Diary of Frederick Harold Tubb, 1915 - Part 2

because of the Australian & 
New Zealand Army Corp. The
beach is known as shrapnel
beach, and other places are
characteristically & appropriately named
Monday  Had the men 
medically inspected this morning
& found them "all correct". Hear
that it is officially announced
that L/ Col McNicoll has been
awarded D.S.O. & Lt Derham of
the 5^th the V.C.  or Military Cross. Good luck to them
The official account of our losses
during the landing on April 25^th
for 24 hours is 3^rd Bde 1900 2^nd
Bde 1700. Euroa men suffered
Sgt Collins, Sgt Wale, Barry are
killed (or died of their wounds), Kennedy
Morgan, Leonard, Carrick wounded
Pezet who is with me is the
only one of his section not out of
action (he tells me) I had
Pezet (from Euroa) transferred to
me a day or two before we left
Mena. Tuesday Very
hot. The heat is trying. One
gets up in the morning feeling
washed up out. The flies are
a d- pest.  Am getting fed
up of this blooming place!

Had a deputation of convalescents
waiting on me this afternoon. They are
anxious to take the place of my
men who are equally anxious to go to
the front. (The men who have just come
from Malta) state that they have had
a bellyful of fighting. Wednesday
A beastly day blowy & hot & dusty.
Vile!! Am going into Alexandria
to make inquiries about exchanging
some of my men for Convalescents.
I received a memo from Col Elliott,
from the front (Anzac Cove) yesterday
to send our machine gun spare parts
& some Q-M stores. I have them
packed ready for transit. I enclosed
letters to the C.O. & Major Weddel
asking them to send for me etc
Have heard that Capt Weddell
has been promoted to Major & that
Lt Grills has been promoted to Captain
(Good luck to them!)  A number
of the 7th Convalescent Officers
endeavoured to get me on the phone
yesterday to attend a dinner at
the Club. Am sorry that they
couldn't. I would have liked to have been
present! 3 pm I am sitting on a
box waiting the pleasure of Col
Scott who is representing Gen
McGregor B Mediterranean Base Forces
 

for an interview re my application
for the front of some time ago. Peter
Eller has just left me to go to the
Victoria hospital to see Col McNicoll
We lunched in the Majestic with
Capt Mullen T.O. of the 12th Bn & Capt
Bannister of the 4th Light Horse and
Lt Belcher 1st Lt Horse Automobile Officer & Capt
Brennan M.O. I wonder what
Col Scott will have to say to me?
I wish he would hurry up & send for
me. The Army does not care how
long "one" cools his heels" Later
Col Scott informed me that he
could not tell me anything except
that I would be notified in due
course. I went to the Aust Base
& found that Col Johnson B.C. 1st AIF
and Capt Henry Adjt were away.
I left a letter asking for information
Eller and I had a bonza
hot bath at the Union Club (dec
(Officers have been made honorary
members) I visited the [[photography?]]
and saw the proofs of photos of our
transport sections they were good
We met at the Majestic (that is
is the same party as we were at lunch)
and dined famously, after
which we walked round &

took train for Mena where our
batmen were waiting with horses
to take us home. We had spent
a real good day which we
appreciate vastly after the Camp
life and fare. I was struck
by the large number of Officers
in town & in the Hotels & Clubs
We know of course that hundreds
of them are convalescents, but
there appears to be a number
that are not! Things are
much quieter at the peninsula
trench warfare is in progress
plenty of hard work. The
water is getting scarce as
the men are put on an allowance
of 1 1/4 pints a day so Capt
Bannister tells us. Bannister
is in the same regt as Maygar
he gave us much news of the
doings of the 4th L.H. Their
casualties were not many (only
30) so far. By all accounts the
German system of espionage is good
We I daresay there are spies in
our Camp here now they were evidently
with us at Mena. A story is told
that is corroborated by many
During the armistice at the
peninsula when the parties
 

to bury the dead & collect
the wounded etc. were together a
a German Officer remarked to
one of our Officers "Many a good
night I had with you boys at
Shepheards hotel in Cairo." And
After the arrival of the 2nd L. Horse
when they were going from the
supports to fire trenches a voice
in English called out "Hello! Come on
2nd Light Horse we know youre there".
Friday 18th Anniversary of Waterloo
I suppose some fierce fights will
be taking place to day. Col Harris
Hancock inspected horses that
have been put aside for carting
here to day, several of our Bde
were passed for carting they
are to be replaced by mules - I
am glad that all my horses are fit!
Received a letter from Little Collins
St this morning. Have heard that
grand rains have fallen in
Victoria. Hear that Gen Legg
from Australia the new G.O.C. in place
of our late General Bridges has
arrived(!) Saturday 19. 6. 15
Furnished Field state this
morning. my fighting strength
is 1 - 45 one short who is still in

hospital (Pvte Stokes) Things seem
pretty quiet at Gallopoli. French
warfare is slow! Col Harris
Hancock Director of Remounts inspected 
the horses recommended
for carting. The colonel was well
up in his work! Sunday -
Two of the men (Tucker & Chappell)
attached to me exchanged with
two convalescents Wesley & Allen
on board a ship that was bound
for the front yesterday without
permission I am greatly surprised 
at men doing this - I
am seeking advice as to what to
do in the matter. I see by the
Times of June 4th that L/Col McNicoll
has been awarded the D.S.O. & Capt
McGee of the 4th Bn Military Cross
& Lt Derham of the 5th a Military Cross
Pvte Birell of the 7th the D.C.M.
I have made out a report of the missing
men giving particulars for the Base
Commandant Col Johnson. Eller &
I went to Alexandria after lunch
& visited Moharem Bay where a
fine shooting club is. I nominated
for 8 events, but did not succeed
in winning any. The conditions
are different to our methods

The birds (pigeons) which were a splendid
lot, are smaller than ours and
much faster; they are thrown out
of a pit, not liberated from traps
& by jove they do go. 25 yards is
the nearest mark. I borrowed a
grand gun from one of the members
For every bird that was shot inside
the boundary I should say that twenty
got away. The majority of the sweeps
(events) were won on two kills 4
was the highest & 3 the second highest
out of 16 events. The betting system
interested us. It is done on the tote
we did not make expenses but lost
only 16 piastres so didn't do too badly!
The shooters were of different nationalities
and all handled the gun well. We were
told that the shooting here is much
more difficult than at Monte Carlo, for
here the birds are much faster & smaller!
We met Mr & Mrs Gilbert (whom we
had previously met at Mr Singleton's Cairo)
at the Regina & had much pleasure
in renewing our acquaintance
Sgt Stuart of A coy came to see me to
see if he could draw pay thro me. Stuart
was badly wounded in the left arm on
Apl 25th. He says that they did advance
too far on tha[t] morning, his unit a few

men reached crops & grass country about
4 miles from the beach, they of course had
eventually to retire, their losses were heavy.
Stuart says that he has been informed that
only about 20 of the original 7th Bn that
left Mena are now standing (!) Lloyd 
George has is doing splendid work in
England Englishmen in Alexandria state
that he is the man of the time. The
Manchester Cotton works are turning out
explosives and shells in record time
Other factories previously used for other
purposes are doing the same - I
see by the papers Australia is also
commencing making shells - Good
luck to Australia! Visited the Camp
HQrs mess in the evening.  Bridge was
being played - came home at 10 pm
Colman had just returned from
Cairo where he had gone on duty
Meena is deserted. The heat
is terrible up there, deaths
had taken place from sunstroke.
Fever is prevalent, many deaths
are occurring especially amongst
the natives   Tuesday   Very hot
Routine work in the morning
After lunch I went to Alexandria
with Lt. [[McGuire?]] to play tennis
The courts which are near the
race course are splendid
 

Every convenience, fine lavatories
bathrooms showers, niggers to chase
balls afternoon tea etc. We had some
great games. There are about ten
Courts all in good order. The surroundings 
are fine, lovely gardens,
& green turf racing track. I had dinner
at [[Georgies?]] and returned to Camp at
midnight. - Bulgaria seems like
coming in - Italy seems to be
doing well, Mackensen will make
his promise of getting Lemburg good
by accounts. Turkey is much
more formidable than was
imagined, paper states that they
have 1,250 000 magazine rifles etc.
Rumour states that a move is
shortly to take place - Our new G.O.C.
Gen Legg is credited with saying
that the wants all Australian troops
removed from Egypt - Venice &
Cyprus are spoken of as places
where we may go to(!) It is
so hot in Cairo, Heliopolis etc
that report states that broken bones
won't knit, or wounds heal.
A new Camp Commandant is coming
here, an English Officer, seems strange?
Received letters from home to May 18 last
night - Glad to hear of all doings

at home - pleased to hear of the grand
rain in May. Hope the U&D. strike
it rich! Am continually wondering
when I will get my orders to move
to the peninsula. Things are very
quiet here & F & I would like to
get a move on!  L/ Col Richardson
Warwickshire Yeomanry is taking over
Camp Commandant tomorrow since Major
Holdsworth who is going back to his Coy.
Got another letter from home
telling of offer for Post Office house
I hope Father won't sell it - I want
it when I return(!) Spent the
evening down at HQrs mess
Major Holdsworth read us the
latest news from the front (official)
explaining the object of & giving
details of attacking the Dardanelles
There were 34,000 Turks & 100 guns
on the peninsula opposing us the
day we landed & 4 5 000 on the
Asiatic side, they were [[Nippon?]]
(regular troops) they were quickly
reinforced by others from Constantinople 
bringing them up to
150,000. Official report states
that at a low estimate 5 5,000
casualties have occurred amongst
them to 15th June. They have
 

plenty of ammunition, but things
are happening in Constantinople
that give the idea that we are
have done splendidly and are still
doing so - Bayley a man correspondent who
has been all through the war
areas lately returned to day. He
says that at Berlin they are turning
up their parks, and planting potatoes
He attended a "Mid summer's nights dream
in Berlin about 24 days ago - At
Constantinople the streets are
almost deserted  all the loafers
& others of leisure have disappeared. Instructions
re behaviour on enemy showing
the white flag are promulgated
cautioning our men to be very
careful etc. A cable is published
congratulating us from the High
Commissioner London & a reply
from Gen Birdwood. Evidently
things are progressing favorably
for our side, but time will show
and it will take a long time yet I'm
thinking before we win the day.
Rumour states that Roumania
is joining with us. If this turns
out to be correct it will be Goodbye
Turk before long! The
wind has shifted   It is off the sea

now making it cooler, & possible
for us to get a decent sleep -
When the wind blows off the sea
it is moist and leaves makes
everything sticky. Clothes & hands
feel as if they had come in contact
with honey or sugar. Thursday
Three of the 7th Machine Gun Section
came out to see me yesterday. One
of them J Whitelaw (Lt Whitelaw's batman)
is being invalided to Australia
(I intend sending some clothes home
by him) Ridgeway & Middleton,
the last named (shot through the
knee) were here also. The 7th men
Convalescents have difficulty in
drawing pay at the Convalescent
home, (through the fault of some
of them drinking, & abusing the privileges
there I believe) so they come out to
me to draw pay for them. Received
149 piastres (my share of Regimental
funds) this morning ... I am
spending it on flour, rice raisins
etc for the men! There are a number
of Turkish prisoners taken to date. Many
are on Lemnos - A German aeroplane
flew over there the other day to bomb
our troops camped there, but the bombs
fell on the prisoners compound!!!

Promotions are many in the 6th Bn
Capt Hogan Capt. Borwick have been made
Majors, Lt Prisk Captain Lt Ulrick Captain
Have not heard of 7th promotions yet!
Orders are calling for applications
from NCO's for commissions. Frank
and I had a walk over the salt lake
this evening discussing the matter
Frank does not wish to leave the Bn
so will not apply. It is strange
that I we have heard nothing about
our applications from HQrs yet!
Col Marsh is leaving for the
peninsula to day after recovering
from an attack of rheumatism contracted 
there some time ago. Col Marsh
is the C.O. of the Divisional Train
Friday 25.6.15. Egyptian "Gazette"
reports the fall of Lemburg. Mackensen
has made good his boast! The
fighting on Gallipoli has is going
in our favor. Some good goes
have taken place, lately & report
states that we have the best of
it. We have received a memo
from HQrs asking for a state
of the number of men we can spare
to go to Gallipoli - Rumour states
that 20 tons of gelignite has been
taken over to blow up Achi Baba

Quite a stir amongst us Transport officers
Our C.O. here Major Ledder recommended
that two of us could be spared to go
to Gallipoli. After discussion, Lt Bain
withdrew his claim, & Eller Bolton &
I drew lots - I lost!! So Eller's
& Bolton's names have been sent it
together with the men we are sparing
I am F & I are very disappointed: at
my bad luck in the draw. I
am continually wondering why I
don't hear result of my application
Later, I saw Major Holdsworth
he does not think that any of us
will be able to go, as none can be
spared. He intends sending in a
Nil return - Saturday Frank
got a letter from Charlie, he writes
characteristically, from Heliopolis.
Eller is going in to Ordnance to see
about drawing needed harness etc!
10 am received order from Camp
Commandant to report to him at once
for instruction as follows - To. O.C. 2nd
Inf Bde - Lieut Tubb 7th Bn has
been ordered to proceed overseas
will you please send him to me
at once for instruction- Albert Holds 
-worth. I am to go to Base for
further information & to procure
 

passage to Anzac Cove to join
my Bn. Mustapha Got out to M.E.F Base at
2 pm. and am waiting for Major
Greenfield who is at lunch. I found
out from the Clerks that Franks application
had been forwarded on from the D.AQMG
on the 4th inst & that a reply should
be along shortly. Eller and I had
lunch in the Serine restaurant when
he left for Ordnance & I for here.
2.30 Major Greenfield turned up & told
me to report to C.O. of 1st Australian Base
Went down to North block & found the
Adjt Lt. Henry. then Col Johnson Base
Commandant, he told me to report to
him at 9.30 tomorrow morning &
that I would go by the "Minnewaska"
which was leaving some time tomorrow
or early Monday morning. Left
the Base at 3 pm & got off train at
race course. Races are on & I am
taking the opportunity of seeing them
and writing this, I put in a great
afternoon at the races in conjunction 
with other officers I met
there. I backed three winners
out of three trys. got back to Camp
and reported at 9 pm. Sunday 27
Got up early & arranged things

to get away - I did not like
saying good bye to my men
Left camp at 8.20 & reached
1st Aust Division Base at
Mustapha at 9.30 and reported
to Col Johnston who told me
to go aboard the Minnetonga
at once - After a deuce of a
hunt (I met Frank at the
Majestic Hotel) we found that
the Minnetonga was not along
side a wharf but out a bit
Then we hunted up the Embarkation
Office of the Aust Division found
the embarkation officer (Lt Brice)
who informed us that the
Minnetonga was not leaving
to day at all. Got in touch with
Col Johnston and told him
& then received orders from
him to report again at 9.30
tomorrow morning - So here
I am at the Majestic (writing
this) where I am staying to
night so as to be handy to
report in the morning. I
have packed & sent all my
baggage to the Base & have
only with me web equipment
& water proof sheet & one blanket
 

Frank has just left for Mena
camp - We put in a grand
afternoon with Capt Bannister
4th AL.H. & Lieutenants Wright Smith
& Miller British Army) We went to
a pigeon match at Moharrem Bey
I won one event right out & shot
second in two others - We had
a real good time & I came out ahead
of it. I am writing postcards
home & to relations. It is very
warm but a nice breeze is blowing
Monday 28, I slept at
the Hotel Roma just behind
the Majestic- reported to Col
Johnston at 9.30 & found that
no boat was going to day.
Received orders to report again
at 9.30 tomorrow. I saw Lt
Connolley at Mustapha &
found out that Lt Heighway
was going home to Australia
on the "Ballarat" to day. Heard
that Col Bolton's C.O. of the 8th Bn
was joining the boat at Suez
and going home also. Drew
£4 from Paymaster & got my
teeth seen too. Met Lt Bolton
at the Base record office (at
the Metropole) & went with
 

him and Lt Weeks down to
the wharf- quay 73 where we
found the Ballarat. I went
aboard and met Heighway
we had a great yarn. he
told me that he would go &
see my folk at St Helena after
he got home, I gave him my
diary (original) to take home
for me, & a box of cigarettes for
Father. I was very pleased
to see Heighway & to have the
chance of sending messages by
him. Capt Bannister was
going home also, & I saw a
few of the 7th boys also. There
are 600 Australians going -
I believe Major [[Blizard?]] & others
are going by a later boat(?)
I was interested in reading
the B.O. from the front. I see
that Capt Weddell who has been
officiating as C.O. 7th Bn for
some time is now a Major.
Capt McCrae is also a Major
Lt Grills is a Captain & there
are a number of recently appointed 
second lieutenants also.
Our casualty list to date
(Field returns are not complete yet)