Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1919 (Vol. 7) - Part 8

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
RCDIG0001148
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

105 The Hougola which we had lest behind at Kley passedup with aptourish of numpepduring the night To we arevradually being teft behind bo al the hauspork fest as well the boathes a Conifortable one else there would be woend to the invectives hat would be hurled broad last. 315/0 On sea Safurdan Comes wsds an ordinary day of the week and but for al obervanterct think would almostasd tunoticed tpereas H Remember Eightly be rather looked forward but whome acessation of daily voil for the week. Most ofus are busn writing letters to be posted at Femalke the Lansontriental Railwar makin et possible to get news houe before we appear on the scute. Hturned
out apreat day just those dayor belonged for in England when fofe and sor were prime faborikes. segal Subject have nete disappeared Iihdit hpbsible tosudy with Auchales and homse Bo wear at land We have arranged a sude's Towmnament Mdrow H Dubary buit. 6//5 A proved to be Eather a botskerous Sundar instead of foning down apte approach the land of Wellonie home Kleems to prow worse. As there was a church Service at 10.30 We held off our toumament witil hat was over and sme interesting James usulted mast of us are chpapd witing letters in view of the near approach of Temalible as then are sure tobe Somehomerard found steamers, passing and the Railwanune enables letters to fit to the sastern state long refre
treheam haviller himself bur li Harenitalt getter bereft of 51/9 news of the ripetty world for his nombyd tue less has received from the Wireless Stton at remaude with instrections as t our. arrvae there which we expect to be on Wesassder and long before dawn She wind hass waned considerable ho' the sex Conhimes with almost imstated from to dash over the bows a rather sad prospect for our passage of the Lecaurn. We finished up the hinismakhes with a constant Holling butall passed off saccesfulle. Theslucition officer five rather an instructive address afterdamer to the hoops on the Colralsation of the various Sates and from the Dromenake dick we listened attentivel elected to give up the idea op keping ondeck in vrew of the insettled state of the sea the last hwo being rather steepless nights.
6/579. We have been madue such 73 were proness the last hr days pas His benond question he fadl reach remarke womarriow moming at 2o tereabout. The Juarauhire restriction are soddsed in views for theenso that welare not to be allowed to land and the W.H. booss disembartin will probable have t go ink narantie or several dast. Noone Could do much ownto a sortopuspressed itement af being close to aushalia sowejst ward at dan avmfine conce wo held Aerder on the Promenake eck when an osporpinct was tather of saring Goabe to those & Ashalions desculbarking tuthe morow he I was reath minded to steepondick dotnight whe efrs t actuall seteres on he land fom toith hstof us
Iustas it was time to him in wel had seen the lighthouse on Rotmnest Island and bett enther destroned the novelly so adopted the bettercourse and stand bettw. In arriong on decd Ifound we were anchored werre tan a write from Tremante which could hst beseen thro' the mist overstawerwing the land and what a thrill of pleasure & was the first sight of Something Mally disshahan The Mredicat Sath Caie aboard at 7.30 and after dorons Examination wewell deflared a Clean Ship and arrange. nans make for disemparking the o hopps ot 7 H proved rather difficult matter tiboy to the heavn sea tumin but was adcomplished wthout wshap. Amostalofs received tones and letters from homse and ngho glad we were after monthan two months without word of any rescription. The hshrckons tho were very distoncern to sis Victorious as we have to I 001748
make fobar before Zettery to Welfoume The Defence Dept. Ofam Teruckors were supsch at8 and soon be were bickstay the Open Ser afain 878/9 as we were leaving last mynt we could hardly help feeling now esolated West Aushalea Stll is in Ipite of the Resert Kailwan and virtular when te contenplated dat it would be all 5dans before our hew port of call was reached. I was at Mn Nown the trast in the beet of a drong Southerle Gale and he bost had some honble in holding on her Course and all ofs exressed te hose that Ht wouldn's las long. At we passed tae Rathralisk and were heir opposite Benbur some rather health bubodings wele mittered is o possect i rounding Case eword and we huped the coast more or less all the war kither. The iight on that fauonc point waspassed just as he here trnis and with
105 tatm view perhaps if was piss18 well. 9/579 rather a memorabledak for me meauds just 18 months since first commenced this narrative tho Idedas Confinstate verry on board Am. H.T. P. Colebrak it, sdife is rather lstless Owny to aushatia beingg bel within Call hgears and eyes tvived some hat onlearning this the Ships people that we mran not Goto Hober afterad a lenseless proposition et day time as belonty have t Tasnduians on board and the additional expecise hould be considerably. We relished the delar At Femande as frect shiped therethro our tarde Yula was begining to be disthouted as the Midday bratch shayed hauds. We have extablished the peashie of seeping after the Gndlay nead in thil biew of the sun and quite, a pleasurable pasthure it is, for Anhonr When Sol Thine forth in all his glarsy.
10/3/9 We have entered the Bightant wepassing Albany one was remended of the hansports in marautire there Fartle we canat least Eeach adelaide before them in spite of the fact that all passed uson the var. He were frfunak i fettry papers at Tremantle most ont but some ticknan and were able to recew Acquantance with the lasest heppenings i that State of Murs. Wealways know Sihordan as that is the donore have boat bull nather a fame extibition. after our exlorts on the Part Sydnes with tol. Alderson he are having delightful Aupinindans Bysical of tthe land ofom birth as longas the same Conditions prevail When we skp off at Melbonme 1115/ The inoon had we do not nake Habart nows aface rolack day desppehrs ove the hons on age so it fits in with omr holdeatin Instructions have been received
4057 on wireless that the Sont Aushaliate dedicos and sicters are to desembart lort the nooss of thapstak and there is ps b meheard. We hope to make Adclaideon Suesdar morning and provided bishll remain a depre this no houble should be exsernced in Gettin away the Tame Afternoon Sundar i always more or lees a quiet and pedceful day but Haan plaws were hathed to hold a tplain and fancy dress Ball tomorrow We have some tare woik and wans amougst the elite and it should bephage success 13/5/9. a little over wo sules fo beple we Auchor at the suphore so shoned bethere casile by 9 tomorrow eparations had to demade for the Krcious Ball and Mostoy the Afternoon was. sent perfecting Coshnnces befitting the occasion. The beather was proving rather boisterons but tter be lighted os and
428 we were natually Zetting into N3 Calmer Weather and when the festival was at itheiht the shipwas almost steady. It wis a peakiccess all those outryfed dressed for dinner some wereatlet arrang a fraud March. Ane insersodating an old farm hand easing dined the prize and has no popsible for much of the merndient. Bp5/. We expected to be auchored att but when I came on donk at 730 We here sd some distince down the fulf and Port agdayde could be sseen pison the horisor. The I. Auston board aut no tre however in pouding out Lopt exparentle the cere of atfraction with adveside thried deep down at the foot of the hills. Still ywas a seep nearer home and the Vorty impression crude tho it wote nide we think of Meltewme which he hoped wontl he the next stop. We anchored tuspat off Lark Bay her and eper

105
 

The  "Dongola" which we had left
behind at Alex. passed up with
a flourish of trumpets during
the night So we are gradually
being left behind by all the
transports. Just as well the
boat is a Comfortable one else
there would be no end to the
invectives that would be hurled
broad Cast.
3/5/19 On sea Saturday Comes
just an ordinary day of
the week and but for an
observant eye to things would
almost pass unnoticed whereas
if I Remember rightly we rather     
looked forward to it at home
a cessation of daily toil for the
week. Most of us are busy
writing letters to be posted at
Fremantle the transcontinental
Railway making it possible
to get news home before we
appear on the scene. It turned
 

 

out a great day just those days                  71
we longed for in England when
fogs and snow were prime
favorites.  Legal Subjects have quite
disappeared I find it impossible
to study with Australia  and
home so near at hand. We have
arranged a Single's Tournament
tomorrow it's Sunday but -
4/5/19  It proved to be rather a
boisterous Sunday instead of
toning down as we approach
the land of "Welcome home" it Seems
to grow worse. As there was a
church Service at 10.30 We
held off our tournament
until that was over and Some
interesting Games resulted. Most
of us are engaged witing letters
in view of the near approach
of Fremantle as there are sure
to be Some homeward bound
steamers, passing and the
Railway line enables letters to get
to the Eastern States long before
 

the weary traveller himself turns              72
up.
5/5/19  We aren't altogether bereft of
news of the Outside world for this
morning a wireless has received
from the Wireless Station at Fremantle
with instructions as to our
arrival there which we expect to be
on Wednesday and long before dawn
The wind has waned considerably
tho' the sea Continues with almost
unstated fury to dash over the
bows a rather sad prospect for
our passage of the Leeuwin.  We
finished up the tennis matches
with a constant rolling but all
passed off successfully. The Education
officer gave rather an instructive
address after dinner to the troops
on the Colonisation of the various
States and from the promenade
deck we listened attentively. I
elected to give up the idea of sleeping
on deck in view of the unsettled
state of the sea the last thro being
Rather sleepless nights.
 

 

6/5/19. We have been making such         73
fine progress the last two days that
it is beyond question we shall
reach Fremantle tomorrow
morning at 2 or thereabouts. The
Quarantine Restriction are lodged
in view of influenza that we are
not to be allowed to land and
the W.A. troops disembarking will
probably have to go into Quarantine
for several days. No  one Could do
much owing to a sort of suppressed
excitement at being so close to
Australia Some just loafed 
all day.  A  very  fine Concert was

held after dinner on the Promenade
deck When an opportunity was  
taken of singing "Goodbye" to those
West Australians disembarking

on the morrow.
7/5/19   I was greatly minded to
sleep on deck last night to be
the first to actually set eyes on

the land of our birth - most of us
 

 

 

Just as it was time to turn in we               74
had seen the lighthouse on Rottnest
Island and that Eather destroyed the
novelty so I adopted the better course
and stayed below. On arriving on
deck I  found we were anchored
more than a mile from Fremantle
which could just be seen thro' the
mist overshawowing the land
and what a thrill of pleasure
it was the first sight of Something
Really Australian. The Medical Staff
Came aboard at 7.30 and after
a vigorous Examination we were
declared a Clean Ship and arrangements
made for disembarking the
W A. troops at 1. It proved rather
a difficult matter owing to the heavy
sea running but was accomplished
without mishap. Almost all of us
received wires and letters from
home and right glad we were after
more than two months without
word of any description. The
instructions tho' were very disconcerting
to us Victorians as we have to 

 

 

make Hobart before getting to Melbourne      75
The Defence Dept. again.  The anchors
were slipped at 8 and soon we
were [[?braving]] the Open Sea again
8/5/91 as we were leaving last
night we could hardly help feeling
now isolated West Australia still
is in spite of the Desert Railway and
particularly when we contemplated
that it would be all 5 days before
our next port of call was reached.
It was at Run down the Coast in
the teeth of a strong Southerly Gale
and the boat had some trouble
in holding on her Course and
all of expressed the hope that
it wouldn't last long. Also we
passed Cape Naturaliste and were
then opposite Bunbury some Eather
healthy forebodings were muttered
as to prospects in rounding Cape
 Leeuwin and we hugged the
coast more or less all the way
thither. The light on that famous
point was passed just as we
were turning in  and with
 

 


 

that in view perhaps if was just as                 76
well.
9/5/19 r Rather a memorable date for
me : methinks just 18 months
since I first commenced this
narrative tho' I didn't contemplate

being on board H.M.A.T. to celebrate
it. Life is rather listless Owing
to Australia being well within Call
tho ears and eyes revived some
what on learning thru the Ship's
people that we may not go to Hobart
after all a senseless proposition
at day time as we only have 26
Tasmanians on board and the
additional expense would be
considerable. We relished the delay
At Fremantle as fruit shipped
there thro our tardy Y.m.C.A, was
beginning to be distributed as the
Midday Watch showed hands. We
have established the practice of
sleeping after the Midday meal
in full view of the sun and
quite a pleasurable pastime it
is, for an hour When Sol Shines
forth in all his Glory.
 

 

10/5/19 We have entered the Bight and          77
when passing Albany one was
reminded of the transports in
quarantine there Surely  we can at
least reach Adelaide before them
in spite of the fact that all passed
us on the way. We were fortunate
getting papers at Fremantle most
W.A. but but Some Victorians and were
able to renew Acquaintance with
the latest happenings in that State
of ours. We always know Saturday
as that is the day we have boat
drill rather a tame exhibition.
after our exploits on the "Port Sydney"
with Col. Alderson We are having
delightful Autumn days typical
of the land of our birth as long as
the same Conditions prevail When
we step off at Melbourne
11/5/19  The Rumour that we do not
make Hobart grows apace as Each
day disappears over the horizon
and so it fits in with our [[?]]
Instructions have been received
 

 


 

on wireless that the South Australian             78
medicos and  Sisters are to disembark
with the troops of that state and
there is joy in their hearts. We
hope to make Adelaide on  TuesdaY
morning and provided we still
remain a "Clean Ship"  no trouble
should be experienced in Getting
away the same Afternoon Sunday
is always more or less a quiet
and peaceful day but today
plans were hatched to hold a plain
and fancy dress Ball tomorrow
We have some rare work and ways
amongst the elite and it should
be a huge success
12/5/19.    Only a little over 200 miles
to  go before we Anchor at the
Semaphore so should be there
easily by 9 tomorrow. Preparations
had to be made for the Famous
Ball and Most of the Afternoon
was. spent perfecting Costumes
befitting the occasion. The weather
was proving rather boisterous but
when we  sighted Kangaroo Island
 

 

428
we were Gradually Getting into the              79
Calmer Weather and when the
festival was at its height the ship was
almost steady. It was a great success
all those outrigged dressed for dinner
some were able to arrange a fraud
March. One impersonating an
old farm hand easily gained the
prize and was Reponsible for
much of the merriment.
13/5/19  We expected to be anchored
at 8 but when I came on deck
at 7.30 We were Still some
distance down the Gulf and Port
Adelaide could be seen just on
the horizon. The S. Austs on
board lost no time however in
pointing out Mt. Lofty apparently
the centre of attraction with
Adelaide buried deep down at
the foot of the hills. Still it was
a step nearer home and the
Very impression crude tho' it
was made we think of Melbourne
which we hoped would he the
next stop. We anchored just at
9 off Lark Bay Pier and afterr
 

 
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