Diary of Sydney James Campbell, 3 March 1915 - 11 May 1915 - Part 1

S J Campbell
Capt A.M.C.
Med. Officer 8^th Light Horse
3^rd. L.H. Brigade
3^rd Australian Imperial Force
To be returned if lost
owner lost
to
H.J.M. Campbell Esq.
"Maretimo"
Portland
Victoria
Australia

March 3^rd, 1915. On Board Star of Victoria - Transport A16 -
at anchor in Albany Harbour,
King George's Sound, Western Australia.
First attempt at keeping a diary - How long
will it last!
Entered Broadmeadows Camp 14^th Oct. 1914 as M.O.
8^th L.H. knowing nothing of Military work.
Left B'meadows Thursday morning 25^th Feby 1915,
at 4.45am; arrived at Port Melbourne town pier
at 8 am. The Regiment embarked in a manner
which evoked praise from the very critical
embarkation board who described it as the
'best embarkation from Victoria of any unit
to date." Anchored in bay over night &
left at daylight accompanied by Transport
A54 (Runic) with over 1000 Reinforcements
on board ^(1500) Arrived in Albany King Georges
Sound about 9 am to-day - An unexpected
visit occasioned by the breaking of a main
steam pipe in the engine room on
the 1/3/15 since when we have been
steaming along slowly at normal rate,
we the Runic, whose lack of speed
was previously a subject for scathing
comment, having to slow down to keep
company with us. The sea behaved fairly
well - one rough day, on the others only a
mild swell - but enough to incapacitate
me tho' I was never as bad as the man who
said he didn't care & dam if the whole concern

did go down". Yesterday afternoon I improved, today
I am fit. Hope my 'sea-legs' are not a myth
& that I will be alright when we get going again.
Deeble, Howard, Moore the Padre & myself are the
only men who have been sick - a very small
percentage. The others have enormous appetites
& as the bill of fare is excellent the Cl C.& D.G.s
won't get much profit out of us. As might
be expected many men were sick. They have
been sleeping in any odd corner about the
main deck, tho' the majority have stuck it
out in the troop deck where I have only been
fit to venture where it was compulsory i.e. at
ships inspection 10.30am daily. About a
dozen were bad enough to put in hospital
where I had one bad case of diarrhoea wh.
gave one some anxiety, 2 venereals &
1 Diphtheria wh. (along with one venereal) is
being dropped here, 1 Horse has gone
overboard -(pneumonia) & several
others are going the same way. In some
mysterious way whiskey brandy & beer are being
sold on board & one man was found drunk
yesterday. I've We are maintaining a strict
dry canteen in the mess - officers may take
it to their cabins. The Padre, Capt. Moore,
is our Censor this task has been no
easy one - he has been through 1000 odd
letters eliminating dates, names of ships
& places tho' most writers, conform to the
regulations & a glance through their letters
is sufficient. One man starts - 'My dear
May, I’ve been having a hell of a time - It’s a
bugger being sick'. One can imagine the
kind of lady 'May' must be. on Chatter about
our own letters affords us some amusement
at times. - We are all full of praise for the
beauties of King Georges Sound. It is a magnificent
harbour. The coast line outside, with
the projecting granite points scantily
covered with patches of low scrub, reminds me of
the pictures of the Antartic Coast
brought back by Shackleton & Scotts expeditions.
They are so The coast is so bleak & barren
looking, one can readily imagine that
one is in McMurdo Sound or Ross Sea (the
names stick in my mind; whether I use them
correctly or not I am not sure) & that
at any moment one may see the base
of a huge glacier projecting into the sea or
a bit of the ice barrier round the next point.
Everyone is happy & smiling at being safe
& sound in this pleasant place with a
calm sea, a gentle breeze, & a warm
sun. Many of the men are fishing
with improvised lines. The officers are
reading & writing letters & the Padre is
gradually filling his mail bags.
No one is in a hurry to depart. 4.30 pm & sick
parade so here endeth the first instalment.
4.3.15. A Good. day - delightful weather. Left A16 at
9.45 in launch with Drs. Blackburn & A. Syme Johnson
(who is in partnership with Dr B - has been here 14 days -
saw him last at B'meadows) & Lt. Mutton of the

Naval Reserve (formerly stationed at Portland). Dropped
the venereal (Dodds) & Dip (Johnson) of the pretty
Quarantine Station & then plied back & forth between
the A16, A54 & the HMNZT (Willochra - in wh.
Hett & Father went to N.Z. 12 mths ago) which just
then ran in homeward bound from Suez
with 25 sick N.Zealanders (possibly some
of them being le unsuitables) on board. She left
Suez just when the Turks were appearing at the
Canal. Stories, per Vickery from men on deck
& men he met later in the town, of the
Kyarra returning with 500 unsuitables & of rough
conditions at Mena Camp. These men surely
not the best authorities to get one's ideas
from as regards the camp conditions in Egypt.
Finally about 12 midday landed at pier,
shopped with the faithful Vickery (private 3^rd
L.H.F.A - attached for voyage - A C.of. E. Curate) ^at home?)
respectfully accompanying carrying the
bag which rapidly filled with small parcels
from photographic gear to handkerchiefs &
toothpicks ) & then lunched at the Freemason's
Hotel a fine place. Did the town & Marine
Drive in Johnson's car- beautiful scenery -
finished shopping - sent ^home 2 large photos of
outer anchorage with portion of 1^st Force Transport
at anchorage & departing - & then returned
to A16 at 5pm. N.Zealanders in here a
fortnight ago 'painted the town red" - officers
as bad as men. Hence only men
allowed ashore here were two
large parties from Runic for route marching -
which proved too much for a good number.
The town, the harbour, the climate - all
seems well nigh ideal. Last night
wrote letters & talked - Borthwick a most
interesting & entertaining man - young - probably
32 but with a good deal of experience
packed into his short life - his most
interesting experiences connect with horse
& cattle shipping - former chiefly to India but
also along coast to N.S.W. - has been
through India, in Thibet, Straits Settlements,
Queensland, N.S.W., Vic. - Last night he
told us a yarn of an experience shipping
horses to N.S.W. from Melb. (to Newcastle)
on a small boat which I must write down
sometime - an story which many a
magazine writer would like to have - a
sort of Randolph Bedford yarn. Slept on deck
last night & tonight most of the other officers
are doing so also. Last night a concert. &
Tonight letter writing - One full of nonsense
to Mary Ferrier - waxed sentimental under
the influence of the moonlight, the still
air & water, the lights & reflections, the
dist line of low hills on the horizon; but
a touch here & there of the absurd & burlesque
saved the situation ^helped by & some comic (?) references
to last Tuesday week (23.2.15) night on
St. Kilda pier & foreshore. Good old Mary -
Just a few minutes ago the C.O. & Captain Beck

turned up after a day on shore. Rather full,
I fancy, judging by their full sweaty faces
& the fact that they brought a joey kangaroo
on board with them as a mascot. No doubt
they will regret it in a few days & everyone
will be wishing for its death. Another
horse ^was dropped overboard last night. 12.30 am
& time for bed.
13.3.15. The 'roo is still alive - has now had a pen
built for it on the bridge deck. The chief officer
exercises it every morning. - Have been sleeping
on deck ever since Albany - in the morning we hose
each other down - a quick & enjoyable bath. The
weather has been good - We get touches of the humid
tropical heat but each day it has been tempered by
a breeze - a singlet or light shirt, slacks, & (in most cases)
no socks, in others, neither shoes nor socks, is all
our attire. The men are compelled to parade in bare
feet - not a wise rule in my opinion. It will mean
some blistered and septic feet. - We are within 2 days
sail of the equator- yesterday & the day before we passed
up west of the Cocos Islands - As we d we are not allowed
to use the wireless now I could not send any word to Percy
Croft. We felt interested in the fact that we were steaming through
the part spot where a few months ago the ^HMA.S. Sydney might have
been seen tearing off to her engagement with the Emden.
I started inoculating for Typhoid the day we left Albany - Johnston
gave the second dose - 500 million (1^st dose 250 million). We do about
140 - 150 an hour provided the men are supplied to us smoothly.
Have inocd in the abdomen - Left side then Right side.
One man paints with iodine - then the man patient comes to me
& is inoculated. By my side is a table on which is a bowl
of cool sterile water into which the needles are dropped
from the steriliser - a bowl continually boiling on a
primus stove. I have about 12-15 needles & each is
boiled after using for one inoculation. One syringeful
does for roughly 4 inoculations, but varying with according t size of
dose. Two syringes were in use for the 2^nd inoculations
as the dose being double the syringeful was exhausted
after 2 or 3 inocns - therefore a third man kept me supplied
with a full syringe. After inocns., expecy. after the
2^nd dose (500 million), nearly all experienced pain
in side of varying degree & extent. Some felt sick &
had headaches. Two fainted a few hours later, 2 or 3
had diarrhoea. 2 had severe pain in stomach.
2 had a papule - vesicular rash due to iodine. I got an
attack of migraine.
We have had several good concerts - a debate on The White
Australia Policy between A & B sqdns, won by the latter;
a choral singing contest, choirs of 20, won by C Sqdn; a
sports meeting. Last night I talked on venereal dis.
to the men & was not hooted in spite of the fact
that I had inoculated most of them that day.
I am sadly neglecting my own exercise - turned out in
shorts one day, punched the ball, skipped, &
had 3 rounds with the gloves with Wilson, receiving a
nasty jolt on the jaw which has cooled my
enthusiasm for boxing for a few days.
We are doing 280 to 310 miles per day. The steering gear
is not working well. The Runic keeps several miles
off - usually only just visible on the horizon
We have had a Bronchopneumonia, now doing well. &

several bad throats (one with a peritonsillar abscess
which necessitated th lancing). Treating 5 cases
of Gonorrhoea - one stricture. One suspicious throat (Johns)
isolated but he's cleared up alright. At Albany dropped
4 men. Shaw (iritis) & a ? Typhoid in addition to the two
previously mentioned. 5 horses have gone overboard &
according to Regimental Order No._ 'have been struck
off the strength'. _ Today is Sunday - a beautiful
day, sea the calmest we have had.
This moist heat is rather trying - one notices a
marked lack of energy & an overpowering sleepiness. Nearly
always wake in mornings with a tired feeling which passes
off however in half an hour or so. We are all eating
less. - Saw the blow of a whale one day, several
shoals of flying fish, & one day everyone near rushed
to the side to see a sun fish - a big fin & 10 feet
of a yellow & brown stripped hide.
20.3.15. Arrived in Colombo on morning of 18^th -
was ashore from 2pm to 1am on 18^th & again
on 19^th from 9am to 12 noon. Was fascinated
^& charmed by the beauty & quaintness of everything -
the picturesque natives, their shops,
rickshaws, native carts, streets, the
exquisitely pretty roads & streets in the
suburbs, the delightful village streets
with their pleasant simple homely-looking
people, the narrow lanes, the beautiful
colouring, & green green everywhere.
It was They were two days of delight, a trip
into the strange countries of the books of ones
boyhood. one was reminded again & again of
the descriptions, especially of the road scenes,
in 'Kim'. I felt a certain amount of awe
rushing along these native roads in a
modern motor car intruding on the quiet
life of these ancient peoples. It makes one
feel vulgar, young, half grown. Surely
their quiet simple life repeated in
has the same way for generations must
give them a feeling of contempt for we
rushing curious flash tourist peoples.
I loved it all. I long to emulate Kipling's
characters who lived disguised amongst
the people & absorbed their ways & feelings
& ideas & speech, one feels so out of
it, so much that one is merely looking
on the outside. I could have sat for
hours in the motorcar or rickshaw. The
cars though always drive too fast. These
natives make wonderfully good though
somewhat reckless Chauffeurs. Went out
to Mt. Lavinia - a delightful drive. Came
back to the Cinnamon Gardens past
the through past the beautiful villas &
bungalows & gardens of the wealthy, past
the Race Course, the tennis courts
& Club Grounds. At night dinner at
the Galle Face & after motor cars in
search of fun, [[?wxatch]] girls &c but
alas! for our dreams of the gaiety
& lasciviousness of the East. Not a

sign of the gorgeous immorality of the
East did we see & we found Colombo to
be a most sedate & law abiding city &
finally found refuge in a picture
theatre. What sacrilege! We did see
however a native juggler who played
with a snake, grew a banyan tree
out of nothing, blew fire from his
mouth, & did sleight-of-hand tricks
uncommonly well. We took on 1400 tons
of coal & the coaling operation were
interesting.
We wanted to leave at 2pm 9^th
but for the behavior of the service
men prevented us. The soldiers
there got out of hand and many of
them took the ships boats &
rowed ashore, 5 boat loads in
all cleared off from the ship & 2 of
these got away. In answer to
orders from the shore we furnished
an armed guard (rifles, ball cartridges,
& bayonets) which went in pursuit.
We sent them 2 lots - almost 100 ^men in all -
& they blocked 3 boat loads of Runic
men & sent them back to their ship.
Half of our guard then spent their
time until 12 midnight - in searching
Colombo for Runic men. Ultimately
all were captured, the Territorials
at Colombo assisting. At first it seemed
that there would be trouble but
the Runic men were not blood-thirsty
mutineers. It seems as though
they got out of hand through the
weakness of their Officers. Our
men were in a stern mood. They
themselves had behaved splendidly.
Half got shore leave the first day &
the other half on the 19^th. All
returned to the wharf at the appointed
time & only one man was slightly
drunk. We were complimented by
the military authorities. The men
& officers were greatly bucked about
it. Perhaps there might have been
a different tale to tell if the men
had been paid before going ashore
or had been allowed to stay ashore
after dark. However there is no
doubt they are very good & intelligent
& sensitive lot.
Left Colombo at 4am today.
26.3.15. Saw the Western Ghats on the
evening of the 20^{th -} a fine sight.
Have had a good trip - calm sea
and cool breezes.
28.3.15. Called in at Aden today.
Saw troop transports ^Boats wh. carried some of
our brigade to Suez en route from
Suez to the Persian Gulf with Indian
troops. This night can see the lights

of 2 other transports (Indian) accompanying
us. Have had good fun with
deck cricket, tugs-of-wars, Singing
& Elocutionary Competitions, Mock
Court Martials, & a very good
boxing match tournament. Hospital
very busy usually 12-15 in Hosp -
a cold with temp for several days -
Bronchitis & ? some Pneumonia.
The natives pursued us at Colombo Aden,
selling cigarettes, tinned fruit, dates etc
from their boats.
1.4.15. First days after leaving Aden were interesting
as we passed numerous islands - very barren
desolate God-forsaken spots they looked. Weather
has been cool - strong wind from north today & found
necessary to put on extra clothing.
Many men sick with colds & vaccination. Run Running
out of srings. Last night from Japanese merchantmen
on ahead came news of fighting on canal & advising
barricading of starboard side. This being done on bridge
deck by means of bags of ashes - one of these resists bullet
at few yards range. Forward on horse boxes a similar
shelter for machine guns is being fixed. Have to
prepare for possible casualties. Don't Think there is
very little likelihood of an engagement. We were roused
out at 4.30am to attend at Saloon where required by CO..
We all went like lambs, on arrival finding that it was
an April Fools Day's joke, worked by Baker & several assistants.
The trumpeters blew reveille on troop deck at 4.30. Two
of them subsequently ducked!
2.4.15 Arrived Suez. Good Friday. Last
year at Moleside. Received word that
had to disembark here - tha General
bustle to get ready. Capt. MacFarlane
& Major J.W. Barrett came on board -
later to talk on venereal disease.
3.4.15 Preparing for disembarkation.
Nothing doing on Canal - no Turks
near it - 1 French & 1 English cruiser
in Seuz Suez.
4.4.15 Sunday B Squadron left by 2.30am train -
C Sqdn & Hqrtrs & 24 sick by 4am train
A Sqdn by 5am train. Arrived
Cairo 11 am. Interesting trip - Small
detachments mounted Indian troops
along Canal & also sighted warships.
to Wonderful tract of cultivated country
from level of Ismailia west to Zaga Zig &
thence to Cairo. Came out to camp on
tram - most others walked, leading
horses. I arrived at Mena Camp at 12.30pm.
Had a yarn with Jimmy Borrowman, Norman
Marshall, Jack Melvin, Keith McIlwraith,
& Stan De Ravin. All fit & well & eager
for the front. They left that afternoon.
Everything thing indicates Dardanelles as
destination. 3^rd Infy Brigade (Col. MacLaglan)
left 4 weeks ago - now at Lemnos.
Expected to land under fire of warships
& to have a very hard tussle.
Evidently been a great deal of irritation &

trouble betn Brigadiers, C.O.'s, & officers
of the Infantry.
Rest of regiment arrived. Most things
ready through work of McLaurin, Thom,
Henty, Robinson, & O'Brien. Latter
has shown himself to be absolutely
incompetent.
12.4.151. Have had several visits to Cairo. Seen
Wasa, Casino &c. & all that that means.
19.4.15. Cable from home - Chriss died.
22.4.15 Pyramids inside and outside, Sakkarah,
Museum, Zoo, Citadel, Mosque of
Mohammed Ali, Bazaar.
27.4.15 Spent week end - 23.4.15 to 26.4.15 -
at Luxor - Party from Brigade of 31.
Saw temple of Luxor, of Kamak, tombs of
Kings (Sethos I & Amenophias III), Temple
of Sethos I, Ramesseum, Colossi of
Mennon, Deir el Bahri.
Horses first settled saddled 17.4.1 19.4.15,
rode to water next day, 10 mile route
march in full marching order on 22.4.15
My horses in fine fettle - very fresh.
B Squadron left today for Heliopolis, A Sqn
tomorrow, & remainder on Thursday 29^th.
Whole Brigade is shifting camp.
29.4.15 Arrived Heliopolis Racecourse Camp.
Reveille at 4 am - moved off 7 am - arrived
about 1 pm. Course - just accommodates whole
Brigade ^& provisional regiment (Reinforcements) & 4^th L.H. Native tents & shops on Course.
Went over to Hospital in evening & saw wounded
Australians arriving from Dardenelles.
It was a sudden plunge into the realisation of the
horror & absurdity of war. I certainly felt it as I
went into the entrance Hall & saw our brave fellows
in their bandages & untidyness & dirt, being put
on the admission role & sent off to their wards. Most
walked in, some were stretcher cases. The
motor service from the station (at the back of
hospital) seemed to be very quick & efficient.
Three medicos, with assistants took names, Battalion,
site & nature of injury, & Religion of wounded
& detailed them to the various wards.
Rumours of disaster to the Australians were
numerous. The story all told amounted to this.
Disembarkation about 4 am - first line formed
by 9^th 10^th 11^th Battn 9^th & 11^th suffered most &
said to have been practically wiped out. Officers
supposed to have suffered severely. Men got out
of boats into chest-deep water & rushed for the
beach under fire - rifle, machine gun,
shrapnel. There was a small cliff close
to water where men were able to form up &
then a cheer & a bayonet charge cleared the
Turks from their first trench quite close. All
day our men used very little ammunition -
The Turks never waited for them but evacuated
trench after trench & position after position
until our men by the end of the day were
3-5 miles inland. Once or twice there
were local set backs. All the time our men
were subjected to heavy rifle, machine gun,
& artillery fire & our casualties were heavy. Many
were shot out of action as soon as they reached the

beach, others wounded or killed in the boats.
Found Lt. Col. Elliott, 7^th Batn, wounded in foot. From
him the following - "apparently some bungle - Naval
people could not find landing in dark & hence delayed
landing of first line so that later parties were landing
at almost same time & suffered nearly as severely as first.
Also tugs not released for towing so that e.g. the
7^th Batn had to row themselves ashore. Machine
Guns got on to one boat load at 150 yds range &
killed nearly all, including Heron, late University
& M.G.S. footballer. Last heard of Stan DeRavin
was doing fine work & going strong. Herb Hunter
Capt of Stans company sprained ankle getting out of
boat but hobbled on. Eric Connelly & Major
Blazzard wounded. Elliott found himself hit
in leg but could see no wound in boot. Showed
me boot. I could not discover known entrance until he
showed it to me - small ¼ inch inserted slit below
malleolus. Adjutant extracted bullet from sole
of foot with wire cutters. Wound only slight. #, our men
our men had the hardest job."
They must have fought splendidly under very trying
conditions.
30.4.15. Friday. - Wounded still arriving in great
numbers. Reports of wiping out of regiments & staffs
continue but also we know that they succeeded in doing
what was wanted. Our fellows seem to have rushed into
the fight without a waver. The first days fighting
was Sunday 25^th. They have fought magnificently.
May 1^st. At 2 pm 4 medicos of 3^rd LHFA & self reported at
Hospital to assist in work of treating the wounded.
The rush has continued & the hospital staff
were overworked. We were detailed to various jobs, mine
being assistant to Capt. Turber in a ward. Here I dressed
cases, ordered diets &c. Work was a little hard to get into
at first. Wounds chiefly limbs & shoulders & back.
The latter two types sustained while lying down
or running advancing in stooping position. So Numerous
Shrapnel wounds - none very large. Found that
Hospital staff all unsatisfied with their C.O. Col Ramsay
Smith & his aide & abeller Mjr. J. W Barrett.
They neither made preparations ^for a rush of wounded nor allowed others
to make them & apparently discouraged those
who suggested such. Thus the hospital is unprepared
for this rush - there is a shortage of dressing
instruments, saline bath & such like apparatus,
sterilisers, splints. It is very bad. Nothing
has been improvised to make good these deficiencies.
The method of admission & disposal of wounded is bad.
Medicos are wasted on clerks jobs. All wounded
are admitted here instead of being classified on
the train journey here. Cases admitted found
to be mild are bundled off to Luna Park, where a
hastily improvised hospital has been made
in the Skating rink, just when the tired
& dirty men have been cleaned had their
wounds dressed & are settling down to sleep.
Others are sent to Mena. Discontent
amongst medical & nursing staff is very
great & it is distressing & annoying
& scandalous that in a Base Hospital
wounded men should be are receiving in many
cases the type of treatment they could expect in
a field Hospital.