Diary of Lindsay Robert Turner, 1919 (Vol. 7) - Part 9

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a cursory examination for Small Pox        
and Influenza arrangements for
disembarking the troops was proceeded
with. Soon a launch was alongside
and the 130 odd officers and
men were transferred again without
mishap again. The most welcome
news however was the fact that
we would proceed direct to
Melbourne and conditional on
good weather should reach that
delightful Resort by 10 Am on
Thursday and there great and
abounding joy! We continued
our journey again at 1.30.
14/5/19. We will from now on
be in sight of land practically
the whole way and excitement
will be tense when Victoria is
seen for the first time. The coast
is so much alike that it was
not until we could discern
Mt Gambier that we knew we
were still off South Australian
Territory. At 2 we got our first
glimpse of Cape Bridgewater with
Nelson some distance on
 

81
and we were quite close enough to
the latter to distinguish some of the
inhabitants gazing out to sea. I
shall never forget the last occasion
we passed this spat with what was
ahead of us No one knew. We
expect to Reach Hobsons Bay easily
by 10 but the Embarkation Authorities
have issued orders that we are to
embark at 8 on Friday morning
the reason for so much delay we
know not. The morrow will
probable reveal it
15/5/19. Imagine the joy that
awaited as as we hurried
on deck at the bright and
early hour of Seven o'clock
this morning and
only sparsely clad. There
in all its glory was [[?Sorber]]
and only a stone's throw
away. When we arrived
inside the Heads I knew
not but here we here
back in Victoria and

82
quite content. Medical            
inspection was the first item
on the programme and some
hesitation was experienced

lest we should be pronounced

fit subject to Quarantine.
We were told that some of 
the transports were held up

for a week on a/c of

influenza being suspected

We had been particularly

free from any evidence of
it so we lived in hopes.

By 10 we were given
the all clear Signal and
proceeded on our wan
There followed much preparation
 to our personal
appearance particularly that
of the nurses Who desired
to took their best when
they Stepped off the transport
on to dry land. Those
us Who professed to Know
 

83
something of the coast line of
Port Philip Bay Spent some
of the time on the way up the
Bay explaining to our less
fortunate Comrades from
Sydney the beauties of our
harbour. At 2, we came
in sight of Port Melbne
and judging by the Crowd
of anxious Sight seers it
reminded one of the more
boisterous assemblage that
Waved Good by to us when
we departed. It was a
rough day and we had two
attempts before the transport
was safely moored and
then arush for the pier
Set in. The seemly and
the unseemly Sharing the
honors however. We were
soon clear of the ship with
all our belongings and
 

84
the long line of Waiting motor  
cars soon Whirled us off
to home and freedom.
Just as this diary was
Commenced with a Sigh
of relief that we had
embarked of last so I
end it with an expression
of the same feeling that we
have disembarked at
last