Diary of Frederick Trouton Small, 1915 - Part 7

86
March  27 SATURDAY  1915
Sergt Thom & self went into town
to pay the Anglo-Egyptian Bank
a visit  I returned the Trustee
Cheque for £90. 3-4 to Melbourne
to be paid into my a/c. I notified
both Uncle & the Trustee Coy.
that I wished any future money
paid to my a/c. in Australia
Visited all the slums possible
but the degrading spectacles I saw
can scarcely be related here. 

87

1915  28 Sunday March

Heard that all Lithgow Rifles have been
condemned & will be replaced.
Paraded at 9 am & had our Rifle
& bayonet numbers taken as well as
the makers stamp
As a wretched dust storm was blowing
across Mena, Norm & I got out of
camp & went to Cairo. We had a
splendid lunch at Rossmore House
- a place run by English people. Quite
a number of English ladies reside here
We spent a few quite hours writing &
then made the best of our way to the
"Continental" where Mrs & Lt Roe met us
& took us to the "Blue Mosque" (where the
Koran School was in progress) & to several 

other ancient Mosques.  We then had
afternoon tea at "Troppis" Dinner
followed a pleasant chap at
"Shepherds" at the St James Cafè.
These two friends have been real
bricks to us & we have appreciated
their kindness more than words can tell.
Sir Ian Hamilton reviewed the
Territorial troops in Cairo 

88
March  29 MONDAY  1915
Reviewed by Sir Ian Hamilton
in the Morning & repaired
rifle pits in the afternoon
Clogie, as usual had a new scheme
a the "big" parade & as usual we
made a mess of things. Why to
the dickins we cannot keep to the
usual signals, instead of changing
to new ones when it is least desirable
goodness only knows. 

89
1915  30 TUESDAY  March

Went down for two days in the
irrigation canals to practice pont toon
drill. We got on very well with the
pont-toon drill but the trestle

drill - nuf sed. Of course
the sub was the cause. Why
will these inexperienced men in
erection work try & tell contractors &
mechanics with years of experience,
their business? I had reason
to cross him & as he "is boss" &
"will be boss" and always "must be
boss" I had to knuckle down. I
had the satisfaction of seeing his
way fail. As it was "knock off"
time we packed up for the day. 

90 

March  3I WEDNESDAY  1915
Got up at 4 am & worked till
12 pm on the trestle gear. As the
sub was away we had no trouble
whatever in erecting it in all
manner of ways. The chain
blocks continue to give a deal of
trouble mainly thro the chain
jambing.
Returned to camp shorty after
dinner 
91

1915  1 THURSDAY  April
The company went out on a route
March. As our section was on
guard 9 of us stayed behind
so as to go on at 5.15 pm.
We were hauled off to dig a
pumping trench at the back
of Mena House stables. It
was damn hot work more
especially as one of our number
"fainted" - & threw us back an
hour or so.
Turned out an excellent guard 

92
April  2 GOOD FRIDAY  1915 
Guard all day. "Turned out"
for "Pompey" in grand style at 10 am
He told us to keep our "hair cut
as the place to where we were
shortly bound was very hot &
we were not likely to hear of
any barbers there". This confirmed
the "latrine wires" we had heard
earlier in the morning that we
were to move off on Saturday night
for Alexandria
Owing to my "pippy" mood I was
very pessimistic over this news especially
as we had been "had" so often before 
93

1915  3 SATURDAY  April
Leave Cairo
All sorts of rumours flying around
today mostly contradicting one another
However at four o'clock the order
came for "tents down" so we felt
we must be off at last & so we
were.
Hincks who was exceedingly "full"
was sent into the Cairo Station with
Jimmy Lindsay & I (both injured
the former with a bad knee & I.
with a bad heel from which a corn
had been extracted) at 7pm.
The tram was full of ladies who
were keenly interested in us &
our equipment
We had very little trouble with
Hincks & once on the station we
slept till 3.30 am. The rest
of the company joined us here so
we boarded the train & we soon
spread over the floor & sound
asleep
Good bye to rice & cinnamon 

94
April  4 Easter Day  1915
We pulled out of Cario at 5 am
& arrived at Alexandria at
10.30 am  On our way to the
wharves we passed numerous
French troops in bright red trousers
royal blue coats & hats to match.
There were also English troops
galore.
Some very fine transports in
the harbour.  Unfortunately ours
is an old cargo tramp - City of
Benares - The sleeping quarters ????
are the limit.  No hammocks so
you sleep on the decks tables &
forms.  At Meals 18 of us crowd
in to a space to seat 12. 
95
1915  5 Easter MONDAY  April
Left Alexandria.
Spent day roaming around the
ship.  Lifted the pick at 5 pm. and
set sail for Lemos an island
40 miles S.W. of the Dardanelles
The 3^rd Brigade are supposed
to be quartered here. We hear
we will not land but will
await the arrival of the remainder
of the transports 

96
April  6 Easter TUESDAY  1915
Nearly everbody at Mess 21 had
all their meals but a few were
sea sick.  Clogie & Baby as usual
failed to put in an appearance
We were not sorry as it saved 
us a lot of parades 
97
1915  7 WEDNESDAY  April
Arrived at LEMNOS ISLAND
Sea was much calmer &
more attractive as we were passing
numerous islands.
Clogie addressed us down in our
mess deck told us we were to be
issued with ammunition & two
days iron ration.  He said we
were going to land in the morning
(personally I think it will be Tuesday
next or even later) & were to fight
our way to water within 24 hours
He advised us to pack away
everything excep a blanket, waterproof,
overcoat, cap comforter &
blue guernsey. He said we were
to carry a pick & shovel for "road
making" but in reality they were
for digging graves.  He said this
shows you "what kind of a rotten
business we are going into". Most
of the time will be spent in
burying your comrades.
Most of the afternoon was
spent in packg our ammunition
& iron ration as well as the
necessities
Anchored in Lemnos harbour
shortly after 6 30 pm. We saw
for the first time the famous
Queen Elizabeth with her great
15" guns. The Russian cruiser
Arkold was also in this pretty
harbour 

98
April  8 THURSDAY  1915
Paraded at 9.15. am in extra
full marching order so as to
practice "disembarkation drill"
up & down rope ladders over the
ships side.  The whole thing
is a farce why we sho^uld be
burdened with a pick & shovel
when they could be placed in
the boat before lowering, the
Military only knows
The whole thing ended in
many rope burnt hands. 
99

1915  9 FRIDAY  April
Still moored in the harbour at
Lemnos.  Did a bit of signaling
work at 10 a.m. Had a yarn with
Capt. Bage but got very little news
beyond the fact that our ships
could batter the Dardanelle forts
alright but once mine sweeping
operations commenced the field
Howitzers impeded the proceedings
considerably
Sent the "regulation card" to Flo
& Auntie Eff, P.C. to "Mum" Baldwin
& "Obie. Doc Brown. 

100
April  10 SATURDAY  1915 
Were alloted places for our kits
Norm had an argument over
his place & I was called in to
express my opinion.  As I had
distinctly heard the Sergt. give
the position Norm claimed to
another I had to decide against
him.  I then withdrew.  As the
argument continued I slipped
away to get the Sergt. to settle
it, fully intending not to taken
further part in the argument.
Unfortunately the Sergt was
unable to leave but said - after
sketching the position - "they'll
take your word for mine".  I
then returned to the group &
said "will you take my word
for the Sergts".  Norm immediately
said No!.  I retorted "Well
that shows your pigheadedness
To this he took exception &
then during the day a distinct
coolness sprang between us.
He afterwards Saw the Sergt
who seemed hazy over the
positions but quite distinct
about the disputed position
thus proving me right.  As
we went to bed Norm brought
the matter up again  I told
him I did not wish to argue
any further on the matter 
101
1915  11 Sunday  April

Church parade & sleep to day.
but he forced it.  He told me
to understand that he was not
going to knuckle down to me
& finished by saying "I'm sick
of you & I'm tired of your
- obstancy.  I've seen it at
Freezland, at the University &
again here.
He seems to be labouring
under the delusion that I am
contesting my will against his.
& here lies the trouble.  If
he really thinks this then
there it sure to be trouble
for every time we have a
difference of opinion he will
immediately think "his against
mine".
I am sorry, very sorry, this
breach has occurred & as I
am not one to knowingly thrust
my presence on another, it
remains with Norm how long
it lasts.
I have looked at this matter
fairly & squarely & consider
that Norm is in the wrong. 

102
April  12 MONDAY  1915
Rifle inspection & drill was
the only excitement today
The Brigadier, Clogie & Capt King
went on board the Queen
Elizabeth to the Dardanelles.
Nothing startling to report. 
103
1915  13 TUESDAY  April 

Raining nearly all night & part
of the morning.  We were to go
for a stretch on land but
the weather conditions prevented
us  Spent the afternoon fixing
the "derrick foot" of our landing
boat derrick
Mail-only one from the Bank
of Australia London acknowlg
the sum of £12 -I sent to them
to be placed to my credit. 

104
April  14 WEDNESDAY  1915
French troops arrived during the
night so I dont suppose it will
be long before we get a move on.
It looks as if my prophecy "about
Friday" will be somewhere near
the mark.
A man fell overboard from
A8 (Take Michigan) about 3 am
this morning.  Our second
officier picked him up some
200 yards away.
Steam up ready to move at
6 a.m.  It is now 4 pm & we are
still here.
Looked into & repaired the defects
to the foot of the "boat derrick on
our boat.  The stick is 15" sq
The boats weigh 10 tons & there are
7 falls of 1½ steel cable.
Section paid.
105
1915  15 THURSDAY  April
Section on guard so I was
orderley with Stript this meant
the ordinary washing & ration
routine