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

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
RCDIG0000245
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

Mr y my on 4 mory my nyn 1 200 20 4 35 372 wth n nox his 5 2 possibley, eight I had better use the rest of my hime byfor mis wrtting to hiure otherwise she tt buch mu 9 Shill in Bieadois likely to be here for some him: News I) great naval battle + the death of Kitchene just out. i er Wrote to hiriel mich motti W. Guley Palstra I Read
105 sun Mrs 4 ins ii m ws nro 15 26 you 2 m risersing yons 7 n t X Sn roms many 2 7 July Changes have been made which have upner things considerably. Fret 50 men of the 20/5 were transferred to the 19/5 509 ay men transferred to the 20/5 that is to say that I have to take 301 rothers on my strength major Chassay has taken over my ounit and I am of course second in command. McKuizu has been pitched out on his ear. Have heapd that we sail on the 17 ily. Thank Heaven
p d M 2 o 3 mining an po M Kuby Mr yo Tner m on rim m yours mins am Mry ir c r July 18 more hunding by the Sipence Dept. We are only 10 days. of Lembarkation and Me Depence Dept with ther purchant for doing things in a manner which assists everybody have accided to Hanster 4r more of the 20/5 to this ut God knows what the cunit will be like when we get to England and what sort of a reputation wilt get. This is the second to and of the original 150 men I have teamed in bastlemaine about 30 with be sailing with us. Hs daunable
mssy 8 Sn 5 44 34 3 yr o my Lenson You £5 2 & ry pt mner i wint W ga my 2648 r M Fr 224 Sun r o Dummou Sungs r 4 my 209 mor and it I had the stightist oportunty I would under any resignation iumidiatly Jnlin. more yorks by racical e The sept to make our lives, as nusirble as possibly. San kay was more man ugh in his First H.. a night march was held last night. through town the wen of all camps taking yart they were supposed to sing on the march while marching with stopid arius and presumably at athention Although close on 5000 prooks took part in the affair nn arrange ment
ruim 8 wnn N very Hing rer M mon m 5 t 3 an Fr you s oa 6 rt $ 6 4 morning 2 B 67 Ki 200 ins surzo s X min son of any kind were made Yo keep he crowd backs- Consequently by the time we got to Swanston street, instead of marching along in furs we were shoving through the crowd in single fitt a more disgaceful nismanageits affairs with milikry ewit & have never seen. As for disupun there was none Wrote to Gordon Mt. N. to matter
Cummon 6 m 5 om nom 8 p rir my X nr 22 N Ln r Lin ner yur 2 ny fory Mry nr nr irs mos of n mr monistre t Ione Mnly So Suneday Aboard. S. Lunistoetis ambarked at Pord with on Friday Ity5 one year and oaaks after the first embarkution on the Demosthenis Boak crowded. 1300 men aboard. X our muit made duty company at once of course. icklthson. who came in at the last moment to take te place of Major Chassan and was made 00 at once I mounted yesterday morning of weather good alshous atittle choppy, gute Dew I thought Iwa going to be twined up athes doing the broop decks
for 7 a ia en n proyst m 30 wy 6 y £5 MY 2i 4 24 2 66 5 2 N 8 F X2 om te My y oary ms S n mois Ms timrin about your time but thanks to a listle midical comfort did not usgace aysetf. Ifeel, as thoughI and himon ward about 1tno owing to the fac that this is a sishe shy to the Denros Him ome very decent offices awoard Disciptine will be strrct and a good Ming 100 tg va Passed Chathan is us morning. Tho sight of land hill we reach Capitown which will take us about I weeks have jst furished a nature
yn 14 m you M notd t gver or Fity wnt ms M 4 or ony mon 27224 40 M ar Know 3365 tei mori on 27 Mor 7 usmad 26 Ms M fom 45 pr g or Ny 2 onis irn wt 76 2 ho ms on IreDiscipi Sire bouteol to officers Sgts Rather an ordial leavre out alright however Aug s Just two years since I discussed the probleim of entishment with kink and dicidea that wit would not volunterd for active service abroad Opinions change with circumstances how both of us are doing our bit Iwish it were over. having a p tei weather very yough two days ago & here is a very heavy rotl on her at present yot through my lictive alrigh Working like Lavjans Hardly any time to oursely
letters to be wrike amitie every prtinge Eerie 10 Murietglunce hree weeks Job oRed month Jessu ren R in Mrs Kead heu weeks S Srin mouith Mail Ihedi Motty EelisiWhilot occassinaly Marge A every month. Act his occassionally wawley Mrsk thit quir. M Shillman MORI except at night & two of the nights in the week are taken up with lectyry Have just heard that the men with to give me a present. This is very ince of them. I can appreciateit very much the outy trouble is tat undres Kings Rigs that sort of things is not suppose to be done Ithink I had but he take e however & Chance K. Regs. all Angs having a hap holiding his afternoon & so intend to by to erity some litters. Weathe has been pirty rough but is can today
mor ow r0 m or Dny monc 2 mry en m 71 pown o M 20 2 nir My gorn s fomy nt prom wont W JR MS ir wmos your y X N0 2 hir on mar t any w Mr Ag13 hearing Capitown Exhed to arrive there on Friday next. Have just fulished my correspondence havin written my first letter to the following. Nnvill. Erie Amntil sun Ired. mollie Jessie hellie mail and post cards to Marge Cletter Gawley Reb 6 Aug 23r have fift Capetown bekind and are now will out into the atantie in a very calm sea. We arrived at Capehow on the mat of the 5th and at about 10.30 drawing into the quay at about 8 0ctock We had been afraid that we would not be attowed

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

Last edited by:
Jacqueline KennedyJacqueline Kennedy
Last edited on:

Last updated: