Diary of Percy Lay, 1914-1918 - Part 1

Diary Oct 19^th 1914

N^o137

Sgt Lay. P.A. Coy 8^th Battn

2^nd Inf Brigade 1^st AIF

Awarded Croix De Guerre } 5.3.17

Awarded Military Medal     } 3.6.17

Awarded D.C. Medal           20.9.17

Awarded Military Cross        4.10.17

Temp Capt Lay P. M.C.DCM M.M.C. de G.

 

N^o137 Sgt P. Lay

A Coy 8^th

Postal Address

M^rs E. Lay

East Bulleen

Victoria

Aust

 

Early on the morning of Oct 19^th 1914 we left

camp and embarked on the S.S. Benalla and

she moved off at two and our trip to Albany

was one of the best, as the sea was very calm

all the way over. We got our first vaccaintion

on the 21^st and we arrived in Albany on the 

morning of the 24^th and anchored in King's

George's Sound to await the coming of the other

transports and also our convoy. Transports

arriving very fast and the Harbour looked

swell with so many boats around. In the

morning of the 29^th the Benalla went 

into Pier for water and out Battn went

ashore for a short route march and we

found Albany to be a very pretty place

on the following day we moved out

in the Harbour and anchored again

next day been Saturday sports were

held and they were very amusing

Sunday Nov.1^st All the transports and

Convoy moved off and it was very

pretty to see the three lines of ships

as they moved off in that order. There

was forty eight all told. The following

week was very quiet the only thing

was that we had to travel in

darkness of a night. Next day A Coy.

was duty Coy. and there was a 

death on the boat alongside us. it

was the first burial at sea that I had

seen 9^th The mob kicked up a bit of a

row about Inoculation but after the Col.

had a talk to them they agreed to get

done 11^th We heard that our escort had

captured a German Cruiser and on Medorie

there was great rejoicing when it became

known that it was the Emden that

had been captured by the Sydney

12^th We had a great day as we were

crossing the line and the Sailors had

erected a large Canvas bath and into

this we ducked all we could get hold off

13^th The meat being a bit off our band

played the dead march over it and then gave

it a burial at sea. 14^th Sports were held

again in afternoon. A Coy winning third Heat

in the tug of war. 15^th Got up early to

salute Sydney as she passed with a lot of

German prisoners on board and same 

morning we anchored at Columbia. 16^th

A tug boat came alongside and took our

mail ashore the Coolies came around

and dived for money we use to throw

into the water. 17^th Raised Anchor

and steamed off very early passed

Haden at seven-thirty 18^th A very quiet

day. 19^th We got our second dose of Inoculation

20^th A Holiday on account of our bad arms

21^st A Collision between the Arcanius and

the Shropshire it was reported that there

were two men overboard. 22^nd A mail 

boat paired us and there was thousands

of flying fish about.

23^rd Sighted Scotia Island off the east coast of Africa

24^th Arrived at Aden and we sent a large

mail ashore to be posted. 25^th Had the account

of the fight between the Sydney and Emden

and it must of been a very willing go.

26^th Three Indian Transports passed us on

their way back. 27^th Passed through what is

known as the gates of Hell. 28^th Got word

to say that we were to land in Egypt as

there was likely to be trouble there. The Boys

were a bit disappointed as the thought

they were going to Eng. 29^th Held special

Church service as it was thought to be 

our last Sunday on board. 30^th Sailed in

single file through the Gulf of Suez.

Dec 1^st We anchored outside Suez Canal

to get search lights put on before

going up the Canal. 2^nd Started up the

Canal late at night and we stayed

up to see the different sights along the

Canal. 3^rd Saw a lot of Indian Camps on

the banks of the Canal also seen a large Camel Corps

in the distance and anchored at Port Said at

ten oclock. 4^th Moved out and anchored in the

Mediterranean area. Some of our Officers went

ashore and brought back the first mail we

had received. 5^th Some French girls came alongside

and they got great cheers from the boys as it

was the first bit of skirt we had seen for

eight weeks.
^6th Arrived at Alexandria and anchored a little way out.
7^th Pulled into Pier and got ready

to go ashore the following day. 8^th Went

off the boat very early and took train

for Cairo which we reached at 4 oclock. saw

a lot of interesting sights along the 

track. after getting a cup of Cocoa and something

to eat. We took train to Mena Camp 

about ten mile away and that night

we slept out in the open. 9^th Got up 

early to see what sort of a place

it was and found we were camped

just at the foot of the famous pyramids

and same morning we went up to have

a look around we also climbed up to the

top of them. 10^th Spent day in making

our camp and fixing up our lories.

11^th Went for route march in morning

and in afternoon twenty per cent

was granted leave into Cairo 12^th Went

for another route march over the

desert and found it to be rather a 

dreary place. 13^th Church Parade in

morning after which we went for

a route march. 14^th A Coy duty Coy and

we also got our tents. our drill 

hours were from eight till two.

and we also got plenty of leave.

15^th Rifle drill in morning also a 

little squad drill. A large YM.CA

Hut was opened in Camp in evening.

16^th Parade in morning and then

got paid in afternoon. 17^th Bathing

Parade in Baths at Mena House

N^o 3 Section cleared into Cairo and 

caused a great row 18^th A Coy duty

Coy and we had a very easy day.

19^th Went into Cairo on leave and found

it a rather interesting place. but the 

people were rather a low class. came

back stoney Broke. 20^th Seventh Battn

went into Cairo to Hoist the British

Flag. After Church Parade we went into

Cairo for short route march 21^st. We went

for a ten mile route march and a lot of

Coys went out to it. as they were unsure

to the heavy going on the sand.

22^nd A lot of French people came out to

have a look over the Camp. 23^rd. Had a

hard days drill after which we were

inlying picket for the night. 24^th

Spent one of the quietest Christmas Eve's

we ever did as all the boys were

stony broke. 25^th Christmas day.

A Coy duty Coy and we put in our

Christmas doing Guard duties.

and our dinner consisted of a junk of

Camel and a pot of black tea. 26^th

Still on Guard, and we saw a interesting

brawl between some natives 27. Church 

Parade in morning after that a route march

one of our chaps fell off the pyramids

and was killed. 28^th out Trench digging

and doing outpost duty. 29^th Out 

for a Bivouac that night and it was

damn cold sleeping out without

Blankets 30^th Got back to Camp at 8 oclock

and heard that Possum Davies had died

it was the first death we had in our

Battn. in afternoon there was a Review

of the troops by Sir G. Reid and he

presented each with a clasp knife

31^st No.2 Section went to Possum

Davies Funeral. Artillery Review

before Sir G. Reid. We also got paid

Jan 1^st 1915. Church Parade in morning

and then we had a spread to open

our new Mess Rooms. Lecture in afternoon

by Brigadier on Strong Drink 2^nd After

Parade as we were coming home we passed

a lot of Natives shifting from one Village

to another. 3^rd After Church Parade we

had a Kit inspection. That evening we

went out for another bivy. 4^th Returned

to Camp at 5 same evening. 5^th Rest

of Companies went out for another

Bivy and we had to remain on Guard

6^th We were picked to go into Cairo

on town Picket under Lieut Catron

and we had the very best of times

7^th A lot of lads went up to Mena

House to get their clothes fumigated

as they were lousy. 8^th Out doing

a night march stint orders that

there was no smoking. 9^th We were

formed into Platoons and we also

started Advance Guard Work. 10^th

Twelve of our who broke Camp were brought

back and it were put on Guard

over them 11^th We had to take most

of our prisoners into Abbessiah Barracks

and we had another good evening 

in Cairo. 12^th Eight Battn out for 

shooting practice but not many. 

passed on account of it being

so windy. 13^th Got our first large

Australian Mail and we had 

a very easy day. 14^th Got more

mail and also a Half Holiday 15^th

Brigade when for a ten mile route

march it was very Hot. 16^th Out 

doing the new platoon drill and

we came back in Camp early.

17. After Church Parade we had to 

practice rolling and loading Blankets

18^th Our Platoon got great praise for

the way it did its work under

Lieut. J. Catron.

19^th Some of our poor Shots went out for

more rifle practice 20^th Table B. Shots

went out for Field Firing and we passed

in everything. 21^st Very windy and

we were on Canal Guard for the day.

22^nd The Shots that failed in Table A

had to go out to the range again.

the rest of us did Platoon drill

23^rd Went out for Brigade Route March

around the Canal it was very dusty and

the stink of the place was awful

24^th Church Parade after which we had

another Kit inspection. 25^th and 26^th

the Battn went for a route March

out around the tiger took. 27^th

We had a Medical inspection

in morning and got paid in afternoon

28^th We took up a position for a 

night attack and same evening we

attacked the same position. 29^th The CO.

took us over the ground we made

the attack over and pointed out all

our mistakes. 30^th Battn Holiday and we

went into Cairo on leave and Had a 

good time. 31^st Generals Maxwell, Bridges

and Birdwood attended Church Parade 

and after that there was a march past.

Feb 1^st A. easy day as our heads

were out looking over some ground.

that we were to attack. 2^nd Another

easy day and in evening we got 

word to say that we were to go down

with the 7^th to Ismalia and we spent

night in getting stores and ammunition

3^rd Early in morning we moved off

and got a great send off by the

other troops in Camp we marched to 

Cairo - a distance of ten miles and

took train for Ismalia and arrived

there at ten same evening. New Zealanders

gave us tea. We also seen a lot of

Turkish prisoners brought in.

4^th Up very early and saw three of our

planes go up to watch for movement

of the enemy. A large body of Bengal

lancers passed on their way out.

that evening saw a German Officer shot

dead by a Ghurka as he tried to escape.

5^th We were all excitement as we were

told we were to go out that night

and cut off a large body of Turks.

We got more ammunition issued to us

but we got orders to say that the

Enemy were retreating and we had to 

stand by. 6^th Practised Entraining after

that we were taken for a march

through the town and the Gardens

which were very pretty. 7^th Church 

Parade in morning and we got leave

to go into the town. 8^th Some of our

lads went out to the trenches

but seen no sign of the Enemy. 9^th

Went out to Bitter lakes for swimming

Parade. on Guard same evening. 10^th Got

a small mail and also heard we were

to go back to Mena as the Turks had

retreated right back. 11^th Left Ismalia

early in morning and arrived at Cairo

at twelve and then marched to Mena

Camp. 12^th Our Battn Holiday but 

did not go into Cairo we stayed

Home and fixed our Camp. 13^th

Started drill again but it was

not to nice out on the heavy

sand again.14^th After Church Parade

there was a general inspection of the

Camp lines. 15. Shooting Practice for

all the poor shots the rest of us

out drilling. 16^th A easy day as

we were to go out again that

night 17. Out for a Attack under

General Bridges and Maxwell

we got paid same evening

18^th Our Battn Holiday and General leave

into Cairo was granted. Barney Lay

came out to see us. 19^th All those that

had not been vaccainted and those

it did not take on had to be done

over again as it was reported small pox

had broken out in Camp. 20^th Out on

Parade until twelve and went

for a route march from three until 

twelve. 21^st Church Parade which the

Brigadier attended 22^nd Out trench

digging and came in early to go on

Guard. 23^rd On Main Guard with

Lieut Mitchell and Sgt M^ac Conville

24^th Battn Holiday and went into

Cairo and had best of times. 25^th

Bayonet Fighting and Fire Control

in morning Holiday in afternoon

26 Half our Battn went out for

shooting under Platoon Officers

after which we met. the rest of

Battn and bivy for the night 27^th

Got back to Camp at seven and

Had the rest of the day off. 28^th The

Third Battn went away from Camp

but we could not find out where

they were going. March 1^st. Reveille at

four. Parade at six and returned to

Camp at Eleven and in evening

we went out again. 2^nd A very easy

day. did a little drill in morning

and then had the afternoon off. 3^rd and 4^th

Were also two easy days as we did next

to nothing. 5^th Out for a bivy at night

it was very cold sleeping out.

6^th Battn Holiday and we went out

to old Heliopolis to see some of the

ancient sights. 7th Church Parade in

one of our Concert Halls 8^th Brigade

Route March around Canal. very windy

9^th Had a hard day's work digging trenches

out near the pyramids as ^the place were we had

to put them down was a sort of solid stone.

10^th Went into the Zoo for route march

it was about the worst day we had

in Egypt to date. The dust Storms was

terrible. 11^th Went out to take up a positions

to make a night attack from. 12^th Battn

Holiday - we did not go into Cairo but

spent day around the pyramids. 13^th

Did a little Platoon drill a very easy day.

14^th Church Parade after which we went

to Mena House Baths for Bathing.

15^th Route March in morning and

bivvy same night 16^th Got back to Camp

at seven and went for Route March

in Afternoon. received another mail 

17^th Went out for Brigade Attack ²/₂

First Brigade attacked the second.

sprained my ankle coming Home.

18^th Off duty on account of bad ankle

19^th Battn Holiday but I had to stay 

in Camp on account of bad ankle.

20^th Our Tent Mob got their Photo's taken

21^st Missed the first Church Parade

since been in Egypt. 22^nd Battn

out trench digging and we also

Had the second death in Battn.

23^rd Received a large Australian

mail. 24^th Battn out on another

night stunt. 25^th Battn Holiday

our Platoon Had to go on Canal guard

26^th A Coy duty Coy rest of Battn

out on night stunt. 27^th The day

off and had a very easy time

28^th Church Parade in morning and

it was a rough day the dust 

nearly cut our eyes out. 29^th

A Review of the division by

Sir Ian Hamilton 30^th A Coy Had

day off as they were on Guard when

rest of Battn Had their Holiday

31^st Got paid in morning. A night

march out around the tiger tooth.