Diary of Gerard Henderson Cowan, January - April 1917 - Part 2

for Buckingham Palace but passed right 
by it without recognizing it.
My train left at 9.10. a.m. and after
about two hours journey th through country
that must be tip top in summer time I
reached Tunbridge Wells.
I set out from the station and soon arrived
at 14 Calvertey Park Cresnt were Gracie is.
I saw Jeanie who was outside and recognized
here her immediately, she seems scarcely to
have changed at all except of course, grown.
During the afternoon Gracie & I went all
round T. Wells and during our round
called on Mrs & Marjorie Elliot who are
staying there at present. We returned home
and then went out again to
a concert given for or in aid 
of wounded soldiers. It was very
good. I stayed the night and caught
the 9.a.m. train on Wednesd Thursday
morning for Bexhill-on-Sea. Just before
leaving for the train however Jeanie
took a photo of Gracie Selena & myself
it was spoilt however by some
tomie tommies drilling in a park
close by, who seeing through the hedge
made us grin by the queer noises
they made.
The journey wo to Bexhill must have taken
nearly 2.30 2 hours 30 minutes and lay hr
through prettier country with quainter
buildings than that to T. Wells. I
I forgot to mention that a great many
tunnells are passed on these lines.
I had to change at Eastbourne, let a station
not far from Eastbourne are the ruins 
of Pevency Castle you can see them
quite plainly from the train.
Miss Wilson met me at the station and
we walked to her cottage. We went

along the promenade close to the sea
it was very pleasant after not having seen
the sea for two weeks.
During the afternoon We went to a
musical performance which is
given at the Colonade every afternoon
The music was splendid.
mu I left here for Portsmouth by the 
9.49 train and arrived there at 1.45p.m.
or thereabouts. From there I caught the
ferry to Ryde Isle of Wight & after a
cold & stormy passage arrived there
about 2.15. While on the trip we
passed close to the old Victory, she is
a fine looking old ship & I hope to 
have the opportunity of visiting her
before long. Also away in the distance
could be seen the Aquit Acquitana
a four funnelled liner nearly as 
big as the Brittanic.
On arrival at Ryde I made for Bek
Belknap in St John's Park were Uncle
Earnest lives. I found my way here with
very little trouble and received a
very warm welcome. I spent a very
pleasant 3 hours here but unluckily
had to get away by five to catch the
ferry. I indulged in the luxury of a
cab to take l me to the Pier.
I arrived at Portsmouth in time to
catch the 6.58. train for Salisbury
and after having to change twice
and wait about an hour each
time I eventually arrived at
Amesbury about 11p.m. and at

camp about 12 pm.
To day we had a little drill
this morning an were given our
oversea boots to fit on.
This afternoon Friel & I walked to Balford

in Durringtons there was very little
so to see except Durrington church
which was worth visiting.
It is very cold here now f everything
is frozen, only one tap in our wash room
will run. One must have burst &
let the water run all over the
floor, because it is covered with
two inches of ice. It is said to be
the coldest winter they have had
for 10 years.
This camp is so cold and uncomfortable
that you wonder why people live in
England at all. However when
you th remember the warm houses
and fires met with on leave, you see
it is possible to be comfortable after
all.
Sunday 28/1/17
To day have not gone anywhere except
to Y.M.C.A.
I washed a few handkerchiefs and have
finished writing up this diary.
The food is very bad and and is likely to
cause trouble before long. It is certainly
not enough to keep a man going.
Also another thing there will be trouble
about is sickness. A man has to be
nearly dead before they take any
notice of him & then they let him die.
There have been several cases where men
have been reported very ill no notice
was taken by medical al authorities and
the men just simply died in their beds.
Another case, one of our own men this
time. He was taken to what is used
as an examining hospital, on a stretcher
and left in the freezing hut all

Monday 29/1/17
To day has been slightly warmer but
not very much.
Usual routine of squad drill, lectures, musketry
& bayonet exercises.
The bayonet exercises are most interesting
but ther others are very boring after
having had so many months of it in Australia.
A good many of our fellows have not yet
returned from leave several who had come
in late "Where wanted at the Orderly
Room" today. Those whou had reasonable
excuses for their absence were let off
but others did not get off so lightly.
Some Australian mail arrived yesterday
but the expected parcels are still missing.
Tuesday 30/1/17
No change in routine except a short route
march this afternoon.
We are all feeling the cold very much
The absentees are still coming in slowly
Received a letter from Gracie today saying
to y £5 were being cabled from home.
Wednesday 31/1/17
Much warmer today thank goodness,
Snow fell last night and again during
the day.
The floor and racks in the wash-rooms
are still chocked with ice.
We had company drill ^and a short route march thrown in as
a diversion today.
During Company drill we were in
sections in line of fours extended
to left of no 1 with ten paces interval.
O.C. wanted us to close to section interval
on no 1, gave ther order right incline quick

march and then could not see
why we did not reach the desired places.
Put in an application for all Sunday
leave to visit Salisbury. Hope I have luck.
Thursday 1/2/17
Besides general run of squad drill etc
we had a short route march this morning.
In bayonet drill this afternoon we had
to leap across a wide track and
bayonet a bag, which represented Fritze,
on the a narrow firestep on the 
on opposite side, we managed all
right but found the jumping very hard
on our feet.
Our sergeant was called away from no 1
platoon and before I knew what had
y happened I was in charge, I managed
after a fashion and I am afraid that
is all that can be said.
The death rate of Australians is
very high, 50 men are reported to have
died last week, & 36 this week up to date.
The Canteen in no 4 camp is closed & has
a guard over it. A man either dropped 
dead or was carried off in a very bad
state. Have not heard what it was yet.
All the fellows myself included are suffering
from very bad colds and can't get
anything to do them any good.
You are not allowed to rest in parade
hours unless absolutely dropping in
fact you have to be nearly pegging. Men are
kept on duty here who would be in the
hospital in Australia.
This deadly cold makes it worse, one is
never comfortable it is nagging at you
all day long. Bed is the only warm
place and even that is cold some nights.
To To day thank goodness has been warmer
although a very cold wind blew during the
afternoon. Snow fell during the morning

Friday 2/2/17
To day I started unexpectedly on a two 
days course of bombing.
The orderly sergeant walked into the
hut early this morning read out
seven names, mine included, and announced
that we had to report to orderly
room at 9.30.a.m. for a two days bombing
school.
We duly reported at orderly room & then
at Batt. Headqrs where we joined other
3^rd T.B. squads on the same game.
We marched to bombing school and
were first taught how to throw, with
dummy bombs and were then march
marched to the trenches where we threw
two live bombs each.
Men who knew nothing what ever about
bombs were set to work putting detonators
in them. One man just before
throwing inquired if the lever was to be
held down. During the afternoon we
had more dummy throwing & a lecture.
In the lecture we were told that all
wounded men  ^enemy encountered in bombing raids were
brained. This seems very inhuman and I am
afraid our fellows wh will have to become
much more hardened to do that. 

Clements went to the hospital today &
on going for some cough mixture this
evening. I found he had not had any
tea. I got him some biscuits and made
so cocoa for him x & took it down
to him. There being some over I offered
it to a fellow close by who seemed to be
pretty bad. He could just gasp out that he was
very thirsty & gulped the cocoa eagerly

down, his breath troubled him greatly
he had to keep pausing and gasp for breath

The medical treatment in camp is rotten
If the people in Australia knew what the
fellows have to put up with ^here they would
be disgusted.
Managed to wash a few clothes this 
evening but could not finish them as
new regs have come in, that no washing
is to be done in the huts.
Thursday 8/12/17
My last entry was on Friday 2^nd since then I have
been too busy to make any more entries until tonight
On Saturday we had half a day at the bombing
school. In the afternoon Friel and I walked to
Amesbury found out the time the omnibus
left for Salisbury on Sunday and after another
look round Amesbury went to our little cottage
and had a good tuck in at ham and eggs.
While in Amesbury a number of new motor
transport waggons came through. Four of
them were very up to date being driven from both
front and rear axles.
On Sunday Friel and I went into Salisbury by
the omnibus. We arrived in Amesbury in
plenty time to catch the bus. at scheduled
time we went to the shed to find they
were not ready. The engine was cold and
would not start when they eventually managed
to start it there was a Ford motor to move
out before they could get the bus out.
We eventually started, full to the doors with
kaki. It had been foggy all the morning and
it now started to snow in earnest, coming
down in large flakes. It soon became 
a couple of inches deep making it very
bad travelling for the bus, which only just
managed to crawl up the hills. We passed
a motor one side of the road with two
near side wheels smashed. We eventually landed

in Salisbury market square somewhere
close on midday. We went first to the Y.M.C.A.
which was only a few yds away, and inquired
about dinner. Finding it was at 1p.m. we set
off to explore the city. We went first to the 
Poultry cross and which was one of four
erected in 1335. We next went to the
Cathedral passing through Close Gate on
our way. The cathedral is grand and
the work and carvings on the outside
are wonderfull. Although the service was
nearly at end we entered and remained
there until it finished. Of course we could
not stay and explore it right after the
service but what I saw of it was splendid.
I think that this cathedral in the falling
snow and the ground all white and the
trees and hedges covered with their white
feathry covering made one of the
prettiest pictures I have seen. We returned
to the Y.M.C.A. by St Annes Gate (1331) and
had a very fair dinner in a very nice
warm room a thing not often seen in this
country or at least felt.
In the afternoon we went all round the city
but beyond the cathedral and a few
very old places, it is like all other interesting
English towns I have seen very dirty
very uninteresting  and very cramped.
These towns have not the freshness of Australian
towns. When if we had seen all
that was possible we again returned to
Y.M.C.A. and wrote letters and had tea.
The Omnibus did not run of account
of the roads being so bad, so we had to
a catch the 9.5 p.m. train to Amesbury.
We arrived in Camp about 10 o'clock.
Every one in Salisbury was out snowballing
so wherever we went we generally had
to engage in a snow fight. Several snowmen

were built in camp. When I awoke
on Monday I found I was booked for 10d
four days bombing school and that
has just ended to day. I was soo busy
writting up my notes that I had no time
to make entries in my diary.
Although I worked early and late I was unable
to finish my book so am afraid I have
spoilt my chance for the ten days school.
Lucas, Fawcet and Dodd have been picked
to go to the N.C.O school Tidworth.
I did on Wednesday, and he is reported to be
dangerously ill. There are ten men out
of our hut in hospital. C is coming on O.K.
he is at Fargo.

Saturday 10/2/17
Made no entries yesterday ^nothing to enter except we
were paid as pay was short I received 5/-
instead of 24/ 21/-. Also I had to take a
squad of men to no 1 training ground. I started
them off without sloping arms which however
is an excusable mistake, but on arrival at the
other end I left them at the slope while I
reported to the officer. "All right corporal
file arms" was what he said. I turned
round and gave them the order, "file 
arms" while they were at the slope. Of course
I corrected it immediately  and carried
it out fairly decently, but I felt a bit of
a fool.
To day we had the usual routing of.
drill in the morning and the afternoon Friel
and I walked to Durrington and indulged
in a feast of ham & eggs and bread &
strawberry jam.
This evening I managed to wash all my dirty
clothes and afterwards went down to the 
Y.M.C.A. to do some shopping. Took boot to 
bootmaker

The last few days have been a slightly warmer
and a good brighter but everything is still
frozen and the snow still remains on the 
ground.
A good many ships have been torpedoed lately
and from all reports I fancy the mail
which left here on the 26^th for Australia, has
gone down. I had managed to send 15 letters by
that mail after great labour, so hope it
is a mistake.
Sunday 11/2/17
Usual church parades this morning.

This afternoon Friel and I walked to 
Fargo Hospital to see Clements, he is
coming on O.K. and will be out in a
few days. On our way back we went
to I where the 5/44 is camped, I wanted
to see Ron. Ron however is at Tidworth
musketry school and will be there for
a couple more weeks.
I saw Lieutenant L-Smith and asked about
the photo of the Geraldtonians taken
on board the Argyllshire. He had not
received a proof yet but promised to
let me know when he did.
As we were walking homeward an aeroplane
came flying over here engine suddenly
and it volplaned down, before
reaching the ground however it
started off, but had to come down
againe before it had gone far. They
started the engine and after starting
the engine running along the ground
for a while it soared away into the air.
This is the closest view I have yet had of one.
L died this morning and E who was reported
to have died is getting better.
Weather is warmer but is trying to rain or
snow