Diary of Second Lieutenant Harold Gordon Cornell- 1916-1917- Part 1

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The Official War Historian of the Commonwealth

Government (Dr. C. E. W. Bean), after his study of the
collection of private war records preserved in the Australian

War Memorial Library, wrote :-

"The private diaries in this collection furnish some of its most 

valuable historical records, but, like all private memoirs which were

not compiled with any historical purpose, they should not be
regarded as first-hand evidence except where it is certain that they

are so. The diarist is almost always sincere in his desire to record

accurately, but he is subject to no obligation or inducement to

indicate whether he is recording his own observations or incidents

told him by friends or heard at third or fourth hand at the mess-table.

Thus, in some of the diaries in this collection, scenes described with

vivid detail, and without any warning that they are told at second

or third hand, have been found to be completely inaccurate in 

important details. A certain number also have been written up

or revised long after the events, though doubtless usually from notes 

made at the time. In most cases the student must rely on his

experiences and on internal evidence to guide him in judging what is

and what is not likely to be historically accurate." 

 

No 715

H. G. Cornell

A.F.C.

 

 

Events from Ja Dec 28th 1916 to Jan 7th1917.

Early on the morning of Dec 28th, the

English coast was sighted. Before

midday we had anchored in Plymouth

Harbour, & some of the men had

commenced to disembark. Our

squadron, however had dinner on board

& then was obliged to wait on till about

6.30 p.m. before they boarded the tender

& crossed to the wharf. It was raining

heavily when we landed & "C" flight

was baggage guard. Most of us got

pretty well wet through in course

of unloading the stores & baggage.

About 8.15 p.m. we were on the special

train, & started for Lincoln, the

route being through Exeter, Bristol,

Birmingham. Derby, & Nottingham.

Lincoln was reached about 10 a.m.,

& it was about 1 p.m. when we arrived

by motor in the camp at Nth Carlton

 

 

Jan 5th 1917

Ted rather bitter today. Ambulance

didn't arrive so reported to M.D.

Decided not to remove him, unless

he grew worse. Our flight, duty

flight today; all available men on

guard. Arranged to visit Lincoln

with Oliver, but missed him. Picked

up Fletcher J.M. on road, & walked in.

Rain all the way, so got pretty wet.

Had tea with F, but struck rotten place.

food poor, nearly cold, price 1/5, F. paid.

F & J visited barber, & there Fl left me.

Bought two brooches R.F.C. 16/6 & 5/6

for Millie & Mother; also few views of

Lincoln; tried to buy sugar but no

luck, bought jam & cake instead.

Visited Y.M.C.A. & wrote letter, then

started for camp. Snow all the way,

arrived camp 9-45, had supper &

turned in. Cabled home while in 

Lincoln.
 

Jan 6th 1917 Saturday

Rather chilly weather today, but

no sign of yesterday's snow.

A 2nd man, Etheridge, down with

gastritis today; managed to

secure a palliasse & pillow for

him. Tonight, "pinched" sufficient

wood to make a mess table

for the hut, Oliver to set to work

on it tomorrow. Flood continues

to improve, the dinner being quite

enjoyable; also larger rations, but

there is still room for improvement.

Ted decidedly improved today.

First candles from the Squadron

distributed today; week's supply

for 1 hut, 37 men, 4 candles !!!

Today wiring for electric lighting

installed but it will probably be

some time before we have the

lights

 

 

Sunday Jan. 7th 1917.

Last night after "lights out", orderly

officer asked for a tattoo roll call.

Only 19 men present out of 37, but of

remainder only 4 were A.W.L. I believe

other huts mustered only 5 or 6 men.

No action has yet been taken, so

our men may be all right. Etheridge

still bad, but doctor has not put in

an appearance. Dinner today was

quite good & there was not one

complaint! After dinner, about

½ of us were given leave, till 11 p.m.

Ted decided to come in with me.

& we caught the tender at 2 p.m. Visited

the Lincoln Cathedral but could not

get inside. Had tea at the Y.M.C.A.

rooms & after went to St. Martin's

Church with Mr & Mrs Dring from Y.M.C.A.

Pleasant service, good music, pretty

church, but dimly lighted on account

of Zeps. Returned to Y.M. then walked home

Monday Jan 8th 1917

Was orderly corporal today, so had to

rise early; struck a rotten day,

as it is very cold & has been raining

nearly all day. Extra large muster

for sick parade, & four men to be 

sent to hospital. Flood to leave

sick parade & report at 10 a.m. to

Mr Goss, in charge of wireless section

23rd wing. Had a somewhat lengthy

test in wireless & general electrical

work, in which I did not shine.

Do not know what result will be.

We removed into the mess hut for

dinner today, but things were only

middling. All the officers have been

sent away today, to various flying

centres for training. Tonight arrangements

are being made for 68 men, (All

fitters & riggers in the squadron)

to be sent away early tomorrow

 

 

morning, the fitters to the Scottish

school of Fitters at Edinburgh, 7

the riggers to Nethertoon, wherever that is.

All N.C.O's concerned have been

reduced to 2 A.M.s. My name does

not appear in the list of fitters, so

it would seem that I am to be

transferred to wireless work. Ted's

name does not appear either, but

that is because his name appeared

in orders, as sent to hospital, and

though he was never taken there,

the matter was not reported. Everything

is bustle in our hut, as 21

of our men are leaving; however

I am tired so will make for bed.

Tuesday Jan 9th 1917.

All was bustle this morning, to get 

the fitters & riggers away; however 

they were all packed on the lorries

by about 9-45 & started for the station.

When the mail arrived a little

later I carefully sorted out the

letters for our men, readdressed them,

& returned them to the orderly room.

An hour later, all the fitters reappeared

so I had to go back & rescue the

mail: The fitters had missed

the train, the reason apparently

being, that the railway authorities

had received no instructions.

Another example of organization!

The men were paid £2-10 each while

waiting, & left again about 2-30 p.m.

They have not yet come back.

It has been a miserable day, snow &

sleet at intervals throughout; 

starting to freeze tonight. Tonight

vague instructions came out that

wireless operators, armourers, & photographers

are to hold themselves in

readiness for tomorrow morning. I

find I am included in the list

of W.Op. so evidently the test was

 

satisfactory. I believe we go to

Farnboroug. Ted is reported back from

hospital today, & he may possibly follow

the fitters tomorrow. Tonight I am

acting ord. corporal, taking the place

of the appointed man Thompson who

has gone into town.

Wed. Jan 10th 1917.

This morning I had myself relieved

from duty, & got myself ready in

a leisurely fashion for departure,

however no instructions came through.

During the morning Ted was ordered

to report at the orderly rooms, & there

received instructions to start for

Edinburgh that afternoon. He left

by motor about 4-30 p.m. & would

leave Lincoln at 10-30; I believe

he was to catch the "Flying Scotchman"

at York. & xxxx Early this morning, I got

a couple of photographs of our lads

in the snow, as there had been a

considerable fall during the night.

After dinner, I was notified that

I would be required to take charge

of the guard, which mounts at 4-30 p.m.

Rather a come down after expecting to

leave camp for Farnborough. There were

13 men, (3 reliefs, 4 posts, & 1 waiting man)

Can't say I enjoyed being thrust into

a job, in which I have had no experience,

with practically no instructions.

However all has gone smoothly so far.

The guards change every 2 hrs, through

the 24, so there is little rest for the Cpl.

in charge. It has been snowing all

night, so the sentry's job is not one

to be envied.

Thurs. Jan. 11th. I got very little

sleep last night, as sentried had

to be relieved every two hours,

however, Altogether, I suppose I had

 

about 2½ hours sleep. Snowing

continued throughout the night, but

there has been practically none

during the day, & it is starting to

thaw. We were relieved at 4.30 p.m., &

after a little tea, I walked in to town

with Morrison, had a wash, did a little

shopping, had dinner at the Arcadia.

then walked back. I was pretty

well tired out on arriving home.

Routine orders contained the news

that wireless operators were to leave

early next morning. My name was not

on the list & I could get no

information on the subject. Several of

the wireless men were on guard &

had to be relieved. Dennis the W.O.

issued instructions that all men in

the huts were to keep in uniform

until further notice, & about 1 p.m.

he made a round & collected

all available men for guard duty. I

had already turned in & was not

disturbed. Hilwick, who is an old

soldier, & had had a few drinks in, refused

point blank to go on duty, holding

that it was against king's regulations,

& there was a furious argument in the

hut for a while. Paid £2-10 today.

Friday Jan 12th. This morning after

breakfast, the W.O. came in, & instructed

me to take an escort & place Hilwick

under arrest in the guard-room. I

am afraid I will come off second best.

I visited the orderly room early this

morning to find out if I was to be

included among the men leaving for

Farnborough. On my third trip, I

found C Lieut Ross (Equips & Transport)

who told me that my case was still

under consideration & I would not

be leaving for the present. An hour

later & just about the appointed

 

 

time for leaving, a corporal was sent

to instruct me to get ready immediately

& leave with the wireless operators.

I packed up in record time, & fell

in with the men, just in time to be

told that our departure had been

postponed till the following morning.

Today is sunny & almost warm, but

it will be very sloppy underfoot, when

all this snow melts.

Saturday. Jan 13th Skilcock was

awarded 14 days C.B., & has been

greatly subdued ever since. My 

name appeared in orders last night

as reduced to 2 A.M. This morning

we had to be up at 6 a.m., breakfast

at 6-30, & we were off in the lorry

before 7-30. At 8 a.m. our train

left Lincoln station, 32 wireless men,

& 4 M.Ts for Gosport near S'hampton.

At Grantham we connected with

the main line, & changed trains.

We reached Kings Cross, London about 

12-20, travelled by tube to Picadilly,

& on to Waterloo. We were lined up

on the platform there, given passes

in batches of 5, & then dismissed till

2-45, at 1-20. We had a brief

walk round, & then refreshments, at

the fine buffet on the station. Left

Waterloo promptly at 3 p.m. & reached

Farnbro' at 4-10. There we were

put in a motor & taken about a

mile to the barracks. The weather

has been as cold as ever, with a

little snow and my cold is

steadily growing worse.

Everyone is highly pleased with

the new quarters. We are lodged in

proper brick barrack rooms holding

20 beds, kit racks, & a big stove in

the centre. We were provided with a

 

 

decent tea quite an improvement on

Lincoln. Since tea we have been

looking round a little, had a hot wash,

visited canteen, store, & billiard room

We have been issued with 4 extra

blankets so should not be cold.

These barracks are entirely for

training wireless men, about 600 men

being here at present.

Sunday Jan 14th. All men at present

are in isolation in these (Blenheim)

barracks, & there is consequently no

leave. We are similarly isolated &

wear a red ribbon on the left arm to

show our condition. Daily routine here

Reveille 6 a.m. Breakfast 6-30, & 6.50, 1st Parade

7-30 (Sundays 8 a.m.) Dinner 12 a.m. 2nd Parade

1-45 p.m. Tea 5-15 p.m. Supper 8 p.m. Tattoo 9 p.m. L.O. 9.45

This morning we paraded at 8 a.m. with the

rest of the 600. There was no church

parade. A certain number were sent

off on a route march, the rest ourselves

included were equipped with picks &

shovels, & set to dig up shrubs & rebuild

a hedge between Blenheim & Malplaquet

Barracks. No parades during afternoon

or evening. The Tommies are very friendly,

& ready to give us any assistance they

can, the majority are nice boys, many

of them apparently not more than 16.

The sergeants look like & probably are,

schoolteachers who have joined the service

Monday Jan 15th.

Rather a rush to be ready for parade by

7-30. We find it advisable to shave & clean

up the night before. Weather continues

very cold, snow during night. Daily

routine seems to be Fall in 7-30, Buzzer 

practice 8-9 Lecture 9-10 Recess 10-10.15, Buzzer

10-15 to 11 Lecture 11-12. Buzzer 2-3 Drill 3-4

Lecture 4-5. This morning we were

introduced to Buzzer practice. I find

 

 

I am by a long way the most backward

at Morse, so will need a tremendous amount

of extra practice. We were given a test

this morning to classify us. I could

hardly distinguish a few letters.

This afternoon we had an hours

semaphore, with the rest of the W.O's on

the parade ground, (to warm us up

the S.M. said.) We were nearly frozen

when we finished. Hoyles & I broke

our isolation tonight & walked into

Farnbro'. It is only a small place, with

one main street of shops, in semi darkness

as usual; bought a kettle & teapot &

various other articles mostly eatable for the

barrack room.

Improved a good deal today in buzzer

but still miles behind. Am hoping to

get extra practice later. Lectures s

far have been in elementary

electricity & magnetism, with one today

on the Short Wave Tuner. An hour's flag drill

this afternoon. Any quantity of frozen

snow about, which makes one's feet

freeze when standing about. A bit of

snow balling among our chaps today.

Any quantity of aeroplanes about today,

saw six at one time, up to 10,000 ft. up.

One machine, extremely fast, pilot looped

loop about 3 times, banked vertically on turn,

(said to be Curtis). Into town again

tonight with washing; after some trouble

found a place at which to leave it.

Tried the supper in camp, & found the

soup & bread issued, very palatable.

The rations issued are not sufficient &

my visits to the canteen are alarmingly

frequent in consequence. I am exceeding

my allowance considerably, so will

have to arrange for more cash somehow

or economise.