Diary of Percy Lay, 1914-1918 - Part 12
22nd Went out to see the boys
in Hospital that and we had
a party to take to Theatre in
evening. and got word to say
that we had to go to Buckingham
Palace the Following day to get
the M.C. Medal. 23rd.
Went out to Buckingham
Palace with some others
chaps and received our
Medals: and the King asked me
quite a lot of questions
and wished me all the best
of luck. Went out to see
Lieut Daly and as he was
going home to Australia the
following day I gave him
my medal to take home.
24th The weather started to
fine up and went out
to Hyde Park and also went
to Lester Galleries to see Will
Dyson Sketches. 25th Arranged
to meet Lieut Hall in London
and as we met several others
we knew we had quite a
lively evening Some N.C.O's
came over from France. to go
on this special job with us
Also had to report at Tower
for Instructions and were
told to report back at 10.00
Monday morning 26th Had a
very decent day with a
couple of friends went and
had a look over the Collection
of trophies at the War
Exhibition and in evening
went to see the Drama
called the Yellow Ticket
27th Went out to one of the
Parks in Afternoon and had
a jolly evening Afterwards.
28th Reported at Tower and had a
very interesting lecture by a
Colonel of the Imperial Staff.
also got our movement Orders
and sent our Kit along to
Tower. That evening there was
an Air Raid on and I was
quite near to where the dropped
some of the bombs. The people
got the wind up. Sorry for
the Women and Children. 29th
Reported at Waterloo Station
and left by train for
Southhampton where we embarked
on the Viper and had a
rotten trip across to Cherbough
Lost rather a good dinner on
the way over. Stayed on board that
night and disembarked early on
morning of the 30th. And then went
to rest Camp about three miles
away - rather a decent Camp.
31st Left Camp at Midday and
entrained and left Cherbough for
Tranato a distance of 2500 Miles
Travelled all day and night and
our first stop was at St Germain
where we stayed for 12 hours. All
the trip was through some of
the prettiest Country in France
and as we stayed for a 2. of Hrs
at different station we had
a good look round. passed
Lyon in evening and then
went down through Avignon
Arles and and along the
outskirts of Marsailles and then
on to the Italian Border. which
was at Ventimiglia which Station
was half French and Italian.
Then our journey Continued on
through Genova. and out to Frazena.
where we stayed for about 12 hrs
and had a good look round
and the continued our journey
down the East Coast to Brindsi
and across to Taranto the
whole journey taking eight
days and three Hours. Went
into Rest Camp. 9th Went into
Taranto and had a good look
round the town which was
more like Egyptian than anything
I had seen up to date.
Had a good evening in
the Mess Room. Some of
the boys gave some very good Items.
10th Had to get our Kit ready
to go on board the Milawala which
was a very fine Vessel about
12.000 tonnage. 11th Spent
day out in Harbour waiting
for the other boats and also
our Convoy. 12th Lifted Anchor
and steamed slowly out in
morning and had a pleasant
trip all day. 13th Started
lessons in Russian and
held Sports in Afternoon.
Australian tug of war
team winning their three
Heats and We also won
our second Game in Bridge
Tournament. 14th Still
Having a very pleasant
trip and finished our
Sports.. We won the
tug of war. Had to stand
to at the boats. 15th Arrived
at Alexandria and anchored
for a little while before we
pulled into the Wharf but
did not disembark. Went
into Alexandria that night
and had a good time. 16th
The Sisters went off early
in morning and we did
not go off until seven
that night. Spent day
in Alex.- Entrained at
7 oclock and went to
Suez where we arrived on
morning of 17th and
went on board the Nile
which was rather a tub
after the Malwa and
sailed in evening.
18th Having a very smooth
passage but weather getting
very Hot. 19th Extra
Hot and we made
284 Miles for ^the day's
travelling. 20th The fourth
Officer was missing
believe he must of went
overboard during the
night. 21st Very hot
and we passed through
the gates of Hell. Sea rather
rough but our boat stood
things very well. 22nd Heard
a rumor that Small Pox
had broken out on board
a lot getting Vaccinated.
Sighted land on our Port
Side. 23rd Cooler during
the day and we passed
close to land on our Port
Side. 24th Very Hot again
and had a interesting lecture
on Russia by Captain Bray.
who was with our Party.
25th Stayed at a Coaling
Station and loaded enough
coal to take us on to
our destination. 26th Had
rather a quiet day and
we were getting things ready
to disembark. 27th A
Large Steamer came alongside
and we left the Old Nile
"The Steamer was one of the
finest Boats we have been
on everything one could wish
for. 28th Had a very
interesting trip up the
tigress and we also
passed the boats the Turks
had sunk to block the
River. 1st Disembarked and
our Party was rather
scattered. some billeted here
and I was with Head Quarters
at Ashar Barracks. 2nd
Had a good look round and
found the place very interesting
but all the people were mostly
Indian and Arabic. 3rd Went
down to Ordnance and in
Afternoon we went into
Basra City by Boat
and had a very interesting
time. Saw a tribe of
Natives marching round the
town playing all Kinds of
instruments and kicking up
a deuce of a row. and we
were told it was on account of
one of the Kinch getting married
4th Down to Base Paymaster
and got paid and in afternoon
we went down to Club at
Makina. Had a good time
and a English Colonel brought
us home in his Car and
gave us a good time generally
5th Captain of the Day and
had all our N.C.O's and
other Ranks out for Squad
Drill. 6th Went into
Makina Club and had a
very pleasant evening and
we were brought home
by motor. 7th Went
down to 9th I.G. Hosp.
and had a good
time and that
night we had dinner
on one of the river boats
and after that we went
round to all the other
boats and got back to
Barracks at three in
Morning. 8th Had to
have a Practice Parade
as we were to be inspected
by some General the next
day. (Revolver Practice)
and then into Club for
lunch with the Skipper
of one of the boats.
9th. We were inspected
by General McMann
and in evening went
out to one of the
boats and had the
best of evenings
10th Went down to Pier
to see the Varsova off and
in afternoon we went
to Basrah City but
things were fairly quiet
11th Had Sword Practice
in morning and in
afternoon we went up
the tigress about six
miles in a Motor launch
and then had the evening
with Colonel Salmon
12th Sword Practice in
morning and after that
we went out on to
a War Boat and met
a lot of Chaps that were
out at the Dardanelles
with us. Heavy thunder
shower and it made
things muddy (Dalhousie)
13th Had dinner at the 9th I.G. Hosp.
and went to concert at 3rd
British Gen Hospital. Rained
very heavily that night. 14th
Went down to Hospital and
met some of the sisters who
we took out to our Gentlemans
Club at Makinah. 15th
Down at the Sisters Club
for Tea and same evening
we went out and had
dinner on the DalHousie
16th Rained very heavily
and the Sisters took us down
to their Club and
we had a pleasant
afternoon. 17th Got our
movement orders and
we embarked on the
P.S. 89. and moved up.
the tigress a little where
we tied up for the night
18th Having rather a Slow
trip up but we passed
many interesting sights
along the river. 19th Arrived
at Amara about seven in
evening and we were allowed
ashore and put in a very
good time and got back on
the boat about midnight.
20th Left Armara in morning
and had a very slow trip
up the river 21st Tied up
and we went ashore and
held Sports and had some
fine Sport started up River
about four in evening
22nd Went ashore for
about three hours
and some of the boys shot
a few birds and also a
Jackal. 23rd Allowed off
for two hours and we
had a go for a large
Flock of wild geese
but they were to wild
24th Arrived at Kut
and tied up for the day.
and we were taken for
a trip wit up the
river in a motor launch
by Skipper of H.M.S.
Sedgefly. 25th Tied up
and we went for Route
March, weather rather Hot
27th Anchored and went
and had a look round
S. and found a
couple of Ancient Buildings
there got on board again
at eight Six same evening
28th Arrived at Histraida Camp
and found the rest of our
party there. In evening we
went into Baghdad and
found it a very interesting
place. 29th Went into Baghdad
and had a good look
round and the Club was
a very good one. 30th
Started work. Sword
drill in morning. Persian
lessons and machine gun
work. and then lessons
in loading Camels and
Donkeys 31st Church Parade
in morning and General
Byron and Major Walker out
to lunch with us.
Distances Travelled
London to Cherbough Miles
Cherbough - Tranato 2500 -
Trananto - Alexandria 589 -
Alexandria - Suez 185 -
Suez - Aden 1310
Aden - Korewt 1620
Korewt - Basra 80
Basra Baghdad 399 or 590
Basra - Baghdad 498
Baghdad - Ruz 64 -
Ruz to Hamadan 305
Hamadan to Karvin 156
A.I.F
[* Left London on
29-1-18.
Arrived Tranato: 9-2-18
Left TRANATO 11.2-18 *]
Officer's on the
Dunsterforce. M.E.F.
[*M.C. and BAR.*]
Capt Judge. 4 BATTN. A.I.F.
" Stewart. 33 "
" Latchford 38th BATTN. A.I.F M.C
" Savage. 24th " M.C. "
McIver. 57th . " BELGIAN: C.D.C
Williams. 29 33rd "
Hooper. 58th. M.C.
Scott Olsen 55th M.C.
Lord.F. 2nd F. Artillery M.C.M.M.
Withers. 13 Battn A.I.F D.C.M
Fraser. D.S.O
Sorrell. 45th
Turner. M.C.
McVilly 40th M.C.
Cameron.
Mills. 4th . Div. Eng. M.C.
Stakerburg 33 A.I.F.
Hitchcock 2" Div. M. Gun D.C.M
[*Major Sutton } Palestine
Capt OBrien } "
[*Lay P
8th Battn
A.IF.*]
[*Searey Capt
A.I.F.
50th Battn*]
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