Diary of Wilbert Berg, 1916 - Part 1
Notebook outer cover
1132
Grenadier Cpl W.N Berg
D Coy 18th Battalion
5th Infantry Bgde
A.I.E.F.
2 DRL442
AUSTRALIAN
WAR MEMORIAL
Diary of the War 1914-5-6
Ordinary camp routine
from the 9/1/15 till the
2/2/13
__________________
2/2/16 Left Tel-el-Kebir for
the Canal Arrived at
Ismalia at 12 A.M. left train
& marched across the Canal
where we bivouaced for the
night ________
3/2/16 Left camp after breakfast
& marched to about two
miles behind our trenches
where we again bivouaced
for the night
____________
4/2/16 Left again to just
behind the hill where our
trenches are where we pitched
camp. Our O.C. told us that we
had the pick of the trenches
& we are on the most important
hill along our front
_____
5/2/16 Did a bit of drill
to-day open order work
Things very quiet & lonely out
here we are camped all on
our own. Cpl Solomon was out
at camp to-day I was speaking
to him for a while. All the
transport are camped right on
the banks of the Canal.
__________
6/2/16 Had charge of 6 men on
outpost duty last night, we
went on No 1 outpost the most
important one, things passed
off O.K. ___________
7/2/16 Went to the dentists &
had a tooth filled Other men
working hard making our
fortifications digging trenches
& putting up barbed wire entanglements
Big party of Generals out
to have a look around among
them was General Legge Murray
Munro Birdwood & a French
general to the Bengal Lancers
(Indians) were the body guard
_____________
8/2/16 A bit on the cold side this
morning. One of our aeroplanes
flying about. Lost the filling out
of my tooth while having dinner
Continuing to fortify our position
Wagga Welsh went away sick the
other day. Our outposts reported
a body of mounted men fourteen
miles off last night
____________
9/2/16 Turkish outposts sighted
by our outposts. Demonstration
attack on our hill A.B A.C. & D.
Coy's attack while B Coy hold
the hill. Weather very warm
Mart was out to-day on duty
_________
10/2/16 Two suspected spies were
handed over to me to be taken
under guard to Ismalia. We
arrived at Ferry's Post at dinner
time so went & dined at the
Transport with the Sgt Mart & I
Took the niggers into Ismalia
& handed them over to the
Provost Marshall & returned to
Ferry's Post at tea time where
we had tea & also slept there
for the night.
_____________
11/2/16 We left the Transport
next morning at 10 A.M. for
Camp on board our little
train, when we got a couple of
miles out it ran off the line
so we had to walk. Arriving
back to camp about 4 P.M.
just in time to be given charge
of the horse piquet.
12/2/16 Still digging trenches
13th L. Horse passed by our
camp last night going out on
Patrole. Great rumours getting
about that we are all going
to France & we will be there
about the end of April, other
rumours are to the effect that
we will be on our way back to
Australia by then.
__________________
13/2/16 Nothing of any note happened
to-day. Started to give general
leave from here to Cairo
14/2/16 Australian mail arrived
got answers to our Xmas mail
Mart was out to-day. I was on
outpost again lastday night but
things were very quiet & nothing
reported.
___________
15/2/16 Been raining all the morning
Our aeroplane came over our
camp he was only about 50
feet up as he passed over our
camp we gave them a cheer &
they waved to us It was a
good sight. It was a French Aero
___________
16/2/16 Aeroplane that flew over
yesterday dropped a note saying
that a Turkish patrole was
seen four miles East of our
camp. We sent out patroles
but nothing was seen of them
still continuing with fortifications
________________
17/2/16 Artillery officers were out
near our trenches to-day selecting
gun positions they have one
position just in rear of our
firing line. Had a very heavy
shower of rain this evening
___________
18/2/16 Another Aust. mail in.
On outpost duty last night
& again to-night We have
finished our first firing line
Very hot just at present
____________
19/2/16 Word came through
last night about a Turkish
patrole seen close to camp
Our patroles were sent after
them but so far they have not
returned. General Legge inspected
our Batt this afternoon
____________
20/2/16 Had half holiday to-day
Had church this morning
One of our patroles that went
out to-day caught a fox. Very
unpleasant day Jim Preston
returns.
21/2/16 More Turkish patroles
seen. It was reported that about
200 Turks are concentrated about
30 miles from here. Good news
about the Russian advance
Very warm Firing line finished
making communication trenches.
____________
22/2/16 We sent out strong
patroles today but nothing was
seen of the Turks. On outpost
duty. Nothing seen
_____________
23/2/16 Our O.C. & some of the
Officers go out for a days fox
hunting but they did not get
any. One platoon of each Coy had
to sleep with their clothes on in
case the Turks came along
____________
24/2/16 On outpost duty again
Sent out supports to the
outpost. Heard rumour to-day
that Turkey had declared
peace. 17th Batt went away
to-day do not know where they
are going.
_____________
25/2/16 Things very quiet
& hot out here. Getting along
well with the trenches
___________
26/2/16 Aeroplanes flying
about. C Coy Outpost shoot
a camel that was wandering
about the niggers claim £70
____________
27/2/16 Forming up new
Battalions with all the
reinforcements that are
in Egypt. Another Aust.
mail came to hand to-day
__________
28/2/16 On half ration of
water very windy &
disagreeable day
________
29/2/16 Same as
yesterday
________
1/3/16 Same as yesterday
________
2/3/16 Very hot & windy
had no parade trenches
getting filled up with
sand On outpost duty
again. Aust. mail in
_______
3/3/16 Still very hot and
windy trenches completely
filled in again. Mart
was out on duty to-day
Saw him for a while
_______
4/3/16 Water a bit scarce
only on half issue On
outpost duty. Went through
our musketry.
_________
5/3/16 Went out to the range
& did a bit of shooting
everyone got through.
__________
6/3/16 Packed up & left for
Ferrys Post this morning
& arrived there in the afternoon
went straight down
& had a swim in the canal.
________
7/3/16 Packed up & moved off
to Moascar issued with
new rifles very hot went
down & had another swim
__________
8/3/16 Kit inspection to-day
Great rumours about going
to France. Went down
& had another swim
_________
9/3/16 Very hot & windy
went for a 6 mile route
march & finished up having
a swim in the canal.
__________
10/3/16 Jack Burke arrives
with Reinforcements put
in with C. Coy. Cecil
Byrne also arrives.
__________
11/3/16 Getting lectures
about going to France
have to pack our bags.
__________
12/3/16 Court Martial
parade very hot &
windy; Went for a swim
13/3/16 The 7th Brigade
went away to-day I went
for another route march
___________
14/3/16 Muster parade
to-day had no drills
so went for a swim
15/3/16 The 6th Brigade
left to-day terrible dusty
__________
16/3/16 The 17th Batt leave
to-day we are all ready
to move at any minute
___________
17/3/16 We left Moascar
at midnight on the train
for Alexandria & arriving
there at 8 A.M. & went on
board the S.S. Arcadia
18/3/16 Pretty clean boat
& good sleeping accomodation
___________
19/3/16 Moved out from the
wharf & anchored in the
harbour [[?uplifted]] anchor
at 4 P.M. & set sail for Malta
__________
20/3/16 Pretty rough & a good
few sea sick including
myself.
___________
21/3/16 Lovely day & the
water calm feeling a lot
better to-day
___________
22/3/16 Another lovely day
A few transports passed
and sighted a couple of
warships doing patroles
_____________
23/3/16 Arrived at Malta
at about 9 AM & stood off
for orders. Proceeded again
at 10 AM.
__________
24/3/16 Lovely day. Passed
quite a number of boats also
sailing ships & Islands. Big
sports meeting on board.
___________
25/3/16 Arrived at Marseilles
beautiful scenery on
entering the harbour.
___________
26/3/16 Unloading ship
18 & 19th went for a route
march around Marseilles
I could not go Went on
board the train & left at 9-30
_________
27/3/16 Great reception all
along the line beautiful
scenery pretty cold.
__________
23/3/16 Still in the train
Same as yesterday
_______
29/3/16 Arrived at our
destination A little village
behind the La-Basse, Arras,
front billeted in houses
Very nice people we are
billeted with
_______
30/3/16 Heavy frost this morning
Also a bit of snow fell. Boys
enjoy themselves doing the
work for the girls. Went for
a route march. Name of
Village is Thiennes.
__________
31/3/16 Could hear the sound
of the guns going off. Also the
shells bursting. A good
few of our aeroplanes flying
about over the village. There
is a French soldier at our house
who was wounded & his left
arm is paralized from the elbow
down
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