Diary of Oberlin Herbert Gray, August 1915 to March 1916 - Part 4










we were soon taking these
in. Natives were soon on
board in numbers bartering
cheap jewellery - precious? stones
etc. & bananas & pines which
we enjoyed - The residents had
arranged to entertain the
men, & about 250 set off about
10 & returned at 2.30, after
being royally entertained
at dinner etc taken car
drives etc. A few stayed on
shore - The rest of us went
on shore at 3.30, in 2 lighters
with a launch in tow. Hear
that leave will be given ^to morrow if
there is no misbehaviour.
150 of us boarded cars & were
taken to bungalows for
tea etc. the rest went
round town. We were
taken through the town
& round the shore, along
roads beneath the shade
of coconut palms & tropical
trees, past a lake, parks
buck tiled houses, bungalows
& all phases of native life,
bullock waggons, rickshaws
The natives seem a much
superior class to the Egyptn
We arrived at a private
house, 2 story with wide
verandahs, set back in
a garden of palms, & different
trees - A large party had
collected, 50 or so with the
host, hostess, & a number of
young people - We had a
very enjoyable time, sat at
small tables round the
lawn, native waiters glided
about & passed round drinks
bananas, which they call
plantains, & luscious
pineapple - We stayed till
6 & had a swift run
back to the pier with
the sun setting in the
ocean behind waving palm
trees, & followed by a
glorious sunset. It is
very warm, for days we
have perspired in shirt &
trousers -
20 Several fellows were absent
at breakfast, 2 had gone to
Kandy by train, having got a
pass from the O.C. - Very warm,
General leave was given from
2 PM to 9. I got away as soon
as possible & went ashore in
a rowing boat, I wanted to
see as much as possible, so
3 of us took a "gharrie" & drove
round the town. Galle Face
Victoria Gardens. Went
through the museum which
contains many specimens
of carvings, gems, weapons,
neolithic implements, One of the
most curious was the leaf insect
a number of them alive on
a bunch of foliage in a
glass case - Visited a
Buddhist temple, went
in after taking off our boots
& saw the images of Buddha
with flowers in front placed there
by worshippers - Another room
contained copies of the Bible,
carvings of elephants & various
offerings - A great many students
were there, all in yellow robes,
The mahommadans wear the
red fez, passed a school
where all the mah. children went.
Also the Gov. Technical Schools
& many of the Singhalese youth.
The native shops & dwellings
were a contrast to those of
Egypt,, the streets are clean.
crowds of small children, some
with a string of beads as
their only costume & pretty little
girls, who all want pennies.
Went through the fruit market
where every tropical fruit
was in abundance, pines
great bunches of bananas
plantains, oranges
limes - coconuts, custard
apples, retd to the Port,
later had tea, & went round
the ocean front. The sun was
setting, & in the cool of the
evening everyone seemed to be
out enjoying themselves. Ayahs
with small white children,
rickshaws, carts drawn by small
oxen, bicycles, motor cars, loungers
on the seats along the sea front
& the waves dashing in on the
beach. Mt Lavinia I saw in the
distance round the shore. -
Night soon fell, & I fell in with
one of our chaps & rixxxx to rode
to the terminus of the Borella
train & went for a walk
through the native quarter & a
along a road with bungalows
on either side, surrounded with
coconut palms & other tropical
trees - A troopship was in port
& a large number of those
on board went for a route
march in the afternoon -
I returned to the boat about
9 - A good many chaps
had all they could hold
& there was more than one
row on shore - One of the men
refused to pay a rich show man
& later had an altercation
with a native policeman.
He knocked the man down, &
then brutally, kicked him, half
killing him - We left him
in gaol when we sailed, to
stand his trial, also several
others as witnesses -
22 In port all day - still coaling
Some stragglers returned
from shore, Several who had
been to Kandy had the time
of their lives - One brought
me back a leaf of the Bhuddist
Bible, printed on the leaf of
the Bible palm which bears
fruit once in 50 yrs - they
saw the sacred elephants,
Cinnamon trees, cloves, Cocoa
trees & paddy fields -
23 Left port early, the Coast
was in sight for some hours
& we passed numbers of native
boats - A small fleet of
catamarans & many scattered
sampans & fishing boats
miles out of from shore.
The sea was calm & we could
see the yellow beaches, rocky
shores with the white surf
breaking high on them.
Lowland near the shore, backed
by ranges of hills, with
mountains rising up here
& there. Passed 2 vessels
in afternoon, one A16 with
horses on board passed close
to us. The crew is busy
cleaning up decks etc.
after the dirt & dust of
Coaling, it will take days
to get clean again.
5 Mar An uneventful voyage
from Colombo - Expect to
reach Fremantle in morning.
Had some fairly rough weather
& it has turned much
cooler - Flying fish to
be seen up till yesterday.
Have had several games
of chess - Two or three
concerts, not a great deal
of talent aboard -
Small gulls about show
we are nearing land.
Orderly work occupies some
time each day.
There are about 20 or 30
W.A.A to go off to-morrow
Jock Davidson took a snap
of several of us
yesterday, on the promenade
deck -
6 Mar Entered the Port
of Fremantle early in
morning - rather a coincidence
it is the same
date I left Aust.
last year - We laid
alongside the wharf
all day, leaving at
6 PM. Passed a
vessel near Rottnest Is.
7 Mar 198 m. to noon
we have been doing
220 to 260 m. since
Colombo.
13 Mar Last night at
8 PM we entered the
Heads after taking on
a pilot from the Lady
Locke, just outside - During
the afternoon we passed a
4 masted sailing ship, with
all sails set - She looked
a fine sight. The passage
across the Bight was fine
with a heavy swell, which
made the Nestor roll a
good deal at times.
Came up the port & dropped
anchor in the port. In
the Morning came alongside
the pier, Up at 5
& handed in blankets etc.
Medically inspected at 6.30
& secured Kits from the
hold where they had
been fumigated -
Assembled on Well deck
& sorted out. About 30 Tas -
- About 9.30 a long stream
of cars began to arrive
& the Vics. taken off then
Tas. & SA.. We drove
through the streets to the
Rest Home near Princes
Bridge & after a short
delay, had leave until
2.30. Went along to the
Homeo Hosp. & surprised
Matron - retd to the Home
for dinner & then walked
in to the GP.O. & sent off
a telegram. After
some delay we came
down to the Loongana
in cars. I was
surprised to see Alf
Howie on the Wharf.
He was down to see me
off & I was glad to learn
that all were well, &
that they know of my
coming. Loongana left
punctually at 3.30.
AWM2018.666.1
Jas Stratton
Causeway House
Clitheroe
Lancashire
9.9.15 The glorious Sunsets surpass
the power of my pen to describe
a flood of changing color passg
from rich orange to pale pink,
the blue summer sky scattered
with fleecy clouds, white smoke
grey & others the palest pink.
The Sun is nearing the horizon
where sea meets sky, above it
a great bank of deep blue
black cloud, below which the
horizon is flecked with tiny
clouds tinged with all the golden
glory of the departing day. In
the foreground the Azure Sea,
with riding up on her bosom,
great ships. To Nth & Sth loom
up 2 massive islands reflecting
the purple blackness of the clouds
above -.
A man requires each day
3 000 units of energy -
Functions of food are to
give nutrition, by the evolution of heat
to maintain temp. of the body &
to provide for energy he is constantly
exercising & to repair the wash
of muscular tissue ..
1 Starches & Sugars etc = Carbohydrates
2 fats & oils
3 protein, only constituent cont. N.
4 Minerals
1 = chief feed. materials in veg foods
protein is sole nutritive matter
in lean of meat, poultry game fish
Min. quantities reqd per man
per day 120 grams protein
60 grams fat 510 carbohydrates
Result of over eating veg. foods is
less harmful than consumption
of too much protein.
Meat once a day is sufficient
Vegetables & fruits ensure that
form of strength & vitality which
establishes health & conduces to
long life.
Oatmeal porridge & fruit
Wholemeal bread. egg.
Butter - Coffee Jam
Soup - Bread Butter
potatoes veg. pudding fruit
fruit - w. bread Butter
coffee - Milk pudding.
Eat the skins of all fruits -
Fry bake of or steam potatoes
Cook vegetables in their skins
Skin of fruit & vegetables
contain the iron & phosphates
of lime, & mineral salts -
Lettuce & green vegetables a
properly cooked are essential.
Insist on Wholemeal bread
Persevere!
Persevere, though certain failure
Seems to stare you in the face;
Don't stop running if another
Gets before you in the race
Should you never overtake him,
Should you never reach the goal,
Theres nobility in striving
God will bless you, noble soul!
Though the world may count it failure
God will know you did your best;
In His sight, you'll have succeeded
And have won the victor's rest!
Francesca
"Anzac" -
There is a land of tragic sights
Dyed red with slaughter's crimson flow
It is the land of sleepless nights
And days of grim satanic show.
With skil twas won; with lead we keep
This scanty acreage of ground
Along the heights war worn & steep
Where death & anguish loiter round
And while the heavy broadsides crash
In guttral gusts the sea line oer
All night the storms whipped waters lash
Lost lighters driven on the shore
Tween hills by shrapnel pellets torn
Along the lead stung gorge of pain
On litters, lifeless forms are borne
To spread the grave-yards of the slain.
We dwell where Moslems fought & feed
In Summer nights & noons aglow
On ground where fallen comrades bled
Australians fight in ice & snow.
Gallipoli
T Gerhard.

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