Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Alan Fraser Fry diary and papers, 1914-1916
MLMSS 1159 ADD-ON 2076 / Box 7 / Folder 1 / Item 5

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Saturday, 8th August 1914. The “TAMBO" left the Federal Wharf about 2.30 p.m. on this date. We anchored down in the Bay for a while, as we did not have all the papers aboard, and finally cleared Sydney Heads at 4.30. It was smooth outside, with a fair wind astern, and this continued all the way up the New South Wales Coast. We sighted Cape Moreton on Monday evening. As we passed the Richmond River, Mt. Warning was very clear, and I was wishing I could have dropped in and had a word with Edgar.

The weather continued fine all the way up the Queensland Coast, and we passed through Whitsunday Passage about Mid-day on Thursday. It is very pretty steaming through here, the ship passing quite close to a number of the Islands, of which there are hundreds. Every other time I had been through the Passage had been at night-time, consequently I had not had a chance to see really how narrow and pretty it was.

We continued steaming Northward till abreast of Townsville, where we cut East a little way, and anchored just inside the Barrier Reef on Thursday night. It was blowing very hard, and we wondered if the anchors would hold, or if we would have to clear cut and steam about till the morning. We only passed three steamers all the way up the Australian Coast, which was rather singular, as a rule the shipping being rather thick comparatively.

We have about 14 passengers on board – no ladies – and we manage to knock out a little bit of fun, though owing to the limited

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deck space, we cannot do all we would like to. I have a little work to keep my mind occupied, so the day does not drag for me.

We have plenty of cockroaches on board here – caught three before turning into my bunk on Thursday night. The grub is not too bad just now, though this is too early in the trip to pass any comments, as what one says at first, and at the end of the voyage are two very different things.

Sunday. 16th August. Cleared the Reef on Friday morning, and ran into rough weather immediately. I immediately lost all interest in the trip till Sunday night, during those three days devouring 2 biscuits, ½ Glass of water and 1 cup of Soup. I began to feel very weak, and thin, but by that time I was getting used to it, and from then on I have not felt the least queer at any time.

The “TAMBO" certainly could roll and pitch, and as we were only drawing about 2 feet freeboard the decks were under water practically the whole way from the Reef to the Solomon Islands. The poor sheep had a bad time, and we lost about 14 out of 56.

Wednesday. 19th August. Woke up this morning by the shout of “Land Oh?" We have been crawling along at about 6 ½ knots since Sunday. The weather has been much the same all along since leaving the Barrier, sunny and warm, with a heavy beam sea. I have quite got over the seasickness, and can keep a good dinner down now – though it is still pretty hard work, owing to the presence of dead rats in the Saloon. The Steward discovered three on Monday, and I daresay there are some more stowed away in some of the corners. The smell is something awful, and I think it was that as much as

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rolling of the ship, that kept me off my food. I could not bear to go down into the Saloon at all. I slept on deck, and only used my cabin to dress in. Most of the others on board did not feel the smell so much – the Officers being used to it, and the passengers, mostly tough old planters from the Islands, it had no effect on.

The land sighted is Guadalcanar, the most Easterly Island of any size in the Solomons. We should arrive at Tulagi our first Port of call tonight about 7 p.m. Gee ??? it will be nice to see and be on shore again, after 12 days going without a break. After leaving the Barrier on Friday 14th. we have not seen either land or ship till today. All on board are just wondering if we shall find the Germans in possession of the Islands. Really it is just as probable as not. However we shall know very shortly now. The general opinion on board is that the “INDUNA" another of the Company’s boats up in the Marshall Islands (German) is captured, though of course no one knows for certain – that is what we are going up to find out. I know one thing, and that is, if we see any German men-of-war, the “TAMBO" can hardly show them a clean pair of heels (7 knots in decent weather).

We have the Catholic Bishop of Melanesia on board. He is a funny old boy, and sleeps all day and night in a deck chair. I was very surprised to meet an old Fort Street boy on board. – Gilbert Murray. He is Overseer on a plantation up in the Solomons, where he has been for about 2 years, and says he thinks he will be started on his own inside 3 more years. His brother is doing Medicine up at the Sydney University.

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Saturday. 22nd August. Anchored off Tulagi about 7 p.m. on Wednesday, and the Doctor came off and passed us. The whole white population then came aboard, and we had to tell them all the news of the war. They had heard there was a war but had not received any official confirmation, or heard any details. Things began to get quite lively aboard the old “TAMBO", and I was introduced to all the celebreties here, such as the Manager for B.P’s here, the Doctor, Postmaster, etc. We did not turn in till about midnight that night, and had to be up at 6 in the morning, as we were moving ship to Makambo – an Island owned by Burns Philp, and on which is their Store, situated about ½ mile from Tulagi. This is a very pretty little island, though none that I have seen here can compare with Samarai, and other parts of New Guinea.

We were going on to Gizo and Faisi in the Western Division, but owing to the risk of capture – these places being near German Territory, we have decided to land all cargo at Makambo. I am disappointed at this, because the Western islands are supposed to be very pretty indeed – beautiful snow white beaches with plenty of cocoanuts right down to within a few yards of the water. However perhaps I shall see the other part in the “MINDINI" sometime.

Thursday was a very busy day, discharging the cargo, and I got pretty burnt, out in the sun all day tallying cargo. There is no Wharf here, all the cargo being lightered into boats and towed ashore by the ship’s launch, where the niggers unload them, and carry the goods to B.P’s Store. It is pretty slow work, and one

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has to drive the natives continually or they would never get it done.

As is usual when a steamer arrives in Port, all the crowd from the shore came aboard on Thursday night, and we had some music from an old banjo which we had on board, and it was very funny to see two big, brawny, sunburnt, planters suddenly grab one another round the waist, and have a waltz or tango round the deck. They do not get much fun up here, and when the steamers come in there are practically no restrictions put on them at all. Most of the time they were drinking England’s health, and to the downfall of Germany in the war. Got to bed at last about 12 o’clock, and turned out at 4.30 in the morning to commence work. Had a turn at everything today. Tallying cargo on the Wharf, acting Wharf-Labourer down the Hold making up slings, and driving the niggers, and as the 1st Mate was unwell, had to run No. 1 Hold all the afternoon. Got very burnt again today, and just round the neck where my singlet rubs it is getting a bit sore. Things were a bit quieter on Friday night, and I managed to roll in about 11, though still there was such a row that sleep was out of the question till some time later. Started graft again at 6 in the morning, and went like mad all day to get the cargo out, so that we could sail that day, as otherwise it meant wasting Sunday in Port, and we were in a hurry to get on and find out about the “INDUNA", and give them the news up in the Gilberts.

All the passengers left the ship today, and Murray made me

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quite envious, telling me all about his little Schooner, and trading station away amongst the niggers. Shouldn’t be at all surprised if I lobbed up there myself one of these times.

Worked right up to 10 p.m. on Saturday night, and got under way about 10.30. I am surprised that it has not been hotter up here, as it is further North than Papua, and I have not found it nearly as hot as when I was up there, about this time last year. The nights are lovely just now, and I always sleep out on the deck, with just a sheet to keep the cockroaches etc. off me.

Monday. 24th August. Rolled out just in time for breakfast, yesterday, feeling a bit tired after the strenuous work at Makambo. Sighted Malaita about 8 a.m. on Sunday. This is the Island where the natives are cannibals still and very wild, and the Government will not allow any vessel to call there unless it has at least three white men on board. Have had a beam sea all day, and the “TAMBO" is rolling a good deal now, as she is much lighter since leaving the Solomons. Things are very quiet aboard now the passengers have all departed. It seems much more than, 16 days since I left Sydney, but there is not much to do on board, and the time seems to pass very slowly.

Have not sighted any German vessels yet, though we have, ever since leaving Sydney, been steaming with all lights out at night. We half expected to see the Germans at Tulagi when we got here, and were quite relieved to see the Union Jack flying from the Commissioner’s flag-staff. Still if the War is still on, we have

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plenty of time to get captured yet.

I slept in the Smoke-Room on Sunday night, and caught two rats. I was half asleep, and felt something running over my chest. I made a grab at it and found it to be a large rat – which I promptly chucked overboard. I was half off to sleep again, when I felt something nestling down beside my hand. I immediately punched it, and as it gave a squeak, I concluded it was a rat too, so got hold of him and threw him out the Port. I reckon its pretty hot when they come and lie down beside you.

We ought to reach Ocean Island about Wednesday night sometime, and I suppose we shall only stay there a few hours, just to land some cargo, and then push on to the Gilbert Islands.

There seems something very mysterious about this trip. The Captain is very close as to where we are going, and to what way we are coming home. I have heard rumours that we shall call at Fiji and the New Hebrides on the way back, but I daresay will find out all in good time. The “TAMBO" is not altogether what one would call the latest thing in ship-building. There is very little deck space, and they have put sheep on the little there is, so it is hard to find anywhere to pass the day, except in the cabins, but they are very hot, and as I mentioned before, the rats pretty well have command of these and the Saloon.

August 26th. Wednesday. About the only thing to notice, is the similarity of the days. All day yesterday and today, the sea has been like glass with no swell at all. You can quite understand

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how it was the Pacific Ocean got its name, if the early navigators first saw it as we have had the last two days. You would hardly believe that right out here in mid-ocean it could be so smooth. There is not a breath of wind, which makes it rather warm, and singlets and trousers are the order of the day. We are very nearly on the Equator now, and should reach Ocean Island some time tonight. It will be quite nice to get on land again, not having seen any since leaving the Solomons last Saturday.

We have had a lovely moon the last few nights, and it is lovely to get on deck at night. The Captain, Berry – the other Supercargo, and myself generally get together after tea, and yarn till about 9 o’clock and then turn in.

I cannot grumble at being overworked here. It is not nearly as busy as on the “MATUNGA", though of course there are two to do it here as against one on the other ship.

The Saloon does not smell quite so much now, I daresay the Steward has found all the other rats, and I am able to take my nourishment in full. Set a trap last night, and looked at it four different times, and each time it had a rat in it. I reckon a couple of cats would put in a good time here.

Thursday 27th August. Was up at 5 this morning, thinking we must be very near Ocean Island, but did not arrive till about 2 p.m. Only stopped a couple of hours to put ashore a few tons of cargo and the mails, and then away again.

It is a beautiful spot here, with plenty of cocoanut palms etc. They have a cricket oval, and if we had arrived there on a

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Saturday afternoon, I daresay we would have arranged a match the “MORESBY" against the Island, as they play every Saturday.

Went ashore with Berry in the Doctor’s boat, towed by 6 big natives. The ship anchored about ½ mile from the shore, and we got toosed a bit landing in the surf. The Island is composed almost wholly of Phosphates, and the Pacific Phosphate Company have extensive works here, and the place is interspersed with little railways. We got a trolley and were pushed by natives about ½ mile to the Post office and Resident Commissioner’s Office. It was a very pretty little trip, the undergrowth in some places coming right up to the rails. They had not had any news of the war here, above knowing that there were rumours of war, and as at Tulagi, we were besieged on every side by the white population eager for news.

The natives here are fine big men, some of the biggest I have ever seen. A number of them are prisoners from Fiji, and they work in the phosphate works and on the railways.

The name Ocean Island seems to suit this place very well. We left the Solomon Islands on Saturday, and after going for 5 days without seeing any land at all or even a ship, this little Island looms up on the horizon as if from nowhere.

We have not had it very hot so far, although we are almost on the Equator here. Tonight I will have passed into the Northern Hemisphere for the first time. Two things that strike

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up here are the beautiful sun rises and sut sets. I couldn’t describe them if I tried. One often reads in books about the wonderful affects of a tropical sun-set, but that doesn’t half convey to you what it is really like – you have to see them for yourself.

We have a run of something over 300 miles now to the Gilbert Islands, where we should arrive on Saturday next.

Sunday. 30thYAugust. Left Ocean Island about 6 p.m. on Thursday last, and arrived at Butaritari (Gilbert Is.) at 7 on Saturday morning. We had been steaming for about 2 hours along the shore of some low lying Islands before we entered a break in the Reef which led into the lagoon. The peculiar part of these Islands are that they are so very low lying. None of them being above 10 feet at the most, and no mountains whatever.

We anchored some 1 ½ miles from the shore. As usual the cargo is discharged into Surf boats, and towed ashore by the ship’s launch. It is a very bad harbour here, and even the launch could not get within about 50 yards of the shore. The natives wade out and carry the good s ashore on their shoulders. I went ashore here and as soon as the launch stopped, the niggers jumped out, and stood by the side of the launch. I was beginning to wonder how I was going to get ashore dry,, when one of the niggers motioned me to get on his back. You get on to the niggers shoulders, and wind your legs round his body so as to get a good grip, at the same time gripping his woolly hair with your hands. It felt a bit shaky at first, but after doing it 4 or 5 times, one felt perfectly

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safe. Ten stone is a fair weight to carry 50 or 60 yards on your shoulders without a break, especially over a very rough coral bottom, but when I saw Berry get aboard one of the niggers, I fairly gasped. He weighs about 14 stone, but the native did not seem to find him any heavier than I was.

This little place is much the same as all the Island villiages. The white houses of the Europeans, surrounded with cocoanut palms, and the squat grass house of the natives, while all the paths are snow white – being made of coral or shells, and are scrupuously clean, no leaves or branches lying about, this being part of the natives’ duties in return for being fed.

I got a pleasant surprise here when I found that the Manager of Burns Philp & Co. was a Mr. Gauld, whom I knew in the Sydney Office. He has been here about 5 months, and lives with his wife in a very pretty little bungalow overlooking the beach.

We left Butaritari about 5.30 on Saturday afternoon, and cleared the reef some ½ hour later.

The sea has been fairly calm until today, then, without any warning the wind sprang up to a gale, and it rained in torrents. I dont ever remember seeing such heavy rain. You could not see the ship’s length ahead, and in a very few minutes the sea was a mass of foam. It lasted about 2 hours, and when the wind died down, as quickly as it had risen, though it is still raining and a good sea running. This is a miserable ship when it is raining. There is not a dry spot on the deck anywhere, and we have to stay down in our cabins till it is over, which may be not till a couple of days.

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Thursday, 3rd September. After the storm on Sunday last, we steamed in a general northerly direction with nothing to note, till Tuesday morning. About 5 a.m. we hove to just off the Reef at Moloelab, one of the Marshall Islands. (German) Berry and myself went ashore in the dingy, and had quite a lively time landing in the surf. A big wave would lift the boat high in the air, and below you could see the reef, with only about 1 foot of water covering it. You expect any moment to be thrown down on to this sharp and jagged coral, and the boat smashed to pieces, but instead you just shoot along on top of the wave, and land in shallow water high up on the Reef. The coral on most of these Reefs is very sharp and pointed, and you can get a very nasty cut from it – besides which the cut takes a very long time to heal, the coral having a certain amount of poison in it. The natives walk about on the reefs barefoot, and very seldom get a scratch at all – that will give you some idea of how tough their feet are.

After landing we had to walk about 1 ½ miles to a trader’s (Tom Ashley) place, our object being to see if he had heard anything about the “INDUNA", as she calls there on her voyage round the Marshalls. A nigger led the way through the bush, which is very dense here – in fact you could easily get lost as there are no high places where you could climb up to see anything.

Ashley was very surprised to see us, and more so when we told him that there was a War on – he had not heard anything about it at all. We stopped at his place for ki-ki, and as he had

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no tidings of the “INDUNA" we returned to the ship and left Moloelab about 5 that afternoon.

We steamed S.W. from there and came up to Jaluit – the main island in the Marshall Islands – about 9 p.m. on Wednesday.

We did not enter the Harbour as this is German Territory, but hove to about 1 ½ miles down the coast. Berry and the two niggers we had on board went ashore to find out about the “INDUNA", and had a very exciting time. After they had got the information they wanted and were putting off to the ship again, they were capsized in the Surf, and the dingy filled up. They dragged her ashore and emptied her and tried again, with the same result – they were thrown out on to the Reef again, and had to beach the boat and empty her. They were impeded a good deal by the darkness too, but managed to get safely out the next time.

The “INDUNA" was in Jaluit Harbour, and had been for two weeks, the Germans having captured and kept her there. Berry had to be very careful not to be seen, as it was very probable they would have detained him too had they caught him, and also would have known that another steamer was about somewhere. There were 3 other steamers held up in Jaluit, and a German cruiser was lying in the Harbour. Before leaving the ship, Berry had given me full instructions as to how to act should he be captured, and I think the only thing that saved us was, that we were then, as we had been ever since leaving Sydney, sailing with all lights out. Had there been any lights showing at all, we must have been seen by

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someone on the shore. It was a close shave and we were not sorry when Berry came aboard again and we steamed away about 2 a.m. on Thursday morning for Butaritari.

We are now making our way back to the Gilberts, and should arrive in Butaritari about noon tomorrow (Friday). There is not much work to do on board just now, and I have pretty well finished all the reading matter in the ship, so I suppose the only thing to do is to sleep all the time, but even that gets monotonous.

Sunday. 6th September. Arrived at ‘Tari at noon on Friday, and were surprised to see the “MORESBY" at anchor in the Harbour. She had heard of the War, also that the “TAMBO" was cruising about, and had come up to Butaritari for instructions, with the result that she was sent direct to Sydney, while the “TAMBO" was to do a bit of trading round the Group before she came on to Sydney. The Supercargo from the “MORESBY" changed over to the “TAMBO", and I had the luck to get his place, so now I expect I shall get to Sydney a full month earlier than I had hoped to.

We tied up alongside the “MORESBY" when we entered Butaritari. It was quite nice to see another ship – we had only seen about 4 since leaving Sydney. As soon as we were safely moored the “MORESBY" crowd swarmed aboard to hear the latest about the War. They had heard there was a war, but that was all.

We left Butaritari about 5 p.m. yesterday afternoon (Saturday) I said good-bye to Berry. I was sorry to leave the “TAMBO" in one way, we had got on very well together there, but I was not going to

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lose the chance of coming to Sydney. I daresay we shall arrive about the 20th September – all going well.

The “MORESBY" is a good deal bigger than the “TAMBO" (1300 tons as against 450 tons), but she is very light, and can jump about in a wonderful manner. I know nearly all the Officers and Engineers aboard, so should have a pretty good trip down. Captain MacLeod is Master, and a nicer man you couldn’t meet, worse luck we are losing him at Tarawa (where we should arrive today) and take on Captain Handley – he having been a long time up here, and is due for a trip to Sydney.

Wednesday. 9th September We arrived at Tarawa about 12 noon on Sunday, 6th September. There was nothing doing that afternoon, so I went ashore and had a roam round. It is very much the same as the other places we have seen – white paths with palms on either side and meeting overhead, making it nice and cool. Some of the Native Police here are very big men, and the prisoners scamper round doing what they are told, half scared out of their lives.

We met the Schooner “POLENIA" here. This is one of B.P’s boats, and does some of the inter-island trade, transhipping the copra she collects into one of the steamers, wherever she happens to meet them. She came alongside the “MORESBY" at 6 on Monday morning, and we started loading the balance of our trade cargo into her, not having had time in Butaritari to tranship all to the “TAMBO".

We sailed from Tarawa at noon on Monday for Ocean Island, where we arrived, after a very smooth passage, about 8 p.m. on

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Tuesday night. As we were anxious to get away from here as soon as possible – that night if possible, I went ashore straight away to see the Commissioner (Mr. Elliot), and see if he would grant me a Clearance and Bill of Health. Had rather a merry time landing too. We had hove to about 1 mile from the shore, and I got 5 niggers from aboard the ship to row me ashore. There was a big surf running, and I was wondering how we were going to get through the passage in the Reef. It is only about 20 feet wide, and on either side is the sharp jagged coral on which the breakers were smashing with a roar. However the Native at the steering car said he “savvied" the passage alright, so I told him to go right ahead and make for the Government Wharf inside the Reef. We were just about opposite the passage where we were to enter, when a voice hailed us from the Phosphate Company’s Wharf – which extends just out past the Reef – and said the passage was very dangerous just then as it was low tide, and that we had better land at the Co’s wharf. We back-watered just in time to save us from shooting through the passage, and rowed for the other Wharf, where a rope was let down – the Wharf being about 20 feet above the level of the water, on account of the low tide – and I clambered up, giving the niggers orders to wait in the boat till I came back.

I than went up to the Commissioner’s house. He was just ready to turn in. I explained to him that it was important that we should get away that night if at all possible, and after a lot of arguing he consented. I then went round to the Acting Medical Officer (Mr. Grimble) who had turned in, and hauled him out of bed

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and down to the Office – about a mile away – to give me the Bill of Health and Clearance, on the way waking up Mr. Methven, in Charge of the Native Police at Ocean Island, and told him to send a boat’s crew off to the “MORESBY" to get some cargo and passengers we had aboard. I thought they would have been annoyed at being dragged out of bed at that hour – it was about 10.30 p.m. by this time – but they were not. Things get so slow there, that they are all glad of any little thing that turns up to vary the monotony.

Anyhow I get fixed up O.K. and back to the ship safely, and we sailed at 2 a.m. that morning for Sydney direct. So far we have had decent weather, but I suppose we can hardly expect it to last like this all the way down. We are carving it out at about 8 knots now, which should get us into Sydney about Sunday 20th September.

Sunday. 13th. September. Have been drifting about now for 3 days – helpless. The engines suddenly stopped about 9 a.m. on Friday, owing to some defect, and the 3 Engineers worked till 4 that afternoon, when they thought they had fixed up the trouble. We got under way again, and continued on our course till about 8 that night, when – Bang? – Finish??? the engines stopped again, and we have been drifting at the rate of 3 miles an hour for nearly 3 days. That is about 200 miles. It is just as well we are right away from any islands or reefs, or we may have got into trouble. We drifted in a Westerley direction, and if the engines had not been fixed up, in 3 days more we would have been blown on to the Solomon Islands. There has been a big sea running all the time, and it is very monotonous wallowing about broadside on to the waves – and the old “MORESBY" is noted for

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her rolling too. We are right out of the track on any steamers, so that there was not much chance of being sighted and picked up. The 3 Engineers have been working for almost 3 days without a break, except for meals, and look pretty done up today. We are now going very slowly, about 5 knots, and are all half-expecting to hear the sound that says the engines have broken down again. I don’t suppose we shall get into Sydney now till about Thursday 24th inst – that is if all goes well from now on.

Wednesday. 16th September. The engines have kept going alright, though at a reduced speed – we are doing about 6 knots an hour now. There is nothing of interest to note. Have had fair weather all the time, though several days have been wet and windy. I have finished all my work, and am finding it hard to fill in time. One gets very tired of sleeping all day and night. The 2nd and 3rd Officers, the 3rd Engineer and myself generally have a game of cards every night for an hour or so, though even that is getting monotonous.

Tuesday. 22nd September. Here we are on the New South Wales Coast at last. We sighted Mount Warning on Monday morning las, at the same time running into a stiff southerly gale with high seas. The “MORESBY" is in very light trim, and could not make much headway against the gale. We have been doing about 3 to 4 knots all day yesterday and today, and are hoping the wind and sea will lie down soon, and let us get on to Sydney. At this rate of going it will be some time next week when we get in. We are keeping a long way out from the Coast, in case anything should happen to the engines I suppose, and consequently we cannot signal any of the Coast stations

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let them know we are on the Coast. We tried to signal Cape Byron last night to get any news of the War – you cannot imagine how anxious we are to hear something – but we were too far out, and they evidently could not see our light, as they did not answer at all. We had a merry two or three minutes yesterday afternoon. The steering gear jammed, and we immediately drifted broadside on to the seas. I heard a crash all round me, and found that everything loose in the cabin had skidded across the room, even the drawers in my chest of drawers flew out and landed on the floor upsetting all the contents, and by judging by the sounds outside, all the other chests of drawers in the ship had done the same. This kept on for several minutes, me making frantic grabs at all I could lay hands on, the rest diving backwards and forwards across the room with every roll of the ship. At last they fixed up the steering gear, and her head was brought round to the wind. We are thinking how lucky we are that the engines are running all right now, it wouldn’t be too pleasant drifting for 3 days in this sea. We hope to get in about Friday sometime now.

Thursday. 24th September. We have done better than we expected. The wind and sea went down fairly quickly, and we straight-way jumped up to about 7 ½ knots, with the result that we were off the Heads about 4 a.m. on Wednesday night, entering about 7 this morning. It was good to see Sydney Harbour again, and most of us I think, are glad to have escaped meeting any German warships. All we want to know now is – how the war has been getting on since 8th August, when the “TAMBO" left Sydney.

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[Photograph with caption:]
Public flogging at Rabaul, New Britain on Nov 30th. 1914 of 4 Germans [indecipherable] convicted of unjustly assaulting an English missionary, resident in New Ireland.

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[Post Card:]
Photograph taken by Pte A. F. Fry No 1340, 2nd Reins. 13th Batt. 4th Inf. Brigade AIEF
Purser SS Morinda
Burns Philp & Co Ltd. 1914.

[The following text is handwritten along the right-hand side margin:]
Copies from back of photograph.

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[Map of the World marked with a shipping route.]

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Left Sydney 11th February 1915
Left Brisbane 13th February 1915
On Reef 18th, 19th, 20th February 1915
Thursday Is. 21st February 1915
Colombo. 11th to 13th March 1915
Suez 20th March 1915
Cairo 21st March 1915
Hospital 28th March 1915
Suez 28th April 1915
Melbourne 24th May 1915
Sydney 9th June 1915
Left Sydney 15th September 1915

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[Australian Imperial Force. Conversion Tables. I. – Pounds Sterling into Piastres Egyptian.]

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[Australian Imperial Force. Conversion Tables. II. – Shillings & Pence into Piastres & Milliemes.

[The following text is handwritten at the bottom of the page:]
H’ward Luna Park.

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[ANZAC DAY First Anniversary Fourth Australian Division Serapeum Egypt April 25th 1916. – Program – Divisional Championship Events Commencing 1500.]

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[Program]

[Transcribed by Sandra Mutton for the State Library of New South Wales]