Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1917-1918 (Vol. 2) - Part 3

20
see. Certainly we have been
fortunate in our choice of
routes and are the first Austn
troops to travel this way,
We will remain in Camp for
a day or so until arrangements
for transporting us are made
and then an extremely interesting
trip this Italy & France
awaits us. The prospect
makes one feel that it's good
to be alive.
22/12/17. We were astir Quite
early there was much to do to
Get the troops ready to go ashore
at 8 Am. There is no pier at
which large vessels can moor
but a small jetty at the foot
of a hill on which a Marcom
Station is Situated and
where Marconi made some
 

21
of the more important of his
experiments is used land
troops by means of lighters. We
all got ashore safely and found
that huts were provided for the
men 40 to each hut and all
manner of conveniences. It is a
purely British Camp but a most
elaborate one and in addition
to British troops there ^are West
Indians, Egyptians and Sikhs
After a Good look Round one
couldn't help admiring its Splendid
situation and the magnificent
way it is administered. As
on previous occasions we had
heaps to do getting the men
settled in their huts and
arranging for food and equipment
At the most we only expected
to be here for a few days and
we were rather glad when news
Came out that the first train

22
would leave tomorrow night at 7.30
We rather liked this place but
are anxious to move on and
see Something new just like old
and experienced travellers.
The trip was to be along the
Eastern Coast of Italy "across
the Rubicon" and thence to the
border via St. Germains and
Paris to Boulogne and across
the Channel to England. We
have two stops on the Way.
and go into a rest Camp at
each for about a day. Mainly
to give the troops an opportunity
of getting exercise and Get
equipped with Such things as
Blankets. The prospect is without
a doubt a curious one and
in spite of the anticipated
discomforts and cold we'll
experience we are looking forward
to it. Just at the last minute
 

23
it was rumored that the train
had been Cancelled thro one
or two measles cases breaking
out during the day and we
would have remain in
semi quarantine for Several
days. If it's true we can
only smile at our misfortune
and at any rate well have
a chance of seeing Something
of the district around Taranto.
23/12/17. Two days off Xmas and
a Sunday the 8th weve Spent
away from home and 8 weeks
ago which one of us ever
dreamt of spending Xmas in
Italy of all places. But for a
misfortune we might at this
very moment be speeding on
our way North en Route for
the frontier and England. We
are however destined to spend
 

24
Xmas right here and how different
from an Xmas at home. Church
parade purely voluntary was
the order of the day. but the padre
thoughtfully cut his Sermon down
because it was bitterly cold in
the open. All the afternoon we
sat over a stove in the mess
hut allotted to us and dispensed
Yarns incidentally waiting for
afternoon tea. It was a
typical Sunday in Victoria
in the middle of winter as a
matter of fact this part of Italy
is in the same latitude as
Melbourne tho thro being situated
in rather an exposed position
its probably somewhere colder.
Its just as well we had a rest
both in Egypt and here. The
drop in temperature would have
been too Severe had we have been
taken direct to England.
 

25
We went for a three mile walk
later in the afternoon out along
the main road to St. Georgia
a village which stands out very
plainly against the background
of hills ^the buildings being built of limestone
blocks. This by the way was contrary
to orders but we needed exercise
and risked it. We havent So far
ventured into Taranto itself.
24/12/17. Xmas eve and in Italy
I had a supreme longing that
we might indulge in Xmas festivities
in London but the most we
could have hoped for was
being in the train en Route. Still
London nowadays at Xmas won't
be the same as four years ago.
A route march for the troops
had been mooted and naturally
found much favour partly
for the exercise and partly

26
because they saw in it an
opportunity of seeing something
off the Country around us. I
preferred to remain behind
and get some work up to date
particularly censoring. Besides
the route Contemplated was the
same as we took yesterday.
It is surprising what amount
of desolation and decay there
is around here. Only here
and there is there any sign
of Cultivation and at one time it
must have been a good deal.
No doubt the conflict on the
Northern frontier has been responsible
for much of it and there
are quite a number of Italian
soldiers about apparently on
furlough and in Some Cases
casualties. We have Some British
soldiers in Hospital here who
were wounded on the Italian Front

27
with English nurses attending Them
One of our chaps happens to be
in the British Hospital and I
learnt all this in paying visits
to him to see how he is each day.
It turned out an ideal day
and the route march was a great
success. This afternoon a football
match was arranged between two
scratch teams played on a
Ground on the outskirts of the
Camp. I continued with censoring
hence missed the opportunity of
seeing it. Tonight in honor of
Xmas we had a first class
dinner and every thing went off
well. By Some mischance there
was plenty to eat One could have
had three helpings of Turkey. Ive
never seen that happen before
even in Australia. Wine was
plentiful too its about 1/6 a bottle
no wonder Italian wine shops 

28
thrive in Melbourne. We paid a
visit to the English Officers mess -
they mess apart from us - and
serenaded them in great style. Word
came thro' just as we finished up
that troops had broken Camp and
were in Taranto and a picquet
would be required to go into the
town and bring them back. I thought
discretion the best part of valour
so Cleared out of sight to dodge
picquet duty. I was fortunate for
quite a number of our fellows
were detailed.
25/12/17 Xmas day and the Circumstances
under which I first looked
on today were not very entertaining
At home its usually a mild half
dozen youngsters but this morning
here and at the unearthly hour
of 2 Am. I was rudely awakened
by a torrential downpour of rain 

29
and as the tent was open I sallied
forth out of bed to rescue my boots
leggings &c and if necessary get my
bed under Cover. I sat up in bed
after that was over and just thought
of the prospect of spending Xmas in
a strange land and under Such
Conditions At home probably everybody
is longing for the soothing effect of
a block of ice. I didnt wake up again
until 7 and then I thought for a long
time whether I would yield to a
feeling of "goodwill towards man" and
allow the men to have a sleep in but
then Camp breakfast was booked for
8 and it was imperative they should
have that. So I sallied forth at 7.30
to insist on a parade and there
wasn't a soul up. They must have
anticipated my first thoughts
and disregarded the second. It
was a miserable day thro' out We
had church service at 10 just