Diary of Frederick Harold Tubb, 1915 - Part 1

June 1st 1915

Tuesday June 1st Capt. Walstab left
us for the front this morning: Made
arrangements re, requisitioning for
clothing from Ordnance. Most of the
men are getting ragged: & they
appear in all sorts of garbs: Got
1 cwt of coal this morning, Have a
smiths shop rigged up now out of wagon
poles and covers. Two of my men
(Hampton & Anderson) absent from roll
call this morning! Went into Alexandria
with Eller at 1pm. We had lunch at
Groppi's then visited Jewellers. I purchased
some rings and a necklet for the girls
which I sent home to mother by
registered post. Went to Wen We are
getting quite used to the shopping customs
The folk at home would smile if they
could see us doing our shopping.
Picture a big jewellers establishment
We are bowed to chairs & Turkish
coffee & cigarettes brought to us, etc
It takes a long time to accomplish things
in Egypt! We went to the Windsor
Hotel where we met Capt. Hogan, Ryan
Lt Heron. Lt Broad, Capt [[OHaxtid?]] joined
us & we put in a gay time till
this dinner, Hogan, Heron & Ryan
left for England the same evening
 

Peter Eller and I arrived home per
Garry at 10.30 pm after spending a
real good time  Wednesday June 2
Hampton & Anderson turned up. Fined
them 2 days pay & 3 hours pack drill!
Eller & Capt Robin have gone in on
leave to fix up matters not completed
yesterday. There is no official confirmation
of the loss of the Implacable, so I suppose
it is not true. All accounts of the Aust
doings speak highly of their grand
courage and dash. I wonder if
Australia has had all the news yet?
A refugee camp is on the way
in to Alexandria. The folk there
seem all sorts of breeds. Many of
the women are quite fair. There
are a lot of Turks here, & many of
the Egyptians are anti British also.
The weather is very hot and our Camp
is very dusty. The horses are not
looking too well. A lot of them are
filling up in the legs, a dropsical
kind of swelling I don't like it. The
light horses especially those that are
clipped seem to stand it better
I suppose that the cooping up on
the boat for 6 weeks be the chief
cause of the trouble to the horses
[[3?]]pm Quite a stir amongst the few men in the

Camp. One of them has just been bitten by
a scorpion ligatures were promptly applied
and I operated with th a razor. This is the
3rd case of my men being bitten by
scorpions since we came here. The effects
are serious. My batman was paralysed
for over 24 hours through a bite. The
scorpions are very big, in some cases
about 4inches long, like a fat crap with a
very long sting. The horses are all out
under Lt. Bolton, & Mr Bain is away so
I am in command temporaly.
Thursday, I notice that Lt Berwick who
joined us on the Novian at Lemnos
name is amongst the killed in this
mornings Gazette. Made out size roll
of men. We are drawing from ordnance
jackets, trousers, helmets, boots, to day
The clothing is much needed, many of
the men are ragged! Went into Alexandria
 - at 10am. visited the Base office
at the Metropole hotel, got a "state" from
there as follows
Field return
dated 2/5/15
Effective strength officers   other ranks
14     458
War Establishment 32     994
Wanting to complete   18   536
Total casualties reported to date 3.6.15
officers so0 30 other ranks 700 - including
killed, died of wounds, wounded and missing

The above does not include killed on
the field since 2/5/15 As there was the
big attack on the 8th of May & the Cape Helles
charge etc, goodness knows how we stand
at present! I went out to Victoria Hospital
to look for Col. McKay, our Brigadier, he had
left to stay as the Savoy hotel yesterday I
found out. I saw Col C. Nicoll & had
a long talk with him. He is pretty bad
& cannot move his body without assistance. He
was very brave & he is looking forward
to getting well again - It is hard luck
for him to be confined to his bed for so
long- I trust that he will fully recover.
Went to the Savoy & found the Brigadier
out I met Capt McGee 1st Bn 1st Bde
he was wounded also. Found the Col
Brigadier at 1pm & presented my papers
application to join my Bn at the front
from me & an application from Frank
for a Commission - (Our papers had
been sent back to us from the M.
Base asking for recommendation &
signature from the Senior officer your
Bn & a request from the Bn asking
for me. The Brigadier was grand
 & he soon recomended minuted
the papers strongly recommending
us.  for & Me for the front &
Frank for a commission

The minute on my papers from him
is as follows. Base Commandant
"Owing to the very numerous casualties
in the 7th Bn under my Command
Lt Tubb's services are required at
Gallopoli". He has previous experiences
as a Regimental Officer and I recommend
strongly that he be sent to the front
to his Bn by the next steamer."
J W. McKay Col
Coming 2nd Inf Bde
Alexandria

3/6/15
I am now off to the Base Commandants
with the papers - Found the
Base Commdt. Gen McGregor at Mustapha
after waiting some time I was informed
that I would be notified in due course
and that a boat was leaving on
Saturday next. Visited Mayers & got in
to a new suit I had ordered there
Had photo taken & left instructions for
them to be sent home. Went out to
German hospital. (Deaconesses hospital)
and saw Major Mason had a long
yarn with him; he is improving fast
& hopes to be fit again in about a fortnight. 
I saw Capt Finlayson he does
not look well at all, poor old Fin
he will be in bed for a long time
yet I'm afraid I had a long talk 

with him, Left 7.15 pm for
the Windsor where I dined royally
Friday. Issued clothing to the
men. Went in charge of the horses of our
camp to swimming parade Capt Robin
came too we had a grand swim the
ocean is glorious! Received orders
to shift our camp. We are to join in
with the 3rd Coy A.S.C., Major Tedder
will be the C.O: q  No further news of my
going away. Saturday rose
early. (our reveille is 4 am always)
put in a busy day shifting our
Camp down to new site.  finished
up at 5 pm. The new site is much
better for our (officers) quarters. We
are 8 officers strong now. viz Major
Tedder Lt McQuie, Lt Colman. ASC
& Capt Whitfield V.O. & Bain, Bollon
Eller and self. We have a fine
hospital but for mess. The men
all worked like ants & our new
Camp presents a completed appearance
already. No news yet of my going!
Capt Robin has left us rejoining his
AS.C. The reports of our attack on
the peninsula, that have been published 
in the Argus's that have been 
received here. dated May 2nd & 5th 
are causing comment. The paper

accounts of our doings are quite
misleading & wrong. When Aust
learns the real facts they will be
much surprised  - Sunday 6.6.15
Had 7 sick horses at the sick
horse parade, all suffering
from swelling in the hind legs
Purpura haemorrhagia. Capt Whitfield
thinks the complaint is largely due
to the intense suns heat on the 
horses spines & advocates the
placing of a covering over their
backs. The horses throughout
the camp are afflicted. One of
the ASC horses attached to me
has been returned from the V.
hospital as incurable from
the same complaint. The
new horses which I drew from
[[Lemount?]] depot as Wardien on
3.6.15 to replace my losses since I
left Mena (4) are Canadian
horses they are very good &
look well.- I had a look
round and over a windmill used
for grinding barley on Friday
The mill is about 35 ft. or rather
the sails are, The mill room building
is about 20 ft high. A 14 inch square
shaft runs through near the top a
6ft driving wheel (wooden cogs) 

connects with a perpendicular shaft on 
a wheel that revolves turning the grinding
stones. It seemed to work very
well & took little wind to drive it.
Monday 7.6.15 Heard last night that
Capt Finlayson had his wounded leg
amputated last Saturday, (Extremely sorry!
Flies are in myriads & very annoying,
Major Tedder at mess last night who had
just come out from Alexandria said that
17 troopships had been sent to the
Dardanelles for more wounded, Achi
Babi had not yet fallen. Evidently
fierce fighting has been going on lately
Our Bde has not yet gone to Lemnos fr
as before stated. Received a message
from O.room Sgt Wilkinson saying that
Capt Finlayson was much improved -
No news yet of my going!
Tuesday Egyptian Gazette this
morning gives particulars of another
big scrap at the peninsula on the
4th inst.  Two boat loads of our
wounded came in yesterday. Hear
that Lt Bollon's bro is wounded &
that Lt Campbell (who went back
on the Australind with Col Elliot
on the 26th ult) was killed
The reports received here so far
are that they have been having

a particular hell similar to when
we first attacked. Hear that Capt
Jess is our Bde Major now; Our Bde
returned to Lemnos for two days only
what is left of them are at the Gallopoli
Having inspection of rifles to
day. There is fear of an uprising
of the natives and it is
well to be quite prepared for
anything. There are coast guards
& patrols in all villages but
they are mostly Egyptians. The
natives have altered somewhat
lately. Seeing & hearing of the
large numbers of our wounded
seems to have lessened their
fear of us? Capt Dobbie QM.8th
Bn came out to see Bolton. Dobbie came
from the Gaba Tepe last Saturday he
is invalided for a minor complaint
He told us much news of the front
says that our Brigadier called some
of the Bde men names etc etc
& that Bde Major Cass at Cape Helles
made a remark or two etc etc
The Royal Marine Light Infantries
& the Drakes (the naval division
(Territorials) did not shine out like
our men (that is to put is mildly)
Our men were ordered to "push on" 

"Push on" by Senior officers though
much against the will & wishes of their
own officer (who is seems had much
better ideas) It bewilders one, hearing
the different views of different officers
Dobbie states that our line of
defence is quite safe at Gaba Tepe
that when he left we had 15 men
to the yard & a machine gun to 10 yards
& a field gun to 20 yards right along our line of
defence. Our reserves are only 1000
yards from the firing line, our
support only 10 yds from the front
It is worse as the reserves than
on the front trenches he says
as regards shell & shrapnell fire
We have a number of Japanese
trench guns (mortars) which fire
a shell in a lob a few hundred
yards the shell is equivalent to
a 6 inch gun. but the gun used is a
little short one. The general
belief is that the Australians
advanced too far the first
day at Gaba Tepe. Though
our Bn officers did not want to
they were ordered to by superior
officers although the G.O.C.'s
orders were to stop and
entrench on the first ridge

as our C.O. & other officers of the
Companies and platoons wanted to do
The belief expressed by many who
were present is that had we
stopped & dug in on the first ridge
we would not have lost more than
10% of what we did! 7pm Have heard
that 6 more ships have had orders
to fit out as hospitals & go to Gallopoli
Report says that 16000 casualties
have occurred the last few days
The food & clothing supplies
at the peninsula are plentiful
and good, the Issues of cigarettes
tobacco rum etc are given out every
day, plenty of good blankets & stores
also are there. Though there has
been complaints re the medical
arrangements & treatment of wounded
in the majority of cases the service
is good One cannot & should
not expect everything perfect
in a show like this. The heavy
casualty list, the disorganization
brought about by same. The huge
task, & the breaking down of
elderly superior officers etc etc
I am filled with wonder at their
power & magnitude of the British
Empire & the way thing continue 

despite the thousands of things
that tend to disorganise & demoralize.
One has only to view
the shipping, the Navy the Army
The transport Commissarial etc etc. The gigantic
task being attempted, & think
a bit & he is amazed that the
huge concern is progressing
so well as it is. "It's a long way
to Tipperary" or Constantinople for
that matter, or to Berlin either Im
thinking eh? what! Wednesday
9th  Inspected rifles & found them
in good order except three. Rumour
is rife re our future doings
We hear that we are off to
England or France in three
weeks, that is, the horses &
transport sections. Frank & I went
in to Alexandria paid for my
photos, purchased some beautiful
silk articles presents for mother &
sisters & cigarettes for Father, to
be sent home tomorrow. I hope they
reach home alright - We visited
the Abbassick secondary school
hospital & saw Major Blegard
& Lt Rodgers they have had a
bad time especially Blegard.
Major Blegard was pretty bad we

had a long talk with him, he
was operated on the day before. I
trust he recovers! Our position at
Gaba Tepe seems Ok. but at
Cape Helles things are not so good.
We have heard that Achi Baba
has fallen but I doubt it by
the accounts that have come in
Another batch of Australians
have arrived Col Crouch's lot
they have not behaved too well
at Colombo & on the voyage by
all reports. We met two English
Officers Hampshiris & Lancashires
on the train they told us that
200,000 British troops have
just arrived they are concentrating 
at Alexandria, Cairo
Lemnos, Tenedos for a
big forward move on the
Gallopoli.  By jove we want
them, these reinforcements are
needed & we feel more secure
& confident in consequence
We lunched of the Savoy Palace
Hotel & dined at the Regina
with Lt. Wright Smith late of our
Bn now a 2/Lt in the British Army
We found out from the base
office that Charlie is still 

at Heliopolis with the horses so
I gave he Lt Smith who is stationed
there also, a letter for Charlie.
We visited our Base record office
but the O.G. Sergeant could give
us nothing fresh. They expect
news of the casualties tomorrow
Rumour states that 9000 have
occurred, I wonder how our
L.Horse crowd got on- We saw
Major Cass for a few minutes he
is getting well fast. Our Brigadier
McKay has returned to the front
Major Jackson also, Lt Conder is
invalided to Australia  He left by
the Kyarra this morning.
Thursday 10.6.15  Hard at it altering
the plan of our Camp. Gen McGregor
the Base Commandant inspected it
last night and advised improvement
Got letters from home of 25th
April & one May 3rd. Glad to
hear of the rain in April. Extremely
sorry to learn of Mrs Locks death.
The windmill must have got damaged.
The Argus & Herald accounts of our
doings are fair but do not state
the full facts! We eagerly devour
the home letters, & wish we go
could get them regularly

Poor old Victoria and Australia. The
loved ones at home are to be pitied
Am glad to say that the majority
of our wounded are recovering
No word yet of my marching orders!
No censorship on our letters now
"till further notice" so our folk
at home will be getting full
accounts of our doings Friday
Got some more letters from Mother
and the girls last night dated 11th
& 12th of May. Frank & I enjoyed reading
them very much. Attended consultations
under Major Ledder for purpose of
arranging best method of preparing
to resist an attack. u in Our
Bde can muster 148 rifles for the
firing line the 3rd A.S.C. 100 rifles
The attack is expected from in
between the sea & the salt lake. It
is reported that some fanatic with
a large following is about 100 miles
from us & it is thought probable
that his objective is Alexandria.
As we are between him & that place
it behoves us to be prepared!
The accounts of our casualties &
engagements seem to be getting
home to Australia about a
month after they happen. In
some particulars the accounts are censored! 

The 5 & 6th Brigades it was that arrived on
Wednesday Col Linton as Brigadier they
are going to Heliopolis . Report says
that they were issued with their rifles
only two days before they left.
Miss Maire representative of [[?]] [[Brindisie?]]
photographers came out by request & photographed
our section transports. It took a darn
of a long time to group our men to the satisfaction
of the photographer! A meeting of all officers
took place at the Camp Commandant's
resulting in improvements being arranged
Helped Lt Eller to compute allowances
to units - We each draw 2/3 a month
per man from the Contractors (Nile storage Co)
for regt funds for the right of canteens
stores etc. Saturday 12 Field 
officer to day.  Inspected the bread & meat
at 6. am. -(bread fair - meat good)
inspected canteens, guards, lines etc. 
As we are "duty ship" to day many of our
men are detailed for Camp duties, guard etc
Heard that 200 Turkish prisoners were
brought in today. Sunday Commandant's
inspection at 9.30 am  Our lines were
in A.1. order. Heard that Col Elliott
has been killed Am anxiously 
waiting to hear more news & particulars
All sorts of reports are rife
Native risings, as Somaliland

Mad Mullah's etc. Heard that 2000
mules from Franch have arrived to
take the place of our horses which
they intend to send in their place
Heard from O.R. Sergeant that Col
Elliott is alright! Capt Milne's
ASC is with us & he was wounded
at the peninsula. Milne is going to 
stop with us he has told us many
stories of the front etc. Lt Eller had
a letter from Major Bennet from
Gallopoli, today two men that had
deserted the 6th Bn Transport here
for the port they were sent back
bringing with them the letter
Major Bennet writes that "It
is good O here now and
we are losing very few men
but our casualties have been
ern enormous" I took out
a number of the men mounted
this afternoon & drilled them
as a Troop (Light Horse) We got
on splendidly & the men enjoyed
it - It is like old times handling
a troop. We had a swim in
the sea it was glorious. The
weather is very hot. The
place where our men landed
at Gaba Tepe is now known
as Anzac Cove so named