Jack's Diary - 5 December 1914 to 30 December 1914

5th December: Left for Alexandria. Arrived Alexandria 10am. Fine port, great number of ships in port including German merchantmen. Rumoured that the Khedive has gone over to Turkey. Three men tried to scale ashore in a boat. Officer fired over their heads...hasty return. Busy day.

Sunday (6th December.Ed.) not kept by natives here. A Coy on fatigue all day. Troops disembarking. Broke leave with several others and got into the city. Had a good time & saw the sights of my life.

9th December: Entrain for Cairo. Miles of flat country under cultivation & irrigation. Saw many typical biblical scenes. It is said Egypt has not changed since the time of Christ & I quite believe it. See fields of maize, cotton & vegetables, fruit, etc. Arrive Cairo 1pm. All treated to hot cocoa & a hot roll each. Take tram for Pyramids where we encamp.
(1st Btn lines Mena Camp 1915.umpCALHR27N)

10th December: Visit Pyramids & Sphynx. Great sight.

11th December: Commence training in earnest. Days warm but nights very cold.

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Historical Comment

CW Bean again:

“The 1st Australian Division, on its arrival at the Pyramids, plunged at once into the work of training. The staff divided the desert around Mena into three large training areas, one for each infantry brigade. The divisional light horse, artillery, and engineers were given stretches of desert outside of these; the transport and ambulances were allotted ground nearer camp. The various commanders were asked to submit, within the first few days, schemes of training. They were told that they could expect to devote a month to the training of companies, squadrons, or batteries; then ten days to training as battalions or regiments; after which they might work for ten days as brigades. If the division were not then required for the front, it would begin exercising as a whole division.
This training is worth more than passing mention, inasmuch as it was one of the finest achievements in the history of the A.I.F. It was scarcely realised at the time that its intensity was exceptional. A very limited leave was allowed in Cairo after hours. Almost from the morning of arrival training was carried out for at least eight hours, and often more, every day but Sundays. The infantry marched out early in the morning, each battalion to whatever portion of its brigade area had been assigned to it. There they split into companies. All day long, in every valley of the Sahara for miles around the Pyramids, were groups or lines of men advancing, retiring, drilling, or squatted near their piled arms listening to their officer. For many battalions there were several miles to be marched through soft sand every morning before the training area was reached, and to be marched back again each evening. At first, in order to harden the troops, they wore, as a rule, full kit with heavy packs. Their backs became drenched with perspiration, the bitter desert wind blew on them as they camped for their midday meal, and many deaths from pneumonia were attributed to this cause.
But that work made the Division.”

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Training's Reality

By Laurie Favelle

The training now is bleedin' hard

No quater given or chance to slack

And, while tired, we are mighty fit.

We have become masters of the firing range,

And bayonet drill is just a breeze.

Yet...I worry when comes the time

To thrust my bayonet into flesh and bone,

And another's blood is warm upon my hands;

Will I suddenly grow old?

Its not cold fear or mortal dread

That wakens me at night.

Its a vision of the souless dead

With my face their final sight!

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18th December: Broke leave & went to Cairo with J. Cairns & J. Grant. Had a good day.

22nd December: Riot in 2nd Battalion with some drunks. Shots fired but no-one hurt.

23rd December: J. Cairns & I got to Cairo on French leave. Hire a motor car & had a great drive in it. Dine at Hotel Metropole, left town at 9pm. Tram ran off line on high embankment. Had a narrow escape.

25th December: Xmas Day. Very quiet in camp. Had salmon, peas & tinned fruit for dinner. Went to the zoo after dinner & had a very pleasant time. Territorial fell off Sphinx & was killed.

30th December: Sir George Reid inspects troops. A Coy gets extra drill for bad behaviour.

Jack's Diary - 15 November 1914 to 3 December 1914

15th November: Arrived Colombo. Anchored harbour. Natives came alongside in canoes & we had ...?.. living for money. One had only one arm. Great fleet ships in port. British, Japanese & Russian gunboats.

17th November: Still anchored. Left Colombo 7pm. Pleasant atmosphere change.

21st November: Collision between Shropshire & Ascanius – great excitement – no one hurt.

24th November: Sighted Socotra Islands 9am. Very mountanous & barren coast. Great sight.

25th November: Drill competition won by engineers. 4th Section of A coy selected to compete. Some of us kicked over the traces & would not compete & got a great lecture from Lieut King. Sighted coast of Arabia about 2pm, arrived Aden 4.30pm. The sun rotted coast presented a great sight. High sugar loaf mountains rising straight out of the sea. Anchored outside for 12 hours.

26th November: Left Aden 6am passed troop ships bound for India on return journey. Heat very oppressive. Passed through Hells Gates into Red Sea at 6pm. Great shoal of porpoises in sight. Weather getting cooler.

28th November: Wireless received. We land at Ishmalia & entrain to Cairo to train for the front. Great disappointment as some seem to think we will not reach the seat of war.

30th November: Passed the 12 Apostles Islands. Great change from heat to cold.

1st December: Arrive at Suez....great sight. Some fine buildings along the shore. Nothing but desert in the distance. Arabs all around ship selling fruit, sweets, cigarettes, etc. We take in fresh water.

2nd December: Leave Suez & proceed through canal, great piece of engineering work about 50 yards wide. Pass Indian troops all along canal on both sides.

3rd December: Arrive Port Said about 4am. Anchored all day. Took in water. Great view of town from Afric's deck. Grand statue of DeLesseps, the builder of the Canal. Very dirty looking place. An English girl cooeed to us from a balcony.

Jack's Diary - 2 November 1914 to 14 November 1914

2nd November: Sea a bit rough boat rolling. Three Mess orderlies slipped down stairs with dishes of stew. A lot of us were gathered at the foot of the stairs waiting and cheering in anticipation of more orderlies coming to grief. Half way down one fell and threw stew all over us.

3rd November: High seas and rain.

4th November: Sea very calm, weather hot. Commence sleeping up on deck.

5th November: Orient liner Osterley passed us about 6.30pm crowded with passengers. Gave & received another ovation.

8th November: Private Kendall buried from the Euripides.

9th November: Late King Edwards Birthday the day on which fresh laurels were added to Australia, Viz. The capture & destruction of the German cruiser Emden by HMAS Sydney, one of our escort. The Emden during the night had passed within 6 miles of our line.
The Sydney set off and engaged her near Cocos Island & the Emden had to run ashore to prevent sinking.
The Sydney pursued capture & then sank the Emden's collier. Our casualties were 4 killed & 20 wounded. Emden's were 200 killed & wounded. Emden fired 1400 shots. Great exhultation on board transports – nearing the Equator.

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Historical Comment

Entry from CW Bean's Official History reads:

“The news had come at 9.30 from the Sydney, then not far beyond the horizon, that she had sighted the enemy’s ship, and that it was steaming northward. As this northerly course might bring the enemy across the convoy’s track, Captain Silver had ordered the Ibuki and Melbourne to place themselves between the transports and the point where the enemy’s cruiser then was. At 10.45 a further wireless message arrived from the Sydney : “Am briskly engaging enemy.” At I 1.10 came the signal : “Emden beached and done for.” Although most of those in the transports were fairly certain that the enemy must be the Emden, this was the first definite information of the fact. The news spread quickly round the ships. The relief that this destroyer of British merchant ships had been scotched, and the pride that an Australian ship had done it, were intense. The parades were half interrupted: attention wandered; where a subaltern continued to lecture, a ripple of conversation persisted through the rear ranks. An order from General Bridges broke off work and gave the troops a half holiday.”

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10th November: Heat terrible cannot stay below decks. Several affected with heat stroke.

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Historical Comment

1st Battalion War Diary entry for this day, “Issued special notice as to precautions against sun stroke.”

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11th November: Boxing & wrestling sports on board.

13th November: Adams and Lomas had a fight. Adams got a black eye. Crossed the line at 8am. No parades. Large canvas bath erected for the purpose of christening those who had not crossed the line. We had a great time on deck thowing wet towell at one another. Jack Moir threw a dish of water over an officer. We also nearly drowned a sergeant. He was very indignant, but the more he expostulated the more wet towels & buckets of water he got & eventually he had to run.

14th November: Major Dawson's birthday celebrated by A Coy. The Major treated us to cake & beer. Lance Corp. Churchill proposed the health of the Major who responded & we all wished him many happy returns. Sighted coast of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) at 1pm.

Jack's Diary - 25 October 1914 to 1 November 1914

25th October: Arrived Albany on Sunday to wait for remainder of fleet. Anchored about two miles from the town. This is the meeting place for all Transports & the escort & the harbour is a picture to look at. The following is the names of our fleet except the New Zealanders:

A1 – Hymettus
A2 – Geelong
A3 – Orvicto
A4 – Pera
A5 – Omrah
A6 – Clan Mai.. (Maccorgriodole.Ed)
A7 – Medic
A8 - Argyleshire
A9 - Shropshire
A10 – Karoo
A11 – Ascanius
A12 – Salanha
A13 – Katuna
A14 - Euripides

A15 – Star of England
A16 – Star of Victoria
A17 – Port Lincoln
A18 - Wilshire
A19 - Afric
A20 - Hororata
A21 - Marero
A22 - Rangatera
A23 - Suffolk
A24 - Benalla
A25 – Anglo Egyptian
A26 - Armidale
A27 - Southern
A28 - Miltiades

New Zealanders as follows:

No. 3 Manganui
No. 4 Tahiti
No. 5 Ruapeku
No.6 Orari
No.7 Limerick
No. 8 Star of India
No. 9 Hawkes Bay
No. 10 Araiva
No. 11 Athena
No. 12 Mainana

It will thus be seen that we have a fine fleet of ships & what a fine hall (haul. Ed.) for Emden & Co. Hawkers have been busy all day bringing fruit aboard and soon found a ready sale for their wares. Apples & oranges for 2/- per dozen.
Church parade was held this morning for all religious sections. The lads are all busy fishing & one of them landed a shark this morning, about 4 ft long, a young grey nurse. All hands are fully occupied today whatching the arrival of the rest of the fleet. Our boat was the 13th to arrive. I don't know whether it sounds ominous or not.

Mon. 26 October 1914: It has been raining incessantly all day & rough into the bargain. Thank the Lord we are not in the Bight. Twenty three ships are now in harbour awaiting orders. Our Flagship is the Orvieto. Talk about the British Armada. We go alongside the pier tomorrow for fresh water & it is said we sail on Wednesday.

27 October 1914: Albany Harbour Tuesday 27/10/14: Tuesday was quite in keeping with the previous day of our stay here, wet, windy, cold & miserable & in consequence we were all herded down below like sheep in some of the trucks that leave the North-West.

28 October 1914: Wednesday broke fine and at last Sol shone forth in all his glory. The rest of the fleet arrived today. Last night a concert was held and some first class talent was brought to light. We have a few celebrities on board viz. Major Dawson of Bisley fame. He is C.O. Of the company I am in & is beloved by all. R. Barri...? champion ball puncher of the world whose exhibitions are delightful to watch, Capt. B. I. Swannell International footballer, Sergt Larkin MLA for Willoughby, R. J. Massie International cricketer & numerous other athletic lights. At time of writing we have no idea which route we are taking nor shall we because I believe we are under sealed orders.

30th October: we drew into the wharf to take fresh water. Advantage was taken of the stay at the wharf to take the men on parade. The outing was very much enjoyed & proved of great interest. We did in all about 5 miles through the town & outskirts. In the centre of the town is a magnificent monument erected in memory of the original Anthony Hordern who was born here.
Hundreds of people lined the line of march and gave us an enthusiastic welcome. In my opinion Albany possess a harbour second only to Sydney. The town is situated on the side of a hill & right round the hill is a magnificent drive from which you get a fine view of the Harbour same being enhanced by our 40 odd transports.

Saturday (31st October) broke fine and clear & all of us were up much earlier owing to the fire alarm sounding at 5.30am. We have had false alarms before but this was no practice. A fire was discovered in no. 6 hatch at the extreme end of the ship. It was put out in about half an hour. Sugar and other stores were destroyed. I believe this is the second time the Afric has been alight.

1st November: With everything in order we steamed out into the Indian Ocean. It was a great sight to see the great fleet of transports with escort in three lines, the greatest fleet that ever sailed in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Fleet Leaving Albany, WA, 1 November 1915 (AWM P00252.002)

Jack's Diary - 25 August 1914 to 20 October 1914

The diary entries that follow have been transcribed from a photocopy of Jack's handwritten notes. By and large, his notes were easy to read and interpret with only the odd exception.
I have also included some historical commentary (any errors are my own) to provide context. I hope I have correctly acknowledged and attributed the material used for these purposes and extend apologies in advance where I have failed in this endeavour.
I would ask the reader to note that this work would not be possible without the resources made so freely available by the Australian War Memorial and the National Archives of Australia.
Finally, the odd original poetic contribution has been added, I hope with sensitivity. They are all my own work, in which case I accept the full force of any criticism.
Laurie Favelle
Canberra ACT 2009
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Historical Comment
At this point it may be of help to have some understanding of the military formation Australia was attempting to put together in those early days of the war in 1914.

The military was charged with forming the 1st Australian Division. The main components of this Division were to be four infantry brigades, each brigade would have four infantry battalions and each battalion would have eight (later changed to four) infantry companies. In turn each company would be comprised of a number of platoons, usually four. In addition to the infantry component, the 1st Division would also have artillery, engineers, field ambulance, signals, transport and other support elements.

For the purpose of our story, what we end up with by April 25 1915 is the 1st Brigade (Jack's brigade) with battalions 1(Jack's battalion) to 4, 2nd Brigade with battalions 5 to 8, 3rd Brigade (to be the covering force & first ashore at Gallipoli) with battalions 9 to 12 and the 4th Brigade (later assigned to the NZ & Australian Division for the Gallipoli landing) with battalions 13 to 16. Each battalion consisted of approximately 1000 men.

What follows is a quote from Chapter 5 of the Official History by CW Bean. While it doesn't talk specifically of the formation of Jack's 1st Battalion, it serves to provide a clear guide as to the events taking place at the time.

At each Australian Capital, about the middle of August, the infant regiments began to take shape. In most cases the officer chosen to command one of them received between the 13th and 17th of August a telegram informing him of the fact, and instructing him to organise his unit and choose its officers. The brigadier, who had selected him, generally helped by suggesting a second-in-command, an adjutant (always a regular officer or adjutant of militia), and allotted him four permanent non-commissioned officers-often old British N.C.O.'s-to form the backbone of the regimental staff. The commanding officer then began to pick the rest of his staff, mainly from the militia officers who volunteered in the areas allotted to his unit, and on or about August 17th, all over Australia, the regiments, battalions, and companies of the Australian Imperial Force began to concentrate in some camp near the capital cities of the States. On Randwick Racecourse and the grassy sandhills of Kensington, both in the suburbs of Sydney; at Broadmeadows, a bleak, grassy plateau ten miles from Melbourne; at Morphettville in South Australia; at Enoggera in Queensland, Blackboy Hill in Western Australia and Pontville in Tasmania, for the space of one month the army was growing.

On August 13th Major A. J. Bennett, who had fought in South Africa, was ordered by Colonel MacLaurin, the brigadier, to organise the 3rd battalion of the 1st Infantry Brigade. The next day Major Bennett conferred with the brigadier, and selected from eight of the training areas of New South Wales most of the officers of the battalion. At 9a.m. on August 17th the chosen officers presented themselves, clothed in their militia uniforms, at the Victoria Barracks, Sydney. There, on the weather-worn asphalt of the parade ground, they found a swarm of men in every sort of civilian garb.

“Crowds of men,” writes one of the original officers, “jostling each other, laughing and talking excitedly, tall men, short men, youngsters just left school, men in the prime, and even a sprinkling of greyheads. Mostly their faces were bright, attentive and eager. . . . Sometimes one’s scrutiny met primitive faces, heavy-jawed, small bright eyes with a curious hard yet pathetic look. . . . Here and there stand men with quiet resolute faces and trim bodies, with an air of respect and control-the unmistakable stamp of the old soldier. Mark well the steady ex-Imperial men will form the nucleus of our N.C.0.’s.

“At length the shuffling, sorting and list-taking ceases. The men have all presented themselves before the second-in-command. He has seen each medical certificate of fitness and jerked out a few short queries. He turns to a knot of officers who represent our regimental staff so far, and they depart and sort out the men. Markers are called out. The regiment, so far about 300 strong, is told off into eight squads, the skeleton of a battalion. They are ‘shunned’ (called to attention), dressed, numbered, formed into fours, formed two deep, proved and stood at ease. Then steps forward a young militia captain who is to take charge and march them to Randwick Racecourse . . . and the 3rd Battalion of Infantry, no longer a name but a living entity, moves off in column of fours, a long sinuous serpent, to lunch and glory.”

The growth of the units may be judged from the instance already given-that of the 3rd Battalion of Infantry. On Monday, August 17th, it marched to Randwick Racecourse 330 strong-20 acting-officers and 310 men. On August 18th three companies were formed; on August 20th they had grown to five. On that day the issue of clothing began. By the 22nd the battalion had I8 acting-officers and 503 men. On the 26th its rifles were issued, and next day five officers and five non-commissioned officers were sent to Randwick Rifle Range for instruction in musketry, so that they could teach the rest. On August 29th recruiting for the battalion in the country districts had commenced, an officer being sent to meet the trains and conduct the country recruits to Kensington Racecourse, where the battalion was now camped in tents. By September 3rd the battalion was complete-32 officers and 991 men. It was allowed to recruit 75 men over its strength, in order that unsuitable men could be discharged.

On September 14th it marched out for the first time with its brigade to the heathland overlooking the sea at Maroubra. It had now some of its waggons, 11 horses, and the two Maxim machine-guns which were then allotted to every battalion. On September 16th the brass band held its first daily practice. On September 20th the men’s paybooks were compiled. By September 23rd, when the battalion was five weeks old, musketry practice had begun, the battalion had its horses complete, and the order was issued for the embarkation of the men in the Aberdeen liner Euripides in Sydney Harbour, and for that of the horses and drivers in the Clan Maccorguodale. On September 27th orders were received to defer embarkation. The horses and drivers already on board the Clan Maccorgriodole were taken off the next day.

The same history, with variations, would he true of almost every unit in the young force. The units of the 1st contingent all over Australia were complete and ready to sail by September 21st.

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The Joining

By Laurie Favelle

Shearer, teacher, factory worker

Ploughman, coachman, engineer,

Labourer, builder, Station Master

They came from far and near.

Men gathering for the great adventure

At town or city hall

And swore to country, god and king

To serve till end of war.

Then midst orders unfamiliar

They learned anew to walk and stand;

And so off they marched, "to lunch and glory"

Heads high, backs straight, all feeling rather grand.

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25th August 1914: Enlisted from Murrurrundi – came into camp at Kensington

1st September: Leave stopped - 4th leave granted up to 4pm.

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Historical Comment
The 1st Battalion War Diary has no specific entry for this date, but entries around this time describe constant recruitment and training. The battalion was based at Randwick Racecourse and so, Australians knowing where one's priorities should be, the entry for the 9th of September, a Wednesday, is worthy of note:

“All tents lowered by 9am as a Racemeeting was held.”

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Priorities
By Laurie Favelle
"You there...drop those tents,
Fold 'em right, the first time.
Get that kit an' move it fast
Now put it in the shed,
Get it outer sight,
In neat rows, yer mug!"

The sergeant major's face was red,
Woken early from his bed.
The regiment must disappear,
"Strewth, the bleedin' army's turnin' queer!"

The army clears the decks
And the bookies take their bets.
Its still a game!

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26-27 September: Broke camp with Fred Banks and had a splendid time. Ordered on the SS Afric (A19) on Sunday 27th September. Strict medical and kit examination & complete issue given 26th September.
Embarkation delayed owing to transport difficulties until further notice.
Cessation of night parades – Brigade march through Long Bay. Another route march to South Head through Waverley, Coogee & Rose Bay. Pouring rain all the way.

6th October: Review of NSW Expeditionary Force, 8000 strong, through the city.

14th October: Told we will embark during week. Route march and bivouack at Long Bay.

Friday (probably 16th October -ed): Stan Asquith and I out on leave – met with funny experience coming back. The Colonel was waiting at main gate for those coming in late, so we tried to scale the fence. Asquith made enough row for a dozen men and then could not get over. A civ policeman was giving me a leg up & I was half way over when a sentry charged me and I nearly got his bayonet in the rear. It was laughable to see that copper doing 100 yards under....? We eventually got into camp from another part of the grounds without being caught.

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A Good Cop

By Laurie Favelle

Colonel Dobbin was wise and just,

But men on leave he could not trust

To return to camp when they should;

He new they'd cheat whenever they could.

So when Stan and I tried to sneak in late

We spied the colonel at the gate,

And shrinking into shadows deep

Our continued freedom we sought to keep.

With a copper's hand we tried the fence,

But, when it came to climbing, Stan was dense;

It was the sentry's yell that spoiled the fun

And we bolted at a serious run.

I never knew a copper could run so fast!

Plenty of speed, but no style or class.

Lucky the sentry's charge was off the mark,

A bayonet's bite would spoil the lark!

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17th October: Raining all day prevents visitors from saying goodbye to us.

18th October: Left camp at 9am marched to the boat – aboard at 10.30. The SS Suffolk left the Harbour at 4pm with the 2nd Battalion on board. The Afric with us, about 1500 on board, left at 5pm. Heavy swell outside heads. Had my first real experience of sea sickness but was alright next day. During the night we passed the suffolk. HMAS Melbourne passed us at Gabo Island.

SS Afric (A19) leaving Melbourne - pre WW1
White Star Line official card.

The Afric was sunk in February 1917 by the German U Boat U66, with the loss of 22 lives


(Image from www.geocities.com/White_Star_Liners/Afric.html )


19th October: Nothing to do but eat, read & sleep.

20th October: Passed Wilson's Promontory at 7am, great sight. Sea very calm like a pond. Medical inspection. Whales sighted during the evening.

Jack's Enlistment (Attestation) Papers

These are the first 3 pages of Jack Reilly's WW1 file, courtesy of the National Archives of Australia website - http://www.naa.gov.au/ .

Note the signatures of Major Dawson, A Coy CO, and Colonel Dobbin, 1st Battalion CO.

(NB: Click to enlarge)