Diary for George Lush Finlay, 1915-1918 - Part 6










Apr 28th
Moved on 26th from
VILLERS - BRULIN to
Mingoval where I was
attached to Div Train
Hqrs. Am at present
imbibing knowledge
and whisky - under
the care of the [[GSO?]]
a very decent fellow
Will be here one
week after which I
go on to CRE. for
a week.
News from the south
is good. The Australians
have had to take
back Villers Bretonneux
which had been lost
by the Tommies
News for the north
is not too bon.
Kemmel is gone
and fighting is now
taking place between
Kemmel and
Jan 8th Wrote notes to J.V.G.
& P.M. telling them
I was going to Port Said.
These I will post if I
go. I also wrote to
Auntie which letter
I will not post unless
I don't go.
Spent this afternoon
on the balcony in
the sun. Delightful.
|√ Took photos of O'Donovan
|/ Thompson Sister [[Provalon?]]
|/ & Sister Hedges.
| Must send prints.
Jan 9th Got £15 from Pay Office
fortunately. Also got
a cap & 1000 cigarettes.
I don't suppose we
will go tomorrow
after all this
ahead of the Bde
with Mallett and
looked for training
areas.
News from the front
keeps pretty fair.
Decathlon, Baillieul
& Meteren all in the
Bosche hands and
yesterday we heard
that the Passchendaele
Ridge had been evacuated
by us successfully.
I was prepared for
this news and am
very glad that it
has been done.
exchange of Ground doesn't matter
much.
Cowan sent on my
recommendation yesterday
for a position as G.S.O. in
[[?our]] Staff Corps.
Jan 10th Recd letters from
Len J Muriel & Annie
Auntie & Mab [Haines?].
Also a pkt. of socks
from Auntie & a h'chief
from Annie.
Heard from Dr. Cross
today that we will
not leave hospital
until we can be
classed as light duty
cases. We then go
to Port Said & wait
for a boat. I don't
like the term
"light duty" for it
might mean work
on [[L of C?]] for 3 or 4
months. This would
be hell. I'd 100 times
rather go back
to Salonika than
waste money & time
in this hole
April 13th. Have just been
told by Cowan that
Lt. Col. Miller AA & QMC
20th Div told him today
to put in a recommendation
for me for a staff
appt. This is exceedingly
pleasant news andperhaps most unexpected
I'm very glad for it
should mean that a
job should come out
of it eventually
Apr 18 Moved from Tully
to VILLERS- BRULIN a
village in the ST POL
area which in turn is
in the First Army.
This is the first time
I have been in this
Army.
Came on by bus
Jan 10th All this may be
altered of course for
one never knows
what military people
are going to do next.
Dr. Cross said that he
will not allow us
to be put on light
duty but he says
that we must go
back to Australia
Sent a cable to
Auntie, also wrote
Jan 11th Just heard that one
of the MO's in the
hospital had
bubonic plague
a week or so ago.
We heard rumours
before but were
rather incredulous
Apparently the rumour
God knows what will
happen if we haven't
any troops to throw in
and hold the [[?cow]].
Why the French dont
create a diversion some
where I don't know
unless it is that Foch
is still waiting for
something and will
attack when he is ready
The end of next month
should show what
is going to happen
and this last roundnext should be the
last, the result of it
concluding the fight in
a draw.
We must hope for the
best I suppose
Is correct. I was
always under the
impression that it
was horribly infectious
but it doesn't seem
to be. He didn't
peg it.
Wrote to Mick,
Phil
Rob
Jan 14th Still in the same position
pulse fast. Have not been
allowed downstairs yet
O'Donovan & Thompson
went off yester today
after a false start
yesterday.
Met Miss Finlay today
seems quite nice. Tells me
that Colin & Gordon
have got commissions
in the R.F.A. in England
rather jealous of Australians
and I wanted to see
whether he would make
a remark. But not a
word.
The amount which
has been said to me
[[by these ?ge]] about Australian troops
would just about fill
a thimble. Naturally
I don't mention Australia
or Australians except
in answer to a direct
question.
Apr 13th
Moved on the 11th
from CERISY to TULLY
which is only four miles
from the coast. The
news of the Bosch attack
on the Armentieres front
has come through and
has made us feel not
any too cheerful.
Jan 16th: Wrote to Annie
absolutely nothing
doing.
Doctor told us
today that Cairo
had been making
enquiries if we
were still here.
No use getting
excited about I'm
afraid
Thompson's address:-
Lieut A. F. Thompson
Marks Tey
Essex.
Jan 18th Sent from No 15
to Cairo or rather
No 1 A.G.H. Saw
about 30 or 40 officers
I knew.
Ring up on return
[*C Burton*]
Dora Symonds
Yorkshire Fuse Co
18 Queen St
Mrs Lyceff sister
Sandringham
Ring
Mr or Mrs Ground.
for Harry
Ring
Mrs Gillies
for Bert
Jan 23 Wrote Len S.
Sent £1 to McIves
Spending money
like water as I
expected. Having a
good loaf. Sailing
this week some
times. Still pretty
weak.
Jan 24 Wrote Sister Proudlove
Blaynly
O'Donovan
Thompson
Spent yesterday
with Len R in the
Zoo
S.A.E.B. Gilder
"Woodleigh"
Woronora Rd
Hurstville
Sydney
J Green for J Tallyn
Call on Mrs J.L.T
Pine Hook
Shirley Gve
E St Kilda
Jan 28 Have missed
two transports owing
to the mislaying of
of my board papers.
I hope to catch the
Ceramic, which sails
according to rumour
on Saturday.
A new order says
that enteric patients
are not to leave the
hospital. We are
not even allowed to
go into the grounds
& today is a glorious
day.
This order is being
strictly observed
of course.
"Tommie"
c/o F.R.Lloyd
Edwards Deullop
Edwards St
Brisbane
with the information that
we have to move to
the Gavroche area
tomorrow.
In yesterdays Daily
Mail there was a big
heading "Iron Australians"
and a column of glorous
account of the defence
put up by them at
Albert. I purposely left
this paper on the table
for Delassoc to see but
I said nothing. He is
Feb 12th Aboard SS Nestor
15000 tons. Fine ship.
After a wait of three weeks
in No 1 A.G.H. I was finally
shipped off, not at all
sorry to leave as Cairo
& hospital life were
both very tiresome.
A few nice sisters aboard
& although the first two
days have been deadly
slow - I am sick of reading
things may liven up
when everybody settles
down.
out of the 9 Bn. Cdrs or
the Division only one
remaining all the
others being killed or
wounded. Officer casualties
were very heavy. The
battalions of the Bde
came out of the show
not more than 200 - 250
strong including all
details.
Apr 10th Bn moved today
from / AUMONT to CERISY
I came here yesterday
in company with Street.
My job was to look
for training areas &
rifle ranges etc. I had
very little success and
after riding all round
the country yesterday
afternoon in a car
and this morning on
a horse, I was greeted
Feb 13th Left Colombo today
after having spent
a most enjoyable
three days ashore conisn 2 days being
spent visiting Kandy
Had a party of seven
Toyer Lloyd Tirrall.
Sisters Parker Phillips
& Campbell, & self.
Drove up in a car
through mag. scenery
stayed the night at
the Queens Hotel
& left Kandy at
2 o'clock the next
day.
The following morning
went with Lloyd
& Sister Phil. to Lavinia
which trip although
interesting & pretty
fell a little bit flat
after the paradise
Things seem to be going
fairly well. The Bosche
not having succeeded
in breaking our lines yet.
Apr 5th moved yesterday
from Cerisy to Aumont
and rejoined Bde
Hqrs. No orders have
come through regarding
my disposal. My
staff Training has therefore
suffered.
Apr 7th Still at AUMONT. move
on the 10th to HALLENCOURT
area. Bosche still pushing
a bit gained about 2000
yards in parts but on
the whole failed to
make much impression
21st Division is being quickly
made up to strength
with reinforcements.
we had been in the
day before
Mar 2nd Nothing doing
aboard. Ship going
very slowly doing only
230 miles a day average.
Discipline on board
rotten, men being allowed
all over the place
& to do exactly what
they like.
Wrote to Sister Proudlon
Phil
Mick
& sent cable to Auntie
& card to Muriel Tc.
All from Colombo.

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