Diary of Samuel Hedley Hemming Hawkins, 1917-1918 - Part 1

4076.
H. Hawkins
4 Pioneer Bn
A.I.F.
Joined camp 2.7.17 & after
28 uneventful days
entrained for Sydney.
Prom. Cpl 28.7.17.
Monday 30.7.17
Entrained at Rifle Range at
6.5 a.m amid the Cheers of the
Patriotic crowds who were eager
to see the last of us. First stop
Roma St. where old friends bade
us adieu. En route great.
enthusiasm was shown by
country people (who were more
eager to feed than to see us go.)
especially at Glen Nevin.
Crossed border at Wallangarra 7.30p.m
TUESDAY 31.7.17.
Good nights sleep in train. Great
enthusiasm shown amongst the
Cockies who provided an excellent
spread @ Werris Creek.
The scenery along to Paramatta &
Hawkesbury was delightful.
Thence onwards we passed through
the more populated areas 
& were cheered to Liverpool (our
destination) which we reached 5.30pm
Visited Sydney in evening returning
12 M.N.

WEDNESDAY  8 1.8.17
Reveille at 2.30 a.m. Temperature
30^o below zero or thereabouts.
Entrained to Sydney, waking 
everybody who had the misfortune
to live near the railway.
Marched through Sydney arriving
at wharf 7. am & boarded H.M.A.Tub
Medic A7. Left wharf 9 am.
Anchored outside Garden Island
till 1 pm when the old mud hook
was lifted & we sailed out of the 
harbour amid cheers.
Had the pleasure of being Cpl of
Ships Guard.
THURSDAY. 2.8.17
Had the pleasure of managing a
Sea Sick guard. Relieved from
guard at 8 AM. No parades.
Had a good sleep in Bird Cage.
Had a good feed of cake (which
we pinched from Sgt Kelly.)
(M^rs Kelly makes bonser cakes)
FRIDAY 3.8.17.
Most hands convalescent.
Men allotted a place in a lifeboat
or on a raft. Placed in charge of
a raft & 7 men. Practice given
FRIDAY 3.8.17
in falling in with lifebelts
on in case of emergency.
SATURDAY. 4.8.17.
Concert held in commemoration
of Dec of war between Britain
& Germany. Very fine items
rendered by members of the AIF.
terminating with a fine speech
by Capt Lawrance (of the famous 
9^th Bn) on the work done by
the Australians in this war.
Remarks on the week.
Time spent very pleasantly.
Latrine, washing, sleeping & deck
accommodation very inadequate.
Troop-deck B (¹¹/₄ Pioneers) is
for'd under the 26/16 deck.
B deck is very hot & stuffy
& the rotten air would just
about kill a man.
Great numbers sleep on deck
& have enjoyed excellent weather.
The Y.M.C.A have two secretaries
on board & have made excellent
provisions for us. Piano, cards
games, paper, & books. The
Secretaries arrange all sports &
concerts.

SUNDAY 5.8.17.
Church Parade 9.30 a.m. Dick & other
wousers compelled to attend C of E
parade. Didn't they kick.
The Padrě hit the gamblers very
hard in his address & with good results
Parade over 10.30 A.M. Rest of day free.
Wrote letter to mother.
MONDAY 6.8.17.
Ships Guard. Dick orderley Cpl.
Sleep with Dick instead of
the Guard & nearly loose my
stripes. Struck a little
rougher weather & got drenched
with spray at night
Boxing in evening.
TUESDAY 7.8.17.
Relieved 8 a.m. & rest during
day. Concert at night.
TUESDAY 7.8.17
As we gained time so fast we had
to drop a day in order to keep
Greenwich time. Instructing
in Drill today. Afternoon
sees Boxing Tournament
which created great excitement.
Pioneers carried the day
as pugs.
WEDNESDAY 8.8.17
Ships Guard. Weather excellent
Small concert at night
THURSDAY 9.8.17.
Instructing in squad drill &
Rifle Exercise. Played cards Dick
& I beating our opponents.
Started French class.
FRIDAY. 10.8.17
Squad drill & rifle exercises
Salt bath erected for troops
& a compulsory washing parade
followed. Dirty beggers. Eh!
Knowing as much as teacher
of class decided not to worry
French on board.
SATURDAY 11.8.17.
First case meningitis. All have
throats sprayed & got the runs.
(from the nose of course)
Sighted land.
Discovered it was my birthday
at 7pm & tipped the Steward for
a spree. Dick, Jim W, & Self.
REMARKS for Week.
Weather getting tropical

SUNDAY 12.8.17. Church Parade
Submarine Guard mounted
with instructions to shoot at
periscopes which are reported
invisible
MONDAY 13.8.17. Had a drenching
rain at 3 am & got down to the 
troop deck half drowned.
Boxing contests in afternoon
Jaro, a pioneer winning.
TUESDAY 14.78.17 Dick goes on
Sick Parade with sore throat
Malingeritis consequently I have
a double squad. Awning spread
over deck which is a god send
protecting us from the burning
equatorial sun. Paid ₤1 per
man & had a good spree.
WEDNESDAY 16.8.17 Dick & Self
just about drowned with spray
1 a.m. On Guard today, was
roared on by Grand rounds &
missed the sports. Had to take
a lot of abuse because guards
were not allowed to attend.
THURSDAY 16.8.17 Sighted land
on either side but darkness spoilt
view. Rest after Guard.
FRIDAY 17.8.17. Lecture on
Hygenics by D^r Roe. Various
diseases described which
gave all a bad turn of
imaginitus
SATURDAY 18.8.17. Strike Guard
again & miss sports.
Boxing, tunnel ball, O'Grady
Tug of war. More abuse.
Remarks of week.
Had more of my share of
Guard but am not quite worked
up enough to go crook
Have been sailing parallel
to the equator & for a week
have been gradually baked.
We could not lie down for
fear of sunstroke & the
troopdecks were steaming.
SUNDAY 19.8.17 Quiet day.
Church Parade. Letter writing
& Y.M.C.A. hold service at night.
Chiefly Hymns.
MONDAY 20.8.17 Rain drives me 
from bed at 5 a.m. Occupied time till
6 by drying self & drying blankets.
Semaphore drill. Bought a
Chicken for Supper. Great treat
for Dick & self.

TUESDAY 21.8.17 All Pioneers on
Guard bar Dick & Self. Holiday.
26/16 Give good Concert at night
Best of journey.
WEDNESDAY 22.8.17. Beautiful
calm sunny day. All pioneers
on rest after guard. Holiday in
morning. Semaphore in
afternoon. Euchre tournament
commences today.
THURSDAY 23.8.17 Cross the line.
Holiday. Sports all day.
Boxing takes up morning & up till
3 p.m. when troops were entertained
by an exhibition of his faked
hypnotic powers deceiving
nearly everyone.
FRIDAY 24.8.17 Fine day. All pioneers
bar 3 NCO'S on Guard. Read Yankee
Yarns all day. Glimpse of land.
Dick & Self defeated in Crib tournament.
SATURDAY. I took the few pioneers
available for duty in Signalling.
Dick has a holiday. Sports
in afternoon. Cock fighting
the greatest attraction of 
the day.
SUNDAY. 26.8.17. Church parade. Spell
& Letter writing. Post Boxes opened
so Latrine wires announce
that we are nearing port.
MONDAY 27.8.17. Dick on Guard.
Holiday for me. First night
since joining that I did not
sleep with Dick.
TUESDAY  28.8.17. Holiday on account 
of Guard. Washing parade
afternoon. I am in charge
Dick & I wash all ^our dirty togs.
The greatest joke one ever saw.
about 200 men on deck washing
all trying the easiest methods.
Some like women, others as using
scrubbing brushes, others with
soft soap & what not
WEDNESDAY 29.8.17 Beastly hot.
heavy tropical showers.
Heavy & middle weight champion
ships in afternoon both won
by Jaro (Pioneers) All sorts of
other games. Last day of sports.
THURSDAY. On Guard. Heavy rain
turns us out at 3.15 am.
Competitions :- Elocution, Charlie
Chaplain, Laughing Speeches etc.

FRIDAY 31.8.17. No Parade.
Continually sighting islands
all day. Viewed mainland of
S. America Sighted lighthouse
at Panama 7. pm. Passed
N. Zealand mailboat about 11.PM.
SATURDAY 1.9.17 Land ahead
in early morning. By 9 am we
lie at the entrance to Canal &
view Panama which presents 
the appearance of a great naval
base. Enter canal 10 a.m.
Pass through first two sets of locks
& then into the Calenbra Cut.
Electric motors run along platforms
of locks & draw boats from one
lock to another. The American
soldiers lined the shores &
platforms & were very kind to
us. We bartered for badges,
tunics, watches in fact nearly
all cloathing. The cut is a
wonderful engineering feat -
right through the mountains
which are very pretty. The
whole lenth of the canal is
guarded by Yankee soldiers.
The canal is 50 miles long.
SATURDAY 1.9.17 After passing
third set of locks at other end
of Canal we reach Christabol
10. p.m.
Remarks on week.
Passed one of the most interesting
weeks of my life. Unfortunately it
rained after we passed through the
cut but we donned our waterproof
sheets & enjoyed the scenery.
The first set contains three locks,
second two, & the third three.
Between 3^rd lock & cut is an immense
broad span of water, through which
the canal runs its course being
marked by beacons & lights.
SUNDAY 2.9.17 Up at sunrise to be
met by Yanks. Coaling all day & well
into night. Some marvellous
mechanical machinery used for
coaling - all electrically & worked
automatically. the Americans here
treated us very well, throwing up to
us papers, bananas & other fruits &
cigarettes. All negro labor used for
trimming coal in bunkers. Saw &
talked to Alf Pryke for a short
while.

MONDAY 3.9.17 Towed from
wharf into harbour 1 am.
Meningitis patient (A Dahl) sent
ashore but died same day.
Miltiades & Thermistocles also in
harbour. 20 destroyers & submarines
patrol harbour. Heavy rains
TUESDAY 1.9.17. Anchisis joins
us in harbour. All troops
formed on deck & Cpl Leeds &
self with two naval officers
search ship for the suspected
enemy stowaways. Were not
on Medic but were found on
another boat.
WEDNESDAY 5.9.17 DAHL given
a military funeral. Firing
party from 10/49 go ashore
& entrain to Panama City.
They went for the trip & not the 
funeral & the public motored
them all around the city.
Went ashore for a swim &
went almost mad in the bush.
Gathered cocoanuts & almost
missed boat back. Had to
swim to boat & so slightly
damaged my watch.
THURSDAY 6.9.17. Dick goes ashore &
brings back cocoanuts. Ten
munition workers failed to
return & search party was
sent out which returned with 
the ten as prisoners. Each got
7 days apiece. All leave
stopped through workers.
FRIDAY 7.9.17 Rain. other
transport joins us.
SATURDAY 8.9.17 Dick on guard
Convoy leaves Harbour. Consists
of U.States Cruiser & 6 troopships
viz Medic, Miltiades, Thermistocles, 
& Anchisis, & the New Zealand troop
ships Makoiha & Ruahuina.
Remarks on week
Christabol, Colon, last places
God made. Climate alternately
unberably hot & then cold
rains. Swim or run on shore
was a very pleasant break.
SUNDAY 9.9.17. Very rough - troops
sick again. No Church parade
Troopships sail in two lines
of three during day & single
line at night

MONDAY 10.9.17 Drilled in morning
but rain prevents us in afternoon. 
All ships in convoy zigzag to
evade submarines. Alarm for
boat practise given in morning
TUESDAY 11.9.17. On Guard.
H. Thompson, a mate & member of our
mess contracts meningitis & is put
into hospital in a bad condition
WEDNESDAY 12.9.17 Throat & nose spray
to prevent further spread of
meningitis. The taste this spray
leaves is about 100 times more
distasteful than bitter aloes.
Passed between San Domingo &
Porto Rico. Washing parade
THURSDAY 13.9.17 Latest Latrine Wire
ww We call at Bermudas.
In consequence of news that
two enemy cruisers are at large
we go full speed. W.A. troops
give another concert on troop deck
to prevent noise going across
the ocean
FRIDAY 14.9.17 N.C.O.'s of pioneers
form a mess & are now known 
by the boys as "Austocrase"
SATURDAY 15.9.17 Reached Bermuda
Islands about 9.30a.m. but did
not anchor. The Island was very
pretty in appearance & water
clear as cristal. Our Escort
The Charleston left us & we
were escorted by the British
1^st Class Cruiser "Carnarvon"
H. Thompson (the Meningitis
patient) was sent ashore & the 
doctor says he will live.
Left Bermuda at 5p.m.
Remarks on week.
Latrine Wires had said that
we would land at the island
& troops were more than
disappointed.
The Submarine Guards (80 men)
were more than worn out.
For a week they have kept watch
night & day in almost constant
rain & having no protection.
I went rounds their beds one day
& was unable to find one clean
or dry blanket. Rum was
even refused them by the
skipper of the boat.

Latrine wires are yarns which
circulate where ever soldiers go.
The appear to come from the
gossips in the latrines &
on Wednesday last some
nut rigged up a miniature
wireless  receiving station
with a dummy key attached,
just outside the entrance to
the latrine. All latrine wires
were then posted on the latrine
door.
SUNDAY 16.9.17. Church Parade
Ran into a heavy sea which
contd till dark.
MONDAY 17.9.17 Marked Change
in weather. Very cold. Drizzling
rain all day.
TUESDAY 18.9.17. Rain, wind, Rain
No parades as it is too rough & stormy
In afternoon we were met by an
auxiliery Cruiser & piolets
boarded each boat. We were
pioleted through a large
minefield & were towed into
the harbour of Halifax where
we were all surprised at the
number of British warships in port.
WEDNESDAY 19.9.17
Everyone growling as we were not
to be allowed ashore. Officers only
went. In afternoon Six pioneers
& 7 of 10/49 were sent ashore to
Halifax Military Hospital
where we were detained as
Meningitis Contacts as we
were friends & associates of the
two cases on board the Medic"
Here we tasted eggs or rather
had eggs to eat but I swallowed
mine without even tasting them
Had fine hot bath & a good
bed. This was truly a great
treat.
THURSDAY 20.9.17
Spent the day in hospital enjoying
fine homly life again.
Swabs were taken  of our throats
by the doctor.
The sisters bought tobacco, cigaretts
cards posted our letters & did
all they could for us.
We spent all the day in
playing cards & talking &
making eyes at the
sisters to whom I gave all
all my badges.

FRIDAY 21.9.17. Against our wishes
the Dr. told us that we were all O.K.
though he tried hard to detain us.
We were very sorry to leave & all
nurses & orderlies were very cut
up at our departure. We were
marched to the old Medic & to
our great surprise everyone was
transhiping & all our togs were
packed & transferred for us.
We marched through the buildings
on the wharf which contd
ammunition only ready to
be shipped to England.
We went straight onto the Orissa
& to our surprise we gots
good cabins & excellent berths.
The food was a treat & we
dined in the dining room.
Moreover this is the first time
this ship has carried troops
& Officers & crew were most
friendly. Leave harbour 6 p.m.
SATURDAY 22.9.17 Convoy
consists of 14 armed transports
escorted by an auxiliary Cruiser
"The Victoria". Was placed on Submarine
Guard & came of like a
lump of Frozen Meat. 22 hours of 24 on duty.

SUNDAY 23.9.17. Sea very rough
& most men were again sick.
Luckily I have not yet been
sea sick. Almost every wave
swept the deck & all the guards
were thoroughly drenched.
Was relieved at 3p.m. after
doing 22 hours without a spell

of course we travel without lights
& I fell about 30 times relieving
guards during the night.
Under these conditions I
was in a great rage as I had
not even an assistant. The
parson came to have a chat
to me but our conversation
did not last long. as
Monday Kidded I had caught
a bad cold in back & so had
no more. Sub. Guard. Worse
luck Dick was then appointed
permanently to Submarine Gd.
& I was taken off all duty.
Tuesday No drill. Cricket
matches aboad. Had an
excellent tea tonight on
saloon dining room.