Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1917 (Vol. 1) - Part 5

40
awakened at that ridiculous 
hour. As it happened there was
no more sleep for me because
the number grew and the din
increased proportionately. As it
appeared after, the watch picked
up a light at 1.30 and gradually 
more lights were seen and
When late enough land could
be seen over in our right I
was interested certainly but
out of puree pique refused to
look on land until it was
time for me to get my bath and
where Id'd see the low lying
hills along the Coast and the
fringe of beach I was very
satisfied with things in General
Later on we could see two
mine sweepers at work and
a British Cruiser in the distance
guarding the entrance to Colombo
 

41
and orders were issued for
every man to don his lifebelt
as we were passing thro' the danger
zone. Everybody was actively
anxious to gaze on land that
hadn't been seen since we left
Australia behind and they saw
a prospect of getting at least a
days leave. The first incident
was visit from the Naval
examining Vessel and after being
passed as fit to enter the harbour
we continued on our Way. Then
the Pilot Came onboard. Another
fresh human being. On all Sides
we get disconnected accounts
as to what the various buildings
to be seen and noted for Chiefly
from those who had or thought
they had been there before. I
shall never forget the sight.
as be anchored numbers of
 

42
of lative craft wandered around
the ship the occupants sparsely clad
and yabbering to whole time We
threw silver coins into the
water and no mistake the
natives we adept at diving and
rescuing the coin. Our next visitor
was the Naval Transport Officer
who was to tell us whether we
could go ashore or not. He said
"No" because the Wiltshire had
just been there and the soldiers
returning in her had painted
Colombo red. That didn't Satisfy
our Colonel who insisted on
seeing the Co Troops and went
Ashore for that purpose. After
some fine enquiring work
he managed to secure some
leave tho only after Staking
his very existence on our
capability to behave ourselves
 

43
We were to be sent ashore
in batches of 500 for half a
day each and by 1.30 the
first crowd were drafted into
barges ready to be towed ashore
I was detailed for duty onshore
so was included tho' my duty
for recreation will be tomorrow
It was a cheering -sight being
towed into Colombo with the band
playing and didn't we marvel
at the strange Sights to be seen
and the curious Customs prevailing
in the place. We had to march
to the Barracks where the men
were to be dismissed. As my
tour of duty didn't Commence
until 4 oclock I had just
¾ of an hour to visit the 
Cinnamon Gardens per
rickshaw as well as other
places of interest. in Comparing
 

44
with Capt Thompson Our S.M.O.
The Gardens were beautiful a
great example of how tropical
Vegetation prospers and I even
Saw an Australian  Blue Gum
at one place. On our way back
to the Hotel when my quarters
were we passed thro an evil smelling
native street. Give me Collingwood
every time. The G.O.H. Otherwise
Graced Oriental Hotel is a
magnificent place and who should
I meet there but Mr & Mrs Bridge
the latter I knew well in Melbourne
Some years ago and they have
a brother in my Reft. Of course
I promised to get him leave
all day tomorrow We met at
the Barracks again at 5.30
to march back to the boat. The
Conduct of the men was just
splendid and Im [[?]]

45
hopes that all except the
necessary duties will have leave
tomorrow: What tomorrow Events
remains to be seen. I at any rate
Will have leave for the whole day.
27/1/17. Coaling operations were continued
thro' out the night and as it happened
to be my first night on deck I
didn't fare too well. The din was
Almost indescribable just a mass
of foreign lingo punctuated I'm
quite sure by oaths and Curses
I appealed first of all to the guard
on the promenade deck to stick a
bayonet into half a dozen and
then to the second Engineer to hit
a few with the stray lumps of Coal
lying about. It was absolutely useless
trying to sleep and I knew we
had a late night before us to come.
We had a dinner arranged at
 

46
the Galle Face Hotel. Everybody was
up early anxious to get ashore we
arranged for 50% of the balance to
go this morning and the remainder
This Afternoon Hardly anyone
bothered about breakfast altho'. I
wasnt going ashore until  the afternoon
Still if was too hot and too unComfortable 
to eat. I had plenty to do
whilst the first batch were away
electing a guard and making up
my mind as to what purchases
I'd indulge in. I anticipated however
that if a trip into the interior were
Mooted Id make Very few purchases
Thro' several being A.W.L. when the
time to return came along We were
Very late in getting Away in the Afternoon
still I had permission to remain
for the evening so didn't mind if so
Very much: I was looking forwards
of this my second trip ashore because
 

165
 

47
I had it all to myself I endeavored
to get several things after we arrived
but being aware that I was being taken
down I ended up by Getting one thing
Then Gale OBryan two padres (C of E
and RC) and I hired a Car and
decided to drive round Colombo and
out to Mt Lavinia two hours for £2
I wouldn't have missed that chance
for all the "Tea in China" besides
seeing  Colombo in all its glory that
run thro Villages and palm lined
roads was magnificent. On our way
We passed the Race Course the
grounds of the Princes Club and a
Millionaires' residence all well
Worth going miles to see. We passed
score of beautiful bungalows intermingled 
with Quaint native shape
and the view that was enfolded
before our eyes at Mt Lavenis was
just grand. We couldnt resist
 

48
the temptation of indulging in a
'Gin Sling' at the Hotel there. As
You might imagine with two
padres accompanying us this had
no reference to ladies. I felt like
deserting the army and staying
for a week or so. Just as we
reached our destination it commenced
to rain and a real tropical down pour
and on the way back- it was
Quite dark - we experienced about
the heaviest downpour I've ever
seen I wanted to climb some
of the Coconut palms in search
of coconuts but of course that
was impossible still the palms
were loaded with the fruit and
could be had for the mere trouble
of climbing for it.  We arrived
back in Colombo at 6.30 with
still an hour and half before our
dinner at the Galle Face. We spent
 

49
that time endeavoring to get goods
at their market value a really hard
proposition. We came in Contact
with some fine intelligent Children
during their afternoons run in a
better quarter of the town the children
being members of a R.C school
kept on a Frech order of Jesuits.
They Spoke English Quite well and
absolutely refused to beg or eat
some bananas we offered them
Quite a departure from the ordinary
run. We indulged in a few
Rickshaw Runs ending up ultimately
at our rendezvous. The Galle Face
is truly a magnificent place larger
than the E.O.H and from a picturesque
point of view much better.
Our dinner has just one of the
usual type where  wine flowed
freely and officers became voluble
tho nothing Serious happened