Papers of Edgar Sydney Worrall - Wallet 1 - Part 2
COPY OF THE DIARY OF THE LATE LIEUT. E.S. WORRALL,
24th Battalion, A.I.F. Killed in
Action during the attack on
Broodseinde Ridge in Flanders on
4th October 1917.
-------------------------------------------------------
4/1/16. We are off tomorrow so orders tell but that may mean
within three days. An army order is as much to be
relied on as a diplomat. . . . . . . . . . .
5/1/16. Up at 4 a.m. ready to embark. A bitterly cold head
wind blowing. Four miles march with full pack up.
Arrived at destination to find embarkation put off for 24 hours. Camped on the spot in the old 2nd Brigade lines. . . . . . .
6/1/16. Embarked on the Minnetoka (14,000) and settled down
for the four days sail to Alexandria, at least that is
where we presume our destination lies. It is nearly
midnight and I have found a comfortable spot on the
promenade deck to sleep. We cannot sail until morning.
7/1/16. This morning our Colonel read a very laughable Turkish
official concerning our evacuation. Our official
reports one casualty the last night. The Turks have
it that we were driven into the sea and lost tens of
thousands. Diplomacy!
8/1/16. Sailed out of Mudros Harbour at 8 a.m. this morning.
It is rumoured that the delay is sailing was caused
by the fact that the French had some difficulty in
evacuating their portion of the territory. All went
well so we were not needed to help them off.
9/1/16. It is a perfect day and the isles of Greece must be
really beautiful in the sunshine, but we passed most
of them during the night. Church parade this morning.
What a lot of unique places I have attended for worship.
This is far more comfortable than Brown's dip.
10/1/16. Another beautiful day. Spent most of it washing my
clothes and throwing away articles of no value.
"Travel light" is rather a prosaic slogan but a very
useful one in these times.
11/1/16. Entered Alexandria this afternoon and disembarked
straight on to a train, cattle trucks of course.
A long freezing ride to Tel el Kebir. It is good to
see the cheery faces of the Siedahs again and hear
"Oringues two for one piaster".
12/1/16. We arrived at Tel el Kebir very early this morning.
In fact it is little after midnight. . . . . We bivouac
on the sand and sleep till dawn and then make camp for
our sojourn here.
13/1/16. Our 4th & 5th reinforcements join us and bring us up
to strength again. I see a few familiar faces among
the new 'uns including four old Wesley boys. We have
quite a number of the Battalion now. There must be
nearly twenty.
- 2 -
14/1/16. We are camped on the historic ground of Tel el Kebir.
The old trenches still well preserved are within a
stone's throw of some interesting relics have been
picked up. I found a couple of old cartridges nearly
big enough to fit an anti aircraft gun.
. . . . . . . . . . .
16/1/16. Church parade on the desert. . . . . . .
17/1/16. Down to the rifle range to field practice. A rain
storm catches us on the way back but a tremendous
mail bag rather compensates for the inclemency of
the weather. There are 49 letters for me and I have
not nearly finished reading them yet.
18/1/16. Out for a day's field manouvres and a hot time we
got of it too. Few of us were sorry when the
programme came toa full stop. Should we get a
smack at the Turks on the Canal we should be in
rattling good form. Let us hope we do we have old
scores.
. . . . . . .
20/1/16. Hard work out on the sands. We are getting pretty
fit again now. The tucker is good which makes up
for a lot.
21/1/16. NIght manouvres out in the desert. Home again
towards midnight.
. . . . . . .
23/1/16. Obtained leave for Cairo and went up late at night. . .
24/1/16. . . . . . . Came back late tonight & got back to camp.
25/27/1/6. Work in the desert.
28/1/16. Rifle shooting at the range all day. . . . .
........
1/2/16. Getting ready to leave Tel el Kebir. We shall
probably leave tomorrow for somewhere on the Canal.
It will be our luck to go right out into the desert
I daresay.
2/2/16. Left Tel el Kebir with full pack and entrained for
Ismailia. Marched through the city which at night
seemed rather a superior place compared with what
I have seen of Egyptian towns. All along the main
road is a beautiful avenue of trees. Leaving the
city we skirted the Canal and at midnight crossed
over by the pontoon bridge to the Arabian side and
bivouaced about a mile from the Canal on the site
of the trench of the last Turkish attack. Rather a
novel experience crossing the Canal by bridge.
3.
. . . . . . . . . .
5/2/16. Still loading camels. Soon after dinner set out with
two others, forty two camels & about ten of the vilest
looking niggers one could pick up in a days march.
We mounted our beasts and started out across the
trackless Arabian desert with nothing but a low sand
hill ten miles off to guide us. Owing to the dips & rises
we saw little of our landmark. After some trouble we
arrived at Camp in pouring rain. Wet through put up
a tent and slept as only the physically tired can sleep.
6/2/16. Went straight out and joined the platoon at outpost
duty. Took four men out on patrol in the morning and
saw what was presumably a Turkish patrol on camels.
They were too far off to be clearly recognisable.
Went out again in the afternoon and proceeded further.
Ascending a big rise we saw through my glasses a staff
surmounted with a white flag and red crescent about
three miles off. Getting dark so had to return.
7/2/16. Relieved from outpost at 0500. At 0830 went out
digging trenches in readiness for an attack. Continued
the work during the afternoon and had the satisfaction
of seeing a fairly presentable trench completed.
Digging trenches in the everlasting sand is rather
disappointing work. Wooden sides have to be put up
or the work of days will be undone in an hour should
a storm arise.
8-10/2/16. Trench digging & fortification work.
11/2/16. The monotony of the daily routine was broken by a
man on leave bringing back food supplies so we spent
the evening merrily with high supper.
12/2/16. Digging all day. Trenches beginning to take form.
13/2/16. Concert during the afternoon. Church parade in the
morning.
14-15/2/16. Trench Work.
16/2/16. Up at 0400 and relieved the piquet. Detailed for
outpost two miles in advance. Guide took us about
three miles out of our course in the desert. Wonder
of wonders we came across the track of a deer and
later on saw it. It escaped. A deer right out here
in the desert! A thing I had never expected or
credited. But one lives to see wonders and a soldiers
life is not the least interesting when all is
considered. The worst time is being idle.
17/2/16. Relieved from detached outpost at 0930. Trench
digging in the afternoon. . . .About 1800 news came
of 5000 Arabs camped 20 miles out. Orders to be
ready and sleep in equipment. . . . . The whole Battalion
standing to in case of attack.
18/2/16. Alarm early this morning. All out and ready in very
short time. The 23rd Battn. band a couple of miles
away broke up the meeting.
False alarm! Perhaps the Colonel had dined too well.
4.
19/2/16. We've got another warning tonight but I daresay it's
another false alarm. A s-crap out here in our new
trenches would be a joy to all.
20/2/16. 0500 Stand to arms. 0830 Go out digging trenches.
Return at 1045 and at 1100 are inspected by General
Legg. Gave a great address on what the Australians
had done in Gallipoli and what he expected us to do
in the next bout, hinting that it might mean France.
Managed to get a half holiday - 2½ hrs release from
work in a week. A bit of a concert given in the
afternoon.
21/2/16. Trench Digging.
22/2/16. Stand to arms 0500. Digging trenches and putting up
traverses all morning. Ditto during the afternoon.
We have now a perfect system of trenches surrounding
the Sphinx - the hill in the centre of our position -
The trenches all dug in and are reinforced with sand
bags, matting and hurdles and make quite a presentable
trench. We have dug three lines of defence each one
about 1½ miles front.
23/2/16. Up at 4 a.m. and relieved D Company at outpost.
Went out on patrol during the morning and went about
four miles out. Saw nothing of importance and
returned mid-day. During the afternoon. . . . . . . . . . . .
About 200 the Colonel & Major came along. Having
dined well but not wisely. Being in charge he asked
me several questions and because the truth was not
what he thought he said "None of your - back slash
to me my boy". Poor N.C.O's.
24/2/16. At 0400 went out on patrol again. 0600 moved back
into reserves. Dug trenches all day and went out
on visiting patrol at night. Visited 23rd and our
own posts. Had a deuce of a job in finding one
secret post - roaming about the desert for2 hours,
found it at last. All correct! Returned to the
piquet and soon fell into a well earned sleep.
25/2/16. Relieved from outpost duty by B Company at 0400.
Returned to Camp expecting to rest but immediately
put on guard over the Camp. . . . . . . Up twice during
the night to relieve sentries. Little sleep for
three nights.
26/2/16. Relieved from guard at 0700. At 0830 out trench
digging. They're making a bit of a welter on it.
One hour for dinner and at trench digging again.
No tea or water for lunch after hard working in a
sweltering sun. Our Major told the N.C.O.'s that
"Johnny Worall was the only one in the argument who
wasn't afraid to stick up for his rights against the
colonel", "Like Father like son" quoted . . . . . .
27/2/16. Digging trenches early. Church parade later &
the afternoon off.
26/2 -1/3/16. Trenches.
2/3/16. Up early and fall in at 0630. March out into the
enemy's country for about seven miles. Had a meal
and sent out patrols.
5.
2/3/16/ contd. Nothing seen of enemy although evidence of past and
recent visits were found. Returned home by different
route and broke the desert record for the Brigade.
Found the Battalion and acquired a canteen during
our absence and made use of it accordingly.
3/3/16. Talk about a dust or sand storm! Well today beats
all I've ever seen. We started shooting but all the
rifles jammed so we had to leave off. Out of the
frying pan into the fire! They started us on trench
digging again. Digging a trench in a sand storm is
about as effective as bailing a sinking ship with a
spoon. At last one infuriated man wrote on a piece
of traversing timber "Out in the desert covered in
dust,
Why do we stay here, we blankly well must,
The Colonel decreed it - his word is law.
But God will punish him we're damn well sure."
. . . . . . . . . . .
6/3/16. Up at 0400 and relived D Company at outpost.
Got ready to move tomorrow. Took several photographs
of the camp and surroundings. At sunset went out
through Argyle Cut to rejoin sentry group. Up all
night making arrangements for the morrow. "A mother's
work is never done" says an old truism. An N.C.O's
work is analagous for it certainly is never finished.
7/3/16. Up before the lark again and out on a detached post.
relieved at 1000. Back to camp. Issued with 24
hours rations then at 1200 we start our march amid
the sweltering heat. Desert, desert, desert - would
it never end. At last about 2000 we arrived at Ferry
Post after one of the most trying marches it has been
my pleasure to have. Had a quart of genuine billy
tea and went to sleep to dream, I was once more under
the gum trees.
8/3/16. On the track again at 0900. Crossed the Canal and
had new rifles issued at the Ordinance Department.
On again and next stop for dinner at a picturesque
place on the Canal. . . . . . On again to our camp at
Moascar. Up with tents, make the place as much
like home as possible then to bed and a well earned
rest.
9/3/16. Parade at 0830. Lists of all shortages taken &
Battalion reorganized. In lieu of afternoon parade
we went swimming to a beautiful spot on the Lakes.
After over a month in the desert the dip was
delightful. In the evening went & had supper with
an old school friend.
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
16/3/16. Fully equipped now for France. We ought to be there
in a week or so.
17/3/16. Went down and got well fumigated clothes and all.
Hope this time will be the end of the lice.
18/3/16. To date from today as full sergeant.
Inspected by Prince of Wales at Moascar 6th Brigade
lined up
6.
18/3/16.(contd) in hollow square and then marched past ready for
France and fighting.
19/3/16. Everything got in readiness for our departure from
Moascar. France will be our next camping ground. . . .
. . . . Late at night we made for Moascar siding.
20/3/16. Whether it was late last night or early this morning
we entrained I don't know. It was about midnight.
Slept well considering the open truck. Arrived at
Alexandria at 0630. Managed to see a good bit of the
city before we embarked on the "Magdalena" at 1700.
Told by O.C. to put up 3 stripes. One more step up
the ladder. "En voyage for France".
21/3/16. Leave Alexandria at 0900 and struck rough weather
right away. Some of the lads presented a very sorry
spectacle. Told off as serg. of submarine guard of
50 men. Weather improves rapidly towards night &
most are discussing France and what they intend to do
there. Had a chat to 1st mate and shown over the ship.
22/3/16. Weather greatly improved since yesterday. Told off
to our respective boats and had two alarms. Should
it be our luck to be torpedoed I believe everything
will go smoothly, as such pains have been taken to
have everything working methodically.
23/3/16. A beautiful dawn and everyone well and happy. 1000
News to hand that "Minneapolis" a sister transport
to the "Minnewaska" that brought us from Lemnos -
was torpedoed 100 miles ahead. 1800 Pass the
"Minneapolis" on our port. She does not seemed to
have suffered much. Several torpedo boats hanging
around her. We are making full steam ahead and
steering an erratic course.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
26/3/16. A most beautiful day at sea. Church parade on the
promenade deck. Got ready to disembark tomorrow.
Late this evening a distant light house flashed out
from the French coast. The end of our journey is
near and war and fighting lie only a few miles away.
....................................
27/3/16. Early this morning we saw the rugged shores of France
appear across a sunlit sea and later - just after
Breakfast we steamed into the beautiful harbour of
Marseilles past the stern island where the Count of
Monte Cristo was imprisoned and with band playing the
French national air we pulled in to the quay amid
cheers and applause. 2 o'clock disembarked marched
to the station and at 5 steamed out through great
tunnels and the most beautiful part of southern France.
28/3/16. Arrived Dijjon at 7 p.m. Further reception. Still
in the train and passing through magnificent country
of rural France. Fair wenches blew kisses to us,
soldiers cheered. Old man and woman with the thought
of 1870 still in their mind pointed to the N.W. shook
their palsied fists and cried "Vive les Australiens".
Finis ler Bosche". At 2 p.m. we ran into Lyons and
had a great reception. Later a swnow storm came on
and the surrounding country looked like a page from a
book.
7.
................
30/3/16. Wakened up at 4 a.m. and told our journey was at an
end. Out we hopped on a wayside station covered in
snow and had a hasty breakfast and then started on
our perambulation 10 miles on practically any
breakfast. Through Aire to Rebecq where we billeted.
We are likely to be here a few days...............
31/1/16. Pay day. The little village had never so much
money in history..........
1/4/16. A march to Aire which is a fair sized city. Here we
had hot baths and clean underclothes awaiting us.
Conditions appear slightly better than Gallipoli.
3/4/16. Route march through several villages. Quaint places
some of them are. We have been issued with
serviceable gas helmets which are said to be absolute
safety against the fumes.
................
5/4/16. Had an opportunity of seeing a captured German
Flammenwerfer on liquid fire machine working today.
It looks rather awe inspiring but it is quite safe
if proper precautions are taken.
6/4/16. Expect to leave this little village tomorrow. We've
had a jolly good time here and the people have been
very hospitable.
7/4/16. Marching all day from Rebecq. Passed through several
fair sized towns with our band playing lively airs.
The size of our chaps rather impressed a bantam
regiment we passed.
8/4/16 Marched through Sailly today and billeted just out
side at a farm .............
............................
10/4/16. A further spell today and a regular clean up. We
move up to the line tomorrow night.
11/4/16. Took over at Croix. Marched from Royal Scotts at
Flerbeaux. This billet is an advanced one just
behind the line and at the entrance to a communication
trench.
12/4/16. Sat by the fire most of the day made toast, fried eggs
and generally loafed. It is not one's advantage to be
seen outside as Fritz is only too willing to oblige
with a shell occasionally.
13/4/16. Pay of 65 francs! Went into Fleurbaix in anticipation
of hot bath but was disappointed "Baths off chums"
announced the Tommy in charge, so 5 miles walk for
nothing. 7 p.m. went up to the firing line to go out for
patrol into the region known as No Man's Land with the
23rd Batt. This patrol between the trenches is quite
an interesting game and reminds one of Red Indians of
boyhood.
8.
14/4/16. 1 a.m. Awakened & don big Wellington boots and
proceed with three others outside our parapet through
barbed wire and over ditches, flares went up plentifully
but we made ourselves look as much like a piece
of the landscape as possible and were evidently not
seen. Well for us'. Got back and reported all
correct.
15/4/16. Came through Battalion orders as Sergeant dating from
March 18th 1916. At 8 p.m. this evening we relieved
the 23rd Battalion in the firing line and took over
R.37 Sect Cryptic. It was near midnight before I
could turn in and scribble these notes.
16/4/16. Sunday in the trenches - the day set aside by our
luckier (?) brethern at home as the day in seven
whereon they shall rest and do no manner of work!!!
Here we are working like mules to improve our position.
In fact I did not realise it was Sunday until I saw the day above.
17/4/16. It never pours but it rains - or vice versa - I should
say. Rain, mud, snow, slush and everything else to
make life unpleasant, let alone such trivialities as
shells, bombs & bullets. Will it never dry we are
all wondering. The big guns had a sing song this
morning but I did not see the extent of their damage.
18/4/16. A bombardment by high explosives at 8 p.m. No harm,
2 a.m. Went for a trip into No Man's Land and returned
shortly after 3 a.m. Had a good look at our barbed
wire and noted such places as I deemed should be
added to map. Made such alterations later in the
forenoon. I made out a duplicate copy .....
19/4/16 This afternoon while I was sleeping in my dugout a
77 mm shell landed within 12 feet of where I was
lying and never woke me up. A bursting shell seems
a trivial occurence these days. The weather has
improved a little and tonight I am to go out with
Lieut. Godfrey to examine some new breastworks the
Germans have put up. We will go out at midnight.
20/4/16. Before 1 a.m. this morning young Lieut. Godfrey and
I were well out in No Man's Land crouching, crawling,
and lying still in pools of water. We got within
twenty yards of their advanced breastworks and made
careful observation. Returned O.K. at 2.30. The
remainder of the day was quiet and uncanny.
21/4/16. The morning passed quietly and arrangements were made
to hand over to the 23rd Batt. During the afternoon
it rained cats & dogs and continued so until midnight.
Changed over at 9.30 p.m. The communication trench
was choke full of water. Everyone fell and was wet
to the skin.
22/4/16. After the severe drenching and almost swimming down
the trench we arrived in our billets at about 1 a.m.
A roaring fire welcomed us and soon we were all
stretched around it and in a few minutes asleep.
Awoke about 9 a.m. and spent remainder of day in
drying ourselves.
9.
23/4.16. Quiet day with very little doing ........
24/4/16. Fatigue to the second line to rebuild it this evening.
25/4/16. We had made great arrangements to celebrate the
landing at Anzac but "the best laid plans of mice
& man, &c." and we had to go up and repair the
shattered front line. Anyway we intend to keep up
the second glorious day tomorrow.
26/4/16. Went for a bath to Erquingham a neighbouring village
just outside Armentieres. All around this country the
Count of Monte Cristo has made famous. The baths are
in large vats in what was once a huge dye works and
are very much appreciated, by all.
27/4/16. A good deal of shelling during afternoon. Otherwise
nothing to report.
28/4/16. Spent the evening at Estaminet and finished up with
chip and egg supper. The fighting here may prove to
be much worse than at Anzac but the conditions are
infinitely better.
29/4/16. Changed over with the 7th Battalion and took over
their billets at L'Halle O'Beau on the Lys. Arrived
there fairly late and found comfortable huts as billets.
.....................
1/5/16. Bomb throwing and general drill in a nice little
paddock covered in daisies .......
2/5/16. Our transport heavily shelled. Also the village of
Erquingham. Many French people came along the road
past our billets. Most of the women carried hat
boxes. It is the same all the world over. Hats first.
3/5/16. A good deal of aerial artillery. Otherwise nothing
much doing except dig funk holes.
4/5/16. Went to a gas school for instruction in the use of
gas helmets and gas apparatus. Thr school will
last for four days.
5/5/16. 20th Battalion got caned up. We stood to for a couple
of hours. The 20th lost fairly heavily and two Stokes
Trench Mortars were lost. During the day attended the
gas school.
6/5/16. Went through a gas chamber of Chlorine gas with gas
helmet on. Found perfect protection although without
it one mouthfull of it would have been sufficient to
put me out of action for good.
7/5/16. Finished the gas school this morning with a very fine
lecture by the lecturer a Major in the 7th F.A.
......................
17/5/16. Quiet day. Afternoon spent in making "funk-holes"
Compliment on the work of the platoon. In the evening
I took 130 men to lay a cable at trenches beyond
Armentieres. Two gas alarms were given but we didn't
10.
17/5/16.(contd) get any. Finished the job about 11 p.m. and started
the homeward journey.
18/5/16. Returned from Armentieres at 1.30 a.m. and found this
company standing to after a gas alarm. Slept in until
nine and attended orderly Room as witness. Prisoner
remanded for Court Martial. This evening as I write
big shells are landing close by. Hope they don't
come nearer and disturb our slumbers.
19/5/16. Digging trenches all day. Several air combats took
place overhead but as far we could see no damage
was done on either side. Was witness at court martial
this morning.
20/5/16. During the morning continued the work of trench
building of yesterday. The afternoon we had to ourselves.
It was much appreciated after the hard graft
of the past week.
21/5/16. Orderly Sergeant. Reported to the Colonel at 12 a.m.
he recommended me to attend school of instruction in
England of from six to eight weeks duration....
A few big shells are dropping around & over
Armentieres way a gas gong is beating violently.
.......................
28/5/16. Moved up from our old Billets to a rat infested one
behind Bois Grenier. One of our sergts. mistook a
little pup for a rat and swiping round with rifle
broke one of its legs. We bandaged it up, set it
in splints and decided to make a mascot of it.
29/5/16. Rat hunting all day. Toasted cheese on bayonet tips.
A good haul. Up in the evening to City Trench at
Bois Grenier to dig new trench ......
.................
20/6/16. Started training for a raid on the German trenches
near Armentieres. As in command of right Blocking
Party. In the evening we saw a cinema film taken
from an aeroplane - of the portion of the trenches
we have to take so we all know our places as wll as
if we had been in the actual trench.
21/6/16. We started training on a dummy trench - a duplicate
to the one we have to raid. Big shells stopped
further progress but no one was hurt although
several houses and farms in the vicinity were
destroyed.
22/6/16. Continuing our training and practice a night raid
and the eye of the Brigadier was remaked that he was
pleased at the result.
23/6/16. 24th relieved 21st in the trenches .... Did a lot
of usual work this morning. Bomb throwing and
revolver practise.
24/6/16 ..... Supplied with map of the trench in Armentieres
salient. Big shells came over in the afternoon killing
a couple of civilians beside 8 soldiers. In the
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