Diary of a World War 1 Soldier

Port Said: Ferdinand De Lesseps monument at start of Suez Canal. Alexandra is further west on the Nile Delta.

June 1.
Talk of leaving in a few days either Saturday or Sunday. Was inoculated today again and medical examination tomorrow.
June 2.
Medical examination again today. Issued with spares in the afternoon, received seven new R class telephones. Terrible dust storm today, makes one long for a dip in some cool Australian river with the scent of wattle in the air.
June 3.
Very quiet except for an H? of a dust storm which made me feel a “mummy” instead of a Digger. No word of our departure yet but hopefully it won’t be long.
June 4.
Went to Church in the evening and wrote home. Had another attack of dysentery at night, I am on picket tomorrow.
June 5.
Same old work today. Day of joys. We are actually leaving tomorrow shall not be sorry to shake the of this heathonist country off my foot and go into a civilised place again. I was inoculated again for cholera, a 2 dose and had a very stiff arm, I think I am proof against any known disease and most of the known ones as too. (The Australian soldiers were, unlike the British, compulsorily vaccinated and a double “T.A.B.” vaccine had been carried out before they left Egypt. The T.A.B. vaccine was preventative against typhoid and paratyphoid “A” and “B” which had been rampant at ANZAC.)

Port Said:
June 6.
After waiting all day for orders to move we finally got away at 9.45 pm. Had tea in the New Zealand tea rooms (which are situated next to the cemetery). Said goodbye to D? and the vet. before leaving. Travelled in open trucks all night. (Troop movement tended to be done at night in order that any German agents could not distinguish what troops were being moved and also it was cooler in the open trucks.)
June 7.
Reached Alexandria at 5.30am, tired, hungry and cold. Embarked on transport HMT 6821 at 7.30am. Other transports were loading near us. Several hospital ships in the harbour which is very pretty. Never was sight more welcomed when I shipped onboard the ex Canadian emigrant ship which was to be my home for the next few days, than to see the blue Mediterranean gleaming in the morning sun.
June 8.
Left at 8am under escort of two destroyers and I wasn’t sad to see the last of Egypt. Our 2,500 troops on board a 7,500 ton ship Dammed disgrace I think we are packed like sardines. Felt rather sick last night but am all right now.
June 9.
We are sailing in a very zig zag course no lights are allowed on deck after sunset, we wear life belts day and night. Saw several ships during the day. (The possibility of a German submarine attack was always a threat in the Mediterranean and in the first shipment of the AIF troops to France, one troopship was torpedoed but it was returning to Egypt empty.) Gun crew had some practise today.
June 10.
Had a submarine alarm in the afternoon but the old boat showed a clean pair of heels. Less peaceful fact of life this. Food ?? and we have to wait when we want to go to wash or to the latrines.
June 11.
No church parade today. Several sharks followed us during the day. Passed Malta early in morning at present we are approaching Sicily. Rather hard to write owing to rolling of boat.
June 12.
Rounded Cape Bono in the morning and some islands off Sardinia later on in the day and several ships. Weather nice and calm. We expect to reach Marseille (France) tomorrow night (late) or early on Wednesday. Hear rumours of a great capture (Brusilov’s offensive) by the Russians on the Eastern Front. (While this attack by the Russians won some land, the Russians lost eventually over 1 million soldiers).
June 13.
We reach Marseille by day break tomorrow. At present we are 90 miles from it. Nothing else of note happened today.
June 14.
Anchored inside the breakwater at 7.30 am, very beautiful scenery coming into the port. We are disappointed as we are not going ashore today. (The II AIF started to arrive in Marseille from the 7 June, it was a massive logistics exercise to move them and their equipment from the port to the railway station and then on to northern France). Saw the castle mentioned in “The Count of Monte Cristo” (the islet of If, site of the 16th-century Château d'If,) and big church situated on the hill overlooking the city. (Probably the 19th-century church of Notre Dame de la Garde, which is surmounted by a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary. It is situated on a high strip of land projecting west into the bay). Went ashore in the afternoon and had a good bath then had a good look around the city which is very interesting. Reached the boat at 11pm again.
June 15.
We left the boat at 4am without breakfast and entrained at 8am for Rouen (in northern France near Paris. At this time the German army was attacking Verdun and the British were soon to launch the Somme offensive. Rouen was then one of the main British bases.). Passed through some very pretty countryside during the day. After leaving the coast and into the hills some spectacular views of the countryside are obtained. Kilms and vineyards are situated in sorts of out of the way places. Saw some salt pans near the sea also. The people are very kind to us. During the day we passed through several large towns. (The Official History of Australia in the War 1914 1918 mentioned that the train journey to Rouen took 58 hours and each train carried sufficient provisions for this period. The trains travelled for nearly a day alongside the Rhone River and from here the Alps were visible. As it was spring time the orchards were in flower and the fields were bursting into fresh new growth. To the Australians used to the more sombre green of the bush and coming straight from three months in the desert, the country was a fairyland, only seen in picture books. The trains stopped for an hour at some major stations, Orange, Lyons, Macon, Les Laumes, Laroche, Montereau, Juvisy, Melum where tea or coffee was supplied to the troops by French authorities or the local ladies. At these and other halts the troops received special and overwhelming kindness from the inhabitants. As the troops destination was a secret so as not to warn the Germans were exactly in the front line they were going to, only the commanders knew their final destination so the troops did not know what towns they were passing through.)

June 16.
Travelled all day and night and are having a good time. It is a treat to see the green country again after months of dust and flies. The people are wonderfully generous, they give us fruit, bread, wine etc. Crossed the rivers, Oise, Suisse and Rhone.

A typical French village and the railway station. While the Censor has deleted the name, it is of village somewhere in this area.
June 17.
We passed several big cities during the day, Lyons, Orange, St. Just etc. Passed through some countryside which was in German hands earlier in the War. (Possibly the area occupied by the Germans in the Battle of the Marne (September 1914) when the Germans crossed the Marne River and were advancing on Paris which caused the Government to flee to Bordeaux.) In the morning we were fairly close to Paris as we could see the Eiffel Tower. We passed through some country side which was similar to Australia. Scores of trains loaded with supplies etc for the Front passed us in the afternoon. Saw an armoured train and some captured German planes and guns. We arrived at Etaples at 6pm. (Etaple's population in the years immediately prior to the outbreak of war in 1914 amounted to a little over 5,000. The town was noted chiefly for its small fishing and commercial port which gained brief importance in the middle ages .It is only4.5 kms from the Straits of Dover. The town was also a magnet for pre-war artists .During the First World War the town became a vast Allied military camp and then a giant 'hospital city'. Many medical facilities were established by the Australians, New Zealanders and British. Wounded soldiers were consequently often sent to Etaples to recover or en route for Britain. Etaples is situated on the River Canche.) Very long canals here, we are close to the coast.
(Army records show that he was attached to the 5th Division Base Depot in Etaples on this date. )

Tents at Etaples, part of the massive camp here.
June 18.
Settling down all day. Meet Albert Chivers (#4769 Company Sergeant Major 46 Battl left Australia 31/7/19 returned to Australia 25/11/1917 – may have been injured in action) who is CSM of the 46 Battalion. Work in orderly room as O.R. Sergeant. Very big camp here and close to coast. Paris-Plage, a fashionable resort is just across the isthmus. ( Le-Toiquet-Paris-Plage also called Le Touquet was an elegant holiday area for Parisians before World War 1 and has regained favour during the 1980s and later. It was nicknamed Paris-Plage – Paris by the Sea.) Two big houses are situated nearby a railway bridge which is guarded by French soldiers as are all the bridges etc. in France. Saw some planes going to the Front which is only 30 miles from here. Can hear the guns often at night. The lights across the Channel can be seen on a clear night. Commenced writing today to home and Ron.
See the map Western Front 1915- 1916. http://www.firstworldwar.com/maps/graphics/maps_32_wfront_1915-16.jpg Entaples was on the coast on the left side of Montreuil. It was close to the main fighting and the trenches.

Etaples and the Square outside the main hotel.
June 19.
Went for a march along a lovely tree lined resort in the morning. Two large light houses are at the entrance to the harbour. Rained a little.. Issued with a gas mask etc today. (other diary had the gear issued on the 20th) Tomorrow being issued with a cap? and tunic and have to go through the dump course at the Bull Ring. (The Bull Ring was the name given to the establishment where the soldiers – British, Australian and Canadian- received training in trench warfare, gas attacks, bayonet practice and how to survive in the trenches, before they were sent to the Front.) Went for a walk with A.C in the evening around the camp then had supper at the YMCA. Wrote several letters during the afternoon
June 20.
We were issued with rifles, bayonets and gas helmets today. After discussions we went to the Bull Ring went through gas, pest search and ? recovery (louse were a severe problems in the trenches plus trench foot which was caused by the continual wet conditions in the trenches so the troops were taught what to do and how to evade them) and then slides “No Bon” (possibly bad French for Non Bonne – “not good”) for soldiers. (Could be scenes from battles to harden them for it or what could happen to you if you associated with the wrong ladies). Felt sick as a dog afterwards. Several English and Canadian hospitals are situated on the way out. Passed British General Hospital No.26 on Boulucege? Rd. First tidy place and a very nice cemetery is near it. The sig cruiser?? in close and across the Bay is Paris-Plage. (Sentence not understood). Hospital trains were standing at the station. We got some ?? work for early??? (rest of sentence not readable).
June 21.
Nothing much doing today. Today is longest day in Northern Hemisphere and shortest in Australia. Went for a walk with Albert in the evening and got his people’s ?? shifted gear up on afternoon. Pay books were collected and pay will probably be paid in a day or so.
June 22.
Relieved another sgt? who was on guard today. Am on his 10am (shift) tomorrow. (Next 2 sentences indecipherable too faded). Aim they say is to get leave for Paris, Albert and I are going there to visit it. After the war I want to get France some ??? ??? Nothing else to report.

Airship.
June 23.
Bull Ring again today, pretty strenuous work on here and various qualifications were taken. Had a sleep in the afternoon. On the way back we saw a French airship. (2 sentences indecipherable.)
June 24.
I am to report to work at RE Advance Base. Had my very first leave since leaving Australia. Albert and I went to (one diary said Etaples which is just across the river from) Paris-Plage in the afternoon and had a good time. A very fashionable watering place in peace times. Some very pretty scenery around Rue. Saw the fishing village of Th?? (not found on any map now) on the way out. A quaint little fishing village and rather historical old place. All the boats have a cross nailed to the mast. Had a good look round then had tea in a quaint little, cosy like place, real bread, butter, baker of home made cakes. Reminded me of a scene from Charles Dickens.

Village unknown but it is somewhere in the Calais province and would be typical of French country villages at this time.
June 25.
Wrote some letters and went for a walk to a little village huddled away amongst the hills, very pretty place surrounded by lawns and the trees formed an archway around it. Had a bottle of Champagne and some biscuits under the trees. Saw a cross surrounded by well kept steps facing the water. It looked very pretty and I wished Ron was here to see it. Now writing this sitting on a bank by the side of a road.
June 26.
Nothing much doing today. Went to a French class in the evening at the YMCA and obtained a book from the library. Heavy rain today just before tea. We are supposed to be on ?? today but it was cancelled. Pay will be available tomorrow.
June 27.
Paid today, rifle drill in the morning, in the afternoon we were paid 15 Francs (10\6 ) (Ten Shillings and sixpence Australian) went to La Fairx? in evening and had some Champagne and some biscuits and arrived back at base at 9.50. Are to be inoculated again for cholera and some other diseases. Nothing else doing.
June 28.
Rather warm today, in the afternoon we had rifle drill with a talk on ?? Rather wet and showery in the evening, I did not go out but remained in camp reading “Vilette” (Charlotte Brontë) Some talk of us going up the line soon. I will not be sorry to get out of here.
June 29.
Route march in the afternoon returned at 4.30 and wrote to Linton who is at Tidworth on Salisbury Plains. (Large army barracks and training centre in England.)
June 30.
Gas (training at Bull Run) again today and some bomb throwing. Wrote some letters after tea.

Pages from the diary.

Due to the censoring of all correspondance so that the enemy would not know what Brigades were located where, all leters. postcards etc. had all references to locations deleted. That is why manuy of the postcards have the town names removed. Some were written in later.