Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
T.J. Cleary diary, 8 March 1916 - 15 August 1917
MLMSS 1113
[Transcriber’s notes: In the period covered by this diary Thomas Cleary was stationed in the areas of Ypres and Albert. Work included tramline construction in Bernafay Wood & Flers and preparing trenches for final Australian attack of the Somme offensive in Nov. 1916. He mentions letters written to Mac. This was his wife’s pet name, her maiden name being (Mary) McMahon]
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[Front cover of diary]
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Cloth Bag Rifle cover
Shaving soap brush Glass
Housewife, Washing Soap Towel
Spare underpants Singlet
Military shirt pair sox
pencils envelopes paper
Bootlaces [indecipherable]
£1 Diary Tin of curry powder
Egg powder, quinine
Reading matter
[indecipherable]
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Gillette
200 Great Portland
London
8.3.16
Left port at 2.00 P.M. Put back into port 3.0 P.M. came out again & turned up Manly side (South) then turned once more & finally took up our course (North) . Some of the Boys sick already Quambi lost his false teeth while hanging over the side. Corp Offord is coming with us.
9-3-16 about 11.0 AM.
I have been sick twice this morning & had to camp on Deck last night simply couldn’t trust myself downstairs. Joe Martin is sea sick too, one fellow said this crowd was the quietest lot of Soldiers he had seen – good reason why about ¾ of them were sick. Their faces are perfectly green. None of the Middies are sick. All the Officers were very bad in fact they put Tonkin in the Hospital which made the boys very cheerfull. We have a very tin[?] Kiffley piano on board but there seem to be plenty of very good players. A chap on board with a one string
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fiddle is a splendid player. I met Joe Sellars here he is in the 2nd Battalion. This sea sickness is hanging on me pretty tight, I feel squalmish all the time & I can’t vomit of course. I have done so pretty often but it won’t come for me most of the time.
10.3.16 Friday
Have managed to eat two meals and hold on to them but am not yet sure of keeping them. Slept on deck last night & nearly perished with the cold. We have passed Melbourne now 12.00 midday & they seem to be preparing for heavy weather so I can see good times coming for me. I turned the ship inside out looking for soda water before Dinner & couldn’t get any still I managed some soup & Bread & Butter. A lemon would have been usefull.
11.3.16 Saturday
Now well in the bight. Still feel squeamish, we are packed like sardines. The amount of gambling is astonishing. I had the bad luck to break my fountain pen today.
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11.3.16
A chap passed me on the stairs last night and as he passed he said “If I’m not better tomorrow I hope to Christ I’m dead & that’s just how I felt at the time.
12.3.16 Sunday
Sea Sickness seems to be leaving me now. I have already had two good meals. Mess orderly today. A man fell down the hatch this morning & broke his collar bone. We have had splendid weather so far. No chance of getting exercise here we are packed like sardines.
13.3.16 Monday
Among the Coo ees there is a chap with a voice like Will Oaklands, he is a lovely singer. The man who fell down the hatch is pretty bad suffering from internal injuries he never wasted any time
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13th Monday
in getting himself counted out. I am on water picket now today supposed to be two hours on & two hours off, all day but I don’t think I will do that I shall want 4 hours off. I find that I shall have to put up with 2. I have been unable to drink tea ever since I came on board.
14.3.16 Tuesday 1st Letter
Inoculated again today it seems to be becoming a habit. There is to be a concert tonight. Great excitement this afternoon when we sighted 3 ships at once. Sighted 3 or 4 islands at about 6.0 P.M. Rather a heavy roll on this evening.
15.3.16 Wednesday
We had a concert last night but the items tendered were only fair. We have turned north again so the weather is becoming warmer, it will soon be necessary to sleep on deck, also to do some
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15th Wednesday
also do some washing.
16.3.16
have not seen land since last friday except those islands it is pretty certain now that we will go straight to Colombo from Sydney without a stop. we will be lucky if there is no disease on board considering the crowd. our Company the 17th are a very honest crowd a fellow can leave anything about in perfect security. I would like to have a walk around the Garden now and chance it. one of the soldiers strained himself retching & is in Hospital suffering from internal Hemorrhage. there is a boxing tournament on tonight.
17.3.16 Friday
Pay day today they did not stop the remainder of that fine so everything is all O.K. I only got 10/- its true but I shall get the
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rest in Egypt. When we were paraded to be paid the officer said open your pay Books at page 8 every man did & while they were standing by with their pay Books in their hands some one started “Onward Christian Soldiers" & every man started & they sang the Hymn right through despite every effort to stop them, the Officers had to laugh. We had the opening rounds of a boxing Tournament last night.
18.3.16 Saturday
Nothing doing
19.3.16
Church parade. No priest on board so the Colonel presided & we said the Rosary & sang God save the King.
20.3.16 Monday
Fatigue today officiated as squee-gee artist finished up at 11.0 AM for the day. Weather very fine but hot as Hell. We are now close to the Cocos Island where the
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Sydney beat the Emden. Some cases of Crabs on board. There must be some charm about Nap. judging by the number who play it on board.
21.3.16
Lost my wristlet watch today but found it again unluckily the glass was broken. Inoculated again today. God only knows when they will stop this nonsense. With the restrictions they are now putting on letters I wonder at any of them going through. We were told to advise the O.C. about the amount of Egyptian money we would require.
22.3.16
Passed a dead whale this morning. We both smelt & seen him. Last mail for Sydney tonight to be sent from Colombo. Hot as blazes & sea like glass. Beautiful sun sets now every night the best part of the day is the hour 5.30 to 6.30 P.M.
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it is just beginning to get cool then & movement of the steamer creates a breeze. Reg. Niddrie is not too well.
[Three brothers, Albert, Reginald and William Niddrie, 17th Inf. Battn., referred to throughout diary, also as the ‘Nids’]
23rd
Beautifull sunsets the last few nights. Seen a shar [shark?] tonight that left a reflection in the water like the moon. Crossed the Equator today nothing happened. Saw the Southern cross shining bravely in the South.
24th 3.16 Friday
Left the Southern cross behind at last should soon pick up the Pole Star. Another medical examination today, between Inoculations Vaccinations & short arm parades a fellow has very little time to spare. My Hammock & Blanket has disappeared probably in the hold. We have been supplied with lime juice every day lately to cool
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our blood. The Boat is overrun with Crabs. The Ships Quartermaster Butler went down to Appendicitis today?
25.3.16 Saturday
Arrived at Colombo today plenty of cocoanut palms paddles like spoons. Yankee Boat with an American flag painted 4 times on each side & the name “City of Savannah" in between. We are to be allowed ashore tomorrow for a couple of hours. The Harbor is entirely an artificial one. the town looks very pretty from the ocean side the first thing we struck was fishing Boats before we neared the land at all. labor must be cheap here we see them towing big barges filled with sand. The coolies are now coaling the ship. We
8 P.M.
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arrived in Harbor at about 4.30 P.M.
26.3.16 Sunday
A N.Z. Trans. 48 (No) arrived in Port this morning. We are to go ashore at 10 A.M. the time is now 8.30 but everyone is ready & so excited that most of them do not know what they are doing. There is a British Cruiser in the Harbor the [indecipherable] I believe & also a Japanese war vessel. The Nigs here are no great shakes at diving at all The NZ Transport 47 is here too the two came in together. The 48 is the Topua & the 47 is the Willochra, some of the N.Z. are staying here & others are going to India (Wireless). Seen deformed kiddie potato foot. Fluted tiles on Houses in native quarter. Beautiful roads, small Bananas, lovely beach, white women scarce, Ride on Ricksha. The Nids broke away & had
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the time of their lives hiring Rickshas & a guide and went all over Colombo.
poor [?] me I was turned back quick & lively & had to come back with the soldiers
A vessel with the French
we saw plenty of [indecipherable] of the quaintest little dollies of babies I ever expect to see. We had a swim in the Harbor tonight the water was quite Hot but the boys mucked up with the boats in the vicinity frightening them. One of the Nigs stood
up in the boat & pointing to the water yelled out “Fish “Fish" I think he meant to frighten us by saying “Shark" but
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they took no notice anyhow and darned nearly upset the boat. The Nids sent some presents away. In our route march we only seen the Native Quarter. The roads are magnificent & beautifully clean. We only seen three white women and about 4 black ones altogether here. We are coaling here & there is a coating about an inch thick everywhere. All the Native shops are open on Sunday the same as on week days. The troops got a set of gloves & started the Nigs fighting, in the dark too. The show was easily worth 2/6 admission.
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27.3.16
A Victorian Transport the A.18 (Wiltshire) arrived this morning. On Guard today. A Mob of the Boys Just broke away on a coal lighter and as soon as I came off Guard I managed to climb down a rope onto a Lighter. we were towed away to the Breakwater ---- & got into town. Hired a Ricksha & had a trip round the native quarter. in the fruit market we saw numbers of cripples & cadgers of all kinds they were hanging on to our skirts all the time. Some of the Boys bought tiny monkeys. An indelible pencil cost me 5d & a shawl for Mac 5/6. Registered same (813) No. The P.O. is a fine building with plenty of native attendants to show anyone about. the native police are very efficient & obliging. We returned to the ship about 10 min before she pulled out of the Harbor. during the night lighters of
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Troops kept coming on board up till about midnight. Shortly afterward the steamer took her departure for Egypt. I believe some of the boys are still ashore but they’ll have to stay there now. When she left I was in the Hospital. Had a fearfull time was absolutely poisoned, nearly everyone who went ashore was more or less sick. On top of that some of the late arrivals brought fines ranging from 5-0-0 to £15-0-0.
28th-3-16 Tuesday
Discharged from hospital this morning. Am alright but the inside of my stomach is absolutely raw. The ship & everything on board are simply filthy.
29-3-16
I believe the months loss of pay has been lifted from the fines mentioned above, that brings the penalty down to 5-0-0.
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31st
Epidemic of mumps on board over 40 patients. All the 1st Battalion reinforcements quarantined but their mess orderlies draw their Tucker with the others – Military methods.
1.4.16 Saturday
Our We are losing speed daily, it is said that a lot of the steam is used for Condensing water which is becoming scarce on board. It is practically certain that we will be quarantined directly we arrive in Egypt. Two of our men Bugler Wright & Blanchard have developed fits since the last Inoculation. Wright has about a dozen fits a day & Blanchard nearly as many. they are almost certain to be sent back. The Hospitals are crowded now. Was having a yarn with a Coo-ee today a housebreaker. I put in about 2 hours listening to the adventures of one Paddy Larkin it was about the best 2 hours I have put in on this trip
Macs. Letter
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2-4-16 Sunday
Church parade today. Seen plenty of porpoises last night also had a small concert. We passed the Island of Socrota today. The Coo-ees must be able to get Liquor because a number of them were drunk today. Booked up for Water picket tomorrow. When we came from Sydney we brought a Stowaway. he has been put on the strength of one of the companies the 18th Batt. I believe.
4-4-16
Passed Aden at about 1.30 PM. The town lies behind a Rocky Islet & the Island has a small village on one end. country all Rocks & Sand. Near the town we saw 3 tall masts probably a wireless Station. We have land on the Port Side all the way now.
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5-4-16 Wednesday
Now in the Red Sea passed a number of Rocky Islets this morning heard that they were called the 12 apostles there was a lighthouse on one of them. It must be a lonely job. Hot as Hell no, Hotter than any hell. We passed another Islet with a lighthouse the name of it sounds like [space] The heat (5.0 PM) tween decks is something awefull everybody practically naked & the perspiration running off them in streams slopping off their arms onto the table like water. The smell of man is something terrific not dirty but caused by abnormal sweating. I have been doing a little boxing lately & feel the benefit of it, shall keep it up untill we land if possible. We must be in the danger zone now because the lights are masked now
6-4-16
Letters to Harry Mick & Mollie last night.
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7-4-16 Friday
We passed a ship today the Neuralis probably a hospital ship. A small bird like a canary came on board yesterday while we were out of sight of land we were also visited by Grasshoppers. We were medically inspected today and informed that we would disembark on Sunday next. The 17th will be duty company on that date.
9-4-16 Sunday
Arrived at Port Suez this morning & found all the transports that were at Colombo here & in addition the two russian Transports. We did not land here but left at 6.00 P.M. for Alexandria. Shiels said we
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would call at Port Said tomorrow at Sunset he also informed us that
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long. We passed the Osterley at Port Suez & put our Mails on board so Mac ought to get that mail about the first week in May.
10-4-16 Monday
We arrived at Port Said at about 8.30 A.M. All the way along the canal was practically one continuous camp of Territorials among others the Essex East & West Kent Yeomanry, Royal Edinburgh Engineers 1st & 5th Argyles the last were encamped at Madalla [?] some of the camps had barbed wire Entanglements they had also small rifle ranges. We passed the Steamer Minos on the way. There is a railway all the way along the East Bank & Military railway along the West Bank near the camps. Nowhere is the land more than about 12 feet above sea level. The East Bank has plenty of verdure but the rest is simply sand. One of the Britishers said are you downhearted the boys answered No he said “you ---- soon would be if you were here
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the country is mostly under water especially on the Railway side. We are coaling now. The niggers here can beat the Colombo mob out of sight at Coaling they carry fair sand Baskets & they move very quickly they sing at their work. The singing is painful to listen to. There are plenty of Bumboats around here & also a number of men-of-war in port nearly all French. There is also a number of Hospital ships including the “Gloucester Castle". A chap offered to dive under the Ship for 4/- but there were no takers. There is a French woman & a coloured one rowing around the Ship playing & singing for coins, they catch the coins in an umbrella. We thought we were going ashore & mustered up in Marching Order to be told that we had to go on to Alexandria. I suppose we will be sent on from there to France direct there is a rumour that we are to have a gun mounted on Board. More ominous signs a 4.7 gun with ammunition was hoisted on
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board & mounted on the stern while a special Submarine Gaurd was told off with Rifles fixed Bayonets & Ball cartridge. We put all our hospital cases ashore here Mumpies, Veneareals & general, the Z 16 Toronto from Salonika left here this evening. We lost the Southern Cross in the Red Sea. Ever since we left the Red Sea the Weather has been getting cooler it is now quite cold of an evening.
11-4-16
Another change of plans we are to land at 9.0 AM & entrain for Tel-el-Kebir & Bob has already left there for France. What bad luck. I seen the Niggers Trawling for coal today. They run a trawl net across the place where the lighters were coaling the Ship then haul it up, empty it & continue they use a rowing boat with two men one to row the other to haul up the net. Not a bad scheme, but a poor way of earning a living.
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The Niggers have no sense of decency yesterday a white girl was singing from a boat & one of the niggers coaling from a barge a few yards away relieved himself while squatting on the side wiped himself with a piece of coal & went on with his work they actually relieve themselves over the side of the port. They are much better men physically than the Cingalese. The boys gave them a bad time yesterday bombarding them with potatoes they made one (a policeman) so wild that he started throwing stones back at them from the shore. They annoyed the coalies until the latter threatened to retaliate then a gaurd was put over the potatoes. I was unconsciously the means of causing a great deal of inconvenience to a number of our boys on a lighter.
12-4-16
We are now at Tel-el-Kebir after a 4 hour Railway ride from Port Said. This place seems to be healthy enough the sanitary arrangements are efficient
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but laughable one part consists of tubes arranged in fours like funnels, these are for urinating.
There some aeroplane tents at Port Said. We seen an aeroplane Sailing over Port Suez. There was an anti-air gun at Kantara. There are some Indian lancers patrolling the Suez – Cairo line. They are splendid looking fellows in appearance. Tel-el-Kebir is on the sweat water canal there is a microbe in the water which enters the body by the sweat Glands & causes an incurable complaint we are not allowed to bathe or wash in it. There seems very little chance of getting to Cairo now. I applied for a transfer to the Engineers or Field Artillery. A lot of us were detailed for carting wood this afternoon we acted as horses. The natives here sell mixtures of urine & raw spirit to the men as Whisky, Brandy Etc. they are incredibly dirty in their habits & their methods of washing fruit.
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13-4-16 Thursday
Went to the Circus last night. A fair show by a French & Egyptian Crowd the clowns were the biggest mugs I ever seen. There was a little Kid there about 3 years old whose name must have been Isaac by the way in which he rushed the coins thrown in the Ring. They say that we will get chatty soon on this ground. We have had a terrific dust storm during the last 24 hours sand storm I should say. I was booked up for Quarter gaurd to-day.
14-4-16 Friday
The Niddries have just been advised that they will be transferred to Ferry’s post. But they won’t go.
15-4-16
Visited Cairo today. Its wonderfull what big vessels sail up the little gutter we call Sweat water canal. The native cemetries have monuments made of sun
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& in the wider streets the traffic was very heavy, so altogether the Donkey ride wasn’t a success from my point of view. Anyway we went all over the Wassa and around some of the principle Streets & had lunch at the Y.M.C.A. in Eskebiah [Esbekieh] Gardens of course we called in at several of the Cabarets & had drinks etc meantime watching the performance & listening to the singing, Music, Dancing, we also seen a fair amount of cuddling none of the girls had too much on. Most of these Egyptians seem to spend a lot of their time in the Cafes playing Dominoes & Backgammon these games are wonderfully popular. In some of the principal streets with traffic as heavy as George St Sydney the majority of the houses on both sides are drums as far as their upper stories are concerned in one street near the womens Hospital nearly all the houses on one side were brothels. In the upper stories they had small balconies sticking out like bay windows
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& in every one of these balconies were several women or girls big fleshy ones too with small chemises without sleeves reaching scarcely to the thigh & a tiny lace V underneath. The part underneath that shaven. these ladies took particular pains to stand near the edge of the balcony & in some case astride the balcony rail in case you couldnt see enough & all the time they were capering & singing & calling to the soldiers in the street below. The police took absolutely no notice of them no matter what they done or what filthy suggestion they made. In the Wassa proper the ladies ? sit on chairs in the street with the shortest of skirts practically none in fact, flash stockings & the gaudy High legged high heeled boots & some of them wear heavy bangles as well they are nearly all very plump. We put in most of the day in Wassa much to my disgust & explored most of the Joy houses but did not do any business with them
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although we paid others to do so. We were also lucky enough to see an Egyptian Wedding almost in front of the Concordia. Another interesting place was the womens hospital here some very fine looking women were congregated in the small balcony perfectly happy & inviting onlookers to come right in & jig jig [?] & there were some onlookers too because quite a number go in to see it. There are some fine Hotels at two of them Sheppards & another there is a picket to keep Soldiers out. No decent women or Girl in Cairo will look at a Soldier. I think our fellows must have played the devil there because even the roughest of the people seem terribly frightened of them. One incident speaks for itself. A woman was sitting on the footpath right against the wall with a Jar of some sort of food which she was trying to sell when she noticed us coming along she took up her jar walked right out in the street waited until we had passed & then took up her old position. We could’nt have gone near her
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without going out of our way to do so but yet she would’nt trust us. About 30 of our fellows are going to Serapium tomorrow.
16-4-16 Palm Sunday
I took a walk out to the battlefield of Tel-el-Kebir today & put in one of the driest days I have had for a long time. A person cannot realise how necessary water is unless he has walked a few miles in the desert like I did & forgot to take his water bottle with him. to resume, the trenches that were made at that time are still there today there are miles & miles of them all over the place & relics of the battle can still be found by any one who cares to look. Old cartridges parts of equipment, buckles, bullets plenty of bones more of them than anything else. I found a few cartridge cases & will send them home at earliest opportunity. There is a rumour here in fact it seems more than a rumour that about a month [continued on second line next page]
[Battle of Tel-el-Kebir,1882]
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Under Brigadier Irving they done 15 miles first day 20 second & 6 the third
ago a Brigade done a march to Ismalia or Ferrys Post & that on the way the water gave out & they had to send out a party to them it is said that 8 of them died another shot himself & a number of others were more or less exhausted the O.C. was court-martialled ? [He was relieved of his command]
One letter to Mac.
19-4-16 Wednesday
A fair crowd left her today for an unknown destination.
Received a letter from Mac
All the men excepting the gaurd were paid today. All the returned men here can be picked out they are generally hard cases. I am on quarter gaurd today again and at present very hungry I seem unable to get enough
20-4-16
This morning for the first time I seen a man overhauling his shirt for live stock.
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They are certainly economical with the food here. I seem to be hungry all the time especially since I came on this gaurd. We have been issued with less than 3 loaves of bread to 22 men & one tiny slice of Bacon
22-4-16 [Saturday]
I was on Cooks fatigue today with two Old Soldiers whose sole ambition was to get back to Australia no matter how both had been wounded & after recovery put in all their time scheming. one chap was 3 months in Hospital until the Doctor as a last resort decided on an operation he hung out until actually on the table & then said he would not have any --- operation on Him & left the Hospital but they can’t make him work. Some of the boys are very cunning they have a method of making their knees swell by means of towels & continuously knocking at each side unfortunately the swelling goes down too soon, chewing Cordite is another scheme a very old one. The Doctors are no less cunning one took a party of cripples
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to the pyramids and all of them who accompanied the Doctor on a walk around the Pyramid were sent back to their units. Another crowd of Cripples had a football thrown to them & the resulting performances of a number caused them to be sent back. another time they were called up for their pay. Condensed milk was sometimes used by the men but is now too old fashioned deafness is a common complaint & leads to some amusing results. A man being Spoken to quietly about leaving a door open as he left the room apologised & went back to his unit. All the old hands seem to take a fiendish delight in shaking things up all around. There is a fairly good concert going on now. The Prince of Wales is expected to visit this camp soon.
23-4-16 Easter Sunday
Up at 5.0 A.M. as usual and started on Fatigues also as usual. We get up at 5 every morning but don’t have breakfast till 9
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After breakfast we again were asked to fall in for more Fatigue but I did not do so but went to the other side of the Canal to cut out time. It would be a God send to have a swim here but there is not only the germs to consider but the natives use it as a Latrine. No wonder their children look as if they were poisoned. It is a pitifull sight to see the Gippos standing gaurd over the garbage pits at meal times they watch the stuff & sort it out & a lot of stuff that a starved Sydney dog would turn his nose up at is turned into the food tin & the rest into the refuse tins. They eat the first lot. I seen one kid with a boot shining outfit put his hand into the box among the brushes etc. & take out a crust so hard that it rang like a biscuit bite a bit off & put it back among his polishing utensils.
25th April Easter Tuesday & Anzac Day
Had a look at sports but left early & sent the programme to Mollie, Cissy & Jersey Rd. Was talking to one of the peninsular Boys, who told me of the death of Major Quinn 15th Batt. who
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got killed while leading the 14th in a charge he was caught by a Machine gun as he cleared the parapet & nearly cut in two his last words were come on [words deleted]
The 13th Batt. also blame the 14th for not supporting them at [space].
The Royal Marine light Infantry ran away at [space] Their initials R.M.L.I now stand for Run My Laddies Imshi The Aussys often had to charge & recover trenches which they had held previous to handing them over to the Tommies the latter saying they’re chummy and [indecipherable]. The Indians Sikhs especially say Aussy ver good Tommy no Good R.A. the sailors also. In Cairo the tommies are afraid to look at an Australian. All the above only refers to the terriers not the regulars & it is usefull to remember because the Tommies say the Aussies are all false teeth & wristlet watches. We have been on Fatigues through all the Easter Holidays
20-4-16 Wednesday pay day
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26-4-16 [Thursday]
Booked for Gaurd this makes 3 gaurds out of 5 for me. The Niddries had to reinforce us owing to an additional post being created. There has been some fighting at Suez. The 11th & the light Horse being engaged. About 240 men from our Brigade were warned tonight that they would have to move off at 4.30 AM
27-4-16
The Boys burned down a canteen last night because the proprietor charged 7 P.T. per Bottle for beer. One of the old hands informed me that on the Peninsular an Officer named Lonsdale when suffering from Dysentery, used to go about his duties with pieces of string tied about each leg of his trousers. An unusual incident occurred this afternoon. A private of the 19th Batt. died & a firing party & some of his friends visited the hospital for the purpose of attending his funeral when they discovered that he was very much alive a mistake having been
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made it must have been a nasty shock to the alleged corpse.
28-4-16 Friday
Received more letters from Mac & one from Ruby Jones. When the Australians made prisoners on the peninsular the Ghurka’s used to ask for them if the request was granted it was the end of the prisoner. there is no doubt that the Turks were brave they used to come right up to the parapet of the trenches in the night & sometimes peer over. They were very good at constructing entanglements by night it was no use sending flares up because the tiny glow of the fuse used to betray them & they took cover before it burst. Our Boys used to burrow to a possy halfway between the trenches & then break through overhead & wait there every night with Bombs in anticipation of an attack they would’nt waste bombs on small parties
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29-4-16 [Saturday]
I took a day of today to see the Pyramids. I didn’t have as good a time as I would have liked because I could only raise 40 P.T. Still I managed pretty fair with the assistance of the Y.M.C.A. & had a good look around. It was too poor to have my photo taken but still I was sufficiently lucky to escape being punished I nearly got caught at the Barrier going in but the crowd shoved one through
[indecipherable] & peninsula
30-4-16
We were inspected by the Prince? of Wales today. We were formed up at 3.0 PM & the inspecting party arrived at about 4.40 P.M. Bluey Heydon went into Hospital today he has several overlapping toes & the Dr. suggested cutting off 3 of them. There was a lot more mucking up the day before yesterday the boys burnt a lot more shops the result is that Birdwood came here yesterday & promised to make it hot for them & ever since we have had to mount extra gaurds & fire pickets so
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theres very little advantage in that
2-5-16 Tuesday
We went out last evening to practice entrenching while in full kit the Ground where I was located was as hard as iron, when my entrenching tool hit the ground it rang like a bell we had to dig while lying down & it was no joke. I broke my wristlet watch barked my elbows & scratched my equipment all over to say nothing of being covered with dirt.
Skinner E.J. died the day before yesterday the circumstances were rather pathetic he paraded sick was sent back to duty without treatment as O.K. he paraded again was sent to Hospital & died two days after. He was buried today I was one of the firing party. The coffin was placed on a Transport Waggon & Pipers played their dead own dead March. (a Lament) we had great difficulty in keeping step with them. Skinner is the first of the 10th to go over. Tonkin is leaving us to go
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to the 53rd Battalion I believe he intended to take our Flag with him I believe. If he does the Company will go mad
Letter to Mac X
3-5-16
We were inoculated yesterday for the 7th time I believe that we were inoculated for the wrong disease previously & that it is the reason we are getting such a lot of it now.
Letter to Mollies Mother
5-5-16
A man was bayoneted last night by one of the Gaurd 4th Battalion I believe he was supposed to be breaking gaurd or in the sergeants mess anyway he is dead this morning I received a letter on the 3rd in which [passage deleted] about it. I havent mentioned the way the niggers pump water they have what is practically a cart wheel with a hollow rim with holes.
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in through the hub is placed a piece connected with a gear wheel at right angles. there is another gear wheel with a forked stick [sketch] a cow supplies the motive power generally.
6-5-16
A number of Queensland Reinforcements came in last n yesterday & owing to the recent riots the newly opened A.I.F. Canteens were closed to prevent a recurrence. I am now one of a special fire picket numbering about 40 which have been inaugurated since the Outbreak. we have 20 Rounds of Ball each. Each company serves 24 hours at a time. I heard last night that 2800 was the highest number on the Peninsula. very hot today. I find that dark tinted glasses help to make a man feel cool. The details were relieved from gaurd to prepare for departure. They have asked for volunteers for the Camel Corps this is looked on as a cold foot Job.
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7-5-16 Sunday
Took another trip into Cairo today went to Esbekiah Gardens & while there met Tom Prior who was once an Elec. Jun. at Balmain Sub. he has been over here over 12 months with the Signalling & despatch riding corps he is now a Driver. we went to Cairo Museum which is practically a cemetery. a good many of the visitors go to sleep most of the attendants do likewise. They watch you very closely when awake. The most striking exhibit is the mummy of the original Pharaoh Rameses II & also that of his father.
I must here refer to the squeaker used by the Tram Conductors to start their Trams
it sounds like a childs penny Trumpet. After Dinner at the Anzac Hostel we went to the Ghizeh Zoo the most conspicuous features of this place to me are its pathways which are very original consisting of mosaic work done with pebbles & also with a marble border & the Grottoes which have numbers of different marine animals finished off with pebbles artificial rock work and most artistic coral work. another curious feature is the cosmopolitan character of its frequenters. while we were
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there we seen reps of N.Z. Aus, Britain, Sikhs, British West Indies & Gippoes, & there wasn’t more than a couple of hundred all told some of the British were naval men too.
9-5-16
Small whirlwinds are quite common here one occurred today in front of the Q.M.S, Store with the result that several pairs of shorts, a blanket etc went sailing up in the air. The birds (crows I believe) were much surprised one could see them circling around the shorts in mid air trying no doubt to find out what kind of birds they were. Very hot today.
8.0 PM about a 1000 of our Brigade have just marched out to the station it looked rather impressive to see the long column of heavily loaded men each man with at least 2 Kit Bags winding along the sandy camp road in the moonlight.
10-5-16
This morning we could hear the sound of heavy Guns this the second time that this has occurred.
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About 12-5-16
On Quarter gaurd tonight. Was told that we were likely to go away very soon. Sentries over the Clink have had to have their Rifles loaded while on Sentry go. I suppose this is because of that Bayonet episode. it is rumoured that one prisoner was shot last night [passage deleted]
13-5-16 Saturday
One prisoner escaped last night now every prisoner has to have an escort of 3 gaurds, also we have to escort them up for court Martial, that means 1½ hours. The chap who let the prisoner escape was put in clink himself the Sergeant was put under arrest too! This morning we had trouble with the prisoners caused by the Reg. S.M. as a result I very nearly got put in with them that wouldn’t hurt much I would sooner be there than on the gaurd.
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15-5-16
Volunteers were called for for an unknown destination last night & the tent volunteered we were supposed to leave in the morning, but what really happened was we were called out at 3.30 A.M. to do Musketry. We got away at 5.0 A.M. walked to the Range about 4 miles mostly sand. We had an awfull day the thermometer in the Officers mess at Tel-el-Kebir recorded 115 in the shade where we were it must have been 120 at least. we each had one Bottle of water and enough Bully & Bread for one Meal. through some oversight no water or provisions was sent out & in the terrific heat the men were drinking continuously. The Bottles were all empty about 9.0 A.M. & for the rest of the day we had to drink Canal water or snuff out. it was simply awfull out in the loose sand. One result was that 12 men went into Hospital & the Officer responsible was put under open arrest. We didn’t get back to camp
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until about 8.00 AM after one of the worst days I have ever experienced in my life. An awfull time. The 11th landed here today yesterday.
16th Tuesday 16
We had a hot time today removing into new quarters thermometer about 118 red hot run off our legs. Have just been notified that I must attend the Bombing School at 5.0 AM tomorrow.
Wednesday 17th -5-16
Was advised that I had been accepted for the pioneers & to present myself at their orderly room. I did so but not liking the look of things cleared out before I was interviewed. I had to miss a lecture to do so I seen Bernie this morning he has a parcel for me a small book I believe.
Friday 19-5-16 (letter to Mac)
After attending the Grenade School for a couple of days was pulled out yesterday after noon & informed that I would
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have to go to the Pioneers. I appealed to the O.C. to stop the Transfer & he said that he had already tried to do so but the transfer had appeared in Battalion Orders & could not be cancelled, so here I am with about ½ a ton of Kit awaiting my papers
Took up with the p
Letter to Mac
Took up with the pioneers. I think they will suit me alright. The tucker is not so good. But everything else except the washing facilities is pretty fair. Jackie will have to do without his Grenade Badge. I got paid £1-0-0 before I left the 10th
21st-5-16
Went to see the old mates yesterday & had my photo taken with them. Went down the Road & had tea later then had another tea & topped up with cakes & Lime Juice. Note on B.O.R. No applications for transfers will be received from members of the Pioneers Battalion
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At Breakfast this morning one of the Peninsula men said that their Seargent of the M.G.S. had to mix Phenol with the water for the machine Guns to prevent the men from stealing it also he said that firing at Aeroplanes spoiled the Guns.
22-5-16
More artillery firing today. My Watch cost me 30 P.T. Today it is becoming an expensive luxury. Received letter from A. Gales. Answered Arthur’s letter this evening. The artillery firing was really Bombs.
23-5-16
Seen the Bombs School practicing today
Sent a Cable to Mollie on the 22-5-16
24th Wednesday 5-16
Empire day. Had a Half Holiday. Had a Bath. I mention this because we have only one tap to our Battalion We have to wash in our Mess tins. After a man has washed his feet in his mess tin he is inclined to view it suspiciously at tea time. I went to see
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the Nids today & was lucky enough to catch my correspondence 4 letters 3 from Mac & one from Lilly. Lill has got her M.A. degree. The tucker at this end can’t be compared with what we used to get with the 5th.
Letters to Mac & Lilly 27th
Sunday 28th-5-16
We left Tel-el-Kebir at 8.30 P.M. Yesterday some Infantry (17th & others) & A.M.C. men came with us. After a rough trip we arrived here (Alexandria) at about 3.00 AM & embarked on the “Corsican" We have A.M..C. – A.S.C. Field Artillery & Pioneers on board. The Tucker promises to be pretty good. The trip last night was a rough experience for a good many judging by the remarks “Keep your feet out of my stomach" youre hurting me etc. There was from 30 to 36 in each truck naturally they were tied up in true lovers knots – it was very cold too. Wonderful to relate I slept through most of it. I shall have to try & get some of my photos away if I can.
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30 29 Monday 5-16
Left Alexandria this morning at about 8.00 escorted by a couple of Destroyers & also accompanied by about ½ Doz. Trawlers. We have all got to wear life belts all day & keep them close at night. Our Boots have to be unlaced. all lights have to be out at 7.0 P.M. This is my worst experience in a Troopship so far. The Tucker is not much good & the management as in all military affairs rotten. Tonight we had to change places with the A.M.C. The time selected for the change was tea time with the result that there was terrific confusion & some of the tables drew double rations & others none & there was no effort on the Officers part to square things up. The smell here between decks is something awfull simply smells like a morgue all the portholes are closed to exclude? darken the Portholes.
30-5-16 Tuesday
We are yawing about all the time & in front there is a destroyer criss-crossing our track. There are also 3 other War vessels on the Horizon. it does’nt look as if they are taking chances we have a 6" gun at the stern. One of the Gun Crew said that she
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would shake the mounting to pieces if she were fired. I had a shave under difficulties this morning with a Bully Beef tin, some Coffee, Broken Glass & using my Belt for a Strop. On Torpedo gaurd today. A few dozen at a time are placed around the ship with orders to keep a look out for periscopes & if they see one to fire at it if they are sure of hitting it but if not to keep firing between it & the ship to stop it from aiming I believe. These? The gaurd have to have their boots off & a life belt on. These lifebelts are a dam nuisance they take up so much room we can’t pass each other comfortably anywhere. we keep forgetting to allow for the lifebelt and get jammed in the narrow passages nor can we find room enough to sit at the tables, however the tucker is so bad that it reduces our bulk & tends to equalize matters. We are having lovely weather.
31st June May 1916 Wednesday
Finished our turn of Gaurd & arrived down below to find that we had changed our quarters for the second time within two days as before there was terrific confusion all our gear being mixed up. So far I have only lost my Blanket but some fellows have lost everything
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and are doing their best to acquire a new Kit, a man wants the eyes of Argus to watch & the arms of Briarius to defend his kit. Someone will have to provide that Blanket. We have 2700 men on board that would be a lovely haul for a Submarine. With the crew we have 3000 souls. This probably accounts for the number of escorts we have had all through the trip we have been handed on from one to another of these there is sometimes 3 in view at once. several times we have passed the Trawlers mine sweeping frequently they zig zag in front of us for a time. The most comical sight of all is to see a big Troopship with a fussy little Torpedo boat running round & across her like a little pup gambolling around its mother. I heard a funny expression from Sapper Edwards this evening something relating to holding a cat the meaning being this is my business. In the extremely cold weather just before the evacuation of Gallipoli, sometimes the parapets of both trenches would be lined with benumbed soldiers incapable of firing a rifle. The Trenches being flooded with icy water. Running a house
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game is a good way of making money on a Troopship in this way it is easy to make a pound or two per day. On one occasion on the Peninsula D. Co. of the 8th was sniping A. Co. This mistake being due to the trench lines being irregular & very close together.
3rd June 1916 Saturday
We had a submarine scare yesterday a destroyer dashed away from our escort & almost immediately the alarm was sounded & all hand mustered at their boat stations. And there we stayed lifebelts & Boots as usual untill darkness came on (we had ½ hour for tea. in the meantime our O.C. addressed the company & said that bad news had been received & we were to hold ourselves ready to act coolly & quietly in the event of trouble. After the alarm had been sounded the Steamer started steaming at her best & Zig Zagging even more than usual which is saying a lot. Everything passed off O.K. & today we have lovely weather. We passed a big Battleship this morning The colonel made a speech this afternoon, he said that when we reached England we would hear bad news & would be appalled at the narrow escape we had had. I take this to mean that one of our
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Consorts was torpedoed yesterday. It is wonderfull what a craving for sweets a man develops on active service. Big rough fellows can be seen scrambling for toffee or lollies as if they were children they are nearly as popular as cigarettes & more popular than Beer.
Sunday 4th June
We have had the African coast in sight all day. On this trip while in the Mediterranean we have hardly ever lost sight of land either on one side or the other. But lately it is always to the south (African)
2 letters to Mac. 1 to Kids
Tuesday 6-6-16
Arrived at Gibraltar last night at 8.0 P.M. The Rock itself from the harbor side reminds one of Mount Solitary at Katoomba. On the lower slopes & climbing up the hillside can be seen a small town, the lights of which look very pretty at night time clustering along the waters edge with the black Rock towering above. There are plenty of search lights here, they were playing around the ship all last night. We have just (8.0 A.M.) come into the inner harbor which is protected by Booms [sketch, with the word Pontoons written underneath]
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The spanish coast looks like the South coast of new South Wales but the villages are white instead of Black. The Rock itself [sketch outline of the Rock with locations marked]
Water sheds, Paths, cottages, village or town, Harbor inner, coal stage, Main Harbor, Mainly landlocked
One side of the rock looks like an old Ivory Brooch, the other side rises sheer? There are plenty of war craft about including a Submarine. There was a rumour on Board yesterday about a naval engagement in the North Sea. There is only a strip of sand connecting Gibraltar with the Spanish coast, Somewhat similar to Nobbys at Newcastle. The Rock itself looks very pretty from the inner harbor side. There was some gun practice going on & the echoes were very perfect. It took the sound a long time to travel to us nearly ½ a minute for about a mile. When you are close to the Rock, it looks exactly like a picture because it rises so rapidly & ends so abruptly that the houses & trees look as if they were painted on it. It is like a slice of cake in fact.
Wednesday 7-6-16
Left Gibraltar at 7.30 A.M. The men scrambled money to the Coal lumpers yesterday evening & it was one of the funniest shows I have ever
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seen you could first see a white [indecipherable] dusky legs & flashing teeth. Alarm sounded today just before dinner while I was washing myself & a towel. In my hurry to get upstairs I dropped my wristlet watch. When I got a chance to look for it it was gone.
Thursday 8-6-16
I have discovered a blanket & hope to keep it. We are now in the [indecipherable] Atlantic & have left our escort behind but we are still doing a little dodging.
Friday 9-6-16
On torpedo gaurd again today. Was called out yesterday & offered section leader but refused. Weather becoming much colder. Have discovered a few Chess players this discovery much relieves the monotony of the trip.
Saturday 10-6-16
The old Boat has started side slipping again. We must be entering a new danger zone.
Sunday 11-6-16
Picked up another escort this morning Destroyer or Torpedo 85. Evidently still possibility of Submarine attack because the escort signalled instructions of what to do in that event. For the last 2 days the old boat has had quite a noticeable list to Starboard
[Page 59]
We landed at Plymouth at about 8.40 P.M. British time & entrained for Parkhouse Camp Salisbury We arrived at the camp about 4.50 A.M. after wandering & loosing ourselves several times. We left the station at about 3.10 A.M. This is the best camp I have ever seen. We got a very cordial reception when we landed the crowd consisting mostly of women & children unfortunately a number were in Black. The 2 weeks we were on the boat were most unlucky ones for the Allies on the Sea. I seen something that surprised one to night that was the Sun setting at 9.20 P.M. This is partly due to the daylight saving Bill but that does’nt wholly account for it. The sun sets much later here than I would have believed possible if I didn’t see it myself. at Midsummer they must’nt have any darkness at all, because even after sunset there is still a long twilight.
14-6-16
Much struck by the beauty of the landscapes around here and all the way up in the train the country was just as lovely. The beauty of the hedges is very striking after
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Egypt also the groves of trees. One curious sight I seen was a large field devoted to entrenchments. The subsoil is practically all chalk & the white parapets of the trenches lying in geometrical patterns on the green field looked very pretty. Some of the Hills looked as if they were capped with Snow.
Friday 16-6-16
Applied for leave (Weekend) and much to my surprise got it. Intend to go to London tomorrow.
Saturday 17-6-16
Realised a cherished ambition & seen London. Stopped at Union Jack Club opp. Waterloo Station. Only had 36 Hours leave so we kept on the dead run all the time when we were not on the Busses Trams or the Tube. The Girls gave us more than a warm welcome I never got so much glad Eye in my life. They seem to sort out us Australians for special attention in fact everyone was Kind. The lady Bus & Tram Conductors attracted my special attention. They looked very smart in their Uniforms. The Strand by night looked very dull with barely enough light to see our way along. It is a bad time to see London because
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places of Interest are closed & in Westminster Abbey some of the more valuable relics were covered with Sand bags. There is no water in the Fountains at Trafalgar Square & some of the Historic places are caged in. It is the dearest place to live in I have yet seen one has almost to pay to breathe. One gets nothing for nothing & the traffic is great disappointment too I think it is much overrated. When our train left on Sunday evening 10.40 P.M. 18-6-16 there was a great crowd to see us off exactly as if we were leaving for the front.
Letters to home & MAC. ENG
Wednesday 21-6-16 Mess Orderly
The margarine that has been supplied for us cannot be distinguished from Butter. This is the hungriest camp I have been in but that is all the fault of the R.O.Master
Saturday 24-6-16
We were inspected today by Mr W. R. Hughes on what I shall always think of as the Great Coat Parade. The inspection took place near Bulford camp. I got wet which did’nt improve the cold I am suffering from now
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28-6-16
Paraded sick with sore feet was marked for treatment with Picric acid 2 % Was kept running about & waiting for the whole day, no more sick parade for me.
Monday 3-7-16
Watson told me today that all men received a ration of overproof rum before a charge as he expressed it a milk tin full (nearly). Picket at Newton Tony duty to prevent Soldiers travelling away without leave. This would be rather difficult for them as no trains arrived or departed from the Station during our term of duty. (Military methods again)
Letter To Mac.
Wednesday 5-7-16
Doing physical jerks today. My foot absolutely broke down & I had to fall out. Lying in picket tonight.
6th-7-16
We are evidently going to be a Circus Battalion judging by our training. [sentence deleted later]
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he also treated some other patients in a shocking manner & gave the Corporal a lesson in saluting. Mess Orderly tomorrow.
8th Saturday 1916
We were sorted out again for France today. There are now about 74 left with orders to remain within Bugle call of the camp. This looks like settling my chance for that Pioneering School. Our S.M. said yesterday that the Imperial Authorities don’t want us to go to the front but the Australian Authorities insist on us going. These english women have big feet alright and not infrequently flat feet too.
LETTER TO MAC.
11th July 1916 Monday
The Tommy soldiers when travelling by train are sometimes sent 6 in each compartment one man for each window with instructions to stand up looking out of each window to make German spies believe that large numbers are moving about. There has just been pasted up in our hut a notice with reference to venereal disease mentioning facilities for washing [indecipherable]
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13-7-1916 Wednesday
We have been advised to be ready to leave at 6.0 P.M. fall in at 5.45. I have sent a letter to the Niddries and also expect to send one to Mac. Left at 5.30. Arrived at Victoria Stn. London at about 1.30 A.M.
13-7-1916
left Victoria Stn. 6.10 A.M. left Folkestone for France about [deleted] Arrived at Boulogne after a fast & Rough trip. plenty of sea sickness. trip occupied little over an hour ½ Steam Trams at Boulogne. Dirty place Buggar of a Hill to climb. Heard tommy tell tale of cruelty to Canadians. They were Hanged by Germans. Cobble Stones everywhere bad for my foot Everything dirty, Women plain. The Tommies are imitating our method of carrying packs.
Friday 15-7-16
Arrived at Etaples & camped there.
Saturday 15 [16]-7-16
10th Hussars at Diamond Hill Memo. Incident preceding Bayonet charge sand bag ½ empty & Rifle Shot
[Incident in Anglo-Boer War 1900]
Monday 18-7-16
I shall certainly be skewered at Bayonet firing drill. I have had one in the arm and another in the back already.
Letter to Mac. 17.7.16
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18-7-16
Rates of exchange here would surprise anyone £1 note is worth 5d more than a Sov [?] and 20 shillings silver is worth 9d more than a Sov. we received our Gas helmets and Goggles today.
Wednesday 19-7-16
Introduced to the Bull ring today long march and lectures on Gas tear Bombs & first aid. We Also bomb throwing. We went through the gas chamber, also through tear Bomb trench & had some practice in Bomb throwing. The [indecipherable] were out there too. Seen an allied Zep
Thursday 20-7-16
We were classed as fir for the front today. 12 left for the line today. Went for a swim to Paris Place and got lost.
Friday 21-7-16
Very heavy cannonading last night & some very heavy concussions today.
Saturday 22-7-16
Lifeguards at Winberg (Keelan) [?] General Birdwood issued an order recently commending a raiding party of the 4th Division, it seems that a party of 90 men & 6 officers went out & met an unexpected obstacle in some wire entanglements. The guides & the wounded threw themselves on the
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wire to enable their comrades to pass. the 6 officers were all put out of action the casualties of the men were heavy they reckon they killed 51 Germans & brought back 16 prisoners.
Sunday 23-7-16
This Etaples is as dirty as Boulogne men urinate anywhere at all. There is apparently no drainage system, streets narrow paved with cobbles tortuous Houses old, often askew & all kinds of Architecture. Attended Church parade there today at an old Norman Church built by the British in 1432. I heard that the trenches at Armentierres are very shallow and practically all parapet. Because the water lies so near the surface. The gas used by the Germans poisons exposed food and cigarettes also. It also colours metal facings & I notice that the wearers don’t take pains to remove the discolouration. When the miners Battalion arrived in the Trenches the Germans put up a sign saying “Miners you have got 2 months to live". The french often plough up to within 1000 yds of the Trenches.
Tuesday 25-7-16
We are (70) to move on up the line through the night
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26-7-16 Wednesday
We didn’t move off as anticipated standing by today. Yesterday we were issued with ammunition, iodine, spare Gas Helmet, oil, Dubbin, & small Bag.
Wrote to Mrs McMahon [his wife’s mother]
27-7-16 Thursday
Received letter from Ciss stating that Mollie was keeping Mum short [?] two days ago it also contained a Birth day card from Mum & Ciss. By same mail I received a letter from Mac which had been sent six weeks earlier than Ciss’s one. We left Etaples Camp before 5.0 A.M.
28-7-16 Friday
We arrived at the outskirts of Albert last night after marching about 9 miles. I was all in & just lay down & went to sleep. in addition to our usual load each man carried about 20 lb of Tucker we had been travelling since 5.0 A.M. on our arrival we were greeted with 3 pounds of Shrapnel. I was so tired that I never even got up to have a look at the Show. The church steeple of this town is leaning downwards against the side & has been that way since 1914. A tall chimney in the vicinity has a pronounced bend in it nearly all have this
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The 1st Battalion has I believe been shifted back from the line somewhere. I heard that Bob was in England with bad Eyes. The Guns here are roaring all the time like a few [indecipherable] some of the shells roar like Railway Trains. Met some of our mob today after some walking near Albert.
Saturday 29-7-16
Our Squad was sent up to the line fusing Bombs last night. I was among 10 who were left behind. The Bombardment last night was awfully grand. Every kind of Gun & shell being employed. The 7th Brigade got an order to retire & finished up among the Artillery. It transpired later that there was a misunderstanding. Birthday today [40th]
Sunday 30-7-16
Attached to the Battalion 2 Platoon A Co. took up work today on a small tramway. Another experience of Shrapnel fire. There being at least a dozen casualties within 100 yds of our job but that is nothing here. It did not look nice to see them carried away on Stretchers with Blood soaked clothing. Had a swim today. Tried to get a drink in Albert but could’nt. One chap hit in the arse with a piece of spent Shrapnel. piece nearly red hot
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Monday 31 July 16 Pozieres
Running a line out near central wood today. More Shrapnel. Ground torn to pieces. One of the 4th killed by concussion. One young chap was taken out of the trenches in a state of collapse shaking like a leaf. Breakdown I suppose. Train loads of munitions about. Was pulled out of bed at midnight last night & warned that a Gas attack was pending. after standing by about ¼ of an hour we were allowed to go back.
Through the night the Germans shelled our Head Quarters with some new Gas & got the O.C. & the second. The effect of this gas is not felt for 3 Hrs & if I am not mistaken they kept it up for nearly 9 hours. There was plenty of Bodies festering in the sun on the field & shells of all sizes. the 17th got a knock the other night the Germans anticipating a rush placed some machine Guns in positions in shell holes in no mans land & when the 17th rushed they were badly cut up. The following night the Tommies got across without losing a man (the luck of the game). I noticed some of the names of communication trenches. Dinkum Alley, long Alley [deletion]. The sound of the Shrapnel is really vicious
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But the High Explosive shells sound like a thin sheet of tin being shaken as they travel through the air.
2-8-16 Wednesday
I seen an British Aeroplane brought down yesterday. It dropped straight for ½ way spiralled ¼ & then came end over end to earth. Fritz immediately started splashing shrapnel all around where it fell. He then spathered the head of the rail where we were unloading. We got the rails off in record time & did not linger on the way back. Murphy nearly stopped a H.E. on the way back. We are still on the Pozieres line. The line to the chalk pit is stopped. Noticed a new communication trench today Hun Road. 3 Platoon went out last night to dig com. trench for the hop over party. The Bomb-making party had an explosion. 3 were hurt Sgt. Walker seriously. Last Monday 2 shells premature [?] buried [?] from our own guns dropped alongside of us one within 20 yds. Fritz swept the road for us yesterday but we ducked. But he got one chap going home
[Page 71]
Our Boys in the front line are actually fighting in shell holes they can’t stand sit or sleep. All attack have to be made at a walk & I believe the second or third lines attack before the first. In the solid chalk of the trenches live numbers of fat frogs how they get food or water God knows. I was much interested by the struggles of one to climb over my Rubber sheet the sheet was on an incline & Mr Frog could do nothing with it & he was in a Hurry too because I was touching him up behind. Our fellows all wear tin sheets at the back of their neck so that the Artillery shall know them. The 2nd Batt. and the Engineers both refused the job our fellows done last night. The trench in no mans land.
Thursday 3-8-16
Nos 3 & 4 Platoon went out last night to dig out a sap but the fire was too hot, so we (No 2) had to take it on this morning. The Cap. told us 2 other companies had been practically blown out of it but that it had to be done. We found it a collection of shell holes & dug it out to within about 200 yds of the firing line before handing it over to the next relief. We got plenty of Shrap. & H.E. from Fritz.
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but owing to my really magnificent ducking I only got a kick in the rear. We dug out a 9" shell (a dud also a dead Fritz (poor Beggar) he was in an awful state. The chap who got the 9" shell was very careful with his pick afterward. Our boys wear tin sheets on their Backs so that the artillery won’t fire on them by mistake.
Friday 4-8-16
Had the hottest time of my life today went out on the same job as yesterday but we encountered a terrific converging fire of H.E. and Shrapnel the Batteries were sweeping the whole length of the centre way which we were supposed to clean out.
the part we had done yesterday was all blown in & the trench blown flat. Fritz would’nt leave us alone his shell fire being something awful. at the finish I was sent on a message & got lost in the Trenches. My party went home without me & I wandered about till I seen the Cap. who told me they had gone. We have to stand by tonight there being a great attack on. I hope everything goes off O.K.
Letter to Mac. yesterday
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More names of trenches Rag Lane and Spring Street. There are some German Planes sailing high above our camp tonight trying desperately to find out if there is anything doing. our Battle planes are waiting below like Bull dogs but in vain because the taube [?] keeps too high meanwhile the anti gun is chasing them vainly with shells. On the other side Fritz is Bombarding Albert. I was nearly reported missing this afternoon.
Saturday 5-8-16
Went up to the firing line at midnight 4th We had to change parapets and dig out trenches as fast as they were blown. Shell fire awfull also machine Guns. The Bullets of the latter were exploding in the air everywhere, they looked like fire flies. I lost the trench (so called) and wandered about in the Orchard or Wood (Pozieres) absolutely without cover & while there met Charley Stead engineers. We kept together after although he did’nt know me. Murphy got a rap on the finger so he did not come out with us today. When the Boys charged they found a man who had been wounded and left in a shell hole 7 days previously in no man’s land. a corporal a few
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yards away had food but they could’nt get to each other. I believe he will pull through they gave him a cigarette and he was perfectly happy. The Germans made no fight for the trench but their Barrage fire was awfull. The prisoners were treated well & glad to be taken. Their infantry made a counter attack but when they neared our trench they threw away their arms and dived in. I believe their own Artillery shelled them.
Sunday 6-8-16
Went out at 6.0 P.M. yesterday and worked carrying rails to the Rail head near the wood. Fritz was as usual very liberal with shells only more so especially at the Rail head. I was nearly run over twice & had one of my puttees almost torn to pieces by a loop of wire projecting from the rails. Fritz followed us all the way home with shells & then kept shelling all night. this persistent shell fire is beginning to make one jumpy. I must make a reference to the free coffee stall near the beginning of Sausage Valley. The guns in the latter place have nearly blown me off the rail several times when walking home by night. A funny incident happened on the night of the charge 4th Divon.
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was digging a communication trench & had just dug a decent hole under very heavy shell fire a shrap. then came very close and to Dixon’s disgust an Officer who happened to come along just then beat him for the hole & left him trying to crowd himself into his tin hat
Monday 7-8-16
Shelled all night & shelled all the way out this morning. Shelled every night lately. The Brute just sent 3 J. [Jack] Johnsons into our camp missed the Boy by about 7 Feet and for about the 10th time I was within 30 yds of a H.E. Shell when it exploded. Fritz is sniping Sausage valley with a big gun and has already put one Battery out of action beside blowing up horses men dugouts etc. This morning I heard that J. Woods is near Albert with the 84th Battery F.A.
Wednesday 9-8-16
We shifted camp yesterday on account of the shelling I believe. We are now in a worse but safer possy. I believe they got that big gun that sniped the Battery. The other companies are now having their spell but we are hanging on still
[Page 76]
Friday 11-8-16
There is a big 12" naval gun mounted on a Railway truck with other carriages to accommodate the Gun crew also a loco to pull it about near our camp. When the gun is about to be fired the Engine gives a blast the Brakes are set on and Bang – our little humpy fairly rocks every time. I don’t care much for the French people I have seen so far. They are very grasping. Its funny to hear our Aeroplanes signalling to the Guns they do so by means of hooters. I have often seen one hovering over the German lines till one of their guns had fired & then back it comes full rip sometimes with a few puff balls after it having spotted the position of the gun. in a few minutes one of our heavy guns would be feeling for that gun or Battery.
Sunday 13-8-16
We started 3 days holiday today. Went into town this morning & viewed the church there is a creek flowing under the church. Went to a Picture show last night near the Bison. I do not like any of the french people that I have met so far. They charge us awfull prices for everything 3 Francs for tin of Fruit. 2 francs tin of Milk [indecipherable]
[Page 77]
Wrote to Miss Lusby yesterday & Mac. today.
14-8-16
There was a blow up in the Bomb store today. It was about 60 yds from us. I thought a new Battery had opened up & on coming out to have a look I found one of our Seargents dying & a private badly wounded there were also some minor wounds. I believe there has been 23 Casualties in the store [word deleted] in the last 3 days. The Seargent was unlucky when the first Bomb exploded he tried to get away but got caught in the barbed wire fence surrounding the bomb enclosure. I notice that we don’t use the Cauldwell [Caldwell] Machine gun on this front only the Lewis.
15-8-16
Red letter day today met Bob. his lot go back into the line tomorrow but I believe they will be reserves this time (1st Brigade)
16-8-16
Running rails & line around [indecipherable] Wood. Fritz had at least 3 Balloons up. Some nasty sights along the train route. Heard yarn about tommies & prisoner (One end other end middle then finish
[Page 78]
Some Bombardment on today. I seen two of our Battleplanes bring down 2 Taubes this morning. The morning was cloudy so our planes managed to sneak on to them. One came down like a ball of fire. I seen the crater of the mine which was exploded on or about 1st July near Becourt wood it is a wonderfull sight about 50 yds in Diameter and looks at least 100 ft. deep. Within the last few days the 13th Batt made a charge. They were to have been supported by the 51st & 54th Batt. through some misunderstanding the latter did not charge, so the 13th were nearly surrounded & had to fall back losing heavily.
Start another spell tomorrow (3 days). Seen a new type of Plane today with twin screws & rather larger than the ordinary battle planes. Went to another village about 1 ¼ miles south east of Albert & had a Bottle of very fair Champagne in a very dirty yard. There is a rumor that the Aus. Army Corp. is going to Egypt after the next stunt, hope it is correct. Fritz made counter attacks yesterday & to-day. It was marvellous to see the way our Artillery socked it into him. It was also
[Page 79]
rather terrible to watch the effects of his H.E, Shells coming over in salvoes. The gun crew of the 12" here often have a joke with me they blow the engine hooter but don’t discharge the gun. The result is that I am left with my hands over my ears with the boys laughing at me for about 10 minutes at a time.
Sunday 20-8-16
Our 3 days spell has been knocked on the head. Today the 2nd day we have to go on Road work. I received a pair of socks and two packets of chewing gum today from Jersey Rd.
21-8-16
Working with the R.E. on a light tramway (Steam) today when 5 Taubes sailed over head (by the way we were supposed to be off) we were watching them when one of them dropped a bomb about 60 yds away blowing one poor fellow fully 30 feet into the air. He looked like a doll as he went sailing up, of course he was killed instantly nearly every bone being broken. Our Anti gun was shooting at the planes at the time but they absolutely ignored them. There were a number of Bombs
[Page 80]
dropped but only 3 near us the one mentioned, a dud, & one in the wood, this latter caused 40 casualties 11 being killed. We were working near La Boiselle wood at the time, there must also have been a counter attack as our Artillery near the above wood were very active.
Wednesday 23-8-16
We are attached (A Company) to the R.E.s [Royal Engineers] alright.
Letters to Mollie Harry & Kids. Back on the old tramway job now running a branch line between La Boiselle & Pozieres. Fritz caught the 9th Brigade relieving the 1st yesterday & shelled the hell out of them both incidentally he shelled us out of our job about 5.0 PM for about an hour. I received a box of nice things from Mollie last night. There were about 6 or 8 Taubes floating over us all yesterday afternoon & our planes didn’t seem to be able to get near them. One of our own planes kept sailing across our Job the Germans shelling him all the time & some of the shell fragments fell rather close to us. We swore at him freely. Seen a
[Page 81]
Gas attack by our men today they alternated smoke and Gas the resulting bombardment was also worth looking at. Fritz return bombardment was sufficiently lively to make us quit work. Our planes had a bit of a brush up with the Taubes & forced one of them to land.
Friday 25-Aug-16
On our way to work we met some of the 10/17 they had apparently just come up to the front. Among others there were C. Gosher Bluey Fell, Skinner, Hammond. A big attack was launched in the direction of Thiepval & the resulting Bombardment was something to write home about. We had to take to the trenches & while there I picked up a diary containing entries extending over about six weeks. I think the owner was killed because there was an unmistakeable smell about the diary. I intend to write to one of the addresses mentioned in it & send it on if required. To return Fritz kept shelling our job the rest of the day & as he had 4 Balloons up he could see everything that we done
[Page 82]
When we had only 30 yds to do he simply swept that point with Shrapnel so we had to leave that go. coming back with the truck one time he dropped one shell about 100 yds ahead then another about 50 yds ahead we came on steadily to this spot & then run the truck on like hell just in time because he had been waiting for us & the shell dropped 20 yds behind. He sent another to chase us up the line but we beat him that trip.
Saturday 26-8-16
Fritz had a balloon up yesterday watching us at work. after it went down he shelled Blazes out of us, we took to the Trenches & he nearly blew them in on top of us so we vamoosed. By pure luck he miscalculated the possy of our tram line by 50 yds otherwise he would have got most of us first pop because he swept all the way 50 yds on one side of the line. He got Dixon so I am now without a mate & feel rather miserable in consequence.
Sunday 27-8-16
Started house keeping with A. [Arthur] Manefield (killed 14 Nov 16) [note added later] of 14 Short St L.Hardt [Leichardt] on the night of the 25th our Infantry went over in the
[Page 83]
direction of Thiepval & won a trench they went on another 400 yds. & dug themselves in. next morning the Germans Bombarded the trench which was unoccupied & made 5 separate counter attacks. They were cut up & could’nt understand it thinking all the time the fire was coming from their old trench
29-8-16
Left Albert yesterday. Had to throw some of my stuff away to lighten my pack. Roads incredibly muddy, passed the 17th on the way. Supposed to be on our way to Armentierres. Now billeted in a stable in Senlis. It is a filthy billet & situated about 5 ½ miles from Albert. Apparently we are going to rest today. Surprising how Smith got lost, he has been missing now for over a week. I passed him at the Coffee stall when he was coming home sick. He has not been seen since. A lot of our Boys have been Knocked out by the French beer & stout. they charge us terrible prices 1 Franc for a pound loaf of Bread.
name="a6697084">
[Page 84]
30-8-16 Wednesday
This is an awfull country in wet weather. The houses are blown to bits. The roads cut up by military traffic. Mud every where & our Billet smells like a W.C. the last two nights our fellows have been drunk (some of them) & they make night hideous with their howling. We sleep in Bunks improvised out of wire netting & poles some of them are about 11 feet high & the drunks fall out of them or else are unable to get into them. One amused me very much yesterday. He was lying in a pool of his own filth. when it came on to rain he then got on all fours put his coat over his head stuck his nose in the ground. his stern in the air & sang several Hymns with the rain pouring on him all the time without altering his possy. I don’t believe a man could buy a good indelible pencil anywhere in France now.
Letters to Mac & Ciss
31-8
Had a bath today. Received a parcel from Ciss last night. heard from the O.C. about new Gas shell deadly for everyone within its Radius for 12 hours. He also advised us that we were going to Ypres
[Page 85]
supposed to be a bad possy owing to the frequent Gas attacks
Friday 1-9-16
We were punished today for the bad behaviour of a few by being paraded at 11.30 to 1.30 & 6.0 to 9.0 canteen hours so the boys have perforce to keep sober we were also paraded at 2.30 P.M.
Saturday 2/9
Farming country around here (Senlis) rather pretty. The people seem to depend entirely on Wells for their water & on luck for their drainage.
Sunday 3/9
Moved out of Senlis at 10 AM seen plenty of German prisoners at work on the Roads. Sorry to say that the boys chaffed them a little. I think it was done without thought. Arrived at Beauval at 6.0 P.M. tired out after a 15 mile march. Surprising to see the tiny Boys here smoking. One of 5 yrs this morning smoking a pipe. The same applies to drinking.
Monday 4/9
The Niddries came to see me today. Will is still in Hospital. They have been here (Beauval) about 4 days & leave tomorrow morning at about 6.0 o.clock. We had a
[Page 86]
drink Alf. Todd & I to our next meeting. Birdwood [General] has been called “The Soul of Anzac" some of the Boys have prefixed a letter which does’nt improve the nickname (R)
Tuesday 5/9
Beauval inhabitants fairly decent. left there for Doolan [Doullens] about 9.30 PM had a noisy night march & were kept in the street outside the Station for about 2 hours. Quite a number of our fellows were Drunk. We were in the train all night & are in it now.
Wednesday 6/9
Left the train this morning at a town called Proven in Belgium 18 K.M. from Ypres, it is 4 miles over the Belgian Frontier. Had dinner & moved on 4 miles to Poperinghe [Poperinge] over those cruel cobblestones which are such a feature of Belgian towns. This town has been shelled the churches as usual catching it hot. The Sanitary conveniences are very open. It is a great little town & I would not mind staying here a month. I bought a good pencil (American) & saw a good picture show & altogether had a good day. The people also will suit me nice looking girls too. Glass roofs here are painfully common so are summerhouses. Beer Gardens with tiled paths. Vines
[Page 87]
hung with ripe Grapes, Fountains Etc. Also in these tows small shrines are often in the front walls. The houses have in a number of cases Surnames probably the names of the occupants.
Friday 8/9
This town is subject to Gas attacks. Has two fair picture shows. I was with the Niddries all yesterday afternoon & spent the evening with them at a Picture Show. The Church at this town has sanitary conveniences in the Angles near the door & others along side.
Saturday 9/9
We left Poperinghe [Poperinge] at about 10.30 A.M. halted for dinner at Vlamertinge. great dissatisfaction the tea being made with brackish water procured from poperinghe the church in this village has been destroyed also every dwelling.
Sunday 10/9
Ypres. Arrived last night. Filthy Billet last occupied by Canadians who were shelled out one shell causing 40 casualties. Started work at 5.30 AM till midday making trenches. The trenches we are making are very elaborate with duck boards revetted sides overhead covers etc. Some of the trenches are parapets only because the water lies so near the surface. We only heard occasional rifle shots throughout the morning a couple of
[Page 88]
Whizz Bangs smashed some duck boards along the path. we came out in 3s & went back singly at 9 paces interval. This must have been a pretty old town. We passed out through the town Gate & over a broad causeway with a moat on each side the moat appeared to run around the town wall. The wall is loopholed for archers & there is an outside wall also with another moat. One can also see an aqueduct in the town wall. letter to Mac.
Monday 11/9
Fritz shelled the boys on the Tramway job today evidently they have been too conspicuous. He also shelled our trench yesterday afternoon for about ¼ of an hour and dropped a few in while we were coming home. Two platoons were sent home by a Tommy officer who said that even the runners were not allowed to go past that way. [indecipherable] mentioned that they had worked there all yesterday but he still insisted they will have to work by night. Card to Tinsley.
Tuesday 12/9
Fritz is shelling the road this afternoon & coming closer to the Billet than a gentleman should. I am pleased to note that my shirt is becoming [indecipherable]. There are some fine ruins in this Town notably the Cloth Hall, Cathedral &
[Page 89]
St Nicholas Church. The Base disc of a 5.9 H.E. landed just a shade over 3 feet from me as I was having my tea in the yard & scattered dirt over me & my tucker.
Wednesday 13/9
Letters to Harry & Sid
The Captains (Arnold) dug out fell in on him this morning he went away in the ambulance this afternoon. “Annie Laurie" of the 19th was shot by mistake by one of the 17th last night as he was returning from a patrol Stewart (A company) last night while working dropped saying “They’ve got me" he died very shortly after. was brought back & the Dr. could’nt find a wound. Believed to have died of heart failure. One of the 18th was shot this morning for P.O. ing at Pozieres. hard for Din.
Letters to Mac & Tinsley
I heard that 2 Engineers surveying were captured at Pozieres They went right on to a German trench one was consulting his note Book at the time. 2 Bearers Stretcher Bearers also looking for wounded went into a Hun trench. The Germans grinned & they got away. We had a fight last night & another this morning in the Billet. That chap mentioned above was shot in the armpit & died of internal Bleeding (Stewart)
[Page 90]
Saturday 16-9-16
Met Allan Patterson today he is attached to Hdqrs 17th Batt.
Sunday 17-9-16
We have to go out tonight to have the morning off. Rather cold last night. We have a small lagoon in front of our Billet. As soon as we arrived Mannefield [?] dropped 8 Mills Bombs into it to see if he could get any fish but got no results. Just now a couple of ardent fishermen are doing their best with improvised fishing gear. With very poor success. The Imperial Authorities have asked for applications for a training school for aviators 29 positions to a division. Issued with box Gas Helmets today.
Monday 18-9-16
Carrying & digging last night, slight machine gun fire. Thought I had caught a German scout but it was only one of our Machine Gunners. Fell through the Duck Boards twice on the way home. Met a party going out on a stunt.
(20th?) Tuesday 19-9-16
Out digging trench last night. Route along the Railway line bed of a creek to Destroyed Bridge then through trenches via Hell fire corner China Wall. Gordon House? to 2nd or 3rd Line incredibly muddy. Dug trench. Had an awfully rough passage home. Almost impossible to stand upright. Pitch dark. One chap fell 3 times in 4 yards arrived home like human mud Balls.
[Page 92]
Sunday 24-9-16
Rily [?] St. job again tonight.
Tuesday 26-9-16
Yesterday & today working in secret trench which is a secret no longer. Fritz put over a few shells (small ones) this morning. One lodged right in the trench & buried Freddy Harden. It took about 15 minutes to dig Fred out. His helmet saved a little air for him & he supervised matters from below, it sounded very strange to hear his muffled voice saying “more air" etc. He was uninjured, his face being slightly swollen & nose or mouth bleeding slightly.
I believe Fritz caught one or two of our planes today. There is going to be an Artillery stunt this evening. Payday today. One of the Boys got drunk & being unable to balance himself on the W.C. perch fell backwards with appalling results.
[Frederick Harden, No 1939, 2nd Pioneer Battn.]
Friday 29-9-16
L/M & Claire
Met H. Crothers the other day. Heard that H. Hook was Killed at Fler Bain while working Trench Mortar. The 18th organised a raid last night which was a failure. They run into a bombing post & were bombed back. Our fellows used a 192 lbs Trench Mortar against Fritz
[Harold John Thomas Hook, 1712, 2nd Div. Trench Mortars. K.I.A. 6 May 1916]
[Page 93]
which seriously annoyed him. He replied with the heaviest stuff he could send.
Saturday 31 September 1916
Met Shannon in the secret safe[?] today he is Pioneer Sergeant of the 20th
Sunday 1 October 1916
Clock put back one hour today (day light saving). Lieut Armitage & Segt Nevin ? wounded today. Our Artillery bombarded last night Hill 60 I believe. Fritz Shelling town with Whizz Bangs today in spite. An Aeroplane brought down a Baloon today.
Friday 6-10-16
L/M
Everything quiet. Still working on Vince St. trench (Secret Trench)
Sunday 8-10-16
Sick parade today. Boil on face.
Friday 13-10-16
Had 3 days light duties over Boil. 28th Batt had a raid last night. Moderately successfull only a couple of wounded. Got 2 prisoners. The 28th nearly bombed the 20th when they were changing over.
14-10
Applied for leave to Poperinghe yesterday. Got shelled today in trench. 4" & Whizz Bangs from different angles cross & enfilading. Fritz got a machine gun possy & wounded one of the crew.
[Page 94]
The shell alluded to came through the roof & exploded inside. There were 4 inside & only one got a “ Blighty".
15-10-16
That 6" Howitzer in the yard is sending a few over. Our old Billet fairly quakes every time it goes off. Head today that Jim Duigan was in the 4/20 & had 3 weeks on the Peninsular. He left there with a poisoned finger. Plenty of Rats here hear them squeaking among ruins after dark. Also Frogs, cats which prey on the rats, cats are common. Dogs rare. Soldiers very fond of pets. Major Goodall [?] originally of 18th was known as [indecipherable] too courageous. At Bois Grenier the 20th [indecipherable] two Trench Mortars. The trench just in front of ours is called Wellington Crescent. I have been unable to locate Stafford Street.
16-10-16
They are getting very strict about saluting here. Yesterday on the Duck Boards near Zillebeke lagoon (North Shore Road) The Colonel (Lieut)? of the 25th blew up a number of our fellows for not saluting him. Fritz sent some Whizz Bang Salvoes over today one coming into the Trench. A dug-out was burnt there last night. He sent another salvo as a good night as we finally left the Trench.
[Page 95]
17-10-16
Left Ypres at about 6.0 P.M. & walked to Montreal Camp. This Ypres Salient must be a long one. We were walking between two rows of Flares for about 3 miles. We were not allowed to smoke or show lights of any description. Each man carried 2 blankets & 3 helmets in addition to winter underclothing. Trains passed us on the salient going both ways one with a flaming Fire Box & yet we dared not show a light. We arrived at Montreal at about 8.15 P.M. Beginning to get cold now. We marched into Ypres along the same road in daylight in columns of four. lost my Pay Book last night. This camp is near Dickebush Hill 63 is plainly visible so also is the Windmill Hill alongside. A curious effect on these night marches is the sparking of the iron shod Boots of the Soldiers on the cobble Stones.
19-11[10]-16
Still at Montreal Camp. Very sloppy. move tomorrow I believe.
20-11[10]-16
Keen frost this morning. moving out. Halted at Midday at an Aero School near Abeele. The Aviators gave us a fine display looping the loop. Banking & diving just on to us apparently trying to frighten us.
[Page 96]
We seen plenty of Hop vine frames on the way also tobacco leaves drying on the walls of some of the Houses. We walked over the frontier to Steenvorde where we were supposed to Billet but found the 7th Brigade had jumped our Billets. After standing about in the cold for 1½ hours we tramped on to Winnezeele 3 or 4 miles further on making about 15 miles in all. Even then C. Coy had to Bivouac in the fields & there was a very severe frost. Plenty of Blackberries here but the frost has nipped them. We slept 200 in a Barn. I went into the village in the night & had tucker & some wine.
Sunday 22-10-16
On the road again at 8.15 A.M. The Germans penetrated 4 miles past Winnezeele in their advance. The Villagers thought they were English troops. They were soon driven back. The country is now becoming undulating & very pretty. Awfully cold today. Arrived in Arneke at 2.30 P.M. billeted in a Barn. Church here 307 years old. Very footsore. They have dogs here working a churn by means
[Page 97]
of a Squirrel wheel
Monday 23-10-16
I just heard today that F. Lane was at Etaples in the Q.Ms store. while I was there & I missed him. We had a rough march through very pretty country today about 15 miles. We passed through Watten a nice town on a Canal. We seem to have left most of the mud in Belgium. All of our Boys say the Belgian Soldiers are no good – very treacherous but they admire the French Soldiers.
Tuesday 24-10-16
That was a brute of a march yesterday 15 M. A couple of cookers & the Ration cart broke down – result no Rations this morning. We are 6.5 KM from Watten 13 from St Omer 1 from Monneville.
25-10-16
Left the Estaminet at midnight & arrived in St Omer at about 5.15 AM then entrained. Had a pretty rough night march. Left St Omer about 7.30 arrived at Longpre at 3.45 AM left about 4.30 & marched until 7.30 P.M. mostly uphill. No 2 Platoon fell out on the way in a body but after persuasion moved on. Everybody dead beat eventually arrived at Hailly[?] Left there in motors next day 26-10-16 & travelled via Flixecourt, Picquigny, Breilly, Amiens, Buire-sous-Corbie [?] arriving at 9.0 P.M. The motors pulled up about 100 times on the trip. In Amiens the trees had all shed their leaves although when
[Page 98]
we left the north they were only Browning & beginning to fall. Amiens has a number of small canals running through it. We passed along some fine Squares & Streets. While passing here we seen the sign “Defence D’Urinater"` on a gate in large letters. The name of the village mentioned in the preceding page is Buire-sous-Corbie[?]
Friday 27-10-16
We marched a mile further on yesterday & are now in camp. It was raining when we arrived & the Boys raided a Haystack about ½ mile away for straw to sleep on. we had just bedded it down when we got orders to return it – very nice. Very muddy here. We are about 1½ miles from Albert. Plenty of German prisoners working on the roads here. Mostly men of fine physique.
Saturday 29-10-16
Church parade today. Raining mud everywhere. I have a Gum Boil & sore foot. I have been told by men in the first line that they could see our big shells passing over head to burst in the enemies trenches a little further on.
Tuesday 31-10-16
Arrived near Mametz [indecipherable] Wood I believe last night & spent an awfull night in a flooded dug out. An ambulance
[Page 99]
Tommie who pigged in with us nearly died. I completely lost heart wet & shivering all night. It never stopped raining.
Wednesday 1-11-16
Very short of tucker yesterday. Short again today. No Breakfast. Ration cart has been away 36 Hours & not returned yet. On Monday we were walking up to our Knees in water & with very little tucker. The congestion on our Roads here is something awfull.
Thursday 2-11-16
Working on the Road near Longueval Circus Water Point. Up to our Knees in mud carrying & picking up stones to put on the Roads. No Bread for Dinner but that is common now. Fritz caught 5 Horses with a shell last night. I was watching a 8.2 Howitzer Battery today and could distinctly see the shells leave the gun & traverse about ¾ of its journey. We are working alongside Longueval Wood.
Friday 3-11-16
Breakfast 2" Bacon, Sugar & no Biscuits or Bread. Dinner small spud & ½ Tin of Bully. Letters from Mac. today, She’s in Hospital. Fritz shelling Battery alongside us today. Enough Bread tonight.
[Page 100]
Saturday 4-11-16
Working in Roads. Picking up Bricks.
Sunday 5-11-16
Cleaning & draining Fish trench. Heavy Bombardment today. Can see the Housetops of Bapaume in the distance 2½ miles or 3 away.
Monday 6-11-16
I believe out fellows captured two lines of trenches yesterday. Fritz put 3 shells into a few yds of fish trench yesterday of course he sent others but none so close. We did’nt go out this morning.. The 17th were working on the Roads yesterday. There was a wild rumor that some of them gave themselves up a few days ago. We have had 2 days fine weather, very cold & strong Breeze. Our Aeroplanes seem to go up in any Breeze or wind. Walked about 1/2 mile to see a tank yesterday.
Wednesday 8-11-16
Had a very wet cold day yesterday, mud to the neck. Also got a cold. Weather conditions awfull.
Thursday 9-11-16
After making dugouts all day we got 5 minutes notice yesterday to have our Tea 3.30 P.M. and go out to Flers on a night Tramway job. My Boots like those of 70% of the Battalion are in pieces, my Heel is badly Skinned & yesterday settled the contract. I paraded
[See page 109 for the image of the following page]
sick & had my foot dressed. But that can be of very little use untill I get new Boots. Taubes bombed the camp for the second time within a week the night before last. After we returned from Flers last night we found that Fritz had put a 8" adjacent. when the First Taube came over one of his Bombs splathered our dug out with mud the same has happened with one or two of the shells.
10-11-16
No duty yesterday. Sore Heel. Taubes came over again last night. Boys working out at Flers on Tram line last night. Very cold & foggy today. Our boys & the Germans on their respective front lines are up to their waist in mud & stand miserably looking at one another. There is no rifle fire. Some of the men are so weak & get bogged so deep coming out that the Artillery men put ropes & things on their horses & pulled them out that way. The horses are having a terrible time.
Saturday 11-11-16
Light duty yesterday. Wood & water jocy. Taube over again last night with incendiary Bombs. They are getting very cheeky. I heard that our Anti guns got 3 yesterday but only seen one come down with a wing shot off. Fritz is putting plenty of “Duds" about the camp. He shelled the Boys on the Flers
[Page 101]
line last night & inflicted a few casualties, none serious, it’s a wonder he did’nt get more. Some artillery men belonging to a Battery which was the cause of all the trouble came over under the impression they were nearly all killed.
Sunday 12-11-16
No Duty again today. weather fairly dry. Letters 2 from Mac.
Monday 13-11-16
Fritz hit our Water cart with H.E. and blew it up yesterday. He lobbed another within 10 yds of me as I was looking for a canteen. Duty in camp today
Tuesday 14-11-16
Big stunt on last night our Boys (A. Co, Pioneers) went out at 6.0 A.M. in Battle order but returned in about 1½ hours to go out at about 2 or 3 AM. We have Brigade of Gaurds camped alongside us Coldstreams Scots & Irish. They are reported to have captured 2300 Germans early this morning. They only arrived here two days ago (the Scots). A heavy Bombardment opened this morning at 6.50 & is still going on. About 11.0 A.M. some of the Boys who have been wounded early are drifting in. There seems to have been heavy casualties. The casualties in A Company amounted to 56. 15 Killed 5 missing 17 Sev. Wounded & 18 Wounded. Louden was very much exalted as were some of the N.C.Os. A. Co. was the only one of the Engineers
[Capt. George Louden, 2622, 7 Field Co., Engineer]
[Page 102]
or Pioneers who finished their job.
Thursday 16-11-16
Heavy frost this morning. Plenty of ice about. I put in rather a cold night. Taubes getting very cheeky lately. I had a cold night last night. B. Company has 33 Cas. in the stunt out of only 2 platoons 9 killed 24 wounded & 5 more casualties are been credited to A.
Friday
The Boys went out last night & Fritz treated them to M.G. fire & Gas shells plenty of the latter. We have lost the Colonel & his Groom. They were both Knocked by a shell 2 or 3 days ago. A very heavy frost this day all day, over an inch of Ice on the water all day. our reinforcements arrived last night.
Sunday 19-11-16
Yesterday we awoke to find there had been a Snow fall. The country looked lovely.
I went out last night to the line. It was an awfull walk on the sleepers about 5 miles altogether.
Continued at the next page
[Continued on page 107]
[Page 105]
Mollie 2.10.17
1582 Cpl/Sig Otter R.W.
Hdqrs Sigl 1st Battalion
1st Brigade 1st A.D.B.D.
Jacks Birth day 22.4.07
Ciss’s “ “ 8.6.08
4182 A. Niddrie 4183 J.Niddrie 4184 W.H.
4278 C. Gocher
Mr Mahon 146 Jersey Rd Paddington
Mrs Pilley’s sisters address
Mrs Lusby Olive Bank Shannon Rd. Stanmore
Mrs F. Pratt 165 lower Richmond Rd. East Sheen, London S.W.
4099 W. Dixon 13 Vincent St. Balmain Syd.
3991 D. Murphy Lincoln" 10 McLaren St. Nth Sydney
Hawke Ward No 2. No. 2 Northern General Hospital, Becketts park. Leeds, Eng.
(B 1 Ward)
Tinsley. 108 Cambridge St. Stanmore
Kit Moriarty 151 Grafton St. [indecipherable]
W Gardner 20 Milner St
Finder Please return this Book to
No 4084 Pte Cleary T.J. Pioneer Battalion A Company
or to Wife
Mrs M. Cleary 76 Wells Street Annandale Sydney Australia
W. Gardner 20 Milner Street Old Trafford Manchester
511 l. Cpl [Edward] Luders 1st Batt.
Jack 6804 3rd Batt. B. Company 5th Platoon.
[Page 106]
E. Maurice 9 Allen St. Glebe
Macs Birthday 2/10 [His wife]
G. Barber’s Relations 40 Manor Road Norwood Jun. Surbiton
3364 G.E. Lloyd 1st Anzac Res Camp c/o 1st Anzac Hdqtrs
[Page 107]
Sunday 19-11-16
Very wet yesterday evening ground thawed a bit which made everything sloppy & messy. Double Rum Issue last night. On Water fatigue today.
Monday 20-11-16
I had to go out yesterday on the line. We went out at 12 midday & returned about 7.0 pm.
Letter to Mac
Tuesday 21-11-16
Trucked Rails out to line running parallel with Turk Lane trench where it leads on to Right Strong point.
Wednesday 22-11-16
The Battalion is “on Spell" We are working on Railway today.
Thursday 23-11-16
Pay day yesterday. My new Pay Book has not come to hand yet.
Saturday 24-11-16
Raining all day. Working on Railway Depot
Wednesday 29-11-16
Same Job. Foggy & cold very little daylight. Dark at 5
[Page 108]
Thursday 30-11-16
Fritz sent a shell over yesterday & killed an unfortunate German prisoner, Bad luck.
Our Reos [reinforcements] are rather amusing they start chatting [searching for lice] directly they arrive & when they catch one or two, exult considering they are already old Soldiers. We had a Bath today. Nos. 1 & 2 Platoons went out to Flers working on dug outs.
Monday 4-12-16
Fritz caught an Engineers dug out a couple of days ago & Killed 9 out of 11. A fine day to day
Wednesday 6-12-16
He Blew 4 Tommies to pieces & wounded 7 others in one dug out yesterday. I won’t chronicle any more of these items. We only get about 9 Hrs day light now. The Gaurds Brigade only stayed here 4 or 5 days when they came in. Done one Stunt & Hopped out again. Lucky Beggars.
[Page 109]
[Five lines deleted]
We have had a new Doctor the last Two days he sent away about 50 men in the two days & said the Battalion was’nt fit for active service.
Saturday 9-12-16
On Dug-outs & Barbed wire. Looks as if Somme offensive has finished. Very wet & Cold.
Sunday 10-12-16
Fritz caught us on the Duck Boards going out Killed Kulmer & wounded Scotty Crichton. Very cold. Poor Kulmer, Brains were scattered. Some sticking on the other fellows Helmets.
Monday 11-12-16
I took Kulmers Helmet its than mine & he won’t need it again. On Barbed wire to-day. Hands & clothes suffered.
12-12-16
Heavy Snow. Using the W.C. here is most unpleasant it consists only of a Tram rail laid across sand Bags & with a stiff Breeze & snow or rain its rather cool.
[Page 110]
These Pioneers are the most awfull thieves I have ever seen. They don’t pinch each other’s stuff but they annex everything else that isn’t chained up.
Wednesday 13-12-16
Received word today that Scotty Crichton has died. On deep dug outs today & yesterday. We still see Indian Troops about doing fatigues on the Road.
Thursday 14-12-16
The last big batch of Reos are the biggest lot of Brums I have ever seen. They are going back in Batches every day and about 80% are on sick parade every morning.
Sunday 17-12-16
Guns are being moved away. Traffic on the road had also slackened. The Tram has now moved nearly up to Flers. Sharkey came back & stayed one day & vamoosed again his nerves are quite gone. suffering from itch now (I am) can hardly sleep at night. I picked up a pair of foul Under pants yesterday that means some dirty washing.
[Page 111]
Wednesday 20-12-16
Wood fatigue today. Watery blink of Sunshine. Snow & freezing hard. We have made arrangements for a case of whiskey. I am wondering how it will work. Fritz took advantage of the fine day to Shell the camp with heavy stuff. I seen him send 3 Huts up in the air. There must have been a number of casualties.
Thursday 21-12-16
We got a case of Whiskey this night & for the first time (I hope) in my life I got Drunk very Drunk. I went down as quickly as if I was pole axed & made a very sorry exhibition of myself.
Friday 22-12-16
Very sick today. Seen the Dr did’nt work at all. Felt Horrible.
Saturday 23-12-16
Heard today that Bob has been killed on the 2-11-16. The coming Xmas promised dismal enough with out this to make it worse. He is Buried in Bernafay wood Cemetary & alongside of him lies L.C. Wailes Engs. late of Burwood. Sub… a mistake.
[Page 112]
24-12-16
Luden called on me today & told me that Bob was practically blown to pieces by a Shell on the Sunken Rd. near Flers. He was taken to the dressing station & died there or on the way. Luden wrote & told [indecipherable] Ciss that he died of wounds. A most mercifull way of putting it. Bob had fits on several occasions (4) & could have got out of it if he liked but wanted to leave with a few stripes. Some W.O. in the N.R. kept asking if he had got any.
Xmas Day
We had a day off today. Two Beer issues. One Pudding to the Company which was tossed for and won by No 4 Platoon. I seen A. Niddrie today. The 17th were unlucky enough to be sent up to the line in the afternoon. Fritz issued some Iron Rations in the afternoon.
Boxing Day
I put in the morning working on Bobs Grave.
[Page 113]
28-12-16
Again working on Bobs Grave with Elson. Heard some enormous shells travelling through the air today. Must be the new 18" Gun.
Sunday 31-12-16
Finished a fence for Bobs grave today. Plenty to do on it yet though. Had a Bath and change today. Plenty shells on camp today.
2-1-17
Fritz sent some armour piercing shells in our camp yesterday afternoon. One of them failed to explode and was left lying above ground after ricocheting through a dug out. It was a 9.2" Shell 3’-4" long with along fine drawn out point. We are still on the dug-out & get very few shells
Friday 5-1-17
W.J. had tea with A. Niddrie last night. He had 4 parcels and I helped him to eat some of the stuff. I believe we have to hand over our Dug out job tom the 5th Pioneers. Fritz was very active with his
[Page 114]
Artillery to-day. He pasted everything he could see & he did’nt miss much because he had nine Balloons up. I hav’nt seen that many German Balloons in the air at once before.
Monday 8 Jan. 1917
Moved to Miault Dump yesterday. Elson & I secured a good Camp with some details. In the evening we went to Albert which is practically the same as when we were there before. We had a bottle of Champ & Biscuits in a deserted house and came home after a very quiet time.
Tuesday 9-1-17
Was working on night shift in the Mill making Duck Boards.
Wed. 10-1-17
An awfull lot of heavy gunfire during the last two days. There must be something doing alright.
Saturday 13-1-17
Surprising how little snow we get here. We had a slight fall the other night. Rather difficult to see the Duck Boards on night Shifts. The German prisoners working in the mill do quite a trade in souvenirs. They have numbers of every trade among them and work like
[Page 115]
Hell in their Dinner hour. The Engine power at the Mill is not quite up to requirements and slight stoppages are frequent. To Hurry us along we are allowed to go when we have finished a certain number.
14-1-17
The name of the place is “Anzac Workshops". Light fall of snow this morning [indecipherable] today. Names of Trenches past Flers. Rose, Possum, Needle, Turk lane, Fish Alley, Cowra [?] lane through Delville Wood. I have got a bad finger. Clout from hammer.
Monday 15-1-17
A number of Kaffirs arrived here (Meaulte) to-day. They are going to work here. They have only just arrived in France.
16-1-17
Went to Dernancourt to see Albert Niddrie. I also seen Joe Martin. Joe looked like a Tramp.
[Page 116]
17-1-17
Heavy fall of Snow last night, still snowing. Nearly a foot of snow on the Ground now.
18-1-17
Still Snowing – Everything white. The Germans are using a new Bomb (Rifle) Pineapples and Pears the boys call them according to their shape. Our Battalion moved out for a spell today.
Friday 18-1-17
Our Boys snowball the Kaffirs every time they get a chance. Young Dan got into Amiens recently and put a night in with girl about 16 (price 25 Francs) they slept in the same room as her Mother & Sister. there were also two other sisters in the house one married. dan caught hold of the married one who objected strongly and brought to light a photo of herself & her Hubby, then she turned about & directed him to one of the others saying “My Sister" (ie take her)
[Page 117]
Sunday 20-1-17
Attended Mass today in the Village church (Meaulte). Was also let in for Benediction. Only about 6 Civilians in the church altogether & they were [sentence not finished]
Thursday 24-1-17
3 days of clear Sunshine but cold as cold. Several Cylinders burst in Engine room. Baths put out of service by burst pump. All due to intense cold. Duck Boards like a skating rink. Road dusty & hard as steel. A Taube came over at Midnight & dropped a few Bombs. The Search lights were trying to pick him up without much success. It is so cold that when we are working, the nails freeze to our fingers. Had a Slide today after getting paid.
Sunday 27-1-17
Smashed another Finger yesterday. Blizzard today.
[Page 118]
31-1-17
Snowing this morning and last night. The Snow from the last fall is still on the Ground. The Taubes have been very busy the last few nights, Bombing & also using their machine guns mostly in the direction of Albert. I got my photo taken last Sunday with Elson. Fritz sent a heavy shell into the camp on Tuesday & caused 5 Casualties, Killing one. There were 30 men Frozen to death in the Trenches during the recent cold snap.
Monday 5-2-17
Got leave to Amiens yesterday it is 20 miles away & we only had the day to do it in. We got there O.K. after Boarding 3 separate motors (I have had a bad finger which accounts for the delay since my last entry) It was very cold in Amiens, everything frozen, I believe this is the coldest winter for 20 years. We visited the Cathedral which was sand bagged inside. The streets of the town are very narrow and after dark it was very awkward moving about the
[Page 119]
streets no lights being allowed. In spite of it being Sunday the shops were open but they kept their doors shut on account of the intense cold. It is rather difficult to get a good feed there. at tea time we went through the menu twice & then went out and bought pastry. We had a dinner of about 6 courses & even that did’nt quite fill us. In the afternoon we went to the pictures & seen Charlie Chaplin. The girls here are rather stylish. We were lucky enough to get a motor that took us right home. Hun aeroplanes have been coming over the camp every night with Bombs & Machine guns. In consequence of this the night shift has been knocked off. The reason why the planes are so active is because of the Bright moonlight.
Wednesday 7th- 2-17
We have had between 20 & 30° of Frost every day for the last fortnight.
Monday 13-2-17
Fritz’s planes have been very active. He has developed a bad habit of waiting until the Albert picture show comes out & then
[Page 120]
sweeping the streets with machine guns.
Wednesday 14-2
Day off, Visited Corbie 16 Kilos away. Had a good day. Ate a lot of Eggs & returned to Albert in the afternoon. We visited the picture show there & heard some good vaudeville stuff. Signs of a thaw about now.
Friday 16-2-17
German Planes came over last night flying very low. The anti aircraft guns were firing at them & the shells burst so low that the fragments were fairly raining on the roof of the Mill. Fritz kept his machine guns going & He managed to blow up a big ammunition Dump a few miles away. In the cold weather they had a great deal of trouble with the logs owing to the sap being frozen & blunting the saw. There is a Bomb School close to our camp.
Wednesday 21-2
Rain & mud started two day ago Rheumatism also started on me I have had an uncomfortable time since. The thaw has interfered with the supply
[Page 121]
of logs, practically stopping two shifts. I wish we had the cold weather back again.
The Boys rivetted a pair of very large Sheet Brass A.s on to a talkative members coat last night. The As were inscribed “Dinkum Anzac" He caused a mild sensation at the Mill. Shell Shock. A chap in our hut had a mate killed beside him by a shell. He kept marking time in the same spot under the impression the he was running away. He went to Hospital & wasted away to nothing almost. He eventually recovered but suffers from insomnia.
“Parapet Joe" was a machine gun at Ypres (German) very accurate.
[Paragraph deleted]
V.C. Corner Fluerbaix the place where Oleary [Michael O’Leary] got his V.C. His name is all over the place
[Page 122]
24-2-17 Saturday
The prisoners were loafing on Thursday last & were punished being forced to work ½ an hour overtime which they did with a very bad grace. The Niggers are talking of striking they reckon they were engaged as wharf laborers & don’t relish their present job. They are very severe on the Wood & Coal & fearfull cadgers, if you give them anything it is impossible to get rid of them. They get 2/- per day.
Sunday 25-2-17
The Germans have retreated (it is believed) 13 miles. Our men have not got in touch with them yet. Our fellows are busy ratting his abandoned Trenches for Souvenirs. We had a special order for Artillery Bridges so that our men can follow up some say they have been gone for two days. Our Aviators are scouting for all they are worth to try and locate their new line.
[Page 123]
Tuesday 27-2-17
About half of our platoon have been sent back to the Battalion 25 Remain. The extent of the German retreat has been greatly exaggerated. We can hear his heavy shells exploding. He seems to be putting up a bit of a Barrage with Big Guns. He has also left plenty of snipers behind. They are causing some casualties. They get a bad time when caught. A recent order asks men returning from the front line to bring salvage back no matter how little it is. There has been a large number of accidents on No 2 Saw bench. There was two today.
Thursday 1-3-17
Elson went away today sick. The niggers went away yesterday the S.A. Govt. that they were too close to the line. I seen one of our Baloons brought down in flames this evening & our archies shelling the plane that did it. Fritz is sniping on his retreat. There is great confusion in the line some of our own units charging each other
[Page 124]
God help the Snipers they get
Saturday 3-3-17
Fritz sent some heavy shells over our mill into Albert this morning. Elson went to Hospital Thursday with Influenza. A number of Devons are camped in the compound taking the place of the Kaffirs they are supposed to be conscientious objectors.
Sunday 4-3-17
A Shell into camp today. Received letter from J. Henry.
Monday 5-3-17
Heavy fall of snow last night 18" in about 6 hours. Very cold & sloppy today.
Wednesday 7-3-17
Very Cold wind today. Still howling around the hut. Am rated as a carpenter here.
Thursday
Freezing. very cold wind & snow.
[Page 125]
Friday 9-3-17
The Engineers are being trained in the use of a Hydraulic drilling machine which promises to be very usefull for digging communication saps, Blowing up Barbed wire & mining. French & Russian prisoners of war are practically set free if they consent to work in munition factories. Others are loaned to Farmers in Batches of 25 in charge of a Sentry. The farmer is held responsible for them. It is significant that the prisoners say nothing about British prisoners. German Soldiers home letters are not censored, some of the prisoners (Hanoverians) wear Gibralter on their cuffs they say they fought with the British against Spain in 1733
[Page 126]
Tuesday 13-3-17
A prisoner escaped on Sunday but was recaptured on Monday. 10/17 Norm Simpson has been killed shell wound in Back. Harris Head split by Shell. Lieut Young Shrapnel wound in head while wearing helmet. On Sunday last Fritz put a shell into a dug out occupied by some members of A. Company result 5 killed 5 wounded this occurred at Le Sars.
14-3-17
Very rainy lately. The days are now lengthening out. I went to the Bonza Theatre in Albert on Monday & seen a very fine program
Saturday 17-3-17
There was big explosion last Thursday. I heard today that it was caused by a man pouring petrol into an old rat hole and lighting it. The petrol must have found its way into an old mine with disastrous results.
[Page 127]
A new arrangement comes into force to-morrow, all the Tommies are on one shift and the Aussies on the two other shifts. The idea being to cause rivalry I believe & stimulate the output. The labor Battalion (Devons) are practically all cripples some have stiff legs others have only one Eye. We heard that Bapaume fell at 5.30 A.M. The Second Division having the Honor of first entry. The 5th Division captured some other villages.
21-3-17
Sent Cissy a Birthday present on 19-3 also some German Buttons & a Match Box. The Germans have retreated during this week giving up about 800 sq. miles of territory.
[Page 128]
seen the Anzacs last night a real good show Cannon Ragtime [indecipherable] Baritone Ross Tenor. seen some very fast [indecipherable] planes yesterday 5 of them together. Bye the way there was an aeroplane landed near the camp on Sunday. It was all shot to pieces. At the Mill they have made a small Truck Fumigator also an ambulance. An idea for throwing bombs was tried out today. It was made out of an old Bicycle. The Cavalry are being used now following up the Germans. 13th Light Horse are being reorganized the men having been on traffic duty & similar
[Page 129]
work like the Cyclists Battalion
Friday 30-3-17
One of the Mill hands went up in an aeroplane with some Captain an Aviator in the Aerodrome close to the Mill. They went up a few days ago & have not been seen since. It is believed that they were brought down behind the German lines. The Mill hands name was Nolan. I believe they were last seen flying North over Arras. The Comforts fund staff was blown up by a mine in Bapaume a few days ago. It is believed that the mine was exploded by a Trip wire set in the Cellar
[A mine was left by the Germans under the Town Hall]
[Page 130]
somebody blundering around for souvenirs must have fell over it.
Saturday 31-3-17
left the works today for Bapaume on the way we passed 10 Tanks and 5 aeroplanes which had come to grief. The Tanks were all alongside the road & generally upside down. Bapaune is a terrible wreck. The damage was nearly all done by mines not by our shells. the country is undulating & grassy & very few shell holes are visible. A Taube brought down one of our Baloons today. The occupants of the car escaped in a parachute.
[Page 131]
2nd 4-17
Fritz is shelling Bapaume today. a shell lobbing about every 10 minutes. I seen the ruins of the town hall yesterday also of the church. behind the church is a Fort. Ramparts moat (dry) & all. It is clothed with pines & when I seen it the Birds were singing madly as if to celebrate Fritz’s retreat. I also seen some underclothing exhibited as a flag. It is frightfully cold. Fingers numb. A heavy snowfall this evening.
Wednesday 4-4-17
The snow buried our work & we had a chilly time clearing it. We have had snow or rain ever since. We were told to stand by today & are now in our tents awaiting further orders. There has been a heavy Bombardment going on for the last 24 hours & it hasnt
[Page 132]
ceased yet. Fritz’s big gun has started shelling the town again. I think that is the reason the job has been stopped it is too close to the line for G.O.C. Hdqrs.
Good Friday 6-4-17
We made a fresh start today erecting Huts at Grevillers. The 21st Battalion was there on 13-3-17. I strolled across to Bihucourt. The country is covered with barbed wire & honeycombed with deep dug-outs. Plenty of Cavalry about. Railways are laid through both the above mentioned villages. There is a report the an N.C.O. & 14 men of the 56th Battalion walked over on this front lately. Machine gunners have been advised to act in future cases.
[Narrative continued on page 142. The following nine pages contain descriptions of
bombs, explosives and military tactics etc. They have not been transcribed]
[Page 142]
Just seen a wonderfull sight, a german plane got two of our Balloons this evening, the observers in each case escaped in parachutes. One of the Balloons was only about ½ a mile away. The anti air guns were gunning wildly at the Fritz but he took absolutely no notice. We could see his tracer Bullets distinctly going through the Balloon. They were apparently fired from a machine gun. The second Balloon fell in flames only a ¼ of a mile away. It was the pluckiest thing I ever seen.
The first train that I seen arrived here today. There is an empty pedestal opposite
[Page 143]
The Town Hall site. I believe the Germans removed the Statue it supported. I seen Jimmy Clarke [?] last Sunday on a disabled ambulance. The Germans have a memorial in the Cemetery very close to a similar French one. Fritz keeps shelling. It has been decided to abandon this site. One of the Boys J. Davis 2nd Batt. got very drunk on Monday & kept us awake listening to an imaginary Bombardment. On the way up we passed a kind of a chalk quarry called the Butte near Warlencourt. Our fellows who were killed in the stunt on the 14/11/16 remained unburied until the day after we came to Bapaume.
Easter Sunday 8-4
Fritz put a couple of duds right alongside the Huts we abandoned. He also got 6 Men & 20 Horses with another shell among the Transport
[Page 144]
Easter Monday 9-4
We are all desperately hungry after living on Tommy rations for a week. The Drain pipe artillery are practicing every evening close alongside. The last lot of Tommies got us for a tin of Biscuits ½ a box of Bully & 25 Francs. There was a big stunt last night 56 Tanks participating. It was a great success. Two army corps took part in it. There has been a very heavy bombardment every night since we have been here.
[First Battle of Bullecourt]
Tuesday 10-4
Heavy snowstorm today. Slush everywhere. Gen. Birdwood takes huts over [?] tomorrow. Great news of successful air fighting yesterday.
Thursday 12-4
I am not sure that today is Thursday but will have to chance it. Fritz sent only 2 shells over yesterday.
[Page 145]
one burst on the road close by next one nearly hit one of the Huts but did not explode. We had a regular Blizzard yesterday Snow & wind all day. This morning opened with a hard frost with a thaw during the day. That was a mistake about Thursday. It was Wednesday after all.
Friday 13-4
Majah Churchill seems to be in charge of this job now. He told us off the other day but done no good. He is about 6 feet high, blue eyes & a typical english toff. Blizzards & snow every day now.
Saturday 14-4
Fritz is shelling vigorously this morning. He must know we are leaving. One of his shells hit a Railway Engine about 200 yds from
[Page 146]
our tent. There was a very heavy explosion due to the shell then a roar of escaping steam. The train was evidently his objective because he landed a few others alongside it. The train then dropped the disabled Engine. Divided into two sections with an Engine on each. one section Steamed away. The remaining engine was overloaded & could only pull its load until it got opposite the Casualty Clearing Station. Fritz still sniping. There are some female nurses at the C.C.S. They must be having a bad time. Fritzs planes must be spotting for this gun because our Anti Guns are going all the time. As also are the Machine Guns. I went over & had a look at the disabled Engine
[Page 147]
The shell hit the fore part of the Engine pierced the Boiler & exploded underneath blowing the per. way up & also blowing three foremost wheels of the engine. No one was injured excepting the Driver he was scalded. In an adjacent paddock is a wagon with an elaborate pigeon Box for carriers.
Tuesday 17-4
Arrived back at the Mill on Saturday night. Had Monday & Tuesday off. Leave to Amiens on Monday. Lots of Munition Girls there clad in combination overalls neck to knee giving magnificent leg display. Lady Tram Drivers. In one Brothel some of our fellows patronised, a brother of one of the Girls was present on leave from the front. His presence did not prevent the lady from conducting her usual Business.
[Page 148]
Friday 20-4
Red letter day today. Imposed on the QM at Anzac Reinforcement camp for a Bonza pair of Boots
Saturday 21-4
Took day off & went to Quarry Dump to see Bob‘s grave. Found everything O.K. It was a long walk (14 Miles) & I was terribly Footsore when I returned. Bob’s chum Luder did not have the cross erected as he promised. I shall have to do that now, when I get a chance.
Sunday 29-4
Had a day off so I made a Cross for Bob’s Grave. I made a pretty good job of it & it took me all day. Received letter from Dixon. He has been recommended for Australia.
Thursday 3-5-17
Left the Mill to go to a job at Henencourt. We have to erect some Greenlee & Armstrong huts at the Chateau. We are living in the Chateau grounds which are very lovely, containing a central fountain with paths radiating in all directions outwards interconnected & joined up. There is a lovely wood with primroses everywhere also a splendid
[Henencourt Chateau was HQ of 1st ANZAC Corps. - Gen. Birdwood]
[Page 149]
hothouse the first I have seen here. I bought a fountain pen in the village and this is the first trial of it. I don’t understand how it works yet. Shall have to study it tomorrow.
Saturday 5-5-17
We have had a week of perfect weather. Our stay here is simply a gorgeous pic-nic. The weather is lovely. Scenery ditto. Also Tucker. Having a splendid time.
6-5-17
The name of the mistress of the Chateau is Madame La Marquise de Lameth. There are 3 Children 2 Boys & a little girl. There is a Signal school in the town. The inside of the Chateau is very finely finished regardless of expense. There is a Chandelier there a big affair with the usual cut glass adornments. It is fitted with imitation candles with flame shaped electric bulbs. At the main Gate there are two lamps about 4’ x 3’ made like an old fashioned lantern but with electric cluster lamps inside. Part of the building is made of chalk blocks in some cases moulded. The walls seem to be made of bricks & are
[Page 150]
very thick with an inside panelling of Chalk Slabs. looking through the grounds from the Chateau there is no wall visible. Everywhere where there is an avenue in the trees the wall is removed & its place taken by a small moat in some cases supplemented by a wire netting fence. In this manner an uninterrupted view of the surrounding country is obtained & very pretty country it is. All sorts of birds live in the woods also Rabbits hares etc. It was here that I heard a Cuckoo for the first time.
Thursday 10th -5
We were supposed to go home today, but as no motor car arrived we could not do so. We may have better luck to-morrow. The children here at the Chateau speak English very well. I have spoken to them several times. I like the little girl very much. The Marquise is ill with Diphtheria so is the eldest son, there remain one boy nearly 9 (John) & a little girl about 7. I seen a big shell hole today in the grounds. I can never praise these woods enough.
[Page 151]
Sunday 13-5
All members of the 4th Div. left the mill today. I believe the 4th is going North. Heard today that at Bullecourt our 2nd Div. were massed in the trenches preparatory to attacking at 4.15 A.M. Fritz must have “smelt a rat" for he opened a Bombardment just ¼ of an hour before our curtain fire was timed to start. Our Guns replied & our Infantry went over but the curtain fire did not creep forward as expected with the result that the first wave was blocked. wave after wave came on until 7 or 8 waves were amassed behind our Barrage. Fritz artillery & machine guns pasting them all the time at last the push of the rear waves pushed the leading ones into our own curtain fire. A few days later we got some of our own back. Fritz planned a stunt it is believed & when everything was ready sent up his S.O.S. for his Artillery. By a wonderful coincidence his S.O.S. & ours were the same & our Artillery opened up immediately with disastrous results for Fritz.
[Page 152]
Monday 14-5
Fixed cross on Bob’s grave & saw some of the old 10th. A. Niddrie the gamest lad of all is “missing" & has been missing for a month. Burgess-Kiloh has been killed. Savage is O.K. Hammond wounded. Samuels killed. In fact very few left. Received card per Reg. from Flo. C. Hendry killed.
[Albert Niddrie, 4182, prisoner of war]
15-5
The weather has been very warm since the Henencourt stunt. I had a very vivid dream last night. I thought that Mum kissed me.
16-5
The trees & ground are all green again. The fruit trees (apple) are in Blossom. This startling change took place in little more than a week.
25-5-19 [17]
Weather very warm now. Not sending letters home. Nothing to write about.
27-5-19 [17]
The 5th Division leave a nucleus organization behind them when they go into the line. This has been done ever since the 4th Div. got caught by the Germans.
[Page 153]
I attended a good orchestral Band performance in the Park at Albert near the Square.
28th Whitmonday 5-17
Weighed myself on Albert Station 70 Kilogrammes about 10st 12 Summer rigout. Amiens, shown into W.C. by a lady attendant , who waited on me for a tip. Seen P. Doherty in charge of a picket, he told me that Burgess-Kiloh was only wounded after all. Took the tram to Hippodrome (no Bon) Next trip took Tram to Madeleine passed quite a number of Canals on the way (this was the Somme Side). There was a large Cemetery at the terminus. on the way back I got out and had a walk around the Citadel a strong point like Mount Solitary with an artificial gulley with very high walls around it. Very old fashioned. Had dinner with George. Had to wait a long time. Cook came out & asked me if I was a Catholic I never answered George said “I am" – she then asked us about Egypt & said me good Catholique been in Alexandria & Jerusalem. George got served ¼ of an hour ahead of me because he said he was
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a Catholic. Rather a good joke. I am a Catholic & he is C. of E. We had some more trips (Tram) & had tea at the same place. While there the lady running the show gave several addresses of Mademoiselles to the Soldiers & also engaged in an animated discussion with an Australian about Zig Zigs & Nic Nics despite the presence of several Ladies & two young Girls. The Soldiers smashed two Station doors crowding in to get their Train. It was an awfull crush. The M.P. Redcaps were absolutely powerless. On the way home on the train we passed a number of small vegetable Gardens intersected & divided in every direction by small Canals. The Gardeners were travelling in & around their plots in long boats with upturned ends. Not unlike very shabby Gondolas.
Saturday 2-6-17
The Mill is becoming a tower of Babel. Today there were several Portuguese knocking about. Between Niggers Germans French Portuguese & English a man gets confused.
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A Tommy M.P. shot one of our fellows dead in Albert yesterday, because he tried to ride away on a bike when the Tommy wanted to detain him. His name was Tulloch 5th field Coy Engineers.
Sunday 3-6-17
I am chancing a trip to Amiens today. Had a good day & a good trip. I particularly noticed the number of “Impasse" narrow alleys about 5 or 6 feet wide with houses opening one on each side, in every case dirty & generally swarming with Kids. Some of them on the Hippodrome line were supplied with gates. Tram lines. St Acheul, Hippodrome, Gambetta, Madeleine, Gare du Nord. They are all single lines with frequent loops sometimes a wooden staff is used but they generally do without. Most lines start from Gambetta. A central position with lines radiating in all directions. The foot paths are very narrow. There is’nt a street sufficiently wide for a double Tram in the Town. But there are some fine Boulevards. Received a letter from Jack Mac.
Monday 4-6-17
Seen Jack Mac. at Buire today he looks very well. I was advised that I was 38th on the leave list yesterday.
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Thursday [7th]
One of the Boys interviewed a Mademoiselle with a view to a Bang, but she was unwell and demonstrated the fact with a piece of Wadding which she thrust in his face. He compreed. Very Hot lately. Have been swimming every day.
13-6-17
Working on S.O.S. Huts today. I seen them trying the rifle flares today. These flares make quite a whistling sound as they go up. The rifle is held with the but on the ground when sending up a flare.
Friday 15-6-17
Leiut Denison who only recently received his commission in our Battalion went out quietly a couple of days ago to a small wood near the Camp & committed suicide. Shot himself 4 times with a Revolver. Very hot having a swim every night lately. I believe the 2nd Div is going in here again.
Saturday 16-6
Chancing a trip to Amiens today. I believe that when the 4th Divey went north they got into holds with the 3rd. It is said there were plenty
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of casualties. While the Battalion was up in front of Contalmaison near Martinpuich the Germans used to bombard the trenches with light shells which the boys called Pip Squeaks. The ground was frozen so hard that when Fritz blew in the trench the only way to repair the damage was to collect the broken earth & try to pile it back again like a heap of stones. Similarly when the duck boards were blown up repairs were practically impossible the fragment being frozen in the ground.
Tuesday 19-10 [19-6]
We had a squeak yesterday. A tree was struck by lightning only about 40 or 50 yds away & the fragments scattered all around one side. The farthest from us fortunately.
Friday 22-10 [22-6]
Very cold today. Plenty of rain the last two days. Received 12 Letters today
Sunday 24-10 [24-6]
Had look over Becordel noticed a number of French graves with Rosettes & streamers Tri colored made of tin & with labels giving particulars of deceased.
Monday 25-6
Seen Dentist at Bellevue in the morning. Walked to Bray-Sur-Somme in the afternoon. Somme looks lovely & clear there. Quite a strong current.
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26-10 [26-6]
Had the last of my teeth stopped today at Bellevue farm. Seen an old Tramway man there wearing glasses. One of the sheds of the flare factory blew up yesterday. It was very funny to see the Darktown Fire Brigade at work. The Engine run off the line at first. They got it on again OK. There was a man chasing it with a Wheelbarrow full of coal for the engine. The fire looked quite imposing with flares shooting out in all directions. Gave my Pay Book to the Pay Sgt. yesterday to have my Balance brought up to date. The Second division had a big picture film stunt lately. It is said that there were plenty of “fair dinkum" casualties. The first division is having one soon. I believe that only 2 of our companies [2nd Pioneers] were in the Bullecourt stunt & only 2 of the 1st Pioneers.
Friday 28-6
Had a big blowout of Cherries & Strawberries toady in Albert. Had the day off Sub Rosa
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Saturday 30-6 [29-6]
Miserable Weather. Went to Buire to see Jack, but 1st Brigade left two day ago for their picture show stunt. To be held (I believe) between Albert & Bapaume
Sunday 1-7
Workshop very slack last week. Miserably wet & cold today.
Sunday 8-7
H.V. Self, ‘Scotty’ McLoughlin & Gulla MacLannan went to England today on leave. Shops [workshops] being disbanded next week. I seen a lovely looking girl today with an artificial leg. at the time I seen her she was just passing the ruin of the house in which she was at the time the injury was inflicted by a German shell. She was blown out of a room in the second storey on to the street. Longworth (Sergt.) is with the A.S.C. at the Salvage dump near Bellevue Farm.
Saturday 14-7
Now at Anzac Res. Camp. Join the Battalion tonight.
Sunday 15-7
Rejoined Battalion this morning at Ligny-Thilloy after a wet night in Bapaume. Visited the 17th this afternoon seen Reg. Niddrie & a number of the 10th. A. Niddrie is a prisoner of War. The Troops look wonderfully well.
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Monday 16-7
3 Hours drill today. Splendid tucker. To be inoculated tonight. I am in No 7 Section (Rifle Grenadiers)? Inoculation cancelled. Seen our Boxing tournament. Not a bad show also walked over & had a look at the Butte of Warlencourt. A terrible lot of Durham light Infantry buried near there killed in 5-11-17 [1916] Stunt. Seen the graves of our fellows killed in the 14-11-17 [1916] also C.E. Wailes 2616 (Corporal) His grave was very handsomely finished.
Tuesday
Instruction in Bombing, Bridge Building, Bayonet fighting, Physical jerks.
Wednesday 18-7
Gas Drill. Matches cannot be obtained here. except issue. The men have to light fires to economise same. Inoculated today.
Saturday 21-7
Removing old huts from our previous camp at Longueval. Decorated Bobs grave with cartridges. Seen some Black french colonials (labor Group) very picturesque a number of them wearing poppies in their ears. They look like Malays.
Tuesday 24-7
Taking down old huts at Longueval. Great bombing stunts with old Bombs. We have the 22nd labour Battalion here
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they are Indians I believe. They wear Breech clouts, Ghee strings, Brass wire Ear rings, No Boots (Earings [sketch] 3 spirals) They are Salvaging & have a white Officer over them. We told a Tommy the Officer was a German Spy this led to some amusing results. The Officer of course had no Reg. Badges & his Uniform was rather mixed too that Tommy thought that he could see a reward & special leave sticking out a foot.
Wednesday [25-7]
Our Breakfast come a Gutser this morning. The Mess Orderlies came head over tip over a bank while carrying it (Porridge & Tea) there was no Salvage. Coming home drunk in the Evening Cpl Maffesoni slipped down the same bank & brought home about umteen issues of Porridge Tea leaves etc on his uniform. To get even he pulled all the Mess Orderlies out of Bed. He then made a tour of the Hut trying to issue the porridge but the men who made an awfull row over missing their Breakfast would’nt accept it at any price.
Thursday
We returned to Ligny-Thilloy this afternoon by a very round about route via Maricourt, renecourt, Combles, Le Transloy & Bapaume.
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Friday
Fumigation & medical inspection for Scabies today.
Sunday 29th [July]
Arrived at Arques at 3.30 P.M today. I was on loading party. We had a long march to Aveluy, during which I lost my tucker. We entrained there and travelled via Amiens Vignacourt, St Pol, Aire. We are now Billetted in a big Barn.
Monday
had swim in Canal. Had a look over locks near Arques 5 locks with a lift of 9 feet in each. Big vessels manned with Tommies here + Boats too. Also seen patent lifting dock for lifting vessels over the Railway line. It has broken down. The vessels act as counterweights to each other about 300 tons each. This elevator supposed to be the biggest in the world.
Tuesday 31-7-17
Walked to St Omer 4 Kilos & looked at Church of Notre Dame. Very old. Statuary group all out of proportion about 400 yrs old. Inside private altars elaborately decorated with Marble Tombs of saints there. Outside on one side fretted away. Old sundial on Façade. Small archway leading to low quarters of the town near
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the Cathedral. Plenty of English girls (labour battalions) about. Also Nurses. Good Canteen. Canal alongside. mechanical music in Estaminets. In one of the latter Aylott ate some snuff by mistake.
[Herbert Aylott, 1999]
2nd-8-17
Had a very wet muddy night march last night. Plenty of comments as we went along.
Saturday 3-8-17
Leave St Omer. Visited ruins of Abbey of St Bertin also Public Gardens. There is a Miss Cavell street in this Town (Arques)
Monday 5-8-17
Picket [?] (Town) last night. Bath this morning. I’ve never seen prettier country than around here. Fritz is shelling Hazebrouck which is 15 miles behind our line. The Hospital patients are coming to No 4 Hospital here.
Sunday 12-8
Was going for a swim & fell into Canal on the way.
Tuesday 14-8
Stunt in wood today. Battle order. Started Pheasants, Deer Squirrels, Rabbits. Linen under pants issued yesterday. Two shooting accidents in the Battalion today. Barney Fay of A Company shot himself in the foot & [blank] Batman of C company shot himself through the heart
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while overhauling a revolver.
Wednesday 15-8
Forest stunts yesterday & today. Gas Helmet stunt nearly finished me today.
[Transcriber’s Notes:
pg. 49. B.O.R. – Battalion Orderly Room
pg. 57. a naval engagement in the North Sea: Battle of Jutland]
[Transcriber notes:
pg. 54. Briareus (from Greek mythology) has been spelt Briarius.]
[Transcribed by Peter Mayo, Paula Poropat, Barbara Manchester for the State Library of New South Wales]