Diary of Alexander Sutherland Mackay, 9 November 1916 - 4 March 1917 - Part 1

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9/11/16. Left Warren Camp at 5 am this
morning & reached wharf about 6 am, all thoroughly
knocked up, having had practically no
sleep the previous night. We were all on
board the Benalla by 7 am & then put
out into the harbour until 2 pm, when
we set sail for Melbourne ^(so they say) The leaving
of the transport was a most pitiable sight,
we were followed by a fleet of small
launches bearing mothers fathers brothers
sisters. To see the way the poor womenfolk
were broken up, brought tears to eyes
of numbers of men aboard. A bit of
swell on outside is causing a number
to think of home. Naturally things are
crowded & unsettled aboard at present,
but no doubt a few days will see
things satisfactorily arranged. Picked
as waiting man, I had to sail at the
last moment owing to a man named
Jackson being missing. Bill Nott is
 

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also aboard occupying the next seat
to me. He started the ball rolling
by punching a fellow for smoking
between decks. All turned in early
after some fun arranging hammocks.
10/11 Had good sleep & got up 6 am, did
nothing all day except fall in on one
parade for issue of short pants & sandshoes
All sort of rumours floating round as
to our destination, but Orderly Room
notice says no letters posted until
Cape Town is reached.
11/11 Little change in from yesterdays doings.
Boxing gloves & various games were brought
up from below. A few good rounds
were seen on the deck this afternoon.
No land in sight now, evidently
bearing for Durban. Most of the afternoon
I spent in trying to get near the
Canteen to purchase tobacco & matches
12/11/16 Turned up a bleak cold morning
 

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everyone wrapped up in overcoats.
A bit of a swell on, they anticipate
reaching the Bight tonight when
we may expect some rough weather
One case of mumps occurred & a rumoured
case of Diphtheria. With the exception
of some horseplay nothing exciting to
mention. Afternoon. Blowing fairly hard
now & sea getting up. One sea a while
ago broke over the side of the vessel
& caused a great scatter. Three Lieutenants
got a wetting which caused & good laugh
13/11/16 A fairly solid wind blowing brought up
a good swell today. A large number longing
for land. Those well, myself being one
of them are thoroughly enjoying it. Its
great fun watching men trying to
walk the deck. One or two large seas came
aboard & naturally those who got the benefit
of them, were greeted with roars of laughter.
One of the seamen got the full force of one
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& was thoroughly drenched. This boat
is about 11000 tons, the Artillery are
situated amidships in the Saloon &
consequently miss a good deal of the
rolling. However the baths & washbasins
are right astern so those who take the
trouble to wash get a bit of knocking
about. Its rather amusing at the
mess tables, all the plates & dishes take
a run to the end of the table at
times, you catch them on the
return journey. Its awkward trying
to find the correct time, no two watches
are alike. From now on, we have to
put our watches back 20 minutes a day.
Too rough for any parades today, so
we are simply lolling about, eating
apples & toffee & smoking. Afraid we
will be very soft by the time we get
to Cape Town or wherever our destination
is.
 

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14/11/16. Turned out early this morning
very sore inside, evidently the result
of a cold. The sea had calmed down
a good deal, but the day was very
cold, everyone knocking about in overcoats.
Everyone feels the want of exercise, no
doubt immediately fine weather sets in
we will get a good deal of it. This
afternoon we all turned w out in
Lifebelts & informed the bugle might
go any moment. One couldn't help
feeling he wouldn't last long in
cold water like today. I hope they
don't try the lifebelt joke at night
whilst this cold wind is blowing
They are arranging a sports programme
aboard, Boxing Tug of War etc. It should
be interesting as some valuable prizes are
being given.
15/11/16. Feeling very off today, the result of a
cold. This morning we were exercised.
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round the deck. Owing to the crowd
we could not get much work in. This
afternoon we were lectured until 4 pm
on Gunlaying. Afterwards they startinged
Boxing bouts & Tug of War. At the latter
the Queenslanders beat the NSWales men.
They There are really too many men
aboard for much comfort, its impossible
to stretch out full length during the
day, the only opportunity is at night in
the hammocks. Lights go out at 9 pm
but the majority are in bunk long
before that. There is always a rush
for hammocks Ive managed to always
get my own so far. Bill Nott lost his
the first night is now simply takes
the first one he lays his hand on.
Its marvellous how blankets disappear
we are issued with two each, if you lay
one down for a moment to fix your
hammock you find it gone.
 

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16/17. These two days were practically
a repetition of the previous day. The
Artillery struck their first guard
aboard today (17^th) 39 men. I fell
in for one post on the third shift
& cant say Im looking forward to it,
the Influenza touch makes me feel
very cheap. Just as we were waiting
for tea, the alarm for lifebelts went.
There was a great scramble, its rather
a weird sight to see all the soldiers
lined along the decks with lifebelts on
& the ships crew all standing by the
boats.
18/11/16. On guard today, one more shift
to complete from 4 until 6. Thank
goodness it will be soon off over,
standing on the deck in one position
for 2 hours, is not much pleasure
I was on from 4 until 6 this morning
it was bitterly cold, only for a beautiful
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big Balaclava cap, Dorothy gave
me, I think I’d have perished
I’m afraid we will all feel the
cold, especially. the Queenslanders,
at Home. The Sun only appears
in fits & starts
19/11/16. Feeling much better today - after
Guard last night, had a hot saltwater
bath & turned into my hammock. Sunday
is a lazy day aboard, attended Church
service this morning, this afternoon it’s
drizzing rain. A number are playing
cards, some having a singsong, others
writing letters
20/11/16 Exercised on deck this morning
until about 11 am. Lecture in afternoon.
Great excitement amongst men at seeing
first boat since we left. We could
only see the funnel & masts on the horizon
She was evidently bound for N Zealand.
21/1/16. No lectures today, simply exercises.
 

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& loafing round decks. Bill Nott
engaged in a few spars.
22/11. Exercising all day. Suffering a good
deal from cold. A fair concert was
held last night, some good singing
talent & some very poor stuff.
23/11/16. Detailed for Messroom picket
today. Easy job sitting down most of
the time. Sea exceptionally smooth.
24/11/16. Influenza no better felling very
full up of everything. Weak as a kitten
from eating nothing.
25/11/16 Still very off. First man died
& was buried at sunrise. Very impressive
ceremony. Three volleys being fired & last
post by buglers sounded.
26/11/16. Went into hospital with
the temperature of 102, felt very weak.
27/28/29/30 Came out of Hospital on 30^th inst
the spell did me good. A second man
was buried at sea at sunset on the 27^th.
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29/11/16. Sighted Durban first port
of call, tonight. The town, viewing
it from hospital on boat deck, looked
beautiful. I saw it at 9 oclock & the
lights made it look as if some
fete was on. We are hanging outside
until morning.
30/11/16. Had to put to sea again
early this morning, to bury two more
poor beggars. We returned about
9 oclock & put into the harbour, anchoring
in midstream. About 12 oclock we
put in alongside & were & started
coaling. Hearing that leave to go
ashore was going to be granted, I
took my own discharge from the
hospital & joined the crowd. I was
feeling fairly weak, especially at
first. They marched us for about
1½ miles before dismissing us.
At times I could hardly feel my
 

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feet touch ground. The 3 weeks
on water, made one feel the roll
ashore. However we thoroughly enjoyed
our trip on land. Bill Nott & I
knocked round together, we
started off with a rickshaw ride.
The rickshaws are run by Zulus &
their antics a various headdress
took our fancy. Several of them
have enormous bullock horns on
their caps painted all colours, others
feathers, different grasses & so on.
They are on the whole a fine body
of men & race up to you, prancing
about & carrying on like kids.
Evidently the day an Australian
troopship arrives is a feast day for
them, they were all kept going.
We had a regular gorge of fruit
& then went down to see the baths.
These I believe are supposed to be the

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finest in the world, & no doubt
they are lovely every accommodation.
Durban is at particularly pretty
place, I wouldn't mind spending
a week here. We fell in at
the Town Hall - a magnificent building.
at 10.30 pm & marched back to the
boat, all thoroughly tired. The
kaffirs were still coaling when
we got back. These kaffirs are
a dirty stinking lot much inferior
in build to the Zulus. Besides
the Australians, Durban was full
of Territorials on their road to
Mesopotamia & S Africans returning
from German E. Africa. We were
treated royally in Durban, all
trams & the Baths being free for us
1/12/16. We were in hopes of another
day ashore today, but were doomed
to disappointment. The Benalla put
 

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to sea at 11 oclock this morning
bound for Capetown. We were
granted the day a holiday, on
account of our good behaviour yesterday
2/12/16. We have been battling along
at a fair rate all day. The coastline
has been visible all day. Rumour
states we will arrive in Capetown
tomorrow night, but I suppose that
means Monday. Feeling tiptop
all day, cold much better. We
all had to gargle our throats & noses
this morning with salt water.
Very cloudy weather, drizzling off & on
Only allowed to write two letters
between here & Cape England. Ill
drop a line home tonight, but
I doubt if it will arrive in Australia
any sooner than by waiting until
England is reached
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3/12/16. All looking forward to reaching
Capetown tonight or tomorrow morning
nothing of interest aboard. Sea exceptionally
smooth. V Yelling OK again.
4/12/16. Arrived at Capetown about 11 pm
last night anchoring outside. We
proceeded in first thing this morning
All were thoroughly disappointed when
we heard that the boat had been
quarantined & no leave would be granted.
The ship was fumigated & they took us
ashore for a route march to the Sports
ground where we were locked in. A
great number broke leave & I believe
some 38 are still missing. It was really
ridiculous as outsiders were coming in
& mixing up with the men. We then were
marched through the streets to some
Hall where refreshments had been
provided by the ladies of Capetown. We
were then taken aboard early, all fairly
 

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downhearted. The men felt it more
on account of the Port Nicholas - another
troopship, men being granted leave all
day. After sending a picquet ashore to
hunt up men, our boat pulled out into
the harbour about 8 pm & finally left
about midnight, destination unknown.
The little we saw of Capetown did not
impress us as much as Durban, the
latter place appeared to have better
& wider streets & much the cleaner.
5/12. Still battling along, from now
on for some days we may expect a
monotonous trip. Sea still very calm,
its marvellous how smooth a trip we
have had all through.
6/12 6/7/8 /12 Little doing the last three days
we are exercised until 11 am & then
knock off for the day, with the exception
of a saltwater gargle at 2 pm. All sorts
of rumours floating round re our

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destination. We hear the submarines
are active at Canary Islands. We
pass there but may change our course
via American coast. So far we have
picked up no convoy. They have
painted all the porthole windows
black & we hear no lights will
be allowed after Saturday night. They
have appointed a boat & gun guard
& life belt alarms go practically every
day. Exceptionally smooth, I sincerely
hope it continues Mengitis Meningitis
& a lot of sickness aboard. Boxing
bouts are continued nightly, the finals
are postponed for a week or so.
7/12/16. Very dull day, exercised this
morning until 11 oclock & then
dismissed for the day. Ive been playing
cards all the afternoon with Norman
Livingstone, Dick Britton & Jim Maher
all North Queenslanders. A few tug of
 

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war competitions on, the rope
being worked through a pulley to
counteract the rolling of the boat. One
bout last night lasted an hour
when the Doctor turned up &
prohibited it to being carried on any
longer. Great preparations being made
for a concert tonight. We have being
been sailing North all day, goodness
knows when we will sight land.
No convoy in sight, evidently the
danger zone will not be reached
for some days yet. Fairly warm
today. I hear we will cross the
Equator about Tuesday, I suppose some
horseplay will take place that day.
8/12/16. Sunday the loafing day aboard, we
attended Church Service this morning.
This is always compulsory. We are
evidently in the danger zone now, tonight
all postholes are closed. The windows have
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been blackened & shut out all reflection
of the light inside. Its frightfully hot
closed up but goodness knows how
the poor beggars on the lower decks
are faring. The Artillery is situated
in the best position of the lot.
I hear they are doubling the guard
from tomorrow. It seems mysterious
that we have no convoy, simply
cutting along on our own. The three
other troopships we left at Capetown,
must be about a day behind. Still
very smooth sea running. The Concert
last night brought forward some fair
talent. No doubt thats the last of
night entertainments, any future
events will be held in the afternoon.
Bill Nott is training hard for the
final of the heavyweight Bexing
Boxing Championship. If its simply
a slogging affair I think he will win.