red flares & also some green "showers" but his guns were a little while in replying: we only got the tail end some "whizz" & shrapnel: most of the time we were looking over the parapet & it was a nice sight: D. Coy lost a few men: poor old Fritz is getting a shake up lately but he started these games & is getting paid in his own coin: These Aust’s are undoubtedly hard doers: when anyone gets killed it is just a passing comment "poor B---" or some other phrase: read an account of the 7th raid & the men are now in London on leave: Bert got a parcel & we had a "beano":- pudding, tinned fruit & lollies which went very good: went out "Listening" 9.30 pm till 11.45 pm & it was a wet & miserable job:

[Page 117]
Wednesday June 14th
Trenches: wet & very cold: on observation: a pretty good sniper is opposite us & pots at the periscope when it goes up & got very close at times: heavy bombardment round Armentieres & Yres still seems to be going strong: we got a few shells during the day: Jim Marsland looked me up & we had a good yarn: I took a "P" of Jim & Bert: one of our aero’s braved the elements & went up & Fritz sent some shots at him: F Poole came down for a few minutes after "stand down" & had a talk: Told me that W Barham & others had joined up the 18th so I must look them up when I go out.

Thursday June 15th Daylight Saving
trenches: we had to put our watches one hour ahead this morning as the "day light saving" started today: got a P.C. from J.B.J.: on fatigue 6am – 10.30 am building up a parapet: an aero’ came up after tea but did not stop up long: a fair few shells of both sides kicking around: cold showery day: our guns bogged in all day:

Friday June 16th
trenches: cleared up during morning & turned out nice day with glorious moonlight night: plenty of mortar "strafe"during day & usual shell "strafe": wrote after dinner: about 11 pm our guns gave a "demonstration" all round on the left & we certainly have some guns: It looked well with all the guns flashing:

Saturday June 17th : The day they forgot to proclaim peace on:
trenches: fine day: gas alarm on the left about 12.30 am but it did not get round our way: our guns shook him

[Page 118]
up in reply: on fatigue 6 am to 10.30 am building a parados but did not do much: slept after dinner: a fair few of our ‘planes were up during the day & there were three traubes pretty busy early in the morning: relieved at 10.30 pm & went to supports on fatigue: 10 of us were put on banking up a parapet but got into a hole & tried to sleep as were were none too fresh.

[Page 119]
too much work: I am on my good job again: posted J.B.J.’s autograph pages back:

Wednesday June 21st
billets: fair day: up at 9 am: cleaned up till dinner: paid 20 francs: after dinner I was innoculated again but it don’t seem too bad so far: a fair bit of work is on for the boys tonight: after tea four of our "fighters" came from over Fritz’s lines & they did get a pasting but were not hit: when they were over head two taubes were up over their lines & besides our fighters we had five ‘planes up, making 9 of ours & two Fritz’s up besides observation balloons: wrote home & sent P.C.s:

Thursday June 22nd
billets: fair day: up at 8 am: cleaned up: after dinner went for a wash: I have been off my tucker lately & only fancy dainties so tinned fruit etc is going down well. Bill & I had a stroll after tea: stood by at 11.45 pm while our guns banged in a bit:

Friday June 23rd
Billets: fair day wet after tea: up at 8 am: shelled out during morning so got up the road: women & kids terrified & were running around: I reckon they ought to all be sent back further: Jim came down after dinner & we sat on the grass for a talk but a shell came close & shifted us: I got a "P" of the billet: we went & looked F Poole up & he is all right. A Algie was wounded with shrapnel he told me. Went part of the way back with Jim: A heavy storm came up & it did rain some: the thunder & lightning was great: it flooded our sleeping ground out: I

[Page 120]
went for a stroll with Will after tea: Roger & Sault & A Coy’s guard fell into the ditch dodging a shell:

Saturday June 24th
billets: patchy showery day: up at 8 am: our guns bogged in a little during the early hours of morning: after I finished Tom, Nug, & I went almost in to Armentieres for a walk: After dinner Tom & I had one of our "eat ups": wrote to Et & sent P.C.s: plenty of shells kicking around: Alf went into the water dodging a shell: our guns opened up again towards midnight & Fritz returned as per usual: Seen a dual & a fokker made a beautiful dive at a plane but missed him:

Sunday June 25th
Billets: good day: the reputation for shells was well kept up & we were chased out of our billets in the morning: he was after our "big how is its" & landed first shell almost on them but of course did not know his luck: communion at 9.am & very nice: after dinner aeros were up like flies & bombed Fritz’s sausages: the bombs bursting in some big clouds made a pretty effect, just like weeping stuff falling from the clouds: nine of our planes were in a bunch & with the big thunder clouds as a background looked well. A Fritz was up so two of our "fighters" chased him & tried to bomb him & the bombs looked pretty bursting in the clouds: Fritz bogged in to the trenches a lot & our guns did a good bit of firing all day: after tea we had church in the barn & it went well: we had another "Kentucky" tea party & it was tra-bong: our guns opened up a heavy bombardment about 11.30 pm as our raid was on: It was a pretty sight to see the rockets going up & the flashes of the guns & explosions: Fritz got a rough passage all right: he replied pretty hotly but I believe we worked our "knut" this time in the trenches & came off light:

[Page 121]
Monday June 26th
Billets: showery day: "fun" ended about 12.30 am: it was a complete success for our party & I believe the N.Z.s also had a successful one at the same time: our mob caught them changing over & did a lot of damage: "physical jerks" 7.30 am till 8 am: cleaned up till dinner: bath after dinner:another fruit "eat up": a fair few aero’s up in between the showers: about 9 pm (just on dusk) our ‘planes brought down three "sausages" in about a minutes time & didn’t the boys cheer: they went up in flames & looked well: The only other balloon up was pulled down in record time: one ‘plane was cruising round & drawing their fire while the others sneaked over up above the clouds: Fritz was vicious & bogged into them but they all seemed to get back safe: some reckoned they seen four balloons come down on fire: one parachute caught fire & I bet the poor begger hit the ground heavy: Fritz bogged into our trenches a treat & our guns replied: we had to "standby" for a good hour: it appears he tried a raid but failed & the 18th had a successful one immediately after:

Tuesday June 27th
billets: showery day: plenty of artillery early in morning: "physical jerks" 7.30 – 8.0 am: cleaned up while the others had an inspection parade: had a couple of good "eat ups" in afternoon: quiet night

Wednesday June 28th
billets: showery day: too wet for "physical jerks": usual few shells & gun fire: had a "good eat up": "Fussy" had a parade as usual & "shook" the boys up about saluting & being soldiers like the "Grenadier

[Page 122]
guards": he has them on the brain & is a fair dinkum lunatic:

Thursday June 29th
billets: showery day: a few planes up in between the showers: had a general clean up during the day: packed up & relieved by the 16th about 10 pm: marched off & got to these billets about 1.am (Friday) pretty stiff march after our long spell off marching: there seemed to be something doing round St Eloi way by the look of the coloured flares & the gun flashes: these billets are not too bad:

Friday 30th June
billets: fair day: got to sleep about 2 am: the 6th Bgde had a raid & it was on just after we got out of "Erq": I hear it was a success so Fritz is having a rough time taking things all round: parade 9.30 – 12 noon & 2 - 4.30 pm under Capt. "Fussy": If ever there was a mad hair brained hoodlum it is him: he is a military crank pure & simple: all this parade "muck" is no good for us we don’t want to be parade soldiers we want to do our bit of fighting & then get out of their khaki for good: planes very active after tea there were twenty one of ours in one bunch & some new immense ones were up there: the firing line is about six miles from here & shells very seldom get this far: Alf & I had a walk along the road after tea & the country looks well the oats & wheat looks splendid & they will have a splendid crop: a big Aust mail was delivered & I got none: it

[Page 123]
is rotten to see everyone getting letters & I can’t get one but never mind Bill every dog has his day but my day seems a long time coming: The routine while we are here will be reveillie 6 am: phisical jerks 7.30 to 8 am: breakfast 8.30 am: actual parade 9.15 am to 12 noon & 1.45 pm to 4.30 pm with dinner at 12.30 pm & tea at 6 pm so we are not going to have an easy time of it:

Saturday July 1st
billets: fair day: reveille 6 am: physical jerks 7.30 – 8 am: on guard at the main gate 9 am: plenty of saluting & presenting arms to the "Knuts" all the time: plenty of planes about also a couple of taubes: after tea a mob of our "fighters" were kicking around & Fritz pasted into them a treat: they are monster planes all right: a very heavy bombardment down La Bassee way started at dusk & kept up all the night: Fritz also had search lights going & done a lot of anti-aircraft firing so I suppose our ‘planes were on a raid: got a letter from Mum & one from Len (the first) & the news was certainly new to me: They were addressed to B. Coy. so I might to get my mail all right now:

Sunday July 2nd
billets: good day: on guard till 9 am: Capt "Fossil" informed us that our old billet (streaky bacon) was "mafish": Fritz turned a sausage machine on to it & set it on fire & all that is left is the chimney & a few bricks he also got another church in Armentieres: This must be the last efforts of a desperate foe: our side is showing who is who now & I reckon the war will be lucky if it sees this month out: Holy Communion 10 am &

[Page 124]
very nice nearly 30 being present: Church parade for the mob & the band sounded well after not hearing one for some time: Alf & I walked along the canal towards Croix du bak & the scenery was very nice: I got a "P" of some artillery horses being "watered" & also a canal scene: dinner: we had a "eat up’ for tea: I went over & seen F Poole he has hurt his ankle playing football: we had a good talk: while there sitting under a tree a taube was being shelled overhead & a nose cap fell barely five yards away from us: Church at 7.30 pm & was very good: B Coy played C Coy football but C. Coy beat our mob: three hospital cases resulted out of it so I pity the Fritz’s if we get to proper "holts" with them: seen some anti-aircraft guns on motor lorries; Taubes were over during the day:

Monday July 3rd
Billets: hot day: reveille 6 am: physical jerks: breakfast: rifle exercises: dinner: parade but sat down & were lectured by "fossil" on saluting etc: he certainly has good ideas & would be a good man training recruits at home : Lecture on gas & also told us about the N.Z. & the gas, also about the 19th & N.Z. deserters: a few traubes were over during the day & one of ours had a scrap with one: the last we seen of it ours came down in a volplane but we couldn’t see whether he was hit or not: heard some tales about the 4th Bgde raid & the artillery: some passed our billet at dusk: I feel pretty stiff today through kicking the football: told that our trip to [plugstreet?] way was off: more anti-aircraft on lorries & it appears they roam round the road here as Taubes come over more often than our own billet: still banging away down La Bassee way

[Page 125]
Tuesday July 4th
billets: showery day: R.6am physical jerks 6.30 – 7 am: breakf fell in in full marching order 10 am but it was cancelled & we dropped our packs & drilled in the paddock with rifles only till dinner: parade in paddock 2 – 4.30 pm: Bert & I had some eggs.a –cook & cafe & it was tra-bong: posted letter home:

Wednesday July 5th
billets: showery day heavy rain at times: revellie 6 am: physical jerks 6.30-7am: breakfast: I got a lovely parcel from home & was very pleased: I am well equipped with everything so distributed the surplus among less fortunate friends: it was a lovely parcel: also got a good letter from J.B.J. morning parade in paddock also afternoon but the ground was rotten & muddy: an aero’ came up in between the showers & flew round our billets for a good ¼ of an hour very low & looked well:

Thursday July 6th
billets: cloudy day: revellie 6 am: about 12.30 am were awakened by the gas alarm & had to keep awake for an hour & a half or so but it did not get this far: a very heavy bombardment on round Armentieres way: Fritz has been bogging into the town itself a lot lately: heard about the 13th & 14th muck up at our old position: physical jerks 6.30 – 7 am: at am M.O. today: rations have been very short the last few days & today it is bread & bread + a couple of prunes: parade 9.15 am & marched to our paddock: the competition was on & we were spectators: all the "knuts" were there from Gen Holmes downward: the

[Page 126]
competition was keen & won by A. Coy although only a matter of a few points separated the whole lot: dinner: bomb throwing & bayonet in afternoon & we were spectators again: we pulled off the long distance bomb throwing with Kelly: the Knuts congratulated them all: Jim & J Schulster called at tea-time & gave me some cake & lollies that Everitt & others had sent to the "band" from Lithgow. We went over & seen F Poole & all of us went along the canal (river Lys) for a stroll: Jack told us he just had a letter from home saying that Vera Hazel & Bill M. had been married but I can’t swallow that at all it must be a mistake: put in my name for a S.B. for our Coy:

Friday July 7th
billets: showery day: gas alarm about 1 am: heavy bombardment down La Bassee way: reveille 6am: physical jerks 6.30 – 7am: breakf: parade 9.30 but had to knock off after an hour or so on account of the rain: dinner: wash parade & it was a long march: that French girls have little modesty I am assured of: paid 20 francs: rations not up to the mark so we mentioned it to the Orderly: "Taffy" said we were taking too many prisoners & they are eating all our "Conks" he is certainly a hard case: I have a boil on my thigh & it is pretty sore: the boys were pretty merry: "practice" gas alarm 10 pm & then bed: got a letter from Aunt Myra & one from Anne & Jack

Saturday July 8th
Billets: fair cloudy day: Revielle 6 am: physical jerks 6.30 – 7 am: breakfast: parade rifle drill & musketry 9.30 – 12 noon: after dinner I went to the A. M. C. & got my boil fixed up so got out of

[Page 127]
afternoon parade as it was chafing a bit: wrote during afternoon: tea: "chicked" our iron rations & some of the excuses were laughable: finally we made a general excuse that owing to short rations we had eaten them: J Schulstad & Jim came along & we had a good walk:

Sunday July 9th
marching: good day though warm: reveille 6 am: packed up & fell in at 9 am but taubes made us get under cover: they were pretty daring & three were over: inspected: fell in again 11 am & marched off: passed through Steenwerke & plenty of people (female) about togged up just from church: black was prevalent I suppose in mourning most of them: passed by Ballieul & our old billet: the scenery was splendid: passed the 1st & seen Budd there: got to Caestres about 7 pm & billeted at a farm with a big mill: I got a "P" of it: the barn stank so most maties slept under some trees & it was good only the "skeetas" from a pool a few yards away tried bayonet practice on us for a while: my plates of meat were a bit sore so I had good wash & fixed them up with boracic: could not get much tucker at the shops but I managed to get a egg feed & coffee: done about 14 miles marching:

Monday July 10th
marching: good day: Reveille 7am: packed up & fell in 9 am: bought a few P.C.s of the mill off the miller: marched to the road & started on our trip at 10 am: marched through some small villages & through beautiful country lanes: the country is a bit more hilly & some beautifull

[Page 128]
views could be seen from the top of some of them: the crops were splendid wheat, oats, flax, hops, etc, while the flower gardens were perfect & did look well: the boys were cheerful & sang away: poor old "Cock Robin" was mourned over a lot as per usual: our drummer improved a bit since yesterday: billeted at a place a few miles from St Omer but the shed was not too good so we slept under a tree: stripped off & had a good wash & felt good: could not get any cafe or eggs anywhere but managed to get a couple of tins of sardines & a few biscuits: done about 14 miles & our plates of meat were sore again: the "Ghurka" came round & inspected "our ding bats": they made us hand in our blankets so we will sleep cold: It makes one wonder what is really on the menu for us: some kids came round after old clothes so I gave him a spare pair of mittens & got him to write his autograph on the back of the "Mill" Post Cards:

Tuesday July 11th
marching: fair cloudy day: Revellie 7 am: breakfast: packed up & fell in: moved off at noon: solid march mostly over cobbled roads to St Omer (about 8 miles) & got into the train: we had horse trucks & about 40 to a truck so we didn’t have too much room: St Omer is a pretty place & a nice size the churches & railway station are very nice: got a maple leaf from a Canadian he was among the first lot that were gased round Ypres & most of them have easy jobs now: train left about 5pm passed through Calais, Boulogne & Etaples: the sunken boat we passed coming from Marseilles is still at Boulogne although breaking up: there is a large

[Page 129]
works there & there were plenty of Iron rations for Fritz in the making all sizes from whizz bango to the big monsters: women were mostly employed even on the coal heaps: Etaples is a large camp alright: got out a little past Amiens at 2 am & marched off:

Wednesday July 12th
marching through Amiens took nearly four hours & it is a fine city: the roads were nicely laid out & had the road in the middle footpath at each side with a row of large trees on each side of the footpath making four rows of trees in all & they would be nice & shady: the trams were funny little things: the river runs right through the town: the outer suburbs were a bit dowdy & the people did not seem too much claso: passed miles of motor transports & there were plenty of hospitals in the town: this is the Somme district: left Amiens behind & passed through a little village: while resting a young woman came out with a jug of cafe & handed it round. I got a cup & it went well: passed through & then along a lovely shady road for a couple of miles: the large trees met overhead & looked well: arrived at Argoeuves about 8 am & billeted: there was a rush for "scran" be we got a loaf & a couple of dixies of milk each so done well: wash & clean up & then laid down: we struck a bit of a wire netting affair & used as a bed & it went well: up for tea & went for a walk: had a look round the village cemetary & it was full of wreaths made out of beads & they did look well: met Barham Bolt & Brown & they look well: our plate of meat have had a rough passage the last few days & we are a bit tender: these farms have plenty of pets, rabbits, pigs,goats, etc: our barn is not too bad & electric light is all through the outhouses: Good luck to King Billy & his white horse: it is two years to day since I went to board at Ethel’s place:

[Page 130]
Thursday July 13th
argoeuves: showery day: Revellie 7 am: parade 10 am & got a little lecture & had an inspection then dismissed: Alf, Bert & self had a stroll & seen F James in a lot of artillery that were passing by: got Alf to take Bert & self in a field covered with poppies, daises, & other wild flowers: on ration fatigue after dinner & then wrote some P.C.s to Mum & Ethel: Went for a stroll after tea & the walk through the natural archways of trees & past the swamp was lovely: I wish my Kiddie was here & we would put in a real good time: a fine view of Amiens & the Cathedral can be had from a hill close by:

Friday July 14th
Argoeuves: fair day: Reveille 6.30 am: physical jerks 7 – 7.30 am: told to report to M. O. at 10 am & had our first instruction in S. B & first aid: it was very interesting: wrote in afternoon: had a good walk after tea:

Saturday July 15th
Argoeuves: fair day: Reveille 6.30 am: physical jerks 7 – 7.30 am: parade to M.O. for instruct at 10 am & it was very interesting: [zam ?] buk was a character & kept the fowls well on the move: had a walk before dinner: got a "P" of our travelling kitchen: the boys went for a route march in afternoon: got two letters from Ollie & Doug & was pleased to get some news: after tea Alf & I had a nice walk through St Savieur & back round the lagoons. I got a "P" of Alf & some kiddies that were playing in the crop while their mothers were working away reaping: got

[Page 131]
a few comforts issued I got a washer & a few lollies: eight planes about just on dusk:

Sunday July 16th
Argoeuves: showery day: reveille 6.30 am: physical jerks & lecture 7-8 am: Capt Fossil told us we were to move off at any time to Albert & told us of some of the privations we would have to contend with water being the main one & then rations: no S. B instruction & as we formed up for church parade Capt F: rode up & informed us it was off & that we would have to pack up ready to leave at 12 am: moved off to time & marched for three hours to a village with large barns & stables mostly deserted: we got a billet with wire netting "roosts": the country we passed through was pretty the crops looked well & were intermingled with poppies cornflowers daisies & other wild flowers: no places to buy anything at this billet is very "stinky" & the people we reckon must be Huns they are so grumbly:

Monday July 17th
Cardonette: showery day: reveille 6.30 am: physical jerks 7-730 am: parade for instruct by M.O. at 10 am & instructive: parade to A.M.C. for instruct in bandaging after dinner & very nice: this is a louzyplace & we can’t buy anything: the few people here are very inhospitable quite the reverse to Argoeves: they even took the handle off the pump & we could not get water for a wash till we schemed an idea for working the pump with a piece of wire: got a bundle of papers from Aunt Myra & some

[Page 132]
"John Bulls" from J.B.J : also a letter each from Bill & Fat Mabbott & Jess Muir: papers were plentiful & it is amusing to read of our arrival in France: when will these paper hoodlums stop talking such rot as they do: flowers, charming girls, real beds & furniture & other such rot; they must have either visited head Quarters or some of the "cold feet" that live in comfort back from the line: a trip to a hole like this would open up that paper hoodlums eyes a bit: it is up to me to get a letter from Ethel:

Tuesday July 18th
Cardonette: showery day: reveille 6.30 am: no physicaljerks on account of the weather: ordered to pack up ready to move off: moved off at 1.40 pm & glad to see the last of that hole: passed through a few villages one was a large one & had a lot of Tommies in it also a lot of transports: passed a lot of transports on the move: the "padre" always marches with our Coy & is a hard case: got to our billets at Rubempre about 4 pm & were put in a big barn: on the ground again: scored some biscuits & tinned fruit & milk & had a good eat up: after tea we had a good walk round the village which is a large one: plenty of Tommies here & one showed us a German bomb & a few souvenirs: got a democrat from C Beatty & had a read: got a pretty P. C. each for Nell & Elsie: Fred told me his people were not getting his letters: I hope they get

[Page 133]
mine at home alright:

Wednesday July 19th
Rubempre: fine day: reveille 6.30 am: no physical jerks: parade 10 am for instruction on bones & fractures: after dinner instructed how to apply splints for fractures: paid twenty francs but could not buy anything as the shops were bought out: slept cold again: the boys were pretty merry: a few ‘planes kicking around: plenty of gunfire at night lately:

Thursday July 20th
Rubempre: fine day: reveille 6.30 am: packed up & fell in to move off at 8.50 am: moved off & marched through the village where the 19th & 20th were: got to our billets at about noon after a solid march the pace being pretty hot: this is a large village (Warloy Baillon) got a top "perch" & then went to a canteen & got fruit, condensed milk & lemon squash & had a good eat up to the great amusement of some Tommies billeted over the road: they seem to wonder where we put it all: plenty of transports & amulances with wounded in kicking about: this place is about 5 miles from Albert & there are all sorts of "latrines" about: Jim Marsland looked me up & we met J. Shulstad & F Poole so had a talk: Jack told me that old Mrs Mabbott had died: a fair few ‘planes & obs balloonsup: wrote to Mum & Ethel as this may be out last chance for a while: Jim told me that 50 boys from Lithgow were all congregated at one corner

[Page 134]
not too bad for a little town.

Friday July 21st
Warloy- Baillon: fair day: Reveille 6.30 am: went to Holy Communion in St Pauls C of E. It was just a large room but over a hundred of us got in including a good few officers: The altar had a couple of shell cases as vases & were filled with nice flowers: it was a nice service: parade at A.M.C. for instruction at 10 am: ordered to pack up & fall in 2 P.M. moved off & when well out were told it was only a test to see if we could get off the mark: the boys did swear some: came home a different way & got home about 7 pm: we seen 13 planes & 10 observation up of ours at one time: Jim & Doy & knight came down for a talk: had a good feed of tinned fruit. got a letter from Mum & Aunt Myra

Saturday July 22nd
Warloy – Baillon: fair day: Reveille 6.30 am: physical jerks 7- 7.30 am: packed up in morning: fell in to move off at 2 pm but did not move off till 6 pm: marched to Albert & finally bivouacked on a grassy patch: plenty of ‘planes balloons & gunfire: there are a fair few monoplanes down this way: cold night: terrific bombardment toward midnight & plenty of coloured flares going up: read a Mercury & seen about "Granny’s" death

Sunday July 23rd
Albert: cloudy day: up about 7.30 am after having done a good freeze all night: church parade 10 am in a chalk pit & very nice: a few large shells landed close during the service: our

[Page 135]
colonel told us that the 1st done very well in their attack last night: heavy gunfire all day: this is war all right not play like Bois Grenier one roar all the time: Albert is a nice town though badly knocked about : there are a lot of large stacks & they have lost their "plumb" with a vengeance: the beautiful church is ruined the large image of the virgin is hanging out at right angles from the tower & has been like that for 15 months now: I believe the statue weighs 7 ton: diagram of the tower showing how the statue is hanging: the railway seems to be still working well & shunting is busy: There does not seem to be many civillians there: I got a "P" of the church: after tea had a good concert & some good songs were rendered: all the time here we are in readiness to move off in "fighting" order any moment: we have "dumped’ our packs & our whiskers will look terrifying in a few "days": got some fruit from a canteen motor & it supplemented our biscuits & bully well: plenty of aeros & balloons:

Monday July 24th
Albert: good day: slept cold: heavy bombardment till daylight: another big reflection went up either a mine or something: up at 6 am on water fatigue: I then ducked into Albert "fossiking" but could not get any eatables: the town is badly knocked about: the church must have been a beautiful building: the statue of the virgin with the child in her outstretched arms hangs on wonderfully & the child is facing

[Page 136]
the ground with arms outstretched: these people always make their church the chief building: a nice statue to the heroes of 1870 is also in the centre of the town: motors are there in hundreds: about dinner time Fritz shelled the town a little & put one right into the church again & the dust did fly:one burst near our ground & wounded one chap: the boys went on parade in afternoon but Ern & I worked our head & got down to the canteen for another lot of fruit which went well: I think we are off for certain tonight as we have tools spare water sandbags etc all ready: we are real soldiers now: (a soldier is a thing to hang other things on): the ‘planes drop their messages close by & do look well as they fly so low when dropping them: got a P.C. from J.B.J : had a look at "Fanny" a 12 inch monster & she is a beauty & must tickle Fritz up some: fell in & marched off about 8.30 pm & after a good march got to a fairly large flat between two ridges: the ground was seamed with white lines which were trenches: the ground is all chalk & shows out plainly: a terrific bombardment was on & as we were in amongst the guns there was some noise: went for 40 winks in what were the german trenches about 11 pm:

Tuesday July 25th
Trenches: cloudy day: woke with the cold at 5 am: went & watched the guns firing & they

[Page 137]
are giving Fritz a rough time & he is also replying vigourously: had a look round the trenches some of the dugouts are wonderful being about 30 ft deep: the ground is one mass of shell holes & shrapnel cases every few yards: shells of all sizes, equipments, german bombs of all sorts & other relics of war were everywhere: had a look at the crater of a mine our chap exploded under what were the german first line trenches: it was well over a hundred feet deep & easily half as much again across: wire entanglements are twisted & heaped everywhere: the bombardment must have been some "class" as the trenches are battered badly: fell in about 11 am & B & C Coy marched off for the scrap: we passed about 50 prisoners being brought back by our Aust’s: on going over the ridge one would imagine he had only a few minutes to live as shrapnel was very severe: Fritz is also giving the "trenches" blazes: got into shell holes & rested waiting for orders: a lot of wounded are coming down mostly slightly: marched along the communication "trench" (a series of shell holes) about 8 pm & after a lot of messing around got to near the firing line about midnight: there were plenty of dead bodies about (Aust & Fritz) & they smelt pretty bad: some were lying along the bottom of the trench half covered & it seemed awful to have to walk over them: one of our ‘planes is over the parapet & must have been shot down some time or other: they ground is simply a mass of shell holes: our extra bombs & ammunition made a solid load:

[Page 138]
Wednesday July 26th = Thursday July 27

Friday July 28th = Saturday July 29

Sunday July 30th = 31st & August 1st
In Hell & had no chance of writing up so will put down from memory: which is very vivid:

Wednesday July 26th etc
Trenches: hot day: relieved the 5th Batt in the firing line which is part of Fritz’s trench captured yesterday: Fritz still holds the trench both ends of us: the wounded & dead are still lying about while a lot of our poor boys are in "no mans" land: Fritz attacked us at dawn but was repulsed & again attacked & was repulsed a little later: Ern & I then started stretcher bearing & had plenty of work & some awful cases: the Welsh ( 2nd) tried to bomb Fritz out of our dead end & got into his trench but he came back fiercely & would have got into our trench only for our boys rushing to the Welsh’s aid: our boys were great & simply defied death standing on the parapet throwing bombs while not a few jumped into no mans land & sniped at the Fritzes: our bombers lost heavily: the bomb fight lasted about 17 hours & was very fierce towards night: we succeeded in holding them: next day (I will run all the days together) the Durhams tried to bomb him out again & our boys had to
80,000 of our bombs were estimated to have been thrown

[Page 139]
rush to their aid again & suffered heavily the last of our bombers being put "hors de combat" on Thursday night our boys charged & got knocked about: from reports the trench was supposed to be almost empty & no artillery preparation was given: a couple of minutes before the charge Fritz sent up flares & must have known the exact time of the stunt: the boys went over through a hell of machine gun fire: the guns were in every hole imaginable we went to get Elliot in & how we got through that fire beats me: God indeed has us in his care: We worked hard & were practically without tucker & next morning were were done up: our O.C. ordered us a sleep & we got two hours before being called out : the W. Ridings had a go at the dead end again & with our boys aid got two hundred yards or more & succeeded in holding it: our Major & Colonel congratulated us on sticking to our work: it was Hell carrying wounded over the open through barrages of shell gas & shrapnel: we had to carry through the open as the saps were blown to pieces: the artillery fire all the time was terrific on both sides & we had some very miraculous escapes being hit slightly & also buried a few times: our planes would not let Fritz get his balloons up & also kept his ‘planes back & some good duels took place at times: one of ours got hit with a shell & had to go down: we were relieved at last on Tues august 1st about 6 pm & toddled out: we were done up & the smell of the dead bodies was beginning to be awful:

[Page 140]
got out to sausage gully had a good feed & wash & turned in: the guns would not let us sleep much: good weather all the time we were in the trenches: plenty of prisoners about also "souveniers"

Wednesday Aug 2nd
Sausage Gully: up at 5.30 am as the guns would not let us sleep & got rid of my large crop of whiskers: had a look & got "P" of the crater & La Boiselle: only a few bricks are left Contalmaison has also been knocked about & must have taken some taking: shells & other abandoned German gear are everywhere: fell in about 8 pm to go up to the trenches on fatigue: going up Death trap gully we had rough time: when we got to the supports some taubes which were dropping signals must have seen us as Fritz opened up a terrific barage on to us & it was a perfect hell for an hour: we got orders to go home & got back to Sausage Gully about midninght: I met young Strom he is in the 20th: Our boys got knocked about again especially C Coy: our guns gave Fritz a terific shelling : got a good batch of letters:

Thursday Aug 3rd
Sausage gully: good day: up at 8 am: plenty of shelling all day & at night our guns opened up a terrific bombardment & the noise was dreadful: could not sleep: premature explosed near us caused seven casualties:

Friday Aug 4th
Sausage gully: good day" plenty of gunfire Alf & I went up the crater & seen a monster

[Page 141]
shell about 5 ft long: also got a "P" of Sausage G. there are plenty of unexploded shells laying every where & as for shell cases & shell holes it is hard work to go a few yards without striking one: Fritz has had a hard try to get his balloons up lately but our planes soon make him pull them down: a few taubes have also come over but soon get chased up: the Froggies always have a dozen balloons up at least down their way: at 9 pm our guns opened up for 15 minutes & then lifted as a barage & our division charged: they got the first line easily but had to go a bit for the second we went up about 11 pm as a working party

Saturday Aug 5th
trenches: our party got into a trench but Fritz put a barage over & we had to double back a bit: we picked up one of our wounded & run him down & then started carrying from the front lines: It was hellish carry through newly dug narrow saps & across open country through the shells & we had miraculous escapes: our second line (German first line before the attack) had a good few wounded in it & was filled with dead Fritz’s some pretty "smelly" so our artillery fire lately must have played up with them: There were plenty of large dugouts & "funk holes": out boys found a lot of germans still in them as they were not expecting an attack after so short a bombardment & a few "mills" bombs down each one played havoc: a few days ago I met B Yates & have also bumped

[Page 142]
some more Lithgowites in the new "Reinfs.": the shell fire lately has been terrific: relieved by the 45th about 6 pm & went back to sausage gully: Fritz put over some gas & other shells & we were glad to move off again: our Coy has suffered: four left in our section & only about 70 of us who went in are left in our Coy altough a lot are only slightly wounded: Alf was wounded today so that only leaves McCrop, Reg, & self out of our "mob": marched towards Albert & bivouaked: towards midnight as we were nicely asleep a few shells came over & landed close then a "rush"came & a shell landed right in the midst of us: our four "bearers"had a stretcher for our pillow & it was not two yards from the edge of the shell hole while dozens (including F Poole) were just as close: we were covered with dirt & (another miracle) no one was wounded although one poor beggar had his head blown off : we then went into a trench close by & cuddled together till morning: a good few shells came over but none got into the trench: Fritz must only have been firing at random: a couple of horses next to our lines were also killed:

Sunday Aug 6th
near Albert: good day: up about 8 am: fell in & addressed by Gen Birdwood

[Page 143]
he congratulated the 2nd Div (especially the 5th Bgde) on the great work we had done as we had a harder task than the 1st Div He also said that he would like to give every stretcher bearer who carried through that hell a VC as every one had earned one: marched through Albert & had dinner outside the town: got to Warloy Baillon about 6 pm & billeted: a lot of the boys are done up: my plates of meat are pretty tender: got a good feed of tinned fruit: dreamt I was back at the front & woke up in a great stew looking for Ern ( church bells ringing as we entered sounded lovely:

Monday Aug 7th
Warloy Baillon: good day up at 8 am: Jim, Hendren, Jack Shulstad, Poole & Beatty & self had a good old talk: after dinner we had a parade for shortages etc & then dismissed: there are plenty of vacancies for "stripes" but S.B. will do me as it is a merciful job & although the work is hard & dangerous it will do me; had a good yarn with a "Tommie" & then bed: a heavy bombardment is on:

Tuesday Aug 8th
Warloy Baillon: good day: The weather since we have been down this way is much like Lithgow autumn weather hot days & cold nights: fell in & moved off at 9.15 am: no rations today but we got a stock of [dapain?] last night so am tra bong: passed through Rubempre & some other

[Page 144]
villages & bivouaked in a lovely shady orchard about 4 pm: it was a solid march (about 14 miles): plenty of planes about as an aerodrome is near by: got a couple of books from J.B.J: read accounts of our "stunts" they read well on paper & give little indication of what a Hell it is to go through: a heavy bombardment was on as we left Warloy:

Wednesday Aug 9th
shady orchard: good day: marched off about 10 am & rested for dinner in a nice shady woods: passed the first Bgde & seen A Amecy in the 2nd Batt: passed through a large town & across the railway: the view from the top of the hills was glorious: arrived at Halloy about 3 pm: We made a camp out in the grass & the sounds of the trains not far off sounded nice: this is a louzy place & we can’t buy anything at all: had a good wash & then sleep

Thursday Aug 10th
Halloy : woke by rain (drizzly) at 6 am: went at 10 am for a "wash" & also got a change of underclothes there & a pair of "slacks": got a letter from Harry Simpson, two from J Garbutt & a lot of nice P.Cs & a letter from J.B.J. Wrote in afternoon:.

Friday Aug 11th
Halloy: heavy mistin morning: physical jerks 6.30 – 7.30 am: parade at AMC 10 – 12.30 am for lecture

[Page 145]
parade 2 – 4-30 pm for stretcher & physical exercise: our hours will be 10 am – 12.30 pm & 2 – 4.30 pm: a canteen came along today & we got a good feed of fruit & fish also scored some bread: the rations lately have been rotten & yesterday Ern got some IXL off a french "cart": not the game at all: paid 20 francs: the old dame went pop about sleeping on the grass but we "no compre’ed" the nights are getting very cold now:

Saturday Aug 12th
Halloy: heavy mist: Reveille 6 am: physical jerks for the mob 6.30 – 7.30 am: parade for lecture 10am – 12.30 pm: went for a wash after dinner: great concert at night & there were some good turns on: got a letter each from Anne & Jack; Jess & H; Len & Alf:

Sunday Aug 13th
Halloy: rained in early morning & we had to get in: H.Communion at 9.30 am in the school room & there was a nice crowd: the school room was interesting & they seem to have a good system of education: church parade at 11 am & very nice: after dinner I went & seen Jim M, Jack, Hendren, & their mate & we had a good talk: I took their "P" in a wheatfield: had some cafe & got the dame to send a packet of P.C.s. to Ethel & Aunt Myra: church service in a school at 7.30 pm & very nice: feeding well on tinned fruit etc:

Monday Aug 14th
Halloy: reveille 6am: rained in early morning & we had to shift in : physical jerks for mob 6.30 – 7.30 am parade 10am – 12.30 am for lecture & instruction: parade 2–30 – 4–30 pm for stretcher exercise, etc: we

[Page 146]
also had some "sports" which went well: Mr Cropp went away with his varicose veins:

Tuesday Aug 15th
Halloy: showery: reveille 6am: Jerks 6.30 – 7.30 am parade for lecture etc 10am – 12.30 pm: sports in afternoon & the events were very good especially the wrestling on horseback & pillow fight: wrote to Bon & boys & Doug & boys & hope they get through to them: posted them also a book of Albert to Mum: concert off on account of rain:

Wednesday Aug 16th
Halloy: showery: Reveille 6am: packed up & moved off at 10am: marched to the "orchard" where we were before: concert at night & good: had a look at the aerodrome: we were allowed in & had a look over everything: very interesting: we seen half a dozen landings & startings & it was a most intersting hours: rained & we had a wet time:

Thursday Aug 17th
"Orchard": cleared up at daylight a bit: packed up & moved off about 8am: solid march (about 12 miles) to Happonville where we billeted: scored some bread & eatables: rations are starvation lately: the French are making it a bit hot on the prices lately & they are very dear: had a walk round & it was a nice shady lane:

Friday Aug 18th
Happonville: showery day: Reveille 6am: Jerks for the mob at 7 am: parade & instruction in splints

[Page 147]
& gas reviving & very interesting: after dinner we had stretcher exercise: watched the new "mill’s idea" & is seemed tra – bong: got a letter from J Wallace & one from W Kendall

Saturday Aug 19th
Harponville: showery: reveille 6am: parade in morning: paid 20 francs in afternoon: tinned fruit is still going strong with us & we are feeling pretty good: there are some startling "latrines" about good things in store for us when we come out next time: got a letter from J Alldridge: hope these "latrines" come true:

Sunday Aug 20th
Harponville: cloudy: reveille 6am: packed up & moved off at 11am: passed through Senlioway again & got to near Albert about 4 pm: got into fighting kit again ready to go to the firing line : moved off after tea to Sausage Gully: It is quiet now compared to last time & there is not near the busy scene there was got a letter from alf.

Monday Aug 21st
Sausage Gully: a few shells came over: a fleet of taubes dropped bombs close to us: had an early tea & went to Death trap gully & settled in the trenches there: we got a good posi: lucky we did not hang on to the one we picked first as a shell landed in it & we would have "mafished": good few shells kicking about: J Marsland is down here with a bad hand:

Tuesday Aug 22nd
Death trap Gully: nothing much doing all day: Poziers heavily shelled: got a "P" of the plane on the hill: plenty of taubes about: one brought down: duals on all the days & not too bad: Jim-M- camped in the

[Page 148]
"scoop out" opposite & we had a good old yarn:

Wednesday Aug 23rd
Death trap Gully: pulled out about 1am & went with Coy on fatigue to the chalk pits: got lost & finished up road making near Pozieres: to keep ourselves warm us S.B.s buried some Tommies that were lying about: they were almost skeletons & we got their discs & private things & handed them in: got back at breakfast time: plenty of taubes about & some bosker duals: one taube brought down though under control: taubes were very daring: fell in at 5 pm & marched to the trenches & relieved the 19th : the track was blown in & there were plenty of shells kicking about: made a bit of a scoop out for ourselves: Fritz is only 30 or 40 yards off here & our trenches are pretty new & very narrow: judging by the flares Fritz is all over the place again:

August 24th Thursday
Front line: acted as runner during the night: shells & gas chased us out of our "posi" & we had to go towards the front line: shells rarely get there as it is too close to Fritz’s line: C.Bowcher, C Waugh McKinlay & a few others were knocked about by a mortar bomb: a fair few Fritz’s can be seen early in the morning sneaking in from the shell holes so he can’t be too well dug in: a beautiful view can be had from here & about a nine mile view can be had from one place: in front of us can be seen Martenpuigh on the right & Coercelotte on the left & in the distance can be seen Baupaume: the first two are knocked to pieces & last night our shells sent a store of something sky high & it did flare up some: There does not seem to be too much crops close up to

[Page 149]
their lines: our boys dug a new line & occupied it: Fritz’s snipers are busy also our own: on looking at what the Aust’s have done here it is marvellous for the few men we have used: we deserve a spell alright:

August 25th Friday
Front line: again showery: up all night with shells & gas: it makes me sick everytime I get a belly full: there are a good few dead about & they do stink: the bones & pieces of men sticking out from the parapets do not make a nice sight: Ern & I went over the shell holes to what was once a redoubt but could not get in: got a few souvenirs from some equipments that were around: plenty of shells so we deserted our corner & got towards the new trench so we would be more central in case of a call: relieved by the 19th & got back through a nice barage of shells: Fritz must have spotted us changing over: camped in "Death trap gully": I got a letter each from Darling, Elsie & my kiddie also one from McNiels & Aunt Myra: I was glad to hear from my "kiddie": I got a little whack on the hand before coming out but it was only a scratch: plenty of shells about during the night: plenty of planes about while we were in

Saturday August 26th
Death trap Gully: showery: up about 8am: early in the morning our guns gave Fritz a shake up: one of our planes came down in our lines through engine trouble: Fritz sent over a host of shells during the morning: Sorry about poor old Peter Kemp: plenty of ‘planes up lately & some great duals: up to 50 can be seen up in the air at any time: buried Peter: got a letter each from Mum, Aldridge, Moyle & pleased to recieve same: plenty of shells kicking around all the day

[Page 150]
Sunday Aug 27th
Death trap gully: raining on & off all day: plenty of shells especially on the Contalmaison road: fixed Kemp’s grave up & got a "P" of it: relieved after tea by the 7th Bgde & marched through slush & mud to near Albert & bivouaked for the night: got a letter from Sarah & Eva: the old church looks well from here with the figure hanging from the top: Ern Thomas joined us up a few days ago & is in B. Coy:

Monday Aug 28th
near Albert: showery: up at 7am & packed up: we are not moving yet as our relief has not turned up yet: relief turned up as we moved off after dinner & bivouaked beyond Albert: the roads were awful: slipped into Albert & bought a few eatables also got a couple of "Ps" of the church the civillians are coming back & there are a few good shops there now: had a yarn with Jim M, Hendren & Strong: more letters:

Tuesday: Aug 29th
near Albert: moved off after breakfast to Warloy - Baillon & billeted: rained heavily & the roads were awful: got some eatables & had a good feed: paid 20 francs: got a letter from M. Kelly: weather pretty cold:

Wednesday Aug 30th
Warloy-Baillon: wet day: up at 7am: parade 9.15 am but postponed also again at 12 noon but again put off: it was to be the presentation of honours won at Pozieres: Together with a dozen others I was paraded for coming home from the bathparade without permission: we all got three day C.B.: wrote in afternoon:

[Page 151]
Thursday Aug 31st
Warloy-Baillon: up at 6am: parade at 11am & marched to a paddock where decorations were given out which were won at Pozieres: Birdwood in his speech told us we were going up Armentieres way again. He said he was exceptionally well pleased with our work & said that the S.B.s & runners had all earned V.C.s but of course could not all get one: packed up on our return & moved off at 1.45P: marched to Beauvalle a good 14 miles & got there on dusk: my feet were a little sore as I had a new pair of boots on: nice billets: I am sleeping in a cart: too "chatty"in the straw:

Friday Sept 1st
Beauval: showery:Reveille 6am: parade 9.30 am & 2pm: my C.B. is up tonight so I will be free then: Jim Marsland came up & we had a yarn:

Saturday Sept 2nd
Beauval: fair day: Reveille 6am: gas instruction in morning with our new helmets & they are tre-bong: after that Len, his mate & myself had a look rorend the town & it is a bosker place: the church is a beauty the interior statues & altar being very nice & the organ a beauty: one of our chaps played a few tunes & it sounded tra bong: made up my parcel & got rid of it: concert in the Town Hall at night & there was some good talent:

Sunday Sept 3rd
Beauval: Reveille 6am: Holy Communion at 9am in the soldiers home & very nice: too late home for the Church parade: we can hear the guns banging away from here & there seems to be "some" bombardment on:

[Page 152]
in the afternoon Len, myself, & Len, had a good roam all over the town & had a good time: got a Frenchie to send some P.Cs home for me: it is a fine town alright:

Monday Sept 4th
Reveille 6am: fair day: Len & I had a walk round after dupain & also had a look at the Cemetary after parade: there are some glorious tombs there: got a "p" of a beauty: had a good roam round after tea: no 7 & 8 moved off as advance guard

Tuesday Sept 5th Beauval
Reveille 4am: packed up & moved off to Doullon & entrained: in cattle trucks again: moved off about 8am & arrived at Poperinghe about 4 pm: we came by a new route we had’nt been over before: it was now raining heavy: This is a fine town & we marched through & billetted in a large building town out of bounds, but went to a picture show close by & it was very good especially the band: we are now well in Belgium & the names seem very funny to us: this town is often under shell fire:

Wednesday Sept 6th
Poperinghe: up at 8 am: fair day: parade for gas helmet inspection at 9.30 am & dismissed : had a talk with a tommy working on the railway here: the English run all these Belgium trains: parade 2 pm: given leave 4 – 8 pm: had a good look round the town: some fine shops here & fine silk & lace work: the large church is a beauty & we went inside: it has been slightly hit by shell fire: the interoir is lovely: went to the pictures & seen C. Chaplin & had a good laugh: heavy gun fire at night:

[Page 153]
Thursday Sept 7th
Poperinghe: good day: Reveille 6 am: parade 9 am: leave 2 – 8 pm: had another roam round & looked at the pretty thing: too poor to buy them: seen the officer about the R.O.D. got a few letters: heavy gun fire at night:

Friday Sept 8th
Poperinghe: good day: Reveille 6.am: parade 9am & 2pm: we are duty coy so could not go out: seen about the R.O.D. again: got a bosker letter from my kiddie & some pretty P.C.s.from Eastwood: Jim.M. & Williams looked me up just as we were falling in: fell in & got the "shoo – shoo" for a ride: marched to Ypres & billeted where shells could not get us: it is a fine place (or has been) & the massive walls have stood well although the roof & upper stories are destroyed: the town looks ghostly in the moonlight: relieved the Somersets:

Saturday Sepy 9th
Ypres: up at 8am: Mr Cropp & I had a look at the ruins of the Cloth Hall & Cathedral they must have been lovely places: it seems barbarous that a fine town such as this has been should be in ruins for the destruction is complete: met W Yates(in the pioneers) & had a good yarn: moved off after tea & got to the trenches about 10pm: this will be a wet hole when it rains: plenty of rats: relieved the King’s rifles: got a good "hole" though small:

Sunday Sept 10th
trenches: cloudy day: Fritz has a good position on the ridge in front & on our right hill 60 stands out: things are pretty quiet: he puts some "minnies" over on our right & left but does not touch our centre with

[Page 154]
them: they are "no bong": this seems a big salient allright judging by the flares:

Monday Sept 11th
Trenches: showery: nothing doing except a few shells: "chats" are very vicious in this dugout: trenches very sloppy: got a few papers in the mail:

Tuesday Sept 12th
Trenches: showery: nothing much doing: I sighted a working party of Fritz’s & one shrapnel got on to them at the same time & they "imshied": "alarm" at night as a patrol was sighted near our wire:

Wednesday Sept 13th
Trenches: showery: plenty of "minnies" towards the house on our left also a fair few shells kicking around: no wonder the Canadians had to fall back from that trench in front: them "minnies" would catch them lovely there: got four letters this morning:

Thursday Sept 14th
Trenches: showery: pretty quiet all day: relieved by the 23rd at night: pretty sloppy track home: billeted in the barracks again: issued with a blanket each & it is very acceptable:

Friday Sept 15th
Ypres: fair day: Len & I had a look round the Cathedral & Hall: I got a "P" of it also the remains of the organ: paid 20 francs in the afternoon:

Saturday Sept 16th
Ypres: fair day: had a look round the station & town again: looked through a convent: the altar in the chapel was a beauty: got a "P" of it: a fair bit of gun fire on during the last few nights: got a bosker parcel of cakes from J.B.J.

[Page 155]
Sunday Sept 17th
Ypres: fair day: went to H.C. in morning but it was not held: showed "Taffy" over the Cathedral: 5 & 7 platoon on fatigue to the trenches after tea so I missed the evening service too: Jock & I went with the party & made a "posi" as it started raining: we were behind the "bombing house": we came out through another "gate" tonight & passed the large cemetary: it was all torn up with shells & the "stones" were knocked about a lot:

Monday Sept 18th
Ypres: showery: came home from fatigue about 3 am: machine guns were pretty busy as we crossed the open but none were hit: Coy up to the trenches again after tea Ern & Gib, & Dev, went with them:

Tuesday Sept 19th
Ypres: showery: nothing much doing during the day: too wet: Coy on fatigue again after tea Gib & Dev went with them:

Wednesday Sept 20th
Ypres: showery: nothing doing much all day:got a good supply of luxuries in for our trip to the trenches: marched off after tea & had a good couple of hours paddle through the mud before we got there: The last few hundred yards was along a open road & there were plenty of machine gun bullets kicking around : The flares were a nuisance as we had to stand each time they went up: the trenches were awful all slush & mud: got a passable place for a snooze: bombing stunt on on our left

Thursday Sept 21st
Trenches: showery: a mine exploded on our right just after midnight: a few shells kicking around also

[Page 156]
"rum jars" & aireal torpedoes but we dodged them all: they have "some" concussion & the torpedoes go in a good depth before bursting & throw up a lot of stuff: mine exploded on our right a little after 8 pm & the ground did tremble some: Had a yarn with some of the Canadians down in their tunnel & got a maple leaf off one of them: Fritz is very close to us here & the flares come right over: a nice view can be had at the rear Ypres in the distance water & ruined houses in mid view & desolation & shell hole in near view: on our left is Sanctuary Wood where so many gallant Canadians lie buried: the trees are all stripped & broken by shells: hill 60 is a little to our right: our stokes’s gave Fritz a shake up in return for his "rum jars" & we also sent over some heavy stuff:

Friday Sept 22nd
Trenches: fair day: got a "P" of Sanctuary Wood: plenty of our planes about & one was very daring & gave Fritz some target practice: our guns bogged a few heavy ones over in return for some whizz-bangs he gave us: Fritz put a flare into our "posi"

Saturday September 23rd
Trenches: good day: quiet day few shells etc kicking around at night: Fritz put a flare into our "posi" again & our dug out almost caught fire: Jack Coulter got sniped

Sunday Sept 24th
Trenches good day: carried poor old Jack down so as he could get a decent burial: it was hard luck for him after going through that Pozieres hell & carrying all the time: trench mortar & artillery dual in afternoon: our "apples on the stick" & stokes’s shook him up & he replied with "rum jars" & torpedoes: our bombers also gave him a few "mills grenades" to play with:

Monday Sept 25th
Trenches: good day: the nights are getting very cold now:

[Page 157]
Fritz put over some "rum jars", minnies, & torpedoes also some whizzbangs: poor old Jack got a nasty knock, I took him down to the dressing station: after dark the others took Thorpe & the other one down: Ern & Gib had a narrow squeak: a whizz bang landed a yard from them but did not burst: it was dated Sept 1916: put over a few shells after tea: both sides: Seen C Drummond & he is going strong & looks well:

Tuesday Sept 26th
Trenches: good day: Fritz sent over a lot of "mortar stuff" during the morning: we replied with "stokes’s" & our "puddings": our dugout side fell in with the concussion: about 4pm. we gave him blazes with artillery & mortars: our new large "pig" (20 s lb) shook him up: he sent a fair bit over in return: there are some fearful things used in warfare alright: a mine went off today & shook the ground a lot: there are plenty of turnips in "no man’s land" here & the boys bring in some every night: snipers are very deadly here: we are doing pretty good in the tucker line & make soup:

Wednesday Sept 27th
Trenches: good day: a few shells kicking around: a fair few planes about lately & a couple of times we heard them dropping bombs: towards dusk we bogged a few heavies into his front line: a plane was spotting for the gun & gave Fritz a good hours target practice, machine guns, rifles, etc could not hit him: the sunset was glorious with beautiful cloud effects: a mine went up on Hill 60 it seemed like a Fritz but was not in a place to do much damage: there was also a fairly brisk bombing stunt on over there: relieved by 19th & got back to Barracks alright: got to bed about midnight:

[Page 158]
Thursday Sept 28th
Ypres: fair day: had a good clean up & then wrote at the Y.M.C.A.: it has opened here & I reckon it is the best instituion for the soldiers: met Scanlan & Southwell: got another blanket so sleep warm now: the 18th had a stunt but were set back:

Friday sept 29th
Ypres: fair day: nothing doing much: paid 20 francs: Fritz put a few shells around in the afternoon: on fatigue to trenches after tea with digging party: Ern & I went: Fritz opened up just as we finished: issued with new helmets & went through a gas test again:

Saturday Sept 30th
Ypres: fair day: home about 3am & then bed: the boys on fatigue again Gib & Tangs went: there was a concert in the YMCA & it went off very well: a very heavy bombardment started about 9 pm & kept up for a couple of hours: I hear very successful raids followed at different points

Sunday October 1st
Ypres: fair day: Communion at 10 am & very nice: we have had to put our clocks back to normal again: showed Tom over a few sights: nice song service in top room after tea & it went well: boys on fatigue again: they don’t get a fair deal at all: too much work:

Monday Oct 2nd
Ypres: showery day: took a few patients to the hospital after dinner: the asylum & womens gaol here have been fine places: I had a look over them both: Hardy slipped on the tiles & gashed his head badly & we carried him to the ambulance station: boys on fatigue again Ern & Dev went: I was lucky & won the toss so stayed home:

Tuesday Oct 3rd
Ypres: showery: nothing much during the day:

[Page 159]
took some patients round to the hospital: on fatigue to the trenches digging after tea: very muddy: Gib & I went

Wednesday Oct 4th
Ypres: showery: nothing much doing: Gib & I went & had a look at Jacks grave: fatigue to trenches after tea Ern & Dev went: a shell burst at the gate & got ten Tommies so went & dressed some & got them away in the ambulance:

Thursday Oct 5th
Ypres: showery: nothing doing during the day: on fatigue to trenches after tea. Gib & I went: it was very muddy & we were slipping all over the place: gas alarm but did not reach us: Fritz shelled some of our dumps: Gib & I got on the parapet & watched the flares & it was interesting to see the shape of the lines:

Friday Oct 6th
Ypres: showery: home about 1am from fatigue: relieved after tea by the 27th & marched to the train: passed through Poperinghe & got out at Godewaersvelde it was raining pretty heavy & the roads were pretty muddy:

Saturday Oct 7th
Winnezeele: showery: marched from station & as per usual got lost & stayed in the village for a couple of hours on the cobbles: too cold & wet to sleep: got to our billet about 7 am: plenty of clean straw: I got some eggs so had a good feed & then had a sleep: had a good game of fly after tea: these are fine farms: & the people very friendly:

Sunday Oct 8th
Winnezeele: fairly fine day: Holy Com in morning at the village school: afterwards I got a few P.C.s: we are about ten minutes away from the village here:

[Page 160]
one platoon a day is to have leave & we were lucky enough to strike today: we went into Winnezeele & then into Steenvoorde: the latter is a fair sized place & we got great feed there: the church is a beauty & we had a look through it: I met J, Marsland, C Cox & all the boys there & they are doing well: walked back to Winnezeele & went to church: it was good: the Padre is going to have a confirmation class & so I am in it again: out of the 16 of us at B.G. two are left: it has been very bleak weather lately:

Monday Oct 9th
Winnezeele: cold day: Reveille 6.30 am: jerks 7 – 7.30 am: breakfast 8 am: parade for boys 9.30am 12 noon: dinner: parade 2 – 4.30 pm: is the routine: Gib & I went into Winnezeele & had a good time: the people a very kind & have given us a great name

Tuesday Oct 10th
W innezeele: cold day: Reveille 6.30 am: jerks 7-7.30 am after dinner Gib & I went into W--- & had a good time: bought a lot of cards for Xmas:

Wednesday Oct 11th
Winnezeele: cold day: Reveille 6.30 am: jerks 7-7.30 am sent a card to all at home & all at Lithgow for Xmas also one to "La Mascotte": after tea we went into Confirmation class & afterward had a good time: They were very sorry to see us go when we said goodbye: it was the best time we have had: the weather is very bleak & cold the last few days:

Thursday Oct 12th
Winnezeele: cold day: Reveille 5am: packed up & moved off at 7.30 am: marched through Steenvoorde & poperinghe (about 14 miles) & finished up in huts out towards Ypres: they have called for railway men I don’t know what the joke is but a railway job will

[Page 161]
do me: paid 20 francs: "imsheed" off to "Pop" & had a good feed of chips & eggs: went to the pictures & it was a good show: the band was excellent & played lovely: got a ride home in a transport: had a "supper" at the Y.M.C.A. There was a debate on about conscription & I believe it was good we only heard the last few. "No" will get in with the boys as they don’t know how to treat men when they get them here:

Friday October 13th
near Poperinghe: Reveille 6am: boys off on fatigue: we helped to clean up the billets & did not have to go out: did not go out as it came up showery: had a kick of the football after tea: darkness comes now just after 6o’clock:

Saturday Oct 14th
near Poperinghe: cold bleak day: had a few kicks of the football & then went to "Pop" after dinner: had a good "eat up" & went to the pictures: there was a party of Pierrotts (soldiers) on & they were excellent both in singing & gags & we had a good night: got a ride home in a motor transport:

Sunday Oct 15th
near Poperinghe: cold bleak day showey: packed up & the "boys" moved off: we stayed behind & the Padre`got our packs carried for us on the motor: went to "Pop" for confirmation: had a shave at a Belgian house & it was very amusing: Talbot House is a fine rest house for the lads & all sorts of games, reading & writing rooms & also light refreshments can be had there on the top storey is a beautiful chapel: we had a little sing song & then were confirmed by Arch–Bishop Riley of Perth at 3 pm: It was a nice little service:

[Page 162]
there were over twenty of us confirmed: met W Wright & J Anlezark in Pop & had a good old yarn: they are both in the 4th Div artillery & looked well: Ive Garbutt is also there so I must look him up: I also seen C Burton & he also looked well: got home to our new billets at Renninghelst about 6 pm: went to a house & had a few cafe’s: it was a nice clean place & a kiddie was playing an accordeon: I got a lend of it & had a play & got the "boys" singing: very cold & rained heavily towards midnight: got a lot of P.C.s. of Ypres & sent them to mum:

Monday Oct 16th
Renninghelst: cold showery day with a little sleet: nothing doing till dinner: got leave after dinner & went to see W Wright: after feeding up the horses we had tea & walked out to the D.A.C. camp to see old Joe: after about an hours walk we found it & he was out at the dump working: we got a ride in a transport & got to the dump: he did not know me at all for a while: he looked well but like the rest of us full up of everything connected with this life: left about 8pm & walked home with Bill: I was pleased to see Joe & Bill & we had a good yarn:

Tuesday Oct 17th
Renninghelst: packed up about 9 am pretty stiff march (about 10 miles) to Winnezeele billets again: it came on to rain so I didn’t go out after tea: the country looks lovely though the trees are fast becoming bare:
Winnezeele: Wednesday Oct 18th
cold showery day: packed up & moved off about 8 am: stayed at Winnezeele for a half an

[Page 163]
hour & had a good talk to our friends: they think a lot of the Aust’s: the march was through pretty country all the way: there are plenty of "dutch" windmills round these parts & they look queer being generally up on a hill: Cassel looks a fine place & stands out very prominent: as we marched through we had a glorious view of the surrounding country: had dinner on the road: got to our billets at Arneke about 3 pm having done about 12 miles: we got a barn with plenty of clean straw: Tom Sid & I went to town after tea & had a feed: this is a very up to date farm & has churn separaters & other modern machinery: they use the dog wheels here too:

Thursday Oct 19th
Arneke: cold showery day: nothing doing during the day: we nestled into the straw to keep warm: Reg Tom Alf & I went in to the village after tea & had a feed in honour of Mr C. who sent us the money: it is a very straggling village: the church is a nice one & is over 300 years old:

Friday Oct 20th
Arneke: cold day: frost in morning: fell in with full kit & marched up the road to a paddock & had a "lesson" on packing up the kit: the other Coy s were voting on the conscription problem: after dinner we played football & fly & then marched back to vote: I voted No which is the popular vote among us in the ranks for many reasons: why should we bring men to a life such as this when they don’t know how to

[Page 164]
feed & treat us who have come voluntarily? went into town for a stroll after tea: sent an Anzac bulletin home to mother:

Saturday Oct 21st
Arneke: cold day: heavy frost in morning: reveille 4am: packed up & moved off about 7am: had dinner near Watten: the view all through was lovely especially coming into Watten: got to our billets about 3 pm after doing about 15 miles: we got a fair billet although the village is a poor looking one:

Sunday Oct 22nd
Bayenghim: bleak day: heavy frost in morning: went to H. Communion in the schoolroom at 9.30 am & it was very nice over twenty being there: had a feed of blackberries While the lads were on church parade: got my cardigan & sox from Aunt Myra also a pair with no note enclosed in a little tin & the address is also strange writing: got into the blankets & read all the afternoon: went to church after tea & it was good:the boys sang splendid & there was a good lot there: got some papers from Aunt Myra:

Monday Oct 23rd
Bayenghim: nice day: boys on parade 9am & went for a "discipline" march: packed up & moved off about 3 pm & got to Recques (about 3 miles) & billeted: we got in with the cows: got two parcels for Alf: two for Jack & one for Allan so had a good feed of the contents between us: The letter in Allan’s parcel was very pathetic as it must have been written after his death although I suppose they did

[Page 165]
not know it:

Tuesday 24th Oct
Recques: packed up & moved off at 9.30 am: got to Andruik (about 4 miles) & entrained: passed through Calais way: all the works en route are going at high pressure: rained most of the way: passed through Abbeville & got out at about 7pm: marched to our billet: it is a fair sized town & we are billeted in a music hall

Wednesday 25th Oct
Pont – Remy: up at about 7am: rained all day: the Somme flows through this town & it is a fair sized river here: after tea Tom Sid & I had a roam round & for devilment went into shops asking for things we knew they did not sell & had a good time: went to a private house for coffee & had a good yarn with the girls:

Thursday Oct 26th
Pont – Remy: wet day: packed up & moved off at 8.30 am & halted after about 5 miles through the rain: the "buses" came along & there must have been a couple of hundred easily: I never seen so many motors in my life: crowded 25 in to a car & off we went about 1pm on a bumpy ride: passed through a few fair sized places & through Amiens on dusk: the city seems pretty busy: trams full etc: our car broke down & we did not get to our billets till after 11 pm: plenty of mud about: this place is a small village called Ribemont

Friday Oct 27th
Ribemont: cold showery day: spent the day "cooking" what tucker we could snare & trying to get warm:

[Page 166]
Jim Marsland & Morton came along at tea so we had a yarn:

Saturday Oct 28th
Ribemont: cold day: met F Poole in morning: he had just come back & gave me a photo: wrote in afternoon & sent "Alfs" things & the letters that I had written: the mud & slush is rotten: every place is like a pig stye in wet weather:

Sunday Oct 29th
Ribemont: cold showery day: up about 7am: Holy Comm at 9.30 am in girls school: it was very nice with about 40 being present: parade for the lads at 11am: paid 20 francs after dinner: had a walk with Tom & watched some german prisoners working on the roads taking off the slush: went to church at "Ecole de filles" & had a good turn out: there must have been 60 easily there & the boys sang well: met Sorrenson & had a yarn over old times with him:

Monday Oct 30th
Ribemont: cold & showery: up about 7am: boys had a parade & address by Capt J in morning & also in afternoon: I wrote in afternoon & also replied to Katie Hubbards note: had a good feed of steak before turning in:

Tuesday Oct 31st
Ribemont: showery day: up about 7 am: boys on parade in morning & afternoon: I had a stroll with Jim & Hendren & had a good laugh over his experiences in Amiens: very cold night sent home all the P.C.s that I have so far recieved:

Wednesday Nov 1st All Saints Day
Ribemont: cold showery day: up about 6 am &

[Page 167]
went to H.C. in the school at 7am: there were special prayers for our dead chums: last night I twisted my ankle so had to get it rubbed this morning: boys on parade in morn & afternoon: Gib & I went for a stroll & had a feed: the Madam gave me a "souvenir" affair so I will wear it for luck: met F Veness & he looks well:

Thursday Nov 2nd
Ribemont: showery day: up about 7 am: boys on parade morning & afternoon: fell in about 6 PM in full kit & marched off to somewhere: passed through Albert & almost on to the hill when we got the order to turn back & return to our billets: the roads were very sloppy & it was a rough march:

Friday Nov 3rd
Ribemont: showery day: got home about 2am: after doing about 14 miles: up about 7 am & fell in for manoeuvres: it was a very realistic affair & we had a couple of "carries": we "got" the trenches & returned for dinner: the ‘planes put in some flying alright: had a walk with Gib in afternoon & struck up an argument on Anzacs etc.:

Saturday Nov 4th
Ribemont: fair day cold wind: reveille 6 am: packed up & moved off at 8.15am: last night we left our spare gear in sand bags to lighten our load a bit: passed a lot of Huns working along the roads: we also passed a fair few Huns graves: had dinner at Fricourt: got to our huts through a sea of mud about 4 P.M.: the mud is awful & we seen some laughable sights: one transport left its wheels in the mud & did not know it: met W Morgan in the 56th & he looked well

[Page 168]
though muddy: it must take some organization to keep an advance going & the work needed is hardly credable till one actually sees it: packed like sardines so slept warm: heavy bombardment on

Sundat Nov 5th
Montauban: cloudy showery bleak day: reveille 5am: breakfast 6 am: fell in in fighting kit & moved off at 6.30 am to a reserve position: a heavy bombardment was on during the morning I believe we are in reserve for the 7th stunt: we had to run about to keep warm: the poor lads from the trenches are all mud: fair few planes about in spite of the wind: plenty of tractors & other War gear about but I haven’t struck a "tank" yet: the 7th got their objectives alright but were bombed back again: got home through the mud about 6 PM: rained heavy at night

Monday Nov 6th
Montauban: cold showery: up about 8am: issued with rations etc & moved off about 1.30PM: had tea in a gully among the guns & ploughed our way to the front line which we reached about 11 PM: the trenches are awful & up to our knees in mud & water: fairly quiet night

Tuesday Nov 7th
Trenches: showery day: this front line is in front & a little to the right of Flers: there are a few villages in front & also a stiff looking wood: we have to carry across the open here with a white flag & Fritz does the same: the tracks are all knee deep in places & we have to have six on a stretcher: there is a tank close by & they are peculiar things alright

[Page 169]
a cross between a turtle & a caterpiller is the best description of it: plenty of shells kicking about:

Wednesday Nov 8th
Trenches: showery day: plenty of shells: we give him a rough time alright: our feet are very wet & swollen: we had a rough time with the cases after tea: Poor old Tom was sniped & then killed by a shell: he was a good mate & I am indeed sorry for his wife & children:

Thursday Nov 9th
Trenches: fairly clear day: we took the opportunity of taking our boots off & our feet swelled a lot: we had to take some of the boys down with their feet: the tank is a funny sight & I had a good look as I passed only a few yards off it: there are plenty of dead laying about: death finds men in funny attitudes one here is sitting in the trench with a bible where he has been reading: ‘planes were about galore & & some great duals took places as many as twenty being engaged at once: we seen a few come down: relieved about 10PM by the 19th : it was a rough time & where we jumped in was where most stopped till relieved: I guided No 7 over to Bgde H.Q. & we got a few shells as I got back & patched them up: took some cases round to the dressing station & then straggled home tired, weary,& full up of everything concerning war: the rum kept us going alright in the trenches: taubes about at night again:

Friday Nov 10th
Carlton camp: got a feed & turned in: we are in tents: fair day: up at noon: plenty of ‘planes about & seen some good duals: a few taubes came down: Fritz sent a few shells over: there were a few ‘planes about again after tea: they were bomb dropping a few nights ago: the night was as bright as day: I am badly knocked up & have a bad cold too:

[Page 170]
Saturday Nov 11th :
Carlton camp: dull cold day: up about 8am: there were over 100 cases of trench feet etc to be taken away so we had a busy time taking them down: Poole, Hatton & Roberts got away: after dinner the Doctor came round & we all had "complaints" & a fair few more got away: I am crook but can’t raise a temperature: fair few planes kicking around heavy mist after tea: Fritz put a few shells close by after we turned in: there has been a good few heavy bombardments lately & Fritz must be having a pretty rough time as well as us:

Sunday Nov 12th
Carltom camp: dull cold day: up about 8am: had a parade to see our strength: our casualties for the Coy was three off, & forty others while in the trenches our strength now is fifty six effectives so I hope we don’t have too rough a time in to night: We are out of action is the latest so are not going up tonight: plenty of balloons & ‘planes up & as usual some good duals: packed up & moved off to Mametz: pretty tired when we got there so slept well: heavy bombardment on : the mud is getting a little harder but is more stickier to march along in

Finished Sunday Nov 12th

1916 continued in another book.

W Burrell.
B. Coy. 17th Batt.
A. I. F.

[Page 171]
[not transcribed]

[Page 172]
[not transcribed]

[Page 173]
From the Young Chronicle 7/12/15

Take the letters of the K. A. I. S. E. R. –one under the other. Put the number of each opposite it then the number 6. Add up the figures & read Rev X111 4-5&18 Verse.
The answer is surprising, perhaps prophetic.
K - 116
A - 16
I - 96
S – 196
E - 56
R – 186
-----
666

[rest of page not transcribed]

[Page 174]
Continued (4) How I won the V.C.

Just a bayonet stab through the gizzard
& a crack from a bullet ot two.
But I nerved my strength for the conflict
& just as the darkness came down
I was under their parapet resting
& knew I had beaten them brown.
For this was the scheme I had worked on
Twas a little bit mean you will say
But I knew that the turks were half famished
& fought on a biscuit a day.
& the tins of Fray Bento’s I carried
I chucked in the trench then & there.
as I heard the poor beggars pounce on it
I knew they were caught in the snare.
Next morning broke calm & peaceful
What a shame that we soldiers must fight
Twas a pitious scene met my vision
with the first rosy quivers of light
When I peeped in the trench not a turk sir
was left of that legion accurst
For they’d whacked the Fray Bento’s between them

& each man had perished from thirst.

Thats my tale & if you know our mob sir
You’ll know how our Colonel can smile
He said to me Pte Juggin’s
You’ve dished up the beggars in style
Promotion! some say I deserve it.
But thats really nothing to me.
I don’t want honour or glory
but thats how I win the V.C.

L I A R

[Page 175]
How I won the V.C. = continued =
3
I had 500 rounds for my rifle
& of hand bombs I took 41
a machine gun was slung my shoulders
& I carried a spare periscope gun
For rations well all I took with me
was a tin of Fray Bento’s or two
& in my breast pocket I planted
a nice army biscuit to chew
Then I waved a farewell to my cobbers
I was too much affected to speak
There are times when the bravest of soldiers
have feelings that render them weak
One tear, then I turned to the trenches
& charged like a lion at bay
Then I caught the words of our Colonel
crying Bonzer Gott, strafem, Hooray
you talk of charmed lives: I’d a thousand
as I rushed up that hill like a goat
I got 32 shots through my trousers
& 9 shrapnel balls through my coat
Then a Japanese bomb burst beneath me
For a moment I gave up all hope
But it proved the best thing that could happen
For it pushed me half way up the slope
Then a 15 in shell came straight at me.
I hadn’t a moment to shirk
But it struck on that hard army biscuit
Rebounded & blew up a turk.
You doubt it? Well if you want something
The truth of this tale to endorse
Heres the biscuit – that dent in the middle
is where the shell struck it of course
However that isn’t my story
I got slightly wounded tis true:

[Page 176]
1
How I won the

Yes, thats the red ribbon i’m wearing
Just a small strip of scarlet you see
But there is no one can tell how I prize it
nor the memories it brings back to me
For it speaks of the broad fields of honour
That we rung from the red jaws of Hell
& my eyes grow bedimmed for my cobbers
Who battled fought & fell.
Yes that’s the V.C. – How I won it
Is not for me to relate
we heroes are always so modest
& boastings I thing that I hate
But seeing you write for the papers
I’ll make an exception for you
Don’t mention my name if you write it
Though every particle is true
It was during a fight for an outpost
It was called "Green Knole" I believe
& the Turks on the top dealt out slaughter
In a way that would cause you to grieve
It was five thousand feet to the summit
& almost as steep as a wall.
& they met every charge as we rushed it
with bayonet shrapnel &Ball
It was defeded by nine lines of trenches.
(That’s strong for an outpost you’ll guess).
also twelve 42 centimetres
That kicked up a duece of a mess.
The bombs fell amongst us like rain
& machine guns – why, just to remember
even now brings a feeling of pain.\
We’d been fighting for months without resting
ah! well may the angels weep
for the blood ran in streams down the gullies

[Page 177]
2
V. C. (by a modest Private)
& drowned those who fell in their sleep
We fought we charged we battled
Till the eighth line of trenches we took
For every man there was a hero
From me to the poor old cook
& there was the knoll just before us
Some two hundred paces or more
With barbed wire entanglements glistening
& the parapets slippery with gore
& the Howitzers roared like perdition
& vomited fire & death
Till we saw it was madness to charge them
so halted a moment for breath.
Then up came our gallant major
His face lit with hopes cheering bliss
Pass the word for pte juggins
He’ll find us a way out of this.
If there’s on thing I hate it is skiting
when I hear it I always feel sore
So you won’t think Im boasting when I tell you
He ought to have sent for me before
A great cheer arose as I faced him
& said Sir I’ll see you through.
I’ve a scheme in my head that will beat them
& we’ll wallop them black & blue.
Then I shook hands with all the battalion
(There was only 13 of us left)
& they cheered me again till the foemen
must have thought us of senses bereft
So I gathered my arms & my rations
& girded myself for the fray.
If I live to be ninety or over
I’ll always remember that day.

[Page 178]
When the boys come home

We are proud of our boys, our brave boys
who for their country are fighting
Not for the sake of conquest or gain
but for the wrongs that needed righting
For the sake of the lands that lie ruined
For the sake of the homeless & sad
For the sake of the loved ones in homeland
They have given up all they had
We think of them there in the trenches
In the cold the mud & the rain
With the fiery shells bursting round them
While they fight with might & main
But what keeps our brave boys so steadfast
with courage that never gives way?
The Lord stands beside them to help them
and he is their strength & their stay

But where did they learn of this Saviour
save from the lips of their mother
or from some comrade who loved him
who spoke of Him one to another
But some had forgotten this Saviour
Till danger, death & alarm
(when the comrade fell dead beside him)
made them fly to his sheltering arm

But what about you in the Homeland
Is this Saviour precious to you
Do you pray him to keep these dear lads
& commit them to him anew.
are you keeping your promises to them
are you helping with all your might
To comfort cheer & help them
who have bravely gone to the fight

When this terrible war is ended
& the boys – the brave boys – come home
come back to loved ones - & mother
ah! what will they find when they come
a world where all is against them
a struggle for life to begin
or their loved ones & dear mother
awaiting to welcome them in.

[Page 179]
-- Remedy for trouble –
If you don’t know where to look for a month’s rest read 27th Psalm
If you are lonesome & unprotected read 91st psalm
If you find yourself losing confidence in men read 13th chapt of 1st Corinth
If people pelt you with hard words read 15th John & 51st psalm
If there is a chilly sensation about the heart read the 3rd Revelations
If you are all out of sorts read 12th Hebrew
When you are troubled about what you ought to say to someone who is seeking salvation read 55th psalm

The doctrine of the new Jerusalem concerning CHARITY by Emanuel Swedenborg New church book depot 18 Corporation Street Manchester

[Page 180]
No 3622
Pte A.R.M. Stewart
"View Ville"
Browns Rd
Kogarah
wounded 4-8-16 killed 20-9-17

Pte A.C. Berry 3464
"Oberon"
Park Ave
Banksia
wounded

3458 Pte V H Berghofer "Waganui"
French St
Kogarah
returned sick to Aust

3506
Pte WF Fahey
"Bow Bells"Railway Pde North Kograh
wounded and missing

3545
H B L Lawrsnson
"Kaponga"
Meilsens Avenue
Kogarah
Transferred to Engineers Killed 1917

3457
Pte T H Brown
"Thetis"
French St
Kog
wounded and missing 1917
sick to England

3601
Pte R M Palmer
High St
Kograh
Killed 1918

3492 transferred to A.M.C
Pte H Cropp
"Haeremai"
Grey St Kog

3622
Pte A R M Stewart
17 Batt (wounded)
3rd Sthn Hosp Oxford
D H Ward Town Hall Sect

H Moyle
Eyles St East Orange
W Mantle 22899
Ist Canadian Batt
Ist Canadian E.F
France

Miss M Kelly
45 Fitzhebert St
Pitone near Wellington N.Z.

12/2280
Pte W Ellis
Aucke Inf
6th Hauraki Coy
5thReinf 1st Bgde

Green (Muir)
13 Umfraville Road
Harringay N.London

E Turner
Hornsey St Rozelle

[Page 181]
[names not transcribed]
Oh! we don’t care a muck, for old Von Cluck,For we know that he is balmy.
And we wouldn’t give a pill, for Kaiser Bill,
Or a button for his wretched army.
For we doubled up the Huns, with their great big guns,
At the battle of Yser.
And with a bit of luck, we’ll get Von Cluck
And send his head to the Kaiser

[Page 182]
Tell me is Lithgow still the same
Just write and let me know
I am weary of waiting for news from home,
Of Mother dear sister and Jelo
Tell the boys I’ll soon be back
And no matter where I roam
My thoughts daily turn
And my heart fondly yearns
To Lithgow my dear old home.

[names not transcribed]
(Gems from Ella Willcox)

[Page 183]
[not transcribed]

[Page 185]
Tune: Rock of Ages

Australia’s battle Hymn.

God that made our Fathers strong
Lead us when the dangers throng
God that made our mothrs pure
Make us steadfast to endure
On the waves or tent or field
Be our sword and battle shield
Hail our Empire spreading far
Great in peace and dread in war
Banner brave as in the past
Float on fort and tower and mast
Let thy blazon flutter free
South and North and every sea
Here thy sons shall guard the gates
of thy southward shores and straits
On wide ocean we shall meet
One unsundered flag and fleet
And the pathway of the sea
Prove our broadening destiny
Oh for peace or battle pray
Nelson’s signal points the way
Duty’s claim and country’s call
Shall be our concience for us all
Set that signal high and then
"Forward" Quit yourselves like men.

Refrain

God that watest through the day
Gurad each seaward coast and bay
God in loves unsleeping might
Keep our homes through darkest night

[Page 187]
[not transcibed]

[Page 189]
Miss B Muir
"Devon"
Agar St
Marrickville
Sydney

1412
Tpr D Rown
11th of 7th Rgt
ALH
convalscent Hospital
Helouan

Miss A Mays
c/o Trowbridge
39 Flood St
Bondi
N.S.W.

No 812 Pte A Algie
C. Coy
17th Bttln
5th Brigade

[Page 190]
Miss E Newbold
Vale Rd
Lithgow N.S.W.

Miss E Mabbott
"Kiora"
Spooner St
Lithgow N.S.W.

Mrs J. Burrell
51 Dunblane St
Camperdown
Sydney N.S.W.

Mr D. J. Burrell
Steam Laundry
Neville St
Marrickville

[Page 191]
No 3461
Pte W H T Burrell M.M.
B.Coy. 17th Batt
5th Inf Brigade
A.I.F.

M Kelly
Upperplain
Rural Delivery
Masterton
N.Z.

J.B. Jennings
Bath House
West Hatch
Tauton
Som
England

1879
Gnr J Garbutt
No 1 Btry A.F.A.
Bulford Camp
Wilts
England

4th A.D.B.D.
17 Sect A.F.A.
A.D.O.

Please return this book to
Mrs J Burrell
51 Dunblane St
Camperdown
Sydney
N.S.W.
Australia

M. Kelly
45 Fitzherbert St
Petone
near Wellington
N. Zealand

T. Earl
12 St James St
Southover
Lewis
Sussex, Engl.

J. Wallace
Royton Cottage
Hotham Parade
Gore Hill
N. Sydney.

[Transcribed by Peter Craswell, Grahame Bickford, Adrian Bicknell for the State Library of New South Wales]