Diary for Arthur James Adams, 1915-1916, Part 6 of 10

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Part of Quest:
Diary for Arthur James Adams, 1915-1916
Subject:
  • War Diaries
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
RCDIG0000195
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

Monilan $ gct X Vaowns parader in day in afternoon to visit Sarg H Vere i pheycret- Hospita there Faber and Jack patley Ha at 10p Freoda 1 Mor P &paso for to ge to Byrage. ret burny to messing arot 12 h for pass. do not t than Havea thote round town Anasne at pnters for sards to be printed Homeatt 10f 14 No Wednerd Marches &paraderas ural and Take a walk t Many Well Resting Tree glss see the Chapelof the Painted Family which is worth pauntg seemg in account of the fin on wall. Take a coupte of onaf here for to place in kas pards Wed 17cf Heloich soldens club at Go t play draughts with B Dakr night (Margo well at Matarich) Thunday 18 h Nov Pavad for to get plate of With and afterwards go to Car to get pto printed Meat Shuppy and together to Peauds whale we sboth take Jhate Stroll round town and have a good chat of old tromes home at 10-30, Oleat OHalcolm Fergurson in trom 13oo Friday March out to villiage of take a ship if cemetg. bfore breakpot Very dsty day. ueh moningi miss tout Chatteng G into tow in afternon meet Gfth Bocction & Mow Sker and nave agoed chat
Set 20th of X4 Goort to Expeit in afterao that Jack Kang has left for Huscor see And idon who comen with Jus, Jock Walter haves a good yau withus in hospital. Strall soml town at ight Lun 2r Ce Visit hospital in aftenoo Mlepte and see Rursal at night Mon 22 Wa Send ay in usual dsills, Heleopeln at night Meet J. Gaffres enjoyntath of Brisban This 23rd Affr. Gon town to bg flectorin for Edward Hartly El Supt. Steres Khartin in morning, and go to Mad in aft pend see a fe of the old boy & the night in town with A. Hlmer Ded 24 t Usual day, waiting for the order to move back to Danes. Write letters 3th Hetab Reinfordments arrive for 3rd 4 Noo Thunsday Do adting corporal in camp for pt Rnt 4F5 Fd Anls and take f marfer out 3 tens today then Nov Friday 26 Walkenson absent s0 do. full Sey 4 the with Fd. Amb & dutie directions out again all day in varii Saturoy 24 oth corporals duties, in daytion Usual O parades in afterngon 25 A Sunday parades-alone as St is sick Fale d nothing Church parade at y again afterwards spend day in cam
Mo 29 Aer onal statie on day cop more reinforcement ande tiesof 38 Mr Stonal marching out with boy pat 10 in afternoon mon reinforcemet. Wednesday to Dec Cothing startlen Ellect Scotty Thompson of the old crowdl aforing 4 4 ta Amb Ken March bo out Water Works in morning I mes thea lecter in afternoon Thersde 615 preferred to leave; but All cancelled Walk out with boyd turan again mornig and rest in missshe in afterwe Friday 6 Usual claytim go to town in ftynor thnt up parceli Cut cannot fine them Dirty Baker Eghts Harper at Stactum and knowks th t in 90 sees Satenday 4o De. Fine march before Creakfast, afterwards Cairs bet and getting away to packing Leave Ciro Station at 430 pm annx Alexandra at Dpm express train embank on Hopital Ship Assaye good bunkes & conditions, med Capt. Iy Sunday 3 Dec Weet dismise One short parade at 2p roll call weigh anction at 3pom lots of Roppital chyp. baltlesty here majority of large prase favr interned pteamers and Pailing been taken out of harbour Dec Monday 6 Day passed as gaietly as poosible Take fire weather, comfortable quarter fior munch with gloves in coaning 2 D Tresday morning at revelle, but gets v4 4 tater. awrive at demnos about Ym 7 ashor by means of barge & wlepp Hos nopital tent. P. 2. Stationery
Wed i Dec Ap H 6-30, breakfast and get br away to pier, when we arrive mean of lighter to a cattle boat Howan which takes us on to the Penmnoula leaving comnos at 4 pm Ver ifogey night every body expectin we wonpedloed. Avowe sfely L. W. Leach at 1230 find our wa round to the old camp, bvengthing altered Taffy Jones L Ben Bames schap and gain until I fall asleep about 2 Up at Yam and fix up duy out fo down to AOMs. with rist of men bring back to an camp tall and X 2 Runforcements. Busy talting 4 old mates t improving dug at all day Gamring with Fomy Deaby all evenil. hursda I Dec Dec Fndey Co duty for me, Best on M. Jatgui No 8 photos in camp, Watth a very take Combardment by coursers & monetors heare seem to blow olee grovd out but which Bill obon begine again Weather Beach gttting father bleake Saturday, 11 te bn duty up Victoria Gully from $30 an until tomorrow. F.B0am? Havs trip magnificent 7m & Prt. Bde trenches through foing line favly lang with sick on daytime and wounded at night. Report morse signalling from Dr Batt ridge to Fuchy to Gth Batt who investigate Opl ovedus is a I1 Kenf of End Pot. Srnl much dissatisfaction
28 Sinday a stroll wound and sxcure a Take saps, 20 of our chap are few fit And to to the 6 Lo. Hore sent over Have an easy day all throng reinforce. Dugdnt is very compotable 1 Monday 13 De Futique in day and at night wt DC casy all atore panniers Amblance goods pound tto U prer very heskey Jounnys tor as Peachy Bal wa poppi over all the time fanish about mobight when we get a good tot of run and a fic of tinned chicken. Sulodegy 14 fee and Score a few Extras in clothing pact up ruichly for to go on guard of our marenar on beach. Havry a heeng load founet & Beachy Bill just misses several times. Take dey stores on to tg River Fioher 16 Dic Wednesslan Spend a fan night, which becown very Met young W. Jefficel of Sanon rough from and have a good yam with Onemys shells waly mers us in morning C. Sitar ance we ghift over a bit toward Mfect Curta aboard later in day Stom cpases about middan, Kouding up amunition and Indian asubrilance with Matiny among the creg It Mats stuff attempts to throw skipper overboard trees: I I am. and sbout I am about knike him Naval captain comes straggtt abrand and gives them talk 16t Thursday Ou wheel house getting vry dity weigh anchor about 18 am and readl Dennos at 9 pm.. stay out ide havboun all night
Inda 14th Dec Cominto harbou early and take Janchorage rear small island detention camp. I later put alongand the Lake clichagen which takes all the Indians aboard move our Auchorag the to ien nasbour close to Th Aragon (headquaster ship of good today. £ Sauuratar 18 which Put alongords the Ochaia has most of the guns fom Anse the aboard, also go aboard but neighbour, shis City of Edmbor the night Otchaid slap mate pnt undir Cl cored lat navy & taken away by Sunday De 3. Real nagtme doings, shipting cangs fyor River Froher to Hchaia troops enterm, harbour and soting themselves por one boat to another of interest Clothin 20 Minday De. fir bee doing as cinloading Late stopped for feah orders Do a litte sooking taxt I scones also pap a fair dinner with petatoe peas. somince working party again inload River When at night and come acron some cases of wine on which they got well drunt and fight togther on our dick for a conple of nown. Read hell. Fuesday Dec 21 Little ram and gale get up peay. morning but quetin at nig
ted Sere Doa little washing clothes Same of football aboard Echaa, cooking scons it pec 23 Ther eeloading ammunition on to Achaia Stell brawk on - both Cots last myle Drunken Ge alongside the Warran, and it aboard Lift Wovran last night t hatche of River Swher, Rayn neary morning and doiver in out yo over casly i leave guintt tt Aragon to Uonsinge where we leave mai, anwe Cuty of bofulnng 6 Dec Fat 25 coportable night on Edenbrgh and Spent a fair day Norsy concert at nught navi a 26 8e Sunday Yorking untoading meeical re holds all day. Ship St Mon Hripped dead Two tonnes arrested for theiing Mon Dec 24 futher leaven us at last and Rew boats are quickly in her place other unlosding stores of all ten tues Ae 28 Feen Anlaading sation inffterno pauses Chstration Billy Car which everbd aboard to be happ Wed affec 29 300 horsesh mules, also about loading Quarter more men, I have to shift into stables where Hoppy & fal & nce place, better that ever Linda Thurs Dee 30 anchor & leave the hasbour at We all prepared to be toofedoed I am at II am, Belles given out to all Parade Homny arrivals, write letter lates if appreciion to donor of Billeg
Dec r & do Ofen arrest for refuseree lashing Son Blkshee M. Walfare eotch Clonal)the toe u Paker Hoppy went up and plain case to o/e of ship I were ademissed Have to shilp quarter. Out iokeep in the old placeat night Lat Penual Pike Land at 10 am g Ret procunts o bully, Pobonn at See dislrayer full of Women 11 pom children taken from preched uner ut into wharf again Staged Simben yard et ofom. enload horses there a Tum Yen Arrived Aleve harbourt2nodn anchord until 0c pilled along nle wharf Re 3 Man bept. Hall visted enalong mail, bun tree went into Alex e Oewn Kenny or French leave ranny with all t time on Yan 4 Hurs Lew nearly do guard on a gew extras in afteroon acore go into town in evening fmeet Stella the Station out wfe is c of aweethen wants D Ded Sane bean o ate t at Peaw night wher aee Kvist. Kesal meet H Bennitt after meet Brise I have a great char of told tam Hone at 1 Laser crea falls down hold One of X killed (Ct of Edobon)
Heads Jenle Rein heary Hown at mist s Mokaned Aly y Vesit fon & takeon ofn her Dany ffidles 1821 to ordrance whart Move leave the ship at the elif fes fela and go int town for rare walk rund whar fit the boat again. Evening spent en Cxmerrian Rusanl at Night Yan D. Fat morning with Hoffey to AlexI pretiting frang unford fet Yed Tthe alonger of whart our Eerted the Monlin Horege Hall in evening Ausie 6 Jan 2 55 Glonons weathile go to Oxnctory ean Mohamed Aly garden& take nesse glorious walk after in gardens have early to fix photint Ralegets very drunk Everythin pasteal you going Jan 18 nCo Helen t more off this manin leave about 3pm for 45 quan when we boynd at good train Lassve Vil el Rebn camp at 3 any, sleep alsxside railion Jan 11th Often Fees when we more to o comfany who in the west and of co emfany drll in afternoon geta ol friends few letter food all
Hel Jen 12 Confan duill in moning gote half holidoy in afternoonhir foothall match. Went ing in evening to try for tmper Did a guard alongolds railing live but night whe Imet Frank 15th Patt Doupor who is Sen Serft Id Ihtelly 4 12 Walked over t Signal ongrs of evening to tay fou transfor but no Wck th 42 Jan 14 Preliminan march paot with devision light norse then Brg. Gen & my the took to ralute prort rather tend afterward Engineern evening Ay Sat Pan 14 mitted applicatio t To transfer to ongineers Wed Betacl far mome be mark out oite of nea canfe Went to see the march past of Joh Dursion when Irr othe Muray took the Oalu Had a few mas Franspork arrived a evening of the new camp plente of whiok flying round tha lanp. Fur tent very meay Sun Pen & Attent parade to OC. but fail as iny are doing they utmost to hold as Masking but chmg in morning beat have half day for foothall mater afternoon, Wesh clothes recive a little menl

Monday 15th Nov  
Various parades on day I got off 
in afternoon to visit J. Lang 
in Gezerah Hospital, see Percy 
Fraser and Jack Pratley there 
Home at 10pm 
Tuesday 16th Nov 
Got a pass for to go to Barage 
but owing to messing around for 
1 1/2 hours for pass, do not get there 
Have a look round town. Arrange 
at printers for cards to be printed 
Home at 11 pm 
Wednesday 17th Nov 
Marches & parades as usual 
Take a walk to Marys' Well and 
Resting Tree also see the Chapel of 
the Sainted Family which is worth 
seeing on account of the fine paintings 
on wall. Take a couple of snaps 
here for to place in Xmas cards

Wed 17th Nov 
Go to Helmich soldiers club at 
night to play draughts with B Baker 
(Marys well at Matarich) 
Thursday 18th Nov 
Parade for to get plate of [teeth?] rep. 
and afterwards go to Cairo to 
get photos printed. Meet Shippy and 
go together to Pyramids where we 
both take photos. Stroll round 
town and have a good chat of old  
times home at 10.30. Meet Malcolm 
Fergurson in tram. 
Friday 19th Nov 
March out to village of & 
take a snap of cemetry before breakfast 
Very dusty day. Quiet morning in 
mess tent chatting. Go into town in afternoon 
meet Griffiths B section & Snow Baker A sec 
and have a good chat

 

Sat 20th Nov 
Go out to Gezerah in afternoon & find 
that Jack Lang has left for Luxor. see 
Andy Davidson who comes with us. Jack 
Pratley haves a good yarn with us. in 
hospital. Stroll round town at night 
Sun 21st Nov 
Visit hospital in afternoon (Heliopolis) 
and see Kursal at night 
Mon 22nd Nov 
Spend day in usual drills, pay £1  
Heliopolis at night. Meet J Gaffney & 
enjoy a talk of Brisbane 
Tues 23rd Nov 
Go in town to buy plectrun for Edward 
Hartley. E. A. Supt. Stores Khartou 
in morning, and go to Maadi in aft 
see a few of the old boys & spend 
the night in town with A. Palmer 

Wed 24th Nov 
Usual day, waiting for the order to 
move back to Dards. Write letters, 
Reinforcements arrive for 3rd, 4th & 5th Fd Amb 
Thursday 25th Nov 
Do acting corporal in camp for 1st 2nd 
3rd 4th & 5th Fd Ambs and take 
them out 3 times today for marches 
Friday 26th Nov 
Sargt Wilkinson about so do full 
duties with Fd Amb & take them 
out again all day. in various directions 
Saturday 27th Nov 
Usual corporals duties. in daytime 
No parades in afternoon. 
Sunday 28th Nov 
Take parades alone as Sgt is sick 
again. Church parade at 7.30, nothing 
afterwards, spend day in camp

 

Mon 29th Nov 
Usual duties in day as corpl 
more reinforcements arrive 
Tuesday 30th Nov 
Usual marching out with boys 
pay 10 /- in afternoon, more reinforcements 
Wednesday 1st Dec 
Nothing startling. Meet Scotty 
Thompson of the old crowd. among the 
7th Fd Amb Reinf. March boys out to  
Water Works in morning & mess shed later 
in afternoon. 
Thursday 2nd Dec 
All prepared to leave, but cancelled 
again. Walk out with boys twice in 
morning and rest in mess shed in afternoon 
Friday 
Usual in daytime. go to town in afternoon to 
hunt up parcels but cannot find them, Bert 
Baker fights Harper at Stadium and knocks him 
out in 90 secs

Saturday 4th Dec 
Fine march before breakfast, afterwards 
packing kits and getting away to Cairo 
Leave Cairo Station at 4.30 pm arrive Alexandria 
at 8 pm express train. embark on Hospital Ship 
'Assaye' good bunks. & conditions, meet Capt Fry.  
Weigh   Sunday 5th Dec 
One short parade at 2 pm, roll call, dismiss 
weigh anchor at 3 pm lots of Hospital ships 
& 2 battleships here. majority of large 
interned steamers and sailing craft have 
been taken out of harbour. 
Monday 6th Dec 
Day passed as quietly as possible 
fine weather, comfortable quarters. Take a  
few rounds with gloves in evening. 
Tuesday 7th Dec 
Fine morning at revelle but gets very 
heavy later. arrive at Lemnos about 12 pm 
go ashore by means of barge & sleep in a  
large hospital tent. in No 2 Stationery Hos

 

Wed 8th Dec 
Up at 6-30, breakfast and get 
away to pier, where we arrive by 
means of lighter to a cattle boat 
'Rowan' which takes us on to the 
Peninsula. leaving Lemnos at 4 pm 
Very foggy night, everybody expecting to 
be torpedoed. Arrive safely at N. beach 
at 12.30 am and find our way round 
to the old camp. Everything altered 
Taffy Jones & Ben Barnes sit up and 
yarn until I fall asleep about 2 am 
Up at 7 am and fix up dug out. Go 
down to H.D.M.S. with list of men for 3rd 
and bring back to our camp all the 
2nd Reinforcements. Busy talking to 
old mates & improving dug out all day 
Yarning with Tommy Deasy all evening

← Thursday 9th Dec 
Friday 10th Dec 
No duty for me, Bert on Q M fatigue 
take 8 photos in camp, Watch a very 
heavy bombardment by cruisers & monitors 
which seem to blow olive grove out but 
Beachy Bill soon begins again, Weather 
getting rather bleak. 
Saturday 11th Dec 
On duty up Victoria Gully from 8.30 am 
until tomorrow 8.30 am. Have a trip 
through 7th & 1st Bde trenches, magnificent 
firing line, fairly busy with sick in daytime 
and wounded at night. Report morse 
signalling from 8th Batt ridge to Turks, to   
9th Batt who investigate. 
Cpl over us is a 11th Reinf of 2nd Fd Amb. 
much dissatisfaction

 

Sunday 12th Dec 
Take a stroll round and secure a 
few snaps. 20 of our chaps are 
sent over to the 2nd Lt Horse Fd Amb to 
reinforce. Have an easy day all through 
Dug out is very comfortable. 
Monday 13th Dec 
Q.M fatigue in day. and at night we 
carry all store panniers & Ambulance 
goods round to N. pier. very risky 
journeys too as Beachy Bill was popping 
over all the time. finish about midnight 
when we get a good tot of rum and a feed 
of tinned chicken. 
Tuesday 14th Dec 
Score a few extras in clothing, and 
pack up quickly for to go on guard of 
our material on beach. Carry a heavy 
load round & Beachy Bill just 
misses several times. Take our stores 
on to tug River Fisher

15th Dec Wednesday 
Spend a fair night, which becomes very 
rough, Meet young W. Jeffries of Nambour 
and have a good yarn with him. 
Enemys shells narrowly miss us in morning 
and we shift over a bit toward C Suvla 
Meet Carter aboard later in day. 
Storm ceases about midday, Loading up 
with ammunition and Indian ambulance 
stuff. Mutiny among the crew. 1st Mate 
attempts to throw skipper overboard 
about 2 am and about 8 am tries to 
knife him. Naval Captain comes 
aboard and gives them straight  
talk 
Thursday 16th Dec 
Our wheel house getting very dirty 
weigh anchor about 10 am and reach 
Lemnos at 9 pm. stay outside harbour 
all night

 

Friday 17th Dec 
Come into harbour early and take 
anchorage near small island detention 
camp.I later put alongside the 
Lake Michagen which takes all the 
Indians aboard. move our anchorage 
to inner harbour close to the  
Aragon (headquarters ship) Short 
of food today. 
Saturday 18th Dec 
Put alongside the Achaia which 
has most of the guns from 'Anzac' 
aboard. also go aboard the 
neighbour ship 'City of Edinboro' but 
sleep the night on Achaia 
1st mate put under close arrest 
by navy. & taken away.

Sunday Dec 19th 
Real ragtime doings, shifting cargo 
from River Fisher to 'Achaia' 
Troops entering harbour and sorting 
themselves from one boat to another. 
Nothing of interest. 
Monday Dec 20th 
Little doing so unloading has been 
stopped for fresh orders. Do a little 
cooking, tarts & scones. also fix up a fair 
dinner with potatoes & peas. 
Tommies working party again unload 
River Fisher at night and come across 
some cases of wine on which they get 
well drunk and fight together on our 
deck for a couple of hours. Real hell. 
Tuesday Dec 21st 
Little rain and gale gets up heavy in 
morning but quietens at night

 

Wed Dec 22 
Do a little washing clothes. Game of 
football aboard Achaia. cooking scones etc 
Thurs Dec 23 
Still unloading ammunition on to Achaia 
Drunken brawl on both boats last night 
Go alongside the Novian and get aboard 
Fri Dec 24 
Left Novian last night & slept on 
hatches of River Fisher, Rains heavy 
early in morning and drives us out, Go over 
to [Umsingi?] & leave ammunition, then to Aragon 
where we leave mail, arrive City of Edinburgh at 6 pm 
Sat 25th Dec 
Spent a comfortable night on Edinburgh and 
have a fair day. Noisy concert at night 
Sunday 26th Dec 
Working unloading medical stores in 
holds all day. Ships Sgt Mjor dropped dead  
Two tommies arrested for thieving

Mon Dec 27th 
River Fisher leaves us at last and 
then boats are quickly in her place 
unloading stores of all kinds 
Tues Dec 28 
Unloading rations in afternoon. Receive 
Australian Billy Cans which causes 
everybody aboard to be happy 
Wed Dec 29 
Loading horses, & mules, also about 300 
more men, I have to shift quarters 
into stables where Hoppy & Kal & I 
find a nice place, better than ever. 
Thurs Dec 30th 
Weigh anchor & leave the harbour at 
3 am all prepared to be torpedoed 
Parade at 11 am, Billies given out to all 
latest Tommy arrivals, write letters of 
appreciation to donors of Billies.

 

Fri, Dec 31st 
Open arrest for refusing to do 
Cooking for Barkshire Col Wallace 
(Scotch Colonial) & the three of us 
Baker, Hoppy & I went up and Xplain 
case to O/C of ship & were dismissed 
Have to shift quarters but sleep 
in the old place at night 
Sat January 1st 
Sight Land at 10 am, getting tired 
of biscuits & bully. Harbour at 
1 pm, See destroyer full of women 
& children taken from wrecked 
liner        . Put into wharf against 
"Stagis" Timber yard at 5 pm & 
unload horses there 
Sun. Jan 2nd 
Arrived Alex harbour 12 noon. anchored 
until 5 o c & pulled alongside wharf.

Jan 3rd Mon 
Capt Hall visited us. sent along 
some mail, Our trio went into Alex 
with Owen Kenny on French leave, raining 
all the time. 
Jan 4th Tues 
Rain heavily, do guard on steps 
score a few extras in afternoon & 
go into town in evening, meet 
Stella the Italian girl who is in 
wants of a sweetheart. 
Jan 5th Wed 
Rain heavy. go into town at 
night & visit Kursal when we 
meet H Bennett after meeting 
J Brice & have a great chat of 
old times. Home at 11 pm 
One of Lascar crew falls down hold 
& is killed (City of Edinboro)

 

Jan 6th Thursday 
Rain heavy. town at night 
Visit Mohammed Aly garden in 
afternoon & take snaps of same 
Jan 7th Friday 
Move to ordinance wharf No 21. 
I leave the ship at the old place 
and go into town for films 
rare walk round wharf to find 
the boat again. Evening spent 
in American Kursal at night. 
Jan 8th Sat. 
Alex in morning with Hoppy to 
get printing frame, unload 
our Med stores alongside wharf. 
Visited the Moulen Rouge 
Music Hall in evening

Jan 9th Sun 
Glorious weather, go to Cemetery 
near Mohammed Aly gardens. I take 
snaps. glorious walk after in gardens 
home early to fix photograph 
Kala gets very drunk. Everything 
packed for going. 
Jan 10th Sun Mon 
Orders to move off this morning 
leave about 3 pm for 45 quay 
where we board a goods train 
& arrive Tel el-Kebir camp at 
3 am, sleep alongside railway 
Jan 11th Mon Tues 
When we move to our own Company 
who are in the west end of camp 
Company drill in afternoon, get a  
few letters from all old friends

 

Jan 12th Wed 
Company drill in morning still 
half holiday in afternoon for 
football match. Went to Engineers 
in evening to try for transfer 
Did a guard alongside railway 
line last night when I met Frank 
Draper who is Sen Sergt of 15th Batt 
Fd Artillery. 
Jan 13th Thurs 
Walked over to Signal Engrs in 
evening to try for transfer but 
no luck. 
Jan 14th Fri 
Preliminary march past with 
division - light horse when 
Brig Gen Smythe took the salute 
rather tired afterwards. Visit 
Engineers in evening

Sat Jan 15th 
Submitted application to O.C for 
transfer to Engineers Med Detail in 
morning. mark out site of new 
camp. Went to see the march 
past of 1st Division when Sir 
Arthur Murray took the salute 
Had a few snaps. 
Transport arrived in evening at the 
new camp. plenty of whisky 
flying round the camp. Our 
tent very merry 
Sun Jan 16th 
Attempt parade to O.C but fail 
as they are doing their utmost 
to hold us. Marching out camp 
in morning but have half 
day for football match in  
afternoon. Wash clothes 
receive a little mail.

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Jacqueline KennedyJacqueline Kennedy
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