Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1917-1918 (Vol. 2) - Part 6

50
1/1/18 New years Day who would
have anticipated that we would
wake up on the first day of the
New Year under these Conditions
We were too tired to wake up and
Welcome in the New Year and were
too dissatisfied to worry much
about it this morning for we had
spent easily the worse night so
far It was snowing heavily when
I looked out at 7 oclock the time
we were due to turn out for 8
oclock breakfast. I didnt mind
getting up because anywhere was
better than the bed I had to be
Content with and I longed for some
exercise to get my feet warm We
all marched to the Camp Some half
a mile away and enjoyed a
real good hot breakfast tho' the
time was Short still we managed
to do justice to it The Camp is
typical of the usual British Camp

51
practically everything we wanted was
to be found there even a well-stocked
Canteen and the usual washing places
were quite up to date tho' little
patronised. Altho' we were due to
leave at 11 o'clock we didn't get
away until well after 4  The trouble
being that no engine was available
We were glad to get away and see
something fresh but by the time
we had gone a little way it was
dark so we decided to settle
down and Get a Good nights' sleep
in to make up for last night one
of the English officers at St Germain
told me that the fall of show was
one of the heaviest experienced
for some years and I never
expected we would be in it with
such weather conditions as there are
existing. Let us hope England isn't
so bad for we'll be in the open
Quite a heap there undergoing training

52
2/1/18
2/12/18 We have a Grand chap acting
as Railway Conducting officer Capt.
Canimany He is attached to Australian
Headqrs. at  Horseferry Road and
left Australia as Staff Captain to Brig
Gen McNichol with the 8^th Brigade
He is just bubbling over with energy
and is always doing something to
the comfit of the men. He seems to
find out the Halk spas long before
we realise it and as far as I can
make out never seems to sleep This
morning when he were all snugly
tucked in at 6 oclock I heard his
voice enquiring whether the Station
we had stopped at was an cargo
a Halte repas. I happened to be
so we had to turn out and see
that the usual hot tea and rations
were served out It was a good
chance too to have a wash As
well. The only water available for
washing was in a pond but it 

53
looked more like portion of drain so
I went along to the Engine and washed
under a steam pipe about the first time
We had a good wash since leaving Facuza
There was a large pond at the bottom
of the embarkment and quite a
number of the men indulged in
SKating. We were fast Getting out
of the snow area only here and
there during the afternoon was
snow of any thickness to be Seen
We arrived at one large town
Verzion at 2 oclock and here
met a trainload of American
soldiers and we both cheered on
another heartily. There is an
American Camp some miles out
of Verzion and later on we passed
Several trainloads coming from
the direction of Martes where the
had landed a few days apart
most amusing were the interchanges
that passed between their trains

54
and ours. They have a uniform Something
Similar to ours with the typical felt
hat high in the peak with a Cord around
it instead of a band. Our next Halte
repas St. Pierre des Corps otherwise Toure
was reached at 5.30 just in time for
tea and here we well to have one of
the most unique experiences weve had
so far. The train drew up just opposite
the Cook house a splendid position
from the point of view of Convenience
and I thought it a good opportunity
to make our long promised
tomato soup a tin of which I had
brought all the way from Australia
I had the soup well in Course of
preparation and quite a number of
us were out of the train when the
train Commenced to move off. Noone
worried about rejoining As we thought
that it was merely a shunting exhibition
Imagine our Consternation a little later 

55
where we received the alarming new that
the train had actually gone to its way
thro the fault of the Station Master Sending
the train off without the authority of the
Rly. Transport officer. We were told that the
train was waiting for us Some 3 miles
along and a train would be supplied
to take us there within half an hour. We
waited and waited and we saw little
hope of having our long looked for tea
in the Compartment. Until at last a
train put into the platform and we
set out on our supposed 3 miles
run. I might mention that we had to
drink the soup as the fire was going
out. Mile after mile we went thro
station after Station and still no sign
of our train. I was getting cold too
and we did miss our coats and
blankets. One station We shopped at
and enquired whether the train had
gone on and were told that it was a
quarter an hour how ahead and still

56
Going Strong. That raised our hopes a
little but looking further ahead it
assumed rather a serious aspect for
obviously a mistake had been made
and my effort to stop the train had
failed. We were still a day off Auturg
and if the train were not shopped at
the next Halte repas it would Certainly
run right on To Cherbourg and we
had no rations and no blankets
both most necessary. We at last
reached Le Muis and being shunted
into a side hack we immediately
set out to search the yards for
our train. There was no support
and all attempts to unearth it
with the assistance of the Railway officers
were resultless no one knew anything
nor did they seem to Care. We
eventually started off a fair and the
train suddenly stopped and our
Great joy here was our train waiting
for us. There was much rejoicing 

57
and it relieved and feeling immensely
particularly those of our Conducting
officer who would have had to shoulder
the whole responsibility had we been
left in the lurch. We were fit subjects
for bed as it was just 3 Am. and
we were all as cold as frogs.
3/1/18 of course a halte repas must
appear on the scene just when
we wanted to sleep in. It was 9
oclock and we had passed two
during the night so perhaps it
was only right to patronise this
one. The Town was Meiziden
and it will live in my memory
as the place where I had a
cold water bath as far as the 
waist. I was all had time
for besides that the tea was
excellent and we needed some
such stimulant after our
experience of the night before 

58
We expected to reach Cherbourg
our fourth and final rest camp
After leaving the Mediterranean
at 3 oclock and with that end in
view made good progress. We
passed tho Caen noted for
something in History but what I
know not and Bayeaux and
spent much valuable time
Admiring the beautiful old rural
country be passed thro Here was
something we imagine England
will be like no snow to Speak
of plenty of Green Grass and
diary cattle everywhere. It was
typical of some of Victoria
except for the historic old houses
with hedgerows and typical
English trees surrounding them
and here and there crumbling
walls The Scenery in the Alps
was magnificent here the scenes
we beautiful and peaceful

59
We reached Cherbourg  running a
little late at 3. 30 and as the train
drew slowly up to the Quary our
hopes Ran high that after all or
experience of the Rest camp might be
off very short duration and we
looked forward to making the
channel that night. We were soon
made aware of the intention of
the authorities to have usen England
by the morning and most if not all
of us desired nothing more than
that We were given a hot tea
at the Barracks just alongside
and our belongings removed to a
small channel Steamer nearby
but beside it was one of the
watchers of the Seas and that drove
all thought of Submarines but
of our minds. No mistake it
gives one a wonderful Sense of Security
We set out on our run across
at 10 facing a bleak Easterly Wind