Diary for George Lush Finlay, 1915-1918 - Part 8










an R B sergeant
who says he saw
it in the paper
but I have my
doubts as to the
correctness of his
information. I don't
think that this is
going to end badly
for us and I do
think that the end
of it will see the
beginning of the end
of the war.
Mar 18th Marched from
NAMPT to Mollien-
Vidame & went ahead
as billeting officer
of the group of
transport to which
I am attached
and found the village
full of refugees from
possibly, eight
I had better use
the rest of my time before
miss writing to Muriel
otherwise she'll buck
June 9th Still in B'meadows
likely to be here for
some time. News of
great naval battle & the
death of Kitchener just
out.
Wrote to Muriel M.
Mick
Mollie W.
Crawley
Palstra
L. Read.
night under a
tarpaulin under the
mess cart we moved
at 7 am to Nampt
about 12-14 miles
from Mezieres Tomorrow
we go to another place
about 10-12 miles further
on and the third
day will see us in
Amiens.
No news of any
importance has reached
us. An engineer officer
who has just blown
in says that we
pushed the Bosche
back a mile last
night but that the
situation up there
is still serious.
Transport officer of
the Oxfords says that
we landed at Ostend,
his informant being
July 6th
Changes have been
made which have upset
things considerably.
First 50 men of the 20/5 were
transferred to the 19/5
& 50 of my men transferred
to the 20/5 That is to say
that I have to take 50
rotters on my strength
Major Chassar has taken
over my unit and I am
of course second in
command. McKenzie
has been pitched out
on his ear. Have heard
that we sail on the
17th July. Thank Heaven.
matter. It's men that
count and I am
sure that he has
had double the casualties
we have had.
27th At NAMPT I moved
from Quesnel yesterday
at 1.30 after having
seen Bde Hqrs All
of them were exceptionally
weary. While at
lunch with them
a plane dropped a
message which told
us that the Bosche
was somewhere near -
about 7 miles away
Fresh dispositions had
to be made and
all transport had
to move to Mezieres
After spending an
exceptionally cold
July 18
More bungling by
the Defence Dept.
We are only 10 days
off embarkation and
the Defence Dept with
their penchant for
doing things in a
manner which assists
everybody have decided
to transfer 42 more
of the 20/5 to this unit
God knows what
the unit will be like
when we get to
England and what
sort of a reputation
we'll get. This is
the second lot and
of the original 150
men I have trained
in Castlemaine about
30 will be sailing
with us. It's damnable
not more than 600
strong including all
transport.
I can't help feeling
that, even though
I fully believe that these
troops have done their
best, if the Aust Corps
had been here Fritz
wouldn't have got
back as quickly
or as far as he
has done.
I'm still confident
that he is knocking
the nails into his
own coffin and trust
that before two weeks
are up we will
have been able to
drive him back a
short distance and
hold him tight
Ground doesn't
and if I had the
slightest opportunity
I would tender my
resignation immediately
July 21. More efforts by
the Practical Joke
Dept to make our
lives as miserable
as possible. Ian Hay
was more than right
in his First H.T.
A night march was
held last night
through town the men
of all camps taking
part They were supposed
to sing on the march
while marching with
sloped arms and
presumably at attention
Although close on
5000 troops took part
in the affair no arrangements
and after three of
us had finished off
some whisky turned
under a tarp. strung
across the shafts of
a mess cart.
The Division was
relieved at 12 midday
by the French and
rumour has it that
they have been forced
back slightly.
But they said that it
is their policy.
No news from the
north. It may be quite
allright up there and
might be all wrong
for all we know.
The Brig and B.M
have just gone through
followed by the
remnants of the
Bde. It seems to be
of any kind were made
to keep the crowd
back. Consequently
by the time we got
to Swanston street,
instead of marching
along in fours we were
shoving through the
crowd in single file
A more disgraceful
mismanagement of
affairs both military
& Civil I have never
seen. As for discipline
there was none.
Jul 21. Wrote to Gordon
to Mollie.
D.A.D.O.S. told the
school to move to GRUGNY
to day. I took the transport
to join up with the Bde
& Div transport which
was parked near
Goyencourt and after
riding through to Grugny
to see if I could
find Callinan saw
his orderly and
rode back to the
transport lines to
send a cooker to him
Stood around in the
transport lines waiting
orders to move till
about 10.30 It was
frightfully cold but
fortunately at about
10.30 we got the orders
to move back to
Le Quesnel.
arrived there at
2.30 this morning
July 30th Sunday.
Aboard S.S. Themistocles
Embarked at Port Melb
on Friday July 28th, one
year and 12 days after
the first embarkation
on the Demosthenes
Boat crowded 1500
men aboard. i
Our unit made
duty company at once
of course. Rickettson -
who came in at the
last moment to. take
the place of Major Chassar
- is O.C. and was made
O.C. at once. I mounted
yesterday morning
Weather good although
little choppy, quite
a few ill
I thought I was going
to be burned up after
doing the troop decks
morning and
are now backing
up our troops.
They say this is
the worst part of
the whole 80 kilo
front and also that
the 18th Corps have
been sacrificed for
the sake of a bigger
success somewhere
else.
I think this effort
will finish the
war one way or
another.
26th Moved from Beaulieu
to xxxxx Roye at
9 o'clock on 24th and
arrived there at about
1.30 am. We were
able to find a room
to sleep in. At 12 noon
about four times
but thanks to a little
"medical comfort" I
did not disgrace
myself.
I feel as though I
had been on duty
board about 12 m p
owing to the fact
that this is a sister
ship to the Demosthenes
Some very decent
officers aboard.
Discipline will be
strict and a good
thing too.
Aug 2nd Passed Chatham Is
this morning. Last
sight of land till we
reach Capetown which
will take us about
2½ weeks. Have just
finished a lecture
is certain.
The worst sight I have
seen was given to
me yesterday when
the civilian population
of this village received
the order to move.
Old women who could
hardly walk from
their bedrooms & youngsters
of two or three stood
by their doors and
watched the preparations
for the operation being made by their xxxx daughters or
mothers. This sight
depressed me more
than anything.
French cavalry, guns
and infantry have
passed through here
from 5 o'clock yesterday
afternoon. All night
until 11 o'clock this
on Fire Discipline & Fire
Control to Officers & Sgts.
Rather an ordeal
Carme out alright
however.
Aug 2nd Just two years
since I discussed the
problem of enlistment
with Len R. and decided
that wex would not volunteer
for active service abroad.
Opinions change with
circumstances. Now both
of us are doing our bit.
I wish it were over.
Having a fair trip
Weather very rough two
days ago & there is a very
heavy roll on her at
present. Got through my
lecture alright.
Working like Trojans
Hardly any time to oneself
Letters to be written 10
✓ Auntie every fortnight 11
✓ Eric " " 11
✓ Muriel & Eunice " three weeks
✓ Rob & Fred " " "
✓ Jessie " month
Len R " "
Len J " "
Mrs Read three weeks
✓ Sim " month
✓ Mase " "
✓ Nellie " "
✓ Molly " "
Elise & [[?hilve]] occassionally
✓ Marge A. every month
Alice & Iris '
✓ Gawley occassionally
Mick
Phil
Gary.
Mrs Stillman
except at night & two
of the nights in the week
are taken up with lectures.
Have just heard that the
men wish to give me
a present. This is
very nice of them &
I can appreciate it
very much. The only
trouble is that under
King's Regs that sort
of thing is not supposed
to be done. I think
I had better take it
however & chance K : Regs.
Aug 8th Having a half holiday
this afternoon & so I intend
to try to write some
letters. Weather has been
fairly rough but is calm
today
and we are still here
News from this particular
front improves gradually
and we hear that
the Bosche is holding
A great number of French
troops including artillery
have come up and
are in support to
our Div. The Bosche
has made no advance
today as far as we
can judge and is
being held.
Persistent rumours
tell us that we have
attacked at Arras
and Ypres and advanced
considerably in both
places and that the
French have attacked
at Soissons and are
pushing the Hun there.
That he has had
tremendous casualties
Aug 13th Nearing Capetown
Expect to arrive there
on Friday next. Have
just finished my
correspondence having
written my first letter
to the following:-
Auntie. Eric. Muriel.
Fred. Sim. Mollie
Nellie Maie Jessie
And post cards to
Marge (letter) Gawley.
Rob
Aug 22nd Have left Capetown
behind and are now well
out into the Atlantic in
a very calm sea.
We arrived at Capetown
on the night of the 5th Aug at
about 10.30 drawing into the
quay at about 8 o'clock.
We had been afraid that
we would not be allowed

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