Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

W. E. Bendrey diary, 6 October 1915-19 June 1916
MLMSS 761/Item 2

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(Egypt) – Diary (Africa)
Oct 6 – 1915 (Book 2)
Feeling A1. No war news 2 Batt in firing line again Letters from Mum dated Jly 9 & Dennis 26 July. First time at mess table today. Had a good tuck in.

7 Cold & dull. Few chaps came in nearly full last night & there was talk of fight. Drew 136½ pt yesterday – Feeling homesick again.

8 Number chaps leaving for Australia this mng (H Cooper amongst them) They were all up very early; (10.10 am The boys have left for Australia & I feel lonely) All pay to patients been stopped owing to certain amount of drunkenness etc. Found "Alice – the sequel to Ernest Maltravers.-

9 Read last night (in Sun Aug 28, & Herald Aug 27) a/c of our charge at Lone Pine on Aug 6th. Also list of wounded etc. Feeling better every day. Pillow fight last night; Guards all over place now at holes in fences etc.

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10 Day dawned clear & cool. Is Bulgaria going against us? Must read todays paper. Just met Courtman (formerly LC at Tamworth PO) He is looking OK & expects to go to the front on the 12th inst. - Jack Tory wounded. Gone to Malta. Went church tonight First class Sermon by Mr Rex who is leaving for Gallipoli shortly. Dr has promised send me to Helouan, wont let me go Base Details. – Courtman didn’t turn up again. Must have gone to Gallipoli. [in margin] Sunday 10th

12 Bad night last night Biliousness etc. Pains in stomach. Obtained pay book today only 12/- owing to me. Going Helouan shortly. Went Heliopolis & purchased several useful articles – Spent 90½ pt. Feeling off colour again

13 Crook this morning. Cool weather again. Going Helouan tomorrow morning. Courtman unable as yet to get away to the front.

14 Left for Helouan at 9.40 (at) train 10.15 Feeling better. Weather much cooler - Arrived

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Oct 14 ) Helouan 11.15 am. Good walk from Station to Conv Home.

15 Bunks on floor Blanket, sheet, pillow & mattress. No pillow slip. Our room (175) contains 9 of us. Bugs to no end. Tucker tip top, 3 good tennis courts, Fruits, drinks etc; Red + Barber; Surroundings Barren. Pyramids & Nile in distance on W side. Picture show 3 times week. Town of Helouan handy. Nice clean looking buildings & streets. But the eternal white & yellow of the plastered walls gets on ones nerves - Was big Hotel this place; Large bedrooms – spacious halls Electric light, H & Cold water. Library very poor. Paper etc supplied by PO. Ice cold water to no end (Shirt – Shorts boots & Sox) 4p Just met a 6th Reinf chap.
8 15 p Just met Ross Penman He was shot through back. Been typist here since June.

16 Better night – fewer bugs feeling fitter. Lovely here in morning. Sick parade 9 am to about 10.30 (700 here) Brek 7.30 D 1p Tea 6 pm L.O. 10p (Call 9.30)

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16 Had shave - rotten barber. Just raked hair off. Cut out pictures; too tired. Am good on oranges. Have cut out chocolate, it turns me up.

17 Church parade CE – 9 am – (Compulsory) Good crowd there Rather windy today. Col Ryan examines chaps boarded for Australia (at 2 pm). Reading all afternoon. Missed night Service. Methodist too! [in margin] (Sunday)

18 Tommy guard here, but its easy to get over the wall. Bad night. Had no breakfast. Big batch chaps coming in today. Entered Hospital Ward 10.45 am, on milk diet – Feel rather hungry – Nice big airy room with balcony. Sisters & Dr A1. Orderlies not bad [in margin] Jaundice

19 Slept well & feeling better, but still hungry. Porridge & hot milk for breakfast. Gets on ones nerves being sick. Sounded by Dr (Pulse only 50)

20 Jolly weak but yellow color less. Good breakfast – Think going to be shifted. Millions of Locusts just passed – am leaving for AGH this afternoon Motored from Helouan (2 40) Arrived No 3 Aux 5.20 - Good trip but dont like being carted about on stretcher.

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Oct 21 Had good night feeling much better. Pleased to be back here. Luna Park is just opposite.
Reading E’s letter & made discovery. Good place this. Plenty of ground & one can walk for some distance along avenues of gums. Beautifully cool ward. Matted roof & hard earthen floor. Hedge on my left & R then 2 rows of pines (slender) & one of gums. Food A1. Met 2 6th Reinf chaps. Nice Sisters.

22 Wrote H C. Got up at 6.15 washed, made bed & strolled along avenue to Sporting Club where had soda-water. Then breakfast, bread & milk, fish & hot milk. The natives have their own Corporals & Sgts, while the S/M is resplendent with 3 red stripes & a crown, & a pair of painted boots. They are some class those natives.

23 Went for walk this morning. plenty flies here. Watched string after string of horses crossing desert. Rifle range can be seen in distance, & shots can clearly be heard.
"Afternoon" On left, natives busy making new tennis Courts; Officers playing in old Court. On Right a few Golfers & in front a

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23 game of cricket is in progress, while the many windows of the Palace hotel (now AGH) blink lazily at the Sun. And what of the rear view? Desert, bounded by foothills, a long line of Telegraph poles stretching away into the distance, a military camp & strings of Army Service & Cavalry horses.

24 Flies to no end. Unable go Church this morning, waiting on Medicine & Doctor. Interesting game of cricket this afternoon. Some good bowling X No bread & milk for tea. Too tired & sleepy to go to 8 pm church (Generally go to bed shortly after 8 oclock. [in margin] (Sunday)

25 No bread & milk again this morning. Looks bad. Went for good long walk & then had shower. Did a bit of a sprint too Feeling tip top. Polo match in progress few hundred yards from here – in grounds-

26 Pains in stomach. Up at 5.45 Went for nice long walk Beautifully cool & fresh. On purely milk diet now. - Weather getting colder. Doctors sending many chaps to Helouan & Base Details.

27 Feeling A1. Did nearly an hours walking

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27 amused myself pelting stones at vultures. Some Tommies had a nice chase after 2 mules. The niggers who joined in the chase roared out for baksheesh but didn’t get any. Tommy can’t afford to pay baksheesh. Only 23 beds occupied in this ward out of 48

28 Up late (6.45) Heavy fog, everything damp. Rather cold. Finished 800 page book, which chiefly concerned the Franco Prussian War of 74. Inspection by the K Nuts this afternoon & the Orderlies hustled some. One chap hoisted my towel & hat off mosquito net pole & told me it wasn’t a hat rack. Guess that hat is back in the old place again.

29 Filling in eye tooth broke away and guess I swallowed it. Chap next to me left for Helouan this morning. Went to Heliopolis. Dentist, Crown will cost 100 PT. Going to him again Sunday at 3.

30 Been issued Hospital Suit. Cash running out. Will spend less. Must keep some for Salonika if we go there. Wish Greece would get a move on. over 100 vacant beds here now – Medical Ward alone. Paid visit Luna park yest’y &

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30 Sister wanted know why I came back to No 3 instead of Luna.

31 Dreaming of - last night. Was thinking of boyhood days & wondering who would be lucky enough to see Australia again. Face has filled out wonderfully. Slight attack of dysentery & pains in stomach Gold Cap fitted satisfactorily this afternoon. [in margin] Sunday

Nov 1 Went to Church last night (Methodist) Rather good Sermon too. Up late this morning 7 am. Feeling a bit off. Several new patients arrived. - Shifted my bunk. -

2 Up late again & slept badly. There’s a Yank here wrote what he calls poetry about our charge at Lone Pine on 6th Aug. Its awful stuff. (6 Pcs & 2 letters) – Showed the Yank some good poetry (taken from The Sydney Sun)

3 Went for long walk, & ate like one thing at breakfast. Rather chilly of late. Just finished The Amazing Argentine & rather liked it. Watched Native praying. Took off shoes. Faced East, Bowed & jerked head back, knelt & placed dial on ground twice, then hopped up praying

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Nov 3 all the time. Repeated all this four or 6 times. Last time he placed both hands in front face then wiped face with ‘em praying hardest all the time. Repeated this twice. Eyes open all the time I think. He then donned shoes, hopped up, & did a bunk. (Mafeeesh)
Rec’d cable from Mum 22 (WE) words, re parcels & letters.

4 Weight 150 pounds. Am having meals in mess hut now, Sent weekend Cable Mum 9 wds 7/8½: Had walk round Heliopolis & visited American Mission. Saw woman (native) wearing wooden shoes fastened on by one strap
Have since discovered that the praying native washed face hands & feet before starting, & face & hands at finish. His towel, a large bandana, he lays in front of him, & places therein a charm or some darned white looking thing.

5 Cloudy & cold. Looks like rain. Read Sept’s "Life" from cover to cover. Have asked for discharge from Hospital. By gee the Maoris are a fine lot of chaps! Strong, & well built.

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6 Heavy fog; rather chilly Strange to hear niggers voices coming through fog blanket; occasionally one catches glimpses of long lines of horses which they are leading. - Wonder of wonders 2 golfers are hard at it (5.30. Night closing in & the Bugles sounding the Retreat. Here in ancient Egypt, far away from loved ones, it stirs thoughts & memories of home)

7 One Sister was round at 7am wanting boys to attend Communion. Posting No 1 Diary to Mother tomorrow per re’gd post. Missed Motor drive this afternoon. Jack Curtis treated for dysentery 8. 9.15 rec’d word from H Qrs. A new Hospital staff of 40 arrived here today taking over tomorrow.
[in margin] Sunday

8 Went to Church last night (C of E) Good singing as usual, but I was too sleepy. Dr has given me permission to leave & go to ‘Unit’ Rotten tucker for tea.

9 Going to Unit at 3 30 pm Feeling tip top. Another train of wounded just arrived. Arrived Zeitoun
4.30. Details – Strange

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Nov 9 to be back in camp after Hospital. Struck Jack Scott of Barraba at YMCA tonight. Big camp this.

10 Transferred. Arrived aerodrome camp Heliopolis 11 am. Far better than details. No duty – Went Cairo & visited gardens & Soldiers club. First class place too. (am suffering a little with Dysentery) Paid this morning 200 pt. Pictures tonight after skating Very interesting watching Hockey match played on skates. Rink floor is concrete – May go Gallipoli Sunday.

11 Feeling A1. Big crowd of troops here. Met Joey Lonsdale. He’s in 4th Batt. Visited Citadel & Mosque, Museum, Old Cairo & place where Moses was placed in bulrushes – Cost of trip 30 piastres. Citadel is marvellous. Wonderful workmanship. Also saw old Coptic Church in old Cairo; went underground & had to use a candle. Returned to Camp about 8 pm.

12 Dysentery gone, feeling good. Beautiful cool morning Visited Luna Park & No 3 Auxiliary & wrote some

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Nov 12 letters at the American Mission. Met Cec. Stoker & Frank Johnson (of Uralla) this morning. "The boys are enlisting alright". Met a very decent Englishman last night, (a cavalry man) & had a good chat with him. Said he envied us our independent spirit, & deplored the British Tommy’s almost total dependence on his Officers – (was shown where Napoleons Cannon had partly pierced the wall of the old Mosque. One cannon ball is still visible embedded in the cement) Had tea at Heliopolis then went pictures for an hour or so.

13 Slept well. Crowd of Reinf & old boys left this morning. Cairo again. Went gardens in afternoon & left at night. Had good quiet time. Streets full of soldiers

14 No Church parade for details. We do what we jolly well like. Did washing morning. Went Cairo & gardens afternoon & night. Good time Lovely gardens. Cinema at YMCA. [in margin] Sunday

15 Rifle range as marker today. Marched about

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15 Nov
2 or 3 miles out & ditto back Dont feel too good. Marched a couple of miles to dinner (a mile each way). The chaps shot fairly well. Made the pace a welter coming back, had a good shower & a 2 course tea. Stew & rice & prunes. Not bad eh? Feel a little tired.

16 Slept well. Out at 6 am Range again today. Feeling rather tired Good dinner Salmon, tinned sausages & pears, & bread. We may go to Suez Canal as there is fighting there. Left Range about 3.30. Shooting fairly good.

17 Out again at 6 am. Range party fell in at 7.30, but I nutted off. No good to this chick marching 6 miles with crook feet. Not on your life! Cleaned out sleeping hut. Dinner at YMCA then went Cairo to Soldiers Club & Gardens. Loafed about until 7 pm.

18 Am Mess Orderly today & its a dead easy job, about 10 minutes work at each meal More reinforcements came in last night. Good looking lot too. Pay day today. Cool & windy. Met 2 more Uralla boys at dinner time. Dick Ryan

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Nov 18 & Justin OConnor. Paid £3-1-9 today; am £1-16/- overdrawn. Went to Kursaal Theatre. Not bad programme Stall - 5 PT.

19 Cold & windy Rifle range today. Feeling good. Rotten, dusty & windy. Dust gets in everything. Returned camp 5 pm feeling crook, & dead tired. Had Haircut & shave & went Luna Park

20 Range again today but I nicked away. Am going to try & find Jack McCrossin Tatties brother. He’s in infection camp with mumps. Left parcel of biscuits & chocs at Hospital for Jack. Going again this afternoon. Am feeling better this mn’g. Had good stiff brandy last night for stomach pains. Found Jack at Choubrah Hosp after lot trouble. He’s doing first rate. Nearly better. Cabled Kathleen. Met 2 Tamworth boys on tram One from Treloars & 1 from The Council.

21 Foggy. Leaving shortly I think. Batch going on Tuesday Met Rev Dains this morning also Met Harry Williams broke like the rest of us. Just ran across Lieut McGowan of 2 Batt. Rec’d letters yesty [in margin] Sunday

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21 Nov from Kathleen & Gert. Went American Mission good Service.

22 No toil today, but must not go out of camp without pass. Wrote letters & went Mess Orderly.

23 Rifle Range again Strong breeze blowing. Am A1. Left range at 12.30 as no tucker came out. Went to Cairo with Mr Dains & saw the Bazaar. He snapped me twice with his camera.

24 Nothing doing. Mr Dains gone Helouan. Am 11- 6 Went [indecipherable] Barrage today Water Locks are wonderful, & gardens are simply exquisite. Saw convicts at work They rush cigarettes. (Reminds me of Sydney gardens) – Harry with me. Returned camp about 6

25 Met Richards from P.G Smiths. Am Orderly today. The Riot act has just been read to the troops. Fighting reported at Suez.

26 Mess orderly again others gone Rifle Range. Am going in next draft of details. Went American Mission to write, but jibbed & did some reading.

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27 Pay day. Am Orderly again Details flag hoisted. Skull crossbones & Wazza. Rec’d magnificent sum of 50 pT. Wrote Millie. Good tea, rice & fruit & cockys joy Nearly all the boys are in town. Guess a few will lob back shickered. – A mate has just come in our hut from Hospital.

28 Went Barrage with mate this afternoon. Had real good time. 13PT tea at Cairo, Pictures & cakes etc after. Going Dr tomorrow
[in margin] Sunday

29 Doctor says I have slight strain in groin. Pains me a good deal at times. Put in 4 or 5 hours reading at American Mission. Darned cold today. Wrote couple of letters.

30 Cold again. Kicked a foot-ball about then went to Mission & did some reading. Volunteers wanted for Transport Service in & around Cairo & Heliopolis another 2,300 men arrived today including 11th of 2nd

Dec 1 Watching new troops drill Theyre A1. Rec’d parcel yestry from Mum Just rec’d word that we are

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Dec 1 to winter in Egypt.

2 More football. No work. Broke into my last half Sov, had tea in Heliopolis & then went to the Mission

3 We are now attached to the Reserve Brigade & move shortly to Abbassia Camp perhaps. Went Gheryeh for black bag but arrived too late. Pleasant tram ride though & went to pictures at Cairo after tea & the Flag.

4 Clear & cold Went Gheryeh again. Not moving out today. Unable get bag. Store closed. – Met Harry on tram. Bed at 6.30

5 We leave for Abbassia on Monday morning. Blanket parade today Just met Norm Ross He showed me a Bible given to him by Mum
[in margin] Sunday

6 Left today for Abbassia as advance party. No dinner but good tea. Not a bad camp plenty of chats I believe. Returned to Heliopolis & slept there.

7 Cleaned Mess Hut & had good shower. Only a few of us here so far (– Later) 60 more arrived, hut full.

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Dec 12 this morning. The old familiar tunes remind one of the good old days in far off Sunny Australia. Another game of Soccer today. [in margin] Sunday

13 Breakfast at 6.30 parade 7.30. Old Details do no drill but details who have not been to the front have to drill – without rifles or equipment. This chick is on Q.M’s fatigue. Heavy fog – Wrote 7 letters yesty Pay Day Rec’d 50 disasters. Paid a visit to 30th Brigade & saw Ern Rixon; Walter Cowie is in Hospital with Pneumonia. Will try & see him. Brigade going Suez – spent (14) disasters. Got Battalion Colors

14th No drill for old hands. Went out to Gheryeh for bag but unable to get it.- Will probably be sent on to camp tomorrow. Tea in Cairo, then went Cinema Violet. -

15 Woke late (7am) On fatigue. Golden Syrup at last. - 2 Damn fool pirates assaulted a Garry driver last night & will probably get Abbassia. Went King Georges Soldiers Home. Jolly decent place too. Tommies in Majority.

16 Received another batch of 11 letters this mng. One from Ada Paul. Saw

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Dec 16 Jack McCrossin & he looks A1 Went Kings home again

17 SM asked for letter sorters for Base Also says we wont return to Gallipoli until end of February.

18 Reported QM for handing out bread scraps. Also resigned from QMs fatigue. Feeling a bit crook. QM threatened to crime me. (---) Details played 2 matches, beat 11 of 2nd at League by 5 to Nil, & played a tie with 9 of 1st at Soccer.

19 We may be leaving here in a few days. Destination unknown. Got a rotten cold – both ways. Nearly stony. Only 2 PT left. Just got hold of a Uralla paper & in it are my letters from 11th to 18th Aug. There’s an Aeroplane Corps here now & one of the planes went up on Friday & circled gracefully over the Camp. And you should have seen the Niggers open their eyes Saw Walter Cowie. He’s much better & hopes to be up tomorrow. [in margin Sunday

20 The Sgt tried to kid me to drill this morning. Says I hadn’t been to the front. Hot aint it? Pte Bennett 1320 2 Batt is to be buried this afternoon. Recd pcs from Millie, & 7 letters – inc

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Dec 20 2 Xmas Cards from Mother. Pleased to hear that Uncle Arth is OK again. All of us had to drill this afternoon. Barrys idea, & hes a Tommy Lieut.

21 Drill again this morning & breakfast at 6.30. Looks like a permanency. Extra heavy fog. Went out with Joe the K Nut last night, & laughed nearly all the time. Drill all day.

22 Same old thing, form fours etc. Paid at B; went to Cairo had good time; Cinema etc. Believe Australians returning from Gallip. They are withdrawing from Suvla & Anzac.

23 Damn the drill & the mob wont refuse to drill although they talk enough. Went Cairo. Tea & then Kursaal. Rather good acrobats.

24 Xmas Eve Cloudy & cool. On QMs fatigue. Left for Cairo about 4 pm. Not many in streets & nothing like Xmas Eve at home. Fairly heavy rain for about an hour or more. Hospitals will fare badly Desert sands are quit hard. [in margin] Xmas Eve

25 (Xmas Day)
Service about 7.45 out in the desert. Short Sermon. Cairo in front & Napoleons

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Dec 25 lookout in the distance. Cool & clear with a light breeze. An ideal day. Xmas gifts issued this morning. Breakfast Kippered Herrings or salmon, tea, bread, jam & golden syrup. Rec’d a billy & 3 parcels at 11-15 – Chicken for dinner. Tea in Cairo. – 4.30 pm on top of Cheops, largest Pyramids – Glorious view. Went inside at 5.30 Hot as blazes. Riot in Wazza – damn disgrace. Lot of 14 Batt mob there new hands.
[in margin] Xmas Day

26 Cool & cloudy. Went to Barrage Had real good time. Nearly missed train. Unable to get tea at Cairo, so returned to Heliopolis & then to Camp. Plenty of bacca & Cig’s in our Xmas gift parcels.
[in margin] Sunday

27 Turned out about 7 am Royal salute of 21 guns was fired yesterday – being in Honor of Anniversary of Sultans accession Dont know where our Brigade is but should rejoin them shortly Went Soldiers home rather decent lantern lecture. [in margin] Boxing Day

28 Drill as usual. 11.15 Sitting down in desert gazing at an aeroplane as it circles overhead occasionally hidden behind the clouds & discer

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1915
Dec 28 nible only by its shadow on the clouds beneath. of course we are supposed to be drilling. Kidded to shovel sand this afternoon. Offered position in PO during Xmas & N Year rush

29 Dental parade to Palace to have tooth filled. Rec’d cable from home – Xmas Greetings. Interesting Lantern Lecture last night. Have to revisit Dentist at 2 pm Jan 25th.

30 Put in rifle squad but nicked out of it again No good to Ben. Paid 100 pT. Short arm parade for Details – 1 Casualty –

31 N Yrs Eve Bit of a riot in the hut last night & the provost Sgt nearly stopped one. Details erected a few tents for tomorrows Sports. Good Concert in C of E room. A couple of drunks woke us up after midnight.

1916 Jany 1 N.Y. Day.
No parade today. Weather cool & dull. am on Mess Orderly for dinner. Rec’d Letter & Card from Ivy Crapp Just met a chap from

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Jan 1 Bowling Alley Pt. who told me that Tom Higgins son was killed. – Believe we shift to our Unit next week. Sports were A1. Details won "O" – In fact the mob roared laughing at our rifle squad. Aeroplane passed overhead a few times. Went Kursaal Theatre Heliopolis; rather good show.

2 Believe we leave here very shortly. M.R. Inspection this morning at 11. Had teeth cleaned – cost 20 pt Went church 7.30. American Mission
[in margin] Sunday

3 Feeling rotten; heavy cold. Weather & windy, Went to sleep & at Kings Home.

4 Heavy rain last night. dripped into hut many blankets soaking wet & clothes etc damp Left for Gheryeh at 10 – arrived at 12-15. Sleeping in open tonight No tents yet. Good dinner. Went to Violet Cinema.

5 Cold as blazes last night. Woke up 4 or 5 times. Tucker is OK so far. Went for a route march this mng just a nice short one. Gigged the Gippo Recruits They are dead funny. If they make a bloomer the

6 Secured another blanket but still doing a freeze. Route M March this mng. Made the pace a welter. Pulse 90 odd, a little feverish. Issued with equipment, & put up a tent. Leaving shortly. This Camp OK but windy & dusty. Train line right in front, Nile in the rear, & Cairo & Napoleons lookout in the distance. Garden on left, Mansion & garden on right. Zoo & other gardens handy. Nice walks & several big bridges.

7 Slept soundly in a tent last night. Guarding ammunition transport this afternoon. Went Cairo & back; rather busy day.

8 Rained during night. Cold & showery this morning. On picket for 2 hours. Route march – rested in gardens. Our dugouts along the river bank

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Jan 8 are A 1. – while on picket I had a few backsheesh tram rides. – Route March –

9 Missed guard. Church parade at 9 am; big crowd & band. Went for long walk with another chap. Returned dead tired. Lord – spoke in YMCA tonight. [in margin] Sunday

10 Dental Parade. Met Dentist Clarrie Lawson of Barraba 2 Batt. Beautiful weather. Pay day today. Went Cairo. Pictures. Unable get Cigarette Roller.

11 Met Arthur Kingsbury of Walcha (A.M.C. 2nd Div) He looks well. Good concert at YMCA. Recd parcel from Uralla Red Cross.

12 Cool & foggy 2 Chaps tried put us on guard but jailed Murderous barber here. M Just received letter & 1pc. Rec’d word we are to rejoin the Batt at the Suez. Went Cairo (Majestic Pictures).

13 Slept in as usual & missed guard again. Big crowd here now.
Met 2 6/2 chaps (Dad Weir is one) got my black bag from Kit Store.
Issued with rifle & bayonet.
14 Full equipment & rifles. No instructions yet re moving out. Beautiful sunset. Nile
[in margin] M, AD, Mill, R

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Jan 14 a glorious pink. Went Empire Cinema Rather classy. 4 pt. (Ess Ada

15 Downed tents this morning No parade this afternoon. Spent an hour or two in the gardens. The monks & the hippo are funny

16 Church parade as usual caught for guard. Dead stiff I am. Was going to put in time at gardens 2 am Beautiful moonlight night. On duty. Thinking of home. The great gums cast their shadows everywhere. [in margin] Sunday

17 Off duty at 8.30 am. Did washing & had good shower Feeling A1. Some of boys paid today, but nix me. Went American Cosmo’, pretty rotten show.

18 Dull & cold. Fell flop trying to board a tram yesty & feel a bit stiff today. Paid 100 pt. Leaving tomorrow morning to rejoin Batt Good concert tonight.

19 Left Ginza camp at 8.30 for our Batt arrived Tel el Kebir about 2.30. Big camp here met Roper, Reynolds 2 others of 6/2 (came in trucks)

20 Up at 6 am physical

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Jan 20 drill 6.30 to 7 parade 9.30 to 12. & 2pm to 4 pm, so we have plenty of drill you see. Have to wash in a dixie or a bucket. Good Officers & n.c os. Rec’d 4 letters tonight all dated Decr

21 On Dental parade this mng. Slight shower last night Believe Jack Curtis is on duty again. On guard at 5.30 pm. had a ‘billy’ bath

22 Off guard at 9 am feeling dead tired. On parade as usual. Jack Curtis is here. Just missed him tonight. Saw Geo Waldon & Gordon Mann. Left foot turning me up a bit (Skirmish)

23 Up later this morning Church parade at 9 am. Met Jack. He looks real fit Expects to shift camp very shortly. Received letter & paper.
Paid 100 pt. Football match this afternoon. [in margin] Sunday

24 Lost clasp knife. Think it was pinched off belt. Out skirmishing all day. May leave here shortly. Received 5 parcels from Miss Parker, Mill, Eily, Adale & Mum & we had a great time

25 Another field day. Cold as blazes. Strong wind.
[in margin] Ess, Mill, M, HG

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Jan 25 Mums cigars are A1 Halved Aunties pcl with Jack. On night march last night – bayonet charge etc.

26 On Div. fatigues. Our party digging ditch for rubbish. Beautiful day. Rec’d another parcel. From Robo’s this time. Just come across gun rail used in the 1882 war. Little did the gunners of those days dream that we Australians would re-excavate their gun pit Just finished 1 letter; good job this. Boxa cigars from Robos. [in margin] Anniversary Day

27 Batt drill – half day Holiday this afternoon . Sports on. Just washed shirt & towel. Weather cool & windy. 3.50 pm Heavy storm coming. Sports broken up, & chaps going for the lick of their lives.

28 Cold as blazes last night, but beautiful this morning Out on another skirmishing stunt, back at 2.30. 3rd Batt holding Sports. Had good bath; jolly cold. great place this for chats. The weather has been cold, windy & showery for the last 3 or 4 weeks. Who says it
[in margin] R, M

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Jan 28 doesn’t rain in Egypt. A big billy of nuts dished out today. Some Indian soldiers came along the lines & of course we said Salaams Johnnie & handed ‘em a few nuts. Saw Jack McCrossin this afternoon. [in margin] Mill

29 Roper gone into Camel Corps. Cigars running out. Met Alby Brown. Rather heavy frost this morning. On fatigue this afternoon. Nearly got niggers beer; a few hats sloped out of -------.

30 Church parade as usual Good Sermon. Had good bath. Beautiful day, one of the best yet. Am Mess Orderly. Jack C going to Cairo on leave. Lent him 50 pt. Later – just been paid 50 pt. Went pictures. Good show, cost 3 pt. Cigars. Mafeesh [in margin] Sunday

31 Heavy fog this morning. On Dental parade. H -- of a crowd. Lent Renno’ 50 pt. Indians drilled before Batt this morning. Believe they were good. [in margin] Ess

Feb 1 On Ordinance Guard today. Full pack strict inspection. Things mucked up. Took over about 10 am. Not bad job.

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Feb 2 Cold last night. Gloves & knee protectors came in handy. Round at 9.15. Chat inspection. Stripped right off, had shirt examined. Tent pulled down, blankets spread out in sun. Half holiday. Jack Curtis gone, 4 am. today. A couple of nurses paid us a visit just after the inspection One chap came in shick [in margin] M

3 Skirmishing. Blankets out & tents down. Photo of Batt taken. Was in front rank. Concert (impromptu) in our tent. Mouth organ, biscuit tin, Xmas billy, & 3 or 4 combs. Went well with cigars.

4 Blankets out again. Not feeling too snitch. Face breaking out in blisters
Sunburn I think. Messing in huts now; keeps the lines cleaner.
[in margin] R

5 Skirmishing. Heavy marching through loose sand, am dead tired. Put decorations round tents in A Coys lines. Paid 100 disasters, & picked up
½ pt. YMCA opened last night. Select’ns by band & Concert. Tea

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Feb 5 coffee etc at mod’ prices. Lot of Reinf’ arrived this afternoon.
The rain is pelting down to no end.
Gee! You should see our pet goat; he’s a doer & loves the niggers; what! [in margin] Mill

6 Missed Church parade, had face dressed, & helped fix up tent.
Rain all gone. Lovely day. Ginza finger just healed
Believe some silly coots (newcomers) shot 3 bullocks from the troop train.
D—m them, they only give us a bad name. Blisters all over dial. Went Pictures. Not bad programme. Good Comic
[in margin] Sunday, AD, HG

7 Off parade today. Cleaned up tent etc. Feeling dead Crook. Most of boys gone to pictures. Mess Orderly

8 Battalion Drill – Still crook Cold in back I think. Steak for breakfast A1, Rosella Jam too. New Picture show opened tonight Boys just come home, & reckon show was rotten. [in margin] Ess

9 Attack & then Batt drill. Rather easy going. Heavy storm at dinner time. X Just rec’d 72 letters X and so Tattie is practically

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Feb 9 engaged to Clive Potter, & Ess is going to do the trick later on. Mum is 50 yrs of age this year, Gee I can hardly realize it. Met Darby Edwards, Norm Parnell & others tonight, Dial OK now. Had shave & H Cut.

10 No more mail. Heavy fog Squad drill & patent marching.
Not bad, but rather stale. Recd 2 papers (Dec) Mail & Guyra.
Wrote 13 letters & pcs finishing up at 8 oclock. Pile diminished
somewhat now. [in margin] M, HG, AD

11 Beaut of a day. Drill order & blanket parade. Issued with Batt colors, so sewed ‘em on. Orders rec’d to be ready for ? ---
Did some washing & sewing. Plenty of spare time lately for
such jobs. Do me. [in margin] Ess, Mill

12 Fairly close last night but glorious day. Wondering what is going to happen. Recd parcel (Vest sox soap castile & camphor) but dont know where from Many old & new hands gone into 54 Batt. Feeling little lonely with so many

[Page 34]
Feb 12 new faces in tent. Our Cpl gone too. Dont know what the next move will be Concert at YMCA tonight. [in margin] R, Ada

13 Just a little homesick. Church parade as usual. Beautiful morning. Batt split up to form 54 Batt. Many mates separated. Moving again at 2 pm, just a few hundred yards away. Understand Reinf" arrive on Monday, & we leave before Sunday next. Went YMCA Service. (Mr D McNicol) First class speaker Donald is. [in margin] Sunday

14 Am M.O. today. Tent is pitched in nice clean sand. New OC, better than former one. Moved into another tent on a/c of Reinf coming in. Received 3 letters dated Jan 16th. Read them in bed.

15 Dull day. Recd 2 papers from Mum 2 from Tam On parade this afternoon Concert at night, but stayed in & read papers. Lots of chaps here after stars & stripes but ive got too many letters to answer. Mafeesh stripes

16 Chummies doing a bit of N.C.Oing this morning. Confoundedly cool weather Have to shave daily now.

[Page 35]
Feb 16 D---- it I say. Every 2nd day is suffish. Wrote couple of letters. Another storm. [in margin] M.I.

17 Tent O today. Couple of boys gone to Cairo on leave. No pay yet & am absolutely stony. Have to turn puttees other way More rain – have
joined Grenadiers – sick of squad drill. Some chaps trying to grow Mo’s [in margin] Mill, Eily

18 This chick is MO today. No pay yet. Plenty of drill saluting by Nco’s etc. Paid 100 pt this afternoon. Went pictures Good show.

19 Bomb throwing today. Not a bad job. Shifted tents again only 10 men a tent now. Rec’d 4 letters. Believe going to Ismalia shortly. Mail dated July & Aug. [in margin] R

20 Inspection today. Big Russian Victory in Caucasus; Turks mucked up. Renno paid me 50 pt. Old hands returned from England.
On fatigue putting up O.Cs tent then imshied. Lord - speaks at Y.M. today [in left margin] Sunday, [in right margin] Ess

[Page 36]
F 20 tonight. Too busy writing letters to go out.

21 Going Cairo Wed on leave for 14 hours. Rec’d one letter. Dead rough cheese for tea. Feeling rather clean after good bath. Washed pair of greeny sox & you should have seen the dye

22 On bomb throwers today. Good job. Made bombs (J T) this afternoon. Jolly good concert at YMCA tonight.

23 Cairo today on leave. Dead slow here. AGH nearly empty. Had one tooth filled. Beautiful day. The old tram is dead slow. Strolled through gardens then had sleep at Soldiers Home. Couches are A1.

24 Out on Range Good 2½ mile walk across valley – all cultivated ground. Loading etc. One chap in our platoon let one off accidentally. Some silly coot pushed 2 niggers into water & had to toe the carpet. Back at 2 pm Washed myself & then my clothes. [in margin] AD, M

25 Inspection of Bombers today. 100 more wanted

[Page 37]
Feb 25 1916 Doing a loaf this afternoon. Pictures were crook on Wed night so they had to show 2 night Baksheesh. Paid 50 pt Went to free
pictures but they were closed. Mafeesh. [in margin] HC, Mill

26 Drill as usual. Some clean, our tent, Kit inspection in afternoon & tm’w. Going Ismalia Monday, perhaps. Rec’d p’per from Mrs McD. I think & ltr from Mum. [in margin] R

27 Away tm’w so had good bath. Batt Band rotten. Sev’l Promotions out in Orders. Alby Brown is a Cpl. Dusty & windy as blazes. Given HV rifles (mines a rotter, mark 1) & Tommy bayonets. (Arabia – Asia)
[in margin] Sunday

28 Packed up – Leaving this mng for – Serapeum. Left at 10.25 arrived at 12.25. Passed several sand hills & stretches of fine sand. Plenty of orange sellers. Rotten march to camp. Beef & biscuits & plenty of fatigues. Right near Canal on Arabian side. Very little water. Iron rations, a little bread [in margin] (Asia) Serapeum

[Page 38]
29 M.O. today. Porridge – tea & bully beef & biscuits. Rifle crook in barrel. Issued with bread & cheese. Motor trains, horse trains, motor transports camels & etc running day & night from Canal to trenches.
Went Canal for swim & had good old splash. About ½ a mile walk from Camp Several tugs & motor- boats passed by. Couple of warships handy. Trenches about 8 miles distant – Have now been 4 Continents. Viz Aust’, Europe, Africa & Asia. Only America left now Chaps in next tent are literally murdering "Annie Laurie", & numerous other songs, & my leg has gone to sleep – Why? [in margin] M

March 1 Leaving this morning with fatigue party for rail-head. Cpl woke us up at 11 pm & told us we had to be up by 5 am (May be here for weeks) about 4 miles from trenches. Strings of Camels going to trenches daily. Treacherous brutes they are too. Loafed during morning & did some
[in margin] Desert post

[Page 39]
Mch 1 digging this afternoon. Plenty of tucker. Fair am’t of water. Camels arriving all night.

2 Shifted camp, over railway. Loading Camels & horses & putting up tents. Blowing like the very devil. Good job this, about 5 hours a day. Plenty of niggers working here; most of them being Egyptian Army fatigues. No wash since Feb 29th [in margin] (Ess)

3 Broken sleep last night. Loading again this mng. Still blowing like the very devil. March is the windy month. Good steak for brek. Knocked off at 10 oclock. OC took several snaps of Camels which were playing up. Managed to nick a mat for our tent. One chap here with a bully-beef tin partly filled with water colored with Condys, (washed his feet)

4 Water fatigue today. Carried couple of dixies full. Slight touch of dysentery caused by sand & water. Blowing hard as usual. Collecting water pipe connectors; not a bad job either. Washed sox & feet in about a quart

[Page 40]
Mch 4 of water, some hum too. Have got sandbags & sand round the tent to hold her down. All, or nearly all, water is carried in fantassis after reaching here. [in margin] Eily, K, Ess, Mill

5 Hard luck, leaving to rejoin Batt today, & worst of all – to drill (Desert frost). Returned to camp; no tent & plenty of dust. Rec’d chocs (5 pt) from Q.M. Rigg’y cut my hair; feels good now. Missed a swim on a/c of having to put up tents. Our Band rapidly improving (The Camels have wooden spokes in their noses to which the drivers fasten a string & if Mr Camel proves fractious he gets particular hell)
[in margin] Sunday, R

6 Up at 6 Out group shooting at 100 yards. Scored 20- (5 in an 8 inch group). Rifle shoots high. Met Harry Wms who returned today to the Batt & we went for a swim this afternoon in the Canal. He looks well too.
[in margin] M

7 Blankets disinfected today, & clothes will be done later on. Expect to go to France in a few weeks. Clothes done

[Page 41]
Mch 7 this afternoon & in the interval we went for a swim clad in boots, sox, hat & overcoat. Very nice, very cool Had a boska dip. Clothes were steamed & you should have seen the mob rushing to get their clobber. Some were a sock short & others a shirt or a pair of breeks.
[in margin] AH

8 Am MO today. Rotten job. Out rifle shooting again. Can see big liner travelling slowly through Canal. Rec’d 2 papers from Mum. 9 &10 Batt’s passed our Camp tonight on their way from the desert to the Canal, & they looked dead tired. The 1st Batt Band met them &
played them to the Canal. Usual swim. [in margin] JC, AD

9 Up late as per usual Just time to have breakfast & clean rifle before the fall in. Lt Cotton drilling us. Capt Herod is OC but he’s spoiling the Coy; doesn’t do things right somehow. Must go for a couple of No 9s Shooting rotten at 300, better blame the HV rifles.

10 Going to "Too Soon Post" today. Full pack for 3 miles across the desert

[Page 42]
10 Rough im thinking What?
Later. Arrived at 2 soon post, crossed Canal in punt, walked about 3 miles along Canal, crossed arm of Bitter lakes in a small punt (9 men at a time) & finished up at G--- something post about 1.25 – just 4.20 hrs marching, & over sand nearly all the time. Passed a couple of white Swans & scores of other wild fowl. No end of boats on the Canal, & warships in the Lakes. Built a swimming jetty & had a dip. This is a home from home. All a chap has to do is 4 hrs patrol; duty up & down the Canal every 2nd night & you have a mate too. Harry is quite pleased & so am I. Only 5 in our tent. Have cleaned her out & watered the floor. A couple of the boys have gone fishing. A native comes over every day with fruit, groceries etc which one orders the previous day.

11 Harry & I on patrol duty from 6 pm to 6 this morning. Did 4 hours together up &

[Page 43]
Mch 11 down the bank of the canal – distance of 3 miles there & back.
Had to stop all sailing & rowing boats, & kick unauthorised persons into the next world! Many boats passed through – mostly homeward bound, & all had powerful searchlights. Every few moments during the whole of the night the warships, both in the Lakes & the Canal, flashed their searchlights over the desert & the water. Dead sleepy this m’ng. No swim yet, but plenty of chocs & oranges etc. Chaps just dragged for fish with a 40 yard net & snared 1 little tiddler about the size of a matchbox – ‘Great tea’ steak, fried tomatoes, bacon & snifter gravy. May we be here for months & months. Rigged up a swimming jetty close handy. [in margin] Mill

12 Cool & amp; clear. Nothing doing so am going fishing. Cold as blazes last night. Had a dip, but no luck with the fishing lines. Recd 10 letters & pcs. Feeling [in margin] Sunday

[Page 44]
12 good. What price fried steak, bacon & tomatoes for brek, & bacon & eggs for tea. Did a good old loaf this afternoon on the pier head with 2 lines, waiting for the fish which never came. Great fun tonight. Halted a Dhow after 6 oclock & put a couple of shots – one into her & another across the bows. You should have seen the niggers duck & ill bet they prayed ‘Allah Allah for hours after.

13 Bayonet practice this m’ng. One fishing line broken. Feeling a bit tired. Harry is on fatigue. Went fishing & swimming but caught nothing as per usual, with the exception of a few hundred mosquito bites. Harry & Rigg have made a raft & are having a good old time paddling round the lakes. What price the OCs for the following; "There is too much B------- swearing in this Camp" Roars of laughter from the mob. It appears one of the chaps was annoyed over some

[page 45]
Mch 13 thing, & reeled some fiery language off his chest for a rather long period of ‘swearing time’ The name of this post is (Gabal Miriam)
Paddy Murphy is on the Mandolin & she sounds well.
[in margin] M, HC

14 Plenty of reading matter available, & some buksheesh sox etc. Rather warm today, & plenty of flies & sand-flies. OC has rigged up a few small targets for shooting practice. Naval Launch just pulled up, & officer came ashore, don’t know what for. Arms & legs getting browner every day Warm & clear & hardly a ripple on the surface of the Lake, while along the waters edge the rushes & shrubs are reflected as if in a mirror. Swarms of young fish can be seen close inshore & occasionally a big one leaps out of the water. Did some shooting at 100, & 50 yards. All rifles carry high on a/c of using mark 6 bullets in Mark 7

[Page 46]
Mch 14 rifles. A chap carries his pop-gun with him wherever he goes. Yesty I got half way to the water tank (about 750 yards) & discovered that id left mine at home. These big black sand beetles are characters the way they burrow into the sand, their legs going like one thing, & the sand flying in al directions. There are also several little grey black birds (white breasted) about the camp. They are rather pretty & fairly tame. [in margin] Eric, R

15 Another beautiful day. Rigged up a good spring board in the canal We are to be inoculated for Trench Typhoid either today or tomorrow. 20th Batt has embarked I believe. Inoculated this afternoon. The OC & the Dr both came down to our little home. Rotten tucker for tea; - biscuits & a couple of boiled eggs. Mafeesh bread.

16 Many sore arms this morning, but mine OK. Expect to leave tomorrow, & embark for France, or England. An officer & several French marines

[Page 47]
Mch 16 came ashore to trace & fix up a break in a cable line. All our tucker etc is now brought on 2 camels. A native leads them while one of us rides (armed of course) Sand flies are getting worse & the tucker isn’t too good of late.

17 No drill today, am on water fatigue Harry has gone to Serapeum with the camels. OC stated we may leave for France on Sunday the 19th. The canal has gone down about a foot the last few days. Nearly full moon now. Recd 2 letters & 4 papers. One of our chaps went out for a (Camel) Joy ride & a party had to go & look for him. He turned up later though after having a good time at Ismalia. [indecipherable] Wales & another chap were on the old raft when she turned turtle & pitched ‘em both into the water & after, to make things worse, W got a chunk of rag caught in his rifle barrel

[Page 48]
18 No time to answer any letters as we leave today probably for France. We were awakened about 4 am by "W" banging a tin with a huge stick, but it took several more calls & much noise to get us out, & even then a few of us turned in after the tent had been folded. Windy as the devil, & the fine sand stings no end & fills up a fellows ears until he begins to imagine he’s a dredge or a sand dump. Several troopships went through yesty enroute to the Great Bitter Lakes, where we are to embark. Hope those Submarines take a tumble & dont shoot out of their turn. Left at 8.50 am arrived Tad Seon at 10.40 left at 12.50, & arrived Serapeum at 2.30 – distance about 7 miles over the desert & blowing like H---- all the time

19 Rained heavily during the night, & this morning is beautifully cool. Church Parade as usual. Met Taffy Powell & other chaps of the 6/2 Prince of Wales lobbed along about [in margin] Sunday

[Page 49]
Mch 19 11 oclock & of course the mob did its block & cheered no end. Great complexion he has, but he’s only small & doesn’t sit his neddy too well; or perhaps he didnt like the look of the wild Australians. Tommies would have stood still no end, but our mob (bandsmen & all cheered a treat & chased him all over the place. Was wearing 2 stars
(1 Lieut) Managed to get 100 disasters last night, although I was overdrawn some. Not allowed to write any more letters.

20 Going to France tomorrow. OC lectured us this morning. We are to be billeted instead of living under canvas. Messing about all day Kit inspection etc.

21 On baggage guard & its a good job too. Marched from Camp to Railway. Waiting for train to arrive. Dont know what time we leave here. Plenty of beer & other likker at the canteen as well as groceries etc. Just imagine

[Page 50]
Mch 21 it; a glorious spring night & we of the are bivouacked on the bank of the Suez Canal. Merrily blaze the camp fires against a background of pines & River oaks. Immediately behind is the railway with its siding & splendid lights. Men – hundreds of them pass in & out of the trees & everywhere there is life & movement. To top everything the 3 Batt Band is playing like one thing – and – we had a jolly good tea And this, perhaps will be our last night in the ‘Land of the Pharaohs" How many of us will ever pass again through the Suez – I wonder?

22 Cold as blazes last night. Left for Alexandria at 1.45 am & did a freeze until about 9 this morning. Travelled on top of baggage in an open truck & minus an overcoat or blankets Bought fresh cooked eggs & bread for breakfast.

[Page 51]
Mch 22 Leaving by RMS Ivernia. Bonza big ship she is too, does 15 knots an h’r, & expects to reach Marseilles on Monday morning the 27th About 2500 on board. Fair sized gun at the stern. Swopped 100 pts for a sov Secured good 4 berth cabin. Harry is with me. Grub fair so far. Left at 5.30; weather fine & cool.

23 Had a real good nights sleep & turned out about 7.30 Can hardly feel the boat moving but she runs so smoothly. Has a slight list to the Sbd side. 4.7 gun & 2 machine guns in the stern, so we are protected fore & aft, & of course there is the look out man, & sentries. Have to take life belts on deck with us. No Canteen yet so my sov is unbroken. Cool & cloudy weather with a fair breeze. Lifebelt & boat parade at 3 pm.

24 Another good night. Reveille at 6.15 but didnt

[Page 52]
24 get a move on until after 7 & then only on a/c of brek. Fine & cloudy; no shipping sighted so far, so evidently we are out of the usual course some No jam available & the other tucker isn’t much catch. Rotten tea only bread & cheese & ½ pt of dishwater & the cheese was enough to make the smallest of rats weep itself to death and this on board a 15,000 ton Cunarder

25 Yarns a treat last night. Lights out at 6.15, so we get plenty of sleep. About a dozen soldiers are employed down under as trimmers & stokers, so the jigger ought to get a move on now. No shipping sighted yet. Just met Bill Crapp of the 1st Batt. He’s looking A1. Land sighted on the Starboard Bow.

26 X Boat on Starboard side. Inoculation last Friday for trench fever, & by gee the Doc shoved the needle well home. Did some washing yesterday. Several promotions out in orders. Sailing ship [in margin] Sunday

[Page 53]
Mch 26 passed on Port side, with all sails set & running before a stiff breeze Would like to have had the glasses on her. Church Parade at 9.15 (C of E) Rather cool on deck. S.A. parade this afternoon. Have passed several steamers, & the Gulls circle continually above & around the ship. Land has been in sight the great part of the afternoon. In many places it rises sheer from the waters edge. Here & there are detached rocky islets which form a resting place for myriad sea birds, & occasionally one sees a lighthouse or mayhap a small village the buildings showing white against their greeny brown background. The country appears to be but scantily covered with vegetation & on the summits of the hills beyond smallclumps of trees are discernible.
[in margin] Sunday

27 Think the tucker & tea must have been dosed last night. Cold &

[Page 54]
Mch 27 windy this morning. Land in sight & the boat is beginning to rock a bit. Am on baggage guard again. Arrived Toulon (a French Naval Base) about 21.30. Several other troopships in harbour & of course our old band played its d---dest. Rather a pretty place, especially after Egypt. Background of high hills (or rather mountains) covered for the most part with trees, those directly behind the township proper are of a chalklike formation from about midway to their summits, & on these patches trees do not appear to thrive. Naval workshops extend along a great part of the main water frontage, & Perched on the hilltops are several forts which with aid of W.Qs glasses I was able to see fairly plainly. The harbor mouth is rather narrow & is almost closed by a couple of breakwaters. In all, the scenery reminds one of dear old Sydney. The journey

[Page 55]
Mch 27 from Alexandria took us about 5 days Fairly decent Concert, mouth organ item being the best easily.

28 Not landing at Toulon Left at 6.15 for Marseille Fairly rough sea & we’re hugging the coast. Dull & cold with slight rain Arrived Marseille at 10.45. Poor sort of a harbour, breakwaters must have cost a bit. Beautiful building standing on one of the highest peaks, & crowned by a (golden) figure. Miserable & cold so our impressions of the port are not of the best. Most of the buildings are roofed with tiles, & the private places remind one of Sydney. Toulon is a much prettier port, as there appears to be little greenery here. Orange sellers, musicians, (mostly of the concertina sort) 2 contortionists – young girls, French, English & Indian soldiers, & the usual hangers on & urchins. The boys throw their money on to the

[Page 56]
Mch 28 wharf & the natives throw the oranges up. Leaving at 4 pm. On baggage guard. Entrained for St Omar (about 3 days trip) just after dark. Saw a number of German prisoners, some smiling but the majority sullen. short & thick set they are some burly chaps. Good gaslight aboard, passed through several tunnels, long & short.

29 (8 in this carriage (3rd class but fairly decent). Slept fairly well, legs on one seat & head on the other. Passed through glorious country (hilly) words fail utterly to adequately describe the Beautiful scenery. Have been gradually ascending & about 2 oclock reached the highest point way up the mountains. Here & there were patches of snow especially among the pine forests where the morning sun had failed to penetrate. Way down – hundreds of feet below were the villages

[Page 57]
Mch 29 scattered hamlets, roads, rivers etc etc passed before the eye in one lovely panarama, & then the train would dive into a long tunnel & all would be dark & dismal. After reaching the highest point the speed swiftly increased & we swept downhill & round corners at a great rate, doing at times as much as 50 miles an hour.

Gradually the clouds gathered, old Sol disappeared, & a misty rain swept over us, but it was only temporary, although the air was chilly no end & we covered up & snuggled into our coats. The people are invariably polite & most of them are kindness personified. At Lyons they gave us fruits & bread gratis, & the boys threw down badges etc which were eagerly picked up. Very few young men on the farms, most of the work being done by old men & women. The young women are mostly good looking & all of

[Page 58]
29 them have nice complexions just like the English. The Red Cross gave us hot water & soup, & several times I made cocoa (Cadburys too) a chap can always get hot water from the Engine. Nearly all the land is intensely cultivated, including even steep hillsides where it seems almost impossible to use a horse & plow. Chaps are behaving pretty well, one rotter who tried a dirty trick got biffed by the boys. The pine forests remind one of the Dorrigo pines, except that the latter cover mile upon mile of flat country whereas here they are chiefly found on the hills; Although there are many patches on the level country.

30 Slept badly last night. Nice hot tea was dished out about 2 am but the rum was missing A couple of French planes have passed overhead one coming low down. Noticed several old castles chiefly among the mountains – some of them well preserved, & others crumbling to ruin

[Page 59]
Mch 31 There are hundreds of trees almost completely covered with ivy, & a certain other parasitical (bird-nest) growth which is rather common in Australia In many cases the ground itself (beneath the trees) is matted with ivy. Passed Paris in the distance about 1 or 2 pm, & what appeared to be the Eiffel Tower. The country here (after crossing the ranges) is mostly flat, or undulating, & of course few of the trees & hedges are yet showing their spring leaves – with the exception perhaps of fruit trees.
The roads are excellent, the best ive had the pleasure of seeing & everywhere railways intersect the countryside. Most of the 2nd Division is in France & we arrived here this morning about 4.30 & detrained within sound of the guns – whose sullen booming could be heard dully through the thick fog blanket. "We’re getting closer & closer." A Coy is temporary billeted in a [in margin] Renescure

[Page 60]
Mch 31 big farmhouse about 15 miles from the trenches & 4½ from St Omer. Our possie is a machine shed; damp floor, & little, or no, straw, but one doesn’t mind, because the surroundings are beautiful (so different to Egypt) We went to a small village where the Tommies are billeted, & then marched back here with the old band ahead playing like one thing. Bully-beef, biscuits & jam for brek, but plenty of planes to gaze at, & a couple of nice girls – (but what are 2 among so many). Secured a tin & a small bucket, & dipped some water out of the pond & got rid of much dirt. Must shave later on. Jolly heavy frost here. All people employed by or serving the Military wear a yellow arm- badge as a distinguishing mark. Hard luck for us; the Tommies got into the Village ahead of us. Harry & I went to the village & made sundry purchases & swigged some wine Beautiful bread, about 5 lbs

[Page 61]
weight for 8’, & nice dairy butter at 1/3 a pound. The wine is 10d a bottle & tastes good, but rather bitter. Fair sized village & a fine big Church. Had cold bath

April Fools Day Got hold of some straw last night & made a decent bed although we slept a little cold. Turned out fairly early and went for a sprint down to the village Heavy frost but felt tip top after my run. Just like August in Aust, & reminds me of the long past winter mornings when Mont & I used to go for a long walk over the hills of dear old Tamworth. Only tea & tea for brek. Trains rush past every few minutes – passenger, military, red-cross & goods, & some of them travel too, as most of the lines are built for speed & being wide gauge (5ft) the rocking is barely noticeable. There are a great number of Nord Engines with big driving wheels. Have noticed a few hares & rabbits but not many birds (too cold yet)

[Page 62]
Apl 1 Several of the boys were in a state of shik last night, some just harmlessly maudlin & others aggresively drunk. Its a pity of course, but then the boys havn’t had any booze for weeks

The English say there will be one big drive this month or next & that we’ll be right in it. "No chats yet" Route march this morning for a couple of hours through gloriously green country & along good roads. A little drill about 2 oclock & then a foot inspection. Shifted camp to another, & much better barn

2 Slept warm & soundly last night on a straw bed. Beautiful morning; very little frost. Church Parade at 10.15; in the meantime the boys are playing miniature cricket & enjoying themselves no end. Some coot pinched our bread yesterday, so I had to go to the village for more or else eat biscuits Likker is some cheap; beer 1 glass rum 2, & wine 4, or 10 a bottle The beer is very light. None of the buildings about here
[in margin] Sunday

[Page 63]
Apl 2 appear to have been bombarded but there are lines of trenches scattered here & there. A Taube came over not long since, bombed the village & killed 7 civvys but no soldiers. We are about 60 miles from England & 60 feet from the Railway. As the rattlers rush past the old barn fairly quivers, the vibration being specially noticeable when one is lying down. Bacon on the Menu for brek. The Englishmen in our forces are unstinted in their praise of France, & all agree that although is beautiful this is better, & there is much more of it. Nearly all the buildings are tile roofed, & most of the walls are covered with plaster, although there are a fair number of plain brick buildings & not a few slate roofs. Of iron I’ve seen not any. Inspected the RC Church yesty. All the seats are turned from the pulpit & a great number of them have the owners name printed on the back. Fairly heavy bombardment proceeding this

[Page 64]
Apl 2 morning while we were at Church (Some of the roads are made of square stone blocks (about 4 x 4), & the edges are lined with metal. Went for a long walk this afternoon passing along the Canal enroute while several Tommies & some of our chaps were fishing & swimming. Guess the water was rather cool too much so for this chick. Nearly all flat or undulating country in this vicinity, & well cultivated it is too. The hedges are just beginning to shoot, as also are most of the trees. Nearly every kiddy one meets in the street is anxious to get a Souvinir, but the boys are just about cleaned out, & stony too for that matter. Rather long twilight; can read till after 7. Special coal on the trains :- (oblong blocks) which emits very little black smoke. Jolly good Concert tonight. Band being present A large fire was lighted in the courtyard, chairs were placed for the ladies, the boys assembled round

[Page 65]
Apl 2 & we had a real good time. Luckily no Taubes sighted us

3 Turned out about 7.15. parade 9 to12, plenty of bayonet fighting, & had to muck about with my puttees & put them on Regimentally. Getting warmer every day. Looks as if we are going to stay here for a while as the Batt is connected by phone. Route march for 1½ hrs in the afternoon; jolly fine going too, didn’t change step all the way, but worked up a sweat. Went for a stroll after tea; Harry played a game of Soccer on the green & we finished up at the Village. The Port Wine isnt half bad. On our way home we were stopped by ‘Sticky" The Major – who wanted to know what we were doing out after 7 pm. Night march to the square in absolute quiet just to test us, & the boys behaved well. On the return march we whistled & sang to our

[Page 66]
Apl 3 hearts content.

4 Slept heavy & late, woke up just in time to get the usual tea & tea. Its a damned disgrace expecting the men to drill on tea & bread, & I’ll wager my pay to a disaster that the officers feed well. But its always the same, the man who gives his all & runs the greatest risk gets absolutely rotten treatment. Cold & windy this mng. More rain I guess. ‘Sticky’ was pleased with our bearing last night & promised us a half holiday today & possibly - "pay"

A couple of the chaps played up in the Village & I believe they are to be severely dealt with. Been writing letters all the afternoon, while most of the boys played cricket, & football or mucked up generally in the barnyard.
[in margin] Eng M, Essie, HC, AD, AH, Eily

5 Pay day Friday, 40 Francs; £ 1-08-8 & not before its wanted either. The Tucker is beginning to improve a

[in margin] Eng. M. Ess HC AD AH Eily

[Page 67]
Apl 5 but it wants to be a lot better yet. Another chilly day, but no rain. Went out with Grenadiers & threw bricks & chunks of metal for 2 or 3 hours. Believe the live bombs are to arrive later on. 22 days to live is the limit for a Grenadier so it looks as if I’m in for a fairly warm time. The tucker has been rotten of late, so the boys paraded today & now there is a distinct improvement. Concert in the School Hall by the Tommies & it wasn’t half bad either. Issued with an extra blanket, so we will cease to shiver. [in margin] R

6 Same old thing, cold & cloudy. Our water supply has run out:– the well is empty so we have to carry water from another farm about 3 or 4 hundred yards distant. Pay dished out this afternoon instead of tomorrow so I imshied & bought sundry articles. Several of the chaps were in a state of Shik

[Page 68]
6 & didnt turn up for the march (night). Spose they’ll get roared on Slight touch of Dysentery took a few anti pills. A Taube bombed the 1st Batt while they were out marching, but did no damage.

7 2 gas protectors per man were handed round this morning & we then marched 2 or 3 miles to a trench where the whole brigade donned their helmets & walked in a single file through the trench full of gas. The helmets were then taken off & we passed through another trench where a "Weeping Gas Bomb" had been exploded and by gee it made my eyes smart & water
Heavy rain last night; dull & chilly today. Wonder will the sun ever come out? Several of our chaps are to visit the firing line for 2 days & they must wear caps Trainloads of troops are continually passing & there were some Canadians

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Apl 7 aboard the last one. Most of the Engines use coal (in oblong blocks) which does not emit black smoke, but it pongs some. It’s a damned disgrace the way we (volunteers) are treated. Bread & tea for brek, no dinner, & the following for 24 hours dry ration, ¼ loaf bread, 1 oz cheese, no jam & no butter, and thats what we get for doing our bit, anyhow 7 of us vamoosed bought 7 lbs of steak fried it at a wine shop, & then wired in: - Steaks, bread & butter, coffee, cakes, wine & cigarettes, & the whole lot cost only about 2 francs each (1/8). Paraded to the officers but got nil, guess they tucker well though.

8 Kit bags going to base depot, & we are leaving here next week. Several chaps before Orderly Room today, chiefly for being late on parade. Rotten breakfast, only bully beef bread & tea. Great feed for 3 hours drill. All peninsula hands are on water fatigue while

[Page 70]
Apl 8 the others go shooting Good job it is too; only have to carry a couple of dixies apiece & then Mafeesh. Rec’d 6 letters & a pc from Australia & 1 letter from England Did some washing & dashed near froze my fingers. About 2 pm a Fokker plane (German) Flew low down over our quarters, when the engine went bung & he volplaned about 2 miles over the village into ploughed ground where he struck an old trench. One unarmed Tommy was bailed up, but armed men were quickly on the scene & the Hun was captured, but not until he made an attempt to wreck the plane whereat a shot whizzed past him. The machine (which is only three weeks old) is the latest type Fokker armed with a machine gun facing the propeller & the aeronaut was on his last trip previous to getting a Captains Commission. Harry & had a good look at her, & I guess we’ll know [in margin] Mill

[Page 71]
Apl 8 the next one as she is marked with 8 black crosses on white grounds Only a single hollow canvas plane, beautiful engine, fairly long tail held up by steel supports, 2 pneumatic wheels under the main body – which is of a sort of marked – aluminium, & single seated. The MG is controlled by the propellor blades which it fires past but does not hit. Everything is intact so I guess we wont be long in getting a few Fokkers going. The chap who made the Capture is a "Tommy – Cook", & I believe gets a months leave, & a reward "Lucky devil"

9 Chewing kisses yesty & a filling pulled out. Stiff luck today on BHQ guard from 9 am to 7 pm 2 hrs on & 4 off. Went on from 9 to 11 & chucked a few salutes & presents to sundry officers & armed parties Weather as usual, cloudy & cold. Batt leaves for ----- tomorrow morning; closer to the firing line I think. [in margin] Sunday

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Apl 9 Patent beer carts here 2 long stout poles about 24 ins apart are fastened to an iron axle to which is attached the wheels. The poles serve at the same time as shafts & the beer barrels (from 5 to 9) are placed between. Well built & comfortable farmhouses, but the pits & dams etc are almost invariably placed right against the house, consequently one gets a not too pleasant odour in many instances. fruit trees are trained along the walls just like we train a grape vine, & the effect should be rather pretty when the leaves are right out. Many of the men & boys wear black peaked caps similar to those worn by a motor driver. Guard finished at 7 pm & we had to pack our kit as soon as we returned to camp
[in margin] Sunday

10 Left Renescure at 7 am for Uttersteene & picked up the rest of the Brigade enroute. Marched over 3 hours without a spell; many of the chaps fell out &

[Page 73]
Apl 10 were picked up by Red Cross or Transports. Passed a fairly big town called Hazelbrook, & no end of traffic on the road. Motors of all sorts, cavalry, cycle corps’, pedestrians, carts sulkies & buggies passed us in one long stream. Guess theres a blister on my heel & the perspiration & all is oozing through my boots The weather is fine & cool; Heavy artillery bombardment towards which we are apparently getting closer & closer. Passed by General Walker & another head. Arrived Uttersteene at 1 pm which means a 6 hour march, full pack up with only 40 minutes spell. We were expected at 4 pm & I believe there’s going to be an inquiry into the matter. Did from 15 to 17 miles, & there were some blistered feet (mine were sore at any rate) Many of the boys dropped out, & not a few visited the wine shops. Our possie is as usual, a barn & not a patch on the

[Page 74]
Apl 10 last one either. Just about 10 miles from the firing line. Good pond of water just behind us, plenty of straw in the barn, also numerous rats & mice, a pub 50 odd yards away, & several graves (soldiers) scattered here & there. Must pay a visit to the township about a mile distant.
Washed my feet etc took off my sweat soaked shirt & sox, in fact had a good clean up, & am feeling good. Can see two observation balloons, & 1st Army H.Q. is about 2 miles away. Had a bonsa hot shower & Harry changed his clothes & got clean ones; great idea it is – there are a number of Belgian refugees doing nothing else but wash & iron clothes.

11 Guess we are getting close to Belgium, as there are several old Dutch wind-mills scattered here & there (just the sort you see on picture post cards) woke up this morning to the accompaniment of big

[Page 75]
Apl 11 guns, roosters, bugs, mice, rats, a yelling kiddie & - "Kelly" –
No bath parade today on a/c of a Div’ inspection so we cleaned up the farm-yard; & it was some mucky too after rain. Have to carry gas helmets on a/c of aerial gas bombs. The mice are so numerous that they parade in platoons & companies, & even march in columns of route, but owing to lack of rafter- width they are exempted from forming fours.
The big guns are beginning to speak to some purpose, guess the big bombardment has commenced in deadly earnest. Reckon id sooner be in a charge than under fire in a trench, specially if the big naval guns were at it.

12 Turned out at 6.30 this morning – full marching order – for inspection by General Walker, & by gee we did a freeze for an hour or so. They say this is Spring, but I reckon its more like midwinter. Not a bad

[Page 76]
Apl 12 sort of chap this Walker. The Huns sent a rather impolite message to the 2nd Div’, so s’pose they’ll be presenting us with a similar one. Drunk 3 glasses of milk yesty (at 1 per glass) & 3 more this m’ng. Even the children drink the beer in this country & they thrive on it too
A Taube dropped a few bombs close by, & burnt 2 laundry sheds.
Hope they don’t take a liking to our barn. This district is full of spies’, men, women & children, & one cannot trust any of them. Sergt has been telling us about the trenches we are to occupy shortly, & it seems to me that the Huns have the Tommies bluffed. Its up to us to bluff Mr Hun & show him a few points. [in margin] M

13 On Dental parade today & it’s a good move too, seeing that theres a full pack route march on. Marched about a mile or so to the Dentists. There a several rather nice girls

[Page 77]
Apl 13 in the house & they aren’t exactly shy either Do me I guess. Old Sol is trying his damnedest to warm us a little, but the wind & clouds get the upper hand too often. Egypt was the land of sand, but this is a land of mud, nice, black, squelchy stuff. The old Doc isn’t a bad sort, & will always give a chap a hearing ----
Temporary filling put in; have to return next week for a permanent filling. Had a warm shower, got a clean change & am feeling A1.

14 Shifted our quarters this morning to another barn about
200 yd’s away, & had to pack blankets & all; they
couldn’t let us carry our blankets under our arms – "Oh no" –
Rain interfered with drill, but we go for a route March this afternoon, & No 3 platoon goes into, or near the firing line tom’w m’ng. No cigarettes dished out:- only 1 box of matches a man & 1 pipe per section Went into the Village of [in margin] Ada, Sax, Eng.

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Apl 14 Meteren last night & had a look round. There are scores of motor transports all over the place, & all sorts of troops:- Tommies, Canadians, Frenchies, Scots, & Australians. Bough a tin of boot polish (small size) for 1½. Been amusing ourselves looking at an old sow & her litter of 9 silky little piglets. You should have seen them at feeding time. There are 2 rows of teats (12 in all) & by gee they made the pace a welter. After a few minutes their bellies were swollen properly & the old sow was getting a bit uneasy. (No wonder either, with 9 of the young beggars draining the life out of her – Talk about mud, this place is a regular quagmire. An hours route marching after dinner (full pack) with the band in front. On our way back there was a light fall of snow & sleet & rain & we dashed near froze. Too cold for me this France

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Apl 15 Cold as blazes, but still we slept warm all night. Slight fall of snow which has apparently cleared things a little. On Dental parade again & got another temporary filling. Have to return on Monday at 2.30 but we may not be here then: Bomb throwing after dinner; picked up several bombs & grenades & practiced with them for an hour or so. Like the Mills bomb the best, although the old cricket ball isn’t half bad. Saw some very neat snipers possies for the first time.
Concert at the YMCA was A1 although old Mac the Chaplain was largely responsible for its success. He’s a K.Nut is Mac, & knows just how to deal with soldiers. The 3rd Batt Band played several selections, & played them well too. – (Just as all the crowd had settled down for the night Cpl Clegg (in a state of shik) woke the echoes, &

[Page 80]
Apl 15 incidentally roars & laughter from the mob, by trying to sing "My Mary". Shortly after Jack the Cook woke us all up with the information that sundry swine had bombarded the cook house, & that unless an armed guard was supplied "per see" the Chief Chef would decline all responsibility for the Companys breakfast. The tucker in question I might add was – "pork". A couple of nights since the same swine ate our ration of pork & for brek we had "tea & tea" – (At first the boys fairly laughed the cook out of sight) but, becoming duly impressed with the importance of saving their grub, 2 volunteers hopped out & brought the scran inside out of harms way. Our noble friend Harry was one of the heroes, & so fatigued & hungry was he after such strenuous labor that he forthwith ate much bread & jam & even the fact that I plonked my foot & half

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Apl 15 a blanket on to his tucker didn’t worry him overmuch. After more songs etc we turned in for good.

16 got up this morning just in time to miss all the pork (just our rotten luck) so had to open up a tin of Maconochies. Generals Birdwood (Com’ Aust Army) & Walker were present at this mornings Church Parade, but said nil. They are now inspecting the 3rd Batt.
Visited St Waasts Cathedral Bailleul. It’s a beautiful building, the windows & pipe organ being especially fine. The door leading to the belfry was smashed in by the huns & one can see the broken woodwork which has been patched up. There are several large fine old pictures but owing the dim light, & faded state of the canvas, I could only make out dim outlines of figures. The musty atmosphere, caused by incense & lack of ven-
[in margin] Sunday, R

[Page 82

Apl 16 tilation was almost stifling. Bailleul is a fairly large & very busy town & full of soldiers. The cobbles beat me though, too hard on a chaps feet. Every street of any importance is full of motors of all descriptions. Watched several interesting air fights between machines & anti-aircraft guns. Stood by an aerodrome & saw at least 7 planes & 2 balloons in the air at the same time, & the big guns were speaking now & then. Had tea at the YMCA & then strolled home, where a letter from Isabel awaited me, and Harry wanted to pinch the photo, but "Mafeesh". (The blackbirds called from hedges, as we wandered slowly by. We three of the 6th of the 2nd, Harry, Taffy & I. Now Harry’s a staunch New Zealander, Taffy – a Welshman bold, and I – well, im an Australian, whose feet have not yet grown cold.)
Taffy & self are both bombers now, & Harry has promised to provide a fitting burial ---. [in margin] Sunday

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Apl 17 On Dental parade for the last time. Understand we go forward to the firing line tomorrow. Still more rain; wonder will it ever take a tumble & give old Sol a chance. Yesty was a glorious day, fine & clear with a gentle breeze. Bombers parade but I paid a visit to my friend the Dentist. Tomorrow we leave for Armentiere. Called out about 9 oclock tonight as special picket. Dressed in the dark & then marched 3 or 4 miles over hard roads & through sloppy mud for – nothing and didn’t we squeal ‘Oh No’. Lobbed home a couple of hr’s later & had a good tuck in

18 left for Sailly at 12 & arrived at 3 after an 8 or 9 mile trudge through mud varying from 1 to 12 ins in depth, (with a couple of spells enroute) Saw a partially ruined Church which had evidently been struck by an incendiary bomb Drizzling rain fell most of the time & [in margin] Sailly

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Apl 18 during the spells a fellow had to either lie down on the damp mud or grass, or else stand up spreadeagle fashion, pack supported by rifle. Yes we are well acquainted with sunny France & its beautiful roads & wayside hostels for weary travellers. As for us well we trudge on & on with sore feet & aching shoulders through the everlasting mud. But what matters it; we are here to do our bit, & by – we’ll do it too, & anyhow this little barn is one of the best yet. Harry & I put in for Wireless vacancies but don’t think we were successful. Australians can take a tip from the French in the dog line. Have seen them here pulling little carts (milk & pastry mostly), & turning a huge wheel. The dog is placed inside the wheel & once he gets a start on has to keep going to keep on his feet . The power thus derived is used for churning &

[Page 85]
Apl 18 other purposes. The old windmills are some size – something like 40 feet from end to end of the huge fan of which there are two. Paid 40 francs. Harry went to town, but before leaving we broke a bottle of champagne

19 Raining all night. Got up late this m’ng, & bought sundry choc’s etc; Leaving for the trenches this afternoon. Went to Estaires with Harry & had a good time; bought sundry articles & had dinner Fair sized town this & plenty of girls about. Spotted one spy first go but he imshied. Several buildings are shell marked. Met a real nice old F – lady, who took us into her house & entertained us with wine, champagne & biscuits. She said the Australians were so delightfully free & easy.
Left for the trenches at 4.45 & arrived about 8.45 after travelling for miles through mud & over duck boards. Shells

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Apl 19 burst a few hundred yards to our left just near a gun possie. Oh it was great fun coming through the Comm’ trenches in the dark – falling off now & then into a foot or so of mud & water, & slipping & sliding all over the place Every few seconds a flare would go up & occasionally we’d have to duck as the parapets aren’t very high & bullets don’t mind where they go. The guns & trench mortars were dead quiet but even so we strafed the Kaiser no end. Harry & I went on post straight away & did a freeze the whole blessed night. Talk about mud & rain, it would break your heart at any other time. 2 hrs on & 1 off is the roster just now at night, & sleep in the daytime – perhaps.

20 The Dinkums are on our left & have had a few casualties already although this part of the line is dead quiet. Have to cook your own grub in this joint. Harry made the tea this
[in margin] Armentieres Lines (Fleur Bay)

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Apl 20 morning & I helped to drink it. Very few chats, but plenty of mice big rats knocking round. Short rations today on a/c of ours getting lost or something. A few fellows feet are always cold, & very often wet. Must have a screw at Fritz’s trenches later on. Had a great dinner which we cooked ourselves. Fried steak, done to a turn, fried bread, butter Jam, cheese, & tea. Then washed a little of the mud of my noble person & cleaned my teeth. The dugouts aren’t bad & it would take a fair sized shell to settle them. They hold from 1 to 6 men but a chap gets little sleep at night as he’s on duty all night & off during the day. The chaps we relieved are called the "Bantams" or the Lancashire fusiliers & have a dugout on our own now. Just big enough for two & fairly warm too. Gee, the rats are large, dashed near as big as a cat & jolly chunky too. One would hardly

[Page 88]
Apl 20 know there was a war on, everything is so quiet; although there are about a thousand guns within a few miles radius. Good tucker today & self cooked. Steak, fried & maconochies in a stew for tea. Very little wood supplied, so one has to forage along the trenches, & get dry or wet stuff.

21 German anti-air guns wasted about 150 to 200 shells on one of our planes & now they’re after another Looks A1, the shells bursting all round the machine & yet missing it. Rain & still more rain & cold, it would fairly freeze a fellow to death. Believe Fritz has sustained big reverses in Russia & at Verdun Little or nothing doing here, in fact it’s a home from home, only for the mud & cold rain. A couple of loop holes put in tonight for sniping & observing during the day. [in margin] Easter Friday

22 Rotten night last night, only just woke up – 12.30 pm. Recd 2 letters from Eng & Aust. Things are dead quiet –

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Apl 22 On post all night 2 hrs on & 1 hr off, came off dead tired after having practically no sleep & had to go on fatigue. Walked 5 or 6 miles over duckboards & through muddy fields & slushy roads. Now & then a bullet would whiz by – especially when we were crossing the open country. On arrival at the Rail-head the R.Es refused to hand over any material, so we bought chocolate & bread, collected all spare wood available & made for home again. Got back just in time to have tea & go on duty. Our Dr reckons the men can’t stand the hardships so we may go out shortly

23. Had a fairly good night, but had to go on duty again at 5 am. Just at dawn a lark soared up above our "little wet home" & our feathered friends in the trees behind the firing line started their morning song. Sad to relate A Coy had its first casualty shortly [in margin] Sunday

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Apl 23 after, when a private was killed by a bullet through the head. Evidently he exposed himself too much. Had a great tuck in for brek’, Fried bacon tea, bread, toast, jam & butter & am feeling good. Plenty of coal & wood, so warmed our dugout up last night & things were A1; a real home in fact. Fine weather for about the 2nd time in 6 months, but the guns are fetching the rain again. These aeronauts of ours are dead game. They fly low down over the German Lines despite a rain of machine gun & rifle bullets & scores of bursting shells. The "Mad Major", artillery observers the gamest of the lot. Bit of a bombardment this afternoon but nothing serious. Harry has a telescopic rifle & does a bit of a sniping now & then.
[in margin] Easter Sunday

24 Fairly rotten night, feet sore as blazes. One of our chaps in C Coy was wounded in the ankle Woods & I were in our

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Apl 24 dugout, when a mine exploded & shook the whole parapet, & then sundry bombs went off & livened things up a bit. The Huns blew out one or two of our guns, & exploded an ammunition store, but we caught their spy. Our planes are busy over the enemies lines & several hundred shots have been wasted on them. Must write a few letters shortly. Another mine or else a big bomb exploded & shook things a bit The Huns charged the 28 Batt & our boys went over to meet them. It was a silly thing to do as our machine guns had to play on our own men to keep the Huns down. [in margin] Pc M

25 Beautiful day, in fact its damned hot. Had a real good wash & then got the dinner ready. Flies are beginning to buzz round & chats give one hurry up night & day ----

Later Wounded in head & left eye at 3.30 pm by [in margin] Anniv of Gallipoli landing

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Apl 25 German sniper. Just put my rifle through the loophole & was drawing a bead on him when – Bang – his bullet smashed on to the iron plate of my loophole. Hardly knew what had happened at first but the blood soon put me wise Stretcher Bearers bound up my nut & poor old Harry rushed out of our dugout (not knowing how badly I might have got it)
Walked a mile or two to the AMC where the wound was washed & dressed & then tramped a couple more miles to the Motor ambulance which took us to an Aust Hosp where the wound was again washed & dressed & I was blanketed & given hot water bottles. Went from there to an Eng Hosp at Merville where 2 or 3 Docs examined the eye. Am afraid it wont be much good to me again –

[Page 93]
Apl 26 Had a jolly bad night but feeling much better today except for the pain in the eye. Must try & Cable to Mum. Expect to leave for the Aust Base Hosp today. This Hosp is in a beautiful big Church so you can guess the light isn’t much good, & the atmosphere is rather depressing. Several of the 9 Batt in here some of them badly wounded. Everybody has treated me excellently so far.
Left for Boulogne by special motor, a distance of 60 miles & arrived at the eye Hosp 4 hrs later. The Doc informed me that my left eye is useless so hes taking it out tomorrow morning.
[in margin] 13th Stationary Boulogne Merville Hosp

27 Slept very badly last night, but feeling fairly good this mng. This is a jolly nice place but dont go stacks on the Nurses. Give me our own

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Apl 27 girls every time The sea is distant only a few hundred yards & I can hear the boats as they come in. Hope to see them shortly. Guess im finished now as far as war is concerned. Expect to leave for Eng shortly & then for Dear old Australia Theres a Canadian on my right but nearly all the other chaps are Tommies. The Orderlies are rather too fond of showing their authority, although they’re not bad chaps. My bed seems to trouble the Head Sister greatly as she is most correct & im rather restless & inclined to kick the clothes off & generally muck up. We have one Semi-Aust Nurse who is a bit of a sport
[in margin] Anophthalmos Excision

28 Had my left eye taken out yesty afternoon & slept fairly well despite a rotten toothache. The anaesthetic didn’t worry we much; just a sort

[Page 95]
Apl 28 of tingling sensation all over, ringing of bells at the head & felt a slight tightening of the chest. Feel OK this morning, except that the bandage presses on the eye & makes it feel a bit crook. Had a nice warm bath & a shave, & am feeling tip top. The Doc says im to go to London in a few days time. Do me every time. No drinking water available so you can understand how dry we are. Just finished half a doz letters. Not bad for a one-eyed chap. What? Its a case of the blind helping the blind in this joint.
My no is 5, & I am apptd to look after No 6 who has lost most of his left hand & is injured in 2 eyes. All the chaps are cheerful & don’t worry much. Our Comedian, Johns, (who has both eyes bandaged up) is the life of the Company. The grub we get is
[in margin] Mill M Eng. H. JC.

[Page 96]
Apl 28 pretty good, but theres a shortage of water. Plenty of cigs & there are flowers & ferns placed here & there.

29 Another 2 Batt chap here now: – Carr). Believe Australians don’t go to London. Rotten luck for me. Must apply for leave from H Qs. Made my own bed today as all fit patients do. Also did some dusting & incidentally a skirmish with the Matron. Met another Aust cobber from the 2nd FA. He says we travel overland to Marseille & embark there for Australia. Wrote to Andy Fisher re leave of absence to England. C of E Parson came round & I told him I was a freethinking Australian. Lovely weather the last few days & its great, lying on the green grass out in the glorious sunshine. Can see part of the Harbor & the piers from the back of the Hospital & now & again a train rattles past on our left.

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Apl 30 Sunday today, & some of the boys have gone to C of E early Communion which is held at 6.30, as for me I must get busy & write a few more letters else my friends will be thinking I’ve passed it in. Asked the Colonel about a cable but he doesn’t appear to Compree, so have posted it to Uncle Jim. My present wealth amounts to 22 odd Francs but cant get out to spend any of it. At the 1st F.A. on the 26th the Doc inoculated me in the stomach; what for I havnt the least idea. Yesterday, because I did’nt stand up all the time the Doc was in the Ward the old cat of a Matron went dead sore; & today she did her block because I spoke to the Canadian next to me.
‘Talk about rough’. These Tommy Hospitals are the dead limit & I’ll be damn glad to get away. The buildings are of iron & lined with a sort of smooth iron. Plenty of ventilation, dark blue blinds, red bed covers,
[in margin] Sunday

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Apl 30 stained floor, with a strip of brown lino up the centre. Centre table with green & white tiled top & with brass edging, & several small tables acting as stands for flowers & ferns. Had a nice hot bath but unluckily attempted to blow my nose; thought my head had come off, by the jar it gave my eye. Told the C of E parson I was an Aust Freethinker, & he sheered off. Been sitting at the main entrance gazing out to sea & watching the nice girls go past, & they are nice too.

May 1 Cloudy & cool. Chaps keep coming & going. There are several Australian Sisters giving a hand in this Hospital. Met one this morning. A fellow cant even look out of the main entrance gate now. The D— Tommy police block him. Stone the crows I don’t want to be in any more of their Hospitals. There’s a Canadian on my left whose speech is very like that of Uncle Albert. I’m going over to Blighty (home)
[in margin] R

[Page 99]
May 1 is a favourite saying of Tommies & Canadians

2 Several cases came in last night, some suffering from gas. Appears that Fritz has been using gas all along the line. Wonder when our guns will open up, & our mines begin to roar? During my short 6 days in, they hardly spoke at all – despite the fact that the Huns shelled our reserves & supports every day, & got a fair number two – including some munitions & a gun or two. Can’t understand why civies are allowed so close to the firing line, because half of them are spies, in the pay of the Hun. Rather heavy rain this mng, accompanied by thunder & lightening, but its over now & everythings beautifully cool. A fellow cant wander far in this Caboose, why, if you even go near the gate an MP is sure to go crook, & I told one of em off t’other day, but don’t spose that helped any.

3 No parcels or letters yet,

[Page 100]
May 3 but they may turn up later. Never know your luck. Believe im to go to Marseille although the Doc has said nothing yet. Cold & dull all day. Ward gradually being cleared out – possibly in view of the big offensive. Been polishing the floor & feeding the bed patients, & etc; helps to fill in the time. The Leather Hosp slippers have no backs & I cant manipulate them, so Nurse presented me with a pair of size 12 green & red slippers, & gave me strict instructions not to use them outside, & of course I don’t. Oh No! Anyhow they do stay on mostly, although I look more like a ‘Roo than ever. [in margin] Ess

4"Australia" the Tommies call me, & I call them – well – the first name available.

"Boulogne today" Seated on a grassy bank, out in the glorious spring sunshine, midst a riot of daisies & buttercups. On the left, rising out of its setting of green, the roof of a beautiful chateau, Napoleons Monument & several picturesque

[Page 101]
May 4 old buildings their red tiled roofs lending an added charm. In front, showing above the buildings of the Hosp, glimpses of the Harbor; a little to the left, the dark mouth of a Railway Tunnel & beyond that again the spire & dome of the Cathedral, & 2 windmills (the old & the new) standing side by side. And stretching away on all sides that glorious carpet of green.
Napoleons Monument is a fine big stone column for all the world like a big lighthouse – with a figure of Nap’ perched on top. It was from here that he intended invading England, but evidently the British fleet made him alter his mind. The Wesleyan parson a decent little chap, has been round too see me a couple of times. No quiver about him either. Not a bad gramophone in this joint. [in margin] M

5 Heard a bugle this m’ng for the first time in many days. The Scotch Sister has gone & theres an Aust in her place; good

[Page 102]
May 5 thing too. Two other chaps of A Coy came in last night. Weather is close & muggy. No letters yet, cant understand why.

6 Can’t even get my teeth attended to owing to the damn-fool way they are messing us up Lord knows when I’ll get away, or where ill go to. Believe our boys were in the firing line for 14 or 15 days & are now in supports. Hope Harry is OK. Have written Jack Curtis. Rather pretty sight on the Harbor, the Hospital ship steaming out, several little fishing smacks dotted here & there, the long dark line of the breakers & a couple of destroyers. Can almost see the old Country across the water the weather is so fine & clear. Got a pipe today from the Matron had a few puffs & then gave it & the bacca to one of the other patients. Still hanging to my cigs though would like to get hold of those cigars from Australia. See that our Navy has doused a couple more Zeps. Good luck to ‘em. [in margin] Mill

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May 6 Rec’d 3 letters from England dated May 2 & 3rd. Uncle Jim sent on my cable to Mum so thats OK.

7 Rec’d another letter from England dated May 23nd. Another Aust came in last night. Believe the 20 Batt was cut up a bit by Artillery fire. Booked for the Base & expect to leave here tomorrow afternoon, possibly for Etaple.
Cold & showery all day, gets on a fellows nerves. Believe there was Church but I was busy watching the promenaders and admiring the ladies. Had a hot-cold shower just the thing to buck a fellow up. [in margin] Sunday

8 Leaving here today, I am not sorry either. Will do a chap good to get out & stretch his legs. Tommy togs dished out to me, not a bad fit, but will be pleased to get our own at Base. Left Hosp at 2.30 per a 6 seater Car for the Base & arrived shortly after. Sleeping in bell tents on a wooden floor. Bit different to Hosp

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May 8 beds, but still dry & fairly warm. Have got 2 blankets & my greatcoat Struck 2 other Australians at the Ref’ Bar, had tea & cake & then strolled off down town. We are allowed off from 4.30 to 8.30 but must be here in the tent by 9. 10 of us in here including Canadians, Africans, English & Australians, & they’re a fairly decent crowd. Boulogne itself is rather pretty especially round about the Cathedral & Park where the fine old elms are showing their spring leaves. We went down per tram (there are some stiff gradients too) but walked back – a distance of about 2 miles. Struck it lucky at the Canadian pay office & got 25 Francs, so am now financial: – (40F) Some of our chaps are booked for Aust, but I believe a glass-eyed Tommy was sent back to the Trenches.
Hours are as follows – Reveille 5.30, brek 6 am [in margin] Marlboro’ Camp

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May 8 fall in 6.45, dinner 12, fall in 1 pm, tea at 4 pm. Some of the boys get fatigue, such as filling sand bags etc but im not looking for work

9 Rain, rain, rain, all day yesterday & again today, & damn cold too. Tea, ham, bread butter & jam for brek, & then we fell in for Roll Call. This chick was put on fatigue cleaning up the lines, but he didn’t do very much cleaning up. Fell in at 10 for sick parade & heard what the Quack has to say for himself. Not a bad Canteen, tea etc ‘1, & cakes 1½ each. Women from England are running it. Theres a "Gussy" Eng’ Cpl; on my right but he’s going away today. Went before the Doc at 10.30 & have to be boarded in a couple of days. Hope to get through OK. Went down town again in the rain & had a look round. Cant see too much though with only one eye.

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May 10 Did a bit of a shiver last night. Fine, cold & cloudy today, with the prospect of more rain very shortly. Am exempted from fatigues, feeling fairly good, but must have a shave & a bath shortly. Bought my grub at the Canteen as usual, its cheap & good. More Australians came in today. The Sgts here are a pretty rotten lot, but our boys are telling them off & knocking a damn lot of the sauce out of them. Had a shave down town, got the nails taken out of my boots, & a pair of rubbers fastened on. Could not find the Y.M.C.A to get a bath but ran across a Wesleyan Chapel where sundry refreshments were procurable.
[in margin] (Eng), M

11 Bit of an argument in the tent last night, & a cockney had most to say. Pity some of these fellows couldnt have a look round. Dull & cold today. More rain I think. No letters yet. Scored another blanket last night & consequently slept a lot warmer. Well drained camp this. No chance of being

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May 11 flooded out, & its run better than our Aust Detail Camps. In front is the Canadian Hosp surrounded by a low stone wall & a small forest of trees – mostly elms. On the left – Canadian Conv Camp, on the right the main road & a British Conv Camp, & to the rear, ploughed ground & several clumps of trees. The boys are playing a friendly game of cricket & causing a little amusement. Occasionally the ball lobs on a tent & of course the occupants do a bit of a roar – or else "duck". Two of my cobbers left today for the Destructor. Did a bit of dusting at the Canteen, & then played Bobs? for a while. Went for a stroll to No 13 Hosp & got a letter which arrived ye’sty from Ethel. Also visited Nap’s Monument but was too late to go up top. The surrounding gardens are lovely & on the way to & from Hosp I had some lovely views of the ocean, & the country round about. Plenty of girls knocking around.

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May 12 Same old thing always cloudy & cold. Some argument in the tent last night, but I kept well out of it – you bet – Must get a bath today.
(Later) Hoo-blooming-ray discovered the bath room & had a bonza shower. Red hot & then icy cold. Gee it was great. Tomorrow the board sits & I’ll hear the verdict. These Frenchies breed beautiful cows, & draught horses. Would like to own a few in Australia like them. Wonder how Harry is getting along up the line or if he has had the bad luck to stop one. (Thus I write from the top of Napoleons Column). For sheer peaceful beauty the scene from this vantage point is absolutely the best yet. The far stretching fields intersected by innumerable hedges & a score of winding ribbon-like roads; the town itself with its fine old Cathedral from whose tower the bells are even now pealing forth; the Harbor from whence

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May 12 rises the smoke of many steamers – intermingling with that of the great factories. Beneath the beautiful grounds surrounding the column, & then the sea, that far famed sea of the North on whose bosom floats our mighty Fleet, the terror of the Hun, but the pride of every Britisher. But naught see I except a few small steamers, tugs & sailing craft. The surface is calm, almost without a ripple & beyond hardly discernable, is the coast of England. One would hardly realise that the world is at war, if it were not for the many tents dotted here & there on the landscape, & the groups of soldiers passing to & fro along the roads. And yet – what hidden dangers may be lurking beneath the calm surface of yon sea, what enemies even in our midst. (words fail utterly to convey any adequate idea of the beauty of the scene, so I guess ill stop)

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May 13 Raining the greater part of the night & still at it. Going before the Board this morning to take the verdict – Later – They’d give a fellow the pip these Doctors. Have got to wait now for a special report from the Doc at No 13 Hospital. Visited the Barbers & was shaved by a lady, not a bad shave either.

14 Parade as usual, but no Church as far as I can make out. Fine & clear. The old S.M. went crook & told me off to fasten up the flaps of the Guard tent. These Tommy N.C.Os are a lot of damned rotters. The grub is improving some; yesterdays dinner was OK & there was rice pudding to finish up on – Mistake re Church. A Y.M.C.A. chap chatted to us for half an hour or so & then I trekked for the Ref Canteen & demolished tea & sandwiches. The Parson spoke fairly well, but he’s young – younger than yours truly – & that’s saying a lot. Put up a score
[in margin] Sunday

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May 14 of 53 on the Bols table. Not bad for a little un. Fairly decent town this Boulogne despite its cobbles & its narrow winding streets Market day in the Square is rather a busy day, war or no war, & of course all the selling is done by women or old men. The G.P.O & the Cathedral are both fine buildings, the former being right down near the Quay; But strange to say it only appears to have one entrance & exit, IE. through a large swing-door. Many of the shop windows are tastefully dressed, but I haven’t noticed any English business places. The one everlasting complaint from our boys is, "what a rotten climate" & they are all longing to get back to Sunny Australia, & the free open spaces – And being imprisoned in this Camp for 20 hrs out of the 24 is literally killing us. Why in Egypt we could do what we darned well liked the greater part of
[in margin] Sunday

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May 14 the day & we were paid our 2/- a day also. – Rec’d letter from J. Curtis He is OK & got through the bombardment safely – "How stiff I am" Australians are now being sent to Eng’ from the Hospitals, & here am I fooling round waiting for the Board on Tuesday & incidentally dodging toil.

"Seated on top of the cliffs listening to the roar of the breakers on the rocks & sand far below. Standing about 2 or 3 yds from the shore is what appears to be the remains of an old lighthouse. A cold misty rain is beginning to sweep inshore from the Channel, so think ill do a bunk home. Some of our boys leave the Hosp tonight for Eng’=

15 Rain, & still more rain. Wonder will it ever stop. These Mps have good jobs One fellow just stands at the main entrance to stop us from going out & every hour he belts half a steel rail with a small but weighty hammer – that’s our town clock [in margin] Mill, HC, (R)

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May 15 Walked through lanes & byways down towards the town & then explored St Josephs Cathedral. Sorry I couldn’t get up top, but all the same the lower part is beautiful & was well worth any trouble. Round 2 sides of the church & some distance from it runs a wide shady walk hemmed in on both sides by stout brick walls. From the top of the outer wall (which is 5 ft thick in one place) one can look out over the city below. Alongside the wharves were scores of fishing boats, (mostly sailors) & several liners & a Hospital ship. On one part of the wharf was a mine about 3 ft in diameter, which had been raked out of the Channel. Trains & trams were everywhere (almost as common as soldiers). Weighed myself 75 Kilos & then had a look inside the Post office.

16 Woke up during the night to the accompaniment of bombs – evidently from enemy aircraft. Am not going before todays board

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May 16 Spose a fellow will get away some day. This Tommy uniform gets on my nerves every time, & in fact all the time. –

Successfully dodged all toil & then had a shave & haircut. 5 pm am up again on the wall which surrounds the Church of St Joseph. Gee its lovely up here above the crowd & the City. Heard a whisper that im booked for Eng.

17 Paraded down to C.M.I.R. this morning for what I don’t know. Evidently the Heads like to muck a fellow about as much as possible Rather heavy fog, so the day should be fine – Here I am again at No. 13 Stationary waiting for the Doc to turn up. Must word him & see what can be done. – Later – Met the Doc & he straightaway sent me to Hospital again & marked me for England. Guess my luck has turned at last, he’s some Doctor too & you bet I’m jolly pleased to be back again in the same Ward. Some of the boys are still here.

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May 17 Went to short sing song & service (C of E) & rather enjoyed it.

18 Had a chat to Sister last night & then straightaway slept until the Orderly woke me at 5 am & wanted to wash me. Guess I can do that little job myself.

Went for a little stroll to the head of the lane – The Channel lay- shrouded in a thick fog blanket, through which issued at odd intervals the roar of a fog horn from an incoming liner. The sail of a fishing smack, the Pier-head & a few scattered rocks close inshore were dimly discernible. –

The night orderly looked rather hard at his slippers this morning, because don’t you see, I pinched them last night. Going to England tomorrow, so hope the sun keeps shining. Today has been glorious. A waterplane just slipped in from the Channel, dipped lightly into the water & thence into the Harbor. They’ll be having aerial submarines soon.

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May 19 Leaving for Eng this morning. An Australian Sister whom I had known in Luna Park Hosp. came in to see me this morning. Am marked for the 2nd London Genl Hosp, St Marks Chelsea – per the St George, Southampton.
Takes us about 9 hours to do the trip to England. Sailed at 12 noon. Lovely day, & the sea is calm – no end. Nearly all Tommies in this ward (E)
Somehow I always seem to strike Ward E wherever I go. She’s pretty slick this boat, 17 to 20 or more I reckon. Jolly nice Sister in this ward, good beds.
Choc’s & plenty of reading matter. Passed the Isle of Wight – on our left – (& a nifty little Isle it is too) & are now heading for Southampton. The County is pretty & beautifully green – but low. You should have seen how we zig-zagged coming in to dodge our own mines & Torpedo Nets. Must write Uncle & Harry tonight or tomorrow. Anchored here for the

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May 19 night just off Southampton. Cigs dished out after tea,

20 Glorious morning. One or two tramps passing along the fairway. On our Right is dear old England & on the left the beautiful Isle of Wight its foreshores literally covered with trees out of which peep a few fine old buildings or mayhap even an ancient Castle.

Left the boat about 9.30 waited on the platform for over half an hour & then entrained. We are now waiting just outside Southampton – what for I don’t know. – Just finished a bowl of tea some bread & jam & a cig! There are several women carriage cleaners outside yarning to the boys, mostly middle aged & grey haired women.
(3rd London Genl Hosp Wandsworth SW) Arrived here per motor from Waterloo Station about 3.40 had Cocoa, a hot bath, & then tea. Am in Ward D3, & there are some of our boys here.
[in margin] London

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May 20 Jolly good open air Concert in the grounds. Rather a decent Hosp this, & the grounds are A1, & of course the Nurses. You bet.

21 And at 2 am today the clocks were put forward one hour & this morning we got up an hour earlier. Lord is it any wonder that I felt sleepy. Gee! Last night at 8 oclock was real daylight (or twilight) & 8 is our bedtime, so whats it going to be tonight. The sun will be shining im thinking.
Feeling A1 after a shave & a brush up. Went to Church (Non Con) & meanwhile the Sister was looking all over the place for me. Big crowd of visitors in today. Rather warm in the Sun. Struck a couple of our chaps & we were yarning together when a lady took our photo & promised to send the result along later. Not a bad Hosp, no men orderlies & good nurses. In fact its better than being in France.
[in margin] Sunday

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May 22 Another Roo came into the ward last night suffering from eye & ear troubles. This morning we had to undress again & go to bed, just for the Quack to make a cursory groin inspection. Dinkum, it’s a prison this joint, although otherwise we are treated alright. Gee i’d love to be back in sunny NSW. Just been to the Aust Store & drew tooth paste, razor etc, jolly handy little place it is. Aunty (Mrs Firth) Mary & Phyllis came along this afternoon & we had a long chat. Rather like them all, & hope to see Uncle later on. Was surprised to see 2 girls because I had forgotten all about Phyl (The Child) Seemed funny too calling Mrs F "Aunt", but spose ill get over that.

23 Turned out about 5.30 (:- 6.30 new time). There are a couple of ladders near

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May 23 the boundary wall so I perched on top of one & got a good view of the Street opposite. Nothing much doing though – a couple of veterans levelling the grass, a milk cart or two, & sundry John Hops & civvys. Dinky weather though.
Women carriage cleaners get 2/8 a day the same as those in Hosp, Gangers 4/8, Telegraph Messengers 7/- a week with 1/- rise every year, the latter have pretty good uniforms & black caps.
Accidentally burnt Auntys address so had to wire to Uncle Jim for it in order to post a couple of Hospital passes. Just yarned to a couple of girls over the wall & made an appt’ for tomorrow afternoon. Oh wretched soldiers! Am afraid though I’m out of it as Uncle will no doubt be coming tm’w.
Good Concert tonight - in the Rec Room. The specialist (a Qld’er) said I could have a glass eye so expect I wont be here long. [in margin] M

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May 24 Up late as usual. Visiting day today, & the weather is tip top.
Was perched up on the barbed wire fence t’other night yarning to the people outside & listening to the band when a Tommy Officer ordered me down.
Am afraid I hastened slowly, but then Tommy officers are enough to give a fellow the pip. Aunt & another lady came to see me this afternoon & brought sundry bunches of flowers which the Matron straightaway took possession off. We sat on the Lawn in a nice shady spot & yarned for an hour or so until the whistle sounded Rec’d letters from Ethel & Uncle Jim. [in margin] (Mill)

25 Rather cool with a little wind & rain. 2 more letters from Sue &
Uncle Jim. Did a bit of brass & floor polishing & feel better for the exercise. Just been watching the LSWR trains rattle past. There are electrics & ordinaries running [in margin] R, AD

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May 25 every few minutes. Feeling a wee bit tired I lay down on the grass & straightaway went to sleep. Had a real fine game of Croquet this afternoon There were 8 of us all told, & we enjoyed ourselves no end, also played Bobs for a while.

26 The boys pulled my mattress & all off this morning so I slept on the floor for a while. Another game of croquet. Its like old times & Cotswold.
This afternoon "The City of London Police Athletic Club" gave a tip top entertainment this afternoon in the grounds. The Ex Queen of Portugal was present & enjoyed herself as much as the boys. As for me well, - two rather nice girls sat down beside another chap & I & we were (shall I say) in our element. Rec’d 2 letters, one from Ethel contained a Postal Note & I don’t know whether to return it or not.

27 Pulled clean out of

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May 27 bed this morning & deposited on the floor clothes & all & then the bed was upended, so thought it was time to wake up & have a bath. Beautifully cool & clear Going Harefield today or Monday. Am to see Doc this morning. Later saw Doc & expect to leave here next week. Unable visit Auntie Em, so wired them.
Motored out to St Annes Hall where we were well entertained by the Ladies & gents & pupils. The Kiddies dancing was splendid & Miss Maxted singing couldn’t be beat, & the boys clapped & stamped a treat, one little tot – "6 year old Questa" - brought the house down with her dancing. Altogether we had a ripping time & returned home just in time to listen to the last 3 items of another Concert.

28 Sleep did you say? I should think we did after the excitement of yesty. Wonder how the boys [in margin] Sunday

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May 28 at the front are faring. Missed Church, but finished "Ravenshoe" one of Kingsleys. Auntie, Uncle, Phyl & Mary came along this afternoon & we "sprawled" on the grass for an hour or two – watching the trains & buses whiz by & yarning a treat. Talk about perfect weather – its great! Am leaving for Harefield tomorrow. Didnt know until 5 pm today, so have written Auntie Em. Nearly forgot to mention the fruit flowers, eggs & cigs which they brought me. Met several chaps in the adjacent Wards who were with me in E Ward over at Boulogne, & one of em the Canadian, straightaway apptd me as Sec’y, & gave me 2 letters to write, & then shortly after, one of our own chaps got me on the same gag. They reckon that they cant see to write. We soon polished off the fruit, & one of the boys fastened onto the cigs. [in margin] Sunday

29 Leaving for Harefield at 2 pm & am now

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May 29 togged out as a Kitcheners Army man. Oh Lord! These women! & their letters. Have just received three long effusive epistles from Leeds. Ewart my son, I’m afraid you’re in for it; & it’s a pity too, because you hate visiting & kidstakes. And again you’ll have to behave real well – perhaps "Gods demesne, Australia" is for "mine" always. Just licked a couple of other patients at Croquet; rather a nice, quiet game it is – for one eyed men. Left for Harefield per motor bus at 2 pm. My mate & I were on top & had a glorious view. We passed through some beautiful Country, made a fellow feel happy to be alive & well. Arrived here about 4.30 changed into Hosp suits, saw the Doc, & then had tea. It’s a ripping place & our own nurses too! The village is just close by & the grounds & country round about are beautiful. A fellow can go for a nice
[in margin] Harefield

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May 29 long ramble too, & although its dead quiet one doesn’t mind that in the least. It’s a relief too to get away from the squabbling of the Tommies & all the red tape.

30 Slept real well after a good shower last night. Pratted my frame through the door & got a job. You bet I handled that mop to some purpose. First came the brush on a long handle then two rubber scrapers – also on long handles & last of all the mop. Each bucket of water was diluted with fenile, & we did the job in no time.
Played croquet nearly all the afternoon, but was licked 2 out 3 times. Jolly good games they were too. Slight rain but nothing to speak of. Wrote several letters – incl one for another chap. Everything one wants here, Library, Billiards & Concert Rooms, Canteen Croquet Lawn, Red x store etc.

31 Dodged toil this mng, & went for a bit of a stroll round the grounds

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May 31 The Colonel said I would be able to go back to my job at home, but he didn’t say when! & I don’t want a job on the staff. Went to the Dentist this morning & suffering a few more twinges, he’s not finished yet either by a long way. Played several games of croquet & then went to listen to & watch the Concert which was given by several tip top artists – mostly juveniles, and it was good too – real good & the surroundings perfect. You bet the boys appreciate it all - Being wounded & sick isn’t half bad I can tell you. Our suits (Hospital) are black & look better & feel more comfortable than the blue’s we had at No 3. London.

June 1 Board sits today I believe, but don’t think I’m for it. Later. Am marked Unfit for Active Service, but fit for light duties & go before the board this afternoon. Hope they don’t give me a job in England. –
"Been before the Board & the Colonel & I spoke

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June 1 thusly – "You were unlucky enough to stop one"? – Yes. "Alright – you needn’t wait". Exit me.
Tip top Concert tonight. First class singing, reciting & acting, & a slashingly original comic – one of the best ive seen. The party comes down to Harefield every Thursday night.

2 Reveille woke me this morning. The twilight lasts for such a darned long time in this country, that a fellow cant get to sleep. Passed one Board but have to go before another tomorrow mng. Rec’d 9 letters from Aust & 3 from Eng – all addressed to Egypt. Waited round the Office for 2 or 3 hours, & was told to come back – later –

3 Won a game of Croquet; "for a wonder" Rather chilly in the shade but good on the Lawn.
Went before the board, but know nil. Also saw the Major re a glass eye. Am to visit him again on Wed & the dentist on Monday.

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June 3 Jolly good Concert after tea, given by a Choir from London. Guess we don’t suffer from lack of entertainment. Also received two letters (1 from Australia)

4 Shall we go to Church? Or! Think I’d better sweep out the Ward & then have a shave. Coot of a day, been raining like the very devil all day. The boys are busy playing cards, stretched out on their beds, or else walking up & down outside the Wards trying to keep warm. My job is letter writing.
Sister just collected some cash from the boys & provided us with tea & cakes. Premier Ryan of Qld gave a short address tonight in the Mess Room He speaks well too & the boys, as usual fairly made the rafters shake. [in margin] Sunday, Ess

5 About 1 am No 17, who has only one leg, let out 3 awful yells which woke himself & everybody else, & then he calmly asked the AMC Sgt for a drink of water

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The Sgt I may say hurried not at all & poor old 17 is being bantered no end this mng. Raining nearly all day, but managed to have a few games on the lawn. Am booked for Australia the Doc says.

6 Received 6 letters from Australia all pretty old though. Finished with the Dentist thank goodness – for a month or two. Eye still discharging a good deal, & my nut aches. Dished em up on the croquet lawn today. Rain nearly all gone.

7 Beautiful day, just like Sept in New South Rec’d 6 more letters – including 3 from Australia Cabled Dad for a fiver. Wonder will he bring it along, because I want to buy a tunic.
Raining like blazes again. Going to London tomorrow to have a glass eye fitted in, but have been refused leave. (Later) Granted 10 days leave & a free pass. [in margin] R

8 Going London this morning, & as the weather is tip top we

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June 8 should have a nice drive in the car. This Tommy rigout kills me though, its dead rotten. Arrived London (per train) about 11, fixed up things generally at Horseferry, drew £ 4 & purchased a tunic for 45/- & had dinner at the Anzac Buffet They dish it out for nix too) Met Arthur Kingsbury there. He has been on the sick list & is working now at Horseferry Road as a clerk. The major could not supply me with an eye, so im going to wait until the 17th for one. Had a real nice trip to Bristol where we arrived at 5.50. The Portishead train leaves at 6.20 & I’ve wired Uncle Jim to meet me. Passed through beautiful country but theres not the cultivation one sees in France. The trouble is that the towns are too thickly populated , therefore the country suffers for it. Uncle Jim met me at Portishead Stn, & knew me instantly. Hes just like

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June 8 Dad only for the whiskers. Drove to the Cottage about 3 miles, & discovered Auntie feeding the chooks. It’s a natty little cottage, good big garden, plenty of ducks & fowls & of course heaps of grass. Guess Uncle put in a lot of hard work because the ground is very stony (turned in at 12)

9 Up about 8 after a good night, in fact I didn’t like getting up at all. Ethel wants me to go to Leeds, but I’m nearly broke. Uncle says he’s going to pay my fare but I don’t like the idea. Hope Dad cables that fiver. "Oh this confounded cash! Went for a long walk with Uncle in & around Portishead. The scenery here is simply glorious ( & of course there are the boats in the Channel. I tell you we walked a devil of a long way too Had a splendid dinner, Auntie is a first class cook alright. After dinner we walked through a lovely valley (about 3

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June 9 miles distant) to the pretty coastal town of Clevedon, with its beautiful coastal scenery. In fact it surpassed anything I have yet seen & English people are justly proud of their little Island, & have no need to go abroad for sight seeing purposes. We had some excellent tea at a nice clean café, for which Uncle paid. (only hope Dad Cables that fiver) & then wandered along the sea front & through lovely tree lined streets. The buildings are mostly of stone & are tile roofed & the majority of them are covered in many places with vines. Dodged the rain fairly well & landed home at 9 oclock

10 Rec’d a wire from Ethel so got £ 2 from Uncle & left for Leeds this mng at 6.50. Uncle came part of the way with me though & saw me safely on the Midland train. Had a good trip, although it was raining at Leeds when we arrived. Met a traveller from Australia on board, & we

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June 10 a good long yarn about N.S.W. & the boys. Arthur met me at the train & we walked to the nearest tram & then home. Ethel is rather jolly & I like her, but I decline to go visiting – (Later) Ethel & I do go visiting but the people are really jolly & I enjoyed it no end. Also saw Isabel (in fact we stayed there for tea) but I was rather disappointed in her. "Such is life – &and: photographers". Caught some rain but only a little. After tea Arthur & I strolled through the main part of the City & then trammed back, called at the Liberal Club for an hour or so & from there home. Leeds is far bigger than I thought it was (pop of 400,000) & it isn’t a very dirty City. The tram service is good, & of course they are all double deckers & not single like Sy trams.

11 Up at 7am & went for short stroll & bought a couple of papers & some chocs. After brek we all went to Church & I’m sorry to say! Giggled muchly, but such is life [in margin] Sunday

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June 11 He wasn’t a bad poor beggar of a parson but still he could have been better. After Church a middle aged lady nearly fell on my neck & kissed me. Of course I didn’t mind but would have preferred one of the girls. The rain still hangs about. Trammed to the gardens this afternoon, & then walked back. Would like a few days more to have a good look round & as for girls – gee! There are hundreds of them – in fact thousands! Isabel smokes cigs! Good time tonight, 3 lady visitors & 1 gent.

12 Still like rain, must visit the Barber. Arthur & I went for a run through the City. Mr Wilson showed us over the Electrical Show Rooms & it was jolly interesting too. Rain Mafeesh so far. After dinner we went to the famous Old Abbey – (1058) then to the Jewish School for Ethel. The Kiddies were characters too. Had tea & the

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picture palace, & then listened to the orchestra & enjoyed the pictures for a couple of hours. After that an evening at Mrs Wilsons & it was tiptop. Landed home at 12.15 feeling tired & sleepy, but happy.

13 Up late of course, about 8.15. Left Leeds for Swindon at 10.55; both Ethel & Arthur were at the Station to see me off. Cold as blazes & like rain. Left Cheltenham at 3 for Swindon. Feeling jolly tired & a bit hungry Uncle Jim met me at Swindon & we strolled down the main Street to Auntie Nances where we had tea with the family Nance is very much like Em, & they are both like Dad. Ike was at Wootton Bassett Station to meet us. I had no idea that Auntie Sue was so small, but she’s jolly nice & I can understand why she got on so well with Mum. Ike looks real well, the single life I guess. What caught my eye was the old town Hall in the

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June 13 centre of the main street (High St) The town itself is quiet & old-world Pop’ about 2,000

14 Some winter weather this Wonder what Dad would think of it. Sue uses the room in which he was born. Little did I think a couple of years Since that I would ever set eyes on England, let alone come right here. On the way down from Cheltenham I noticed several familiar names which I had often heard at home. On the other hand we passed (on the Bristol line) the town of Tamworth & I felt almost inclined to get out & pay a visit to the Office, but that Office is over 12,000 miles away from here.
The Wesleyan Chapel just opposite is dated 1858, so it must have been built before Dads time. Had a good look round, inspected the C of E & the graveyard. The Church is very old – having been built in 1300 & it has all the latest improvements, "heaters etc" Saw Grandmothers & Grandfathers graves –

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June 14 & visited relations to no end. Tonight we were entertained at Kings until nearly midnight. Seems strange seeing all the old spots where Dad played as a boy. Tinkers green is just behind us. The Sexton (aged 50) related tales of long past.

15 Dull & cool but no rain. Visited the old town Hall which stands in the centre of the Street & its interesting too; the ducking stool, the stocks, the old Russian Cannon & several other relics paintings & silhouettes. There is also a fairly good library & pipes for heating purposes run round the sides of the room
Leaving for Portishead this afternoon. Later – Quite a crowd at the Station to see me off. Some swank! What? Just caught the train at Avonmouth after a sharp run. After tea we all went for a walk along the coast past the Nautical School & back It’s a lovely walk too

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June 16 Up late as usual. Uncle & I strolled down to Portishead, but no luck. Wonder why the Dickens Dad hasn’t sent that fiver? Perhaps its in London at the Com Bank. There are some beautiful views along the coast & to make things better we scored a couple of glasses of good cherry cider. Wish I only had the cash & could stay for a few weeks. All three went for a long walk about 8 oclock & called in at several places enroute

17 Left Auntie at the gate but Uncle came with me to Bristol & saw me safely on board. Weighed in at Portishead Stn (12 St 1) Beautiful weather now, something like a summer Guess Im coming back again to England one of these days! Arrived London about 12.20. Had dinner at the Anzac Buffet. Taxi to Marleybone – which I left at 3.7 for Denham. Bought a few brooches etc in Horseferry Road. Arrived Hosp (per motor) about 4.30, & expect to go to the

[Page 140]
June 17 Transport next Tuesday although I believe one eyed men are now put on Transport duties. Am back in the old ward & feeling good.

18 Jolly good long sleep last night thank you. Had the clothes hoisted off me this mng & a couple of the boys had a pillow fite Going on Tuesday alright & the Doc says I may not get my eye until I reach Australia. Sort of impromptu Concert & dance in the Hall this afternoon & we had rather a good audience too including several girls & a couple of Frenchmen who appeared to be enjoying themselves no end. There was a good pianist on the job too. Am writing this by the side of a shady hedge far from the madding crowd – So far. An Aust from the "Warspite" gave an interesting a/c of the Jutland fight. [in margin] Sunday

19 Drawing kit at 1.30 today & leaving here tomorrow. The long wavy grass is like a carpet underfoot & a myriad

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June 19 buttercups & daisies sway gently to & fro in the breeze. From the oaks & beeches which border the Road come the horse cries of the rooks; & thrushes, blackbirds & robins fill the air with song.
Many thoughts flash through my mind as I lie full length on the yielding grass beneath the overspreading branches of a mighty oak. Gnarled & weather beaten he is, like some old veteran, & yet firm as a rock.
But now the sun lies hidden behind the cloud veil & something of a quiet seems to creep in almost unawares; the wind grows colder & not a few of my feathered friends cease their carolling – and here in this quiet spot I say farewell to England – the dear Homeland, but still my thoughts stray ever to "Gods Demesne" Australia! & the loved ones waiting there, and let us breathe a prayer for our gallant boys in the trenches – aye - for those who die suffering silently in the Hospitals.

(See Book No 3)

[Page 142]
Isabel W Parker 64 Grange Av Chapeltown Rd, Leeds. Yorks. Eng. (Rons Friends)
Cousin – Mrs Ethel Whitaker 108 Roundhay Rd Leeds Eng.
Uncle J Bendrey Gledhow Down Rd
Portishead Somersetshire Eng

Mrs MsDougall. "Francesca!"
Woolcott St. Bay Rd. Nth Sy
Mrs Firth 10 Alverstone Av
Wimbledon Park SW

Letters Received 1915 -16
153 207 P’cls
3. 1 6 2
6 1 6 1
5 1 2 1
20 10 2 5
11 8 3 1
7 1 1 1
8 2 1 1
3 1
4 1 229 12
4 1
1 1
1 1
1 2
72 3
1 1
3 12
4 2
1 1

[Page 143]

Cash J B £ 3.10.0
" Ike & Sue 10/-
Presents ? Ethel & A
New perfection oil Cooker
No 3. 42/- Stove 11/6
Refund J B
Photo Ethel

[Page 144]
1. Ypres. 2. Armentiere. +
3. Albert. 4. Bray
5. Contay. 6. Anywhere or the Somme
Ingersoll watch Wrist 13/6 & 21/- Waltham 3/-

Australia 1915 T
Egypt 1915 Africa T
Gallipoli 1915 Europe F
Egypt 1915-16 Africa HT
Arabia 1916 Asia T
France 1916 Europe F H 150
England 1916 H
Australia 1916 ?
Sue Bendrey
111 High St W. Bassett Wilts

Whitsun – June 11th 6 – 19 (Arthur)

[Photograph]

[Verso of photograph]
Monte Video Camp
Weymouth Eng
10.7.16

[Inserted in diary]
Womens War

Our men go smiling forth to fight
Our women bid them go
And only to their pillow white,
Throughout the long and lonely night.
Sob out their agony and woe.

Our boys go gaily forth to war
Their mothers gird them for the fray.
They wave them bravely from the door.
They watch till they can see no more;
Then cry "My God is this Thy way"

And women’s battle must be fought,
Like Jacob’s through the silent night,
With wrestling sore the victory’s bought;
Then angel wounded, angel taught,
And angel blessed, we face the light.

Lilian Wooster Greaves

Eng. 24-7-16 E

O J C
Left by a NCO
Army Ordnance Store Dockyard Devonport
5pm Saty
See Orderly Room – get letter from Office
Sgt Archibald

[Transcribed by Peter Mayo for the State Library of New South Wales]