June 1
Left the West 9 pm on 1 June, 1916 by A69, otherwise SS Warilda. Nothing of any importance till Durban was sited at 9.30 am 16^th June. Went alongside wharf at 1 o'clock. Route march at 3 pm, came on board at 5 pm. Marched through principle streets and down the Esplanade, which is a glorious place. The people of this town were most enthusiastic in the welcome given us. It was here we learned of Jutland Battle and death of Lord Kitchener. No leave granted this night.
[It was the first major battle between the British and German fleets. Field Marshall Kitchener, Commander of the British Armies, died in a storm at sea].

June 17
Leave granted at 10 am. Went up Adelaide Street and bought views and Muff and posted same. Went for train ride to Beria and returned to boat at 3.30pm.

June 18 (Sunday)
Left Durban at 7 am. Run into heavy swell. Kept up all night. Just about everyone on board sick.

June 19
Still rough. Blowing a gale. The men who came on board late were crimed and irrespective of how late everyone fined £1 and all leave stopped at next port of call, which will be Cape Town.

June 20
On Captain Lawson going to men’s mess table was counted out. It has come to our knowledge Officers (if you can call them such), who censor our letters, laugh and make jokes of any terms of endearment in them. Sighted light house of Cape Town at 4 am.

June 21
Went in the long side wharf or basin at 8 am. Went for route march at 10.30 am and got back to boat at 12.45. Putting some guns aboard here. The holes in gun carriage ¾ clearance and holes in the bed plate were 1" stud holes. A ship load of artillery are in the same port. Do not know if Mark Whiskin is amongst them. Three other transports beside our own. Armed merchantman SS Lacona (18,000 tons) our convoy. Table mountain very plain when we entered the harbour. Other three are A64 (Demostnes), A11 (Ascanies), A7 (Medie).

June 22
Put out from Cape Town 8 am. Lacona leading, A7, A64, A69, A11. On June 15^th had to be revaccinated as Belmont dose did not take.

June 23
Have to travel with lights out. Pay day and got 12/-. Have next of kin down as James instead of Jabez which I am getting altered. Captain Hillman taking final evidence before submitting it for DCM. This is for NCOs only.

June 25 (Sunday)
Church service this morning. Sort of memorial to Lord Kitchener. Took form of short biography of his life. Teeth aching very bad.

June 26
Went to dentist this morning and had three teeth out, would not pull one as can save by filling (which he is doing).

June 27
Had to go and get one of gums stopped from bleeding.

June 28
Acting as escort to Sgt Hunter in a court martial held on board. The prosecutor and defender were well up to mud.

July 2
Buried one man off the Medie at 8 pm (Sunday). Engines of this ship slowed down for a few seconds only. Sgt Hunter reduced to ranks for AWL Durban.

July 6
Sighted Cape Verde, 6.30 am. The point is very high.

July 7
Anchored at St Vincent's at 6.45 am. It is a fair sized island. There is a small island right at mouth of harbour with lighthouse right at the very top. Use a stairway to get to top. The town of St Vincent's itself is a very barren place with no vegetation whatever. None of the houses have verandahs and they are painted all different colours. It was 15 days' sail from Cape Town. The inhabitants say it is the only town on the island. They bring water in from a small island some 30 miles away. The people say that it has not rained for some two years and then they only had one day's rain. By the way, the people show different things, this must be a most immoral place! Left here on the 10^th July at 12 noon.

July 11
Went into hospital today.

July 16
Discharged from hospital today.

England

July 18
Landed at Plymouth at 10.30 this morning, taken straight from boat to station, not allowed to wander away, entrained for Salisbury Plain at 5 pm.

July 19
Arrived at Tidworth 2 am and were marched from station to No. 4 Camp Perham Downs, no guides were sent along to show us where we had to go.

July 23
Walked to Rednham and Appleshaw, the hedges and lane were simply glorious. Appleshaw is a very quaint and pretty place.

July 24
Les Blair was made Acting Sgt Major.

July 29
Got orders to hold ourselves in readiness to move at moment's notice.

July 31
Had to put all our surplus clothing the military had issued into the Quartermaster. Kept all personal belongings in Universal kit bag, which has to be sent to Greyhound Rd, London to be kept till we return for them.

August 6
Went to Brigade Hospital.

August 11
Discharged from hospital. Granted four days' sick leave. Pass was made out as soon as I reported back to Orderly Room. Left for London and arrived at twenty to seven.

August 12
Went to Kew Gardens and had a look at them. While in London stayed at YMCA just near Aldwych underground railway station. One of the most convenient places could wish to find. Tariff was very low here.

August 13
Went to Clovelly and had a very fine time, the country is one of the or the most pretty one could wish to see. Got back to camp 12 noon, 15th August, 1916.

August 29
Left for France at 3 o'clock. Reached Folkstone at 9.45 am.

France 1916

August 30
Put one night in at Boulogne. It was raining as hard as possible. Entrained for Etaples next morning.

September 24
No. 6 Coy left for Front at 3 am. Have been transferred to Mechanical Coy.

September 26
Left Etaples for Hazebrouck. Arrived 27^th at HQs No. 1 Mining Coy in Mechanical Section.

Random Notes
[The diary at this point makes a number of comments before dates are resumed, viz]:

E.G. Dodd 4209 AIF

Sgt Marsh left for Camille October 7th 1916. Arrived at Hazebrouck September 28th 1916.

4223 Sgt G A Williams, c/- Sgt's Mess No. 3 Australian Tunnelling Coy AIF France.

Sent watch to Alma October 11th 1916. Sent ring home October 11 1916.

Sgt Les Blair left for Moart Farm October 12

4206 Electrical Mechanical & Boring Section. Australian.

Left Hazebrouck October 11^th for 254 attached REI0 Bethune. Went to Givenchy October 12th. No. 1 engine wants overhauling badly. October 22 Williamson. Reported from hospital November 11^th Carlton went to hospital 13th November. Steadman taken away to Hazebrouck November 17^th. Sgt Moody after working one shift took ill and was sent back to HQ November 17. Wrote to Lam November 18 as to whereabouts. From Givenchy. Left Givenchy November 20th. Went to No. 12 CCS November 21^st. [His military records indicate "to hospital sick in the field for this date"]. Discharged November 28th.

[Diary Dated Entries Continue]

December 11
Saw snow for first time. Started in morning and kept up fairly heavy 'till dinner.

December 13
Bought a table centre, handkerchief and a pin cushion and sent to mother for Christmas.

December 17
Went to Bailluel for a joy ride in motor lorry. Should like to see this country in the spring. Sgt Viv Downie went out to Proto School to run small Austin set.

December 18
Received letter from Alma saying she let some chap take home, no occasion for this in my estimation!

December 19
Snowed very heavy this afternoon, had some fun tossing snowballs at some of the lads in the shop. It makes the toes and feet very cold when walking in it. Heard the news of a big British Victory up the Somme. This will give Fritz some more to think about. Put in two francs for a Christmas dinner.

December 21
Woke up with a beautiful sore throat and had to parade sick this afternoon and left shop for billet. Shall certainly parade sick to hospital if no better in the morning. Just my luck to get crook right on Christmas. Had temperature of 103. Not bad to be at work with.

December 22
Came into No. 12 CCS. Temperature at 10 pm had risen to 103. Down this morning to 99.

December 23
Feel pretty good. Only have a diggens of a throat. Shall probably get up tomorrow. Have decorated the ward up very nice for the coming festivity. Holly leaves and pink artificial. By the tone of the papers this morning I somehow think a lot will come of this peace talk. Jim Carlton was knocked yesterday will get a Blighty out of it. Wigzell brought up Sunday Times last night. The nurse gave us a tin from the Australian Red Cross. It contained pipe, tin Havelock Tobacco, tin Havelock Cigarettes, thin Wades Butterscotch, pack of cards, envelopes. It's nice to know our troops get what Australians sent or donate to buy and send them. The No. 2 Divisional CCS was blown in yesterday at Steenwerck and most of troops were sent to this station.

December 24
The nurses and orderlies came in to the ward last night and sang three carols, "The Shepherd Watches", "There is No Hell" and "Come All Ye Faithful". It sounded very nice indeed! Got out of bed yesterday.

December 25
On waking up this morning found that the old Father Christmas still visits people. Was thinking last night of last Christmas Eve how Mum was kept waiting on the wrong corner and also her coming into the town with us in the evening. It seems rather strange to feel cold and see rain on Christmas day. Shall send a couple of cards received in gift parcels home. Went up to No. 6 Ward for dinner. Had a good meal and Christmas pudding. Went down to billet this afternoon and found majority drunk. They had some fine music. Brought Hector Mood from trenches, when in this state he can nearly make violin talk!

December 26
Wrote to Lam. The boys in the ward had a sort of impromptu concert last might, did not go off too bad. Ward put into quarantine for four days. Do not know what for.

[In another section of the diary, dated 26.12.16 he wrote]: The verse by Hisscock has been in my mind all today:

December 30
Came out of hospital today and reported back for duty.

December 31
Sunday and had to go to shop and work. Hard luck to go in on Sunday, also last day in the year.