Jack's Diary

Battalion Diaries at the AWM

2008-11-09T08:25:00.004+10:00

I have discovered the Battalion War Diaries at the Australian War Memorial website.

43rd Battalion
42nd Battalion
41st Battalion
8th Field Artillery Brigade

I have already discovered that I can match the War Diaries with Jack's Diary, and to photographs taken by Jack in late 1918 and early 1919. Maybe next year, I'll add in the relevant War Diary entries on the anniversary of the day they were made.

Gunner Ridgway & Baron von Richthofen

2008-11-03T15:41:00.009+10:00

I've been looking into the matter of Gunner George Ridgway (not Ridgeway, as per the MM citation). He was from Lang Lang in Victoria, and was witness to the shooting down and death of The Red Baron. In fact, it is stated that he was the first person to reach the crashed red triplane, having watched the events from the top of a brick stack. He was adamant that it was Australian machine gunners who shot down the Baron, not the pilot who claimed the kill. It is only in recent years that Ridgway's account of events has been accepted and supported by a re-examination of the medical/forensic evidence. Ridgway also managed to scrounge, and keep, the 'number plate' of the red Fokker Triplane.

This explains why Jack was always totally convinced that The Red Baron was shot down by Australians. He, of course, knew George Ridgway very well and was certainly in the vicinity at the time.

A discussion of all this can be found at http://net.lib.byu.edu/estu/wwi/comment/richt.htm

This happened on 21 April 1918. Jack and George won their MMs together on 24 April 1918.

Note 20 March 2010: I have discovered that George Ridgway was also a witness to the death of Gunner C V Moody, of the 30th Battery 8th FAB on 18th October 1917. A pass made out in the name of Gunner Moody was amongst Jack's collection of "stuff".

Jack in 1917

2008-10-06T16:12:00.003+10:00

This photo was found amongst Uncle Ollie's collection. We originally thought it might have dated from the time of his enlistment, but the single stripe points to some time in 1917. The crossed flags on the other sleeve denote Signals.

Loading Wagons, 1 April 1919

2007-04-02T08:37:00.001+10:00

Wagon Park, Oisement.

Loading Water Carts, 1/4/19

3 February 2008. Found the annotated print for this one: Just pushing a water cart up on the trucks. They had to push them up this incline and along about 50 yards of trucks.

Trucks Loaded, 1/4/19

Photos of Cerisy

2007-04-02T08:10:00.000+10:00

At the end of March, 1919, Jack took a number of photographs around the village of Cerisy, in Picardy, where he was billetted. He seemed to be fascinated by the village crosses, of which you can see an example above.
3 February 2008: I found some more of Jack's prints of these images, and on the back of this one he says: One of the many crucifixes in the village. Every time a person dies in the village, they put a wooden cross in the iron enclosure at the foot. More snaps to follow soon.

Cerisy, 31/3/19

According to Jack's notes, a wooden cross is placed at the base of the cross every time a villager dies.

Cerisy, 2/4/19

One of the streets in the village.

Main Street, Cerisy

3 February 2008: Found the annotated print for this one, too: Main street at Cerisy. Some street, isn't it? No wonder we go dull eh.

I wonder what Cerisy-Buleux looks like today?

Page 34 - January 5th

2007-01-05T06:18:00.000+10:00

Sunday 5^th Jan.

And that's it! Jack seems to have given up on his diary at this point. I do know that the 43^rd moved to a village named Cerisy, where they stayed until early April 1919. They then shifted to the big camps at Codford, Wiltshire, and in June Jack left for Australia on the TSS Wiltshire, arriving back home in July.

Page 34 - January 4th

2007-01-05T06:13:00.000+10:00

Saturday 4^th Jan dawned fairly good. Up too late to play Reveille. Practice all morning. In the afternoon the football team went over to 44^th & gave them a beating. Very good day.

Thursday 4^th Jan spent mostly installing a new washbasin. 50 year-old plumbing can be a nuisance!

Page 33 - January 3rd

2007-01-03T07:00:00.001+10:00

Friday 3^rd dawned cold but a little cloudy. Reveille played at 7:30. Practice from 9:30 to 12, & at 2 o'clock there was a 2 mile run, but needless to say I did not start (too old). Rather a decent day.

Wednesday 3^rd started off with very heavy rain at dawn. Very heavy clouds around, and showers continuing. Very nice indeed.

Page 33 - January 2nd

2007-01-02T07:11:00.001+10:00

Thursday 2^nd dawned cold & clear, so we turned out & played Reveille. Practice all morning & a free afternoon. Rather a nice day with a shower or two.

Tuesday Jan 2^nd started with a nice shower in the wee small hours. Whether there is more around remains to be seen.

Page 33 - January 1st 1919

2007-01-01T06:32:00.000+10:00

- 1919 -

January 1^st dawned upon us rather mild but cloudy. Last night the boys had a bit of a kick up & unhinged a few gates, rolled the old Mayor's roller into a pond, put his pig in a cask & put the cow in the pig sty but never did any damage. Today was a holiday for all hands, so after dinner I went to Saint Maxent to see the 41^st but found they were away at Abbeville & had been away for about a week, so had to walk back again - arriving just in time for tea. Had tea & then developed a film.

- 2007 -

January 1^st very quiet here.

Page 33 - December 31st

2006-12-31T08:04:00.000+10:00

Tuesday Dec 31^st dawned upon us rather mild & turned out a very decent sort of day. Usual morning practice & free afternoon. At 6 o'clock we played for the officers mess, & had a fair evening. Everything going very quietly now.

Sunday Dec 31^st started out very 'summery', warm with big fluffy clouds. Friends coming to visit later today, and the girl will be off with friends to celebrate the New Year.

Happy New Year everybody. Stay safe.

Page 32 - December 30th

2006-12-30T07:02:00.000+10:00

Monday Dec 30^th broke cold & dull. Spent the morning on practice, & took a walk to the glass works at Martinville & spent a jolly interesting afternoon watching the blowers at work.

Saturday Dec 30^th another clear and warm one - you can almost hear the grass growing. Dad rang last night, and will be in town for a few days soon, staying with us. That will be nice.

Page 32 - December 29th

2006-12-30T07:00:00.000+10:00

Sunday Dec 29^th saw us at breakfast at 9 o'clock & at church parade at 11 after which we had the usual free afternoon.

Friday Dec 29^th dawned clear and bright and warm after those lovely rainy days. The garden and lawn are looking very green and fresh now.

Page 32 - December 28th

2006-12-28T06:58:00.000+10:00

Saturday Dec 28^th was a much finer day than yesterday. Went through the same old rigmarole routine.

Thursday Dec 28^th seems to be clearing, too. Steady drizzle through the night, so the back yard is starting to look somewhat better than it has of recent times.

Page 32 - December 27th

2006-12-27T06:17:00.000+10:00

Friday Dec 27^th was just the usual cold day, with the morning's practice and free afternoon.

Wednesday Dec 27^th damp outside, after more overnight rain on top of yesterday's, and yet more on the way. Not doing much for the water supply dams, but the lawn and garden are looking much happier.

Page 32 - December 26th

2006-12-26T09:23:00.000+10:00

Thursday Dec 26^th was a holiday for all hands so two of us pushed off to Blangy, a decent town about 6 kilos away & spent a very good day, as it was glorious weather.

Tuesday Dec 26^th very gloomy early, with scuds of light drizzle. Looks like it has been similar all night. Not enough rain to dampen the soil under those shrubs with dense foliage.

Page 32 - December 25th

2006-12-25T05:54:00.000+10:00

Wednesday Dec 25^th (Xmas Day) Went out last night carol playing around the village, 7 has a jolly good night. After breakfast, we had the morning free. The boys had their dinner at 3 o'clock, & the band played for them but in the middle of the programme, a slight snow storm dispersed the band. We had our dinner at 6pm, & a jolly goood one too. A very nice day indeed.
Monday Dec 25^th No snow here, of course, though Melbourne had morning hail and there might be snow in the high country. Family get together at Marburg today.

Page 31 - December 24th

2006-12-24T06:57:00.000+10:00

Tuesday Dec 24^th dawned fine & bright. Put in about 2 hours practice in the morning, & at 1 o'clock we went to Franslay to play for N^o.1 Company's Xmas dinner. Very cold. Played 'Lost Chord'.

Sunday Dec 24^th also dawned bright and unseasonably slightly cool. Good morning for just lazing about, but there are preparations to be done for tomorrow's Christmas lunch. Very little cooking involved, which is good.

Christmas 1918 - Jack's photo.

Page 31 - December 23rd

2006-12-23T07:51:00.000+10:00

Monday Dec 23^rd Dawned very rainy. Put in the usual practice, & 3 of us set out at 10 o'clock for Blangy, but about a mile on the road it rained very hard, so we sheltered behind a haystack & decided to return when the rain had finished. Arrived back about 2:30pm & dried our clothes.

Saturday Dec 23^rd Jack, all this talk of heavy rain is making us quite envious. Yesterday's light showers were pleasant, but not terribly helpful in the overall scheme of things. Today, some extra shopping for the (cold) Christmas family lunch at brother's almost-complete new house outside Marburg.

Page 31 - December 22nd

2006-12-22T06:19:00.000+10:00

Sunday Dec 22^nd Dawned much brighter so I decided to take a walk to Saint Maxent to see the 41^st boys, but on arriving there found that they had just left for a days outing to Abbeville, so had to retrace my steps, arriving back just in time for lunch. Did nothing all afternoon.

Friday Dec 22^nd cloudy early, with a few spots of rain. Gave in to "the girls" yesterday and purchased a hammock stand so we could finally get the old Hawaiian hammock (from Lombok days) out of storage - only been stashed away for 15 years! ) ALDI had a hammock and stand on sale, so I zoomed down early to make the purchase. Lucky we had the old hammock, because the item sold with the stand was way too short to fit. I'd guess that there might have been a few irate people, because these hammocks were very popular items at the small ALDI I visited. Rang their Brisbane HQ to warn them that they might expect some nasty phone calls.

Page 31 - December 21st

2006-12-21T05:59:00.000+10:00

Saturday Dec 21^st proved to be a much better day than the previous ones. At 9:30 am we went on a route march through Martenville & Franslay arriving back at Ramburelles in time for lunch. Lazy afternoon.

Thursday Dec 21^st Low cloud early. Very close. Rain for Christmas?

Page 31 - December 20th

2006-12-20T06:51:00.000+10:00

Friday Dec 20^th dawned cold & wet. Nothing doing all day.

Wednesday Dec 20^th We could do with some of that "wet", Grandad, but not the "cold".

Page 30 - December 19th

2006-12-19T06:37:00.000+10:00

Thursday Dec 19^th dawned dull & cold, put in the usual old lazy day.

Tuesday Dec 19^th a very bright morning, quite cool. Opthalmologist appointment later in the day to see if the old eyes are holding up OK.

Page 30 - December 18th

2006-12-18T08:12:00.000+10:00

Wednesday Dec 18^th Dawned rather fine but turned bad towards evening. Usual practice & lazy afternoon.

Monday Dec 18^th Couldn't get to sleep last night until wee small hours, so slept in and very sluggish this morning.

Page 30 - December 17th

2006-12-17T09:35:00.000+10:00

Tuesday Dec 17^th No reveille on account of boys on leave. Practiced all morning & went into Oisement in the afternoon.

Sunday Dec 17^th started out clear, but clouding up again. Nice showers yesterday and overnight. Could be more. Venturing out into the wilds of the extreme western suburbs later today for a yarn to old friends.

Page 30 - December 16th

2006-12-16T07:30:00.000+10:00

Monday Dec 16^th Played Reveille. 4 boys went on leave, which makes the band a little wesk. Practiced all morning & spent the lazy afternoon.

Saturday Dec 16^th dawned dampish after some overnight storm rain. Again, the heavier rain seemed to be avoiding us.

Page 30 - December 15th

2006-12-15T07:11:00.000+10:00

Sunday Dec 15^th Dawned rather fine. No Reveille this morning, being Sunday. Church parade at 11 o'clock. Lazy afternoon.

Friday Dec 15^th yet another in the procession of fine hot days. Let us hope that the promised storms this evening do more good than harm.

Page 30 - December 14th

2006-12-14T05:40:00.000+10:00

Saturday Dec 14^th Again a usual sort of day. Much finer than the few previous days.

Thursday Dec 14sup>th I suppose I could echo that sentiment, Jack. A usual sort of day - some clouds but nothing that indicates rain for us.

Page 30 - December 13th

2006-12-13T06:38:00.000+10:00

Friday Dec 13^th One more of the cold dull days. Nothing unusal (sic).

Wednesday Dec 13^th Some rain overnight - didn't hear anything, but quite damp outside at dawn. More investigations into the state of my dear spouse's feet today - I hope some progress can be made into easing her pain.

Page 30 - December 12th

2006-12-12T06:16:00.000+10:00

Thursday Dec 12^th Another of the dull cold days. Nothing unusual happened today.

When you think about it, these weeks after the Armistice must have been difficult for the soldiers. The fighting was over, but they were still in a state of readiness in the battlefields with no idea of when they might get to return home.

Tuesday Dec 12^th - a bit of the 'nothing unusual happened' going on here, too. Showers are still being predicted, but not arriving.

Page 30 - December 11th

2006-12-11T06:13:00.000+10:00

Wednesday Dec 11^th Just the usual dull day, with Reveille at 7:30. Practice all morning & lazy afternoon.

I wonder how they organised Reveille with the soldiers billeted all through the village? Did the bugler go to the centre of the village and play?
Monday Dec 11^th another warm and dry looking day. I pity the firefighters down south and have great sympathy for the townspeople awaiting the arrival of the fires.

Page 29-30 - December 10th

2006-12-10T06:59:00.000+10:00

Tuesday Dec 10^th saw us up at 7am for Reveille & to prepare for our shift. After a little fussing we got under way at 9:20am & we marched through Oisement to a village called Ramburelles arriving at about 12:30pm. The village proved to be a small dirty one & the billets were very bad indeed so a Sgt Barratt & myself found a nice cosy room with a double bed & made ourselves at home.

Anniversaries: Today marks the end of my 60th year on this good earth. Suppose I'll have to change the wording of my Blogger profile, now.

Sunday Dec 10^th saw a brief shower of rain just before dawn, which I suppose was the 'clearing showers' the weather bureau talked of. It did clean the air a little, so not completely useless.

Page 29 - December 9th

2006-12-09T07:23:00.000+10:00

Monday Dec 9^th dawned very nice indeed. The usual Battⁿ parade at 9am, spent the rest of the morning at practice. During the evening, the folk where we were billeted gave us a send off so we had a jolly fine evening.

Anniversaries: Mum's 83^rd Birthday today.

Saturday Dec 9^th much like any other recently. No overnight showers, and very little promised.

Page 29 - December 8th

2006-12-08T08:12:00.000+10:00

Sunday Dec 8^th No Reveille this morning, being Sunday. Church parade at 11 o'clock for which we played. Gave the village a little music during the afternoon.

Friday Dec 8^th cloudy, but none of the promised showers. This is getting to be rather monotonous - 'possible showers' turning out to be falling in places other than where we are.

Page 29 - December 7th

2006-12-07T06:46:00.000+10:00

Saturday Dec 7^th dawned very much brighter than yesterday. Being a quiet sort of day, we spent most of the time on practice.

Thursday Dec 7^th also a bright morning. Possible showers are predicted, but it looks very much as if that possibility is near negligible.

Anniversaries: Pearl Harbour.

Page 29 - December 6th

2006-12-06T06:58:00.000+10:00

Friday Dec 6^th dawned rather dull & rainy but we turned out for Reveille. No parades on account of the all day sports which were held. The sports were very good taking everything into consideration, but the day was very dull & cold. We played a few selections during the afternoon.

Wednesday Dec 6^th arrived with no rain from the recent cloudiness. Mrs D to the podiatrist today, to see what can be done about the pain currently being caused by her terribly flat feet.

Page 28-29 - December 5th

2006-12-05T08:16:00.000+10:00

Thursday Dec 5^th saw us up & doing for 7:30 Reveille. Put in the usual old day of 9 o'clock parade, morning practice & lazy afternoon.

Tuesday Dec 5^th saw me sleeping in somewhat because of the long day yesterday and dark, cloudy morning. No rain to speak of, however. An e-mail from the man who is making a list of Rudall Carte cornets - I had sent an e-mail some time ago, but no reply, so had another try yesterday morning without attachments - and he is pleased that he has tracked down yet another. No 6289, entered in stock in 1916, is now no longer lost to his list, having been purchased by Jack during WW1.

Page 28 - December 4th

2006-12-04T06:02:00.000+10:00

Wednesday Dec 4^th saw us up at 7:30 as usual. After breakfast, there was the Battⁿ parade, after which we came back for practice. Did nothing all afternoon except play the Guard on.

Monday Dec 4^th started cloudy after storms yesterday afternoon and some rain during the night. Youngest sister arrives back from India this morning, so will soon have to head out to the airport.

Page 28 - December 3rd

2006-12-03T07:29:00.000+10:00

Tuesday Dec 3^rd Up as usual for 7:30 Reveille. Practice all morning & lazy afternoon. Started playing the Guard on this evening.

Sunday Dec 3^rd started out drizzly. Sister off to the Scrabble tournament early.

Page 28 - December 2nd

2006-12-02T08:19:00.000+10:00

Monday Dec 2^nd Up for Reveille at 7:30am. Bath parade at Allery. Went to Warlus to see the old 42^nd Band Boys. Long walk, but good exercise.

Saturday Dec 2^nd Another warm morning. Mum and Sister descending upon us later today. Sister has Scrabble tournament in Southport on Sunday, and is returning other sister's car ready for her arrival Monday morning.

Page 28 - December 1st

2006-12-01T07:33:00.001+10:00

Sunday Dec 1^st saw us up & doing at 7:30 am. No Reveille. Breakfast as usual & church parade at 11am. Jolly cold standing there. Lazy afternoon as usual.

Friday Dec 1^st dawned less weirdly than yesterday. The mixture of smoke, dust and heavy low cloud that made yesterday look like Armageddon appear to be clearing.

Page 28 - November 30th

2006-11-30T08:32:00.000+10:00

Saturday Nov 30^th dawned rather rainy. No Reveille this morning. Practiced in morning but spent another lazy afternoon.

Thursday Nov 30^th also looked as if it might rain, after last evenings stormy rain. Not much of it, as the heaviest rain passed to the north and south of us.

Page 28 - November 29th

2006-11-29T06:51:00.000+10:00

Friday Nov 29^th dawned rainy again & continued all day. Did nothing all day except write letters.

Wednesday Nov 29^th started with more unrelenting sun. We could well and truly enjoy some weather such as Jack was complaining about way back then. Today, a check-up on the new hip.

Page 27-28 - November 28th

2006-11-28T08:36:00.000+10:00

Thursday Nov 28^th Rained again, so we are having a fin run off Reveille. Had leave to Abbeville for the day. Arrived back about 10:30pm. Rainy day.

Tuesday Nov 28^th looking cloudy and feeling very muggy. A few drops of water on the car this morning, but that was all. Storms much further south last evening, and are predicted for tomorrow evening, here. Hope that they eventuate.

Page 27 - November 27th

2006-11-27T08:55:00.000+10:00

Wednesday Nov 27^th Raining again, so no Reveille. Usual morning practice, & very quiet afternoon.

Monday Nov 27^th started out a little cloudy. A few drops of rain last night, but that was all. A little late to the office, so had to park on the street - another reason to work out a way to work from home.

Page 27 - November 26th

2006-11-26T08:19:00.000+10:00

Tuesday Nov 26^th Raining this morning, so no Reveille. Practice during the morning & went on 12 o'clock parade, but rain hunted us in.

Sunday Nov 26^th Wish we could have some of that rain that Jack was complaining about all those years ago. Very hot from very early this morning.

Page 27 - November 25th

2006-11-26T08:13:00.000+10:00

Monday Nov 25^th dawned dull and rainy. Reveille at 7:30am. Morning spent on practice. Played for ceremonial parade at 12 o'clock. Afternoon spent very lazy.

Saturday Nov 25^th started out hot again. Usual Saturday stuff - stupourmarket and suchlike. Long session bucketing water to the worst affected parts of the garden in the evening.

Page 27 - November 24th

2006-11-24T08:27:00.000+10:00

Sunday Nov 24^th. No Reveille this morning. After playing the guard on, I was told to pack up & report to the 43^rd Battn., as their band was in need of players, so I went over in the motor wagon to Vergies (our old village). Went to Huecourt to help 44^th Band to play march past for the competing platoons. 41 ^st won the show. ^{Friday Nov 24^th very hot early. Summer is a'coming in.}

Page 27 - November 23rd

2006-11-23T08:21:00.000+10:00

Saturday Nov 23^rd dawned very cold, but we had to turn out at 7 am to play Reveille. Played for parades, & had to wait on parade ground to play a march past for some platoons that were going in for the Div competitions.

Thursday Nov 23^rd started out very warm, and will be getting hotter by the looks of it. Should be a good day for the start of the First Ashes Test, anyway.

Page 26 - November 22nd

2006-11-22T10:04:00.000+10:00

Friday Nov 22^nd found us up at 7 am for Reveille. No parades all day. Messed about all day.

Wednesday Nov 22^nd starting to feel more like summer is on the way.

Page 26 - November 21st

2006-11-21T09:01:00.000+10:00

Thursday Nov 21^st saw us up at 7:50am for breakfast, & were told that all movements had been cancelled, so after dinner we shouldered our packs & walked the 14 kilos back to Warlus & arrived dead tired.

Tuesday Nov 21^st another SEQ spring day. Over to the office, to find even more undergraduate engineers here for their holiday employment and experience - the company has an arrangement with Queensland University of Technology to mentor undergraduates interested in the geotechnical side of the profession.

Page 26 - November 20th

2006-11-20T08:16:00.000+10:00

Wednesday Nov 20^th broke very mild. At 7:30am the Sergt came & told us that a Trombone player (Bigg) & myself had to pack up and report to the 3^rd Pioneer Band at Liercourt so off we set, & after marching abour 14 kilos, ,through Airaines, Wonel, Sorel we eventually arrived & were welcomed byt the band, who made us comfortable etc. Played a programme in the afternoon. We were to go into Germany as a Corps band.

Note: http://www.multimap.com can help you find all these towns and villages in the far north of France.

Monday Nov 20^th dawned as another superlative day which could be improved only by significant rain. Delightful Southern Queensland spring weather. Too good to be wasted on attending the office, in truth.

Page 26 - November 13th to 19th

2006-11-13T08:40:00.000+10:00

Wednesday Nov 13^th
Thursday Nov 14^th
Friday Nov 15^th
Saturday Nov 16^th
Sunday Nov 17^th
Monday Nov 18^th
Tuesday Nov 19^th
Were all alike. Usual Battⁿ parades and routine.

Monday Nov 13^th dawned hot and muggy. Across to the office, though not terribly keen on the idea. Again, the chair at my desk had been souveniered and replaced with something very uncoomfortable. I keep telling them they can have anything they like after I'm dead, but I am currenly only slightly incapacitated.

Page 26 - November 12th

2006-11-12T08:09:00.000+10:00

Tuesday Nov 12^th saw us up at 7 am. After breakfast, we were amalgamated with the 41^st band. After parade we set to practice. Very cold day.

Sunday Nov 12^th dawned clear and it is obvious that we are to have a hot one today.

Page 25 - November 11th

2006-11-11T06:53:00.000+10:00

Monday Nov 11^th saw us up at 7:15 for breakfast. Fell in and marched off to our units at Warlus, arriving at 12:30pm after scrambling on wagons & lorries. Settled down in old billets ready for the coming morning.

News of the Armistice obviously didn't arrive on the day it was signed.

Saturday Nov 11^th a glorious morning. The forecast of storms in the afternoons has not been fulfilled at our place, and the moisture from the storms earlier in the week is now rapidly disappearing.

Page 25 - November 10th

2006-11-10T10:44:00.000+10:00

Sunday Nov 10^th dawned cold and clear. Marched a mob to St Firmin at 8:30. Had dinner & fell in at 3pm. Had tea & fell in again at 3:45 & marched off to Rue where we entrained for Longpre. Arrived at 11:30pm after a cold journey. Went up to Div. Reinf. Wing & camped for the night. Had a drink of cocoa when we arrived at the camp.

Anniversaries: My youngest sister's birthday today. She's in India right now.

Friday Nov 10^th cloudy, but rain is only scattered and happening elsewhere.

Page 25 - November 9th

2006-11-09T09:34:00.000+10:00

Saturday Nov 9^th Broke very cold & clear with a fairly heavy frost. Usual Reveille. Played all morning for competitions of the different divisions prior to the termination of the course. Day proved to be a glorious one, with that good old sunshine, so strange to this country. Heard today that Fritz had been granted a 72 hour armistice.

Thursday Nov 9^th very nice after a storm and more rain yesterday afternoon and night. Looks like more on the way. Rain in the catchments yesterday, which is encouraging.

Page 25 - November 8th

2006-11-08T08:26:00.000+10:00

Friday Nov 8^th dawned rainy again. Marched A Company down to the range on the beach. Did nothing all day. Played for concert in evening.

Wednesday Nov 8^th cloudy from sun-up. Storms predicted for today.

Page 24 - November 7th

2006-11-07T08:08:00.000+10:00

Thursday Nov 7^th dawned much finer. Just the usual parades & a visit to Le Cotroy & picture show in the evening.

Tuesday Nov 7^th bright and clear, after some unpredicted rain last night. Melbourne Cup day, so most of the office staff are all dressed up for a day at the races (corporate tent, schmoozing the clients). Sister should be at the airport now, back from her scrabble tournament in Auckland.

Page 24 - November 6th

2006-11-06T08:28:00.000+10:00

Wednesday Nov 6^th dawned rainy. Played Reveille, but never went on morning's parade, on account of rain. Spent morning writing letters. Went on 12 o'clock parade, but rain hunted us off. Spent afternoon in the hut.

Monday Nov 6^th very bright and cloudless, and warm to boot. To good a day to be confined to an office, but a living needs to be earned.

Page 24 - November 5th

2006-11-06T08:23:00.000+10:00

Tuesday Nov 5^th dawned very rainy, so we slept in until 7:15am. Played the usual parade, & paid a visit to St Fermin. After the 2 o'clock parade we went to Le Cotroy & had a good feed.

Sunday Nov 5^th saw the rain gone and the sun shining. Pottered about a bit in the garden, but generally a lazy day.

Page 24 - November 4th

2006-11-04T16:48:00.000+10:00

Monday Nov 4^th Three years today since I went into Enogerra (sic) & how well I remember it all. Three years, & here I am writing by the light of a canddel stuck in the top of a beer bottle, in the Sergts Mess of an Aust^ln Corps School. The usual old routine of parades & picture show.

Note: Jack really meant to say Enoggera.

Saturday Nov 4^th started out with light rain, and it has been raining all day- occasionally heavily. Yesterday, fitted diverters to all downpipes, and the hoses have been flowing onto the driest parts of the garden. Mum is with us, as today is the first day of play in the Scrabble Trans-Tasman Invitational Challenge and my sister is one of the 12 Australian contestants.

A Morris Chair

2006-10-25T10:33:00.000+10:00

Jack was a carpenter and joiner by trade, so it is no surprise that he took the opportunity to sketch this chair at the camp in Codford, Wiltshire on his way home from France.

An address

2006-10-25T09:31:00.000+10:00

c/o Mrs Munn
62 Marne St
Queen's Park Estate W.10

Who was living c/o Mrs Munn? I suppose we'll never know. However, the handwriting is not Jack's and looks very much like Madge Dyer's.

Multimap is a very handy tool. Marne Street, Queens Park Estate, W.10 is not too far from the infamous Wormwood Scrubs Prison. Better to say, maybe, that it is also near the Linford Christie Stadium, or Hammersmith Hospital, or St Charles Hospital or, for that matter, Lords Cricket Ground (in the other direction).

Railway Timetables

2006-10-25T09:26:00.000+10:00

Amongst the little notes scattered through the book are railway timetable excerpts.

Sundays
Waterloo to Salisbury 9am 3pm 7:10pm
Salisbury to Portsmouth 9am 3:20pm
Swindon to Paddington 8"25pm arriving 10:30pm
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bristol to Salisbury 8:45 arriving 10:35pm
Swindon to Bristol 5:30pm arriving 8:26pm
Swindon to Westbury 7:27pm arriving 9:45pm
Change at Trowbridge
Westbury to Salisbury 9:48pm arriving 10:35pm
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yet another poem

2006-10-25T09:07:00.000+10:00

She sits on the arm of the old leather chair
Her two yellow eyes kept locked on the gate
For someone some day will be turning in there
She doesn't forget and she knows how to wait.

She yawns and she has a good wash till her coat
Is a shining example of ebony fur
Though I cuddle her close there's a faraway note
And an absence of mind in the tone of her purr.

Her kitten comes stalking & leaps on her tail
But carries such antics a trifle too far
For temper in wartime is apt to be frail
And the frolic ends up in a family jar.

Of waiting & hoping she's doing her share
And I've made up my mind unreluctantly that
When somebody sits in the old leather chair
I'll leave one of his knees for the little black cat.

(Parts of the last verse are very faint pencil, but I think that is what is written.)
Undated.

Some thoughts, by Jack

2006-10-25T09:03:00.000+10:00

Foresight is when we are able to blunder into sucess without looking surprised.

Fear is a condiment like cayenne pepper, a little is an excellent relish.

The path of the aviator is Plane sailing.

Another Poem

2006-10-25T08:59:00.000+10:00

We would send a Xmas greeting
Men on land & men on sea
Though we folks may not be meeting
Thoughts can travel far and free.
Though old England's Christmas party
May be broken here and there
Still we send our wishes hearty
To the absent everywhere.

Soldiers, Sailors, men out flying
Women nursing far away
Plucky laddies wounded dying
May God bless you all today.
May the coming Xmas morning
Be a time of gladness true
And the New Year brightly dawning
Lay a kindly hand on you.

(Undated, probably 1918)

Page 23-24 - October 23rd

2006-10-23T10:03:00.000+10:00

Wednesday Oct 25^th was a rather quiet day, spent in cleaning our gear for the trip to the Corps School in a Motor Lorry, arriving at 1:45 & then played the competitors round the town. Eventually we arrived at the sports ground & played ofr a couple of hours & all we got was a drink of coffee, which greatly improved the boys none too sweet tempers.

No way of checking whether this was Wednesday, or 25 October (which would have been a Friday). Anyway, something interrupted the diary here, because the next entry is Monday November 4^th.

Monday Oct 23^rd more like a normal spring day than the gale conditions over the weekend. My normal route to work again operating more-or-less as normal, which is good. Blogger has been playing silly buggers this morning, which accounts for the late posting.

Page 23 - October 22nd

2006-10-22T06:18:00.000+10:00

Tuesday Oct 22^nd found us up at 7am in our new home. After cleaning up we went on a mornings route march. After about 2 hours rest, 4 of us set out for Vergies to visit our friends there. We arrived at 5pm, & left again at 9. Had a good time, but a long walk.

Sunday Oct 22^nd is fresh and damp. Yes, it rained last night! First a storm then, a short while later, steady soaking light rain. Everything looks much better, but we need something like this every day for weeks to really make any inroads into the drought. And that just isn't going to happen.

Page 23 - October 21st

2006-10-21T06:59:00.000+10:00

Monday Oct 21^st brought us out once again ay 7am after which we had breakfast, & then started to pack our traps to move to t he 41^st Battⁿ at Warlus. Moved off at 1pm, & arrived at about 4pm & made things as cosy as possible, & turned in for a well earned rest.

So, the breakup of the Battalion begins, after all.

Saturday Oct 21^st starts off very warm. Storms are promised (maybe) this afternoon. Full page announcements of the details of Level 4 water restrictions in the paper this morning, to start from November 1.

Page 23 - October 20th

2006-10-20T05:57:00.001+10:00

Sunday Oct 20^th broke warm & mild. No Reveille, spent a very quiet day.

Friday Oct 20^th dawned after another dry night. A line of storms did pass yesterday afternoon, but with no benefit to us.

Page 23 - October 20th

2006-10-20T05:57:00.000+10:00

Sunday Oct 20^th broke warm & mild. No Reveille, spent a very quiet day.

Friday Oct 20^th dawned after another dry night. A line of storms did pass yesterday afternoon, but with no benefit to us.

Page 23 - October 19th

2006-10-19T08:42:00.000+10:00

Saturday Oct 19^th found us out at 7am, to look upon a bright blue sky. At 9am we started out for a route march , to Wiry - Allery - & back to Vergies, a distance of about 5 miles. Had to play another programme in the square during the afternoon. A jolly fine day & a fine bundle of home mail.
Thursday Oct 19^th remains rainless, though the Bureau is talking possible storms today. Braved the traffic chaos, and found it not too bad.

Page 22-23 - October 18th

2006-10-18T07:55:00.000+10:00

Friday Oct 18^thdawned very nice & rather mild. Went into Allery for Bath. Played a programme in the square during the afternoon. Two players stayed in Allery & got pinched by the Piquet.

Wednesday Oct 18^th supposed to be showery, but no such luck. Decided not to venture out of the house this morning because of Riverside Expressway closures causing excessive traffic chaos. My attitude is that, at my age, I don't really need to subject myself to that amount of frustration.

Page 22 - October 17th

2006-10-17T08:40:00.000+10:00

Thursday Oct 17^th dawned much clearer. Just the usual old routine of practice & play retreat. Another year of my life gone, or just started.

Anniversaries: Grandad's birthday (he'd be 119 today if he was alive) and also my brother's birthday.

Tuesday Oct 17^th One small shower during the night. Still cloudy, but not raining. Remembered the plug pack for the laptop today.

Page 22 - October 16th

2006-10-16T08:20:00.000+10:00

Wednesday Oct 16^th Another cold & overcast morning. Rose at 7am & cleaned up. Practiced all morning & played Retreat. Rather a quiet day.

Monday Oct 16^th started out with a bit of fine drizzle, but for only a few minutes. Arrived at the office to find I'd left the plug pack for the laptop computer at home, so looks as if I'll be going home early. Legs still suffering from the combined effects of Friday's physiotherapy, new one-legged balancing exercises, and the multitude of stairs and hills negotiated at yesterday's Multicultural Festival at Roma Street Parklands.

Page 22 - October 15th

2006-10-15T06:40:00.000+10:00

Tuesday Oct 15^th dawned cold & overcast. Pipers played Reveille thie week, so we slept in till 7 am. Did nothing all day except play retreat.

Sunday Oct 15^th same old same old as far as weather goes. The backyard Corymbia torreliana is in flower, and last night the fruit bats had a feast. Broken twigs and clusters of blossom all over the lawn this morning. Now, with the sun up a bit, the Rainbow Lorikeets are arriving in large numberd for the banquet. This will mean more borken bits on the lawn and, by evening, a few drunken parrots falling off branches and bumping into things.

Page 22 - October 14th

2006-10-14T06:15:00.000+10:00

Monday Oct 14^th dawned very cold & clear. Up at 6:30 for Reveille. Once again they tried to break the Battⁿ up but the boys would not budge. The NCOs were marched off, but all sent back again, & were sent out on a route march. After tea, we went into Madam's house across the road & had a jolly fine evening.

Saturday Oct 14^th much like any other morning lately. Dry. More water restrictions are but a fortnight away. Really have to make an effort to get started on my Tax Return today - meant to yesterday, but the physio visit left me aching and reluctant to sit at a computer for long.

Page 21-22 - October 13th

2006-10-13T06:16:00.000+10:00

Sunday Oct 13^th Slept in a little later, as there is no Reveille on Sunday mornings. Went into Huecourt for the church parade, but 44^th did the playing. Played a programme in the village (Vergies) at 3:30pm. Rather a rainy sort of day, but cleared up towards evening.

Friday Oct 13^th up early to prepare myself for physiotherapy. Some clouds about, and humid, but probably no rain about.

Page 21 - October 12th

2006-10-12T09:05:00.000+10:00

Saturday Oct 12^th found us up bright & early to play the Reveille. Spent rather a lazy morning, but in the afternoon we went into Oisement & had a fine afternoon. Met 'Li' Shaw & Bunny Lyons there on 5^th Div. H.Q. Had our tea & made tracks for home about 8:30pm, dead tired. On the way home we pinched some very nice apples from an orchard near the road.

Good to see that Grandad finally spelled Reveille correctly! It had been annoying me.

Thursday Oct 12^th is yet another clear dry day to grind us down even further.

Page 21 - October 11th

2006-10-11T08:24:00.000+10:00

Friday Oct 11^th dawned warm & close, with a liklihood (sic) of rain. They tried to break the Battⁿ today, but the boys would not march off. Of course they had a few lectures, but it made very little difference to them.

This minor mutiny drags on, in some kind of slow motion.

Wednesday Oct 11^th dry on the north side of town, but wet roads on the southside in the early morning. The gales seem to have died away.

Page 21 - October 10th

2006-10-10T09:06:00.000+10:00

Thursday Oct 10^th dawned rather milder than yesterday, which made it far easier to turn out at 7am. Lecture from the Col. re the breaking up of the Battallion, after which there was the usual Battⁿ parade. Played from 4:15 to 4:45pm.

Still trying to break up the 42^nd Battⁿ, but no luck so far!

Tuesday Oct 10^th - no rain overnight, despite encouraging looking clouds and gale off the sea. All that has gone now.

Page 21 - October 9th

2006-10-09T09:55:00.000+10:00

Wednesday Oct 9^th broke cold & clear. Just the usual old routine all day. The 11^th B^de paid us a visit during the evening. Played "The Lost Chord" for them.

"The Lost Chord" must have been one of Grandad's favourites at one time, as I can remember having the sheet music for it at home when I was a young'un.

Some sites with information about the song.
http://math.boisestate.edu/gas/other_sullivan/songs/lost_chord/chord.html
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/o/lostchor.htm
http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/10309

Monday Oct 9^th rather grey from the start. Showers are 'promised' but who knows?

Page 20 - October 8th

2006-10-08T06:51:00.000+10:00

Tuesday Oct 8^th dawned dull and rainy. The usual routine of playing Revellie. No practice this morning. During the afternoon we marched into a village called Allery for a bath. (An hours walk each way.)

Baths don't appear to feature strongly in the soldier's routine.

Sunday Oct 8^th also dull, but by no means rainy. Today, visiting with my third cousin up in Mooloolaba before she returns home to New Zealand. Should be fun - time to try the bottle of Cricket Pitch merlot blend my son brought over.

Page 20 - October 7th

2006-10-07T07:08:00.000+10:00

Monday Oct 7^th As usual we arone at 7am to play Revellie, which consisted of a march around the village. After breakfast we spent a lazy morning (in fact a lazy day). Again the rain prevented us from playing a programme.

Good to see that rain doesn't stop because of a war .

Saturday Oct 7^th A cloudy morning, with a light misting of pre-dawn rain on the car. Today will be the usual Saturday things - shopping and stuff. Daughter has scored a ticket to watch the Socceroos play Paraguay at Lang Park (I will not call it Suncorp Stadium) tonight.

Page 20 - October 6th

2006-10-06T06:52:00.000+10:00

Sunday Oct 6^th saw us up at 7 o'clock & had our breakfast, after which we tidied up & made things comfortable. Did very little all day. Tried to play a programme during the afternoon, but rain prevented us.

Friday Oct 6^th We are hoping that we, too, will have an interrupted afternoon due to storm rain. But the early morning is a typical summery day.

Page 20 - October 5th

2006-10-03T13:24:00.000+10:00

Saturday Oct 5^th found us up and doing at 6am. After breakfast we packed up & marched to the light railway & boarded the train, which took us to Perronne, where we entrained & travelled to a place called Airaines where we detrained & marched to a small village called Vergies. After arriving at about 8pm we were taken to our billets & settled in for the night. The march out was a bit rough, as we had full packs & had to play all the way.

Thursday Oct 5^th bright and sunny from the start.

Page 19-20 - October 4th

2006-10-03T13:19:00.000+10:00

Friday Oct 4^th dawned nice & mild. Rose at 7am & cleaned up ready to meet the Battⁿ, but a runner brought word to pack up & go to the Battⁿ, so we had our dinner & made way for the mob. On our way over we had to pass through a Yanks camp & they made us stop & play for them. They gave us a good old drink of coffee. At last we arrived at the Battⁿ & found a camp for the night. Played a programme for the boys. Day turned rather dull towards evening.

Wednesday Oct 4^th grey skies in the morning. The threatening storms did not develop into rain last night. Usual trip across to the office.

Page 19 - October 3rd

2006-10-03T08:27:00.000+10:00

Thursday Oct 3^rd dawned upon us bright & clear. 8 o'clock saw us up & doing. After a clean up & breakfast we set to practice. Practiced all day & played for the show in the evening. Had orders to play the Battⁿ home after coming out of the line. Fritz paid us another aerial visit, but as is is his usual habit did no damage.

Tuesday Oct 3^rd very sunny right from sun-up. A good morning for the parade of the Broncos through the city to City Hall and then Lang Park after the civic reception. I left early for the office in order to avoid traffic problems - of which there were none, as the Broncos' parade and reception are tomorrow. I was sure it was today! Old Timer's Disease, I think, otherwise known as CRAFT.

Page 19 - October 2nd

2006-10-02T08:36:00.000+10:00

Wednesday Oct 2^nd Up as per usual at 8am for breakfast. Put another day at practice. As usual, no show tonight.

Looks as if the war was almost at an end, and we know that the armistice was just over a month away.

Monday Oct 2^nd had another grey start, but the sun is starting to shine though as I type this.

Page 19 - October 1st

2006-10-01T07:50:00.000+10:00

Tuesday Oct 1^st broke cold & clear. Winter is coming on now. Spent all day at practice. No show this evening either.

Sunday Oct 1^st rather grey to start off. With Mrs D, moved the hoya plant to a new home, out of the tibouchina tree to an archway frame. Not an easy job, but will display the hundred or so flower bunches to better advantage. Just starting to open now. Somehow made my hip hurt during this effort, and had to lie down for a few hours.

The Broncos won the NRL Grand Final, so that made the day a whole lot better.

Page 18-19 - September 30th

2006-09-30T05:54:00.000+10:00

Monday 30^th Sept. Dawned cold & clear. Out of bed at 8am for breakfast. Put the whole day at practice. No show this evening on account of so few troops in village.

Saturday 30^th Sept. Up really early for some strange reason. Looks like a fine day out there, but hints of storms this afternoon or evening. This will be a regular Saturday with the weekly shopping taking up a good part of the morning.

Page 18 - September 29th

2006-09-29T08:26:00.000+10:00

Sunday 29^th Sept dawned upon us cold & miserable & made us stick closely to our beds. Had a real lazy day today - nothing doing.

Friday 29^th Sept a bright clear spring morning, fresh after the showers. More afternoon storms predicted for the whole week ahead, so the storm season has come upon us early. Grand Final weekend weather, I suppose.

Page 18 - September 28th

2006-09-28T08:38:00.000+10:00

Saturday 28^th Sept. Battallion moved up to the line last night, so we looked around and made things cosy for our stay here. Played for the show in the afternoon, but not in the evening. Spent a quiet morning around the fire, writing.

Thursday 28^th Sept clear after storms yesterday afternoon and light rain through the night. Welcome, but nowhere near enough to relieve our increasingly dire water situation.

Page 18 - September 27th

2006-09-27T09:29:00.000+10:00

Friday 27^th Sept dawned cold & clear. Turned out at 7am form breakfast, after which was the usual parade & practice. All the Battllion are awaiting movement orders, but we managed to work things so as to stay here & play for the Blue Gums. Went to the "Cooees" this evening, on account of the Blue Gums not showing.

Note: I will have to look up the Cooee entertainment troupe on the AWM website.

Wednesday 27^th Sept started out cloudy with a couple of light early morning showers. All sunny now, as I write this, but with clouds scudding about. At the office, but would much rather be elsewhere.

Page 18 - September 26th

2006-09-26T18:42:00.001+10:00

Thursday Sept 26^th broke upon us nice & clear. After a clean up & breakfast, we had the usual parade & came back to our billets to practice & continued all day. I played with the 44^th band at the "Blue Gums".

What Jack doesn't tell here is that the 'usual parade' was another standoff between the boys and the Colonel. This incident was a frequent Sunday lunch story subject during my youth.

Tuesday Sept 26^th was a gloomy sort of day, but only scattered showers and none at home or at the office. Toowoomba started level 5 water restrictions today, meaning that with meaningful rain the town will be out of dam water in two years. Not good.

Page 18 - September 26th

2006-09-26T18:42:00.000+10:00

Page 17-18 - September 25th

2006-09-25T06:02:00.000+10:00

Wednesday 25^th Sept dawned cold & clear which made it very hard to turn out of bed, be (sic) eventually we managed it. After breakfast we expected a parade but fortunately none came along - so we spent the morning in a lazy sort of way. After dinner we we (sic) all called on parade to move off to our different Battallions, but when the boys were ordered to march off not a man would budge, so the Col dismissed the parade.

So there's the start of the mini-mutiny. Told on Saturday, and left to stew until Wednesday is not conducive to good behaviour in the ranks.

Monday 25^th Sept awoken by birds, mostly galahs and other parrots in the neighbours' trees. A few things to do this morning, then back to Brisbane later.

Page 17 - September 24th

2006-09-24T07:13:00.000+10:00

Tuesday 24^th Sept dawned very cold & clear. The old fire is doing its bit now right enough. Another route march during the morning, but a lazy afternoon. Change of weather has given me a cold.

Sunday 24^th Sept and the birds were very quiet this morning at dawn. Over tha past 24 hours, have had contact with two new people with Drew in their ancestry, and one of them is the first I have contaced who was actually born a Drew, and her married name suggests that she might be related to herself through marriage - the name appears regularly through the family history as a 'spouse of'.