Papers of Edgar Sydney Worrall - Wallet 1 - Part 1

PERSONAL RECORDS.   180/1a
A.W.M. File No. 12/11/90.
LIEUT E.S. WORRAL, 24th. BATTALION. A.I.F.
K.I.A.
Typed copy of diary.
4/1/16 - 31/12/16.

2 
Found out from Corp Kempt of the 8th Light Horse that Norman had  
returned to Australia. 
Wed 29th Saw Cairo for the first time and was not much impressed by the 
inner city. The outer city, however, contains many beauty spots. I 
much enjoyed a canter round. 
30 30th. Orderly Corporal. 'Nough said! 
Oct 1st. Birthday in Egypt. Route march in afternoon through the great 
irrigation area. Received orders to proceed to the front on 
Monday morning the 3rd prox. Great rejoicing. Evening spent in               
correspondence. 1st letter home. 
Saturday 2nd. No parade morning. Innoculated for the 3rd time. Open camp 
from 12.a.m. Went to Cairo, pyrimids and saw the wonder of the 
sphinx/. Six thousand years old and probably last for another 
five thousand. 
Sunday 3rd. Church parade at 8.45. Pay, £1:0:7. Went into Cairo in the 
evening. 
Monday 4 Revielle 3.30.a.m; Breakfast 4.a.m.; March out 4.45.a.m. from 
Zeitoun Camp and entrained for Alexander at 4.30.p.m.. Our ship 
is the Menominee". She has been an old cattle boat and still
retains many of her old characteristics-notably smell. There are 
sheep and goats on board: they add to the general comfort (?) of 
all. Went to sleep early and slept well. Early this morning I wrote
a long letter to Dulcie and one to Father. Am dead tired. 
Tuesday 5th. Lay at Alexander until 5.p.m.; then upanchored and left for 
the Dardenells. Found out that this tub is the same Norman 
travelled over by. 
Wed 6th Some poor beggar fell overboard, and, in spite of attempted rescue, 
was lost. One the less for the Turks! Found out late to-day that 
two French transports and a store ship were sunk two hours xxxx 
sail in front of us. If there had been no delay occasioned by 
the man overboard incident, we, too, would probably have met the 
same fate. 
Thurs 7 Wrote home to D, B, H, C, .K.K. 
8 Sighted the Isles of Greece early this morning. A beautiful sunrise. 
No wonder Byron went into ecstacies over the Isles of 
Greece. 6.p.m. Ran in and anchored at Mudros Bay, Lemnos Isle. 
Great numbers of men-o-war in port. 78 hours trip 
9th Lie at anchor all day. Went in for a swim from the ship's side. 
Food on board is very meagre, consisting of bully-beef, jam, bread 
all the worse for xxxx age. Soup we get occasionally and porridge 
was served till we refused to eat it. As a couple of naval 
officers came aboard to-day some one quered in a stertorian voice 
"Where in hell is this --- argument we came to settle. 
Sunday 10th. Church parade this morning. A manly address given by the 
Colonel. Stole the ship's dingy in the evening, went ashore at 
Lemnos. Battalions 1-14 are resting there. Saw Merne Gardiner and 
several Public school fellows. N.B. it is rumoured that we may 
get salt in our soup and sugar with tea, but no one believes it. 
11th Tranship from the "Menominee" to H.M.S. "Sarena". left Lemnos at 
XX  2.p.m. and landed at ANZAC at 10.p.m. Upon the heights the crack of 
and boom of guns welcomed us. Camped in White's Gully. 
Tues 12 Addressed by Major Watson. Attached to No 3 Platoon A Company 
24th Battalion. Saw Alan Keir, Pat Edgerton (Old Wesley boys) 
Up to the trenches at 10.30. for a night's sapping. There met
Johnson (Wesley 1912). Saw my first Turk, but missed. No second  
chance given.

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 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 
experience and on internal evidence to guide him in judging what is 
and what is not likely to be historically accurate."

3
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Wed 13th Oct, 1916. Saw Warne Smith, Gamble and Mirling, Old Wesley Boys, 
Had dinner and tea in their dugout, about 1½ miles from here. We ran 
over Barwon Head days and all the good time there. Back to the trench 
for more sapping. Heard of J. D. Burn's death. Poor J.B.! 
Thursday 14th  
First mail left Melbourne Sep 2nd. Letters from Mother, Edie, 
Edie Miller, Hugh Clarkson. Again spent evening reading "The Lion" with 
my old school mates 
Friday 15th March. Demonstration night. Had to stand-to. Evening 
spent in writing Craig in Ginger's dugout 
Saturday 16th March. Back to trenches just in time for a pretty little 
'75 bombardment. Only lasted an hour, but damaged our trench some. 
First bomb throw. Not such a bad attempt either. Did plenty of sniping 
through the night. 
17thmmm A heavy bombardment during the morning. Mr Turk blew up a sap on 
us and we sustained one death and several casualties. 
18 

Abdul is having a religious demonstration to-day. We went to the Beach 
for two hours; then back again to the trenches. Mail. Latters from 
Dulcie and Hugh. Stations. 
19th. A good rest in the support trenches. 
20th On duty. No 17 post and sap. Bodies of dead Australians who fell in 
attack on Lone Pine are within 5 yards of this post. 
21st.. Sent letters to-Harry, C. Craig, Mother, Edie, D.B; K.K; W. Clarkson; E.M; 
Syd Smith. 
22. A few hours xxxx spell in White's Gully. Had supper with Ginger in his 
dugout. Menu: Cake, Chocolate, Sweets, Bread and Jam, Water. Quite the 
best since leaving Egypt. 
23rd October. Brown's Dip. 
Sunday 24th Oct. Quiet day in the trenches. In charge of Posts No, 14, 15, 16 
and Sap. L. P. 7. Ginger had an experience of Trench life and showed 
his red head to its best advantage. 
25th October, TWO WEEKS IN GALLIPOLI. 
26th (Tuesday) Malcom sent to hospital with entric fever. 
27th. Resting in White's Gully. Supper with Ginger and Smith in Shrapnel 
Gully. 
28th Oct. Nineteen weeks since enlisting. Sent letters to: Miss White, 
Mrs Mulhall, Miss Barnett, Harry. 
29th October. Had a great chance for a shot at a Turk one hundred yards 
off. "Tommy" officer in the road. He was looking through my loop-hole 
and I, over his shoulder. "There's a Turk", I cried. "A Turk! Where?, he 
xxxxxxxxx queried, and then jammed his head and eyes into the hole. 
Needless to say Abdul escaped. Ivor's birthday and combined sports 
30th Oct. Relieved for White's Gully. Supper with Ivor. Went for swim in 
the evening at Anzac Cove. 
31st Oct. Sunday. Divine service and communion held on hill side at White's 
Gully. 
November 1915. 
1st. In the trenches. No 6 post. All quiet. Three weeks in Gallipoli. 
Tuesday 2nd November. Turks bombarded (D) section and damaged parapets 
in parts. Saw a 4.75 shell pass through sandbags within feet of me. 
Wed 3rd November. Got a spell in White's Gully for the night. Still 
waiting for mail. First water for 72 hours. 
Thursday 4th. Nov. A demonstration given a Lone Pine. More firing all 
along the line than I have yet heard. War ships added their noise to 
the already terrific din, and the field artillery made themselves well 
known. Mail arrived but not yet distributed. Sent letters to Millie 
and Sid Smith. 
Friday 5th. Nov. Twenty weeks since entering camp, and still going strong 
Turks bombarded us to make up for the previous night. Reveived letters 
from Mother, H. Clarkson, Mrs Miller. More to come

A.W.M. File No. 12/11/90. 
Lieutenant E.S. WORRALL, 24th Battalion, A.I.F. who 
on 4 October 1917 was killed in action during an 
attack on Broodseinde Ridge in Flanders. Other 
biographical details concerning him are: Medical 
Student, of Prahran, Victoria; born Sydney 1/10/1897; 
educated at Wesley College, Melbourne; enlisted in 
the A.I.F. 17/6/1915; embarked on 26/8/15 with 3rd 
reinforcements for the 24th Battalion, taken on 
strength of battalion, 12/10/15; promoted lance corporal 
2/12/15, corporal 15/12/15, sergeant 18/3/16; wounded in 
France, 30/6/16; joined 4th Officers' Cadet battalion at 
New College, Oxford, 6/12/16; posted to infantry 
reinforcements, 31/5/17; rejoined 24th Battalion in
France 30/6/17. His father claims his son fired 
the last shot in the Lone Pine trenches at 3 a.m. on 
20 December 1915. 
Two brothers saw service during the war and survived -

Flight Commander H.V. Worral, D.S.C & bar, C. de G. 
Sergeant N.R. Worrall, 8th Light Horse Regiment who 
was dangerously wounded at Anzac.

4
Saturday 6th November, 1915.
Plenty of shooting between 12 p.m. and 2 a.m. Turks putting up barbed 
wire entanglements. In spite of heavy fire they partly succeeded. 
Sunday 7th Nov.
Mail. Letters from Mother, Dulcie, K.K.(2), Edith Miller (photo). Saw
Ginger and Ivor and helped to lighten a hamper they had received. 
Monday 8th Nov.
Received news from home, and a parcel containing socks and a
washer from D.B. and I.B. Supped(?) with Walter Gamble and Ivor and
made indegestible pancakes. Fatigue work all day at Brown’s Dip. 
Tuesday 9th Nov.
Lone Pine. On guard. L.P.8. Bit of an explosion between 11.p.m. and
12. Nothing serious except being covered with earth. 
Wed 10th Nov.
A quiet day at Lone Pine. Spent writing Christmas mail home. 
Thursday 11th Nov.
Down in the Gully resting. 
Friday 12th Nov.
Orderly and despatch rider to Colonel Watson, 24th Batt. 
Saturday 13th, 1915.
Despatch rider to the Colonel. Managed to eat some of his brekker.
11 a.m. Back to the trenches. 
Sunday 14th. Nov
Christmas mail for Australia closes to-day. Sent letters to:-
Mother, Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Mulhall, Miss Barnet, Dorothy, Hugh Clarkson,
P.Cs to Dad, K.B,L., A. Adamson, Sid Smith. Received letter from Harry-
Flight Lieutenant. 
Monday 15th November, 1915.
KITCHENER LANDED AT ANZAC and highly praised Australian troops.
Three weeks at Gallipoli. Making terraces in Monash Gully. Saw
Ginger in his dug-out. A deuce of a storm-rain, lightning and thunder
in plenty. Was forced owing to inclemecy of weather to stay where I
was and make shift for a bed in Ginger's dug-out, neverthe less
managed to have a good sleep while the heavens poured out its fill. 
Tuesday 16th November,
Progress on left. British lose heavily. Sent mail to Sid, Harry,
Mother, Kenny and K.K. Hill 60. A footing was gained here to-day at
great cost, also ridge W taken. 
Wed 17th Nov.
Fierce storm at night. Trenches swamped. Wet through. Turks opened up
heavy fire, but we replied with a heavier. Progress reported on
left. 
Thursday 18th Nov
Big bombardment of the Narrows. Saw Murphey B Company, late of 3rd
Reinforcements, lost an eye by a bullet wound. NEWS TO HAND THAT
ROYAL MAIL TO AUSTRALIA WAS SUNK. 
Friday 19th
White’s Gully.
20th. Brown’s Dip.
Sunday 21st. Lone Pine.
Monday 22. Lone Pine.
Tuesday 23rd. A well earned rest in the Gully.
Wednesday 24th. Nov. In the Pimple. Managed to make ourselves comfortable. 
Thursday 25th. Nov.
My first experience of going on patrol. Three of us left our
trenches and wormed our way towards Turks. Found out some useful
information and nearly ran into a couple of parties of Turks. On
our way back a flare went up and a machine gun turned on us. Flare
went out suddenly and all escaped scathelessm. 
Friday 26th. Nov,
Cold night in the trenches. Everything fairly quiet. Four hours on
and two hours off. Fairly stiff. We are worked right up to the hilt.

Edgar, Worrall’s Diary. 
Monday June 14th, 1915
Examined and proclaimed fit by Dr. Warne. 
Wednesday 16 Some of the gang spent the evening with me.
17th Sworn in at Sturt St barracks
18 Arrived at Seymour Military Camp. Made Acting Corporal.
Tent mates: Sergt Edwards, Boyle, Corp. Stack, Stillman
19 Fatigue work.
20 Regimental Orderly Corporal 
July
Thursday 8th. Left Seymour for final leave. Appointed Provisional Corp.
9 Home again and a soft bed last night. Saw Scotch v Grammar
Grammar won.
10 Went to Dulcie’s for supper.
12 Back again to camp by 6.35 p.m. train. Had afternoon tea
with Dulcie. 
Friday 23rd. Schemed some more leave from Major Hart.
24 Dulcie’s again. Red letter day.
26 Back again to camp. 
August 4 1st Anniversary of the war. Divine service in camp and half
holiday
6th. Norman wounded dangerously in Gallipoli
7 Evening at Mrs. Mulhall’s and at the Clydedales
8th Mother and the girls come out to Seymour. Tea at Mrs Mulhall's
Had to look after Mr Cameron.
13 Left Seymour and took up quarters at Broadmeadows.
15 Home
20 Home
21st Sid and Hugh came out to camp.
23 Said good-bye to K.K.
24th Busy issuing equipment.
24th. Home for the last time. Saw Mrs Miller
26th. Dulcie’s birthday and date of embarkation for front via
Egypt per H.M.A. Transport AUCHISES, ”A.68.
27 Just a little sick!!!
31 Very bad weather in the “Bight.” 
September
2nd Arrived at Fremantle and departed the same evening.
Address Jeanette King, Leslie St, Mt Leeveley, W.A.
One man, while trying to liven things up a bit, fell overboard -
Rescued.
17 First saw the low lying hills of Africa. First land sighted
since leaving Fremantle.
18 Sports held on boatddeck. The 24th won Tug-of-war, passing the
ball and came out winners
19 Communion service held on Board T.S.S ANCHILES
24 Arrived at Port Suez and dropped anchor at 6.30. a.m.
25 Spent waiting to disembark and trying to learn the nigger's
lingo
Sunday 26. Disembarked at Port Suez and trained to Zeitoun. Was much
impressed by the wonderful country we travelled through and 
the great irrigation system. Found out that Ginger had contracted
sunstroke and left on the Friday previous
27 First drill on the desert. Route march through Zeitoun. They
feed us jolly well here, and we sleep on wicker beds in great
Indian huts
28 Visited Heliopolis in the evening. A fine city indeed, composed
of large white symmetrical buildings.

5 
Friday (continued) 26th Nov, 1916 1915
Am still in the best of health, however, which is more than a great
number of the Battalion are. 
Saturday 27th. November, 1915
Supports at Brown's Dip. Supports to trenches - trenches to supports 
with hardly a spell seems to be our luck these days. Weather terribly 
cold, but slept snugly in a cosy dugout. 
Sunday 28th. Nov, 1915.
Snow fell heavily all last night and this morning. Gallipoli is one
beautiful white carpet. The beauty of the scenery, however, is lost 
upon us, owing to severe cold, 25% below freezing point. Slept in a 
snug tunnel with some 6th Battalion chaps. Fine chaps indeed, made 
us welcome on their own poor fare. 
Monday 29th. Nov, 1915.
Bigest bombardment the Peninsula has ever yet seen. Lone Pine the
centre of operations - the 24th Battalion lost heavily -- about 240
casualties. xxxx Cold intense and snow thick. Four men killed on my post.
How I escaped passes my understanding. Everyone praying for water
that is unobtainable. Water will be a big question here soon. Some 
terrible scenes here: Most horrid shapes and shrieks and sights
unholy.
Tuesday 30th, Nov. 
Plenty of work to do after bombardment. Battalion especially commended  
by General Birdwood for gallantry under fire the most trying 
circumstances. Snow thick on ground and cold intense.
DECEMBER 
Wednesday 1st Dec, 1915.
Relieved for a few hours and spent them in sunshine in the Gully.
Water still a great trouble. No stew for days. xxx Half a pint of tea for  
xxxxxxx breakfast and tea Snow still on ground. 
December 2nd.
Advanced two miles on left and took 800 prisoners. Still in Lone Pine
Water absolutely impossible to obtain. Winter rations commenced. 
Half tin of milk issued as gift. Wrote to Mother, Harry, Dulcie. 
1600 bags of mail reported to be on the Beach. Expect letters and parcel. 
Nearly three weeks since last mail 
Friday Dec 3rd. 
24 weeks since entering camp. A bomb duet at night with new Japanese 
bombs. 
Saturday 4th, Dec, 1915.
Fairly quiet day at Lone Pine. Did plenty of bombing in the evening
George Harriott and Parker Brown promoted to 2nd Lieutenants. 
Elwood puts up second star. 
Sunday 5th Dec. 
Relieved from Lone Pine 24 hours. Went down to the beach and 
had dinner with some Indians. Fed on Johnny cakes and curry butter 
and fruit. First decent meal for weeks. Made great friens with the  
fellows and promised to visit them again. Had a beautiful sleep in 
our improved dugout and woke up a new man. 
Monday 6th. Dec. 
Eight weeks in Gallipoli. Had letters from Mother three two months old.  
and one from Sid Smith and K.Kerry. Wrote to Sid. Gav Ivor and Walter  
and supplied them with dinner. Back to the trenches at 1.30.p.m. to  
The Pimple. 
Tuesday 7th. Dec.
Received mail from home. Letters from Father, Edie, M, and Dulcie. 
Heard Norman had returned home on four months furlough. 
Wed 8th Dec. Porridge for breakfast. Water bottles half filled. This is  
the first time they have been wet for 25 days: Turks dropped a few 
big shells over to us in the evening. Did more damage to themselves 
 than to us. Two killed.

6

Thursday 9th Dec, 1915.
Slight bombardment in our lines during morning.
Friday 10th. Dec
Went through Battalion orders as Lance Corporal. On joining our
Battalion reinforcement Non Coms had to give up their stripes and
wait for vacancies. At last promotion has come to me. Humble thought
it is, nevertheless, it is a start.
Saturday 11th Dec.
Pimple Guard. Letters from home came to light after taking nine
weeks to cross from Egypt. Parcel from Harry and letter from Edie.
Bombardment with 8.2 shells knocked the place about a bit but
made more noise than damage--that's the reason- their dam age:
Sunday 12th. Dec, 1915.
Rumours galore on foot that Anzac is to be evacuated.
Monday 13th, Dec, 1915.
And now the rumours and tales of yesterday seem to be of some
truth. Preparation is certainly being mad for evacuation. What it
all means we can only guess, and then wildly. That Anzac is to be
given up seems almost certain
Tuesday 14th Dec.
Progress made prior to evacuation. Supports withdrawn from guns

_____and went this evening. The time is certainly drawing nigh when
we are to go. It hurts to think that this great venture may have
to be written down a failure. Behind it all the Brains are working
and we must trust them explicitly. That will be the outcome of it
all? There is but to wait and see:
"Our's not to reason why.
Our's but to do and die." 
Wednesday 15th. Dec, 1915.
Managed to get down to the Post Gully after a very long spell in
the trenches, Things are being given away wholesale-Uniforms,
tobacco and food of every description. Feasted on strawberries and
cream(canned) fruit salad and stewed fruit, fish, tomatoes, jams,of
the choicest brands, butter and-well, it would take a cook to mention
all. I scarcely remember ever feeding so well in my life. All
stores given away, ready for evacuation.
THURSDAY 16th Dec.
To-night we are in the Pimple in full marching order ready to move
at a moment's notice. It is 9 O'clock. I have just come off duty, and
in a cosy dugout am writing up the stupendous events of the last
few days. The candle burns low and I must hurry. Early in the day
I volunteered to be in the small party to stay behind and fight
the rear-guard action - probably to-morrow night. It will be a serious
business and we will be very lucky if we ever reach the Beach and
boats, but at school I learnt this motto: "Dulce et decorum est pro
patria mori" and I feel composed, and, if possible, happy. One thing
hurts above all others-the graves of fallen heroes, friends and
fellow school-mates must be left to the over-run by Abdual. Perhaps
the sentiment is foolish but nevertheless it is there. It is possible
this may be my last entry in Anzac, and, in case the worse should
happen and by any chance this diary stray to the address in front
, I take this opportunity of saying farewell to all the loved ones
at home and all my intimate friends. Good-night!
Friday 17th Dec.
Work! work! work! from morning till night. Bombarding Abdul all night
and getting plenty back. Had several narrow escapes from results.
Saturday 19th. Dec
First party evacuated.

7

SUNDAY 19th December, 1915.
THE GREAT DAY OF EVACUATION. Busy all day preparing for the night.
All ammunition and bombs dumpted. Worked from 12 mid-day to 3.a.m.
Monday without cessation. Placed blankets in the trenches and
muffled our feet. Only 32 left for rear guard in Lone Pine which
is garrisoned by 750 men. Had to work about six posts each.
MONDAY 20th. December 1915.
A few minutes after midnight all departed except the absolutely last 
. Had to work like Trojans. At 3.a.m. I fired the last shot at Lone
Pine and we departed-reaching the Beach in safety and got straight
aboard. Off to Lemnos! Landed at night and camped at West Meudros
after the most trying 24 hours of my life. WOULD NOT HAVE MISSED IT
FOR A MILLION.
Tuesday 21st. 
Interviewed by the Major who never expected to see us alive
again. Heard that 4 hours after we left Lone Pine was heavily
bombarded and charged in force by the Turks. BEAT THEM BY FOUR
HOURS ONLY.
Wednesday 22nd Dec. 1915.
Had a well earned rest all day and fed well off the products of the 
island
Thursday 23rd Dec.
Went for a route march through the island. Saw Carl Wood-and old
Wesley friend and had supper with him.
Friday 24th. 
Issued with Billies and puddings- Great! Mine contained Sardines,
Bloater paste, cigarettes, tobacco, pipes, choclates,butter scotch, and
lots of other good things. Besides the best of Christmas wishes from
Mrs Willshire of Adelaide.S.Australia.
Saturday 25th. Dec, 1915.
At Mudros, and a find day, too. Church parade and communion in the
morning. The rest of the day visiting friend. Went round to Ivor's
and Ginger's. Saw McKay and Dolly Gray. Had tea and supper there and
a five miles walk home. Got there just before Sunday commenced 
Sunday 26th. December.
Spent the day- a beautiful one-with an old friend, Tom Batcher, who
was wounded during the bombardment of Lone Pine on Nov 29th. He is
now quite right, and we went for a long walk over the hills island.
Ran against Frank Mountjoy.

Monday 27th Dec.

Came out in Battalion order as a full Corp∧oral to day from Dec 15th

So it appears that promotion again came in the trenches of Lone

Pine
Tuesday 28th Dec.
Route march to the village of Condia and saw the old church and
surroundings. These Greeks are a century or two behind their time.
Their ploughs would make a Blackfellow laugh, and their only worry
appears to be that they may hurry a bit more than absolutely necessary.
Wednesday 29th. Half holiday in camp.
Thursday 30th, Dec. Plent of work. Not much of interest
Friday 31st December, 1915.
And now I come to the last day of 1915. It has been a momentous
year in history and a great year for me. From an irresponsible s
schooo boy, seven months have seen me transformed into a soldier
who has seen active service and all the horrors of war. And still