Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1917-1918 (Vol. 2) - Part 2

10
morning progressed I had a
supreme longing for terra firma
but have had to look on the
plain facts quite philosophically
I knew there was plenty to do
on the troop deck so couldn't very
well curl up in my berth and
groan inwardly at the state of my

abdomen. It was distinctly rough
too which made matters worse and
the “Karoa” is comparatively small
compared with the “Port Sydney”and
not nearly so sea worthy. We were
further assured that we would
be landing at Taranto in the South
of Italy end on the edge of a Bay
of the same name about 9 oclock
on Friday morning and everyone
was glad at the prospect especially
the men as conditions aren’t 
what they were on our old friend
the “Port Sydney.”We spend most
 

11
of the day completing our work of
the previous night the chief difficulty
seemed to be collecting a sufficient
number of men for the various
guards and fatigues, nearly 75%
of the strength of each [[?]] being
required. The men gradually
settled down to the new conditions
and  by the afternoon we had
things in working order. A Grand
sense of security seems to envelop
every one as we gaze on the two
Gunboats right  on the water line but
standing out as two sentinels one
on either side. For obvious reasons
we zigzagged  a good deal on our
course particularly at sundown
a favorable time for submarine attack 
as it is rather difficult to see a
submarine yet we are plainly visible.
However we place great faith in
our escort. Towards evening I
 

12
became ravenously hungry a sign
that things internal were approaching
a normal state and so if turned
out for I enjoyed my dinner
at 7 oclock immensely and for
reason one [[?]] our table
cracked a bottle of sparkling Hock
evidence that there is a wet canteen 
on board.
20/12/17 I really enjoyed my bath
this morning and when I had
a look at the calm state of the
blue Mediterranean I felt quiet
up to going down on to the
Troopship and seeig how things
were there. As it happened the
men were quite cheerful and I
was able to reassure them that
they only had one more night
on board and to prepare to
hand in stores, blankets etc
I was one of the first order

13
so had a walk round for
exercise all alone. The [[?]]
officers are all good sailors
and were up early for a
breath of fresh air. We have
quite a variety of officers
returning to England on furlough
Brig. Gen. Gascogne,  lately in
charge  of a Division in Palestine.
Two Colonels two Lieut Colonels
two Majors and any number
of Captains and Subalterns
and we thinks they view us
Australians with a critical 
eye. Whether they are to follow
us thro' Itsly and France I know
not. I appears now that we
won't get into Taranto until midday
and in all probability will
camp there three or four days before
continuing our journey, overland.
All day the sea remained calm
 

 14
so sea sickness was reduced
to a minimum.. We mostly made
preparations for disembarking
similar to those at Suez. After
mess we had a smoke concert
in the Saloon a kind of
parting gift to HM.S. Karoa
21/12/17. If turned out to be a
day well worth remembering.
First and fremost we
successfully eluded any enemy
submarines which might have
been about particularly, as we
were in the viciity of their
usual haunt nost of the
night. Land was plainly
visible on the port side quite
early this moring Our
first glimpse of Italy.We
had apparently kept well
to the south [[?]] then [[?]]
 

15
north entered the Gulf of Taranto
quite close to the western shore
Taranto at the head of the Gulf
is one of Italy’s chief Naval
bases tho' we didn’t realise
until later on what a magnificent
Naval Base it really was. Guarding
the Town is a fort brisking
with guns and from a point
apposite we saw for the first 
time a systematic row of
mines on either side leaving
a narrow channel for the
entrance of vessels.The
country at the back of the
town looked very picturesque 
dotted all over with rather
fine buildings which could
be seen quite distinctly with
the aid of field glasses. The
town itself consist of both an
old and modern part and
from a previous visitor we
 

 16
learnt that there was a land
locked harbour behind the
row of buildings lining the
shore entered only by a narrow
gateway and in this harbour
we would find most of the
Italion fleet. For the time 
being we anchored just inside
the minefield to await  the
arrival of the Naval Transport
Officer and instructions  as to
what was to be done with us
we anticipated of course
landing [[?]] away and 
arrangmants were hade
accordingly but when the

N20 did arrive the news 
leaked out that at 3 P.M we
would proceed inside the
harbour and disembarkation 
would take place aft Am.
tomorrow. There was no thing else
for it but to just wait [[?]]
 

 17
We spent some time discussing
places of interest which we
could see with the aid of field
glasses . At 3 precisely we
weighed anchor and proceeded
to enter the harbour thro
this narrow gateway and
the sight that met our eyes
I’ll never forget sprawling
the channel  connecting the
two waters is a drawbridge
which revolves on two
massive pillars one on either
side and it appears is
only opened  at stated intervals
to allow of the passage of
vessels.  As we approached
the channel crowds of
Itslisn civilians and soldiers
lined the parapets above
and as we steamed thro' they 
gave us a halfhearted cheer
in resly to those [[?]] ones
 

 18
from our own troops in front
of us was a magnificent [[))
of water the existence of which
could scarcely be discerned from
the Gulf  and [[?]] an ideal
base Warships of all shapes
and sizes lay at anchor
within as well as vessels 
of all kinds and with hills
[[?]] her upon her [[?]]
the background it presented
one of the finest sights Ive
ever seen. I believe the
Naval vessels have never 
left the harbour since Italy
entered into the war and
the neglected state of most
of the hulls supported that
contention. As we passed
up the  harbour to our 
anchoring place we cheered
each warship as we passed
 

 19
but the counter cheers were  dry
disappointing. As a matter of
fact we are fold that the Italion
have very little regard for
the British whom they blame
for prolonging  the war and that
was certainly  our impression.
Further on we had the 
pleasure of seeing seaplanes
dashing about in great style
and probably for our
enlightenment we saw a 

torpedo dash thro the water
just in front of us and
spend itself  far over. We
anchored just of land
in the viciity of which
we could see no encampment 
erected for the reception of
troops en route for England.
It was a gorgeous sight and 
one I’d [[?]] write to