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

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every now & then starts everything moving
men crockery clothes kit bags etc &
then the cheers & fun commence
Although so rough, Ive seen nobody
sick, everyone appears to have obtained
their sea legs & thoroughly enjoying
the tossing. The coldness of the wind
spoils things outside but its OK
inside night All packing up tonight
for an early landing tomorrow morning
we are supposed to reach Plymouth
sometime tonight. The Destroyers are
flashing their searchlights a good deal
they must be having a very wet time of it.
Everyone is jubilant at the idea of getting
ashore.
9/1/16 4 am The crowd have started
their farmyard cries so its a case of
get up although bitterly cold. Ive just
been outside, we are in post but as its
dark can't see much. A number of other
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boats are lying alongside but I can
only make out the outline of one troopship.
No more sleep so they are all dressing
up for our departure. Early breakfast
& then goodbye to the old Benalla.
We arrived at midnight last night
after 61 days aboard.
It is now daylight we are lined up waiting
to go down the gangway. We are alongside the
wharf at Devonport. Devonport & Plymouth
are practically one, gates forming the division.
I believe the former is the naval base, the
latter the mercantile port. This place has
a huge pier with tremendous sheds built on
it. Each side is lined with boats of every
description – Mano-war, destroyers, big ocean liners
ships & launches galore. A tremendous number
are also anchored out, whilst others are
moving up & down. It seems a very busy port
There are also a number of the old time
warships, great high wooden hulks of the
 

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Nelson Victory type. These I understand
are used as training ships for
Reformatory boys.
Did not leave until 2.30 pm Going
through Devonport we saw terraces of
houses all the same build. Bill Nolt wanted
to know How the hell they found their
own houses. If he carried on the same as
he does with clothes, Ill but he would take
the first. The various paddocks are all
separated by hedges no fences. It looks very
nice to see the green fields after the sea
10/1/16. Our train journey came to an end
at 11 oclock last night at Amesbury. We then
I had to march about 5 miles to our camp
at Lark Hill on Salisbury Plains reaching our
destination about 1 am. They gave us a bowl
of tea before sending us to bed. We are
lodged in wooden huts holding 20 men
This morning I never felt so cold in my
life. It evidently rained yesterday & on
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waking we found all the mud which
had been ridged up by horses frozen
& as hard as iron. Ruts and all, everyone
fell if they put on any pace. The water
in the taps was frozen & the ice on the
ground has not shifted all day. I believe
it was snowing yesterday & the day before.
They fell us in on parade this morning
& had to us standing a considerable time.
At the end one couldn't feel his feet & if
he touched his ear, he could ^not tell if it
sto snapped off or not without looking in
his hand. The Australians are certainly
not in love with the English climate &
are longing for a glimpse of the sun.
If France is in the same condition it
must be awful for the men lying without
cover. Any number of aeroplanes hovering
about some of them make a great noise
travelling. We were all rather disgusted at
the organization in shifting troops in England
 

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to start with, to detrain disembark some 1500 men
from the Benalla, we were up at 4 am
& did ont not get off the boat until 2 1 pm
then to travel some 100 miles & march about
5, it took until 1 am the following day.
One couldn't help thinking how the Germans
would laugh if they heard of it. We
had no lunch after leaving the boat & ^were told
refreshments would be provided at Exeter
by the Mayoress & warned particularly
to behave ourselves as the Mayoress was rather
disgusted at the last contingent & threatened
not to provide for future troop trains
Naturally we were all longing for Exeter
& on arrival each man was presented with
a paper bag containing a printed card
conveying the Mayoress’ compliments, one little
dry bun & a mug of unsugared tea. Consequently
we were rather sorry we did behave, by writing
it out they would do those following a good turn
Ill guarantee the fand printed cards cost more
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than the spread
11/1/16 Turned out at 6 am to find a cold
drizzling rain on & the ground covered with
slush about 3 inches deep. A little ice was
lying about, but it was not nearly as
cold as the previous morning. First thing
we had to go down & groom the horses,
after breakfast we were lectured on the
guns, this afternoon two of us were detailed
to walk round ^& tidy up the camp. Being
xxxxx experienced soldiers, we both
sneaked away to our huts & are now enjoying
a well earned rest. This camp is evidently
like the Warren nothing but fatigues &
a school for malingerers. Our Instructor
practically told us that we got our real
training in France. We are all split up
& are now classed solely as reinforcements. We
therefore may go to France any day. None
of us will burst into tears at leaving this
camp, its cruel walking about in slush & ice
 

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12/1/16. This morning at 8.30 am 50 of
us were shifted to a new camp Bulford
about 5 miles from Lark Hill. We had to
walk through the slush & with packs up
were pretty footsore on arrival. I regretted
very much having to leave old Bill Nott,
our language was fairly vivid at the
way they treat friends no consideration
whatever. This place is a training school
& everybody tells us we are exceptionally
lucky as its the best camp in Salisbury.
It is nicely laid out properly made
streets & good huts with two fire places
in each. Had my first sight of snow
today, we had a shower whilst on
parade. Rain or snow here you have
to fall out. Reveille goes at 5.15 in
the morning, its makes me shiver to
think of it. We will be here I believe
about 6 weeks or 2 months & then go to
France. There are some nice sights here
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we passed through a village on the road
over little farms separated by hedges,
old fashioned houses of brick & concrete
with oyster shells covering them. The
roofs are slate tiles or thatched. In
many cases the walls are covered with
ivy & the roofs with green moss. Off the
main road they there are chiefly narrow
lanes. They are very particular as to dress
at this camp shiny boots & legging every
parade its fine. Im afraid this cold
will make us suffer, we are not like
the Tommies who are in the majority
at Bulford.
 

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13/1/16 Turned out at 6 am on frozen
ground. Roll called then dismissed
Breakfast at 7 first parade at 8.45
We were taken down to the stables & led
a horse each round for nearly 3 hours.
It looked like a big show to see hundreds
of horses being led round for vetinary
inspection We were all fairly tired
by lunchtime. No parade in the afternoon
being Saturday, so a number of us went
down Bulford Village, made several
purchases & got our hair cut. Tonight
we were at a Comedy in the Garrison
theatre. It was very good & took a fellow
away from Camp life for a time.
14/1/16. Church parade at 8.45, all the
Benalla men however fell in for
pay. Very cold today, the older hands
prophesy snow. Six of us are going
over to Lark Hill Camp this afternoon
per motor. 

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15/16 Jan 1917. Just filled an ordinary days
Water horses 6 am, Breakfast 7 am
1st Parade 8.45 am From then we have
one hour's marching, 1 hour physical exercise
then lecture on Guns until 12 oclock. Lunch
at 1230 pm. 2nd Parade 2 pm, then
1 hours Gun Drill after which we go to
the stables to groom & feed horses. Tea at
5.15 pm. The cold makes one keep inside
but we have so far ventured out to one
theatre & one picture ^& variety show. The latter was
a typical Queensland backblock entertainment
- very poor class.
17/1/17. The whole ground is white this morning
it snowed during the night. With the
snow on the ground, it is not nearly so
cold as previous mornings. It makes one
shiver of a morning taking the horses for a
drink. You have to smash the ice to reach
the water in the troughs. I led out six this
morning but only two had a swig.
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Im on guard tonight, canteen picket. Thank
goodness they are all keystone guards here
We report at 6 pm then dismiss until
8.45 pm when we go round & clear all
men from the Canteen. We then turn in.
Tomorrow, we report at 8 pm am to the
Post Office, carry a few bags about & then
slip off to our huts.
 

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18/1/17}
to
20/1/17} These days were filled in with the
usual duties. The slushy grounds maken it
hard to carry out gun drill. Every day it
snows a little, no fall yet sufficient to make
large snowballs. They had a terrific explosion
in a munition factory near London last
night (19/1/17). Full particulars are not to
hand but it is feared a great number
were killed.
21/1/17 Sunday Slept in until 7.15 am.
Attended Church parade at 10 oclock. The
ground was frozen & going along the streets, those
who could skate, in their boots were gliding
yards. The most of us however were fully
occupied in keeping our feet, we were not
game to take a pace of more than a few inches.
In the afternoon ^three of us went over to Lark Hill camp
per car & met our old mates. Saw Bill Nott
he is trying hard to get to this camp.
The car we engaged to takes us back did
 

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not turn up, so we started for a
5 mile walk. After going a mile
to Stonehenge, we had the luck to
strike a car. We weren't sorry as the
streets were frozen & very slippery, walking
makes one’s feet very sore. Its marvellous
how the cars go at all. After putting on
the brakes they sometimes skid yards.
22/23 22/1/16. Received four letters today,
they had been addressed to the Warren, Sydney
one from Ernie Pillar & three from Richmond
You enjoy receiving letters here alright.
23/1/16. Terribly cold wind blowing today, we go
on guard tonight but thats a soft snap.
They all turn in after lights out & the officers
have disappeared. Have filled in two forms
inquiring where Ronnie & Fred Shaw are
24/1/16. Ordinary Day. everybody feeling the cold.
bitterly
25/1/16. Taken as one of an escort of three
to London to bring back two prisoners. We
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Left Bulford at 9 am arrived London
12.30 pm returning at 5.40 pm arrived
in camp about 9 pm. Of course one did
not see much of London but saw the
outside of Westminster Abbey. Nelson's monument
walked round Leicester Square, Warwick Square
Horseferry Rd, Strand & Piccadilly. There
are some magnificent buildings but frightfully
narrow streets & footpaths. No trains all
buses Motor buses with girl conductors, some
of the conductors are very tasty & seemed rather
partial to the Australians. Horseferry Road
is really what we would term a lane
& lined on either side by handcarts selling
meat, fruit & fancy goods. It surprises one
that such a place should exist in the
heart of a city like London, You cant see
the length of a street for fog or smoke &
although such narrow streets, it takes one all
his time to cross without bumping a vehicle
of some description. We had lunch at the
 

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Australian House, they give you at
splendid three course meal for a
bob. I intend getting a guide when
we get our 4 days leave, Im satisfied a
person would miss most of the sights &
waste a lot of time getting from one
place to another without one.
26/1/16. Freezing today, cold wind into
one to the bone & makes you absolutely
miserable. Turning out at 6 am to water
the horses is an awful farce. This morning
it took a solid whack with half a plank
to smash the ice in the troughs, even
the gutters had ice about 2 inches thick.
I doubt if a single horse even sipped the
water.
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31/1/17. Nothing of note happened since
last date entered in Diary. Have completely
lost my voice from cold. Two of us in
this hut can only speak in whispers, they
have christened us the rowdy element. Feel
fairly good otherwise.
1/2/17. Snowing a treat today. Went on
Sick Parade this morning & have been put
off duty for the day. Still only speak in a
whisper much to the amusement of the
other fellows in the hut. At night especially
they are all always ^at us to keep quiet & let
them get asleep.
2/2/17. Had our first experience in Gas helmets
today, & can't say I relish the idea of going through
the test which is wearing them for one hour
fo during four minutes of which we have to double
& then going into a trench or gas chamber.
These helmets are made of a flanelette soaked
in some chemical mixture which purifies the
air. You inhale with open mouth but exhale
 

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ye through a tube you hold in your mouth.
The helmet is pulled tightly round the
neck & tucked inside your collar. Although
you exhale through the tube, a rubber fixture
on the outside blocks any return of air, all
air comes through the material, so naturally
is stuffy & stinks of chemicals. Its not a
pleasant sensation, especially when you
have a cold. We only had ours on today
for five minutes but I had quite enough.
3/2/17. Attended first military funeral
ashore today a fellow named Webb in
the next hut dying. Still very cold but
fancy we are getting used to it. My cold
is on the mend. Bill Nott came over last
night.
4/2/7 Sunday Snow inches thick all over
the shop. Its not safe to poke your head
outside for the fusilade of snowballs going
on. Xxxxx People passing the Australian
lines whether an Motorcar, horseback or on
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foot have to go for all they are worth.
The air is simply teeming with snowballs.
Its fairly cold if you get lobbed with one
in the ear. A number are busily engaged
building two giant snowmen on the Parade
ground. The huts will be in an awful
mess when the thaw sets in. Taps still frozen
no water in our hut to wash in.
5/2/17. Snow thick. Very awkward to march
or do gun drill this weather
6/2/17. Went through Gas chamber - real thing -
this morning with our helmets. Closed in about
5 minutes but we did not feel the gas as much
as the marching about in the helmets. The
gas was evidently fairly strong as it turned
all the metal on our tunics a dirty yellow.
Thank goodness that ends our test.
This afternoon we all attended the funeral of
a fellow named Broughton.
The snow has now started to thaw. Its a beautiful
sight to see this place in the moonlight. Every-