Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1918 (Vol. 3) - Part 6

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rather humiliating to be studying a
plan of London in the Street but that
was to me essential if I was to find
my way about unaided and as
a fact I knew within half an hour
exactly where I was and how to reach
any place I desired. I didn't take
long to look up some friends in
Bayswater and spent quite an
enjoyable evening renewing our
acquaintances which had been
neglected for nearly 5 years.
23/3/18.  It was a genuine pleasure
to be able to get up just when one
felt inclined tho' I was bent on
seeing London but had to allow
my thirst for independence run
riot for an hour at least. Our
first tour was in the direction
of E.C., my objective the Bank in
Bishopsgate that part being the
house of the financial institutions
taking the lead from obviously the
Bank of England. On the Way
 

50
we passed St. Paul's and the Courts
of Justice and thro' Fleet Street The
Newspaper centre. The Bank of England
covers quite an acre in extent but
altho' a massive building is only one
storey high. Mansion House the residence
of the Lord Mayor is imposing enough
but Shows continued of her state and
the need of repair but that's what
London glories in. In the afternoon
our pilgrimage was to Westminster
Abbey and the Houses of Parliament and
in every Sense of the word it was a
pilgrimage. The Abbey one almost regards
with awe and so traditional are its associations.
When you think of the Chapel
of Edward the Confessor and that of
Henry VII and their Great age and
of all the celebrated people who
are buried there no wonder you
walk thro' it in open mouthed
wonder. It's just magnificent and
truly wonderful. The "House" is
almost as traditional and I had the
privilege of taking my Seat on
 

51
the old historic Woolsack. We
ended up the afternoon with a
visit to Brixton where one can
walk into a shop and purchase
articles for 6d whether worth more or
less and St. James Park seeing the
old Historic Buckingham Palace on
the way.
24/3/18 Sunday and I didn't even
contemplate a day of rest. Quite early
we were up and on our way to
Hyde Park to witness the famous
Rotten Row on Sunday Morning
Every conceivable type of rider turns
out but the horses are beyond
repair. I believe in pre-war times
it was a treat to see the fine horses
but now they are mostly tired and
show every evidence of inadequate
rations. It was well worth seeing
however including the Crowds that
frequent the place. We included in
our stroll the Albert Memorial
Serpentine and last but not least
 

52
"Peter Pan". Resting only for lunch
we then flew out to Hampton Court
the home of Henry VIII and later
William III and now preserved for
its historic value and as a Expository
of some famous paintings. It is
situated on the Thames and some
miles out of London.
25/3/18.  I resolved to be up early -
to commence the week well - and see
as much as possible in the three days
left - but as we didn't go to bed until
2.30 thro' the clock being advanced
one hour it was well after 9 when
we came down to breakfast but we
are on holidays so why regret it.
The morning I spent seeing more
of London from the top of the bus.
and a good scheme too and in
the afternoon went over the Tower
This old fortress and formerly
the home of traitors so called and
otherwise was even more awe-inspiring
than the Abbey and
 

53
in addition Gruesome Considering
the number of decapitation schemes
carried out particularly by Henry VIII
and Mary and all the victims
are buried in the little Chapel
nearby. In the Centre of the yard is
the site of many a beheading and
with very little imagination one
Can Quite Realise it. Altogether it is
& was a wonderful place.
26/3/18.  Still more sightseeing this
time Kew Gardens with its wonderful
hot houses. It was not looking its
best as the trees are not out in
leaf nor are there many flowers
to be seen. In the hot houses
however are some wonderful
orchids, palms, ferns and
various shrubs. We lunched
there to see it under the best
Conditions but I'm inclined to
think we could have eaten
more liberally say at the Ritz.
However the conditions were to say
 

54
the least rustic. On the way back
we called at Knightsbridge and
saw the latest in Universal
Providers. Harrods Owing to my
Companions being Ladies I was
subjected to most brutal treatment
being obliged to walk thro' every
department truly an outrage to
my otherwise sensitive feelings.
27/3/18.  Ostensibly in search of a
respectable flat I paid a visit to
"Ballham" this Morning but after
viewing  one house came away
Quite Content to have seen the
supposed flat but not to live
there. A good deal of sight seeing
I crowed into the rest of the
morning and afternoon it was my
last day and I wanted to make the
most of it. Naturally from a
professional point of view I enjoyed
the visit to the Courts of Justice
and it brought me "back to earth"
when I saw the familiar figures on
 

55
the bench and still more familiar
figures on the seats below. The Main
hall is just one magnificent piece
of architecture one of the finest I've
seen and the Inns of Court and
the Inner Temple including the
Temple Church ^were as interesting and
they are traditional There was the
root from which is sprung that
"Justice" so typical of England.
We moved on next to St.Paul's one
of the landmarks of England and
a great sight without a doubt
The Whispering Gallery is well
worth a visit as well as the
landing around the Dome from
which a magnificent view of
London was obtained We are
due to return tomorrow but up
to date I can truly Say I've seen
quite a heap of London and
my first experience only gives
me a thirst for more. Should
the opportunity arise I shall be
 

56
back again to see more of it.
28/3/18.  Heytesbury again and how
different is the atmosphere from
that of London and freedom has
gone once more into the melting
pot. Ive learnt on our return
with some small amount of
satisfaction that we would soon
go overseas and I'm anxious to
be in it after all these months
of preparation. Ill never be
satisfied until I get to the Front
The run back here wasnt nearly
so interesting it rained the Whole
time so the view of the rural
parts was obscured.
29/3/18  Good Friday and just 20
weeks since we left home. In pre-war
times Easter was quite a
London Festival All the concert
are preserved at Easter and
especially the Service held on Good
Friday at the Tower Chapel would
have been well worth seeing but
 

57
my luck I'm back in Camp doing
nothing in particular but attending
Voluntary Church Parades, and Battery
Parades It was treated just as a
Sunday in Camp Today and on
Monday we have some Brigade
Sports that will just about complete
our Easter holidays.
30/3/18.  We've just about reached the
breaking-up of the fine conditions prevailing
since we went on leave and
as we all hope presages the downfall
of the present Hun offensive. As a
consequence we did very little
Chiefly too because the holiday
Spirit is in the air Nevertheless
things moved a pace in the
Batteries for the Colonel conducted
one of his last thorough inspections
much to the discomfort of all Concerned.
I see a very fair prospect of doing
the orderly officer's job tomorrow
owing to the scarcity of officers in
our Battery. It's not difficult
 

58
however tho' one must turn out
early in the morning.
31/3/18.  It was a very quiet Sunday
and the last day of the month.
It has been a remarkably still
Easter every one seems to be looking
on the great offensive on the Western
Front with that calm confidence but
too preoccupied with their thoughts
to worry about anything else. It's
without a doubt a very anxious
time and so unlike Easters
we've been accustomed to in
Australia. I was landed with the
duty of orderly officer so had
to spend all the afternoon in
and about the Battery lines.
1/4/18  This according to the custom
handed down by our worthy ancestors
is "April Fool's Day" but in the
army there's no time for frivolity
and the day passed off as a usual
April 1st with the exception that it
Was Easter Monday and a half