Diary of Gerard Henderson Cowan, January - April 1917 - Part 1

 

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Salisbury
Friday 12 Jan 1917
Today being on rest we have had no parades
I have been to the Y M.C.A. a couple of times
getting a few letters written.
There are also several shops down that way
so I was able to make a few purchases.
Several aeroplanes flew over the camp during
the day, they were all bi-planes they made a row
like a threshing machine and ^look very like a xx
large hawk.
Ran foul of a pommy Major this morning,
reckoned we didn't salute him, as it happened
we did and he did not return it.
Has been raining and snowing not heavily
but just enough to keep the mud going.
Tucker is not bad but sugar is non-est.
There is not much to see here but miles of
huts and it is too muddy & wet to bother
about going far to investigate. I intend
visiting Stonehenge first opportunity, it is
about a little over a mile away
 

Saturday Jan 13, 1917
Revalle at 6.30 a.m.
turned out & folded our beds & blankets and
by time we had had a wash it was time to fall in
for breakfast.
After breakfast we fixed up our packs and equipment
as we had to parade at ten a.m. and give an
exhibition of how we could do company drill.
At 10 a.m. we paraded and were put through rifle
exercises and some company movements. I
believe we favourably impressed the major and
have had two weeks of training taken off.
This afternoon was a half holiday, Clements
Friel, Devenish & I walked to the village of
Amesbury about a mile and a half away.
The road was full of traffic, hundreds of soldiers,
m motor cars, waggons, and even a bus,
motor bikes, and farm waggons.
Amesbury must have been a real typical
quiet English village before the War but
it is feeling the influence of the camp now and
several new and up to date buildings are new
being built, looking very out of place among
the quaint of old thatched houses.
On the way We went all through the village, had
some tea & bread & butter at a small tea shop
and then visited the old church.
This church is supposed to be 1400 years old. I could
see by dates that it was over 400 years old, but could
get no authentic information about the 1400.
We went up into the tower and examined the
five bells. We returned to camp about 5 p.m.
On the way to Amesbury you cross the Avon,
it must be very pretty in summer when every

thing is green, but at present is too muddy and rather ^looking bare
On my return to camp I went to the Y.M.C.A. and
wrote some letters and had tea there. I am
glad I did as I hear the others only had bread
and beetroot.
Aeroplanes have been flying round and over
the camp all day we are getting quite used to them
 

Sunday 14/1/17
Revalle is at 6 a.m. on Sunday same as week days,
so there was no chance of lying in bed.
After breakfast we dressed for church parade
which was at 9.50. a.m.. We had to wear overcoats &
belts off our equipment. The hut orderly lent me
a web belt and this probably made the orderly
xxxxx sergeant think I was on duty, becaus Just as we
were falling in for church parade he came
up to me & said, "Get two men; go round to the
clink and bring out two prisoners Chapman &
Reaa. I picked two men & went round but
found both men were out with the for exercises
under in charge of the Povost Sergeant.
Reported x again at the orderly room & were
told to wait as we woxxx would be wanted. After
waiting about in the cold for about ¾ of a hour
and missing church, we were told to go and wait
in our hut. That was the last we heard of it.
On arrival at hut found that mail had come.
There were two papers and about 9 letters for me.
The afternoon we had free. Several of us walked
to Amesbury and then round to the ruins of
Stonehenge. it They were very interesting a great
many of the stones still standing and traces of
the circular rampart are still to be seen also
the terrace leading to it can be traced for
374 yds.
We returned to Amesbury x and had tea ^(ham & eggs, tip top) at a
cottage were tea meals were served. The woman who
ran the xx show had had five sons killed at the
war & her husband is at the front now, the
only help she had was a son about 12 years
old and he was splendid, doing everything
he could to help her & save her trouble.
After tea we went to service in the old
church. It was an impressive service or at
least the age of the building gave it an
impressive feeling. The Parson or Vicar or
whatever he called himself afterwards asked
 

all overseas soldiers who would like to to
stay and he would tell them the history
of the church. About 30 stayed, myself among
them. His description was very interesting.
The earliest known parts of the church are
Norman xxxx dating back over a thousand
years. There he showed the different parts that
were added later and the windows of different
periods eaisly told by their style. One of the
last things he showed us was a finely carved
oak grille dividing one wing of the church
from another. A good many years ago this

was removed to a private museum. The

present squires wife however determined to

have it rebuilt in the church. She made

money by paintings and eventually was able ^ to buy it

to have it restored to the church.

This piece of carving is over 500 years old.

It snowed a little while returning to

camp but luckily for our comfort not

much. Arrived back in time to have a shave

before lights out. Too cold to shave in the

morning.

Monday 15/1/17

Started on our training this morning.

The hours are, reveille at 6. a.m., Cookhouse at

6.50. fallin 7.40. am dinner 12 noon, tea at 5 pm.

But we stop work at 4.30, and are given half an

hour to clean our rifles. We were given squad 

drill rifle exercises, and turning by numbers

for a while but during the afternoon had

some very interesting lectures on gas attacks.

As far as is known all Sauce jacks in our

company are retaining their stripes.

Very cold to day all the ground frozen

hard and sheets of ice wherever water is

lying. Any amount of aeroplanes flying xx

round. Also saw what is called a captive

baloon in the distance. These baloons are

sent up into the air and are held captive

by a rope and are used for observation

purposes.

Tuesday 16/1/17

Kept us hard at work at squad drill ^ etc and

had one or two lectures during the day

Very cold, all the ground frozen and

slippery, making walking very hard.

Icles Icicles hang in the wash houses wherever

water drips. and sheets of ice cover the

washing benches.

Had a letter from Mrs Fryer-Smith, Bedford

and also onr from Uncle James du Boulay,

Both being invitations.

Went to buy some clothes at one of the

shops by Y.M.C.A. but found it closed.

Came back and set to work at some

washing managed to wash two shirts a

towel and nine xxx hankerchiefs, before

lights.

Wednesday 17/1/17

Snowed a little during the night making

everything late white xx also whet & slippery.

Kept us hard at work all day marching backwards

and forwards over ^ frozen & uneven the parade ground very

hard of on the feet mine ache & burn very

much after the days work.
 Went to the shop today and bought some

clothes beginning to feel a bit cleaner

now.

Been hunting round every opportunity

today to find a place to dry my clothes

and only managed to find one this evening

There are special drying rooms but the

one close to us has no one in charge so

had to hunt round for another one

and eventually found it.

There is a concert on tonight but my

feet are too sore and I have too many

things to do or I would go to it.

Had a letter form Uncle Earnest

inviting me to go there, also sent £1

Thursday 18/1/17

Had charge of a fatigue party of six men

We reported to our on own orderly room

at time stated, were sent from there to

Batt Head-quarters, from there to

A groupe Hdqrs, On arrival a A groupe

no one knew what we were wanted

for, sat in a room & smoked for half

an hour.

Eventually we found he we had to help

the pioneers who were transferring an

old barn into a motor garage, Our

work was cleaning and carting bricks

levelling the floor etc. Very decent work

except for the cold, and the bricks all

being frozen together.

Tx Finished our work at four and on return to our part of the camp

I collected my clothes from the drying room

and then went and had a hot shower.

First time I have fl felt clean for nearly

three weeks.

Received a letter from Miss Wilson sending

a railway time table and any stating 

the best trains to travel by.

Friday 19/1/17

Back on squad drill again today it is very

boring but we are settling down to it.

also we had the usual lectures and physical

training.

My feet are feeling much better today but

still ache.

A thaw has set in and the ground is all

muddy again although the troughs are

still coated with ice also it has been drizzling

all day.

Received a parcel with a pair of mittens and

a scarf in it also a letter from Gracie.

She said any day would suit for my visit

Saturday 20/1/17

Had quite a slack day today.

After fall in we were marched down to the

dentist for dental examination and when that

was finished we were paid. Men drawing 2/- a day

received £5, men drawing 1/- per day received £2,

On being paid we were allowed to go to our

huts as it was snowing and from then till xx

12' noon we put oiled our boots & clened cleaned

our boots etc.

Being pay day I had dinner at the canteen

I felt too hungary to try and subsist on

our army rations.

Army rations here are of a very poor

standard. What there is is well cooked but

the amount is certainly not enough to

satisfy the appetite of the average Australian.

Breakfast this morning consisted of some

watery gravy or soup with one sq in of

bacon in it a slice of bread and a mug

of tea (minus milk & sugar). A great many

complaints are made but have not had

any sd satisfaction yet.

One officer stated that it is well known men

cannot subsist on army ration, they  ∧ practically are

supposed to help keep themselves in the food line.

Being Saturday, we of course, had leave from 2 o'clock.

Friel, Devenish, Timperly & I walked to the

village of Figheldean and visited  the

Chestnut tree & Church celebrated in Longfellows

poem "The Village Blacksmith." The Blacksmiths

mc name was sheplor Shepheard and his

son is blacksmith there now.

The church is the prettiest one I have seen

yet. We had a a cup of tea and some bread

and butter at one of the cottages were tea

was served to soldiers A We visited the post

office and bought some post cards of

the place and then as it was getting dark

we retraced our steps to camp and on

arrival here all indulged in a canteen

tea ∧ consisting of a cup of tea, plate of two sausages

peas & potatoes & a slice of bread, damage

being 7½ pence per head.

Weather has been much warmer today

the wind having dropped, snowed slightly

once or twice.

A great number of aeroplanes flying round

whichever way you look there always seems

to be an aeroplane.

Bought another kit bag today as I wish to

keep my old one all my own extra clothing

in.

Our monkey has dissapeared today somebody

has evidently rooked him.

Saturday 27/1/17

 This is the first entry for a whole week.

The first few days The two or three days

preceeding our leave I was too busy &

too tired & during the leave it was the

same.

We received our leave passes on Monday night

and the wisest immediately set off.

I however was too feeling too bad with the 

cold so waited until Tuesday and

off course had to parade with the rest.

We fell in about 7.30 am and after keeping

uf us standing in the cold and at least

half a dozen of the Heads had lectured

us lot, we eventually marched to

Amesbury Station (by long and round

about way of course) where after another

long and weary wait we started on our

journey to London.

We reached London at about 1.30. p.m. & where

then marched from there to the

Australian Military Headqrs. After another

lecture here we were dismissed and

allowed to fend for ourselves.

My object was a Railway office and after

a few enquiries I found L.B & S.C. Railway

office. I found the times of trains running

to Tunbridge Wells & then sent telegrams

to say I would be coming by Wednesday

mornings train.

My next object was to find a bed before

darkness set in. London of course is

almost dark now at night time.

I walked up Whitehall and entered the 

Strand b at Trafalgar Square. I then went

up the strand and after a few inquiries

arrived at the Y.M.C.A Hut, Aldwich.

This is a fine little building and is

built either where a house has been

destroyed by a Zep. bomb or else

some has been pulled down but whatever

was the cause of the vacant spot in the

Strand it has proved a great boon to

soldiers.

I managed to secure a meal ^ here but all beds had

been booked, however a returned man promised

to show me a place where he had

booked a bed. We set out to find it but he

set off in the wrong direction. We found it

eventually, it proved to be the Salvation

Army Building and was only about 3 minutes

walk from Y.M.C.A. but down the Strand opposite

to the way in which he had started.

I booked a bed and put of up there for the 

night. After breakfast next morning

I set off for Vic Station. To g reach this

I went down the Strand turned into the

Mall down that into Buckingham Palace

Road and a short distance down this

is the Station. I kept a good look out