One night we had a terribly heavy thunderstorm, the rain fairly fell down, & in about an hour’s time the whole of our camp was under water. Most of us lay in bed till the water started to carry us off, & then we were forced up. The drunks got a terrible ducking that night. One of them came into our tent with only his shirt on & an entrenching tool in his hand, & started to dig a gutter round the tent pole to let the water off, not bad was it. We got a proper soaking that night. All our clothes & equipment were carried away by the water, so a lot of us camped under & on the grand-stand, & needless to say we passed a most miserable night.
A fair sample of the day’s work here would be reveille at 6 o’clock, physical exercise from half past 6 till 7, breakfast at 7.30, fall in at 8, we then would drill till 12, dinner at 12.30, parade again at 2.30 till 4.30, tea 5 o’clock, night march or something from 7 till 8.30 & sometimes as late as 9 o’clock, so you see they kept us going. They used to cull a certain number from each Company nearly every day so that kept us up to the scratch.
We used to have some bonzer route marches at times. One of the best was to La Perouse. We all enjoyed our march to there, & we camped on a lovely green patch of grass overlooking the ocean. We had our dinner there, & then we all went for a swim, & the water was bonzer.
We had several marches through the suburbs of Sydney, & the people used to turn out in thousands to see the boys marching. During these marches we used to get plenty of chocolate, cigarettes, fruit & etc from the people in the street who were very good to us, but one fine day we had a big march through the streets of Sydney itself. I remember it well for it was a very hot day, & marching down the closely packed streets was worse than 100 in the shade. All along the route the streets were absolutely packed, & opposite St Mary’s Cathedral they were about 100 deep — even trees were full. We went down as far as Hunter Street, then turned up George Street & from there back to camp at Kensington without a spell. I think they were afraid to let the men fall out, for fear they wouldn’t turn up again in time for the march back. That was the most tiring march I have ever been on, & I have taken part in a few pretty solid ones.
After we had been in camp about a month we began to think we were fully trained & ready to have a cut at anything, & so the rumours began to fly about that we would be sailing any day. You can’t beat a military camp for rumours — the little country townships haven’t got a look in with the camps. Once these rumours got going, we had fresh ones every day, & some of them were very funny, but most of them seemed to come from the cooks or the pieman.
I saw the first aeroplane of my life here. It was a Frenchman flying over Randwick early in the morning. We were doing our physical drill at the time, & I can tell you there was not much notice taken while the aeroplane was in sight — we nearly screwed our necks off.
It took me some time to forget the life I had been leading previous to joining. I was always on the lookout for rain, grass, horses, birds, weather & suchlike things, instead of letting others do the thinking, for was I not in the military, where if they follow Imperial regulations they would try & make you a machine but they will never, never do that with Australians. We are not a bit better disciplined today than we were 18 months ago, & I don’t think, judging by what I have seen of well-disciplined troops, that we are any the worse for it. I think once a chap gets a liking for the country, he will never be able to shake it off. I know I am full up of the cities, & only long for the country life again.
We had a medical examination nearly every week. They were determined to find out all the weak ones before we sailed from Australia & I think they succeeded as far as that went.
We were ordered to hold ourselves in readiness to move at any time, but we did not place much reliance on it for we had had so many false alarms that we did not know how to take it.
The morning of the 18th October broke dull & stormy, & as we formed up on the parade ground at 6.30 in readiness to march off it started to rain slowly, but we did not mind that for it seemed as if our wish was at last to be fulfilled, & that we were really going to move at last. The march through the streets was very quiet for they took us round the quiet way so as to avoid the people, but before we reached the wharfs a pretty big bunch of people had collected, & we had a job to get through them in places. They gave us all sorts of things as we passed them, & there were a few tearful scenes, but they got us away well.
As each Company passed through the barrier, they were checked & marched straight off to the ferry boat, & they lost no time in getting us over to the A19 Afric. By the time the last of the men were on board, the streets & Botanic Gardens were alive with people in spite of the rain, which was now falling fairly heavy, but they were too late, & there was many a chap on the boat who they would never see again, & who no doubt was taking a last look at old Sydney & wondering when he would see it again. I know I was one of those chaps & those were some of the thoughts that passed through my wooden head.
As soon as we got on the ship we were taken down to our troop decks, & our different portions allotted to us. Our Company was very fortunate for we had as good a place as any in the ship: we were on the first deck on the starboard side, just close to the poop. After all this was settled we were served with some hot soup & bread, & we then made for the deck to see what was going on in the harbour. The crowd of people had increased if anything, but the rain was still falling, but showed signs of clearing up.
After dinner was over we were paid, & our Book opened from that day. About 4 o’clock we lifted our anchor, & followed the Suffolk who had the 2nd Battalion on board. As we passed down the harbour we could hear the cheers floating across the water to us & all the boats in the harbour set their sirens going for all they were worth. We could see the people still waving as we disappeared round the Heads. Everyone was straining their eyes to get a last look at Sydney. The rigging was full of men, who waved to the last.
We got rid of the pilot at the Heads, & we could see the sea was pretty rough outside, & I for one did not like my chance for even then I was feeling a bit funny & I am sure I was turning yellowish. I had not long to wait for I was soon feeding the fishes with a vengeance, & I might add right here that I was not the only one at the game, oh no. I had plenty of mates in the same boat as myself. We were hanging on all over the place, & I am sure I did not care if the whole concern went to the bottom. Shows you how selfish a man is, don’t it. My attack of seasickness did not last very long fortunately for the second day out I was feeling alright.
We skirted the coast most of the way down, & the afternoon of the second day at sea we ran into & through a group of very rocky & bare little islands just off Wilsons Promontory. There were a lot of birds round these islands & we sighted a whale blowing & also a full rigged sailing ship — she looked from a distance like a great white bird. That night we passed several passenger ships making for Sydney; they looked capital with all their lights shining. We thought once that we were going to Hobart, but no such luck, & then again Melbourne was suggested, but we were all out of it for we passed them both.
The third day out I think most of us had been all over the ship, & knew our way about alright. The way our troop decks were arranged we used to eat & sleep in the same place. All along the side mess tables were built running crossways in the ship. These tables were numbered & each table had a number of men (36) detailed off for the trip & 2 permanent mess-orderlies who were exempt from all other duties while they were on the job. After breakfast everyone had to get up on deck for an hour to give the orderlies time to get things cleaned up down below for the ship’s inspection, which was made every morning by the ship’s captain, Dr & some of our officers. After this was over the ship was free for the rest of the day.
We slept in hammocks slung from hooks let into the ceiling. Each hammock was also numbered so as there would be no confusion, & each man had his own number. We were all supplied with 2 snow-white blankets each. We used to have some fun I can tell you of a night, rocking one another’s hammocks. Some
of the chaps used to get mad & often there would be a fight. Every morning as soon as reveille went we would all turn out or be pulled out, one or the other, & fold up our blankets inside the hammock. They would then be stowed inside a big bin at each end of the deck till about 8 o’clock, when the orderlies would put them on each man’s hook, ready to be slung when you came down to turn in. At night time all our portholes were covered, & we were only allowed a certain amount of light, for at that time the Emden was knocking about & we had to be careful.
We reached Albany after a trip of 7 days. We lay in the harbour for a few days, & then we moved up to the pier to take water in. At the entrance to the harbour a strict watch was kept by our cruisers; they were constantly on the move, backwards & forwards. We had a march through Albany & the whole town turned out to see us. That night a lot of our chaps borrowed the fireman’s clothes, & went ashore. Not a bad little ruse was it. They caught some of them coming home in the early hours of the morning, drunk of course.
While we were at Albany the New Zealand ships came in, & very smart they looked, for they were all painted a grey colour, like the warships. We now had such a fleet in the harbour as Albany never saw before; the harbour seemed to be just a mass of big ships.
On the morning of the 1st November, we lifted our anchors & the great fleet set sail. The Australian ships led the way & the N.Z.’s brought up the rear. We were escorted by 4 warships at this point: the big Japanese cruiser was in front, the Melbourne on the right flank & the Sydney was watching the other side, while the Minotaur, a British cruiser from the China squadron, brought up the rear. Our position in the line was well forward, & it was a fine sight to look back on the ships as they ploughed their way through the water. All the transports were in 3 lines & we were in the middle line, about fourth boat from the front.
All that day we watched the Australian coast fading away, till darkness shut it out, & when we got up in the morning we were out of sight of land, & nothing but the calm blue sea all round us like a sheet of shimmering glass. At last we felt we were fairly on the way to England, for when we sailed we were under the impression that we were bound for the Old Country, & great was our disappointment of learning later that we were going to Egypt to complete our training. We had a very quiet little run till we reached the Line, though of course we had plenty of fun & concerts & debates every night, while we had tugs of war, gloves, foils & etc. We saw plenty of flying fish on this run. They get well out of the water & look very pretty of an early morning with the sun shining on them as they dart through the air.
Early on the morning of the 9th November we were all surprised to see the Sydney swing out from her line & come racing over towards us. She looked fine as she tore through the water, the white foam flying from her sharp-cut bows & the black smoke pouring from her funnels. We guessed something was up, & so we watched till she disappeared from sight. We heard nothing more till nearly 10 o’clock. I was down below at the time, & all of a sudden I heard a terrible noise on deck. I hopped up & there was a notice pinned on the wall to the effect that the Sydney had destroyed the Emden. The boys were delighted, seeing as how it was our boat that done the trick, & got in before the Japanese, & our China squadron who had been thirsting for her blood ever since war broke out.
Shortly after this came another wireless saying that she was after a collier, & when she had finished with her, she would return & transfer her wounded & prisoners to the Omrah, which was our Headquarters ship. We never saw the Sydney no more till she reached Colombo, for she went on to there after the scrap. I guess she lifted a good bit of trouble off the ships’ captains, for there was always the danger of the Emden getting in unawares at night. After this we were allowed lights at night.
Our next bit of excitement was crossing the Line. We had a great big canvas bath fitted & filled with salt water, & some of the officers were dressed in all sorts of costumes. We had a Father Neptune (Capt Swanell — he was killed on the first day at Anzac at the head of his men in the charge) & then special constables, who had been duly initiated, that is ducked, & were told off by Father Neptune & his Court to arrest all & sundry they came across. These constables grabbed hold of anyone they could lay their hands on — it was no good of them protesting, in they had to go; the more you struggled, the worse it was for you. When they got them to the tank they shot them in, clothes & all on, & when you came up some of Neptune’s slaves shoved you under again with a pole until you were nearly drowned. When you went to get out, they were there to help you with hands all over grease & tar, which they took good care they rubbed all over you, besides scrubbing your teeth with grit & grease, & trying to shave you with a piece of hoop-iron. Oh we had some fun I can tell you.
Once you had been through Neptune’s hands you were free to go & help the others drag them in, & sometimes we had to storm a position taken up by some of the chaps who objected to being ducked, under a perfect deluge of water, from buckets, dishes, hoses & etc. Water & wet towels were the only weapons that were legal & the deck was a mass of flying towels. If you showed your head round the corner you would be met by a volley of them & forced to retreat unless you had a strong following to back you up. It rained that day, but being in the tropics, we were almost sweating in spite of the water flying about (the majority had nothing but their trousers on). The game got a bit too hot for the captain so about 4 o’clock he stopped it.
The heat was very intense in the tropics — the pitch used to be nearly melting in the daytime. At night everyone slept on deck. I only slept down below till we reached Albany; after that I used to sling my hammock under one of our guns, & I can tell you I enjoyed the trip.
We had a daily newspaper printed on our boat called the Kangaroo. It used to cause a bit of fun.
Sailing across the Indian Ocean the weather was lovely, scarce a ripple on the water. The water here seems very full of phosphorus, & looking over at night time it used to look lovely. I have watched the water churning away from our sides for hours at a stretch.
Colombo, our next port of call, was reached on the 15th November. The town looks very pretty from a distance, snuggled away among palm trees. This was our first sight of the East & very good it looked. Of course everyone was anxious to get ashore, but we had no luck. We left Colombo the next day & 7 days were occupied in the run to Aden. We sailed fairly close under some bare & rocky cliffs. The water here looks very deep & is alive with sharks. The town itself looks a very miserable affair, as indeed it is, for it is one of the hottest places on earth, nothing but sand & rock to be seen. Looking back as the fleet came swinging in was a very fine sight, & one that I shall remember for some time.
Leaving Aden on the 26th November we steered a course for Port Suez, which we reached after a passage of 5 days, some of it through the Red Sea. As you approach Port Suez, the sea gradually narrows until at last you would think you were going to rush the beach, for you can’t see the canal. The thing that is most prominent here is some enormous tanks, stocking petroleum I think. While we were waiting here, a big fleet of Indian transports came in & very fine they looked with the setting sun behind them.
On the 2nd December we went through the canal, & just at the entrance a fine French battleship was lying. As we passed her, the bugles sounded “attention”, & every man sprang to it while our band played the “Marseillaise”. Didn’t the Frenchmen come tumbling up on the deck when they heard that tune, & they cheered us, & we returned the compliment.
By 4 o’clock that afternoon we had fairly entered the canal. You could throw a stone from the deck to either side. It seemed very funny such a small stream of water carrying enormous boats & the desert on either side stretching for hundreds of miles, & nothing but sand, sand, wherever you looked, with the exception of a few small clumps of date palms. We steamed about 6 miles an hour through the canal & every here & there we would pass some enormous French dredger. We went through a bright moonlight night, & I & a few others stopped up most of the night for it was a most beautiful scene.
Most of the way along the banks of the canal there were British & Indian troops entrenched ready for the Turkish attack. They were dug in on the Arabian side.
We reached Port Said just as day was breaking, but early as the hour was, the native population was astir. Port Said (one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world) seemed alive with shipping; most of it I suppose was waiting for their turn to enter the canal. Half the population of this town must surely live in little boats for there were thousands of them there, & they swarmed all round our boats, selling all sorts of things. I saw my first hydroplane here: she flew all over the harbour & town, & settled on the water as easily as a duck.
Leaving Port Said on the 5th December we passed the fine statue of de Lesseps, the great French engineer who was responsible for the Suez Canal. It stands at the western entrance, & he is looking out over the sea. We were now in the Mediterranean & it was fairly rough. We passed several little torpedo boats, & they were being tossed about like corks.
The next morning found us skirting the Egyptian coast & with Alexandria in sight. They have an immense breakwater here & Alexandria looks to lie almost level with the sea. There were a fine lot of captured German ships all tied up to the wharfs. That must make the German people mad to see that, a sure sign of Britain’s power on the water. The day we arrived the Sultan of Egypt cleared out to Turkey. We buried our first patient here. We were lucky — some of the boats had as many as half a dozen deaths during the voyage. We lay in the harbour 3 days before we disembarked. We were not sorry to get off the ship either for we had been 51 days on the water.
We left Alexandria for Cairo on the 9th December. We were marched straight into the train & away we went. The trip to Cairo was most interesting. We followed the Nile for a fair distance, & as far as the eye could reach on either side of the line was nothing but lovely green fields & groves of palm trees, with canals running everywhere. We crossed 2 or 3 very fine bridges between Alexandria & Cairo. They have peculiar sorts of houses, built of mud, & the fowls roost on top, & from what I could see the camels & buffaloes & people all doss in together. There are miles upon miles of gum trees planted along the line & they look well, even though they are in a foreign land.
In Great Spirits Page 2
