Photostat copy of diaries of Benjamin Bennett Leane, 1915 - Part 15

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to go back again on Tuesday.
Saturday July 10^th — London.
Left Bradford at 9 am. Uncle
Arthur came in with me. He
would insist on my taking
a couple pounds, although
I said I would be able
to draw some money at our
London office. Arrived at
Manchester about 11 am.
and went out to the hospital
at Stretford to see them all
again. As I got off

the car I met Miss Vaughan,
who asked me to run round
and say goodbye to them
after dinner. When I
reached the hospital I found
that all the Australians and
New Zealanders, with one
exception, had been transferred
to Harefield, the Australian
hospital near London. The
nurses insisted on my staying
to dinner, so I did. Afterwards
I went round to Brunswick
Street to say goodbye to Miss
Vaughan and her mother, who
had been very good to me
during my stay in Stretford.
Miss Vaughan had to go into
the station to meet her boy,
who was coming up from
Grantham for week end
furlough, so I went in with
her, and as his train came
in a few minutes after mine
she was able to see me off
first. I arrived in London
(Euston) about 8.10 pm. and
took a taxi to the Union Jack
Club, opposite Waterloo Station

66
I was fortunate in getting the
last vacant bed. Went
for a short stroll along
the Strand and back
along the Embankment, and
then to bed.
Sunday July 11^th Went to service
in Westminster Abbey in the
morning, and stayed to
Communion. Went out to
Hendon to see the flying in
the afternoon. Very windy,
so that the flying was not
very extraordinary. Only four
machines attempted it.
Service at St Paul's Cathedral
in the evening. Came out
before the conclusion because
I wanted to hear the orchestral
concert at Queen's Hall. Arrived
there to find that the Sunday
night concerts had been discontinued
during the summer.
So went to Hyde Park to
mingle with the crowd and
listen to the band.
Monday, July 12^th. Went to the
Colonial Office in Victoria Street
first thing to see about pay 
and kit. Found my account
was overdrawn to the tune of
about ₤ 2. 10 .0, so could not 
get any. Glad now that
Uncle Arthur insisted on my
accepting the ₤2 from him. I
would have been on the rocks
otherwise. Found I had to
draw my kit at the Army
Depot at Pimlico, so as it
was nearly lunch time I took
a taxi. Arrived there two
minutes after closing time, but

68
did a bit of pushing, and
got my claim put through.
I found I had to go to
Marylebone to get boots, so
as I could not draw the

clothing until after dinner
I took a bus out there. After
a lot of seeking I found the
place and got my boots,
arriving back at Pimlico
about 3 pm. It was 6 pm,
when at last I was finally
fixed up. And I had
intended to do such a lot
today, too. I heard at
the office that a draft is
to leave for the Dardanelles
on Wednesday, so I have
decided to return a day 
earlier than necessary in
order to get away with
them. That means I will have 
to go back tomorrow.
I went along to the "Globe"
in Shaftesbury Avenue to book
for "Peg o' my Heart" and on
the way there met Hempel
and Kingsley, and I suddenly 
remembered that I had

borrowed ₤1 from Hempel.
So, as I only had about
25/- left, I had to cut
out the theatre and everything
else in that line. I
had eaten no breakfast, and
little lunch, but I had
to dine very humbly on a

poached egg and a cup of
tea. And in the morning
I spent a cheap, but
instructive xxxx hour or two
studying life as presented

 

70

by the mixed crowds at 

Waterloo Station. In the 
Tuesday July 13^th
morning I balanced my 

cash and found a credit

balance of 2/1½:  Seven pence 

had to go in breakfast

(I was only able to invest 

in one egg instead of two),

so I got desperate and 

went round to the office

in Victoria Street. I sank 

my pride, admitted that

I was broke, and asked

for an advance of pay.

They granted me 10 days

pay = 10/-. I wasn't

able to engage a special
train to take me to Weymouth,

but still the little yellow

coin was very welcome.

On my way back to the 

Club I passed the Horse Guards,

and as it was just 11 o'clock

I stayed to watch the

changing of the guard. As

my train did not leave

until 12.25 I took the bus

to London Bridge, and saw

(merely 'saw') it, and the 

tower. It was further than 

I thought, and I had to 

miss the 12.25. I found 

there was another at 1.30

from Paddington, so took 

the tube to that station.

Arrived in Weymouth about

6 pm. and discovered that

the camp is about 3 miles

out, so as my kit was 

very heavy I had to 

spend 3/- in a taxi. Got

fired up with a bed in

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the sergeants' hut. Found

Jarrett already here, also George

Hall, and Mahon and.

O'Neill of the 11th Bn.

Wednesday July 14^th. The information

is to a draft going back to the 

Dardanelles tomorrow was not

correct, but a small draft

(the first) is ready to go back

at any moment. I am glad

I returned a day earlier,

for I was thus enabled to 

get myself attached to the

first draft, although it is

really full. I have drawn

all my new kit so am ready

to go at any time.

Went for a stroll after

tea. Our camp is very near

the sea, and the surrounding

country is very pretty.

Thursday, July. 15^{th .}Paraded with

my new platoon today. Went

for a pleasant route march

of about 6 miles. In the

evening went to Weymouth.

Strolled along the promenade with

O'Neill and some others for an

hour or so, then went to the

pictures.

Friday July 16^th — Raining hard

all day. No parades, no

nothing — except pay.

Received the sum of 5/-, with

thanks. Had a bath and

went to bed early.

Saturday July 17^th. — Our wedding 

day sweetheart. I will write

you a letter to show you I 

am thinking of you.

Went down to Weymouth this

afternoon and had a swim

74

in the sea — my first sea

bathe since the landing 

on the Gallipoli Peninsula. It 

was a bit cold, but I 

enjoyed it very much. Will

go for another tomorrow if

the day is fine.

Sunday July 18^th. Wrote letters all

morning, went to Weymouth in

the afternoon. Wired Uncle

for £1.

Monday, July 19^th. Route march 

with Dorset Regiment this afternoon.

Afterwards entertained at tea by

them. Their Band played us 

back to our camp in the evening.

Everyone rather "convivial."

Tuesday, July 20^th. First draft finally 

selected and equipped; 1 Officer

114 other ranks. Our mess gave

a smoke social to the Dorset

Sergeants' mess tonight. Also invited

the officers of our depot, who turned

up in force — Col. Sir Newton Moore, 

Major Ball, Cap. the Marquis de Bucy,

Capt.Gorst, and all the subs. Had 

an excellent musical programme,

which included Jock McKay, the

celebrated Scotch comedian, Everything

went with a good swing, and

we had a very merry evening.

In his speech, Col. Sir Newton Moore

announced the fact that the first

draft would leave in a little

over 24 hours — Thursday

morning we understand.

Wednesday, July 21^st. — Received money

order of £1 from Uncle Arthur, also 

letter from Aunt Agnes, and parcel

and letter from Aunt Hester, Tried

our rifles at the Ranges this  

afternoon. The first draft had its

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photo taken. In the evening

I went to the Pavilion to see

'Potash and Perlmutter', not 

half bad. Should like to have 

seen George Grossmith's company 

in it.

Thursday, July 22^nd. — Reveille

at 5.30. Paraded at 8 am. and

marched to the station in a 

driving rain. Entrained at 9.30 am.

and reached Plymouth about

4.30 pm. Embarked at Devonport

Docks on board S.S. 'Grampian"

(same line as 'Ionian'). On 

board are also a battalion of 

Essex Regt. with 1^st. Brigade Headqrs, 

and details (R.A.M.C., Signal Coy.

A.LC. etc,) belonging to the Essex

Division. I understand that 

the whole Essex Division, which

has been in training since last

September, is embarking during 

the next few days. I don't know

whether we will wait outside

for the rest of the convoy or 

proceed on our journey. We

expect to leave the docks at 

8 am. tomorrow. Jack O'Neill

and I have been fixed up in 

the Warrant Officers' Mess and 

have a cabin in the 1^st. class quarter.

Saturday — July 24^th. - Got up early

yesterday and fixed my messing 

quarters for our men. Had a 

good breakfast. Left the docks

at 8 am. and straight out to sea, 

escorted by two destroyers. These

turned back early int the afternoon.

Fairly rough for a start. Stange 

to say that although I had not 

eaten a very big breakfast it 

sufficed for the remainder of the day.

78

Let the afternoon remain

unchronicled; suffice it to say

that I feel much better this 

morning, and ate a good

breakfast. We had a muster

parade and inspection of rifles

this morning.

Sunday, July 25^th. — Very calm, and

very hot as we draw nearer the
 tropics.  I am also getting
nearer to you every day

sweetheart. Wouldn't it be 

great if I was on my way 

home, instead of only as far

as Egypt. Had Church

Parade this morning. Egypt

to reach Gibraltar tomorrow

morning so will write a 

few letters in the hope of 

getting them ashore there.

Passed Cape Finnis Terre this afternoon

Monday, July 26^th 1915 — Very hot

and stuffy in the cabin's last

night, so took my blankets and 

slept up on deck. Consequently

awakened very fresh and 

very early, just as the first

flush of dawn was showing.

Had a bath and shave, and 

went up on deck to read

('Paris" — Zola). Passed Cape

St Vincent during the morning,

and are now heading a little

south of east. Should reach
Gib. late this afternoon.

Tuesday July 27^th. Did not reach Gib.

until about 10 pm. Ordinarily we

should have made it about 6 pm.

but when nearing the Straits we 

suddenly slewed round in our

tracks and headed West. We

cruised slowly round until

80

near nightfall, and went 

through the Straits in the dark.

During our passage through we

passed a small steamer on

our starboard side going in 

the same direction as ourselves, 

but steaming very slowly and

with all lights out. We took 

no notice of it at the time.

When within a couple miles

of the Rock we were met

by a little torpedo boat with 

a small gun in her bows.

She questioned us, and then

sent a dinghy for our mail,

afterwards allowing us to proceed 

on our way. Just as she 

left us, however, I noticed

that she was signalling across

towards the African coast, and 

thinking that it was another

vessel to be examined I went

across to starboard to watch.

I saw that the signals to 

which she was replying were

made by a searchlight either

on or near the Morocco coast.

A little ahead of us, and 

between us and the Morocco

coast, and right in the

silver path made by the

moonlight, I saw the little 

steamer all in darkness, which 

we had passed in the Straits.

She was now making more speed 

and was evidently trying to 

creep through without being 

seen. The little torpedo boat

was after her in a flash. As 

she crept up she repeatedly

signalled the strange craft, but

there was no reply, and

82

presently I saw a puff of 

smoke float across the pathway

made by the moonlight,

and immediately after

there followed the boom of 

a cannon. The strange

craft hove to without more

ado, and presently the
torpedo boat went alongside

and we could see her

searchlight playing all over

the little steamer. Evidently

the examination was not too

satisfactory, for there was 

some rapid signalling between

the torpedo boat and the 

Gibraltar station, and then 

the strange craft turned about,

and, escorted by the little 

torpedo boat, headed for 

Gibraltar. Most likely an 

enemy ship with contraband

trying to slip through Gib.

in the darkness. It's a big 

contract though, to catch the

boys at Gib. napping.

I slept on deck again last

night. This morning there 

was a thick fog until about

10 a.m., and we had to slow 

down and keep the hooter 

blowing. After the fog cleared

the sun blazed out fiercely.

I guess we are in for some 

hot weather at the Dardanelles.

Wednesday, July 28^th. Another hot day.

Spent the best part of the evening

in the stuffy saloon; censoring 

letters. All the boys seem to

have made lots of friends in

England, I am afraid  

a few little girls In Australia