Diary of Percy Lay, 1914-1918 - Part 12

22^nd 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. 23^rd.
Went out to Buckingham
Palace with some others
chaps and received our
Medals: 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
Dyron?]] Sketches. 25^th 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 26^th Had a
very decent days 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
 

27^th Went out to one of the

Parks in Afternoon and had

a jolly evening Afterwards.

28^th 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 they dropped

some of the bombs. The people

got the wind up. Sorry for 

Women and Children. 29^th

Reported at Waterloo Station

and left by train for

Southhampton where we Embarked

on the Vipes 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 30^th.  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

Tranto 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 though some of

the prettiest Country in France
and as we stayed for [[?]] of this

at different station we had 

a good look round passed

Lyon in evening and then

went down through Avingon

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 [[Frayona?]]

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. 9^th 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.

10^th Had to get our Kit ready

to go on board the Milawala which

was a very fine Vessel about

12000 tonnage. 11^th Spent

day out in Harbour waiting

for the other boats and also

our Convoy. 12^th Lifted Anchor

and steamed slowly out in

morning and had a pleasant

trip all day. 13^th 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. 14^th Still

Having a very pleasant 

trip and Finished our

Sports. We won the

tug of war.  Had to Stand 

to at the boats. 15^th 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. 16^th

The Sisters went off early

in morning and we did

not go off until seven 

that night. Spent day

in Alex.- Entrained at

9 oclock and went to

Facy where we arrived on

morning of 17^th and

went on board the Nile 

which was rather a [[?]] 

after the Malwa and

sailed in evening. 

18^th Having a very Smooth

passage but weather getting

very Hot. 19th Extra

Hot and we made

284 Miles for ^the day's

travelling. 20^th The fourth 

Officer was missing

believe he must of went 

overboard during the

night. 21^st Very hot

and we passed through

the gates of Hell. Sea rather

rough but our boat stood

things very well. 22^nd Heard

a rumor that Small Pox 

had broken out on board

a lot getting Vaccinated.

Sighted land on our Port

Side. 23^rd Cooler during

the day and we passed
 

close to land on our Port

Side. 24^th Very Hot again

and had a interesting lecture

on Russia by Captain Bray.

who was with our Party.

25^th Stayed at a Coaling

Station and Loaded enough

Coal to take us on to

our destination. 26^th Had

rather a quiet day and

we were getting things ready

to disembark. 27^th 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. 28^th Had a very

interesting trip up the

tigress and we also

passed the boats the Turks

had sunk to block the 

River. 1^st  Disembarked and

our Party was rather

scattered some billeted here

and I was with Head Quarters

at Ashar Barracks. 2^nd

Had a Good look round and

found the place very interesting

but all the people were mostly

Indian and Arabic. 3^rd 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 to the [[Turks?]] getting married

4^th 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 tine generally

5^th Captain of the Day and

had all our N.C.O's and 

their Ranks out for Squad

Drill. 6^th Went into

Makina Club and Had as 

very pleasant evening and

we were brought Home

by Motor. 7^th Went 
down to 9^th 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. 8^th Had to
have a Practice Parade
as we were to be inspected
by Some General the next
day. (Revolver Practice)
and the into Club for
lunch with the Skipper
of one of the boats.
9^th. We were inspected
by General Mr Mann
and in evening went
out to one of the
Boats and had the
best of evenings
 

10^th Went down to Pier
to see the [[Varsova?]] off and
in Afternoon we went
to Basrah City but
things were fairly quiet

11^th 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
12^th 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)
13^th Had dinner at the 9^th I.G. Hosp.
and went to concert at 3^rd
British Gen Hospital. Rained
very heavily that night. 14^th
Went down to Hospital and
met some of the sisters who
we took out to our Gentlemans
Club at Makinah. 15^th
Down at the Sisters Club

for Tea and same evening
we went out and had
dinner on the DalHousie
16^th Rained very heavily
and the Sisters took us down
to their Club and
we had a pleasant

Afternoon. 17^th 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
18^th Having rather a slow
trip up but we passed
many interesting sights
along the river. 19^th 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 Mid-night
20^th Left Armara in morning
and had a very slow trip

up the river 21^st Tied up
and we went ashore and
held sports and had some
fine Sport Started up River
about four in evening
22^nd Went ashore for

about nine hours
and some of the boys shot
a few birds and also a
Jackal. 23^rd Allowed off
for two Hours and we
had a go for a large
flock of wild Geese
but they were to wild
24^th 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. 25^th  Tied up
and we went for Route
March. weather rather Hot
27^th 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
28^th Arrived at Hiatraida Camp
and found the rest of our
party there. In evening we
went into Baghdad and
found it a very interesting
place. 29^th Went into Baghdad
and had a good look
round and the Club was
a very good one. 30^th
Started work. Sword
drill in morning. Persian
lessons and Machine Gun
Work. and then lessons
in loading Camels and
Donkeys 31^st Church Parade
in Morning and General
Byon and Major Walker out
to lunch with us.