Mixed papers relating to the service of James William Albert Simpson - Part 5

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on Courts Martial at 11. am.
Drove to Salisbury 1.30. p m.
visited Mr      Place 3 miles
from Salisbury - saw splendid
trout in the stream close by.
Very interesting collection of
butterflies and insects.
25-9-16. Brigade ceremonial on
area "G". Letter from Lincolnshire
26-9-16. Divisional inspection
by General Monash at Bulford
27.9 16 Inspection of all Australian
troops (31000) at Bulford by His 
Majesty the King. Splendid sight
and the whole parade well organised
33^rd Battalion was congratulated
on their splendid March past.
Promoted to Lieut-Colonel in charge
of 36^th battalion dated 18.9.16.
28.9.16  Took charge of 36^th battalion
Inspected new quarters No 28 Camp
Introduced to new officers. C.Os
conference by Brigadier.
29-9-16 Officially took over the

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Battalion. Men Training in
trenches and Advance Guard.
Had letter from Lincolnshire.
30.9.16 Divisional Sports at Lark
Hill - met many friends and
am congratulated on all sides.
re my promotion.
1.10.16 Shifting camp commences.
Drove to Winterborne with Major
White to visit Mr Gater had
lunch and returned. Rugby football
match in the afternoon 33^rd Officers
V 34^th. 33^rd win.
2.10.16 Raining heavily - 36^th move
to new Camp 28.
3.10.16 Fire Discipline and Fire
Control beyond Stonehenge.
4.10.16 Attack from Orcheston
St Mary trenches - visit the
Bustard Trenches with General
Jobson, Col Clogstun and Col
Lamb. Received Australian
Mail 6 letters.
5.10.16 Brigade Field Day. 34th
35th and 36^th attack 33^rd Battn.

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Operation instructive and
useful. 36^th Bttn in charge of
the left flank. Warmed for duty
in France.
6-10-16 General training in Coy
lines. Artillery Sports in the
afternoon.
7-10-16 Church parade 7. a.m. Brig.
Gen Jobson preached. Visited
Salisbury with Rosy - Dinner at
White Hart. Sing-song at McGuires
8-10-16 Marched as a Brigade to
the Bustard trenches. 36^th Battalion
in reserve to 34^th Battalion.
9-10-16 Morning broke wet but
cleared up later. Men resting after
night digging.
0.10.16 Trench duties and attack
on Trenches
11.10.16 Attack on trenches cooperation
with Artillery and aeroplanes.
2.10.16 Attack on trenches watched
and [[utilised]] by General Slater
and General Monash. Artillery

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and aeroplane support Night
attack by Officers on trenches.
13-11-16 Move back into camp
36^th leading Whole weeks work
highly commended by G.O.C.
14/11/16 Went into Salisbury in the
evening - visited the Palace Theatre
Variety Show. Stayed at Stratford
Knoll for the night.
15/11/16 Stayed about Camp all day
adjusting internal matters
16/11/16 Voting for Conscription
Referendum. Holiday in the
afternoon to allow of football
matches. Visited by Colonel
Durrant - happy reunion.
17/11/16 I take half Officers of
the Battalion to area F for
instruction in map reading and
finding position on the map.
Raining heavily - Men training
in the huts.
18.10.16 Company training in the
morning. Football match in the
 

21
afternoon. Visitors from Salisbury
and Amesbury to witness the
Match. The band play a special
programme. Went into Salisbury
with Gladys for dinner.
19.10.16 Training in Scouting and
reconnaissance.
20.10.16 Umpire for scheme 11^th Infy
Brigade. Generals Monash and Slater
present. 11^th Brigade was Advance
Guard as a larger force. Approach
march carried out from Stonehenge
to Druids Lodge. Encounter Battle
fought from Druids' Lodge to
Wishford.
21.10.16 General cleaning up before
going on final leave. Went to
Salisbury at night - took up Hdqrs
at White Hart. Kris Thornburrow married.
22.10.16 Went to Church in morning at
Salisbury Cathedral with Mrs
Helliwell & little girls. In the
afternoon visited Sarum ruins
and spent the evening at White Hart
 

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23.10.16 Received a telegram recalling
me from leave. Went first with
Rosy and party to Royal Bath
Hotel Bournemouth. Bournemouth
is a magnificent place, but the
day was not a pleasant one.
24.10.16 Returned to duty at Camp
attended address by General Monash
it was a very fine oration and
one full of meat.
25.10.16 Received a big mail from
Australia also a Birthday parcel
from Gra.
26.10.16 Scheme at Area G in
scouting and reconnaissance. Spent
most of the day at office work.
Left again on leave - had a
most enjoyable evening at Old
George Hotel with ^my English pal.
Received one letter on my Birthday
from Gladys.
27.10.16 Spent the morning at
Lynwood singing and loafing In
the afternoon I drove to Shaftesbury
 

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and had tea at the Grosvenor
Hotel - it was a quiet afternoon
quite a relief to be away from
Camp.
28.10.16 The last day in England.
I went to Queens Park London to
witness Australian Football match
All old players in the field - it
took me back years ago. Our
fellows looked magnificent and
it made me proud to be an
Australian. Stayed in the
Grosvenor for lunch and tea and
returned to Salisbury at 8.30 pm.
9.10.16 Went to Lyndhurst with
my little English pal and had
a really good day. Visited the
Crown Hotel for lunch and tea.
In the afternoon I visited the
famous Lyndhurst Church and
ent for a walk through the New
orest. In the evening returned
to Lynwood and ended my
full days leave which went with all
oo quickly.
 

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.10.16 Spent most of the day in
attending to internal working of
the Battalion A wet, cold
and miserable day.
31.10.16 Visited Rifle ranges - men
shooting in gas helmets -
Colonel Barrage visited me. Men
inspected, Lewis Guns, Bombers
also Kitchens of the Battalion
1.11.16 Training in huts - weather
very wet. Visited mine explosion
at Bustard Trenches.
2.11.16 Battalion in Advance Guard
and Attack. Druids' Lodge - Lecture
in Evening on New Battalion
organisation.
3.11.16 C.Os conference 9 am to
10.30. Battalion marched to
ORCHESTON ST MARY. One Coy
completely organised and made
an attack on the Trenches Guest night
4.11.16 Bayonet fighting. Rapid
Loading and Battalion drill carried
out in area E. Signallers
thoroughly organised.
 

 
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5.11.16 Day very wet. Church
parade cancelled. 8 N.C.Os
paraded to Brigadier for
recommendation of Commissions.
Visited Lynwood in the afternoon
dined at the Old George.
6.11.16 I inspected the whole
Battalion. Lecture in the evening
by Major Blacklow on "Machine
Gun Tactics". Australian Mail
7.11.16 Battalion marched to
Druid's Lodge. Companies then
marched back by coordinate
points.
8.11.16 Battalion marched to Bustard
Trenches. Attack on the marches
assisted by 7^th Machine Gun
Coy. Men instructed in the
method of consolidating a
mine crater. Lecture on
Anti-gas methods
9.11.16 Battalion carried out
close order work in Camp.
Dining at 34^th Battalion
Mess.
 

 26
10.11.16 Inspection of 36^th
Battalion by General Jobson.
Company Officers bad. General
inspection good. Route march
of the Battalion in the afternoon
fully equipped past Stonehenge
Inn via Amesbury and
Stonehenge to Camp. Guest
night - very fine evening.
Singing much appreciated.
Major Prince reported as 2nd
in Command
11.11.16 Battalion paraded about
Camp during the morning.
Rode to Salisbury in the afternoon
with Macneen.
12.11.16 Took a car around
Codford and Wilton - had
dinner at Grosvenor Hotel,
Wilton. A very fine trip
indeed. Tried to find Rosy
but could not
13.11.16 Division on the march
through Amesbury via Stapleford