Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1917 (Vol. 1) - Part 2

10
that had passed out of this life
I would miss something interesting,
We learn too that we aren't calling    
in at Freemantle but your direct
to Colombo. Rumours fly about
too that we go to Egypt. Stay there
a few weeks then on to England
Certain we are that the "Port Sydney"
goes no further than Egypt what
Will happen then I know not.
We carried on with work of a
kind having another alarm
while we were marching to the
time of the Band.
13/11/17. Our 5th day at Sen and      
sill no land to be seen.
I woke up feeling just. Grand
and sincerely trust I've finished
feeling "sick of the Sea". I
was up early because I had to
go on duty again this time as
 

officer of the day. Two duties in
3 days a Good record. The most
interesting part of the day was
the inspection by the Captain
and oc. It's like a fraud March
every conceivable official is
turned out and made to accompany
the party. In the Cooks Gallery we
pass on the way a plate of soup
and plate of meat and vegetables
to be sampled but it isn't necessary
to sample it for it looks Quite
Good enough and the men declare
they have never been fed so
well by the Government. The fare
is without a doubt excellent.
I'm getting Quite used to the
Troop deck now tho' every
Known type of swell is
encountered there. We are
fortunate enough to have some
excellent talent on board and
 

12 

tonight had a concert sort
of reproduction of some of our
Camp Concerts.
14/11/17. The first thing I remembered
this morning was someone
remarking that a whale Could
be seen some distance to the
South. I haven't seen many but
the prospect wasn't sufficient
to get me out of bed especially
as if was only 5 A.m. Almost
all day the waves have seen
dashing over the bow and twice
I managed to be in the way.
We carried on with work of
a routine nature tho it was
interrupted by a medical inspection
rendered necessary owing to an
outbreak of measles on board
I proceeded to go thro the same
examination as the men but the
 

13 

MO didn't look at me evidently
I'm immune from measles. We
learnt during the day that there
was no possibility what ever
of calling in at Freemantle so our
hopes of healing Australian Soil
for the last time won't be realised
We saw Breaksea Island in
the distance about 10 o'clock
and at 10 tonight we passed
Case Leeuwin heading straight
for Colombo. The forward part of
the ship is deserted as no one
is anxious to indulge in a
shower bath. I had  always heard
that heavy seas are the rule
a Cape Leeuwin and we're
Getting a taste of it. Letters are
rolling in by the score in
anticipation that we will call
in at Freemantle and we're all
busy censoring Officers letters
 

14
are immune from the vigilant
censors eye we censor our own
I wrote several letters during
the day and they have been
religiously censored.
15/11/17. I woke up this morning
to find our sixth day out
dawning. I still keep up the
reputation I had at Maribyrnong
of being an early riser and by
6.30 I was bathed and shaved.
We had left Australia by that
time well behind and all
hopes of calling in at Freemantle
were dashed by the Ground. No
terra ferma now until we
get to Colombo. a call there is
imperative on account of Coal.
Disappointment is universal
for most of us expected to get
letters off at Freemantle.
 

15
A case of measles has been
unearthed so each morning every
man on board has to pass before
a medical officer for inspection
Our hospital accommodation is
overtaxed chiefly minior aliments
tho' they require attention. We
get thro' a fair amount of work
tho; it's mostly holiday. Malingering
is Cut out as leave at Colombo
has been prohibited to those detected.
We are moving to a mew deck
in the morning so we'll be
more satisfied with things in
General. Censoring still engages
our attention on ourSpare
time and there's heaps to do
We made arrangements you
boxing Contests and sports
tomorrow and that will help
to break the monotony. They
take place on Saturday at
 

24
 

home our usual afternoon
or recreation in places where
it's not permitted on Sundays.
The weather is getting warmer
as wer'e approaching the Tropics
some pronounce if ideal tho'
I can't help thinking of what
coming after particularly the Red
Sea.
16/11/17. When I woke up this
morning I decided we were
getting decidedly close to the
Tropics. Some of the ideal
conditions I've heard the Wa's
talking about. A shower
makes a lot of difference to
the tired feeling tho. I wish
it were fresh water. We
moved to a new parade
deck this morning which
will be ours for a week
 

A0.
 

so we were able to indulge
in wore work. I realised
quite a dozen times during the
day that it was past a week
since we embarked and it seems
more like ten. Another week
will see us pretty close to Colombo
as it is we have travelled
close on 2000 miles sea all
the time. I make a daily tour
thro' our portion of the troop
deck at meal times but every 
time I'm greeted with the
complaint from the mess orderlies
that they can't feed the men
so healthy are their appetites
It's  a good sign and without a
doubt they are all looking
remarkably fit with the
exception off two in hospital.
The most strenuous part of the
day's work consists  in eating and
 

18
sleeping and we relish both.
The system of conveying proops
has altered now instead of
Chartering the boat each man is
carried at so much per head.
officers are paid per as saloon
Sergeants second class and the
men and junior NCO's as as
Steerage. Probably a better scheme
tho the question of rations has
to be carefully watched.
we saw flying fish for the first
time this afternoon another
indication that the Tropics are
At hand. We had another Conference
of officers tonight arranging
derails for lectures and affording
the Co Troops an opportunity
of going our our faults.
as far as administration
the individual units are is a Concerned
In discussing probable lectures
 

19
he mentioned Infantry Subjects
and we wondered what was in
store for us over the other Side.
17/11/17. More than a week now
since we left and I haven't
missed a meal. As a matter of
fact I've never felt better.
and we all seem to be thriving
on the salt air. As a result- of
Our Conference it was decided
to have a thorough search for
lost Kit. All the troops were
ordered to remove their belongings
to the parade decks and what
was left on the troop decks
gathered together and in most
Cases Returned to the rightful
Owners. That took up pretty
well all the morning so work
had to be suspended.  It gave
us a chance to reorganise the