1915: One man's story, 108 years later
If you want to read the posts DAY by DAY on the relevant date in 2023 click here to see each day unfolding
January 1915
FRIDAY 1st JANUARY
Sailing on board the “Ulysses” 10 days from sunny Victoria, for a destination, which can only be known on the rear pages of this diary. Left Albany 2 days ago after a very smooth passage from Melbourne. Food very good but slightly “moorish”.
Troops made voluntary parade to the cookhouse demanding more. Things seemed as though they threatened mutiny for a while, but after an explanation by our Major, meals were dished up by our mess orderly in somewhat similar style as we get at
Home Sweet Home
SATURDAY 2nd JANUARY
Sleeping out is a practice taken up very largely on board.
Unlike camp life, we are swung in hammocks instead of the waterproof sheet on the hard ground. On gazing down from the upper deck one can see hammocks swinging from every available holder.
Our company “C” of the 14th Battalion is unfortunate to strike guard
Every man is given a special duty & for some of us it lasts through the night & morning until 8 AM.
Not very interesting walking about all night trying to keep awake “On guard”.
SUNDAY 3rd JANUARY
A very easy day, only a morning inspection of our crockery dishes etc which must be kept scrupuliously clean
& then three church parades.
A very effective sermon was preached on bad language with its causes & effects.
The formation of a choral Society, which we think will take well.
MONDAY 4th JANUARY
Plenty of physical exercises. If I keep at this well I’m sure I’ll be more than 10 stone before the return.
Also an examination on the rifle made the day very interesting
Second dose innoculation after which the usual cry is keep away from my arm.
TUESDAY 5th JANUARY
Two weeks sailing from Melbourne
On looking from astern one is able to detect the order in which we are sailing.
17 Troopships in close formation of three columns
WEDNESDAY 6th JANUARY
In the vicinity of the Equator so you can imagine what the heat is.
Lolling about the deck in armchairs all day one is tempted to cast his thoughts back on Home Sweet Home
THURSDAY 7th JANUARY
Early this morning we are blessed with a tropical shower.
These showers are as thick as the heaviest rainfall we have at home & come up within a few minutes notice
FRIDAY 8th JANUARY
Excessive heat still prevails & on strolling about the deck stepping over prostrate friends one thinks he is
the only being on board with energy.
8 pm on upper deck, a drink of ice water lemon squash
SATURDAY 9th JANUARY
Heavy tropical showers.
Men are parading again about tainted food. A row of dishes along the deck, hundreds of men around, a dog is brought &
put before the meat & sniffs food, then immediately trots off hungry, amidst cheering from men.
This is only one instance.
SUNDAY 10th JANUARY
Parson preached very good & effective sermon as usual.
8P.M. All boats stop as a burial service is being conducted on the NZ.
This is the second death in the 2nd AEF.
MONDAY 11th JANUARY
We are crossing the line today, the sooner the better for this heat is just about getting us under
TUESDAY 12th JANUARY
My 22nd birthday. a day from Colombo.
Not having seen any land since we left Australia we naturally look forward to this treat with no little interest
We have orders today to get our equipment ready for a route march
WEDNESDAY 13th JANUARY (incl. 14th January)
Four o’clock this morning land in sight at last.
Seven o’clock sees us anchored inside the harbour which is cut off from the main water by a concrete breakwater.
As soon as we pulled up into our position we were very soon surrounded on all sides with negroes with boat loads of tropical fruits of all descriptions. Several, more eager to earn money than the others climed (sic) up the ships side to the upper deck & gave exhibitions of diving for 4 shillings a dive.
FRIDAY 15th JANUARY
Seemed almost a mutiny again, hundreds of troops climed (sic) down ropes into boats of eager n**gers & got ashore, after being so disappointed in not being allowed ashore.
These defaulters were all caught & reprimanded for punishment at disembarkation
SATURDAY 16th JANUARY
The fleet :-
Ulysses Borda
Themistocles Willochra
Ceramic Vendalia
Suvic *Altonia
Persic
Port MacQuarie
Vestaila & 3 German boats
Ajana
Ayreshire
Berrama
SUNDAY 17th JANUARY
THIS DATE IS BLANK
MONDAY 18th JANUARY
All boats stopped for a burial. This is the 7th death since embarkation.
Bodies are sewn up in a hammock & put overboard.
I have no inclination for a death at sea.
TUESDAY 19th JANUARY
THIS DATE IS BLANK
WEDNESDAY 20th JANUARY
We are at present sailing halfway between Colombo & Egypt.
Expect to land at Aden for a route march
THURSDAY 21st JANUARY
A thin line of smoke on the horizon early this morning caused a little excitement.
Nearly every glass available was pointed in that direction.
This continued until about 3 o/c PM when it was discovered to be an armed merchant boat & not a German cruiser
FRIDAY 22nd JANUARY
Another burial at sea this morning, making the 8th since embarkation.
SATURDAY 23rd JANUARY
More land hove in sight today. Aden. A very fine spot.
The first thing we saw was a huge rock appearing on the horizon like a cloud.
We stayed here for about 8 hours. It is very interesting to see the different types of n**gers, these appear to be a more civilised & a better class than those of Colombia (sic)
Although we anchored well out, we were soon surrounded on all sides by this tribe with boat loads of fried pines, dates & Turkish & Egyptian Cigarettes.
These were going at 6 per 100 upwards to 2 shillings
I think we all have enough now to last us to end of war.
SUNDAY 24th JANUARY
At 2 am we pass through the strait into the Red Sea.
Hugging the coast of Africa all along, caravans can be seen drawn by mules down the steep mountain tracks.
Another burial today, making the 10th
MONDAY 25th JANUARY
Sailing up the Red Sea we passed the 12 Appostles Islands,
barren rocks jutting hundreds of feet upwards right from the water’s edge with a light-house on top.
TUESDAY 26th JANUARY
In the Red Sea no land in sight.
We travelled 300 miles, this is a record for the voyage.
Had no sleep until 1 o/c in the morning
We were no sooner in our hammocks one side when landed out the other.
WEDNESDAY 27th JANUARY
Travelled 295 miles.
Land closing in on both sides
195 miles to Suez
THURSDAY 28th JANUARY
Arrived at Suez 4.30 this morning.
Long before sunrise we were surrounded again by this dark tribe.
One thing we noticed, very difficult to distinguish women from men.
Went down the freezing chamber on board.
FRIDAY 29th JANUARY
Left Suez up the canal we go.
Passed along-side the British Man O-War “Ocean”.
Also a stone throw from the main street
First Sign OF ACTIVE SERVICE
Trenches on both sides of Canal Ghurkas on the defense.
We passed another Man O War “REQUIM” at Ishmalia. Anchored here tonight
SATURDAY 30th JANUARY
7AM
Leaving this lonely place of one motor and several camels
we have camps on both sides. (Gurkahs.)
We passed another British Cruiser Swiftsure
Also the in the canal (the banks are not more than a stones throw, from one end to another
except in the lakes of 82 miles in length)
We took 2 days to do this journey.
Arrived at Port Said 3.30 PM the most interesting port so far
The city is right on the banks of the canal, so we were soon surrounded by
Side Shows and native traders
Refer to
SUNDAY 31st JANUARY (incl. 1st & 2nd February)
Left Port Said 12 o’clock Saturday night
Fair sailing we arrived at Alexandria 4 o’clock Where we are really going to land at last.
Parson gave very impressive address re conduct of 1st Contingency
with the result, on our arrival absolute silence reigned supreme on board.
For the first time we trod Terra Firma.
My vaccination taking very badly so I stopped back on board while the others went for a route march through Alexandria.
We all went ashore 7o/c PM & marched to the trains & 9.35 we started for Cairo & from there to Heliopolis
arriving here at 4.20 AM
A journey I shall never forget, thinking every minute was my last.
I could not walk to the camp
Got a lift in transports.
February 1915
WEDNESDAY 3rd FEBRUARY
Find ourselves lying in sand inches thick, cold & hungry & nearly dead.
Shifting about doing all sorts of jobs, our new home seems very crook, but hoping for the best.
We pass on nearly dead.
THURSDAY 4th FEBRUARY
I’m absolutely dead beat with my d-m arm, no hospital yet, so I have to lie in the tent all day waiting for the doctor.
At last he comes & fixes it up & I steadily improve after losing about two stone
FRIDAY 5th FEBRUARY
Today we wander about the town of Heliopolis.
Never have we seen such buildings before, the smallest could leave ours in the shade.
Also Luna Park is here & skating rink.
Fred & I sit in a restaurant.
Bathing, eating & also music
SATURDAY 6th FEBRUARY
We wandered about through the town of Heliopolis.
It is very strange to see the people getting about in their garb.
The men of the lower class wear skirts & the women all wear veils, from their eyes down over their faces.
One fine building took our fancy, starts in the middle of the road, it is the R C Church.
Getting fed very badly, dry bread & rotton tea from morning till night.
SUNDAY 7th FEBRUARY
After church parade, general leave is granted throughout the camp & we can go anywhere we wish.
We hear of our fellow soldiers, NZ , at the front along the canal doing good work.
MONDAY 8th FEBRUARY
An attack on the canal several fatalities on our side many prisoners captured.
This rouses us but of no use because we are told we cannot get in action until we do more training & get fit.
TUESDAY 9th FEBRUARY
March through the streets of the town & every man woman & child turns out to see the sight.
If we tried to work out every nationality here I’m sure we would never get half way.
Every nation is well represented
WEDNESDAY 10th FEBRUARY
Another march through the town, this time the whole division.
It gives us a good opportunity to look round.
We rested along side the supposed to be the largest Hotel in the world,
now taken over by the Government for a Hospital.
THURSDAY 11th FEBRUARY
Visited a Khan Khan in Cairo, a sight that could never be seen in Australia.
FRIDAY 12th FEBRUARY
The most realistic fight took place, seemed very much like the real thing.
Artillery fire going on to the flank & overhead with live shells & the inf attacking at the same time
finishing with a bayonet charge at dummy targets.
SATURDAY 13th FEBRUARY
Route marches through sand took most of our time up, & a half-holiday gave us an opportunity to take on skating.
It is a good sport, but as a new skater always finds the skates slippery it is not beneficial to our limbs.
Fred & I are both determined to learn before we leave this place
SUNDAY 14th FEBRUARY
Church parade in the morning with the afternoon to ourselves.
Troops from the 1st AIF at the pyramids visited our camp & we ditto them.
MONDAY 15th FEBRUARY
Turned out early in the morning, which is nothing unusual
& marched through Heliopolis & the sports ground, which is surrounded with good old Aust gum trees,
to the Rifle butts at Abassia where we spent the day in Rifle shooting.
TUESDAY 16th FEBRUARY
Sham fight in the sand in the morning
Also,
The most important day of the week,
Pay Day
WEDNESDAY 17th FEBRUARY
Broke off at miday to prepare ourselves for hard work.
Roused out of bed at 1.30 AM & marched 4 miles in dark to a position to commence a fight at dawn.
Our first night attack.
THURSDAY 18th FEBRUARY
After our early morning attack, marched home again & dismissed for the day.
Visited Cairo again & secured a guide to take us over the Citidel,
where we saw in The Blue Mosque, the tomb of Hassam Pasha, his wife & children, buried 200 years ago
FRIDAY 19th FEBRUARY
The hardest field day we have ever experienced.
After a march to the position, which took all the morning, the attack commenced.
Here, I first took up signalling, & through faulty signalling & disobeyence of orders,
hundreds of men may have been led to their death.
In the words of the Colonel, it was all a dam mess up from start to finish.
We finished the day 7.15. Very tired & sore & Hungry
SATURDAY 20th FEBRUARY
Demonstration on trench digging in the morning. 1/2 holiday in the afternoon.
Visited Cairo dentist through eating bread too stale.
Went to a music Hall, heard Tipperary sung & of course everybody went mad & sung as they never sung before.
Very second rate artists, don’t come up to Melbourne on that point.
Very clever trick cyclists & jap jugglers
SUNDAY 21st FEBRUARY
Church parade in the morning as usual.
Visited Cairo, The Nile bridge, Cairo Zoo.
Had Tea at Cafe De la Paix, best so far since arrival.
Had an orchestra playing any music we liked to mention.
MONDAY 22nd FEBRUARY
Easy Day
Nothing doing.
Wrote letters to everyone I knew in Aust.
TUESDAY 23rd FEBRUARY
Nothing to do & all day to do it in. In the morning, played billiards in a nice cool tent in camp
The afternoon I found a friend & we had violin & piano duels in the Y M C A. Seemed like home sweet home again.
Lecture in YMCA, Australian Poets.
WEDNESDAY 24th FEBRUARY
Holiday. Left camp in the morning for a days visit to Cairo, where I had my dentist trouble completed
& to the pyramids by motor 55 ms per hour.
Saw Sphynxs & several others, inc largest in Egypt, Cheops pyramid.
This one is 451 ft high. Went inside, crawled on hand & knees most of way.
Went 1/2 way up. Saw Queens’ Chamber quarter, Kings’ half.
Very Intelligent guide, Explained everything
THURSDAY 25th FEBRUARY
Very easy day. All kinds of rumers going round about where & when the first forces are going.
Some say France, some the canal & also Asia Minor.
Similar rumors were in circulation at broadmeadows & on the boat, as to where they were bound
but it was soon found to be fact.
FRIDAY 26th FEBRUARY
Easy day. Received news from E Miles New Britain
Also got latest possible papers from Eng of news from the front.
French soldiers only 6 yds entrenched from German trenches with another 30 yards behind.
We also saw a photo proving this to be fact.
SATURDAY 27th FEBRUARY
A Corp in our Batt reduced to ranks for drunkedness.
Fred happened to be on guard & had to march him to where all the NCOs were lined up to see him derided before them.
Our Battalion was out from 4 PM until midnight on a route march.
Had a good confab with tentmates on our past work & our near future, for today rumours start circulating, as in Broadmeadows,
that we are moving soon & experience has taught us not to cast these rumours aside.
SUNDAY 28th FEBRUARY
Church parade as usual.
We were on other duties so could not attend a very straight service, that we heard was preached.
The only point worthy of note today is that we had a good gathering in the tent
& a fine feed of oranges, the best part of the day