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Brief account of my personal
experience while on active
service
proper dating from April 5th
1915
After having come from
Australia per SS
'Argyleshire' and arrived in
the Land of the Pharaohs
where rigorous training and
tons of good fun and High
Life generally were the
rules of the road we got
embarkation orders thank
God! So here's to it and may
our little flutter which we
are about to have tend in
some way to weight his
balance against His most
Satanic Majesty THE KAISER.
Detailed to go in charge of
3GS wagons to one of Cairo's
many railway stations. Got
there, and started looking
around for the necessary
something to eat. Had a last
stroll around the square.
Posted a photo to cousin
Annie in E. Had a last bath
at the National (awfully
tender memories of that
place). The devil alone
knows when we'll get
another. 7.15 Started
entraining. Had charge of 30
wagons. Loaded one truck in
25 minutes. Have developed
into a real nigger driver.
Got informed by the
entraining officer that ours
was the quickest he had
seen. What dogs we must be.
Goodbye Cairo. 0.45 slept in
a truck with the gun stores.
6th April 1915
Arrived in Alexandria 4 am.
Woke up somewhere about this
morning by a nigger crawling
all over me, mistook me for
the carriage door mat I
think. Knew it was a nigger
by the beautiful perfume
that pervaded the air when
such creatures are at large,
also by the yell he emitted
when I soiled my right boot.
Crawled out in the rain and
saw to the unloading of the
trucks. First feed of Bully
Beef and Biscuits. Gee but
it's hard feed. Was on guard
all day keeping inquisitive
niggers from poking their
noses into other peoples
concerns, suits my present
mood splendidly. Slept in
some goods shed on the
wharf. Stone floor, ugh.
Darn sight worse than sand.
7th April 1915
Woke up with an awfully
stiff back. Had a wash in a
horse trough. No extra
charge for the oats and
chaff which were floating
about. Exercised horses most
of the morning. One bloke
wanted to give an exhibition
of Tango or shake hands with
me, and succeeded in
planting me one on the leg.
Spell to in the afternoon
went into the city at night
after having an argument
with a cabbie. Just to show
our independence. Had supper
at a German Restaurant. They
came off second best.
Remarkable what you pick up
nowadays. Norman had an
'accident' he usually does.
Leave expired at 9.30. Woke
up to the fact that it was
nearly that when we observed
the time so made a night of
it.
8th April 1915
(Thursday)
Nothing said about last
night's jollo. Transformed
into the NCO of Police
today. Nothing to do so
accepted an invitation to
dinner with Cairns from
skipper of the White Star
Liner 'Canada'. Capt was the
skipper of the Mersey.
Remember her in Sydney. Had
a great time. Smoked some of
his delicious cigars also
consumed one or two Dewars
White Label too. Had a bath.
Went into the city again at
night after being relieved
from duty. Marfeesh feluce
so came home. Wrote home.
9th April 1915
Stables the earlier part of
the morning then started
loading horses and guns.
Got orders to get aboard
early this afternoon.
Got there and can't get back
again.
Great quarters here. Packed
like sardines. On board with
us are the BHQ and the BAC.
Up on deck most of the
night. Find that our craft
is named the 'Indian'. Can't
leave anything Niggerish
behind me of course.
Every time I see those black
angels I want to break the
sixth commandment. Bunk at
12.
10th April 1915
Left the wharf at 12 noon.
Saw the last of Alexandria
at 2 pm. Great city and
absolutely Eastern in
appearance. Splendid
shipping accommodation.
Contrary to expectations we
went straight out of the
harbour instead of anchoring
in the stream for a day or
so. Don't know where we're
off to. Think it's the
Dardenelles. Beautifully
calm. Drew one months pay in
advance. Wish I had leave
ashore tonight!
11th April 1915
Had charge of the stable all
day. Sea still smooth.
Norman on sick list. Have
suddenly been transformed
into a nurse, making lemon
drinks chlorodine doses.
Bovril and gruel.
Passed some island at 6 pm.
Had a bath with a slight
colouring of 'Phenol.' Guess
the cause for taking such
strict measures?
Played washer woman gag
tonight. Rotten hand at it
though.
Active service does account
for a lot of privileges.
12th April 1915
Arrived at Lemnos. Anchored
under torpedo protection at
5.30 pm.
Splendid naval base. About
50 or 60 ships here now.
Transports and warships
passed the Askold, two
French Monitors and several
English warships, including
the Queen whose band
received us with 'It's a
Long Way to Tip'. A first
class battleship name
unknown but flying the white
ensign passed us a short
time after we anchored.
Splendid sight. Saw one
cruiser, which from outward
appearances has been in
action.
Just got an order 'Enemy's
aeroplanes about, douse all
lights' so it's bunk with a
vengeance tonight.
13th April 1915
Found out that the unknown
battleship of yesterday is
the Queen Elizabeth, known
generally throughout this
Division as just plain
'Lizzie'.
Believe she is to support us
in our first scrap. Been
around several of the fleet
today with Lt Selmes etc.
Brought a luxury in the form
of three loaves of bread.
Got it pretty rough coming
home. Nelsonian days over
again. Got wet through, but
didn't mind that as it was a
welcome change to that
infernal sand. Mail came
aboard today. Mine 'honest'.
Heard an amusing thing about
Lizzie. She leaves here
early in the morning and
goes up to the Dardenelles
tickles the Turks up a bit,
and returns here in time for
tea. |
