Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1917-1918 (Vol. 2) - Part 8

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on a hill overlooking the camp 

where we repaired with directors

but it was too cold to stay long

so we returned to more cheery

surroundings our lecture room

Tomorrow morning we have ½ an

hour's physical exercises and

to pave the way we're instructed

a walk of half an hour each

evening after school is over.

Meanwhile we live in hopes of

getting leave in the near future.

9/1/18. I was quite right in my

summing up as to the state of the

Thermometer yesterday It so

happened that it was the coldest

day of the year so far or rather

of the winter. No wonder we 

objected to getting out. It wasn't

nearly so cold today tho' we had

a slight fall of snow during the

forenoon. The physical exercises

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were a splendid innovation and

we enjoyed them immensely. The

istructor is well known in the

Physical Culture world, having trained

a squad who performed before the 

King. I was probably the happiest

man in camp at midday because

I got four letters from “home”. I

couldn’t wait even until I reached

my quarters to read them so pleased

was I to get them. Putting two

and two together I still have

earlier letters still to receive

and they may come along any

day probably by some vessel

via the Cape and those received

today have come via America

It’s a very pleasing sensation to

hear from home. We just

continued with more work

in the school and it’s getting 

more interesting as the days

go on.

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10/1/18. today turned out to be one

of the mildest since we arrived in

Italy. It was windy last night rather

than frosty and this morning

clouds commenced to roll up but

they disappeared and the sun came

out so it was quite a decent day.

We went out with directors and 

didnt mind remaining out of doors

contrary to the usual. I enjoy

the school for we have two

fine instructors and they make

the work extremely interesting.

I was fortunate again in regard

to letters for I found four from

Australia and two from London

waiting for me in the mess. They

can come in just as quick as

they like. One does appreciate news

from home. I had a letter from

my brother in camp at Hurdcott

and naturally he is most 

anxious to see me I propose

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to ride over there on Saturday afternoon

It’s 12 miles away but that won’t

matter with the choice we have

in regard to horses. I must try

and have him transferred to the

artillery but there are many difficulties

in the way.

11/1/18. We are still thriving on

physical jerks and lectures 

and we haven’t much time to 

ourselves. When we go to an 

advanced school elsewhere I’m

told that for the whole 5 weeks

We haven’t even a minute to

ourselves unless it’s cribbed

from sleep. but why anticipate 

events let the future look 

after itself. They have a

remarkable aptitude for keeping

correct time here the adjutant

declares the hour minute and

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seconds at any given time and

everybody else is wrong. It so

happened this morning our

instructor was duly censured for

not having us at work at 8.45

precisely. Such is the army.

We indulged in gun drill during

portion of the lunch hour much

to the delight of those troops we

brought over. They rather enjoyed

the prospect of seeing their

former officers doubling about

the gun but we must be

practised in the elementary as

well as the advanced stages but

it’s good for us and we enjoy it.

12/1/18. Saturday is usually an

off day as it was at Maribyrnong

but set down for us was riding

drill. We knew that wouldn't

be difficult and we havent had

a ride since leaving Victoria 

75                             

Some of us except on donkeys at

Suez but we enjoyed the novelty 

of that rather than the ride itself. 

The latter part of the morning we

spent getting acquainted with the

4.5 Howitzer, a gun very much

in use at the front and in its

working and construction simplicity

itself. I was indeed interested

in it and fell rather more deeply

in love with it than I did in the

18 Pdr our Victorian type of field 

gun. Next Wednesday we are to

be taken to Larks Hill to witness

live shell practice and I for one

am looking forward to the exhibition

first Ill have seen and if our

luck is one probably it won’t be

the last. This afternoon several

of us commandeered horses and

went for a ride into Warminster

some 5 miles from here it gave

76                                        

us a further opportunity of seeing the

beauty of England we even saw

a flock of sheep in a field they

are very like what were used to 

except that they have extraordinarily

short legs. It was a good ride and

we enjoyed it. It’s remarkable how 

the old Manor Houses have decayed

nearly all those about here have

passed out of the hands of owners

and are used as houses for 

paying guests mostly officers and

their wives. I found out Hurdcott

as too far away to visit per

medium of horseback so have

put it off for the time being.

13/1/18. Another Sunday at Heytesbury
and our tenth since leaving

good old Victoria. This time 

I didn't have to get up at 6 30

A.M. as on last Sunday and we

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took our time as long as we

reached our Battery Office

in time for 8.45 parade. Church

Parade was the first item on

the programme after that please

oneself. At home we would be

spending a very agreeable weekend
at a still more agreeable

home here there’s nothing to do

but go for a ride a walk or 

remain in your room beside 

a glowing fire. It’s too cold to

do nothing and on occasions

too cold to do anything. This

morning there was a fine frost

and me thinks there will be a

finer one on the morrow. I hunted

high and low for a car to run

over to Hurdcott but there was

none to be had so I returned

crest fallen to my room and a

fire, to work and write letters

78                          

14/1/18 We suffered a relapse of the pleasant

memories we had of Italy and France

this morning. When I came out 

there was snow quite 6 inches deep

everywhere and the wood running

the whole length of the camp on the 

Eastern boundary presented a 

truly wonderful sight. The trees bereft

of leaves were just coated with snow

and the rooks resting in them

in thousands looked quite a 

contrast to the whiteness everywhere

Cameras aren't usually to be 

seen here but we managed  to 

sneak a snap on the quiet. It

is without doubt a pretty sight 

tho' not by any means a novelty

to such old hands as we are.

Loud cheers!!! Long residents in 

Camp declared that they have never 

seen a fall so heavy here before

and of course elsewhere in England

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it’s likely to be even heavier. It’s

quite warm while the snowing process

is on but when it begins to thraw

then the fireside is most acceptable

besides one's feet get so terrible 

cold it’s a relief to remove your boots.

We have gone back to the Elementary

stages of gun drill and spend about

an hour a day on that mostly for

revision purposes and in some cases

it’s new to us having been recently

altered to suit the conditions of the

furies but on these cold days it

spells exercise and sudden outbursts

of energy. Much to our regret we 

learnt today that we would have to go

to Larkshill one of the bleak spots.

of the United Kingdom for our advanced

school. We were to go to Shoeburyness

near London and we saw acceptable 

weekends there but now alas!

There's are disembarkation leave. Still

on the Statute Book.