Photostat copy of diaries of Benjamin Bennett Leane, 1915 - Part 30

160

mind the wet a bit now.

Tuesday Dec^r 7^th 1915/-

Pucker mounted officer at

last. Went for a ride on

the C.O.s gee gee this afternoon

-the first time I have ben

astride a horse for about

eight years - incidentally

also the second occasion

in my life. I had to

go over to the Base Details

camp to take a summary 

of evidence in a Court Martial

case. Unfortunately for

me the horse used to live

in a village near by not

so long ago. The village

is hardly what one might

call on the way to the

Base Details camp and

as my time was rather

 

limited I would have preferred

not to make the

detour necessary to pass 

through it. However, the

horse had his views on the

matter too, and although

I did my best to persuade

him otherwise he eventually

gained the day - and we

went through the village.

But when he wanted to

stop and ruminate at some

well remembered spot I thought

it time to exercise my authority -

which I did. I spent the

next five minutes in a

painful effort to learn the 

art of lift saddle-ing.

After that we "walk-marched"

Finally he condescended to 

take me to the camp, where

                    162

I dismantled in an unconcerned

manner and handed him over

to a groom. Our homeward

journey was uneventful-

up to a certain point.

I had occasion to pass a

group of soldiers, and as

they wore the colors of the

10^th Bn. I thought it was

up to me to uphold the

honor of the regimental staff.

So I made the beast "walk

march" (that being the pace

at which I could assume

the safest seat and most 

dignified appearance) and

passed the man in quite 

good style. To sort of

add to the impression that

my particular forte was

riding horses I assumed a

 

laconic attitude, dropped

the reins on the horse's neck,

and lit a cigarette. That

was pride. Then came the

fall before which, we are 

told, pride goeth. The 

fall was in the form of

a woman - two women, in

fact - nurses, who came

trotting along behind me.

I should say my steed's former

rider must have been in the

habit of riding out with

ladies, for without any

warning I found myself

sociably riding alongside

them. I managed to keep

the beast slightly in rear

and thus hid my particular

method of lifting saddle from

the ladies, but I am afraid

                    164

from certain smothered sounds

which came from the rear

that the men had quite a

good view. That made

me wild, and in desperation

I dug my heels into the

beast's ribs and off we set.

By the time we had got

out of sight I had managed ^learned

to bump only about four

times out of six, instead

of six out of six. I think

perhaps in a few weeks I

may be able to miss the

alternate bump, as per the

prescribed method, if I go

riding any more.

 

Fortunately the steed was 

fairly tired by the time we

came home, so I entered

the camp like a veteran,

 

took the salute of the guard

without turning a hair,

and drew up on the

correct spot with as much

accuracy as an aeroplane.

Was I glad to be home?

Was I? Don't ask silly

questions.

Wednesday Dec^r 8^th, 1915

I'm feeling very stiff - and

I have just discovered that

a cushion materially adds

to the comfort of a wooden

form. I've had a day at

home today, thank you.

Morley has gone over to the

hospital to dinner tonight,

so I am putting in a quiet 

evening at my letters.

We are hoping to go to the

hot baths at Therma on Saturday

                          166

afternoon, stay the night there,

and come back early Sunday

morning. Major Lorenzo

and Major Peck went over

to the hospital this afternoon.

Ray is rather better, if anything,

but still pretty bad.

By the way, did I tell you

that Major Lorenzo had been

awarded the D.S.O? He got

word from General Birdwood

the other day, so we all

drank his health- at his

expense of course. I should

like to see Colonel Weir

honored in some way. The

grand old chap deserves

it if anyone does.

Thursday Dec^r 9^th, 1915

I've got a beastly headache

tonight, and I'd just like to

 

lie back and let somebody's 

soft hands stroke my forehead.

Unfortunately it can't be had.

The hands are on the spot,

in the persons of two Australian

nursing sisters who came

over to dinner at the mess

tonight, but the C.O. and

Major Lorenzo are monopolising

their attention at bridge.

I have to act as Prosecutor

on a Field General Court Martial

tomorrow, so I've been stewing

up military Law all the

afternoon - hence the headache.

Friday Dec^r 10^th 1915

News of a big mail today. About

five bags of papers and parcels

came along as a sort of

advance guard. I got

"mail" from Miss Sanders,

             168

dated October 30^th. Several 

cases of gifts from Adelaide 

people also came along,

including a case from the

Bank of Adelaide - all

manner of useful articles -

and two cases of parcels

from Walkerville ladies.

Each parcel contained several

articles - a la billycan idea -

soap, handkerchiefs, chocolate,

writing paper etc. etc.

There was also a large

number of pipes, which are

very welcome. The people

are very good.

 

The Court Martial went

off alright this morning. Although

prosecutor, I did my best to

put the fellow's case in 

as favorable a light as possible

 

because I do not think he

realised its seriousness. He

should get two years for the

actual offence, whereas I am

of opinion that twenty eight

days field punishment would

be sufficient punishment in

his particular case. I wanted

the C.O. to deal with the case

summarily, but he would not.

I think the accused must 

have thought I was acting

as prisoner's friend instead of

prosecutor. In the end he

called on me as witness to

his character.

 

Poor old Morlet is not too good

today. He has been off color

more or less the last few

days. He went to be without

his tea last night, and then

                      170

had to turn out about 2 am.

to attend some man who 

took ill in the night. I think

he must have caught a

chill or something, for he 

has been running a temperature

today. I hope he doesn't

go sick, because he's a jolly

fine fellow, an excellent

tentmate, and a conscientious

M.O. Major Jacob, DC,

xx "B" Coy, went to hospital yesterday

with typhoid.

Saturday Dec^r 11^th 1915. Therma

Enjoying the simple life,

and it's O.K. Poor old Morlet

was too sick to take the journey

I will tell you the full story

of my adventures in getting 

here in my letter to you.

Suffice it to say that I am

 

here, and as I said before, it's

O.K. I should like to

put in three or four days

here. It would be a 

complete rest. The bed

looks very soft and inviting

so I am not going to be out

of it for very long.

Sunday. Dec^r 12^th 1915.

Breakfasted on brown

bread and honey - delicious

candied honey - and 

left Therma at 10 a.m. I

was directed by an English

officer who shared my room

(Lt. Blake) to a short cut

through the hills. I thoroughly 

enjoyed the walk back,

much more than the journey 

to Therma. I eventually

reached camp about 12.30

      172

to find that Capt Morlet had

just been taken off to hospital.

This afternoon I went over to 

see him, but did not stay

long, for the poor old chap

seemed too knocked out.

He is in the isolation ward,

with para-typhoid I think.

 

Afterwards I went to see

Ray, and foun Major

Peck and several others

with him, so we had rather

a riotous afternoon. Ray 

is much better I am very 

glad to say, and is

now past danger. He had

pneumonia, and for awhile

the hospital people were

rather scared about him.

 

I feel awfully lost w/out

the Doc. I have the tent to myself

now.

Monday Dec^r 13^th 1915

We had five or six 

nurses to dinner at the

mess last night, and spent

rather a jolly evening.

After dinner the regimental

custom of making all

new officers climb the

tent pole was enforced.

As the "new officers" list

went right back to before

the landing there were

quite a host of us to to

go 'up the pole'. It carried

great amusement. Afterwards

we had cards, 

ludo, race games and

other exciting ¹ events. The

race game was most

popular because we started

a 'book' on it, and bet

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in shillings. Afterwards

all the winnings were

handed over to Red Cross

funds.

 

Today is beautiful

and I am sitting out

in the sun writing this.

and also finishing my

letter to you. I was

going for a ride with

the Colonel this afternoon,

but found that the horses

had already been 

requisitioned for. So I am

doing this instead.

 

Part of the 2^nd Brigade had

come over from Anzac, and

also part of the 7^th Bde.

There are rumours that

the 1^st Division is to be

withdraw and sent

 

somewhere else. I hope so.

Tuesday Dec^r 14^th 1915.

Had a good ride this afternoon

with the C.O. We went out looking

for sites for next week's Battalion

training. On our way back

we struck the 7^th Brigade pitching

their camp; they came over

yesterday. I had a yarn 

to Fredericks, but did not

see Allan. Will have to go

over again and dig him up.

Came back to camp just at

"retreat" and had to face 

the music. The band

always plays at retreat,

and we met it. Both

mares were very scared of it,

but the C.O's mare was

most emphatic in her disapproval.

However, we both came through

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the ordeal safely, and I don't

think anybody guessed that

it was only my third time

on board a horse.

 

There are all manner of

doleful rumours floating about

kiddie. Everything seems to

point to an evacuation of

Gallipoli. It seems too heart

breaking. Just think of all

it has cost us  ----- and 

then to think of it all as

wasted, utterly wasted.

Money, and time; and above

all, lives; all, all thrown

away; all in vain.

Oh it seems too awful. And

think of the blow to British

prestige. I would rather

a hundred times go back

to Anzac and die there

 

so that we might achieve our

object and conquer the Turk

and justify all that Gallipoli

has cost. Only one thing

can counteract the depressing

effect this evacuation will have,

and that is a decisive

blow somewhere else. And

only one thing will remove

the indignation that fuels

every Australian's heart, and 

that is to let the Australian

Forces have a hand in the

striking of that blow.

Wednesday Dec^r 15^th 1915.

A change at last. A

rather stiff breeze blew up

through the night, and today

has been very bleak and

windy. This afternoon I went

across to the 7^th Brigade camp

               178

to see Allan. He us quite well.

I have asked him to come

across to dinner soon, also

the C.O. of his battalion. Allan 

is at present Senior Major.

He seems rather worried about

Ted, who is staying on at

Anzac till the end. I am

afraid the covering party will

have nearly as bad a time

as the landing party did.

This evacuation business is absolutely

sickening, and I feel full up

every time I think of it. It's rotten!

By Jove there'll be a lot of awkward

questions for somebody to answer

bye and bye.

 

We had four more nurses

at dinner tonight. The evening

was not quite so riotous as

last time.

 

Our chaplain, Rev. J.C. Walker

is going back to Australia

shortly. I will get him to

take this and my previous 

diary back with him if

I can; and it if is not

convenient for him to call

and see you he might

perhaps post it to you from

somewhere in dear old South Aus.

(My batman has just

brought me a big slice of

old plum pudding. He

always does that when we

have pudding for dinner.

He knows me, you see. So goodnight, while I try 

conclusions with it.

Thursday Dec^r 16^th 1915.

Capt. Ingram, A.A.M.C.

arrived today to take Capt.