Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1919 (Vol. 7) - Part 1

Front cover of Diary

Vol 7

8/1/19. I performed an errand of
mercy than taking one of our
blind fellows into town as he
wanted to transact some business
both at our HQ's and in the City.
One feels that fortune has smiled
on him when you see cases of
total blindness and more over
seriously disfigured faces. It
was a cold and wet day
typical of the true England in
winter- time.
9/1/19 I had arranged to have
lunch at the  Club with our
old Major so today went in
soon after breakfast. It's
necessary to present oneself
to the Registrar if going out
before midday and obtain     
the necessary permission we
are still ruled with a rod of
discipline even tho' temporarily   
out of the Army. I paid a visit

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to the Education office to see Bishop
Long now Director with the Rank

of Lieut. Col. and afterwards went

out to the Club in Picadilly for lunch.

Then Major had received instructions

to report forthwith at Woolwich for 

an 8 months Ordnance Course so

couldn't go with me to see

''The Naughty Wife'' at the Playhouse.
The Playhouse is one of London's
oldest theatres and is situated
near to river in rather an out
of the way place these days tho
in early days quite a fashionable
part of London.
10/1/19. I received rather a mild
surprise this morning in an
order from HQs to prepare for
return to Australia forthwith.
I could hardly understand it
in view of the fact that I'm still
under treatment. The indefinite

nature of the order rather worried

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me for it will mean that I will be
unable to go. far afield in case I
am required at once. I couldn't resist
the temptation of going into the City
and incidentally visited HQs. to
find out all about my departure
The officer was out so I shall see him
in the morning. I had an invitation
out for Afternoon. tea to Knightsbridge
at the home of some former
residents of Melbourne and
rather enjoyed meeting someone
who knew Melbourne as well as
I do myself.
11/1/19  I made up my mind early
this morning to pay a weekend
visit to Cardiff as I may not
have the opportunity again. On
application to the office for a
pass I was met with a stern
refusal as I was booked for
Australia. so I had to carry out
my contemplated visit to HQs for
the necessary permission. My

4 

interview resulted in the necessary
permission and I was able to
extract a promise that I would not
be sent off until I was on a high
road to recovery. I arranged to get
the 11.45 train from Paddington which
was timed to reach Cardiff at 2.50
rather good for a 153 mile journey
and quite an improvement on that
Gippsland train Service. It was raining
when I left but as we moved into
the country the sun came out
making rural England look as
beautiful as it always is. The experience
rather a novelty for me by
passing thro the Severn Tunnel
at considerable length and pasing
under the Severn River and which
I understand was at the time a rare
engineering feat. A very much bolder
scheme is now proposed that of
running a tunnel under the Channel
Cardiff is mostly a City of docks
and Coal elevators but enjoys the
 

5

distinction of being the 4^th seaport
in Great Britain.
12/1/19. I had spent rather a peaceful
night my first in a private house
since I left for France more than
9 months ago. My friends were
enthusiastic about their city so I
was taken to Cathays Park to see
the Public Buildings Law Courts
and University College. all
modern and magnificent buildings
The most famous landmark is    
Cardiff Castle originally a large
holding and comprising most of
the land on which Cardiff is built
The Castle itself surrounded by
moat and high wall was erected
by Robert of Normandy a natural
Son of Henry 1  who became possessed
of the estates thro' marriage
with a Welsh princess and erected
the Castle as a means of defending
himself against the Welsh barons
It is now owned by the Marquis of
 

6 
Bute who reaps a huge revenue
from docks and rows of streets.
The park which I was taken to in
the afternoon is a fine one tho'
would be a glorious sight in Summertime
when all the flowers are out.
13/1/19. I was only able to get a
bare weekend leave so had to
return to the Hospital today. My
friend who is in business at
the Docks very kindly spent an
houry this morning showing me
over them. Originally there was
no natural harbour so that a
Bute Ancestor Conceived the idea
of building the first Dock and
since then two larger docks have
been made increasing the Shipping
space available considerably.
The port has the honor of being
the largest Coal export Centre
in the World and one would think
so judging by the elevators we
saw at work. Altogether it was
an interesting morning. I

7
left by the 3.5 train arriving at
Paddington at 7am one of the densest
fogs I've ever experienced. In the
narrow streets even it was almost
impossible to distinguish the vehicles
running in the opposite direction
14/1/19. I was due for a minor operation
today the extraction of two rather
troublesome teeth so decided to
resist the lure of the City and remain
indoors. It was a very disagreeable
day so the resolution was well founded.
As a General Rule I mind not the
extraction of teeth but the operator
has a reputation for boldness
so none of us look forward to
it with pleasure. It proved to
be quite a simple matter however
so I spent the rest of the day
writing letters and incidentally
drafting and impressing a
well for one of the patients poor
Chap he has had a bad time but
is now on the high road to recovery
Hence his desire to hake a will
 

8

15/1/19. I spent a most profitable
morning waiting for the Drs.
inspection which never eventuated
He had rather a serious operation
to perform which probable detained
him longer than he expected. As
soon as lunch was over I set out
for the City and paid a visit to the
Museum. It has been closed during
the war but is now partly open
to the Public It was a very interesting
afternoon but the exhibits are
so numerous that it would take
several days to see every thing.
It is a very old and historic
building and for that alone was
well worth a visit.
16/1/19. I came to the Conclusion that
so far I haven't seen nearly enough
of Loudon and learning that
the Enemy Aircraft Exhibition
at Islington was Closing on
Saturday decided not to lose the
chance of seeing it so hopped
on the 26 Bus and wended
our way thither It was well worth
seeing every plane almost
 

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brought down intact or nearly so
in our lines has found a place
together with numbers of engines
subject to all manner of crashes.
One of superior interest to me was
that belonging to Richthofen whose
plane was brought down by our
Machine Gunners on the 21st. of
last April. There are a large
number of our Sopwith planes
stored in the building not on brew
but merely evidence of what the Hun
might have expected had the War
continued.
17/1/19 Had arranged to have
lunch in the City and go somewhere
for the afternoon preferably some
indoor show but it turned out
such a brilliant day that after
lunch had been partaken we
decided to take the Underground
to Regents Park and pay a
visit to the Zoo. It was altogether
a disappointing afternoon
desolation and neglect was everywhere
manifest chiefly due to.