Diary of Theodor Milton Pflaum, 1915-1916 - Part 1

No 327 
Gunner T M Pflaum
[[No]] G. Section
32nd Battalion
8th Brigade
A.I.F

Thursday Nov. 18th 1915.

Arose 3.30pm - Landed in
stores - were paid up to
17th - entrained from
Cheltenham at 7 a.m. A
crowd of the men the
worse for the night before
out - However only
5 deserters.
Left the wharf at 11am
Kath, May Edna & Averill
down to see us off - Jim
also down amongst the big
crowd. The boat was a
picture with all colored
streamers from the boat to
the wharf. Anchored
out at the Anchorage until
3.30pm. Kath & May
came out in one of the boats
& brought cigarettes & chocolates
saw Gab & Ray - both well
Had our blankets and hammocks
issued - Bas and I got a 
port hole and had a good
sleep. 

Friday Nov. 19th

As soon as I got out of
my hammock I went to
the pack - managed to
get up on deck and was
followed by Bas - We
both stayed there for the
rest of the day - taking
it in turns of pushing the
rail. Managed
to look Gab & Ray up
late in the afternoon- they
had both been in the
same boat - more
especially Gab - 
Slung my hammock early
and went to bed. 

Saturday Nov 20th

Weather still overcast
feel good deal better today
although couldnt have
any breakfast. Gab
Dougal Ray & self [[hid?]] up
on deck.  Sighted
Mongolia - wrote home

on the chance of it picking
up our mail but she's
gone a different course.
We aren't calling in at the
West. Am feeling a
good deal better but
don't care about going
down below much, - anyhow 
am on the road
to recovery

Sunday Nov. 21

Slept out on deck again
last night. Guess I'm
not going down below
again if I can help
it. Had Church parade
between [[fcsle?]] boat decks.
After dinner lied up on deck
Gab, Dougal, Bas, Ray & a
crowd of others - exchanged
looks at photos of the
"girls we had left behind".
Saw the first flying fish.

Monday. Nov 22

Dougal & I slept on deck
together last night. As

Monday Continued

usual were awakened at
4 am by the sweepers, but
it was just in time to
see Breakness Island Light
House. Saw the
Western coast almost
all day - could see
the breakers on the cliffs
through the glasses.
Have been continuing my
home letter as it was
rumoured we were going
to drop a couple of
V patients at the West,
however our cake looks
cooked now- we got too
far out. Rounded 
Cape Lewin late this
afternoon - We are
travelling N.W. now.
Started work today - Got
our guns on board
and cleaned them. Also
had a parade in life
belts and were shown
what to do in case
of fire - Hope we

don't have to jump yet.
as the water is jolly
cold !!!

Tuesday 23rd to Saturday 27th

Have not had anything
very exciting since Monday
There's very much of a sameness
about these days. Had
a concert on Tuesday night
on the promenade deck.
Dougal & I still sleeping
on deck.  Orders came out
preventing same but application
with an excuse did the trick.
Have gradually been getting into
warmer weather - and consequently
we dress accordingly. Have
seen crowds of flying fish
they seem to be getting thicker as
we go along. Canteen getting
very low.  Gab, Ray, Bas, Dougal
+ self bought upon a case of
preserves - opened our fruit that
Ern gave us - Starting on it
tomorrow. Have learned the
Morse Code Alphabet during the week

Sunday 28th Nov 1915

Had Church parade as usual
Managed to get a good yarn
so stetched myself out on deck.
Bas's birthday - our only regret
we couldn't celebrate it as we
should have liked. Came out
in my silk shirt & white pants.
Issue of beer was not accepted
of on account of the charge &
conditions under which it had to
be drunk. Added to my
home letter also wrote one
to Lil. Getting jolly hot.

Monday 29th Nov /15

Have missed Colombo worst
luck. Expect Cape [[Gardifuey?]] 
will be the first land we will
sight. Had a bit of
practice in getting our M Guns
to our allotted positions in
case of attack by submarine
I'm on starboard for'cl. Have
a good commanding positon.
The two rear guns had a
bit of practice from the stern

Johnson broke his check lever.
Gab was also in the infantry
that were picked to aid M Guns
with rifle fire

Tuesday

Again erected our gun on
f'csle and built up sandbag
emplacement for protection. I'm
afraid if we did smash a
periscope. The sub. would only
come up &  have revenge.
Got our first pay on board
1/. day - sort of favour for
the "brokes". Got 13/-
Started training with the boxing
gloves - dont make a bad fist
for amatuer

Wednesday Decr 1st 1915

Talk about sweltering tropics
& I'll know what you mean.
Am just dripping with persperation
Boat deck condemned for drill
Too hot. Doing a rifle
signalling. Emptied out
case of fruit - We were
fortunate in having it.
Ray got cold.

Thursday Dec 2nd 1915.

Bugle call at 7 oclock for
NO PARADE - wasn't sorry
Heat was too great. Early
late parades not approved
by Capt Bidwell. Boat
loomed in sight. Wiltshire
carrying 8th Field Artillery
with Col. Grimwade in charge.
We read the signals (morse)
at night learnt they were
bound for the Mediterranean
& our boat told them we
were bound for Suez. Rather
pleased that I was able
to read the Morse - my first

Friday Dec 3. 1915

Had to place our guns
out on poop deck &
wait for the "Alarm"
sound - it came at
about 4 p.m. - our
target was the horizon &
range 1000 Yds hence
we could observe our
fire - Had some good

shooting  -Wasted 500 rounds
into flying fish - Had to
substitute matches for a lost
crank handle fixing screw.
Good breeze blowing N.E.  - cool. 
Passed hospital ship at about
7 oclock.

Saturday Dec 4th

Cleaned our guns - & was
lucky enough to break
my cleaning rod. Was
complimented by our O.C.
for the previous day firing.
Was in the middle of a
letter in the afternoon when
the fire alarm went. We
got to our places in record
time with our life belts on.
Nearly had an accident the
night before, Ch. Engineer just
found it in time.

Sunday Dec 5th
Went to Holy Communion in
the saloon at 7 oclock & wrote
letters & read for the rest of
the day. Got wet up
on deck last night.

Monday Dec 6th 1915.

Had a day off today (Rain)
so put in a bit of time
letter writing. Saw a big
fight tonight between Dixon
of the 12th to 9th Light Horse and
Bridger of "C" Coy 32nd Batt.
It was a jolly good fight but
Dixon knocked his opponent
out in the 6th Round. The
ring was very hot. All
the officers down to see it.
Bridger has not come round
yet. Seems pretty crook

Tuesday Dec 7th 1915

Our first news of today was
very sad.  Bridger died
this morning at 5 oclock.
He sustained a broken blood
vessel on the brain or
something. The whole
crowd were non-plused
this morning - Bridger
was a married man with
one child, from the West.
His body was committed

to the deep at 10 oclock this
morning - a sad ceremony.
The first burial at sea I've
witnessed. We are all
allotting a days pay to the
Widow. Dixon is very
much worried. The inquest
was held today - Bridger
was ill beforehand. Dixon
will be tried when we get ashore.

Wednesday. Dec 8th 1915

Sighted Cape Guardifui & Somaliland
wish I had my camera - the
sun shining on the cliffs made
a fine effect. Had to
mount our M Guns - are into
the danger zone. Our gunners
are sleeping with our gun
at night and we have to
guard it by day - not much
danger of an attack.

Thursday Dec 9th 1915

Sighted the heads of Aden
about dinner time - also
the coast of Arabia. Passed

Thursday 9th Continued

Aden this afternoon - Had
to pack our [[vetlese?]] bag in
the event of our getting orders
to disembark - still dont
know where we are bound
for, but presume Suez, hence
Cairo. Seeing more boats
now that we are in the trade
route. The vaccination on
board gave the chaps some
bonza arms.

Friday 10/12/15

Had a kit inspection - I
was minus my entrenching tool
but found it later. Sighted
12 apostles. Stormy Alf & I 
lied up on the f'csle and had
a long chat

Saturday 11/12/15 

Repacked my kit bags
ready for disembarking- wish
I had brought my leggings
Did a little washing - didn't 
have much as I wore only
my blue dungarees all the week
Had another fire alarm this afternoon

Sunday 12/12/15

Had our last church parade
on this trip. Took a
photo of the S.P.S.C. boys on
board - 15 of them.
Went up to 2nd Stewards Cabin
and had a good feed.
Monny slept up on f'scle
with me.

Monday 13/12/15

Final preparations to disembark
We have had a dickens
a job getting things together.
Packed the guns in the limbers
down in the hold - Slept
in my clothes last night.
Had been going very slowly
so as to get into Suez
early Tuesday morn.
Saw the most glorious sunset.
of my life - indescribable,
& saw the reason of this
being called the Red Sea.
The coast line through the
Red Sea is nothing but cliffs.

Tuesday 14/12/15

Reveille at 5 am.– Awoke
to see Port Suez - Good deal
of excitement.  Anchored
at 7.45 am & almost immediately
were enveloped in a dense
fog. Made all arrangements
for disembarkation. Natives
came out in their boats with
fruit. The fellows gave them
a pretty rough time. Turned
out a glorious day & fog soon
cleared so we got up with
the glasses to observe everything
worth observation. Doctor came
aboard and then some English
officers made their appearance
and advised us of the fact that
we would be going further up
the Canal to guard against an
expected attack. Gab will be
going on to Cairo.

Wednesday 15/12/15  There are
boats all round us and what
aren't warboats & cruisers are laden
with troops - There's a bit of
curiosity as to what's in store for us

Handed in our cables - Sent ours
deferred at 1/9 word - most of
them were week end cables at 10?
Our first mail 8000 letters left
for Australia by the 'Kyber.'

Thursday 16/12/15.

Another day of hanging around
Wrote a few letters - Some
of the A.M.C. fellows
managed to get ashore.

Friday 17/12/15.

All ready to disembark but
only Gab & his crowd were ordered
off. We saw them entrain
for Cairo - was sorry to leave
them. Managed to get off
& stretch our legs by disguising 
ourselves - Risky
but got back alright.

Saturday 18/12/15

Disembarked and entrained
to the Ismailia Camp one
mile from the Town - We
had our guns with us
and travelled in a special

truck - (We all had trucks
no carriages) Expected
there might be something
on the way which would
necessitate their use. The
journey, about 40 miles -
very interesting journey but
pretty rough. Were met
by officers of 30th Batt &
told we had to detrain -
not even the Colonel knew
where we were bound until
then. Wonderful organisation
Everything ready for us and
in an hour or so we
had our tents erected and
everything in order. This is
a tremendous Camp with
all the nationalities in the
word almost. Have got
Indians of all sorts (Gurkas,
Lancers etc. etc.) Tommies &
Egyptians besides ourselves.
Lancers have been here 15 months.
A large Flying Corp just behind
us. Every morning they go
up reconnoitering. A most
interesting camp. Were 

informed would only be here
until Tuesday. Saw Ismailia
Filthy in parts & very nice
in other parts - all nationalities
not many English inhabitants.

Saturday. 18/12/15

Had a good sleep last night
but a very heavy dew.
15 in a tent so slept outside
Egyptians building a railway
line - The mob are just
opposite & make enough
noise over their work to
deafen one. No parade.
Watched the Indians drilling
and had a good look
round. The rest of the
Brigade are in action & I heard
several shots up the Canal.
Things are brewing. Just
hear Kitchener is in charge
of us out here.  Ray
brought up Cable from
home - Got mine next
morn.