Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Percival Hurley war diary, 29 September 1915-24 September 1916
MLMSS 1997/1

[Private and later Sergeant Percy Joseph Hurley enlisted in the A.M.C. and embarked from Sydney on the "Argyllshire" on 30 September 1915. Up to page 210 this diary records his story. From page 210 to page 215 it records the experiences of Private George Arnold Moxham who left Sydney on the same ship as Hurley, as a member of the 19th Battalion, 4th Reinforcement. George Moxham’s diary, which reads backwards from page 215 to page 210, covers 10 July 2016 to 15 July 2016 when he was on board ship going from Alexandria to Marseille. Percy Hurley was on the same ship and they shared this book to record their experiences of that voyage. Percy Hurley never saw service at the front and was invalided back to Australia on 23 March 1917. ]

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[Previous pages are cover and library information]
To Percy,
with Best Wishes
from Edna
(30.9.15)

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[Blank page]

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1915

29 Sept 1915: Last night at Liverpool Camp. The scene is a lasting one. Mothers, relations, wives, & friends are here in hundreds. Scenes of last farewells can hardly be described. Special guard on the bridge to Prevent the Reinforcements who are leaving to-morrow from going to town Huge bonfires everywhere. Rioting Prevails. The canteens are sacked and cookhouses destroyed. No sleep for most of the "boys".

At the gate numbers are disappointed because the soldiers are not allowed to the station for a last good-bye.

Farewell concert in A.M.C. tent to Reinforcements

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30th Sept:- Awakened at 4 am & rush to Sergeant’s Mess for breakfast & hurried departure. Cheering is heard everywhere. Our A.M.C. boys line up in the semi-darkness (33 of us) and are cheered off by nearly all of the camp who turn out to see us off. We are away at last (4.45 am).

Through the gloom we can just see the guard at first gate. "Three cheers for the A.M.C. boys" from one of the guard. They are given and heartily returned. As we near the Y.M.C.A. tent can just make out the Infantry, ready to march. A long wait at the station follows, but at 6 am we leave. It is impossible to describe our feelings in Progress to Sydney. Every house along the line (thousands of them) appeared alive at this early hour. Cheering & waiving to us from

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them all. Girls & women hastily attired, even some from bed room windows waving. At Sydney station there is another long wait & afterwards a long slow march to the boat. Thousands are seen at final departure & a few friends are seen at the boat. Good luck [indecipherable word inserted later] from the two girls who saw me off. A very brilliant spectacle was here witnessed as the boat moved off. The streamers & waving of handkerchiefs combining to this effect. The rest of day was spent in Harbour with numerous motor launches & tooting of whistles from Ferry boats & we sailed out at 5 pm. The confusion on board for the first day & night was annoying , but being tired out , I lay down on deck fully clothed, with a couple of blankets & slept the sleep of the weary until 6 am next day

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1st Oct 1915 – Lovely weather at sea. Plenty of Albatross. Passed another "shire" boat. ["Ayreshire" is inserted here in pencil later] Saw a couple of whales. Our chief annoyance is having no place to sleep. No decent arrangements for the A.M.C. Slept on deck this night. Reveille at 6 am & it made no difference to the boys, who are so tired. However we are soon made to move by the deck cleaners with a big hose. Excitement & a lot of speculation is aboard as to whether we are to put into Melbourne next day.

The calm weather gives place to a strong breeze with a promise of a rough sea. Man fell down the hold near wet canteen & we carried him to hospital. Another man cut foot awfully with razor. Several stitches put in & sent to bed

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2nd October 1915. Awakened at 6 am as usual & the rough weather expected has arrived. The boat is rolling & pitching a little & I have a feeling that before many hours have passed I’ll be very seasick. Have a good wash & brush up in anticipation, but not willing to risk going to breakfast. Manage to get my kit & blankets stowed away & after mainly trying to fight the sickness off until well into the afternoon, eventually give in & "heave – o", then lay down on deck, occasionally getting up for a walk.

Feel so terribly ill at night that have to get a friend to bring a hammock & blankets up, which I sling in the bathroom of hospital & do not care if the ship goes down. Might mention that I am not the only one in this predicament.

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Notes

3rd Oct 1915:- Spent this day in hammock with only one blanket & fully clothed The wind howled like fury all day long & the ship tossed in all directions, whilst I did not care what happened. Too rough for Church Parade. Hospital nearly full of Patients, mostly seasick Eat nothing all day long Most miserable day & still worse night. All I remember clearly is the buglers blowing continuously "No Parade to-day."

4th Oct 1915: -

Much better to-day. Weather calmer & I eat a fair meal. Still too rough for parade however, & "No Parade" again sounded. I get out of my retreat – the hammock in the bathroom – and have a bed instead. A Peculiar thing is the time, always going back & nobody has the right time

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although the watches keep correct. Of course this is owing to the change of latitude the ship’s time being changed daily Our Pet mascot, the kangaroo is very seasick & several think he will not see the voyage out. Poor old fellow lies down anywhere on deck & does not eat. A few pups we have are also sick

5th Oct 1915:-

I get out at reveille & go down to breakfast. Feel well, but still a little shaky Weather much calmer & very enjoyable. After three good meals feel well . Run into a school of Sea Pidgeons "Mother Cary’s Chickens", dense mass of them. Four whales spouting half a mile from us

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6th Oct 1915:-

Am well enough and put on duty in Dispensary Position of honour ( I don’t think) Scrub floor each morning etc & a few odd jobs. Have at last found a good berth. Sleep on floor of hospital. Ship’s food is not of the best. Very poor & one longs for a good repast at "Scott’s" or A.B.C. Breaks my heart to just look at the officer’s dining saloon, whilst we are herded below.

7th Oct 1915:-

Speculations are rife as to our whereabouts or whether we are to call at Albany or Fremantle. All sorts of rumours are afloat & it is remarkable where they come from. It transpires that we are south of Albany about ninety miles & pass it during the night.

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I will here outline the usual routine of the day. Reveille 6 am., Breakfast 7-15 am. Of course we should get our meals at these specified times, but owing to the usual rotten military arrangements it sometimes takes a half to three – quarters of an hour & sometimes ten minutes only to get it. Our orderlies wait at the cook-house lined up all this time waiting for the food,- (such as it is) whilst we cool our heels at the table after the bugle call. 9.30 am. Dress for Parade 10 am Parade. A.M.C. do not fall in but do our ordinary shift of work 12 noon – Dinner 2 pm Parade 5 pm. Tea. Canteen open from 1 pm to 5 pm. No soft drinks, but we rushed the preserved fruit & now buy biscuits & chocolates only. Very convenient?

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8th Oct:- Most exciting day so far. A cry of "land in sight" at daylight & everybody goes silly We turned back during the night to put into Albany. The coast got gradually clearer & we were running alongside until 2 pm when we put into Albany Harbour. As usual each thought we would get ashore, but this was a bad disappointment. We got a good view of the town – stayed here four hours. Only one man was put ashore – Graham, double pneumonia – and the mumps & diptheria patients had to stay aboard Yellow flag hoisted. As a tug put alongside, a newspaper man soon sold out. Cries of "Who won the Derby" & "How’s the war" Albany seems a very pretty little town & the folks there comfortable. But it is so isolated & has a very poor harbour

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9th Oct:- Rough weather again but not so bad as before. Not seasick this time. No land in sight & we are glad that we are well on the way to Egypt. May we soon reach there.

10th Oct:- Sunday

Still rough & windy. The ship rolling a lot. A concert was to have been held to-night, but was postponed owing to the weather

11th Oct:-
Sunday. A little calmer & getting warmer Work as usual. The water has been very bad. Half salt & hardly drinkable. The tea & coffee is awful. Water better to-day. Plum pudding for dinner heavier than lead. Two strong men had a piece on a string & managed to drag it round the deck.

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12th Oct Lovely weather. Getting warm Preparations of screen for tropics. Man broke nose boxing. Operation. Arrangements made for fight between Jack Smith & man Rose from L.H. £25 aside.

13th Oct:-
Very hot & calm to-day Reaching tropics. Travelled 317 miles for day ending 12 noon to-day as against 302 yesterday Awnings over all decks. Hospital has been full all along & plenty of work for A.M.C. Concert held last night on deck Men appeared to be everywhere amongst rigging etc making it impressive but the concert was very poor. Death of poor Chesson. Funeral at sea sundown Very imposing service. Boat stopped & usual Military salute & bugle calls.

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14th Oct:-
Nothing of note to-day. Saw swarms of flying fish. Very hot & calm. Had to sleep on deck & at 2 am awoke with the rain pouring down on us in torrents. Blankets & clothing wet through we rush for the top hospital & spent a miserable night.
15th Oct:-
Operation for appendicitis this morning. Out of bed early preparing for it. Drizzling rain & very close & muggy weather. The weather is now getting very hot & the boys are going round the boat a la Freshwater Cutting down old trousers etc. for coolness. Again slept on deck & again at 2-15 am had to rush in from the rain.

16th Oct:-
Off duty for a week from to-day. Having nothing to do is quite a change & I spent the day

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reading & sleeping. Very hot & cannot sleep too well at night on account of the heat. There was an accident to the steering gear early in the morning causing the boat to run out of her course for some time.

Oct 17th:- Sunday
Pouring torrents of rain, & the air is a little cooler. No church Parade for us. More laziness - sleeping & reading. Very easy life. Have to sleep inside now on account of the rain.

Oct 18th:-
Still showering & much cooler. I go on duty again for the remainder of the week, for lack of anyone to do the job. However will have last week of the voyage off duty. Boxing in ring just near Bridge to-night. Very exciting affair. Ring crowded & very difficult to get a view, as nearly all the boat turn out. Big fight between Jack

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Smith & Rose – L.H. man – a failure as Rose was given decision after 2 rounds Smith claiming foul. Smith should have won. The preliminaries also proved very exciting & altogether was an extraordinary night

Oct 19:-
A little warmer to-day. Kept busy all the morning, on account of an awful accident befalling infantry man. Broken leg & fractured skull, besides many other minor injuries. Not expected to live. Caused by falling down main hold. Died 9-45pm. Still unconscious.

Oct 20:-
Awakened at 5-30 am to attend funeral of Sellers. As usual, we have a rush about 2 am from deck for shelter. Crossed the line at 11-50 am. Very hot. Usual duties in Dispensary etc.

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Oct 21st :-
Unusual outbreak of Mumps Precautions taken to prevent spreading We are turned out of Top Hospital to make room for them & have to sleep on deck. Our kits & equipment taken to different parts of the ship. Everything is topsy-turvy & we can get at nothing conveniently. Have at last one fine night on deck & enjoy sleep.

Oct 22nd:-
No home & nowhere to sleep. However I am busy in Dispensary & relieved of floor washing. Very hot day but cooler night. Boxing concluding bouts of tournament. Our most miserable night. After being deluged with rain about 2 am we have no retreat & get practically wet through. Continuous rain until reveille 6 am. Very little sleep.

Oct 23rd –
Very hot & wonderfully calm

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sea. Just like glass. Could not imagine the ocean so smooth Swarms of small flying fish, a few [indecipherable] etc. More bouts in boxing tournament.

Oct 24th.
Very calm & not so hot. Out early & expecting to see land shortly Two islands were sighted on the starboard side about 2 pm. A good deal of speculation as to their names. Soon afterwards we sighted another steamer on the horizon, apparently a transport. Accompanying it was a smaller vessel, thought to be a convoy. About 6 pm we sighted another large island & passed very close to it, having a good view. Most interesting day since Albany.
Oct 25

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Oct 25th:-
Land sighted early this morning. African coast & Cape Gardifui. We expect to reach Aden late at night & rumours are about that we are to stay there. Most exciting day so far. At about 12 noon we sighted a boat coming our way & all hands were on deck to see her. Passed very close & we observed an Australian Hospital ship returning with wounded. They were cheered to the echo by our fellows & passed so close that we could distinguish features on board

Oct 26th :-
Passed Aden in early morning (about 2 am) & did not call in. Awake at 5.30 am & saw coast of Arabia on starboard side. After some time of following this we came to the point where we could discern plainly on barren

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& deserted sand hills, what appeared to be ruins of forts or large buildings. Other eastern style of buildings scattered about Remarkable how people exist there Island of Perim was now seen with the great lighthouse prominent The naval station, native dwellings & traders on this island are very unique viewed through the glasses. First view of life, the natives in their loin cloths. This island is very bleak & sandy. Not a trace of vegetation. Passed through "Hell’s Gates" & are now in the Red Sea. Land visible on both sides for some time & then only Arabia. Town of Macha viewed again through glasses, a most remarkable sight. This is my first good view of an eastern city & it is likely to be lasting We are now in the track of boats & pass two tramp steamers

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Islands are frequent & lighthouses plentiful. Pass a large boat about 8 pm. Very hot night

Oct 27th :-
Frightfully hot to-day Don’t like too much of the Red Sea. Am still on duty, dressing in Dispensary. Worst day of trip No land in sight. Passed sloop early in morning

Oct 28th
Not so hot to-day. Still in Red Sea. We passed several vessels to-day, but still out of sight of land.

Oct 29th
Great excitement on board, as we are nearing the end of our voyage. Sighted land about 3 pm. Much cooler & we are running close to shore all night. a very brilliant spectacle as the moon rises, showing land on both sides

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Oct 30th :-
Awoke about 5 am. Land very close on both sides & very pretty view. Reach Suez about 7 – am & anchor in bay. We now have a good chance of seeing the town & country & through binoculars the Port appears to be of good size & the buildings decidedly oriental, with here & there one of more western type. A transport with Queensland troops aboard is here before us & cheering is given from both An auxiliary cruiser & a Battleship are anchored close to the entrance of the canal Cheating traders in their bum-boats are continually alongside trying to sell & are as often hosed with fire hoses by our fellows. Most amusing to see them annoyed. Country here is rugged, sandy & dry. Not a sign of vegetation, though delicately tinted. Most interesting day closes with the assurance of landing to-morrow & train to Cairo.

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Oct 31st :- Awake early preparing for departure. Final breakfast was best we had on board. About 8-30 am we hauled up anchor & put into Suez (Port) Tewfik arriving about 9 am & the first companies disembarked. We now had to carry the sick ashore Niggers were here swimming all around the boat & diving for money. The port is a very clean & industrious place. At 12-30 pm we entrained & were off. As we passed through Suez one was struck with the filth & squalor of the place. Animals, fowls etc live in the houses with the people themselves The buildings are oriental style, square & flat roofs, some crumbling The Indians are camped all along the line to Cairo & we were cheering them as we passed. Stopped at several small stations, where we bought dates & fruit of all descriptions, Tel-el-Kebir being on our route.

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Nothing but dry desert on one side as far as the eye can reach but on the other is fertile country (Nile irrigation scheme). We had a good view of the canal, travelling alongside for about 20 miles. About 7-30 pm we reached Zeitoun siding & detrained. After a good deal of waiting & arguing we were marched off to Zeitoun camp about a mile away. Here were alotted tents & made the best of it in the dark & of course we are in the desert & sleep in the sand. After raiding the canteen for a meal & getting mixed up with our money & Piastres (disasters) milieus etc we turned in. The natives are not very intelligent & the Indian soldiers show out to advantage. They drill & bring their arms so smartly & smile when we cheer them. Zaqiziq is a very dirty city & next

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largest to Cairo. Old men on donkeys & veiled women are met with all along the line

1st Nov 1915:-
Owing to our late arrival we did not have to appear on first Parade (6 am). Awoke about 7 am still feeling tired & at once had to shake the sand out of our blankets & these with kits are lined up outside the tent & strange to say are seldom taken by anybody. A long walk to the taps with flies swarming around & at 9-30 am we fall in A short route march around the desert follows & we are dismissed at 11-30 am. We have a rest & dinners at 1 pm. For breakfast we went to the canteen but things get gradually more settled & we get our mess. The food is better than Liverpool & we mess in a shed with tables & forms

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An allowance from the Egyptian government in food enables us to get milk & tinned fruit.

Fell in at 2 pm & were inoculated for cholera & a lecture followed until 4-30 pm & were dismissed Of course we made a rush for Cairo, not troubling about leave pass, going from Hellmick Station – fare ½ piastre each way My first impression of Cairo was very different from what I thought the place to be. The main thorough-fares of the city are well lighted big squares, very nice trams, which travel fast, & fine buildings. Shepherd’s Hotel is a great white fine building Continental Hotel is also very fine. There are also again many other big buildings. Then are the dirty winding side streets, where two of us wandered & were nearly lost.

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Jingling donkeys. Howling noisy dirty slums. Rotten old Egyptian bazaars. Lanes where all sorts of muck & filth congregate. Old men indecipherable sit outside taverns smoking big pipes which they hire. In the better class portions you sit in the street drinking soft drinks & eating whilst music is played. Indecipherable We had trouble in dodging boot boys who will not leave us until we hit them with sticks. After wandering all around the city, first in side streets & lanes – where the poor classes eat all sorts of concoctions of rice foods, meat cooked while you wait etc, sold by vendors – to the well-lighted, tram run streets through gardens & squares, we caught the 9-30 pm train back to camp.

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2nd Nov:-
Reveille 5-30 am, awoke to find the weather very cold. On parade at 6 am & after Roll-call we were marched & drilled around the desert for two solid hours without breakfast. Talk about hard work. This is the limit, after breakfast we have to shave & clean boots & leggings for 9-30 am parade. Inspection follows and is very rigid Full dress & even buttons must be done up. After parade we had a lecture in shed until 11 am & were then paid. I have leave from 3 pm to 10 pm to go into Cairo. Caught 3.30 pm train from Hellmick Station & as usual was rushed by boot boys on arrival at Cairo. As I intended going out to the General Hospital to see friends I had my boots & leggings cleaned The boy took great pains in shining for about 15 minutes & such a shine

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I gave him a piastre & walked off at which he was greatly annoyed wanting more. The native dealers are the greatest cheats imaginable & we generally give them about a third of what they ask for goods. I bought a cane for two piastres after being asked five. I now took a tram to Gezerich (No 2 Hospital) & this being my first ride in these cans I find they run marvelously smooth & very fast. On arrival at No 2 General Hospital (a palace on an island or some such over the Nile) I sought a few friends, but found they had gone to Gallipoli In transit crossed the famous Nile. Tramway goes over a narrow bridge Taking a return tram I reached town about 5-30 pm after an interesting ride. En route is the French part of the City, very large shops & the best in Cairo Had dinner in the Gardens, where

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I had a great meal of five courses for 8 piastres (reduced prices for British soldiers) well served up as the best of Sydney restaurants Now fell in with a few friends & we spent the night exploring the City. I have now come to the conclusion that Cairo is one of the dirtiest places in creation Dirty slums, side streets, infamous houses, donkeys, traders, cheap jacks men who sell dirty peculiar & thousands of kinds of sweetmeats, fat & meat grilled on coals, meet you at every turn in these places Of course there are well lighted streets, good trams, big emporiums & jewellers etc well known & Cafes where you sit in the street drinking eating, smoking & listening to music, also restaurants on the same style. Oriental Continental, Arabic & Slums. A great mixture of peoples

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3rd Nov:-
Am feeling rather ill this morning & was same during the night. Parade sick at 6 am when names are taken & we Parade again at 8-15 am & are marched to Dispensary, where after a good wait I get a dose of
Bismuth & no duties for the day. Slept after lunch until 5 pm & so missed having my medicine at 4-30. Arriving at Cairo rather later than usual I met a few friends & again went around the Arabic quarters, afterwards having a donkey ride. Imagine my surprise on dismounting to see a friend – an old Pal – Pelham de Mestre, who I thought to be still at the front. He returned with Malaria & is now on duty at Intermediate Base, Cairo Now visit his quarters, where we have some refreshments & I return home late

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4th Nov:-
Again sick Parade & I get out of work until 9 pm. A route march follows 9.30 am across the desert & over good roads & country village, through cornfields & sugar cane to Cleopatra’s Needle or the Obelisk, arriving back at camp we passed through a cloud of locusts, thousands of them A remarkable thing about these parts is that the cornfields and farms are not fenced in, but border the roads on either side. Here must be honor amongst-thieves, if you like. Kitchener’s Nile irrigation scheme is responsible for this fertility. In the afternoon we had another lecture and at 6-30 pm I arrived in Cairo to meet P de Mestre, who took me out to Kasir-l-Ani Hospital (a British Hospital) & I have met a very nice sister (S. Stonehill-Brown) & also amused the sick Tommies

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by telling them yarns of Australia Left at 9 pm arriving back late at camp.

5th Nov:-
Usual routine again to-day with the exception of pitching some tents. I was taken for picket duty in the horse lines but managed to scheme out of it & had nothing to do all day except mess orderly I would like to give a vivid description of the Camp Zeitoun. Sights are here daily seen, which will never be seen again & which people in Australia cannot imagine. Early morning Parade is very impressive. We rise earlier than the infantry & whilst on Parade, out they march. First come the Maori contingent. These are a fine body of men, of splendid physique & very intelligent. They present a good spectacle, as they go through manouvres on the desert, giving blood curdling

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yells when charging. Then are our Australian infantry, Artillery & Light Horse, New Zealand horse regiments & transport, A.S.C. & A.M.C. Of an early morning & evening long lines of horsemen can be seen indistinctly all around the desert This morning the whole of the Argyllshire contingent, ourselves included, (about 1700 men) were drawn up on parade just outside the camp in the desert & inspected by General Sir J. Maxwell. After being addressed by him, a saluting base was formed & a march pass followed. This was an inspiring scene, but very tiring as we had to march about & wait until 9 am from 6 am & then had breakfast. A band played all the time to lessen the monotony of affairs. This night we drove in a carriage (4 of us) to Heliopolis. This is

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a beautiful place – the Potts Point of Cairo – lovely buildings & clean wide streets. No 1 Aust. General Hospital is the main building formerly the Palace Hotel & claimed to be the most beautiful in the world. I have not seen anything in Australian buildings to compare with it.

6th Nov:-
After a lecture we are dismissed for the day at 11-30 am (Saturday). I met Ray Quirck (5th F.A.) back from Gallipoli with Quinsey. We had a long talk He is returning shortly. At about 2 pm., two of us caught a tram to the Pyramids, passing the Citadel over the Nile, the Zoological Gardens – very beautiful – en route. The camp at Mena is almost disbanded except for a few Tommie’s battalions A good view of the Pyramids & the Sphynx, which are indeed very

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wonderful but not picturesque. How these huge piles of enormous stones were built to such a height is a puzzle & the every detail carved in the huge stone of the Sphynx is also marvellous. The tombs of the Caliphs are here & the dead city of Babylon.

7th Nov:-
We have been awaiting orders of removal & wonder if we are to be sent on to the front, so the suspense is annoying. Detailed for inlaying picket to-day, & manage an accident to my shoulder. Very painful. After first parade, a surprise awaits me. We are to pack up kit & go to No 1 Hospital at once. After breakfast we set off and are duly sworn in & detailed to various duties in the hospital. So far, so good. Sort of "Do as you are told & ask no questions" business. What a change after the desert. Whether we are to go

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to the front, stay here, transport duty or Ambulance remains to be seen. Special Reinforcements are we, dumped into a General Hospital. The military rules of this place are very strict & I start work at 2 pm on General Duties. Sort of wharf labourer’s job, but no Union. We work twelve hours a day here & I resolve to get out of it as soon as possible.

8th Nov:-
Quartered in tents in the Palace Garden. Reveille 6-am Parade 6-45 am. Work as usual. Wash up. Scrub floor. Carry meals & all sorts of hard work about Hospital. Very interesting? Nearly 1000 rooms in the place Tremendous size. Was to be a second Monte Carlo. The food is good, Patients well looked after & the only ones worked hard are general duty orderlies.

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9th Nov:-
Work as usual. A train of wounded and sick from the front arrived at 1-30 pm & we are kept busy getting them into bed This is not my first train. One arrived on Sunday & it is a sorry sight. The long white train steams in & the stream of khaki turns out some limping, legs, arms, eyes heads bandaged up. Others ill, enteric & dysentery mostly. These men who go out some few weeks before fully equipped now return & some have a few odd clothes & kits, others have the clothes they stand in only. But all cheerful. "Hello Bill How is it?" from a friend. "Good-oh" says Bill. War as it should be seen at home to make of few of the shirkers come along & give a hand. I again visit Kasr-ly-ani Hospital with friend

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De Mestre & have long yarns with some Tommies. Also endeavour to arrange a transfer from the Hospital work.

10th Nov:-
Work as usual & plenty to do. Talk to some of our wounded in here who give good descriptions of the fighting on the Peninsula Turn in early. The climate here is very hot of a day, even in winter & a distinct change at night – Exceedingly cold. No mosquitoes to speak of, but flies in millions. They stick to a person & refuse to budge until knocked off.

11th Nov:-
General Duties. Afternoon off. Visit Aust. Intermediate Base in Cairo to endeavour arrange transfer from 1st A.G.H. Have little success & go to dinner with Pelham de Mestre at his quarters

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Spend evening at the Kursaats (French Vaudeville Entertainment) where the various items are so different from our Sydney Tivoli. Seeing some of the side lights of Cairo afterwards & meet a chap from the "Argyllshire" who insists on shouting for me & paying for a carriage drive home. Very nice indeed.

12th Nov:-
Duties as usual & rather hard work. Dull day & very hot. My shoulder gives trouble & the doctor orders it to be massaged daily. Light duties.

Visit Cairo & accidentally meet de Mestre & a Scotch Tommy & we have an argument abut the respective merits of Australian & English soldiers. Meet some A.M.C. friends who are leaving for the front next day & we have a good time

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13th Nov.
Usual hospital routine At 6pm "Argyllshire" friend "Scottie" called & together we go to Cairo. After concert & Pictures in Esbekia Gardens we have a royal supper, then a race on donkeys, which I win by fifteen lengths & we finish up with a Garry drive home.

14th Nov:-
Very cold day & I have a rather bad cold in the head. Usual duties & I go to bed at 8 pm. Feel knocked up & can do with a good sleep.

15th Nov:-
After long rest wake up refreshed & fit for work & there is plenty to do. A trip to Kasir-el-aini Hospital & there meet an English Field Artilleryman who was on the transport torpedoed off

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Salonika. He had an awful experience, being in the water from 9 am until 6 pm. Now has double pneumonia but is progressing favourably. Nurses & A.M.C. men we all drowned in this ship by the Barbarians.

16th Nov:-
Feeling slightly ill & have no duties to-day. Bad cold in head & get to bed early.

17th Nov:-
Wake up feeling very much better & get to work in great manner. Best day of all – payday – and I get 270 piastres. What a time we’ll have to-night. Called at Intermediate Base & had dinner with Pelham de Mestre Whilst here saw W/O Gillies who arranged to write the O.C. 1st A.G.H.

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asking him to transfer me to H.Q. Pay Branch. We go to the Esbekia Gardens & watch the Army Boxing Tournament; where a friend (Warren 5th Fed Ambulance) wins the lightweight

18th Nov:-
Seen by Orderly Officer, who promises me a position in the office when reinforcements arrive A wild night in Cairo. We have some fun pretending to raid an Arabs den & they are nearly frightened to death. We afterwards demanded free cigarettes & garry drive to tram, arriving back late

19th Nov:-
Take up new duties as assistant to Sergeant (Wardmaster) doing his clerical & roll work. Give a little assistance to Red Cross ladies in the morning. Spend evening sitting at street café near Heliopolis watching pictures Late to bed. Writing letters until 12 pm

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20th Nov:-
Sent for by O.C. this morning, who examines my shoulder, which has been very painful. He orders me to Ward 8 for observation & X-ray. Just as I was liking my new job too. However, it is my afternoon off & I take it to go into Cairo. Have dinner at Int. Base Mess & then concert in Skating Rink. Bed late

21st Nov:-
In hospital, but not confined to bed. Go under X-ray for shoulder & await result. Quiet stroll near Palace until 8 pm & get to bed

22nd Nov:-
No change yet & I am anxiously awaiting result of xray & hope if well enough to get transfer to Pay Branch, Headquarters. Since Quiet day & a friend from 5th Fed Amb also in hospital & I yarn till bed-time

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23rd Nov:-
Quiet day in Hospital Two hospital trains arrive, bringing one hundred stretcher cases (wounded) & the hospital is full. Seen by Capt Kay (x-ray) who expresses the opinion from x-ray picture that my shoulder was broken & not properly set.

24th Nov:-
Very nice & cool day. Doctor reports on shoulder as opinion of last night. Go out for a motor drive this afternoon round Mataria & Hellmich to the residence of an English gentleman who is in a high position in Cairo. Here we were treated to a good time made a great fuss of. In fact Mr Craig could not do

[Page 50]
enough for us. Afternoon tea, cigars, cigarettes, ices & soft drinks were provided. After some games & music by the ladies a very enjoyable & interesting day closed with a motor drive back to hospital The party were mostly of wounded but we were all treated alike

25th Nov:-
Cold day & very windy. Becoming rather monotonous in hospital & I shall be glad to get out.

26th Nov:-
Expect to leave hospital to-day as nothing can be done for shoulder. Capt Knight is to speak to the O.C. & I am to go on light duty

[Page 51]
27th Nov:-
Discharged from hospital to take up duties in the morning. Visit Pelham de Mestre in Aust. Int. Base, when I see W.O. Gillies & arrange to start if possible. On leaving hospital am marked for light duties.

28th Nov:-
No duties to-day & we parade for instructions re duties. Manage to secure a tent to sleep for the night & turn in early.

29th Nov:-
Commence in office in hospital but only work for a few hours, when after parading to the O.C. of Hospital arrange for transfer to the Base & spend the afternoon making preparations.

30th Nov:-
Nothing to do & having no money left, stay in & write letters

[Page 52]
1915
1st December 30th Nov :-
A cold day & raining slightly for the first time since we are in Egypt. However the rain soon goes away & I proceed to the Base with my orders to report for duty. First day in office is rather irksome after the outdoor life & comparative freedom of the camp. Our quarters are in Opera Square, Cairo, where we are supplied with wicker beds (of the native pattern) & the meals are very much to be appreciated, but not nearly so good as home. Native waiters of course, Arabs ("Niggers") & they have a bad time, mixture of Arabic & French & English being hurled at them from all quarters. Mosquitoes are awful & therefore my first nights is greatly disturbed. Having no net

[Page 53]
2nd Dec:-
New duties in Deaths & Missing branch (temporally) doing typewriting. I manage this rather successfully for the first day but not being experienced typiste, make a few mistakes but Malish. Was paid before leaving hospital yesterday & we have a good time. Bed late & having secured a mosquito net from Sister Bourke at the hospital to-night, sleep a little better.

3rd Dec:-
Arise late & arrive at office 9pm. We are very nicely situated here, our quarters being about 5 minutes walk from the base & the little tramp in the sun about 8-45 am is very enjoyable. Pay another visit to the hospital this evening & get some letters Very welcome indeed. Leave me quiet

[Page 54]
4th Dec.
Saturday & we have the afternoon off. I determine to visit the Citadel & wend my way there, per tram about 2 pm. Arrived outside the walls I first enter the ancient & large mosque of Sultan Hassan. On the walls are still visible the holes & even cannon balls where Napoleon bombarded the Mosque & city. this mosque is over 600 years old & is considered very sacred. Its dome is the highest in Egypt. Cost over £3,000,000 to build. One huge door inlaid with 22 ct cold & copper is valued at £17,000. Sultan Hassan’s tomb rests in the inner temple, where is also a red flag stone marking the spot, on which he slew the Mameluk. We noted the huge Koran book & cupboard, the Coronation chair (ancient) & Sultans pulpit

[Page 55]
Afterwards visited the more modern Blue or Coronation Mosque This is very beautiful inside, even the walls & roof being inlaid with 22 ct gold & the pillars of pure ivory & ebony. 365 lamps hang from the ceiling (one for each day of the year) as in Sultan Hassan Mosque. Thick carpets adorn the floor, so one walked noiselessly We put large felt slippers over our boots on entering. I visited the Citadel now & inspected the walls, old guns & armoury of Napoleon’s time. From the top of a minaret I had a fine view of Cairo laid out before me, like a mighty city dumped down in the desert. One would not think it’s interior was overrun by trams etc. Before leaving I had a talk with some of our wounded Sikhs & Ghurkas, one of whom exchanged handerchiefs as souvenir

[Page 56]
In one of the ruined mosques of the citadel, I was shown some human bones. Remains of derelicts hanged from the top of the minarets & picked to death by scavengers (birds). From here I also obtained a good view of the tombs of the Mameluks & the Turkish prison at Maadi

5th Dec
Sunday & no work. I attend St Joseph’s Church at Cairo a fine building & beautiful interior. In the afternoon again visit the Pyramids. Feeling tired go to bed early.

6th Dec:-
Have been transferred to Central Enquiry branch to-day. Casualty records & on 3rd & 4th Batt. work. Rather monotonous but a change for a time.

[Page 57]
11th Dec. Saturday:-
During the week I have had the usual routine of daily work & to bed early. Also made the acquaintance of some friends at the house of Madame Alice, a French mistress, where I determine to learn & revise my French. Two Armenian girls, the Misses Bequian are here & speak English fluently. They entertain us with some music (De Mestre & I)

12th Sunday
Today met Darce Murphy in Cairo. Has just arrived with 30th Batt. After showing him about Cairo, we visit the Citadel & mosques again & he leaves for camp about 6 pm, quite satisfied with his visit. Are to meet next Sunday, & visit the Pyramids

[Page 58]
13th Dec., Monday
Start on night duty 6 pm to 12 pm. Very much better than day work in my opinion, but prevents me from visiting our friends.

18th Dec. Saturday:-
During the week nothing of much consequence has happened outside the regular nightly routine of work Sleep during the morning & walk after dinner & go on duty at 6pm. Our friendship with Madame Alice & the girls has been proceeding favourably & we are invited to tea on Xmas Day, next Saturday.

19th Dec: Sunday

[Page 59]
19th Dec: Sunday,
Very cold day & after going to church remain in until after lunch With a few friends visit Esbekia gardens in the afternoon & hear the bands playing (New Zealand M.R.). At night we De Mestre &I visit the Kursaal (Vaudeville entertainment) together with Madame Alice, her daughter & the two Miss Bequians. We had previously booked a box for this evening.

20th Dec, Monday
Change again to day duty of which I am very pleased Christmas is close & though a long way from home, it is likely to one which we shall not forget soon. The boys are making all sorts of preparations for keeping it up in a suitable manner & as well as possible under the circumstances. This is just the time when one feels he is absent from our good old home

[Page 60]
Australia & our friends & the joys of soldiering in a foreign country lose their lustre. I have had some Xmas Cards (one from mother) from those at home & the mixed feelings they produce cannot be described.

21st Dec. Tuesday
First intimation of the evacuation of the Peninsula, that marvellous generalship which was responsible for this retreat with such a small loss (only 4 wounded) Our boys are rightly very exited & indignant, some of the Hqus staff having served 3 or 4 months there & then to find their trials were of no avail. However it was doubtless the wisest course to adopt for there is no possibility of success. My feelings on the point are mainly regret that I shall now have no opportunity of serving where I naturally

[Page 61]
hoped to be with our boys, having been disappointed before.

We had some indication that the withdrawal was to take place for during the last few weeks no mail would be accepted for the Peninsula, also after the last big bombardment of our trenches at Lone Pine, where we sustained heavy losses (especially the 23rd & 24th Batt) some course was sure to be taken

Dec 22nd & 23rd
Plenty of work, but paramount is the talk of the evacuation & preparation for Xmas. The hospitals are all gaily decorated & the boys there (they who are able to work) expect a great time. Promoted to rank of Sergeant & get back pay to-morrow Am now transferred to strength of A.I.F. Headquarters. My promotion is to date from 1st January

[Page 62]
Dec 24th Xmas eve.
It started to rain to-day after lunch & kept up during the night. What a miserable hole of a country, where it rains about three times a year & must spoil our small chance of enjoyment at this time of year. It did not deter us however from a good time. Such a night I will not soon forget. I was at the Postal Corps mess, where, tables were spread & we ate, drank & sang till 12 pm. Had some fine musicians, English Tommies, one French soldier & two French sailors So, kept up the old traditions in Royal Style.

De Mestre & I attended midnight Mass at St Joseph’s Church & afterwards found our way to the mess, where an expedition was going forth to the Pay Corps Mess at Kasr-el-Nel. We

[Page 63]
Armed with Kerosene tins etc and gave our able Payites a wild time, until we had to leave quickly, for the deluges of water sent [bucksheish?] from their windows were disconcerting Arrived back at old Mundays mess at 3 am & soon got to bed.

Dec. 25th Christmas Day:-
Went to Church at 11 am. Previous to this was awakened about 8 am: by various Egyptian squeeky bands serenading us from the street below. We squashed them with various missiles, mainly water & went back to sleep.

Our Xmas dinner was first class & our mess tables look rather well. The contractor for the mess, one Naggiar, has opened his mean heart & after a good repast of Turkey ham beef & to finish a fine plum

[Page 64]
pudding, we believe there is still some good in the world. I might remark here that our usual meals are the most autistic mixtures of [abhorring?] muck one could imagine & the man should be whipped for expecting civilised people to eat it. We generally take soup & pour it out of the window on the head of some unfortunate nigger below Certainly we do not drink it & after Pay day, when we have money, nearly all resort to paying for their meals outside This miserable swine of a Greek (for whom I have more contempt than Germans) is paid £1/1/- per week for each man to supply this rotten rubbish & our officers will not allow us to run our own mess like other corps, who for the same money have splendid food

[Page 65]
1915
Dec 26th Sunday
A quiet Sunday. Very tired & after church rest until afternoon, then taking a trip to the Pyramids

Last night we had tea with Madame Alice & the girls & some music & entertainment afterwards. It was indeed a pleasant change.

Dec 27th Monday
Again night duty from 12 midnight to 7 am. As the weather is very cold it is not only unpleasant but miserable trying to work all night wrapped up in our greatcoats.

Dec 28th to Dec 30th
Plenty of work & no amusement. Nothing but sleep & work so not very interesting.

[Page 66]
Dec 31st New Years eve, 1915
A repetition of Xmas in almost every respect. Raining heavily & after work I go down town looking for a few friends whom I eventually find in the P.O. mess. We keep up the old traditions until 12 midnight, again worry the Pay Corps & eventually get into bed at 3 am.

1st Jan. 1916 New Years Day.
Am very tired this morning but awakened early by the inevitable nuisance of a noisy band. W.O. Walker goes down to them in pyjamas & parades the band, himself leading the way with the drum right around our quarters creating a most unpleasant din. Take the band into the building opposite, waking all there, who

[Page 67]
could do naught but look pleasant. Go for a drive in the afternoon & after spending the evening quietly go to bed early.

2nd Jan. Sunday
After Church, I sleep the morning out & go for a run out to the Zoo in the afternoon. Keep very quiet in anticipation of duty to-morrow. The Zoo here is one of the finest & largest in the world, amongst other things on view are the two bullet riddled boats in which the Turks tried to cross the Canal & a few kangaroos donated by our boys.

Nice walks & very realistic surroundings for all the wild animals. Fine specimens of hippopotamus & rhinoceros

[Page 68]
1916

3rd Jan. Monday
It is now as cold as ever I wish & the dreary long night duty is most miserable. We are wrapped in Greatcoats & mufflers all night long, but still feel cold & also sleepy, for it is impossible to obtain a good sleep during the day, as we should then have to go without our meals. Sleep from 4 to 4.30 am; (our ½ hour off)

4th to 7th January:-
Nothing out of the usual monotonous routine of duty & sleep occurred during the week & no prospect of any removal from this miserable night duty. I never wish again to hear opinions about Egypt’s not being cold

[Page 69]
Should there be any doubt of my word one has only to try all-night duty on A.I.F. Headqrs.

8th January:- Saturday
Today I spend a nice outing (after duty at 1pm) in the Gezinek Acquarium Gardens. This to my mind is the only nice little spot round Cairo.

9th Jan:- Sunday
Raining slightly for a few hours in the early morning. I am on duty until 1 pm. In the afternoon a few friends & I spend some time listening to the band in Esbekia gardens

[Page 70]
10th to 15th January
Night duty all the week & its most unpleasant. Sleep all day & as a consequence very little to eat except that which we are able to buy for ourselves. Most commendable? arrangements for our comfort. However Saturday afternoon off is very pleasant & a few two of us. (Legge & I) take a run out to the Pyramids where I take some snaps (one of Legge & he takes one of me) We also get several other good photos of the Sphynx & desert scenes round about.

16th January:- Sunday
On duty till 1 pm & then hear of the big riot of the Egyptian conscript soldiers in Abdin Square, near the

[Page 71]
Sultan’s Palace. They rise in rebellion against their enforced drill (& possibly against British) but it is soon squashed by our fellows An armoured car & a machine gun with a battalion of our boys is seen to be rather a forcible argument & the "Gippos" with a few killed & about 20 wounded, are left very quiet. We arrive in time to see some of the fun & I get a good photo of the English troops marching on to & after the scene.

17th to 22nd Jan.
Off night duty at last but we have now from 9 am to 9 pm duty, with time for lunch. What pleasant times. Not even a chance of a breather or fresh air.
Sundays

[Page 72]
also we must work until further notice, but to 1 pm only. Having started to take my French lessons I must perforce give them up for a time at least. We have no time even for writing letters, & how must friends at home know this Impossible to write, so they must rest content with a few letters now & again.

23rd Jan. Sunday
Afternoon off & I spend it in sleep & writing a few letters. Feel properly knocked up & am sure I shall be pleased when these long hours are over. The weather now is not quite so cold & we soon expect it to rather pleasant. Still cold at night

[Page 73]
23rd to 30th Jan
During the week we have been too fully occupied with work to even take a little fresh air. Such an enjoyable life this. Work from 9 am to 9 pm & then go to bed & the same routine again the next day. However a most pleasant deviation arrived on Tuesday in the shape of a mail from Australia. This puts quite a different aspect on affairs & if the muddling postal authorities knew what they mean to us, might send them more regularly.

30st Jan Sunday
At 1 pm we are off duty for the day. I spent a rather pleasant afternoon taking a walk round Giza gardens with Miss Beguian & Madame Alice’s little daughter Maryem. Quite a change in affairs & much appreciated. At 5.30 pm arrive home from tea & after a short stroll with Legge retire early.

[Page 74]
1st to 6th Feb
This week is merely a repetition of last with the exception that we have discontinued the long hours & now finish at 6 pm. Of course, having the opportunity again, I now take my French lessons from Madame Alice. The two Miss Beguians, her friends, having found some soldier loves have dispensed with our company. They are not much loss, so the feeling is mutual. Like the rest of the empty headed, painted dolls here

6th Feb:- Sunday
To-day is very cold again but we work as usual until 1 pm, turning the office topsy-turvy & moving to a new room. Just as dirty of course. After dinner & a short rest we fell in the evening in the noisy occupation of listening to the bank in Esbekia

[Page 75]
7th to 12th Feb:-
Have had a bad cold for a few weeks past & it worse this week. To add now I have found a big boil or abscess on my right jaw & oh, we do look pretty. The doctor sends me off to the hospital to have it treated for a few days & to day I reach No 2 Gen Hospital Ghezinek, after spending some time in the morning in the company of Madame Alice, & her friends.

13th Feb:- Sunday.
This boil is getting much harder & needless to say, more painful. I am not confined to bed, but find being in hospital leaves much to be desired. Having boiling hot fomentations applied regularly & a big

[Page 76]
bandage on my face all day is most annoying However I shall not be here long I hope, but of course a few days holiday away from that never-ending-work, & no pleasure show is acceptable.

14th to 19th
This week in hospital is not at all to my liking the continued inactivity after so much work I find to be very boring. The weather is still fairly cold & during the last few days I manage to develop an attack of Influenza (slight) The hospital is being cleared out & I am to leave with the first batch to-day for the No 3 General Hospital Abbassia. All sorts of rumours are afloat & the

[Page 77]
Hospital (No 2) is said to be going to France. Needless to say, we have been for some time expecting a removal of all our troops to Salonika or France after such a long spell since the evacuation of the Peninsula My boil has departed

20th February:- Sunday
I arrived here No 3 Aust Gen Hosp Abbassia yesterday. It was the opening day of the hosp, which has just retuned from Lemnos Island & of course everything was in a state of unreadiness To-day is much better, but as I was put straight to bed and am still here have not seen much of it.

[Page 78]
20th Feb to 9th March
To day (9th March) I am being discharged to duty, and am very pleased to be going out My stay has been very monotonous for, after five days in bed & few more days of convalescence I have been within the hospital confines, with nothing to do but write letters & waiting to leave Have met here an old friend of Sid Banks & a few other Sydney boys; his name Jack Frost. He has had an attack of enteric after leaving the Peninsula & we became good friends On Sunday evg. last (5th) we obtained leave & attended a marriage in Cairo. The invitation

[Page 79]
to attend this fete was given me by a good friend in Cairo (civilian) Mr Campagnano, an Italian We drove through the city afterwards & afterwards were treated as quite guests of honor at my friend’s house Not arriving back until 11-30 pm , we were up before the orderly room in the morning & admonished.

10th March
No duty yet but as my ultimate aim always expressed & which I shall not rest content until have secured, is a transfer to a fighting unit to enable me to get to the front. To-morrow I am going to the camp at Tel-el-Kebir for the purpose of obtaining a transfer

[Page 80]
by interviewing some of the officers of the different battalions etc.

Whilst in hospital I met several of my old pals including several old St Joseph’s College boys & some of them who were in camp with me last April in Australia. Jack & Fred Raff, Jack particularly being one of my best friends & of S.J.C. to wit is attached to the hospital & we spend a lot of time together Frank McAdam of S.J.C. has just returned to Australia from here to complete his medical studies & Jack Ellis of the same old place is still there. Met Billy Cabban also, he is with the 5th Bgde Artillery, at present on the Canal

[Page 81]
11th March:-
To-day was at the camp of Tel-el-Kebir, that historic spot where Kitchener fought his battle. Visit the graveyard of the English soldiers fallen in that battle & afterwards, My friend (Sgt Legge) & I are both on business After trying various visits (5th Fed Amb) (4th Div Hdqus & 15th Fld Amb) where I have little success & return disappointed.

13th March.
Again at Tel-el Kebir & after tramping all around the desert for hours, to nearly every unit in the place, I & Legge, eventually arrive at 4th Division, right out on a sand-hill at the back of the camp & here I meet with some success. I am taken for trial

[Page 82]
by Major Baker, & found to be satisfactory & report back to Cairo next morning to await developments. Tel-el-Kebir is about 60 miles from Cairo, destitute, hot & swarming with flies. A most wretched place. Great credit is due though to the Military organisation in building such a large & perfect camp in this short time. The military at Liverpool Sydney, would do well to take notice. All the new battalions have been formed here (from 45th to 60th) with the Artillery, AMC, Engineers Pioneers, A.S.C. etc. – Two new divisions – (4th & 5th)

[Page 83]
15th March:
To-day am sent for by my C.O. Lieut Butler who has a telegram in his hand & asked me if I had applied for a transfer. Of course I stated the facts & after receiving the permission of Mr Murphy (W.O.) he grants the transfer & I am then given my pass, Railway warrant, & letter of transfer & warned to catch the 11 am train next day for Tel el Kebir & formally report for my new duties & clear up with Headquarters About 5 pm after I had made all arrangements for departure, Mr Murphy sent for me again, asked to see my papers, which he took away & tore up, then informing me that my transfer had been entirely

[Page 84]
disapproved of by the General (our O.C.) & would not be granted under any circumstances. To say that I am disappointed after months of waiting is to put it mildly. The less I write of it the better or I should be tempted to put my thoughts into words.

16th March:-
I again obtain permission to go to Tel-el Kebir from Lieut Butler & this time see Lieut-Col. McGlynn who informs me he can do nothing contrary to the General’s wishes & the strong letter he evidently received However he promises to return the letter & I am to put forward a long written application in support my case. Still hope

[Page 85]
17th March,
See Lieut Butler re interview with Colonel McGlynn & I put in my application which he promises to support

18th March to 29th March.
During this time I have been feeling too much annoyed to even write my diary. Will these stupid people in Australia who write, wildly suggesting that a fellow should be at the front, ever get sense. Here am I doing my level best to get there as probably few others have done & I am beaten at every turn. During this period I have continually worried Mr Butler about my application but with no result They do not wish to allow me to go. Yesterday I was informed that it was finally refused because, as stated, I am "B" class

[Page 86]
(light duties). However there is also underlying the fact that I am on permanent strength of A.I.F. Headquarters & the General in command (General Selheim) having full authority will not permit of transfers to his N.C.O.’s or men. On hearing this I went direct to the A.D.M.S. & requested to be put on "A" class (Fit for active service at the front) This he promised me & on report to Lieut Butler, he has again given me permission to proceed to Ferry Post on the Canal, in support of my desire – The 5th Division having moved there from Tel el Kebir

[Page 87]
30th March
To-day I caught the 7a.m. train to Ismalia Suez Canal. Arriving here at 10 am, having passed right along the desert en route (where thousands of the infantry were marching from Tel-el Kebir to the Canal) – I made straight, on foot, through the small town to the camp on the other side of the Canal which is crossed by ferry. Here is the cheerless prospect of sand so far as the eye can reach on the Arabian side, warships are continually patrolling the canal, destroyers being in evidence, miles of trenches & barbed wire entanglements on the Arabian side & the camp extending for miles into the desert, the furthest about 12 miles out

[Page 88]
We are continually having scraps here with advanced parties of Turks, whom we have expected to arrive for months & even to-day, nine Turks & one Bedouin Arab were captured & I was accompanied by them to Cairo. After tramping round the sand for miles in search of 5th Division Hdqus, I eventually found it way down on the banks of the Canal, near the light railway run out to the front line of trenches. Whilst here I inspected the trenches well walking through & over them The net result of my trouble was to get small satisfaction having delayed so long & on return to Cairo, my application was returned to me definitely refused

[Page 89]
This is my last straw. Having done my best to get away I am refused. My friend Sgt A.H. Legge, who accompanied me all along to back me up will certify to all & sundry who wish to doubt that I have not done my duty at least in trying. (He has had fourteen weeks on the Peninsula) I may again make an attempt at some future date, but now oblivious to anybody’s remarks I shall consider I am doing my share in Cairo as my officers think & be d – d to all in Australia.

Whilst in Ismalia I had a good look all around the town, which is a rather pretty little place, something remarkable for Egypt

[Page 90]
30th March to 9th May
There is so little to write of in this miserable, monotonous never-to-be-forgotten place, Cairo, that I have entirely neglected writing my diary during this time. Much as one can do to find time for writing letters.

During my time off duty (which is very little) I have spent learning Arabic & French, which I now speak well. (French more so) Prying into the customs & habits of the dirty Arabic classes, who, although a contemptible lot are rather interesting & going to different places sightseeing.

I visited the Barage Gardens, a rather pretty spot, riding round these lovely cool gardens & over

[Page 91]
the Nile Bridge & gate on donkeys. This was a most pleasant Sunday afternoon Had two days leave & visited Alexandria, staying at a small hotel at Mese, a suburb, overnight. A dip in the bluey waters of the Mediterranean I very much enjoyed. Thousands of refugees (women, old men & children) from Palestine, Greece & Servia, are housed here, & I had the satisfaction of at least helping them to the extent of a few piastres. [Noosbqa?] Gardens, a few miles away are very pretty. The town is small but comparatively clean, the big sea promenade with its great wall & Ras el Tin Palace seen over the water is most picturesque

[Page 92]
The harbour is large & none too clean. At this time, troopships, warships & hospital ships were here in plenty. In my opinion Alexandria is far preferable to Cairo if only to enjoy a cool sea breeze away from the heat.

We have been hearing all sorts of rumours lately of removal to France. Most of the troops have gone & the 1st & 2nd Divisions are already in action in France. Not until a few days back did I give any credit to our boys’ rumours, until the advance party was hurriedly equipped, paraded & inspected & they embark for overseas to-morrow.

[Page 93]
10th May Wednesday
This morning all our boys fell in at 8 pm & marched off. My old friends going affected me just as much as when I left Australia We may leave soon, but the idea of staying in this heat & plague stricken fly pested country much longer is a thought one cant bear.

11th May
The overseas contingent of our boys (A.I.F. Hdqrs) depart from Alexandria to-day. We who are left behind needless to say, do not feel inclined for work & it will take a few days to get into stride.

12th May:-
We have almost got going again, having now contented

[Page 94]
& having resigned to the inevitable. Talk about hot though & to add our mess food of a tough material sarcastically called steak & "rabbit’s food" (a mixture of herbs called salad day after day) makes a pleasant life.

13th May:- Saturday
Hot, I should not like to describe it otherwise. The wind is about two blasts from hell combined & one is afraid of his hair being burnt. Only 110 ° in the shade, but awful. Those fellows who got away in time to avoid this heat are more than lucky. This afternoon I took some photos out at Giza & tonight attended a picture show (the usual Egyptian production)

14th May. Sunday
Legge & I feel right out of sorts . One cannot feel

[Page 95]
contented, having to stay in this miserable hole, & in any case we should not have felt it so much but for the fact of the others boys being away. What have we to do? Nothing, & yet the usual brainless military heads must keep us here. But perhaps they know best, but I fail to see why we could not have all gone. About the most miserable Sunday in Cairo & after a walk, I get to bed.

15th May to 19th May
During this time nothing has occurred to break the usual miserable monotony of Cairo existence, except broiling hot weather & an insatiable desire to get out of the place.

[Page 96]
20th May to June 18th.
[The page is blank except for the inclusion of a press dried plant which looks like a fern.]

[Page 97]
19th June. Monday – 111 ° in the shade
The new list of those to proceed overseas to England with the next contingent is posted today & I am not included, whilst many who have been here but one month are going. This is my last bitter cup. Have been working my hardest for weeks & they are to give my work to others.

20th June
Does the army not want me. It seems so & I will take my first chance out now. Nothing but bad luck here Last night I was up all night sick & vomiting The heat has evidently got me & I see the doctor who gives me no duty Temp 112 ° in the shade

21st June
To-day is awful. What heat. In bed all day feeling very ill & not able to eat The doctor has ordered me milk food only & a rest for two days & I can do with it very well

[Page 98]
but get no milk food, needless to say & therefore eat nothing. The temperature to-day was 115 ° in the shade & at night lowest 98 °

22nd June
This heat is terrible. Sleep with no clothes on & not even any covering & still the perspiration pours out & little sleep. I am sure I cannot see this summer out here. With good health could do so easily. To-day 106 ° Overseas contingent was to leave tomorrow

23rd June
More rumours about leaving & now it is said to be delayed another week. I have seen the doctor & after some talk convince him that I cannot spend the summer here & he promises to see Mr Taplin with a view to my going in the next lot. So there may be a chance. In any case I shall not stay in Egypt Work to-day (plenty) & temp 107 °

[Page 99]
24th June. Temp 102 °
This departure is again delayed. Lord! how long are we to stay in this rotten country & heat? The sooner the next lot depart, the sooner we’ll follow. Where? Some say Mesopotamia, or Bombay for the last lot. Isn’t this hot enough? Sergt Avant says Wednesday is the date

25th June:- Sunday
Not quite so hot today About 96 ° in the shade. After going to church at 10 am I simply turn in un dressed with but an old light pair of trousers & read for the rest of the day. After tea a friend & I go for a long walk & a little drive in a garry round the town. Latest rumours per Sgt Langford & L/cpl Tipping to the effect that next overseas batch depart on

[Page 100]
Wednesday next

26th June:- Monday
To-day is not so hot A few of us at least have plenty of work (I & Legge, far too much in comparison) There seems to be a further delay in departure - to-day we hear of several drastic changes amongst our headquarters in London re being sent out to rejoin their old units. How pleasant a prospect for us. It will suit me however, so long as I get to England first Shall be quite satisfied to go to the front then As a matter of fact, this is what I have sought all along.

To-day at 1 pm 101 ° . To-night at 9 pm 91 ° & at 10-30 pm 89 ° Much cooler

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27th June Tuesday:-
From letters received from London it seems rather certain that we are all going to be packed off to the front when we reach there. This will do me. A few of those originally chosen seem rath inclined to prefer staying in Egypt on strength of this, so there is a chance for me, after all. To-day is cool, only 98 ° . After a short stroll & writing a few letters, retire.

28th June:- Wednesday
More rumours, but it is evident we are off to the front after a short stay in England. This only serves to show what a mistake the general idea of the inexperienced in Australia make. One never knows the time & we just do as we are told & go

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where we are sent. Its all very well having a supposed good job, but then it does not last, & the Army employs us in any way required. Most of the Hdqrs in England have already joined their units & very glad am I. Have my opportunity at last & hope to show the talkative ones that we can do our bit with the rest To-day rather cool, only 93 ° Plenty of work & after my French lesson at 8 pm take a short walk with old friend Legge.

29th June: Thursday
A little warmer to-day but of course not nearly so bad as last week. Temp. 99 ° Received intimation this morning that I am to go on a week’s leave to Alexandria to the rest camp. This will be very nice of course, but then it sounds the death-toll

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of my chance of going away. Just imagine staying in Egypt, this prison. Another few months & I shall go right off my head. Not even one friend excepting the boys & ignored by those miserable swine, the civilians of Cairo, the majority of whom I would not even deign to number my acquaintances in civil life. Patriots? They should be all herded like sheep & sent into the front line of trenches, instead of airing their effeminate ways here. But then they would be more nuisance than good and the women, those painted dolls, of not a child’s intellect. It makes one feel contempt to watch them. And the Arabic are not worthy of consideration "The great unwashed". The boys at the front are at least content & how we wish we were with them. In this plagued, miserable land is worse than prison, hundreds of people & not a friend. Just work & sleep & a great longing to see good old

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Australia again. These are all the thoughts running through my mind at the present moment, having been daunted in every way to reach the front on account of one small defect. I only desire one chance to get back to Australia, as this last disappointment is the last straw.

30th June
What changes are brought about in a day. This morning I paraded to W.O. Taplin for the purpose of asking him, as a favour, to strike me off the list of those going to Alexandria, as I wished to remain in Cairo until the boys departed, there being a chance until the last day. However, he did not give me a chance to say it, but informed me I am now on the list to proceed overseas with the next lot. A pleasant surprise Content is not the word.

Today is much cooler, only 95° .

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1st July:- Saturday.
Today is not so hot, only 94° . Getting cooler & I sincerely hope we do not get another hot spell before we depart, or I shall feel it. Off duty this afternoon & arrayed in but an old pair of pyjamas, I rest & sleep. "This is the life."

2nd July:- Sunday
To-day rather warm, 102° . I am on duty until 1pm, after which I had dinner, undressed & slept until 6pm. Met Legge at 6.30pm & we had a stroll, our usual evening’s outing around the town. There’s a great fete (Italian) in the Esbekia. We attended this last evg & again to-night. The illuminations are most brilliant & it is rather enjoyable. Legge tells me of a sermon at his church to-day by Rev , who says, that, candidly speaking, the

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last three years which he has spent in Cairo, have been the most miserable in his life & this, in his opinion, is the most God-forsaken filthy shameless land on earth, also the East has never produced anybody of intellect Good man, he merely speaks his opinion (& ours too). The others are not willing to do so

3rd July:- Monday
Fairly warm – about 100° & this heat has played on me terribly. Am now feeling & looking wretched. See the doctor about my teeth & without saying I am sick, he tells me I must be careful & gives me a tonic. Rather cheering, I must look well off colour & feel it too

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4th July: Tuesday
In Cairo to-day is but 95° , but at Abbassia 101° . I go straight out to the hospital (Abbassia) at 9 am re teeth & have to call again to-morrow (3.30 pm) & have one filled At 1 pm return to duty & not feeling too – well, do not take greatest of pains. It’s no use talking, I have now got to lose all interest in life whilst in this wretched hole & whil one hope is left, that of getting away soon. Australian mail is in, but no letters for me again (the third that has found me still waiting)

5th July - Wednesday
To-day comparatively cool & it seems as if a cool spell has come & we need it only 93° . Plenty of work, but this afternoon I was at Abbassia to have my tooth filled. Met an old Sydney pal G. Amaurin (1st L.H. Field Amb) &

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we spend the evg together. He leaves for Aust. Friday. It transpires we are leaving for England on Monday (rumours of course).

6th July:- Thursday 94°
To-day is rather cool again We were called up this afternoon & full instructions given for departure. We are to pack all on Saturday, receive ground sheets & all necessaries & to be ready to move at 24 hours notice

7th July:- Friday
We believe this week-end will see us off. Hot to-day 99° With an old Sydney pal, G. Amaurin go for a stroll until 9.30 pm & after a cup of tea at Anzac Hostel, get to sleep

8th July. Saturday
Quite unexpectedly, this morning we received orders to pack & soon everything was in a state of confusion & by lunch we

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had a few cases full. Work until 4.30 pm when the last has been sent to the station, guard placed & we leave for Alexandria to-morrow night. Getting kits packed & various other duties, also a few good-byes until 11-30 pm. The excitement of the unexpected leave prevents much sleep

9th July:- Sunday
To-day is the day & it is hot too. About 101° . Parade in full marching order at 6.30 am & inspection follows. The rest of the day is taken up with doing odd jobs. Parade at 2.30 pm & at 10 pm we again fall in, parade & dismiss to again; parade at Cairo station at 10.30 pm. This is an awfully messed up affair. Talk about hot. With full marching kit (heavy enough) & two large full bags, we march & tramp about, haul all this

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stuff on the train & eventually settled in the carriages, we part from Cairo at 11–30 pm; & prepare for a sleepless night. Will I ever forget that parade. It defies description. I am now well played out & not the only one in that condition. But we can overlook all this in the joy of getting away from Egypt at last.

10th July:- Monday
After a cramped sleepless night in the train we eventually arrive at Alexandria (wharf) at 6.45 am. Strange to say, I slept soundly from 5.30 am to this time, although fully equipped & in an uncomfortable position. We disentrained right away, still humping our two large kit bags in addition to all our equipment. Needless to say we got nothing to eat except our iron rations (Bully beef & biscuits) all

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day & not even a drop of tea. From 7.0 am until 11 am, we alternately paraded, stood easy etc in the full heat of the sun, with all our gear on & it was over the odds. When at last we did get on board, hungry, hot & tired, we were pleased to lay down anywhere. The perspiration had poured off us in streams Staff Sergts & Sgts are given third second class cabins, which are a little better than troop decks. I have a tiny cabin (with three other Sgts – Lake, Rowe & a New Zealander). There are Tommys, N.Z. & Australians on board – 1800 in all. For tea we get the usual hard biscuits & bully beef & slop called tea. It was acceptable, though, after 24 hours off food & drink, except water – we filled our bottles before leaving Cairo. At 6-30 pm we sail out of Alexandria Harbour with an escort of a light cruiser & the first night at

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sea – moonlight; in the Mediterranean & the cruiser cutting across our bows continually, assuring us of some safety from submarines. Great is the Navy. At 10.30 pm turn in, tired out. Our lights have been out since dark & we cannot even smoke on deck after 8 pm

11th July:- Tuesday
No reveille this morning so did not turn out until 7.30 am. Parading all day long until 6.30 pm. Life boat drill & instructions & everywhere we go must carry our lifebelts with us like pets. The food is awful,just merely that slop called tea & a dough called bread, also margarine, called butter. There is one consolation, this trip is short The food supplied by Allan line "Patriots" is the worst I’ve ever had & one feels absolutely week from lack of food. Still very hot. Anyway we’re on our way to France, Marseilles,

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& that’s all that counts.

12th July:- Wednesday
To-day is very smooth, even smoother than the first day. The old "Tunisian" is very slow. Very hot. The food is bad, or I should eat a lot. Have prickly heat & the rash is awfully irritating & a little sore. To-day about 9 am we passed a large boat, evidently a P & O, en route to Egypt & another in the afternoon, too far off to place. Both on starboard side A concert was held on deck at 5.30 pm, Tommies, Australians & New Zealanders participating. Men in the riggings & everywhere make the scene rather impressive. We expect to pass Malta to-morrow Reveille 6 am. 6.30 am parade cancelled & only one parade for the day – 10 am. No submarines sighted so far. Our little cruiser escort is always very active

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13th July:- Thursday
Out at 6.30 am & as the prickly heat rash is very irritating I see the doctor in hope of getting something to ease it, but he puts me into a dirty room called a hospital & says I must stay here for a few days. My luck, as usual & Tommy doctor’s brains However, as there is not even a bed in this dungeon, I politely take myself off & go around the ship at leisure. Rather rough to-day & the sea is very choppy. We have a new Sergeant’s mess, which is much better No submarines or mines so far. Nearly collided with a tramp steamer about 11 pm. Sleep in my usual bunk.

14th July:- Friday
Rather calm to-day & I am released from my hospital? back to duty. Parade 10 am. Last night at 11 pm we almost had a collision with a large tramp steamer. Our new Sergts mess is a great improvement, though

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the standard is still far below soup kitchen stuff. We have an orderly for each cabin & also for meals. Passed land on port side at 8 am. We overhauled a tramp about 11.30 am & immediately came in sight of the Island Pantarellia & had a good view of it until 2 pm. Another large passenger boat now passed, apparently very few people on board. Cape Bond of Tunis (Africa) have plainly in sight on port side. One large transport passed going east on starboard side 6 pm. Expect to see Sardinia in the morning Rather interesting day.

15th July:- Saturday
This morning turned out beautifully calm & clear, but towards midday blew up strong, the sea became choppy & to-night is rather rough, the boat rolling rather much We sighted Sardinia early in the morning & did not lose sight until 2 pm & are now well on our way to

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Marseilles, which we expect to reach to-morrow. Two parades to-day – life boat drill, the usual, 10 am & also at 1-30 pm. The food being rotten, I have mostly eaten our iron rations all the way to fill up (Bully beef & biscuits may not be tasty but supply needs) Shall be glad to reach land & trust there is a possibility of a good meal before entraining.

16th July:- Sunday
No reveille to-day & out at 7.15 am. Fairly calm. Two parades – at 10 am for church & 2.30 pm full kit. The coast of France have in sight at 1 pm & all was excitement which increased at 3.30 pm, when we sighted Marseilles. After slow steaming for an hour we arrived within good view of the town & I was struck with the peculiar build of the French houses. However it was great to let one’s eyes rest on this nice

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green country after that miserable dry hole, Egypt & this sight of France has been my long desire realised. Some of the buildings are fine from an exterior view conspicuous is the Cathedral, a remarkable edifice, the old castle, the big convent on the height & the marvellous high bridge. Our little escort, the small cruiser dropped back & we gave her three rousing cheers as we passed & she earned them Always on the alert, darting from side to side of our boat she was a good companion & earned the admiration of our boys. When we parted it seemed like losing a friend. The sailors returned our cheers & my opinion of the British Navy has gone up. We evidently sighted a submarine during the morning, as we turned a complete circle, our escort came between

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with the submarine flag showing but we slipped it. Rather exciting at about 5 pm we came alongside the wharf & made fast. Several girls waving from an opposite dock Do wharf-labourer’s duty unloading our goods until 10 pm & we turn in 11 pm to disembark to-morrow.

17th July:- Monday
Awake at 5.30 am to find the weather very cold. Breakfast 6 am (Bread & jam & tea) & parade 7 am, when we disembarked. A muddle of useless waiting on the wharf until 10 am follows & at last we march off along the docks through part of the town, passing a large munition factory en route & arrived at Fournier camp about 11 am. I am on cook’s duty & after making a fire, prepare dinner (tea & bully beef for the boys). We parade at 2-15 pm when parties are told off for fatigue duty. Take a walk

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around a few streets. On arrival at the camp I find the others are receiving pay & after receiving my 25 francs we take leave & go into town, have a good dinner & view the city until 7.30 pm. I think Marseilles a very nice indecipherable town & rather pretty. The people treated us very well. Parade in camp 8 pm & at 9 pm march off through the town singing all the way, to a rousing send off by the population. They cheered & waved to us from every window & along the streets. Such a scene one could not forget. Arrival at the station 9-45 & after a great deal of marching about & entraining, steam out at midnight on our long journey. Eight in one small carriage compartment with all our equipment is not conductive to comfort, but at 3 am I turn in, having eaten a great deal of the chocolate issued to us from the comforts committee & sleep soundly.

18th July:- Tuesday
Awake about 6 am feeling dirty

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& tired & have a wash from my water bottle through the window of carriage The weather is beautiful & what a prospect before us. Here is southern France in all it’s beautiful grandeur. No wonder the Frenchman shouts "Vive la France" & "J’aime ma Patrie". Such country. The view is enough to refresh one of the drowsiest. Everywhere is green & as we pass villages snugly ensconced in hillsides & on the fields, every one has it’s beautiful church, the spire so prominent. In Marseilles I was struck by the beauty of the streets the wide squares & fine trees, also the hospitality of the people. Of course it is more pronounced in the country, & I practice my French which is very handy. The towns we passed I have detailed in the back of this diary. Many famous old Châteaux on hillsides & strong Castles where probably many a famous battle has been fought

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The scene is one of continuous wonder The valley of the Rhone, that fine old river, which we had in view all day, with it’s many bridges is most striking. About 11-30 am we reached Vienne, a pretty town on the Rhone & were issued with iron rations (beef & biscuits) for one day. Managed to obtain tea at various buffets on the stations also long loaves of bread. We reached Lyons, which I consider the most beautiful city I have ever seen at 1 pm & waited here one hour & managed to obtain a wash & some refreshments. The Rhone is crossed by many fine bridges in this city The country people all along the line seemed very contented & industrious only old men, women & boys working in the fields. No slackers in France Women drive the trams & women tram conductresses. Many widows We see them everywhere. The

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remainder of the journey until Dijon was reached at 9 pm. I met a French soldier who came with us for some distance in the train & we had a great talk on different matters (in French). At Dijon, a large town, we managed to obtain some tea & sandwiches on the station, which were greatly relished after our all-day "bully" beef & hard biscuit meals. Made ourselves comfortable on the floor & seats of carriage & turned in tired, to a good sleep at 10 30 pm

19th July: Wednesday
Awake at 7 am after a good sleep from 10-30 pm & after a wash at a tap on a small station feel slightly refreshed. The smiling aspect of yesterday, fields pretty rivers & hills, snug villages & large towns continue in view, but a slight rain had fallen before we approached & the place seemed

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very fresh. The rain had soon cleared, and the sun shining brightly made a brilliant spectacle. One could hardly believe that such a great war of destruction was being waged less than 100 miles away. We reached Fontainbleau, a pretty town at 10 am & managed to obtain some hot coffee & had a slight breakfast. The outskirts of Paris soon have in sight & we disentrained at Villeneuve-St George a suburb 9 miles from Paris & waited here, dirty & tired & encumbered with all our equipment for a train. We passed right around Paris, through all the suburbs where girls were waving to us everywhere. Had a good view of Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral & other principal places of Paris. All the time along the Seine Left a 4 pm from a Paris railway yard & from here on the French Red Cross women were grand, supplying tea at stations & doing all in their power for us. Bread

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& butter also supplied by them The kindness of these people is amazing Dirty & tired we slept at 10 pm to awaken at 1 pm at Rouen & again at Le Havre at 6 am.

20th July:- Thursday
Reached Havre main station at 6.15 am & immediately disentrained Being encumbered with all our equipment & white kit bags, tired, dirty & hungry & cold (for it was very cold last night) we did not feel inclined for marching. It transpired that we had gone more than a mile over our destination & nothing was left but a long route march back to the camp & we started off without any breakfast or wash on a roundabout way of about two miles. The kit-bags soon became very heavy & we all felt knocked-up, but hung on. It had rained during the night & the roads were sloppy, the brisk marching kept us warm. Reached the details camp at 8-45 am & were immediately allotted tents. We all rushed the canteen on dismissal for a good breakfast, too hungry to wait

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for a wash. Afterwards I enjoyed the luxury of a shave & long wash in the cool water – a treat denied to us during the three days in the train. Feeling now refreshed, we started to look about & had a walk until 11 pm, when we paraded for instructions. Issued with bread & hot tea & we made a good meal of boiled bacon, bully beef, bread & tea – about the best we had for some days. At 2.15 pm another parade was called & we marched out on a route march to the wharves, arriving there at 3.30 pm, unloading all our cases from the waggons (hard work for two hours) put on our coats & marched back to camp. We are now issued with blankets – one each for this nice cold weather - & after having tea I had a little lit walk & it now being very cold, I am feeling rather tired & shall not be long in getting to sleep, although the the bed is not of the best

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21st July:- Friday
Reveille 6-30 am & the weather is again rather cold The orders to-day are to await instructions & not move away from the camp. We fall in at 11 am for instructions. Next parade 2 pm. This camp at Havre is the best I have seen. Well laid out, tent floors boarded, drained throughout, good showers, hot & cold water baths, good canteens & as usual, our good friend the Y.M.C.A. This institution, is, to my mind the best friend a soldier on active service can find. Cheap meals, music & writing rooms, clean & run by English ladies, who voluntarily assist. Everywhere we can find their places to our great advantage & I know now their full benefit. Dinner at the canteen Parade 2-15 pm with full equipment & march out. A long march along the road, through the town, to the

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wharves, passing hundreds of German prisoners en route, big fellows & surly looking. We also saw several of these prisoners yesterday morning, some working in the camp & more marching to their camp. Many more prisoners working on the wharf. Hundreds of shells, several big howitzers, & motor transports are unloaded on the wharf & hurried up to the front straight away. We pass some of these 6" Howitzers on the road. "Little Tich, going to see Bill" & similar inscriptions on them Of course many of our fellows felt like pulling out a bayonet & using it on the some of the surly Germans on the wharf, but it’s not the game Hundreds of German big guns are distributed around the wharves, of all calibres, these having been captured recently during the big push. The usual delay of some hours occurs here again & we have time to get a fair view of the town, but we eventually embark at 8 pm, guards are picked & I am on life-rafts guard & must sleep on deck

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The night is cold & wrapped in overcoat & lifebelt I prepare my place & we move out of harbour at 10 pm doing 23 knots per hour by S.S. "Caesarea". Expect little sleep but prepare my place & drop off 1 am

22nd July:- Saturday
Awake at 5 am with the rain pouring on me, cold & a feeling of a large lump in the middle of my back which is caused by the lifebelt Soon hasten below, take off the offending belt & overcoat, have a wash in a dixie & get my kit together. The "wooden walls of Old England" are in sight, we having safely passed the boom at Southampton. All is excitement on board, as there are also hundreds of Tommies returning home on leave Wait until 7 am to cross the second boom, meanwhile viewing old England’s coasts, my feelings run high at really finding myself here. The drizzling rain soon cleared & we moor at the wharf at 7-15 am & disembark Then follows two hours strenuous work of unloading the big cases to the trucks (by sling) & at 10 am we have a mess tin of tea, after which, we don our equipment & march

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off the wharf, through the town of Southampton, to the railway station Here, again, we are accorded a great reception & for the first time in 9 months I find the people around speaking English. It is really great to be "home" The town of Southampton is rather pretty but small, but undoubtedly English & that’s what counts. Left at 11-15 am for Waterloo Station, London. Passing good old country towns pretty villages, fields & farms on the way, all green & we have a great day to wit. Soon see Electric trains bustle everywhere & London have in sight my first view of it being Westminster & Houses of Parliament. Marched straight to Hdqus, Horseferry Rd, obtained passes, a cup of tea etc, gratis, at the Anzac Buffet (a charming little place) & have forth to see London after receiving £1 in pay on a/c. Take a bus ride to Muswell Hill, Highgate (long ride) & pass St Pauls; Strand; Lincoln’s Inn; Bank of England etc en route. Most interesting. Take tube railway back to Charing Cross. Put

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up at Peel House, Overseas Club for soldiers, at night & very tired, am soon asleep.

23th July:- Saturday Sunday
Wake at 8 am & have breakfast. This is a fine club & does great credit to the ladies who so voluntarily assist in it’s upkeep. The meals are good & half the price of restaurants. A good warm bath to follow, then a shave & boots cleaned & I feel A1, although troubled slightly with a cold. Walking along Victoria St, Westminster greatly to my surprise, I see, above all persons, Justin Cunningham from the Town Hall, Sydney & in uniform. Catch the next bus and chase him but after a few streets he descends & our pleasure at meeting is mutual – after 12 months. His brother is introduced & we all three set forth to church, the R.C. Cathedral at Westminster just in time for 11 am Mass. A beautiful Cathedral, larger than St Mary’s Sydney, but apart from it’s historic attachedment, no finer

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Bus to Trafalgar Square, after going to Peel House, & a walk around the Strand & accompany Cunn. to his hotel, have a long chat & a smoke & leave them to keep my appointment with Legge at 2 pm. Luckily meet him coming in a taxi with kits etc & we all set off to Grosvenor gardens. He is staying here. Close by is Victoria Rly Stn. After a good lunch (rather late) take a bust past St Pauls to the Exchange corner. From here to Shepherd’s Bush by Underground Railway & here we have afternoon tea. There is no doubt of the popularity of Australians in London & my short experience shows me that opportunities to no extent are given us. After another ride past Piccadilly, St James Park, & eventually we arrive back at the Strand, have dinner & Legge leaves me. Meet another pal, one of the boys, with two girl friends & together we take a walk round Hyde Park. I arrive at my diggings at 11 pm & enjoy a good & well earned sleep.

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24th July, Monday
Parade 9 am, according to instructions, at Headquarters & we are told of our new movements Our services on Hdqus are no longer required, as girls are now doing the work in London, under the supervision of most of the fellows sent from Egypt in the first draught. Of course I quite expected this, having been warned & is certainly far preferable to me. Do not wish to work in London, on the petticoat staff. Much sooner get to the front; my desire all along. We are to be given eight days furlough, a railway pass to wherever we wish to go, at the expiration of this time, report to Salisbury Plains Camp for duty, attached to a new unit & move off to France. Very nice we’ll find it. At any rate I’m satisfied. Parade dismissed & after receiving passes for this time, Sgts Legge, Palliser, Chant & I decide to

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avail ourselves of the opportunity & go to Ireland (Dublin & Killarney) Needless the excitement of this anticipation (on my part) is greater than I can describe. My father’s talk of the Old Country, also my Grand-mother’s had set a great imagination in my mind, but the chance to visit there seemed far away. The interval of waiting seems too long. The remainder of the morning is taken up in securing railway warrant’s etc & receiving pay. (I draw £4-5-0 ) & 16/- allowance). We part to meet at Euston Station at 8 am the morrow. After lunch I visit the Tower of London. Really most interesting. Sir Walter Raleigh’s Prison, the Chamber of the baby Princes, Ancient Armour of every age, the spot of Mary Queen of Scot’s, beheadal, ancient moats & lastly the whole marvellous set of all the Crown Jewels, the whole fits in so well with history that I am lost in wonder. The Tower Bridge is fine Go to the Vaudeville Theatre in Strand

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Revue "Some" & it is some rotten However I saw it out. Pleased to get to bed, the excitement of the morning prevalent.

25th July:- Tuesday
Awoke 7-30 am & caught a taxi to Euston Station. Missed the 8-30 train by 5 minutes & after making enquiries found it possible by taking the 10-30 am train to Liverpool to go across to Dublin to-night By making enquiries I saw it possible, after obtaining a certificate to break my journey at Liverpool. I think this far a better plan to adopt aswe Legge, Chant & Palliser are staying the day (to-morrow) in Dublin to join them there. With the aid of a small tip to a porter soon obtain the required certificate, have a walk around until 10 am & catch the train at 10-30 am. This train is express, only stop Crewe, then Liverpool & I have a good chance of viewing the beautiful green fields, historic old English villages & towns we pass en route, also the large

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estates & forests & farms of Bonnie England. This is indeed a good sight for the eyes. After a plentiful view of scenery I arrive at Liverpool 3-30 pm. A really beautiful day. Liverpool is a big place, but comparatively small after London. Station of arrival – Lime St. My impression of Liverpool is much the same as the impression I create walking along the street. The people here have evidently never seen Australians before; our uniform is so distinctive, especially the hat, that everybody gazes at me & this is decidedly uncomfortable. I took a train to the big landing stage of Ferry Boats & view the docks. This landing stage is a mile in length. Have lunch in a nice restaurant in the main street, take a long tram ride to a suburb, Aigburth, visit the soldier’s club where I meet one Mr Hudson, a gentleman of importance in public matters who treats me well. After a decent walk around town, take the 11-10 pm train

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at Lime St Station, & here meet an Irish gentleman & his wife & we continue our night journey & I do all in my power for him & his wife on the boat on which we embark at 3 am.

26th July:- Wednesday
Feeling sleepy I had a sleep on the floor for a few hours & awoke at 7-30 am. My Irish friends have unfortunately departed & after a brush, up & securing a cup of tea from the steward take the 8.10 am from Kingstown (wharf) to Dublin (Westland Row Station): Arrived here 8.30 am. I could can scarcely credit yet being in the land of my parents, but there is no mistaking the quaint Irish houses (so old) the fresh & rosy complexions of the girls & mostly the good old Irish brogue I am regarded as something of a curiosity by the people, the uniform is again unfamiliar, but am able to return their stares of curiosity with interest. My next step at the station is to set forth & find Kingsbridge Station & as I set foot on the street can’t help thinking of my first minute in Dublin. Here are the Irish jaunting carts, so quaint, in place of carriages just

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outside the station & I am accosted by a rough driver in high brogue but I prefer walking. After some distance find a tram going my way & get to Kingsbridge intent on catching 9.10 am train to Killarney Meet Chant here, & we are not going till to-morrow. Legge & Palliser are sitting in Hotel Ivanhoe as I arrive & their surprise is undoubted. After writing some P/C’s we set forth & do the city. Have lunch at the hotel, visit Stephen’s Green spend an hour in Sackville St viewing the damage done in the riot, climb Nelson’s monument, from which we get a fine view of the whole of Dublin Under Chant’s guidance we view Guiness’ Brewery & are greatly impressed. The immensity of this manufactury is marvellous, really a town on it’s own. More tips for the conductor & off to Phoenix Park take some photos, gather some Shamrocks & back home to a good dinner. Meet a gentleman who gives me intricate details of the riot &

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the whole thing surprised me. A nice comfortable bed at the Ivanhoe Hotel at 11 pm, the first for some time & a good hot drink for my cold which is worse – "this is the life".

27th July: Thursday
First thing is to pay the bill (costs – one day 8/6) & this completed we make a hurried departure at 8.30 am for Kingsbridge station for the 9.15 train to Killarney. No time for breakfast. My feelings are running high (very high) at the near prospect of seeing the land of beautiful lakes famous in all the world. Breakfast at Limerick Junction. The country is really beautiful, grand old farms & the truly quaint Irish houses So small. Green, green, abounds everywhere. It climbs over the fences Then there are the many bogs, for which Ireland is so famous & even men are now working on them excavating the bog-oak for fuel. One mass of cultivation & one could not imagine anything more prosperous looking. The air is grand & but for my cold which is slowly pulling me down, I should glow in the pleasure

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of it. Reach Mallow station at 2 pm & have lunch, & change trains straight for Killarney. After one hour & half through more beautiful country gradually approaching the mountains & farms on every side, all typically Irish, arrive at old Killarney "lakes & dells" at 3.30 pm. Imagine our feelings as we stand on the station. Chant’s Irish brogue again keeps us in roars of laughter as we try hard to look serious If this fellow doesn’t become serious we shall burst our sides. Talk about funny To look at him is sufficient & his little jokes at many serious old Irishmen’s expense are amusing. Now he is at the porter. Up to Graham’s Glebe Hotel a fine place, take our rooms, have afternoon tea, off for a drive in a jaunting cart all around the lakes & to old Muckross Abbey, which we explore right through & all its old tombs. Shall I ever forget that drive The spirit had us all, as we drove along the old green lanes & by the lakes. Legge would sing "By Killarney’s lakes etc" & "When Irish eyes are smiling". Chant was

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with the driver pulling his leg on some long yarns & Palliser was quietly blissful. The beauty of the lakes is beyond description Glorious, and we pass right around those lakes Beautiful, I can’t find words to express it. A comfortable bed & the fresh air is great & sleep like a tip.

28th July:- Friday
My cold is rather bad this morning & stay in bed until 10-30 am after a good hot lemon & whisky last night The servant looks after me well. Legge Chant & Palliser have gone for a long drive, right around the lakes & back 14 miles by boat. Left at 7 am but I decide to wait for the sun on account of my cold. Write a few letters etc, a long talk with the proprietor, all about Killarney & I set forth alone at 12 noon for further views. First the Cathedral a beautiful building, then to the Mansion, Earl of Kenmare’s late residence, partly destroyed by fire. A little boy, very talkative, from the lodge, accompanies me to the fine old house, still standing, of 360 rooms. The fine grounds, so well laid out, command a beautiful view of the upper lower & middle lake. The gardens & outhouses are still nicely kept

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The small boy is overjoyed with his tip. Directed to & after a lovely walk along a small rivulet, avenues of green trees & smart paths arrive at Ross Castle. Inspect the Castle, climbing to it’s highest towers overlooking the lake. It must, no doubt have been well chosen. Right at the foot of the Castle are boats for hire & an old man rows me out for an hour & a half. By Killarney’s lakes & dells Just beautiful & wonderfully fresh. Visit Library Island & turn into the middle lake, to Innisfallen Island & have a turn at the oars, visiting many other small islands, the old chap detailing each history (for his own interest) & back to the castle, arriving at 4.30 pm. A brisk walk back to "The Glebe" through many lanes gathering shamrocks, an old lady from one lodge, assisting, & meet the others returning. Have a fine dinner ("some" potatoes) & talk with our little party, mainly listening

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to Chant’s yarns & more laughing until our sides burst. The bed is good anyway & I soon sample it.

29th July:- Saturday
Up & doing bright & early (7 am) & a good breakfast. All our effects arranged & well brushed by the servant, who is well tipped & the train leaves Killarney station with us bound for Cork, much to our regret. Chant up to his antics as usual with some Irishmen in our carriage & I can’t preserve a straight face. The country about here is really beautiful. Coltsman’s Castle on the hill near Killarney, by which the Flesk River runs is a fine structure. Over the country, past farms & more green & we reach Mallow at 9-15 am. Change here & arrive at Cork at 10-30 am, passing the old Blarney Castle en route. We had intended to get out here & see the castle first but, listening to Chant’s yarns, we passed it. After leaving our kits at Cork station set forth, walking along the main street, took a train to a

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small station, Muskerry, & here by small train we arrange to visit Blarney. The train leaves at 12.10 pm & meanwhile we take a walk around the main streets, purchase some Post Cards in Patrick St., make arrangements to lunch at Hotel Metropole & take the small quaint train, where many old ladies are returning from market After 20 minutes reach the Castle & have but 15 minutes to view the famous old place. After walking round it & entering a few places, take some photos & catch the 1.15 pm train back to Cork. Another walk around & meet one solitary Australian Coo-ee him. A good lunch at Metropole & we take 3 pm train to Queenstown. A lovely little ride. Queenstown a great naval base. The Cathedral on the hill is a beautiful building. The curiosity with which we are regarded is astounding Absolutely alone. The Harbour is rather good but far behind Sydney’s. A few boats of "Wallflower" type at anchor. One of "Sydney" type. Walk all around the hill & see many fine residences

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A good dinner at Rob Roy Hotel, & a shave, & we meet a lady whose son has a commission in the artillery. She has been in Australia & very pleased to meet us After a chat in her house we get the 9.15 pm train to Dublin – an all night journey

30th July:- Sunday
Arrive at Kingsbridge station Dublin, 4.30 am, tired & cold & not a person in sight. Off we march per foot & Legge takes the lead. As I am in no humour for walking & neither is Palliser (Chant has gone on to Belfast), we lag along. Bridges & bridges we pass by the Liffey & never seem to sight O’Connell Bridge, our objective & I’ll not forget that tramp Pal & I were inclined to throw in the sponge which we do at Sackville St. Talk about a picture, I sat on the ledge & sulked with Palliser. Old Legge marches steadily on to Westland Row Station Luckily a jaunting cart bails along & very happy I finish the journey "à la voiture" & beat Legge on the post. More lounging about on the station until 7 am & I suggest breakfast. At the Hotel Grosvenor opposite we manage a goodbreakfast wash & brush & feel a little better. A

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fair breakfast of eggs & bacon, but the best was a cup to tea to pull us together for the absolutely exaggerated price of 2/6. However we get of by 8.15 train to Kingstown & the boat is off at 10 am, our last view of "Old Ireland". At 12.30 we reach Holyhead & now follows a beautiful train right across North Wales. The rugged beauty of the mountains on one side & the really pleasant watering places all along the sea front. The air is great. At any time I have a chance am certainly coming to these watering places in Wales. A rather interesting journey through the old country through which I passed before & reach London at 8 pm. Make straight to Grosvenor Square with my kit & have a walk around the Strand & bus ride & off to Peel house, where I have a good meal & as usual a long talk & then to bed at Grosvenor Gardens. Here I have to translate for

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some Belgian soldiers, who cannot speak English & after seeing them comfortably to bed, turn in.

31st July:- Monday
Straight down to Headqurts to report at 9 am & a surprise awaits me. W.O. Taplin has me down to proceed to Rouen, France for duty with 3rd Echelon, Aust. Section, at any time we are instructed. Make all necessary arrangements & get some pay £1 & an extension of pass. A nice cup of tea at the Anzac Buffet & I meet Sgt Lake of Hdqus whose home is in London wishes me to accompany him & I do so. A long walk around Oxford St & we take a taxi to the Strand & Waterloo Stn, here go by electric train to Earlstenwick & eventually arrive at his house. Am entertained well all the afternoon to my great joy, the piano is kept going merrily & I enjoy it greatly. Take a taxi ride with the girls for about an hour, arriving

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back in time for dinner. A friend of the family gives us plenty of music & the evening passes very pleasantly There is one thing that will never be replaced in my feelings & that is music. How it brings back memories of home This is the first time for a long time that I have become moody & thinking of home & who can wonder after a fellow has spent nine months in nigger Egypt to once again be amongst the good old English houses again listening to my own songs. The first time I have been within an English home since leaving Australia. My fight with this cold has absolutely got me knocked right out, there are no two ways of putting it & by jove only for my holding out against it, would be down now. Having got rid of the cold (or nearly so) but feel pretty week & good hot lemon &

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rum to-night is going to put me right

1st August:- Tuesday
Having to report at Headquarters at 9 am for instructions we are about early & off by 8.30 am train to Waterloo Station after a good breakfast. Transpires that the usual hanging round for a few days is to take place & we are to await further instructions from the War Office for travelling facility. To report again at 5 pm. Straight to Peel House & remove all my kit. Take a taxi to Grosvenor Gardens & leave all my kit there Now have it together ready to depart at any notice. Take the tube to Mansion House & Lake visits his old employers in this district, East C. I think We meet here a fellow worker of his, who has been badly knocked about, his hand still paralysed. We lunch well

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at Lyons & take a train & bus back to Strand in time to get to the Hippodrome Matinee "Joyland". A fine theatre & we get a good seat in the stalls I thoroughly enjoy the whole performance, it is really great The scenery, in my opinion, is the best I’ve seen. Having Tate’s witticism is great & the Empire Tableau is fine. Needless to say Australia’s flag is much applauded also Canada’s & the other Colonies I leave satisfied. Walk to the Strand & take a taxi to Headqus & report at 5 pm. As usual a further wait & we are to report at 5 pm to-morrow. After obtaining a further extension of leave pass, I again accompany Lake, at his request, to his home & take the train from Waterloo & after some more music & another pleasant evening, have a good stiff hot lemon & whisky & some medicine

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for the cold and sleep A.1.

2nd August Wednesday
Wake at 9 am, but have a real good rest until 11 am & feeling real well, the cold has at last gone, thanks to attendance & prepare to enjoy the day. A shave, good breakfast & we accompany the girls to Clapham Junction & sample some ices etc & return home to obtain my few things. Take the train in return & after bidding good-bye to all & thanking them for their hospitality we leave for Headquarters to report by 5 pm. Take a bus from Waterloo Station to Victoria Station & leave my haversack at Grosvenor Gardens. After having lunch take a walk to Oxford Street returning to Trafalgar Square & make straight for Headquarters It now turns out that something definite has been reached at

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last & tomorrow we are to leave (Six of us & one for Anzac Headqus). Three of the "Irish Contingent" are together. Good old times wev’e had & here we are off to France again. Legge, Palliser & I are in the crowd. Leave Lake who goes home & I start on purchasing a few necessaries, afterwards returning to the Y.M.C.A. club in Grosvenor Gardens & have dinner. My last night in London & having lost the run of the others, decide to take a walk alone, at least seeing the now familiar Strand & Hyde Park for a few hours. Enjoy the walk & return to my diggings. A few Belgian soldiers are here & as usual I have to act as interpreter & see to all their wants after which have a long talk with one of the Belgians whose French is very distinct & retire late

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3rd August:- Thursday
Awakened at 7 am & having completed my toilette & a good breakfast set forth. The Belgian has departed by 5.30 am, having to return to Belgium after his leave in England. (He had been wounded badly in the wrist) & we exchanged addresses. Take a walk along the Thames Embankment & view the captured German submarine mine-layer U5 lying beside the embankment. Reach the office at 9-30 am & receive instructions to depart from Charring Cross Station at 11-35 am. Talk about rush. I didn’t expect this, at least, but it’s the usual way of the army. Receive pay to the extent of 10/- & living allowing for the four days we have been kept waiting around London (16/-). I make straight to my diggings & hurriedly roll my overcoat & fully equipped

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with all my trappings take a taxi (now 11 am) & go like fire to Charring Cross & reach the station at 11-20 am. Good-bye London, after all & I’m sorry to leave. The comfort of being amongst our own people is a great thing to lose. I am nearly tired of this roaming around amongst languages of all nations & vow this is to be the last. Of course I am determined to get to the front this time & after that Headqus will do. A beautiful journey in the train to Folkstone, through miles of grand old English Farms & towns & we take the boat from Folkestone with hundreds of Scotties making their first trip & my last view for some time of Old England. Arrive at Boulogne at 4.15 pm & report to the R.T. Officer who arranges for us proceed to-morrow 12.15 pm. Being alone we stay at the best hotel in the town Hotel du Louvre & leaving our things here take a look around the town

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Boulogne is a dirty place & typical French fishing town, all cobbled streets Legge & I take a tram up the hill. Coming back to the hotel find Pal comfortable in bed. We have a long discussion over all our doing & sleep well

4th August:- Friday
Sleep in until 8 am & thinking it later, do things in a hurry. Breakfast at the hotel & a few of us go for a tram ride to the beach. Here are many Bathing-boxes a good many girls are bathing, but the beach is not very good. Return to town & pack up our traps, get to the station & secure kits. Our bill for the hotel 7 francs 50 centimes for room & breakfast each. A French soldier, who is on leave but now returning to Verdun is pleased to find me speaking French & we have a regular great chat. At last we leave him & a great deal of waiting around the station until about 2 pm. A canteen is here but of a very second rate. A cup of tea (or rather a basin) a few buns & sandwiches suffices for lunch & we take in a stock of ginger-beer

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& sandwiches for the journey. A most tiresome wait of about two hours outside Boulogne in the yards shunting backwards & forwards & this gets on the nerves. Our carriage is about as dirty as one could wish & we just revel in filth. At last move off, with many more stops & at snail’s pace reach Etaples the biggest camp in France, stretching for miles. Thousands of troops here & many Australians. Reach Abbeville at 7 pm & change trains Here is only 18 26 miles from the firing line & the Germans were actually outside this town during the Mons retreat, but the English blew up the bridge over the river. We get some tea, bread & eggs at a Y.MCA Hut & move off at 9 pm, having after much scheming, secured a carriage for three, but of course absolutely filthy. A chance of sleep. Very cold & the train just crawls along bumping & stopping everywhere & it is

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a fairly rough night. At last about 1 am, absolutely tired out fall off to sleep. The country we pass is very pretty up till 9 pm.

5th August:- Saturday
Awake at 7 am & find we are near Rouen. Still cold & at a small station look about for a wash, but none to be found Pack up & wait. Gradually draw nearer Rouen & at 8.30 am draw in to a station yard & descend. Plenty of German & Austrian prisoners working on the Railways Two kit bags & all equipment, feeling dirty & tired is not conductive to high feelings, especially as we have to now look for the British Headqus. Drag my kit to the gate the others are too much hurried to wait. Leave the bag here & catch a tram. A regular block headed lot of Tommies in this place & not one even knows where are his own Headquarters. Eventually, after much, trouble, find the 3rd Echelon, close to the Cathedral. Manage a good wash & still behind

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the others, set off & look for a place to have some breakfast. At last 9.30 am find a Pattiserie & get some tea & cakes. Rouen is a big city & the Cathedral is a great model of Architecture. Cobbled streets but very fine & rather busy. Some fine shops & the old Seine runs through the town, & is crossed by many bridges. At the English Hdqrs find the boys are still away & am directed to the Australian Branch at Rue de Lessard 25 & on the way there meet the rest of the boys coming back. All arrangements made & we are to commence work to-morrow morning (Sunday). Receive 30 francs each to carry on & the next thing is to find some diggings, as we are all billetted in the town & allowed 4/- per day to pay for it. After a great deal of trouble, Legge, Palliser & I find a room at the Hotel Normandie The old Irish Contingent still together

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Taking a walk all around the main streets until 10 pm & a cup of tea at the hotel & bed.

6th August:- Sunday
Awake at 8 am, still tired & this is a change into some luxury. A wash & hurried breakfast, à la Francais, of rolls & butter & coffee. It is even difficult to obtain an egg. The French are satisfied with this snack & never breakfast. Am afraid this won’t suit us too well However we’ll just carry on . Arrive à notre bureau à 9.10 am. Très tard mais je m’en fiche. Plenty of work as I soon find out & as I get straight to it on casualties of the 2nd Division. It’s just go at it & not time to look round. At any rate, there’s not the slightest doubt in the world that one has to earn his crust here. At 12-30 pm work is finished for the day & with Legge we waste no time but set about looking for some lodgings. Have lunch at the Salvation Army

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Soldier’s Club & set forth. Not wishing to live right in the town for one thing, as it is across the river & our office is this side (The office was formerly a barn for hay) & also wishing to find lodgings this side. We strike out in the suburb St Sever, & near the Jardin des Plantes (Garden of Plants) & have at least a great stroke of luck. The first street to which we have come, Rue Valmont de Bomare, ask of meet an old lady & asking her if she knows of any places in the neighbourhood where rooms are obtainable, prepare to move on, and a another lady, devining our intentions shows us her house & we find a beautifully clean double room, two beds & every comfort. Only her daughters with here. They seem most contented & the small place is really a palace. Just pure luck & I thank my stars for speaking French Return to Hotel de Normandie & settle up

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& transfer our kits, quite contented. 27 Rue Valmont de Bomare is our future address.

7th August:- Monday
After a good rest. A soft bed is always appreciated & usual small breakfast. 9 am work. Our lodging costs 50 francs per month for room & 40/- breakfast (for both = 45 fr each). Either the air, which is fresh & pure out of the town, or lack of sleep for so long, is the cause of my being absolutely tired out & sleepy all day & have a hard job to keep awake. However there’s enough work to keep going & no time to look about. The casualties coming forward are enormous, especially for the 2nd Division. Yesterday afternoon we had a tram ride to Bonsecours a pretty little church situated on top of the hill near Rouen from which a great view of the town & river is obtainable. The Cathedral stands out conspicuously

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in the centre. Rouen is very pretty viewed from here. A fine monument to Joan of Arc is also erected here. This town the ancient capital of Normandy is right in the heart of history The innumerable interesting spots connected with the old times are to receive my attention. Joan of Arc was born near & burned here & the great round town in which she was imprisioned is in the centre of the town. Many old houses, doubtless standing for hundreds of years & quaint old French streets, all cobbled The main streets, Rue de la Replublique & Rue Jeanne d’Arc etc & a fine thoroughfares many fine shops. Tramway system very good, but the trams are poor. Take a walk to the old Market Place, & here on the street is a tablet, marking the spot on which Joan of Arc was burned

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18th August:- Tuesday
Work as usual & plenty of it. Still unsettled & have lunch at the Soldier’s Club. (Salvation Army auspice) in Rue La Fayette After work go through the Cathedral. A truly beautiful building, but very ancient. The floor is merely cobbled & cold. The immense height of the walls add to this. Another long walk around the heights of the city climbing many streets right to the top of the hill. Some exceptionally fine residences here. Returning by several trams to town, feeling satisfied after viewing the French life at home. Pass down the street of La Gross Horloge, spanned at one part by a huge old clock, with one hand, said to be the oldest in the world

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9th August:- Wednesday
Every indication of a fine day as we leave home but towards midday turns out cloudy & cold & threat of rain. This does not deter us from pursuing our tour of the suburbs & take a tram to Boisguillaine after work. From here another fine view of the town is obtainable & in a different direction from Bonsecours. A fine monument of ernormous size is erected near here, represting the industries of France. Owing to the war the fountain display attached to it is not working Spending the evening with a long chat at home, with the object of improving my French.

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10th August:- Thursday
Awoke late (8 am) and after a hurried toilette & breakfast reached Hdqus at 9-10 am. It was rather cold & raining (the first rain I have seen since last Christmas in Egypt). Cleared up later on to a nice day. Lunch at Salvation Army as usual which cost 1fr 25c & a good lunch too. Am feeling very unwell & done up & even worse today. Determine to see the doctor & get a few days off duty. This cold & the continued rough living has pulled me down thoroughly. After tea take a long walk with Sgt Lake around the hill overlooking Rouen commanding a fine view of the town. Some very nice residences & clean streets & the air is beautifully clear. A cup of coffee awaits me at home, & after a chat (in French) to Madame & Madamoiselle, go to bed rather late

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11th August:- Friday
Awoke late & having intended going to the doctor, as I feel right played out, was too late arriving to do so. Found plenty of work awaiting, as the casualties of 19th Batt have been very heavy & I am on this work. (380 wd in 8 days) Manage to pull through the day well & have lunch & tea at Soldier’s Home as usual & a walk around town & again seeing the monument of Joan of Arc & site of her execution Talk at home after our walk around the town & go to bed late We received 15 francs each for expenses.

12th August:- Saturday
Paraded sick to doctor at 8.30 am & he wished to give me a few days off duty. However I do not wish this & having explained my case of desiring to proceed to

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the front, have a strong certificate from the doctor recommending me for field work. This I lodged (with an application for transfer to the firing line) to Capt Parker, who as much as refused, but this time I am determined to see the thing through & I’ll get to the front this time or go back home. Have had enough half & half business The usual [droll?] monotony of casualties until 12.30 pm & we have the afternoon off duty. Take a long walk out of the other side of the city to that which we have traversed lately. Many hospitals & general depot camps here from which the troops proceed to the front. No 1 Aust General Hospital. No 6 & 10 General (English) Hospitals. All in large marquee tents. Several convalescent hospitals also Indian hospital & camp.

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Took a long walk around the hill as usual at night commanding a beautiful view of the town in the valley. Had a long talk with a French soldier in the Officer’s Training School who gives me all particulars of details of French army

13th August:- Sunday
Duty as usual ([droll?] & monotonous as ever) until 12.30 pm & afternoon off. A few showers of rain & very fresh. Have lunch in a French Café. Very nice. A train ride to the high hill "Bon Secours"), view the pretty little church, the statue of Joan of Arc, the cemetery & a nice view of the whole town, bridges & river. A beautiful sight with the Cathedral greatly conspicuous. Rouen is certainly a pretty town situated in the valleys. We take a walk

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around the hill & descend, take a tram (Legge & I) to another Cafe for tea, return house & stay indoors until 10 pm. Then sleep.

14th August: Monday
Arrived on duty, tired as usual & the same droll work in anticipation During the morning the rain came down in torrents, but only in showers & again, but not no hard, in the afternoon. We had our lunch as usual at soldiers club, but if am to eat any more eggs will soon grow feathers. This place has nothing but eggs, day after day & they become more than monotonous. We go down down & pay a good price at a decent restaurant & really enjoy it, but of course, the French habits will never do us. Impossible to obtain tea & sweets After dinner get home early & keep indoors. (2 francs 50 centimes for dinner). Bed early.

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15th August:- Tuesday
Arose late as usual & hurried to work. Looked clear & bright weather until 9 am but during the morning the rain again came down in torrents & this is a change after our Egyptian life of nine months. Plenty of work to-day & we simply just went at it until 5.30 pm. Casualties in plenty for 19th Battalion. We received the full list to-day of casualties sustained at Pozières by the Australians on July 25th & 26th (two days) & until August 6th amounting to 6,600. What a record! Killed, wounded & missing. Again spoke to Capt Parker in regard to my application of transfer to the front & it seemed as though I were to get small satisfaction. However, this afternoon, the Colonel called me up & after fully half

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an hour of cross-examining, whilst I stuck to my point & eventually the Colonel agreed to send on my application & recommend it to Lieut-Col. McGlynn of 5th Division at the front. It now remains for him to sanction it & I shall have my chance. Colonel Griffiths I consider, treated me most considerately in this matter & I am really indebted to him A few weeks more & I shall probably be at the front. We, being unsettled, (Legge & I) dine at another nuisance of a restaurant & after a very poor meal (French customs as usual) we pay 2 francs, 30 centimes for it. Have got home early & now off to bed 9-30 pm.

16th August:- Wednesday
My letter is forwarded to 5th Division at the front to-day & soon, I shall be there, providing

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Lieut-Col McGlynn can accept me which I consider probable. Raining hard, in showers, all day. At last we find a nice little place for our midday meal (2 francs per day) in a small back in "Stewart’s Choice" & pay for a week in advance. But in English fashion by an English lady, not too well off, but clean & I enjoyed it. A walk round the town at 6 pm, Rue de la Republique etc & return. Am beginning to know Rouen well. The Cathedral is a beautiful structure, ancient as the kings & my visit inside is not to be the last. This is a city of beautiful churches. Several others are just as big & beautiful as the Cathedral itself. The Jardin des Plantes, near our billet is a pretty garden & my favourite resort. Some fellows in the camp here say the guns at the front can be heard at night from the hill

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of Bonsecours & to-morrow evg. Legge & I intend going there, during the stillness to verify.

17th August:- Thursday
More work to-day & it is really too - much for any person to do. Kept going all the casualty lists all days, the numbers of wounded coming in for 2nd Division is astounding Dinner at our new place & it is really nice & tasty. Who likes French cooking may have it. I’ve had enough Work until 9 pm & then take a tram ride to the hill of Bon Secours for some fresh air. The town in the valley all lighted looks well from here. Arrive home 10 pm

18th August:- Friday
Plenty of work again to-day & it’s a case of just put head down & go for it hard & strong all day long. The casualties enormous. Put through 411 for 2nd Division to-day Pay-day & we got 150 francs each

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(six of us) & after repaying 45 francs advanced first day we have 105 left aproximately £3-10-0 – good pay. The Pay-officer here (Capt McKay) is one of the best. Anticipating leaving for the front I spend two hours to-night packing away all my souvenirs gained in my travels to send to Mother. Expenses to-day light – 1 ½ francs

19th August:- Saturday
Arrived at Hdqus to find the usual amount of work. Just graft Put my head & go it hard until 12-30 pm. The amount of casualties coming in for the 2nd Division is astounding & the harder one goes the more comes along. Just before leaving W.O. Oliver informs me that we must work this afternoon (my Asst & I) & & this after Capt Parker told us all to get out & have some fresh air. Great life this. Work & nothing but it & not even a few hours to oneself. Being

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shut up in the miserable apology for an office all day & most nights is enough to damp one’s spirits. Hope I soon get to the front where one is credited for any work he does, if even less than here. Work until 5.30 pm & after dinner go to the Cinema , which is rather good. Having missed the last tram home, take a brisk walk of half an hour & arrive at 11-10 pm Cinema price, first class seats 1franc for soldiers and 11/2 f. for civilians

20th August:- Sunday
Being tired, did not wake this morning until 8 am, too late for Church & got off to work: 9am The casualties show no signs of decreasing & we put through until 12-30, nearly 300 for 2nd Division A nice hot dinner, well prepared in English style, awaits us, at our new found English lady’s place & I very much appreciate it, as the weather is rather cool & looks

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like rain. At 2.15 pm, as per our arrangements, Legge, Stewart & I take the pleasure boat from the Quay for La Bouille, some distance down the river, the famous old Seine After a most interesting trip full of incident, arrived at La Bouille at 3.15 pm. There is some of the finest scenery one could imagine We’re out for pleasure now & it is great. Forgotten work meantime. Climb a steep hill & at the top, view the river winding through a beautiful & fertile country for miles, with little villages dotted here & there & Rouen in the distance. Have afternoon tea at Hôtel de la Forest & set forth to view the ancient castle of Robert le Diable. By a lucky chance we find the caretaker & here view the most interesting old place I have seen. The Castle is almost in ruins & outside is

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a fine statue memorial to the soldiers who fell in 1870 – 71. Commands a great position, overlooking, as it does the whole countryside. It has been rebuilt but the old moat, drawbridge, cannons etc remain This place was originally taken by William the Conqueror, taken & retaken by the French several times & now but it’s walls remain After climbing the towers, viewing the well, exploring the subterranean passages, we descend to La Bouille take the 8-15 pm boat to Rouen arriving at 10 pm & off home after what I consider a great day Had dinner at La Bouille & very nice, costing 3 Francs (app 2/3).

21st August:- Monday
Plenty of work & going strong all day. The only pleasant change was a nice lunch at our usual. At 5.30 pm dinner & after a long walk to Boisguillame &

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around the town until 9 pm & then to "Les Folies Berger" a Vaudeville Show in true French style. It did not appeal to me much. Caught the lategoer’s tram at 11-15 pm to St Sever, near home.

22nd August:- Tuesday
A beautiful day & warm. We do have some lovely weather here. Going hard at it all the morning trying to reduce the piles of casualties, making no impression on them. In fact they grow bigger day by day. Our lunch as usual is A.1. & on reading the paper note with pleasure the progress made by our boys on 5th August. These Australians are some soldiers, as good as any they can bring along. Resume the toil until 5.30 pm & adjourn for dinner.
Come back at 7 pm & work on in the same old style until 10 pm & still the pile does

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not appreciably lessen. Great life this. Work all day & every day. Most nights too, in a stuffy room Fresh air is what I want & then don’t mind working till 10 pm every day.

23rd August:- Wednesday
A beautiful day & rather warm. Plenty of work. Going hard all day. Dinner as usal at "Stewarts", but going with two of the boys, Robertson & his friend to their hotel, am surprised at the fine meal supplied after work & decide to have my indecipherable evening meal here. The lady in charge is very nice, rather well off, the girls speak good English. Overlooking Station Yards & opposite the gate. Most peculiar situation here; a French & an English sentry are on guard & eye each other all day Take a walk of inspection round many old houses of 14th Century until 10 pm

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24th Aug:- Thursday.
Plenty of work. Raining slightly but otherwise nice weather Take a bath at 5.30 pm in the only place possible to obtain in Rouen & it costs 1 franc. 15 cents (11 ½), also a tip (Baines, Salle D’Armes). Return to work until 10 pm, nose down to it all the time. Straffe the work. The casualties are enormous.

25th Aug:- Friday
Just mechanical work & go it. Yesterday, I was orderly Sergeant for the first time & carried it through well enough. My new restaurant is tip-top & the dinner to-night was A.1. See many German prisoners at work. Work again until 10 pm "This is the life"

26th August:- Saturday
Not feeling too well, do very little work this morning At 12.30, am off for the day & after lunch we take a stroll

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around. One can hardly realise being right in this ancient France the scenes of all great battles & especially Rouen, one of the oldest & most famous of all towns, birthplace & death place of Joan of Arc. I look around the hills & conclude it is really a pretty town, the very old buildings, cobbled streets, street-cafes, ancient inns & courtyards & the great old romantic Cathedral, so conspicuous, of marvellously fine & beautiful architecture, built in the 14th Century. Take a tram to Bonsecours, a long walk to the farms & woods, seeing many nice residences en route typically French

A great view of the town from this hill. At 8 pm down comes the rain in torrents. Hasten home, have a long talk to Madame & her daughter, teaching them a few words in English & to bed

27th August:- Sunday
After work until 12-30 pm

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have lunch, then home for a wash & shave. Return to town & have photo taken to send home. It is just raining like one thing & very nice we find it. Rather cold, too Take a tram to Boisguillaine, but decide to return on same tram Meet two Australian nurses. These French woods are all beautifully kept, even near the towns. As I have tea in our Cafe, right opposite the Railway gates, through which I shall have to pass next week for the front, it seems at least novel, in this old French Cafe, at present but always on the move. A soldier’s life is strange

28th August:- Monday:-
The usual amount of work & to-morrow again until 10 pm. A French military aeroplane passed overhead at 5 pm going at great speed. She was a beauty. The best news for months. Roumania

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declares war on Austria. This is great & added to Italy’s declaration of war on Germany & Portugal’s troops. This step of Rumania’s is surely what we have expected & now we shall hope for some big events.

29th August:- Tuesday
The greatest day for months The news in this morning’s "Daily Mail" is a repetition of "La Presse" d’hier soir. By jove, we shall see something moving amongst those Austrians & Bulgarians soon. The enthusiasm of the French is remarkle but quietly suppressed.. One needs to talk with them, as I have done to find out their feelings & they are highly excited over Rumania’s declaration of war, but, & greatly to their credit, do not show the least sign of it. Our boys also & it’s good enough to give one good health again It is at least a great turning point

[Page 183]
Je suis très content, mais nous avons trop travailler. Je n’aime pas cette ville, et j’irai au front bientot.

30th August:- Wednesday
Raining in torrents, all day Late for work. The rain comes in on top of us for some time. No work for half hour. Our office was formerly a hay shed. Keeps half the rain out & the rest comes in. Great. Too cold to write & my hands are nearly frozen. Spend the night in, with Madame showing me antiquities Most interesting is a medal won by her grandfather, named Petit who fought with Napoleon in all his wars & with him to the last at St Helena in 1821. Inscribed on the Medal Most interesting. Some delicately cut champaigne & liquer glasses, also of Napoleon’s time are produced The work in these will never be seen nowadays, pure crystal &

[Page 184]
wonderfully cut. Some cups of Napoleon’s time & now we ascertain that the pot from which we have our tea every morning was owned by one of Napoleon’s officers Very interesting, It is even more than that, I am wholly taken up with these relics

31st August:- Thursday
Good weather after yesterday & very nice we find it. A good brisk walk to work. Going hard all day. Ascertain from Registry that it will be probably another week before a reply comes from the front to my application for transfer (owing to the pressure of work accruing from the big push) so I must sit down & wait

1st September:- Friday
The best day of all by far – Payday, as I asked for but 10/-, this is all I receive in addition

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to billeting allowance (89 francs for the fortnight) £2-16-0. A nice little surprise awaits me at the hotel where I have tea & I pay 21 francs about 15/-, for eight days (8 meals). Robbers is not the word & but for the other boys staying I should feel inclined to open my mind strongly to them on the subject. Involuntarily pay it but in future I’ll have tea at the Salvation Army club.

2nd September:- Saturday
A beautiful day & just the day to be out. The casualties are still very heavy for the 2nd Division & there’s tons of work. The news in the paper is making us all feel. Roumania’s intervention is making things fly & they’re doing great work against Austria. Over the Transyllvanan Alps & 25 miles into Hungary already Good work. A riot at Salonica is showing plainly the feeling of

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the Greeks & they’ll be in it soon or the King’s position will soon become untenable. The Germans are having a turn at attacking us, but are getting it hot. Go it Boches, you’ll get no further this way. No work after 12-30 pm & Legge & I, take take a great tram ride right out of the town for about three seven miles, right along the Seine, viewing Bonsecours en route, to St Etienne a nice walk to the river & take a boat across to a pretty little village resting on the banks of the old river Seine & the foot of some hills, St Adrien. Here we have some tea in a garden café on the river bank & inspect a very ancient little church, built in 13th Century & cut right into the rock. Most interesting. Return across the river & come back by the same route to Rouen very satisfied with having spent

[Page 187]
a most enjoyable & interesting afternoon. After tea go home. "tout droit chez moi"

3rd September:- Sunday
Rather cool & looks like rain. Don’t feel inclined for too much work & don’t over exert myself. After lunch, direct our steps to the canteen & immediately take a St Étienne tram over yesterday’s route to the river, across by ferry to St Adrian & have some tea in a pretty little street cafe in the village. A short walk along the road following the river away from Rouen & we retrace our steps straight for the town making our way along the good road via the opposite side of the river from which we came. The weather has turned very black & a heavy downpour of rain is threatening. Some three

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miles to the outlying village of Amfreville from which we catch the tram for Rouen. The rain passes over & after an hours walk along the ridge of hills on one side & the Seine on our left. Reach Amfreville at 5 pm & get a tram almost directly through several suburbs & reach Rouen at 5-45 pm. An interesting trip. Tea at Soldier’s Club Pattiserie Bleu & the afternoon’s expenses about 4 francs. Although making an attempt to write letters, M’ad’mll’s constant talk interrupts & get to bed.

4th September:-
Plenty of rain & continues all day. Also, plenty of work At 5.30 pm we have tea & then to a tailor’s where as usual, I do the interpretation in an argument. Rather impressed with the young lady of this establishment

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who is surprised at how well I speak French. The proprietor, an old gentleman, obtained from me a French version of a large bill poster for an English concert. With Palliser & Legge, set forth to S.S. "Iolanthe" in the river for a chat with the chief Engineer, a Mr McRoberts of Burwood Sydney, who is pleased to meet someone from the best old town at home. The Captain (Capt Scott) is in his cabin, gives us a rare old time & we have spent the most enjoyable evening for a long time, chatting smoking, eating & drinking & finally after receiving supplies of cigarettes & tobacco, at 9.30 pm, to our mutual regret. They are sailing to-morrow Also armed with photos & autographs Pouring rain, and one of the crew comes to the tram with us to return with the coats the Captain lent us. Arrive home wet through but pleased

[Page 190]
5th September:- Tuesday
My birthday and enjoy the advanced age of 23 to-day. The pouring rain has cleared, but very dull & signs of plenty more. Take a brisk walk to work. Drizzling rain at lunch time & having brought no greatcoats get slightly wet. Cold wind & rain all the afternoon. At 5.30 pm a rush home & hurrying round buying some things to drink etc., & as we have a little party of Legge, Pal Madame, Madamoiselle & I & it’s the prettiest little arrangement one could imagine. Madame has done the whole business thoroughly & we three (the old Irish Contigent) enjoy the most pleasant evening for a long while. After a most enjoyable dinner & talk to the tune of some grand old port wine we adjourn to our room, leaving the ladies & have a great talk

[Page 191]
over all our travels & prospects as I shall probably be leaving for front & Pal expecting to obtain his commission in England, will unfortunately break up our little party of such a long time. At 11 pm we conduct Pal to the Barrier on his way home & all feeling very satisfied with our grand party so successfully carried through thanks to the able management of our capable hostess, Madame St Armand. A birthday I shall remember, far from home.

6th Sept:- Wednesday
Don’t feel inclined for work, but have to go at it hard all the time. A beautiful day. Pay all expenses of yesterday’s party which cost me only 8 francs. See Legge to his tailor’s to do the necessary talking & spend the evening indoors writing.

7th September:- Thursday

[Page 192]
7th September:- Thursday
A beautiful day & I pay a visit to the doctor, just to let him know I’m alive & also to keep up my case of getting away. Am not feeling too well. The doctor is undoubtedly a little mad & carries on. At last word comes from the front & instead of success, am informed by Capt Parker that there is no vacancy on any of the units written to & must carry on here. Defeated now at every turn I take of trying to get to the front & here is my last hope. More than disappointing & I’ll do no work here. I wont carry on for any of them. A man is chaffed at from home & no man in the army has tried more than I to do my share in the proper place. If they don’t want me they will not get me in future & I’ll go to Australia next chance

[Page 193]
Am really knocked right up through troubling about it all & these miserable officers will not give one a chance. I’ll go to the front if I have to clear out. After work spend the evening at home, after visiting the tailor

8th September:- Friday
A fine day & warm. Still formulating schemes to get out to the front & and I if I know much, at least one will be successful & quickly. Work as usual & nothing out of the ordinary routine. At least 500 German prisoners arrive.

9th September:- Saturday
Rather warm & going hard until 12.30 pm. After lunch a pleasant tram ride to Bonsecours & spend the afternoon leisurely Have coffee in garden cafe, visit the Belgian hospital & chat with some wounded Belgian soldiers. A short

[Page 194]
rest on the grass beneath some trees & return to town. Tea at a nice little Café in Rue Grand Pont, meet Pal & after a short walk return home.

10th Sept., Sunday
Another fine day, although sign of rain this morning. Rather warm. Take a new route this afternoon after work in search of fresh fields. (At St Clement’s Church 8 am for Mass). Reach Darnetal by tram, a village near Rouen & finding no suitable grassy spots for a rest, return to town after a brief sojourn in viewing Darnetal A light tea & walk to the office & return home. The "Jardin des Plants" a nice garden near home is inviting & spend an hour here. Return to town after a brush up for a walk return late. Darnetal is a pretty little village, typically French, full of cafés, quaint church & nice green

[Page 195]
hills on either side

11th Sept:- Monday
Cloudy & warm. No rain Another move on my part towards transfer to the front. Sgt Cooper takes a letter to Capt. Wooster of 8th Fld Amb., of my strong request for a transfer of his unit. Also to speak well & do all in his power. Hope for success this time. Cooper takes ill & goes to No 1 Gen (Aust) Hosp Visit the hospital to see him & he expects to be out in a few days & to the front. Must wait a few days longer. Meet Gordon Boker, whom I have not seen for months & have a long talk until 10 pm.

12th Sept:- Tuesday
Nothing of any interest to-day. Raining slightly for a few hours in the morning & our barn shed office almost dark. Rather cheerful place to work in & plenty of toil. Feeling properly

[Page 196]
done up, right off colour. The reaction of the worry in trying to get to the front & hatred of the indoor work. Can’t last much longer. After tea, spend the evening at home

13th September:- Wednesday
Finances running low & hard job to make ends meet until Pay Day. Return bottles etc used in birthday orgie to Café des Fleurs & obtain two francs to replenish our pockets. Weighed 65 kilograms in Jardin des Plantes (= 10 stone 3 lbs) on Sunday. Cooper is to go to England from hosp. My luck as usual, transfer letter in his pocket & now must write again. Off colour too. Don’t see much chance of the front for some time

14th Sept:- Thursday
Cooper still here in hospital & does not intend to leave. Has my letter still. Write again to Capt Wooster & shall post it to-morrow Bitterly cold wind blowing all day

[Page 197]
& almost unable to write in our barn-office. Return home early 7 pm, & write letters. Turn in Finance very low, 1 franc in credit. Pay day to-morrow

15th September:- Friday
Exceptionally cold to-day & the wind is like an ice blast. Almost frozen in our little barn structure & this is the coldest I’ve met for some time. Receive three more letters to-day from Australia, these with 13 on Wednesday & one yesterday, make a total of 17 in three days. Coming along now, after the needless long delays in the past. However it’s grand to have them, the best presents obtainable nowadays. Pay-day to-day & total of 150 francs ( £ 5-7-6), 70 f. for pay & 80 for billetting allowance. Legge & I have a good tea on the strength of it at a nice little cafe & being very cold return home early after visiting indecipherable the canteen for cigarettes etc.

[Page 198]
16th September:- Saturday
Beautiful day & not too cold. Work as usual until 12.30 pm After lunch Legge & I take a tram to Boisguillaume (William’s Wood) & enjoy a nice walk for about a mile along a road of an avenue of fine trees to the wood & enjoy the fresh air. Farmers working in their fields, logs drawn for fuel on long carts & best of all, pure country air. A beautiful of the whole countryside around & in the valley from the hill & no doubt France is a great country. Returning to town & have tea at our usual week-end restaurant of cakes & tea (1 franc 50 cents). Buy a "Croix de Guerre" (War Cross, the real thing as issued to French soldiers) for a souvenir – 5 francs 50 cents Some more post-cards & return home at 8 pm to write, after going to conf. at the Cathedral.

17th September:- Sunday
A most interesting day.

[Page 199]
A heavy fog & very cold during the morning. Awoke at 6.30 am & set forth to St Sever Church at 7 am to attend communion. Bitterly cold. Return for breakfast & to work until 12.30 pm. After lunch take a trip home & again come away for our usual Sunday afternoon trip, this time to Maromme another pretty little village close to Rouen. Meet here a French sentry, guarding the railway & have a yarn with him Witness the most interesting spectacle of this sentry halting three motor-cars passing the cross-roads & den demanding their passports & photographs Also he was most particular in the execution of his duty. Unexpectedly meet a young Belgian soldier, a fine chap, speaking English well & he had been in Sydney & Melbourne with the Belgian training ship boys in January 1915. He is a native of Liège & took part in that grand defensive which saved the world. Wounded

[Page 200]
at Dixmude October 21st 1914 & again on the same date 1915. Has the "Croix de Guerre" Spent a very pleasant evening together & meeting a South African who joins our company. All part with the intention of reunion.

18th September:- Monday
A dirty day & raining all day (a truly unpleasant sort of rain). Hundreds of wounded coming down the line & all the hospitals are being cleared out to receive them. The numbers of wounded coming down & the subsequent reports of the newspaper, carry out the rumour we had last week of the contemplated new offensive at Flers Ginchy, Thiepval & our success is now well known, having taken the 3rd German line of trenches. Our fellows come down here still wet after yesterday’s rain & bringing trophies of German Helmets etc. About 1000 of the 4000 German prisoners taken were marched in here to-day. Big

[Page 201]
fellows mostly & surly looking. The rain continuing, we meet our Belgian friend, & arrange a meeting for next Thursday & return home. The rules in this place for Belgian soldiers are very strict, as they must be in by 8 30 pm.

19th September:- Tuesday
Hundreds of Reinforcements, probably 1500 men, from England from Gare du Nord, sent straight to the front in one batch. A great sight seeing them pass along & gives one an idea of what John Bull is really doing, as these are only a few from one station alone. Notice to-day stating that 12 NCO’s or men to be selected from each Division & 6 from Hdqu’s for training as officers in England & applications are called & of course I decide to apply. Another string in my bow. May get to the front yet. Another Hospital train came in this morning & another this afternoon Many of the wounded have trophies

[Page 202]
of German helmets etc. A most miserable day, Raining in torrents & cold. Unable to work all the money morning in our "pleasant" barn, being almost frozen & shivering all day. Great life this.

20th September:- Wednesday
Another cold day, furious biting winds blowing & simply sit down & shiver all the morning. We do have some great times here, without a doubt. The rain enters our sanctum, but clears off altogether after lunch. One thing a fellow can appreciate here is our lunch which, in true English style, Mrs David prepares for us each day. Another notice calling for applications for training for commissions in the Royal Flying Corps. Great news from Serbian front, where the Servians are truly giving the Bulgarians hot & at last regained. Our boys are doing well, all German attacks repulsed

[Page 203]
& more prisoners taken. Saw a batch of about 50 German prisoners arrive to-day. Our 4th Division are getting some hot fighting, heavy casualties coming in, especially the 49th Battalion which caught about 350 wounded in one day. Spend the evening at home, writing as have a bad cold, which is shaking me up & get to bed early.

21st September:- Thursday
Cold a little better to-day after a good hot rum & lemon last night. Rather a nice day the rain having cleared off & just mild, a pleasant change, indeed Very few casualties coming in from all the Divisions. The Australians are now holding the trenches at Ypres & not charging. Good news from the Servian front. The Serbs are doing great work against the Bulgars. Meet our friend, the Belgian to-night & he, after a few hours at home with

[Page 204]
us, returns home. Accompany him into town & return to bed. The Belge is a fine little fellow, though only 19 years of age, anxious to return to the front, though he is badly wounded loss use of left arm, & has little chance. Pack up my parcel to send home. Expenses to-day very light. 1 franc for cakes.

22nd September:- Friday
A heavy fog this morning but, afterwards a beautiful day Very little news from the front, except some German attacks, which were repulsed. 1000 German prisoners arrived to-day. After buying some souvenirs (a few songs & books) finish my parcels for post to-morrow & to bed late. Expenses 8 francs. Very heavy

23rd September:- Saturday
A beautiful day, fine & mild. My parcels completed & have them censored, afterwards at 2 pm, taken to the post-office &

[Page 205]
despatched. First surprise awaits when, on entering Capt. Mackay’s office, who has a letter from the O.C. 8th Field Ambulance, in answer to mine to Capt. Wooster re the transfer he asks me how my letter was sent to the front. As I did not have it censored in the office, knowing well that it would have been stopped can see trouble ahead. At 12 noon, Capt. Parker comes into the office, with a letter I recognise as mine, and asks "Are you Sgt. Hurley"?, which is quite unnecessary. A reply in the affirmative & a further question as to how I sent it, to which he gets small satisfaction. Told him it went through in the ordinary way & received the consoling reply that I should probably be crimed & shall write a report on how I sent the letter. For what am I to be crimed? The papers of the present day are doing nought but cry out against the

[Page 206]
numbers of young men in offices, who will not go to the front & here, my case – threatened with punishment for trying to do so & determinedly. Australia & whoever will may go to worse places, before I enlist as a volunteer to serve my country again after this & the various rebuffs I have had in trying to get to the front. Meer dirty opposition & dislike is influencing this fellow Parker in his actions towards me. Cold footed as he is & no desire to go to the front & he stops others. Legge & I hold a council of war, with Palliser & are going to see the thing out, will fight this against his ignorant worship Parker, as I know the letter he has in hand is granting my application for transfer & asking for me to be sent without delay. Await to-morrow

Being a fine afternoon, take the trip to Bonsecours & meet our friend the Belgian, & after some

[Page 207]
afternoon tea & a stroll round looking into the Belgian hospital return to town. Accompany Belge to Sotteville station on some work & have tea at Mrs Davis’ as usual. Spend half an hour with a friend in Rue Lessard & straight home, soon to bed Paid to day:- 7 francs 50 cents to send parcels, 1 f 50 for aft. tea & 3 fr. for sundries. (12 fr.).

24th September:- Sunday
Heavy fog. Up early to Bonsecours St Sever Church at 8 am. Fog lifts & a beautiful mildly warm day. Not much work, as few casualties are coming in. More success on the British front at Flery. Serbs still pressing on & Monastir will soon fall. Further developments in regard to my transfer. Capt. Mackay, who is a gentleman, talks to me for a full half hour on the subject, & tells me to wait until he talks to Staff Capt Parker. At 11-45 am

[Page 208]
he returns, advising me how to word my report (which I do) & promises to fix it up for me, also doing all in his power to have the transfer arranged satisfactorily, which I expect may soon eventuate & shall be very pleased to leave for the front out of this place. Winter & cold will not deter me now My thanks shall all be due to Capt Mackay in this matter, who has treated me right well (& I may mention others have the same opinion of him) The whole trouble has been caused by Parker’s jealousy of not putting the transfer through him.

Though a nice day spend the afternoon at home arranging our effects (Legge & I), returning to town for tea & afterwards writing letters until bed time

25th September:- Monday
Raining this morning but soon cleared up to a beautiful day &

[Page 209]
surprisingly warm. No more heard about the letter & transfer. News (great) of the two Zeppelins brought down in England. More progress on our front. Received two papers, one from Milly Harrison (Sunday Times 25/6/16) & Catholic Press from Jack McIntosh. Serbs have occupied Kajmaclan. Wrote some long letters & bed late.

Lemons 4c
Envelopes 1f
Post cards 4c
Tooth paste 1f 4c
Expenses 3f 2c

Tram fares 2c

26th Sept; Tuesday.
Raining again this morning & afterwards a beautiful day & very warm. Our boys doing great work & cut off Combles. No more re the transfer. After tea return home & study French until 10-30 pm. Expenses 5c (3c for papers 2c for Tram fares)

27th Sept; Wednesday
A fine day, & pleasantly cool. Great news from the front. Combles taken & great advance by French & British. 5000 prisoners in two days. Thiepval taken at last. Many wounded coming in in every contrivance. Hundreds of German prisoners come in to-day. Expenses 1c tram fare. News of staff arriving from

[Page 210]
[The next paragraph is written in a different hand]
15th July Brek 7 45 Sort of a greasy potato puff puff – slop tea & bread. Overhauled & passed two tramp steams bound west about 10 0. Sardinia in sight at 8-9 this morn. Parade 10.0.
Exs Jam 181/ chocolate 1/-

[The next sentences are in Hurley’s handwriting]
Alexandria & we may go. Home early & learn French. Then to bed.

[Page 211]
[The remaining pages are written in the same hand as the first paragraph on page 210]
Lot of rumors but nobody seems to know what they were, neutral or otherwise – usual garbeled yarn about submarines etc. – one story is a submarin tried crossed our bows & we put on speed to try & run her down – reports all conflicting. Sgt Scotts says they were abreast 3 boats in sight one another (Part ellaria) port side aft some miles off one on the starbd bow which without lights also one on the port bow – all this occurred between 10 & 11 oc Piggotts yarn is that a ship on our port side signalled us & we went over to her – she was had 3 small picket boats which flashed signals to each other every few minutes. Another ya Lindsays yarn that a boat with [indecipherable] us passed us on the starbd side.
A small craft the Tapton passed on our starb side about 8 30.
Medical inspection at 10 30. When off Pantalleria caugh up to & passed an oil tank yellow funn 3 masts. Also passed a large tramp bound East. Pant is an Italian convict settl – rows & rows of white cottages on the mountain side In the late afternoon C Bon on the Tunis coast is on our port beam. One of the stewards told Benny that we are almost 42 hours steam from Marseilles at 5 oc tonight.

Tea 5.30 – rice & few raisins B & Jam slop tea Passed a big transport going east at 6 oc & another big two funneller like P & O – bound east at 7 oc. Even yarn to [Rennis?] about - Melbourne & civilian prospect generally. Great discussion cabin tonight about swearing etc – come to a decision. Turn in 11.0

[Page 212]
12
No 6 30 parade. Turned out about 6 40 washing accomodat rotten long lines of men waiting to get at two basins – water running sluggishly a steamer passed us about 7 oc going east another steam passed us about 9 30 on the horizon our port side looked like a P & O.

Nix doing today parade 10 30 – packed kit bags – no aft parade – A big 2 funneler passed on starbor side - about 6.0.

Even yarn to Bird – he knows Pavitt & Ruth of Bomea – told me about the Singapore Rivs & the 5 Indian L Inf – Shropshire Regt
Brek B & marg – jam - sloptea
Boil [indecipherable] spuds rice &
Boil rice & few raisins [indecipherable]
Turn in 11.0

Indecipherable Net exs = 1/-

13th
Only troubled the ship for cup of tea for brek.
Bisc & herrings. Sea a bit rougher.
Danger zone for next 24 hours – said to be near Malta but not calling parade 10 30.

Dinner Meat & spuds
Aft no parade – yarn etc did some French – read sleep. Fitz has lost nearly £5 of money in 3 days. (2 Fruit milk Dks)
New Tea system - salmon vinegar & duff pudding 4/-
Even yarn Fitz & Lygo – Supper Pears & milk 3/-
Turn in 9.30

14
About 10 30 great scare – we stopped went astern booster round then ahead again about ½ hours shuffling. Garbled explanation apparently nearly a collision – two vessels got mixed up between or near our escort & ourselves. Owing to us showing no lights then were coming directly on to us until evidently they spotted our escort or were signalled to by it. The larger vessel passed us on the starboard side at a distance of 50 yards – the other & smaller vessel appears to have cleared off as soon as it spotted us

[Page 213]
4 Berth cabin bunk No 1 Cabin 101.
Lindsay Fitz. Bird & Self. – Cabin 102 Hurley Lake Rowe & a
NZ Sap
103 = 4 Tommies 104 = SS/Blair G. Ken Langford & Spencer. -
Yarn up on deck to various of the boys. Turn in 11.30

11.
Brek at 7 oc – bergoo tea & bread & marg stuff not fit for pigs.
Dinner boiled mutton & jacket spuds no bread – dirty barley wash soup
Tea – Tea (slop) & b & marg
Bought some fruit hands & I shared it. Parade 10 30. 2 30 5 30 -
lifeboat inst – all ordered wear belts on all occasions – my boat = 12 – seat 20 (orig small 12 boat 24 place) – great exertion standing about for hours on parade. Hot weath as we are apparently hugging the African Coast. Our patrol escort is going like a cattle dog in front of a waggonette all day – zig zagg crossing & recross our bows – we are also doing a zig zag course. NZ
Cq cl Co provide the submar guard.
We are are very mixed ship 11 Div to 29th Dihart’s & all sorts. Even yarn to Pat Hurley later had beans feast Lemonade/ tin pineapple & biscuits
Fitz Pat Bird & Self – talk & arguments – Turn in about 11 00
Fitz cards all day lost 10/-.

[Page 214]
11 Div Details

32 Bgde
6 Yorkshire Reg
6 E Yorks - Pioneers Btn attached to 32 Div
9 W York
- York & Lancs
- W Riding. D of Well

33 Bgde
6 Lincolns
Border
St Staffs
Notts & Derby (Sherwoods)

34
Dorsets - Herts -Yeo
Lanc Fus
North Fus - RTFA
Manchester - Cumberland

Div Troops
67 R E - RAMC - MGCo
68 - ASC
86 RE - AVC

Kings Liverpool (Garrison) - Essex
Cheshires (Garrison)

11th July 1916 Spent 6/- Canteen

PJH a/c
10/3 + 1/- = 11/3

J F 20/- - 2/- = 18/-

2/4 Fruit
8 Biscuits
3/0 Lemonade
6/0

Debits
2/- J Fitz
1/- PJH

PJH owes G 7. 1[indecipherable] = 2 1/2

12 July I owe Fitz 7d = ½ share in [indecipherable]
Fitz owes me 5 d = 1/3 share in [indecipherable]
Pat owes me 5 d = ½ share in [indecipherable]
Credit Fitz 2 = pay 18/2 to Fitz
Debit Pat 5 Collect 11/8 ex Pat

[Page 215]
10/7/16

Northland 257
0261
Tunisian 2016 Glasgow
Borda A30
Burriana G5 Glasgow
Standion Hall
Laristan (Collier)
Meroe (Cargo Rations)

? name Z 69
Gloucester Castle (Hosp)
Hannibal

11 Div Details
7 Staffords
Manchester
6 Borders
6 Lincolns
Notts & Derby
Dorsets

32. 33 34 38 Bgdes

W Yorks
E Yorks
Yorks & Lancs
York.
Northumberlands F
Lancs Fus

RWF (2nd). Devons
RB Cairo

Parade 6 30
[indecipherable]
Morn – Mess Meet decid pay £1 head out of profits

Aft – went out book photo 10 pc went to PO spent 20 on stamps – pack kit

even walk to Madam [again?] took French book & photo down to her but she was out – saw [indecipherable] in M. Phobiadis – took charge of C Ec B Kits at 9 00 – exs 10pc for Arbic – book Ghar 5 pc (Ghan fares during day = 15 ps) 45 pc

Left Cairo stat at 11 30 sharp – Hell of a job with Kit bags Alex wharf 6.45 – hang out and got on Board 10 50. Left port 6 30 Have 2 mine patrol boats as escort one of them left us about 8 30. Have a

[Page 216]
[Page blank]

[Page 217]
No 2285
Pte George A. Moxham
4th Reinf. 19th Battalion
5th Infantry Brigade
A.I.F.
Egypt.

[Transcribed by Ros Bean for the State Library of New South Wales]

Transcriber’s notes:
P.12 "Mother Cary’s Chickens" is a mariner’s term from the 18th century for the sea bird known as the Storm-petrel. There are at least 20 species of Storm-petrels and they are found in all the world’s oceans.
P.23 Cape Guardafui is the current spelling of the name of the promontory at the north eastern tip of Somalia
P.24 The reference to Macha is probably Makkah or Mecca, which is located 70 km inland.
P.27 Suez has three harbours, one of which is called Port Tawfik
P.28 Zeitoun was the training camp near Cairo where most of the New Zealand forces went.
P.33 The Gezirah Palace built in 1869 for the opening of the Suez Canal was used as the No.2 Australian General Hospital during WW1. It is located on Gezira Island in the Nile just west of downtown Cairo. It is currently part of the Cairo Marriott Complex.
P.36 The name of the British hospital is currently spelt Kasr El Ainy or alternatively Kasr El Aini.
P.45 The name of the gardens is currently spelt Ezbekiya.
P.91 Servia is the name of a town in Greece. Alternatively and more probably it is the use here of a historical English word taken from Greek for Serbia.
P.115 Pantarellia is probably the island called Pantelleria, located between Tunisia and Sicily
P.140 The mansion described on this page is Killarney House which was built in 1872 and twice destroyed by fire, once in 1879 and again in August 1913. It was the seat of the Earls of Kenmare.
P.141 Library Island is probably a reference to Library Point which is located on Ross Island and was named after its rock formations.
P.142 Coltsmann’s Castle and Glenflesk Castle are local names for Flesk Castle built in the early decades of the 19th century.
P.160 and following. In the battle for Poizières from 25 July 1916 to 7 August 1916 the I Anzac Corps lost 23,000 officers and men – the 1st Division 7,700, the 2nd 8,100 and the 4th 7,100. Added to the 5,300 lost by the 5th Division at Fromelles the Australian force in France suffered more than 28,000 casualties in less than 7 weeks. This created an immediate and insistent problem of replenishment for the Australian army. After Poizières fighting continued in the battle for Mouquet Farm. Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18 C.E.W.Bean Vol .3 pp 862 - 863
P.163 I think Hurley has spelt this town Boisguillaine, but the name is actually Bois-Guillaume
P.199 The proposed German invasion of France in August 1914 was delayed for 12 days by Belgian resistance at Liège which was defended by 30,000 troops. The Belgian resistance has been credited with contributing to the eventual failure of the German invasion of France. .
P.200 At Dixmude (Diksmuide) the Belgians were able to stop the German advance to the French ports of Calais and Dunkirk in October 1914 by opening the flood gates on the Yser river and flooding the area. During the fighting the town was reduced to rubble.
Flers was captured in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette on 15 September 1916 by the New Zealand and 41st Divisions. Tanks were used in the field of battle for the first time.
The Battle of Ginchy took place on 9 September 1916, part of the Battle of the Somme.
The Battle of Thiepval Ridge took place on 26-28 September 1916, part of the Battle of the Somme.
P.209 The Battle of Kaymakchalan between the Serbs and Bulgarians was fought between 12 and 30 September 1916. Also spelt Kajmakcalan, Kaimakchalan, Kaimaki, Kaimaktsalan or in Greek called Voras. Wikipedia