Diary of Wilfrid Wanostrocht Giblin, 1914 - 1915 - Part 2
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Dec 25 Xmas Day Nothing out of usual
way except afternoon tea with Tasmanian
nurses, who dined with us later. Dance in
evening.
Dec 26 Arrived at Colombo at about 7 pm
fine sunset. No landing as neither naval or
military officer came on board. Col. Martin
went on shore & saw naval officer who
gave permission to land. Mail arrived.
Cable for me from Muriel telling me that
Tom had won the Newcastle scholarship.
Very pleased.
Dec 27 Landed about 6.30 & caught train for
Kandy at 7.45 a.m. Captain Sutherland
as companion. Major Campbell also. Most
fascinating journey through every variety of
tropical vegetation. Especially interested in birds.
Numerous kingfishers & other waders in swamps.
Breakfast on train, poor, but enjoyed as
the change from monotonous ship food was
great. Rice fields, swamps, rubber & coconut
plantations - afterwards fine arboretum
Scenery finishing up with Kandy a veritable
jewel set in the richest setting. The
artificial lake about three times the size of
upper reservoir Hobart is surrounded by trees of
all kinds which are very graceful. A road runs
round lake with only a single row of trees
between it & the lake. Very comfortable at hotel
'The Queens.' Revelling in the contrast to shipboard, the
easy chairs in lounge, punkahs, excellent waiting, food,
bath & bedroom with balcony just over lake. In
afternoon it rained. Special train with about 60
nurses arrived about 3.30. Took two for
rickshaw ride round lake & to Buddhist
temples, Miss Cuzens & Miss O'Dwyer. Both very
bright and enjoying the additional privilege
of being out of uniform or rather in white dresses
with red cross brassard only. Miss C. reminds
me very much of Marjorie Levey in her amusing
way of looking at things. Miss O'D. is older but
very good company. Sutherland, who has carried
the nickname of 'Sunny Jim' from the many
tongues of Cortyn, completed the party ā quartre at
dinner which we naturally appreciated more than
the row of nurses who had to dine at a
long improvised table in the verandah. The lake
very fine with moon & firefly effects. No
music available to perfect the scene.
Dec 28t. Up at 5 on balcony enjoying the lake
& nature life which teems about in a
most picturesque way. Tea & pawpaws (something
like melons) at 7 Proper breakfast at 9.
Looked round some shops & later to Peradeniya Gardens
which are world famous on account of their
splendid collection of tropical plants & trees. Could
have spent many enjoyable hours there seeing
the great variety of plant, bird & insect life.
A large snake six feet long was too quick for
me which was probably just as well as I afterward
heard it was most probably harmless. Some
trees had numbers of flying foxes on their
upper bare branches. A spider with long
thin legs covered as a space as large as
a lady's hand. The birds filled the air with
sound but were mostly invisable in the upper
branches of dense foliage. After walking about
for more than an hour we got into carriages
again & drove round. Then adjourned to a
dak-bungalow & got some very indifferent
tea and Cakes. After to Railway station to pick up
train for Colombo. Inspected a rubber plantation
near the station. Our little party travelled
back to Colombo in comfort but the beautiful
scenery to be seen from the train
was hardly looked at after our feast
at Kandy in the gardens. Afternoon tea
on train reached Colombo about 5.15 where
Corbyn met us with a motor car took us
off to Grand Oriental Hotel for a wash up
& then straight away to the Sports Garden Club a
beautifully laid out club House & grounds
with games of all sorts. Extremely hospitably
received by Dr Kelly, Miss Lorimer & Irvine whopr had taken up the Clearing Hospital as old friends.
They join at the Dinner Party given to me by
officers of the Clearing Hospital at which Corbyn
also was present but Sutherland unfortunately
by a mistake did not turn up. Dinner 8.30
to 10 afterward bridge at Colombo Club with the
three local men. At 1 am we had a
five course supper & large quantities of
black Holland ale to settle the other drinks.
Most of us made speeches more or less
bad, & regained our rooms about 3. At
seven I had my early tea of toast &
fruit carried into Corbyn's room, where
we discussed the situation both feeling
unexpectedly hungry & fit. We had
our proper breakfast at 9.30 with the
Padres instead of at 10 with the Clearing
Hospital. We revelled much in the tea & fruit
& the good attendance. Mostly shopping
during morning, lunch with in which the local men
joined us again & so off to ship at 3pm.
but not to sail till 7 p.m.
Dec. 29 All very sleepy with sea air &
lack of sleep while on shore. The weather
we have had all the way in the tropics has
been excellent, generally with fresh breeze
on starboard side. As my cabin is on
port side it has become too stuffy to
sleep in. I sleep on boat deck just under
the Bridge a very snug spot with Campbell
O"Brien Atkins Boddam & Capt Howse. It is
hot enough to require only a sheet even in
the cool breeze up there.
Dec 31 A fancy dress ball was held to celebrate
occasion. Considering the scant material most
of the dancers had to make their dresses from
the results were highly commendable.
Masks also were used but none of the senior
officers participated except Lt Col. Syme who was
excellent as a old woman & Lt Col Springthorpe
as a Knight Templar. Atkins made a
sweet nun but rather a forward one
esp as regards smoking cigarettes.
Jan 1st 1915
An outbreak of food poisoning occurred
affecting 14 people chiefly officers &
including Col Martin Lt Col R. Smith. Lt Col
Bryant, Lt Col White, Lt Col Springthorpe &
Major Barrett. I was fortunate enough to
escape as it cleared the table all round
me.
Jan 5th Passed Cape Guardafui about 8am.
Saw Sidtin & the Brothers yesterday.
Doing good work with punch & all.
We expect to reach Aden at midday
tomorrow & only to stay an hour or
two. We will not be able to land.
We heard that the 1st Australian Corp.
did not land at Colombo as they were
anchored too far out. The New Zealandtrop troop landed & drank the place
dry but behaved well.
Weather very good warm in day but
cool night for last two nights.
Captain Cook in charge of Himalaya
was afterwards in charge of A34 Benaka
on my return to Australia.
January 6th Reached Aden about 2 p.m.
The Captain of Ship landed for orders
& the O.C. Troopship landed & called on
General Officer commanding garrison.
No others landed. The 'Empress of
Russia' armed cruiser in port coaling
she left before us for patrol work in
Red Sea She has mixed crew of English
French & Japanese. & £1000 per man
is paid for her. Beautiful moon
rise in Aden. The rocky hills looked
like scene from theatre. We left about
11 p m.
Jan 7th Passed through straigh straits of
Bal el-Mandeb at 7 a.m. fine sight
Two armed cruisers patroling the
neyhbourhood. Empress of Russia &Himalya Himalaya. Strong wind in Red Sea
right astern but fortunately strong
enough to keep things fairly cool.
Passed many ships & another armed
cruiser of Empress type.
Jan 8th Very hot wind still abaft &
not so strong.
Jan 9 Wheather quite cool. Head wind.
" 10 Still Cool
" 11 Reached Suez in evening. Beautiful
sunset without clouds however. Chiefly
lights on hills
Jan 12 t Suez. Awaited instruction before
enting the canal all morning. H.M.S.
Ocean 3rd class battleship built 1896, 4 12 inch
guns in port. Stated to have recently
been engaged bombarding port in Red Sea
Entered canal at 12.30 p.m. Most interesting
journey for many miles as the canal is
being held by Indian Troops who are
entrenched on both banks with
redoubts at frequent intervals. They
cheered & saluted us on passing.
Officers frequently asked where we
came from. Reached Ishmalia about
7 in dark. Passed large force soon
after. One man calling from the bank
asked if we had any beer. He said
he was a Tasmanian from N Hobart.
Probably an engineer. Turkish Army
is reported to be two days march
across desert.
Jan 13 Reached Aden Port Said at
1.35 am. Did not have to tie up once
in canal. Coaling started at once &
din was deafness in my cabin which is
near a coal shute & from noise of
blacks shouting. Landed Clearing
Hospital at 11 am & took them for
a route march about 4 miles then
general leave till 3 p.m. Lunched at
Royal Exchange Hotel with officers of Cl.
Hospital. Very nice after ship food. On board
again by 4 p.m. Watched some very
interesting flights by three French hydroplanes.
Sailed again for Alexandria
at 6 pm. Calm
Jan 14t Reached Alexandria about 9
a.m. Much captured German shipping
in port also about 30 sailing spil
ships laid up. Anchored to buoy
in inner harbour & were keep on board
all day (as usual on entering port) waitingwl while for instructions. At about 6 p.m.
leave was granted to senior officers (Lt. Col.
& Majors) for 48 hours and for Captains
till midnight only. Our officers landed
& dined at Savoy Hotel (very nice dinner
about 8.30 & afterwards went to a
Music hall. Slept at Savoy Hotel.
Jan 15th Was called at 6.45 am to
catch train at 7. Could not do it so
breakfasted & went on board Kyarra
for a shower & to see things were all
right then caught 9 o'clock train for
Cairo. Travelled with Turnbull.
Most interesting journey, just like
pictures of Egypt. Reached Cairo 12.30
Met by Major Gordon walked to
Shepheards Hotel for lunch. Met Colonel
Charles Ryan & Colonel Cannon both
of whom are on General Birdwoods staff
Gen Birdwood commands the Aust. & NZ. Division
In afternoon to Mena House Hospital about
10 miles by motor. Called in & saw Janet
Redcliff who looked very fit & well &
was having a ripping time. Then on a
donkey round the two pyramids & Sphynx
&c. very dusty. Back to Cairo Major
Harry Butler dined with me looking
well, & to music hall in evening.
Jan 16th Visited Pay Office about pay
for unit Saw Capt Miller (Hobart)
then to Egyptian Museum very fine.
Lunch at Shepheards with Janet & Duncan
both very fit. The latter is at Maadi.
In afternoon to Citadel & over Mosque
of Souleiman Basha, xxxxxxx immitation
of mosque in Constantinople. Very
fine view of Cairo from back. Then
to Heliopolis afterward back to
Shepheards for afternoon tea, land on
Train to Alexandria at 6.35. Excellent
dinner on board arriving at 10 p.m.
Jan 17th Sunday SS Kyarra was brought alongside
wharf about 9 a.m. & un loading
began. Some Three of my motor ambulances
had had steering gear bent in transit.
In afternoon visited Hospital at St
Stephans Casino run by Indian Medical
Service. Registrar Major McCallison
an authority on goĩtre very interesting
asked after Dunhill who I sent to see him.
Jan 18th Called on Dr Graville an old
Barts man who is now head of theGf Government affairs at Alexandria &
a capable administrator Weight about
22 stone I would not have recognised
him altho' he knew me at once
Invited to dinner tomorrow night
In afternoon wire came from Headquarters
for me to proceed to Cairo with my
hospital registrar. Took Capt Campbell
& left by 11.30 train reaching Cairo
5.30 am.
Jan 19th. Left train about 7.30 Hot bath
breakfast at Shepheards then to Hdqrs
Office (in Shepheards) Met Gen Birdwood
& Col Carruthers A.Q.M.G. Was instructed
to visit camping ground allotted to
1st Clearing Hospital at Zeitoun. Was
received by Col. Wills A.M.C N.Z. & shown
two camp sites In both cases extension
of road & water would be required before
sites could be used. Reported unfavourable
& was sent to Aerodrome site next day
Jan 20th This camping ground would not
be ready for 10 days, So arranged for
1st A.C.H. to lodge at Heliopolis Palace
Hotel with 1st A. General Hospital for
interval. Called with Campbell on a
friend of his named Ferguson. Also saw
Aspinal sec Turf Club & was put up as member
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