Diary and photograph of John Adams, 1914-1916 - Part 1

Reg No 255 John Adams 2nd Bn A.I.F

Randwick Racecourse.

11th August 1914.

11th August. With others I was sent to

Randwick Racecourse from Victoria Barracks,

& camped under the Ledger. After two weeks

training we were equipped & moved to

Kensington Racecourse. My Coy., "C" Coy 2nd. Bn,

26th Sept.

Prepared for embarkation by S.S. 

"Suffolk". Did not embark. Route march through 

Domain & City.

27th.

Parade with rifles & bayonets for inspection

at 9 a.m. followed by drill until 

midday. General leave from 2 till 9 p.m.

Went to Waverley.

28th.

The Bn. marched to Long Bay Rifle

Range & carried out firing practice.

29th.

The Bn. marched towards La' Perouse. On

our way back we skirmished some hills, also

carried out two assaults with fixed bayonets.

Got back to camp at 5.30 p.m.

30th.

Morning. Company Drill & 20 minutes

allowed for washing clothes. Afternoon.

Skirmished hills towards Botany. Dug trenches

for cover. Colonel Braund spoke highly of

good cover in trenches.

1st October.

The Bn. marched to Long Bay

Rifle Range & carried out firing practice.

At 11 a.m. the Colonel allowed the Bn to surf,

the beach is near the rifle range. Returned

to camp at 6.15 p.m.

2nd.

Morning. Coy. Drill. Afternoon. The 1st, 2nd,

3rd, & 4th Bns., skirmished hills towards

Botany, also carried out an assault with

fixed bayonets.

3rd.

Route march through Centennial Park,

Edgecliffe, & Double Bay during the

morning. Afternoon. Coy Drill.

4th.

Being no bread in camp for b'fast,

church parade was postponed. Staying in

camp for remainder of day caused discontent

amongst the troops.

5th.

The Bn. left camp at 7.30 a.m. & carried out

an attack at Roseberry. The 3rd & 4th Bn's,

watched the attack from the position attacked.

Returned to camp at 2.15 p.m. Parade at 3.15

p.m. to hoist tents which were lowered for

airing before leaving camp in the morning.

October

Boxing at 7.30 p.m.

6th.

The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, & 4th Bn's, The Light

Horse & Artillery marched through the city

& returned to camp at 2.20 p.m. Got special

leave from 4.30 p.m. till 9.30 p.m. Went to Waverley.

7th.

The Bn. left camp at 7.45 a.m. & marched to

Long Bay rifle range for firing practice.

During the afternoon we carried out skirmishes

at Maroubra Bay. Returned to camp at 5.45 p.m.

8th. 

The Brigadier inspected the Bn. at 7 a.m.

We marched to Roseberry to carry out an

attack. One half the Bn. carried out the attack

whilst the other half watched. my luck was out.

Returned to camp at 1.45 p.m. Afternoon. Kit

inspection. 9th.

The Bn. left camp at 8.20 a.m.

& carried out an attack at Roseberry. Returned

to camp at 1 p.m. Afternoon. Coy Drill.

10th.

Morning. Coy Drill. Afternoon Medical

inspection. Got special leave from 4.40 

till 9.30 p.m.

11th.

9.15 a.m. Church parade in camp

grounds.

12th.

Detailed for town piquet from 11 a.m. till 11 p.m.

District of Patrol William St. Victoria St, &

Wooloomoloo Bay.

13th.

The Bn. left camp at 8 a.m. & carried out 

a route march through Centennial Park,

Darlinghurst & Roseberry. I fell out at Roseberry

through a nail sticking in my foot.

Later I got a lecture from Lt Brown for

falling out after examining my foot he gave

me special leave from 5.30 till 9.30 p.m. Went to

Waverley.

14th.

The Bn marched to Long Bay rifle 

range for firing practice, leaving camp at

7.45 a.m. During the afternoon we were allowed

to surf. Rain drenched us to the skin on our

way back. Arrived in camp at 7 p.m.

15th

The Bn. marched to Long Bay rifle range

for firing practice leaving camp at 8 a.m. &

returning at 4 p.m. On arrival in camp the

Colonel informed us that the Bn. (2nd. Bn.)

embark on the S.S. Suffolk some time tomorrow,

or Sunday, there was much rejoicing.

16th.

Kit inspection & packing of kits for embarkation

Got leave on G. F. Millers pass from 4.30 till 10 p.m.

October

17th.

Heavy rain kept all the troops in their

tents until 4.15 p.m. when it eased off then

we packed our kits on the Bn transport ready

to go on board.

18th.

Revellie 5 a.m. The Bn. left Kensington Camp

with full marching order & were taken in trams

to Darlinghurst then marched to Wooloomoloo Bay

& boarded the "S.S. Suffolk" at 92.0 a.m. Scarcely

anyone saw us off. The Suffolk left the wharf at

11 a.m. & anchored in Neutral Bay. At 4 p.m. we

left the harbour with the Afric astern. The sea

was very choppy & after a couple of hours

out the Afric passed us & soon got well ahead. A

large number of our troops were sick.

19th.

No parades. Passed Gabo at 4.15 a.m. At 5.15.

p.m. sighted a cruiser. Sea calm.

20th.

Medical inspection. Passed Port Phillip at 2 p.m.

21st.

Passed Cape Otway. Heavy swell running.

22nd. 

Inoculated against typhoid.

23rd.

6 a.m. detailed to scrub upper deck & as

sweeper for remainder of day. Ran into

storm during night.

October

24th.

Detailed for guard over magazine. Afric

sighted ahead at 6 a.m.

25th.

Sighted land at 3 a.m. Entered King George's

Sound. West Australia at 5.30 a.m. A large number

of Australian troopships are assembled here.

We took up anchor & went alongside a wharf

& took in water. No one was allowed on shore.

The A.U.S.N's ship "Indarra" came alongside the

opposite side of the wharf. the passengers gave

us books & papers.

26th. 

We left the wharf at 5.45 a.m. & anchored

in the harbour. Weather wet & rough.

27th.

2 p.m. full marching order parade, also kit bag

inspection. Farewell messaged from Lord Kitchiner

& Senator Pearce, were read to us on parade. Weather

wet & rough.

28th.

2 p.m. full marching order parade. At 10.15

a.m. 10 New Zealand troopships escorted by four

cruisers, (one a Japanese) anchored in the harbour

At 3.45 p.m. the cruisers put to sea. Weather dull.

29th.

Hammocks were redrawn to see how many 

hooks were deficient for slinging.

30th.

Morning. Instruction in attack & cover by

our platoon commander Lt Brown. Afternoon

Medical inspection. Weather showery.

31st.

Detailed for troopdeck sweeper. During the

afternoon I did fatigue duty for A. Edwards as

he was sick. Weather showery.

1st November.

At 7 a.m. we left Albany with the

following ships conveying Australian troops:-

Orvieto, Southern, Pera, Armadale, Suldana,

Hatuna, Hymettus, Suffolk, Anglo Egyptian,

Wiltshire, Star of England, Geelong,

Port Lincoln, Karoo, Marere, Clan Mac

Cuorquadale, Euripides, Shropshire, Argylshire,

Afric, Umrah, Benalla, Rangatara, Star of

Victoria, Hororata, & Miltides. & the following

with New Zealand troops aboard :- Maunganui,

Arori, Star of India, Limerick, Tahiti, Arawa,

Athenic, Hawkes Bay, Raupehu & Waimatta all

painted french grey. 4 cruisters escort.

2nd.

Last sight of Australian Coast Cape Llewyn

High wind & showery.

3rd.

The Medic & Ascanius with West Australian

troops aboard, joined our convoy at 4.20 p.m.

Weather rough.

November

4th.

Fine day with heavy swell.

5th.

R.M.S. Osterley homeward bound passed

on our starboard side at 6.20 p.m. Weather

fine & warm. The position of transports when

all assembled on Tuesday 3rd of November.

1 Battleship Minotaur

1 Wiltshire. 1 Orvieto. 1 Euripides.

1 Medic. 1 Southern. 1 Shropshire.

1 Ascanius 1 Pera. 1 Argylshire.

1 Star of England. 1 Armadale, 1 Afrid. 1 Japanese Cruiser

1 Cruiser 1 Geelong. 1 Saldana. 1 Benalla. 

Sydney 1 Port Lincoln. 1 Hatuna. 1 Rangatara

1 Haroo. 1 Hymettus. 1 Star of Victoria.

1 Marere. 1 Suffolk. 1 Hororata.

1 Clan Mac Cuorquadale. 1 Anglo Egyptian 1 Omrah.

1 Miltides.

1 Waunganui. 1 Arawa.

1 Arori. 1 Athenic.

1 Star of India. 1 Hawkes Bay.

1 Limerick. 1 Raupehu.

1 Tahiti. 1 Waimatta

1 Cruiser.

Total number of troops aboard 30,000 including

20,000 Australians, 10,000 New Zealanders.

6th.

Fell in with hammocks for airings. Semaphore

& Musketry instructions during the day. Slept on

upper deck.

November

7th

Weather very hot slept on upper deck.

8th. Very hot & showery day.

9th Early on Sunday morning the

Minotaur & Sydney left our convoy at full

speed, the Minotaur did not go out of sight,

& soon returned & took up her old position.

The Sydney, pouring out large columns of

smoke soon disappeared. 

9th.

Detailed for guard. At 3 p.m. Colonel Braund

read a message to us saying the cruiser

"Sydney" had been in an engagement with

the German Cruiser "Emden", with result,

the Emden was beached & her crew taken

prisoners. The action took place off "Cocus

Island". The "Emden" passed ahead of our 

convoy on the night of the 7th. 8th. There

was continuous cheering after the good news.

10th.

Weather hot & showery. Blankets got wet

whilst asleep, soon found dry ones for tonight.

11th.

Through some machinery out of order we

dropped behind several miles. At 4.30 p.m.

we got back to our position. New boots

were drawn & marked.

12th.

At 1.15 p.m. the "Empress of Russia" going

November

East passed on our port side. I am very

seedy. A scorcher of a day.

13th.

At 5.30 a.m. we passed the equator. Neptune

put in an appearance at 2.30 p.m. most of 

the officers were introduced to him. At 7 a.m. all 

the New Zealand ships & 3 Australian ships

went ahead of us, apparently to get coal &

water at Colombo. At night only columns of 

smoke could be seen ahead. Weather hot & showery.

14th.

Very hot day.

15th.

At 3.30 a.m. the "Empress of Russia" &

Cruiser "Sydney" passed us. The Empress of

Russia had on board the prisoners from the

Emden. Sighted land early in the morning.

At 12.30 p.m. we dropped anchor outside Colombo

Harbour. The Russian Cruiser Askwold (with 5

funnels) came out of Colombo Harbour &

anchored off to keep a look out.

16th.

Several ships from our convoy went into

the harbour for water & coal. No one allowed

ashore, much disappointment. Detailed to

scrub upper deck. The air was perfumed by

plant life from shore. I gave a native 2

letters to post.