Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1919 (Vol. 7) - Part 3

20
Nevertheless Tuesday ditto tho' I
felt I would suggest to the Sister
that I go indoors next day and
after breakfast reading the paper
in bed it was almost unbearable
as the ice cold wind rushed across
the balcony. I donned my dressing
gown and thereafter kept the
fire warm. Friday the cold
bleak wind gave way to the 
very suspicion of snow quite
early and by midday small
almost invisible flakes came
filtering thro' the air and by night
there was a shallow mantle of
snow overspreading everything.
1/2/19 - 16/2/19. Another period of
Convalescence in which visits
to the City and other places of
interest predominated. After even
a week of enforced presence indoors
one now appreciates any opportunity
at all of getting away from
the precincts of the Hospital. I
began to feel so well and such
a yearning for home that I made

21
inquiries from H.Q's to find out
when the next Hospital Transport
would be going I didn't mind how
soon and indeed to my relief
found I could go on the "Czaritza"
expected to sail on the 24^th. That
being so I had to hurriedly make
up my mind to pay a Contemplated
visit to Scotland and fixed Monday
the 17^th as a suitable day tho' I could
only afford 4 days.
17/2/19. I couldn't go by the morning
train as it was necessary I apply
for leave and of supreme importance
get some money from the Bank
Consequently I arranged to leave
by the 10.15 from Kings Cross which
was timed to reach Edinburgh at
8.30 the following morning. It strikes
our as strange that he should be
boarding a train for a long journey
just when everyone else is retiring
for the night to pass it in blissful
slumber. Just the reverse was fated
 

22
to be my lot as sleepers were
unobtainable and I was unfortunate
in having 3 particularly noisy Companions.
Needless to say I saw little
opportunity for sleep.
18/2/19. I was glad when dawn began
to make itself evident just as we
were nearing Berwick-on-the-Tweed
Soon after leaving Newcastle the
line runs along the sea coast
mostly rugged cliffs but quite
picturesque. Berwick is a large as
well as an historic town and
marks the boundary between England
and Scotland. One soon notices how
quaint the buildings and fences
are mostly built of stone of which
there is plenty along the Coast. Just
before reaching Edinburgh the train
runs along a deep valley which runs
itself thro Edinburgh separating
the new City from the old. Our
terminus was Waverly Station
from which was easily able to
reach the Hotel I contemplated staying
 

23
at the North British. I lost no time
in sallying forth to see all there was

to be seen. First a walk along
Princes Street one of the finest in
the World with the business places
on the one side and gardens stretching
thro' the deep valley on the other and
reaching to Edinburgh Castle standing
like a sentinel on a projecting
[[?]] which makes the view a
fine one. In the afternoon I visited
Holyrood Palace famous as the
house of many of the Scottish
Sovereigns and where our own
King finds sanctuary on his
visits to Edinburgh. I then went
by bus to Rosyth our great Naval
base passing on the way Dalmeny
House the home of Lord Roseberry.
Most of the Grand Fleet has dispersed
but I was able to see on the return
journey the Forth Bridge altogether
a truly wonderful structure and
true to tradition there were the
painters' engaged on their annual
task.

24
19/2/19. Immediately after breakfast
I set out for the Old City which
was described to me as being
quaint and historic. If age
devoted its historic features
certainly it was and reminded
me of some of the old
Continental towns I have seen
tho' one felt that there was
nothing foreign and distasteful
about it I had pointed out to me
where John Knox lived and
later on was able to go thro
St Giles Church holding many
historic Associations particularly
during Mary Queen of Scots'
time. Incorporated is the beautiful
Chapel of the Thistle where the
Knights of the Thistle have each
a [[sitt?]] similarly to those
held by the Knights of the Garter
in Westminster Abbey. In the
vicinity are the Old Scottish
Houses of Parliament now used
as the Courts of Justice and for
a few minutes I listened to

25
argument in one of the Chancery
Courts where the Procedure is
so different to our own. At
3 I climbed the long Slope leading

to Edinburgh Castle so famous
in Scottish History and for
long a Royal residence and
stronghold. A stout and
pompous old Guide who seems
to have shared in its triumphs
and disasters for many
Centuries led us round and
discoursed on the various
buildings. One felt tempted
to believe most things and
altogether it was a visit well
worth paying.
20/2/19 I decided to return
to London today vaguely
surmising that the Embarkation
Authorities may send the
Transport off on time. I was
anxious to see the Lowlands
and the Midlands of England
so left by train at 9.5
A.m. timed to reach London
at 8.30. We had had a little
 

26
snow in Edinburgh during
the night but by morning all
trace of it had disappeared
However as we moved out
into the Country it was apparent
that the fall there was Considerably
heavier and snow looking
very picturesque was lying
everywhere. It had disappeared
by the time Carlisle was reached
but thereafter a more glorious
view was obtainable, the
Dee Valley with a swift
running stream flowing
thro' it joined by numerous
small rivulets dashing down
the hillside on both sides as
the train sped along the
crest. Sheffield was enveloped
in a thick haze of smoke
due to the numberless
factories there and by the
time we reached Derby Shire
the fog had become so dense that
it was impossible to see the Country
 

27
We ran into St. Pancras just
at 8.30 and glad I was to get
back again for it had been a
tedious journey 11 hours all
told.
21/2/19 - 15/3/19. Another period of
Hospital life with nothing more
disturbing than a longing to
get away from London and an
attack of Erysipclas necessitating
a transfer to an Isolation
Hospital at Tooting for 12 days
I had been a very interested
spectator at the wedding of
Princess Patricia to Commander
Ramsay and whilst there
became Conscious that something
was pending to disturb my
otherwise indolent Career. I
consulted Dr. James on the Friday
morning who diagnosed the Case
as irritation set up by broken
bone and forthwith had me
conveyed to the Theatre where
for half an hour he vainly
sought for the aforesaid piece
of bone. On Saturday I was horse
 

28
and a Physician who was Called
in diagnosed the Case as Erysipetas
and had me transferred to Tooting
I spent a very unpleasant 12
days there fully realising meanwhile
that I would miss my boat
and have to wait months for
another. Imagine my joy when I
discovered that a further postponement
was decided upon to
the 16^th Aug and as I was well again
on the 10^th I was still able to
hold my berth. Saturday the
day set out for entraining for
Devonport couldn't arrive
quickly enough and I was a
cheerful soul again when my
luggage was put aboard the
train at 12 midnight and
we saw ourselves destined
to take leave of Old England
the following day.
16/3/19 This was the day I had
been looking forward to almost
ever Since I left Port Melbourne
nearly 18 months ago. And the last
 

29
few days were days of trepedation
in case a further delay should be
decided upon for one feels satisfied
as long as he's moving towards the
goal. We arrived at Keyham a
small wayside station overlooking
the dock where our Transport lay
moored and from where we were
able to get a magnificient view of
the harbour full of Naval craft
including the famous "Lion" and
the "Warspite". The boat which
was destined to be our home
for several weeks we found to be
a Comparatively small one but
rather well fitted up with all
conveniences and formerly owned
by a Russian Trading Co. but now
belonging to the Cunard fleet.
In the afternoon some 600
men came aboard mostly maimed
cases from Southall and what
evidence there was of the fearful
times they had experienced. We
were not to leave until noon
the following day so settled down
for perhaps our first undisturbed
rest for some days.