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 [[?]] 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 us pier at
which large vessels can moor
but a small jetty at the foot
of a hill on which a Marconi
Sation 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 730
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 Boulouge and across
the Chamel to England. We
have two stops on the way
and up 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 [[?]] 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
chance of seeing something
of the district around Taranto.
23/12/17. Two days off Xmas and
a Sunday the 8^th 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 by land. 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

**AI generated. please continue from here**

Yares insidentally waiting for
Pafternoon Sea. It was a
Epical Suerday in Nstoua
in the middle of wenkr as
hatter of fact this part of Laby
is in the same tapitude is
Melbourne tho hrobeing Scheak
in rather an epposed prection
its probable Somewhat Colder.
Hs just aswell we had a rest
both in Sgryet and here. The
droxer henes crature would heve
beae too Severe had we have been
taken direct to Sugand.
 

3C
 

AANON
havpe
 

25
we went for a three unde walk
later in the affernioon out along
the man road to St. G congea
abillage which stands out vern
planng glainst the buekpoused
ye mepeny
of bells ey built of time store
olaks. This by the way Was Conham
to orders but we neeladexercise
and risked it. behavent so far
ventured ut Tars itself
24/2117. Tas eve and in Haly
had a soree loniing tas
we night endulge in has estwk
in London but the most we
could ane hased for was
but in the hainceroute. Shel
London nowadans at Yeas wout
be the same as ther nearago
aroute much for the hoops
had been mooked and kakrit
ound wuch fvour park
for the exercie and part
 

85
 

N
1
 

X
 

25
 

26
because they saw in it an
opportnts of seeing something
off the county around us.
preferred to remain behind
audyet sonce work upp dak
pouculary ceonn. ssides
he route ontenstated was the
same ao we wok nesterdan
His surprisay tthat aount
if desolation and decen there
so arownd here. Only here
and there is there aay se
of Cultivation and at ove here it
mist have been afood dead
Aodoubt the confllit on the
Northern, oaher has been lession
sibles for much of it an there
are qute a numblr of Ialian
holdiers about ceterank on
ferlough and in ome ss
Casnalhes We have some Bribast
soliers inHospital here who
were wounded onth taban tont
 

AUS7
 

15

out
 

IR1
 

50
 

I
 

Neival
AaH
5
a

Dswtt Ma
 

at
ser
 

27
with English wurses attending them
One of our chaps happens to be
in the British Hospital and I
Carnt all this in baying visits
to him to see how he is each day
I turned out an edealdan
and the rouke murch was a preat
success. This afternoon a potball
match was arranged between two
scratchteams played on a
Ground on the onkkirk of the
Kamo. I continued with Censorin
hedce messed the opportunty of
seem it. Tonight in honor of
linds we had a firstclass
dinner and everything bent off
Well. By some nischance there
was pletto beat. One could have
had three helpings of Turken be
never seen that heppen before
even in Auchslia Wine was
plehful too its about 1/6a botk
na yonder Salian Wee Shops
 

AU5
 

177
 

86
 

wat
ahanl /4
Husitw
o
isa

Iros Meva
40
JEGNN
cast
ot b nt
1
5
ono
DODR
 

28
Krive in Nelbourne. We pais a
biat to the English Officers mess.
they mess apay from us - and
sereuaded them in great style Word
came thro' jd as we pilished up
that toops had broken Camp and
were in Taranband a picquet
would be required to go into the
Yown and breng themback. I thought
discretion the best part of valour
so cleared out of Bisht to dodge
picquel duty. Iloab fortunate for
seck a number ofour fellows
were detailed.
25/17. Tuasdan and the Arain.
stancesunder which Iprs torded
on fadan were not vert astertaining
At home its usually a would half
dozen yompters but this mosain
here and at the mnearthe hed
of 2 M. I was rudel ankened
by a torrenhal down pour frn
 

8
 

s
 

Sont
 

ot tithend
trem of
B00
 

29
and as the tent was upen I salled
forth out of bed toresuce i book
legngs &c and if necessary getmg
bedlinder cover. I sas uch bed
after they was over and jest thought
of the prospect of spending I was in
a Shangeland and under such
condiious. At home probabl every bod
is sury for the Tooking effect of
ablock office. I didet wake as again
utl 7 and then I thought yor dlory
him whether I would yield to a
feeling of Goodwill towards naw and
allow the may to have adeepin but
Therr Came breakfast was oked for
& and it was impeat they should
have that To I sallad fith at 7.30
to insist on aparide and there
wasn't a soul up. They must have
auncipated my end thoughts
and disrefarded the scond. I
was amisenble doy this out oo
had churck service at 70 just