Lieutenant Colonel William McKenzie, MC, OBE - Diary - 1914 - 1917 - Part 1

JOURNAL —
of —
William McKenzie
Chaplain Expeditionary Forces
1^st Australian Contingents
______

money
1-10-14   If found
To be forwarded to 
69 Bourke Street
Melbourne
Victoria Australia

1
I arrived home from the d.C.C. on friday
night 11/9/14 spent the weekend at Bunbury
I was hurriedly summoned to N.H.Q.
to interview the C.O. on the matter
of becoming Chaplain to the Expeditionary
Forces going to [[?]]
Fortunately, I had just arrived in
Melbourne from a xx nine day 
turn in the Nth East of [[?]]
& therefore had only to rush
home to Bendigo which I did

by the Express had tea at 9pm
Informed my wife at 9.15, who
took the matter in a very fine
soldierly way & said “If you feel
it is the right thing to do I have
no objections to raise & may God

go with & take care of you."
We had to work all night getting ready
she is darning & getting clothing
ready & I in doing needful office
work & packing up.
I left Bendigo by the 11.50am special
train on Friday Sept 25^th 1914
reached Melbourne at 3.50pm.
Had to undergo medical exam
sign various documents and
rush off to Rly Station to proceed
to Sydney by the 5p.m. express.
Journeyed over in the Express
with Sir Albert Jones (senator)
Had a long chat with him.
Mr [[?]] also on the train.
The Cadets Band & N.H.Q. staff gave me
a very fine send off at Melbourne
Rly Station.

2
Had a "Sleeper" from Albany, and
slept fairly comfortable on the whole.
Was0 met at Sydney in the D.C.
D.A. Brigadier Williams, D Slattey & others
Rushed off to visit the Commdt ([[?]])
(Col Mallack) informed that boat not
departing for some time yet.  [[?]]
up at the People's Palace.
Conducted the Sunday meetings at 
Sydney Congress Hall. A fine day good
end on interesting meetings, 4 forward
spent Monday in getting things together
Met Coman & Mrs Hay on Tuesday.
Had lengthy conference with him.
Then spent the aftern in Col McMillan's
xxxx [[?]] purchasing outfit etc.
Went with Coman & Mrs Hay in the 
evening to New Town, where he delivered
a magnificent talk on "The Empire
[[?]] ally" The Mayor presided.
The stall was a little over the [[?]]
Visited the ship [[?]] on
Wedy morning along  Col Lee & the Comad
also visited & a Military Camp
Looked up the Imperial Reserve force
on Friday & Saty aftns.
1914 Sunday Oct 4th Journeyed in Convoy
with A Sgt Mc [[?]] up to Rose
Hill Racecourse Military Camp to 
inaugurate the religious services
in the tent at 3 p.m. much curious
interest manifested by men, 300
present Marquee full at night
Pleasing facilities granted by army
to men. Give great pleasure and 
surprise, officers also relighted
3 

Visited Mrs Adjt [[?]] in private hospital
old soul very weak, she was pleased.
Conducted a meeting at Rochdales
on Tuesday evening. Had a helpful
Times. The whole Hoepper family present.
Conducted the Sunday night meeting
at Newtown, Had a helpful &
inspirational pason with two ponitents
at the close & a real good
'windup'.
On Sunday Oct 11^th was present
all day at Waterloo, a wet day
Had 3 oh-be-joyful meeting &
met the band for an informal
talk. Band greatly improved and
certainly does credit to their young
Bandmaster. The finish of 
the day was a lively march round
the Building. It did no good!
Mrs M^cKenzie & Mavis came
over from Bendigo to Sydney and
stayed a couple of days & nights
at the P.P. I was powerfully glad
to see them again. They left on the 
express for home on Thursday evening.
Conducted the Sunday meetings 15/10/14
at Petersham I rained in torrents 
all day. The services were [[?]]
good. The band lovely & the
fine finish to it all was mood
affecting.  I had tea with Mrs
Binkenshaw, who is an enforced
'confine' to her house thru her
affliction, but  remaining remarkably
cheerful thru it all. 

4

I stayed at the _∧Sydney Peoples Palace, for
24 days was of a just kindness
by all.
I had been detailed to the diltiade
but ovens more cancelling this at
the last minute & transforming me
to the aint forces again and the
'Euripides' it canoed me so we

trouble to get my [[?]] out

& cost me some money, all told

from first to last 2^s/-.
The British Reservists embarked on
Satdy morning amid a deluge of
rain thro' which they had marches
from the Ranwick Camp (9 miles out
many of the men were infuriated
We embarked on the 'Euripides' on
Monday Oct 19th from 9 to 12 am.
the ship being in midstream we
had to go out on ferry boats
There are 2,500 troops aboard
300 of a crew it is a well
appointed ship of 15,000 tons
never before have so many troops
left Aust in one single ship.
We lay all afte'n & night in the
Harbour & set out at 6-30 a.m.
The sea was fairly rough outside
& so many were sick within a
a short time. I was O.K.

I was given a cabin to myself
a large roomy state Room with
a Port hole, so I am very [[?]]
portable fited up & have heaps
of room & plenty of quiet.
5

A short [[?]] meeting was held
on Tuesday & Wedy nights from
8-15 to 8-30 P.M.
a sing song on Thursday by the
Medical Corps, which contain
a fine lot of manly fellows, many
of whom are christians.
No 3 Battalion gave as fine Concert
or Friday night & No 4 Batt
on Satdy night — The Pipe & Brass
Bands took part.
An early morning service was
held in the library (Communion)
on Sunday Oct 25^th at 7-45
Official service was held in the
aft well dear at 11 am and as
A short service was also held for

Bible Class formed in the Medicals
Room at 3 P.M. 25 joined.
At 8 P.M. a voluntary Evangelistic

meeting held on forecastle deck. A
choir formed for future meetings

the hospital patients at 6 P.M.
at 8 P.M. a voluntary Evangelistic

retired at 11.30 p.m. 
26/10/14 — Monday — Commenced 

official prayers at 8-45 a.m.
these to be held each morning,
in the fore & aft well decks
We have had a reves watly fine
passage accres the 'Bight' every
body in good spirits.

A considerable amounts of gambling
going on one man won 50 at
Banker & got put in the gaol for 96

hours as did also another man 
for playing with him. 

6

There are 15 cases of disease
in the infections hospital & others
ripening for it, 2 cases of measles.
Physicals still indulge [[?]] considerable. 

(A fine body of officers

who are very kind & considerate.

We arrived at Albany on Monday

noon & anchored in the outer
Harbour there after saluting the
flagship 'Orvieto' on which is
General Bridges & the H'quts
staff — all troops assembled on
Bridge Decks of ship & remained
so far an [[?]] & as half. He
got lunch at 2 p.m. It was a
most interesting sight to witness
all the Transports in the Harbour
the bulk of which had get in on
Satdy & Sunday before us. They
formed in 3 distinct lines
our boat 'Euripides' is the flagship
of the 2^nd & a shine boat is
the flagship of the 3^rd line
Commander Caley is in charge
of our No 2 section.
I was able to get at ashore on Wedy

in Albany. Visited the Army Qrts

([[en?]]) & had lunch.
Albany a quiet yet picturesque

little town of some 3,000 Inhabts

met devine an old 
& also Smith (Material) mad some purchases
& caught the 4 pm tug back but
had to go right round the fleet
 7

our ship was the boat to be visited
we took 3¾ hours to do the round.
I had quite an experience climbing

up the rope ladder 38 ft. On getting

on to it the tug steamed off pelted
away the rope ladder, & had we
swinging in midair, clinging to it
like a monkey & when it let
so I was bumped against the
shipside & the ladder was on the
outside of me, by shear physical
strength I managed to turn
it was a big effort & then begin climbing
It was a big effort, making my
heart thump against my ribs
& twas clear done when dread
the upper deck. However twas
soon over & past experience.
It was dark too which made it
more triping.
We lay at anchor until Sunday
morning Nov 1^st when we set sail
at 6-45 a.m. as good [[?]] of
people lined the hills at the mouth

of the harbour to see the awe
inspiring sight as the convoy off
[[?]] with the transports
left the harbour under sealed
orders the New Zealand fleet
had come in on Wedy morning
10 transports & one two cnsent
The morning we left was ideal
the atmosphere clear, the sea
calm & the sun fairly warm
what a magnificent sight to 

8

Nov 1^st A powerful [[engiace?]] leads
the way:- the Minatour she
has 9. in guns & is very speedy
the Melbourne & Sydney are also
with us & several others. The
'Minatour' is followed by three
parallele lines of troopships,
leads each line led [[?]] their
respective flagship, the
'Orvieto' taking the centre line
'Euripides' on her starboard
& the Wiltshire on the port side
with cruisers on each flank.
The New Zealand fleet is following
immediately behind our centre

line with their flagship 'Mancaniu'
in the lead all the N.Z. ships
are painted a dull grey colour.
Its a right good to look upon.
The Sunday services were very good
6 30 & 9 15 a.m. parade 11, Bible
class 3 p.m. Hospital 5-30 p.m.
Evangelistic Meeting 8 p.m. the
singing of the men splendid
The O.C. issued orders prohibiting
gambling in any form, which has
greatly diminished the practise
the men were glad to leave the boat
& get on the more again, as some
were becoming restive.
while in Albany Harbour, one man
was drowned off a troop ship
Eleven others swam ashore of a
ship to desent but ware recaptured
& brought back & punished.
9

several were discharged from our
ship owing to sickness — one of from
Lt Hind he was very poorly & felt the
going back very keenly — he wept en
in painting with his officer comrades.
Ordered a set of Band Backs from
Ruth Depot while at Albany had a
letter to say they were dispatched but
they failed to be delivered, [[?]]
for this. Everything going all right
with no. concert taken nell
Had no officers xxxxx [[com?]] in the
Dining room on Tuesday evening
Nov 3^rd the Brigadier presided. It passed
off with very fair success.
The 4^th Battalion gave a fine
Concert on Wedy night Nov 4^th.
Caught a dose of the influenza
& was laid up for two days.
On Thursday evening the R.M.Q.
'Osterley' passed close to our
starboard having come 50 miles
out of ran adverse to let her [[?]]
with ego the magnificent fleet of
Aust troopships for which the
Commander of same was ascending
by the Officer of the fleet &
the Osterley was straight away for
bidden to landing passengers
all mails at Colombox is a pe
atty for their amority the
rase aochaned ove i
e sone ectonsed ten ate
the duation case the l
this (than) after & squared up some 

10

of the ship that did not keep
in line. We have entered the
tropes & the weather is fairly warm
everything is going fairly well.
cmt of the hospital cases sey bad
with omonia o nch roses
On nty night we ayue isle fo
a will with all life glto on as
sitionswrieed ts fo gtt
hwayo the boats. I am with
St I canly in the man seet.
the oppositisg was that
were altared by the exeryon
Enanipal from the
oldsship all lights were t
the man has to be
to prit
Flth Cifebellowa shoot
Oblices with Cenolouns bade
thnows ready, mea at onded
boat egaues stoal read a sestue
with faved ayste a thoue
renaindd tor
one kover
yea not been penactted to opear
+ was a cuetitable pentoware
Duntyy so 5t one of the lospitel
ptie at Tendall of Oconnortt
died at ao sir peaze heaut fale
Engamonia ense He had been a
policcan juat reaunied a fava
The was &e seaue of agex o wotel
on fust funeuel at sea at
10.30 PN on kaks mowing the
Dear & & conducted the Davie
suead te leasoor & repage
& read the commital
11 

Sau Sunday services were was
6.20 27 15 A.M.H.2 Burial 7As
chanch Kuads. Bit lo claas at 8
om hell on Dect 76 pesent
of whom gave in names I haba
ping so menates onso on Davis
a ymes neens greatly interest
te anrecloset it ae tea
to at a sout houseital renvise at
tf a aotius evargelies&
snvice at re a 20 mis
an Tiaman iscienetonens
of nearn foe engoyble time. 3h
man aot tire hewes ari
+ accordige led te ng
It wass happy t mitee
te
Mostanterg was easily
nost excitio& intath a
ing have yet fut is on this tialy
It was aclean wanov nor
it was exideat eves it
of am that worethin was
hatil by the moran into of the
canny Darah po I respare
to an D.O.D. wonwther
fouation the Dysney at out
for the ocos sland, the firt
intination we weereser was a
hade call you at officers or sar
it t25 & monter we ware in
fonoued that tee every was in
the meainty & all wene for
kildent to toss anythis overd
loae that would float n
 

thinks indicate ove coate.
next ot 1115 a message ann
sagis
sores egaginng the
enemy & so ninales ltee
we hean&. Enden beached
+ done for
noy alaaine
colliens He also keand, I other
Armed wsuclantwan recon
the Brdon two Captane, ore
escaped kive to this wswer
stirned to see the big fafares
anslip shrot gawvas ovr
os aankel gti
fo steam & cleasing the eate
fou action up west to his
flage the Kingy may overt
all spars & timbers, Juns wee
syzngg out, + fallymgunedg
if she went at a kigh ope
also did the Medesouie Mear
while the
at neves of th
Gdrego wenk was reciived on
ond with rext outhouits
& eitrawstee chasking and
ay
boreof
te das &
we bsthrue ihe Bingdn
ansounced a baCholidge and
also spened the Canteen fozan
hoaw the Raad was
adi to a
the nationel
antee & whice the sterannof
his was flowing on the wattes
the immortal efurst of Pei st hine
batt you salled
B cont
to the presence of toater
 

araten sisti to Pennvaig
ine onectoprite
He wass
man ofr pais fonent sawert
in muner sglt oter G
a pincre so boe. the be
be da banied, at £ 20 fr It was
a la pro seedune. He wan
with soa stately tread fronth
tospital at the popfeet to
the forard well seet the ban
& a altenoately reciting the
90 Bodlo Aead the low
Hethegunital & prace
o the 30sudgus oounsett
leat prest it was a oolom
andent arin the his Copta
Ooades wdd greatl i soed
tee he
in the ricinity all hands ut
anden to steep un their deat for
stions all night with the auth
te officers. I was given
Hendel a cantyidges to
paird goen the boat to kep it
from being rashed indes in
fgal all
sip welledwith lights ex
tdwisked not was an infria
expenienge tomesea te morin
wike without mything asen
happiniag
Ninsam the that the syone
last A Kistad - hed 15 wouad
i tha hattles, a slight was for
of hig nictary, the anstos wene
tenselesfor ove te
 

Pcpen o 1th 914
hatest in fo eneation ue th2
wasy andea Buel is an w dev
reapnoe to a dirty asaige
& ather informmation the lymne
wpichgyardst the starbourd
plank of one pleat act out for
the Cress Islands at 7 A. Mlaw
here depant this was overg&
miles Diotogl- The your eights
the ereny &t 9 30 AM & see after
the tidenat full apeed whah
made off in a nauter direction
Terthey
got into firvr cane
so nignter late swe
at 10.s0
closety engaged the Budenspa
lost my gongast + all three
funiells besides secieveng
,is save theneela, the
Boinans bcacted the Bden tt
they kept their plag plyine, the
nagthen wado
o afferth
ld
sheekely captined her
the vrew & pait the
tog a
sip & then rctura to the weos
some whon the
meenonsen
the Dy
mythe seneee Belien te
while after the
enewattacd t wielos
dations + destroyed it, alloae
re mateument which the
oneless nen and plantees this
is not i rgg eal ent
ong of the caules, adt left two
iact. I is on yet uaknosea Low
many insualities the same ano
 

suffeired but they must be ven
Chaideaable, itto Goneys weed
confanitinels slight, &ospital oee
omadationd is beens prbvidedo
the soland & the goney is bei
ott the prissnens o to tolonles
comnoealatel aganot
suppoid this after at 2so fr
we san was concideable at wl
moting we feel sitiing viskom
aun stiff mine, at a mach
wase tay followin.
Tunsta 3
Advicps by ass
Mus chagtwan Chanen fe
a wont to the waos ban
fit of the wineless sapi
she cauried 8 902 funs wsise
wallan, weong the Japt
Shate out off at fill apped to
next her as ose as the appea
on thas lugon at 1 pM thn
t might be an meny, as ohes
has not Reveloeg hewapproach
was the C.F.R. ship the ofara
Hampshire
The ellounge left no this noring
four Colombo, & gain the syarg.
she apship tak tha lead.
Busry Cst Hartensealadfa
of twelve shipp eft no this no
making hou Glonbs for oraten Coo
& other ws he woored
re lt no they panedoan
hlacshep where wite hear
 

still in wisht at 6 30 fm sone
ylcoahead of no, tons a
little mone than one that
per hover wore than one fleet.
He cupsaed the une aboutt
am this monnin- stehaa
very heavghar ow for
thanns which haw wooldd the
conspably
cdlebated the trssue to
say with heat gies to the Brad
Bind was in chitence Father
Septure, He Keptune and a
cat ectinac mene peresent
rundreds were dueped to
of two rough at last & had to
he stapped infeed, they tnoked
the sorche mess + idtreated
of the enghs as a result, shree
men ot 28 dayseach in the
ayDrosm, one was truagh
Cutmantial the other to cit
to be lept in the 2od san to the
CM rendict war 21 days thionot
the week awaitng nid up ix
Nc anuened in Colombo on tuda
asmidday, anclosed ontader
then mentin to the haubour on
taedory noning at 6 tr
for atores + waten. No loster
with lun gine eyls at the soashit
menenot pnnitted to land.
We vereting glad to leave which we
Dd on tuesday werigt y o
While in solants we on the
 

Byeaeiloanae thatole Lado
been kit once, wth a kell
which plistened &se of ten
sparis + Killed Enen Bonadis
Bothens. No also barsh that
the endons tooses were 143
nilled & 60 wsaadad were
the syexeys sells me oredt
esccasion & hatterine the
man to ruwan fe agants
he todes was ewve whose or
an land that had no water
a the mea were to ithout wrte
pou so koons, a Doctor
others drane sea water said
shis a seaned while the sove
waobasin te Colliee & ste
te annane vid not at finter.
t ones sen nut rept thein f
plyin- the sydnes Connandor
infoued them that thes could
ole ts stand by a lett them
pentil with thiest as he wored
whaot no yore on Resum
thin they halld down their
las sue daed some
preadnano taken in additinn
the wonrder. Dorty mar who had
landed with 4 Wacline jan
in the worning to datiy the
e rowc tao
ourseed som & cat one
cable, after seeing the inenitatl
aeoult of the fight, shipso ta
ans on a small octoocet