Thomas James Richards, Diary No. 1, 26 August - 18 November 1914 - Part 2

Thursday, Sept 10^th
We are having trouble with our
tent orderlies, as our camp
contains several loafers. Lewis &
Downy to wit.
I did duty cleaning up the camp
with a party of 8 men, and bolted
off at 11.30 and did not return
to camp until 1 o'clock in the
morning. Having spent the day
in the City & at Manly.
I opened an account with
the Bank of North Queensland
at Manly depositing £5.0.0.
We are all at sea regarding

the day of our departure from Sydney
and wild rumours are being
circulated.
I have been transfered from
the "Bearer" section to the Transport 
which is harder and
longer work.
Friday Sept 11^th.
I am very tired today having
worked hard & raced away
at dinner time with Fritz and
done did some shopping in the City
At 4 o'clock I rushed away again
bought a camera from the Editor
of the "Sydney Mail" with ½ doz films
for £ 3-0-0 ( 10% off.)
The camera looks very fine &
I expect big things from it.
A.C.W. Hill made my
will out in favour of Mother.
But I am sorry there is not
something of worth in it.
Missed A.B. Stout and went
over to Manly alone. Returning
to camp about at 10 o'clock.

Saturday 12^th Sept.
General leave was granted
from 12 to 12 to-day but I
remained on duty so as to get away
another day. Fritz & I went
up to town at 7.30 and ^to. the
National where we both went to
sleep and left at ½ time.
As we were making for home
it rained very hard, the streets
were all aflow in a few minutes.
I waited some time but by jove
it did come down heavily, so I went
over to Sponza's & slept there.
Our tent was in a hell of a mess,
all under water.
Bill went back to Brisbane
to-day he has been here three days
The language one hears in our camp
and all around the place is vile-
and noticable amongst the empty headed
young fellows mostly
Sunday 13^th Sept
It is raining, in fact it has
not properly stopped since last night
so everything is very miserable
to-day. I am with the horses
still, but will go back with the
bearers soon. I must get my
Ambulance work in properly, and
as I am not going to get any
fighting, which I so very much
regret, I will at least attempt
to gain soon some benefits, and go
thoroughly into First Aid Work.
I left Sponza's at 5.45 this
morning after 5 hours of good sleep.
My blankets and clothes are all wet
and no chance of drying them just now
Our uniforms are about complete
now and there is no reason why
we cannot sail at once as far as we
are concerned personally.
All but the transport ∧section marched to Church today

Monday Sept. 14th

I have been shifted away from

the horses back to my old section,

the Stretcher Bearers. I am glad

too get away from the dirty work yet

the 1/- per day extra which the drivers

get would be acceptable, as I have 

such a lot of lee way to make

up.

I regret more & more the fact that

I am not in the real fighting line

instead of buggering about with

Ambulance work, or 'linseed lancers”

There is always that doubt but what 

a fellow is likely to be termed a

"quiter".

Leave from 2 until 12

I went up town & on to Manly

returning by the 10.15 boat. W.L.B. does

not seem to get any nearer to me, we

easy on just the same, but the love seems

more animal life than human fondness.

Tuesday Sept 15th.

This is the third wet day we have

experienced and all of the tents are

as inabby as possible. This morning

our open air kitchen got flooded, new 

ones were made and they are just

grand. A fairly large trench is

first cut along the low on bottom 

side then of the country then a

trench, on flume ^flues say 8ft. long 12 ins

wide & tapered from 18 ins up to

9 ins, away from the front end or fire

box, a chimney is erected. Layers of

galvanised iron placed across to hold

the Dixies then the lot is filled in with

damp dust.

Breakfast in the rain this morning

was the very devil and I am Mary Ann

too. It rained terifficaly throughout.

Wednesday Sept 16th

I went with a six horse

lorrie down to Circular Quay.

The drivers drove postillion - wise

and looked very well indeed.

The people took considerable

interest in our passing, often

asking were we then embarking

for the war.

In the afternoon I again

drove through Centennial Park

to draw fodder at the Show

Grounds. The Park is just

magnificent, all the trees donning

their new leaves and getting

ready for the comming Summer

This was a cheerful drive as this

crowding of men in camp is so rude

& vulgar that I long to get away.

Arthur Hollingworth called for me

& we went into town. I called on

Cis Sponza on my return.

Wednesday Sept. 17th

It is still raining and we have

to run away from drill to shelter

a good deal.

Rumour from the best authority

is certain that we sail on Wednesday

23rd. inst. I will be so pleased

to get aboard and away towards

active service this camp life is not

perhaps, not as hard as it is

depressing. I cant sleep well on

the ground now-a-day. and as

I usually have tea away from

the camp the grub is passably

but though it is plentiful & wholesome

there is a miserable sameness about

it. I had dinner at Manly

with the Broads and enjoyed it very well

I cannot see the end of my attention to this

girl, and look at it as I might there

seems to be but little chance of marriage

though I believe she would be a treasure to

a decent fellow in a settled position.

Pay day

15 days £3.18

Friday Sept 18th

No early physical drill this morning

on account of the weather.

Seargent Bullman & Harrison, the

store keeper, are very much disliked

in the camp, they are too strict for

our loose disciplined fellows.

I was inoculated yesterday against

typhoid fever and will done twice

now.

I had dinner with Arthur Hollingworth 
at Fresh Food & Ice Co

and wandered about the City with

him for an hour and got back to

camp by 10 p.m.

Saturday Sept 19th

The weather seems to be breaking

I applied to Sargent Nere for

leave and got from 12 until

Sunday night, so away I went

to Manly in bright sunshine.

 

Sunday  Sept. 20^th

Woke at 8.34. after a great

night sleep. It had rained heavily

and did not look good for the

much promised day in the bush

amongst natures beauty.

It cleared a little at 11.45 &

W.L. & I started for Brookvale.

Monday. Sept 21st.

The day was fine but cold.

Fritz arranged a football match

against the Light Horse | the connected

party adjoining our camp who are

about 60 strong) which took place

at 4. o'clock and resulted in an

easy win for our men. I was 

Capt and though it a very enjoyable

game our score was 21 to 0.

Captain Poate touch judge, and as

he won a bet he give me 30/- to

divide amongst the fellows.

I went into town at 11. o'clock

& came back at 2.15. Saw M^r

Grover of the Sun newspaper he

promised to give me rates & a half

for matter published, M^r Brewer

of Daily New, Freemantle is

their agent.

Bought 6 packets of films 8 exposes 6/-

 

Tuesday Sept. 22 ^nd

A route march of some 10 miles

out passed Maroubra this morning

I did not enjoy it a little bit
Jack Sullivan marched out of step
as usual and even the officers
leading could not keep in step,
and it jars my nerves to be
walking without harmonising.
I left the ranks without leave and
went out in a sulky and lovely horse
with Joe Neilson. Visited a few
Hotels and met W.L. who is
considerably worried. Had dinner &
we went to Manly arriving back
in camp at 12 o'clock, and
found the boys had had no leave
at all.

Wednesday   Sept. 23^rd

A very restless night, the beds 

seems as hard as ever.
The Light Horse Section of the Ambulance
struck camp this morning and have
gone on board.
Our instructors are very weak and our
squads slowly getting harder to work, so that 
the whole business is irritating & damn 
hard work.
Leave from 2.30 to 12 p.m. I saw
Joe Neilson, Joe Davis, Harry Early, Oldham

& McDowell in the after-noon and
went over to Manly returning by the 
9.45 boat

The tent was very noisy to-night
Heady makes a hell of a nuisance of
himselves in his drunken state
 

Thursday    Sept. 24^th 

Things are getting very close to sailing. 
these sea-kits have to be arranged by
to-morrow.
Our daily papers are hardly
worth reading as they are all war
cables and notes which never seems
to agree one with another.
I am disappointed at the tome of
the press in attempting to belittle
the ability of the Germans and accuse
them of all kinds of muder murder and 
plunder. The even accuse them
of cowardice &c crime.
Friday   25^th.
Up at 5.a.m. and away to the 
boat with the transport horses
at 8 o/clock. One man one 
horse and they behaved splendidly
going through the City to Dalgety's wharf
The going aboard was accomplished 
in ½ 
hours. They were first lead
led up a long gangway with high
sides and coconut matting spread
over the big cleats to prevent slipping
Our horse were first under the main 
deck while there were layers of horses
on two decks below, making in all
4 decks of horses, the lower one being
perhaps 40 ft. down the hold, they 
were not lowed down but walked 
down along the gangways. It was
just wonderful.
I skipped the ranks and had
tea with M^rs Sponza. and came 
back by 7.30.
 

Saturday  26th
I went on picket this
morning at 3.30 until 6.
I rather enjoyed it, regardless of
the cold, and the stars were
very entertaining and looked so
pale and helpless at as the Sun
rose and out shone. them
We have our own kits packed ^ 
delivered to be forwarded but
find the Colonne has orders
from headquarters to stand by
and not go aboard to-day

This is extremely disappointing
as we have prepared for leaving
to-day or early to-morrow
morning. I missed my
appointment with W L.B badly to-night,
and went back to camp
at 8 p.m. feeling annoyed.
Sunday    27th
The fellows are very disappointed indeed
After 6.30 physical drill, we paraded
for Church in four partys . I went
to the Presbyterian Church. at 
Waverly where I believe a farewell
sermon has already been preached on
two occasions already.
Dinner with M^rs Sponza. Tea at
Narrabeen. Camp at 12 o'clock.
Leave only extended to 10.p.m. but
there is never any difficulty in getting
past the pickets.
I got 1 pair of socks & a cap from 
Joyce Schaider & a small Shelley poem,
from Joan & Helen. It is very 
very kind of the, and I must

not forget them.
 

Monday    Sept 28^th
We went down to the
"Class Macorkaddle" to day and
bought away our 102 horses, and
walked them back to camp / 1 hours
40 minutes/ one man per horse
These horses were only put on board
last Friday and there must be
some considerable delay for the 
authorities to do this. There are 
a hundred roumorors as to the cause
But rumours are as plentiful as they
are unreasonable these times.
I intended going peacefully to bed
to-night but discovered I had 
picket duty to do from 6.30 to 11.
which time hung heavily indeed
Tuesday       Sept. 29th.
Physical drill with much 
hated Bulmer in charge at 6.30
After breakfast all hands were very
busy shifting tents a very interesting
event under military supervision
The whole camp was shifted forward giving
everybody new and welcome ground.
Bulled beef in the form of sea pie
for dinner we have had no fresh meat in 4 days.
The horses were taken for a swim
to Coogee this afternoon. about 40 of
the follows went in the surf. it was
a great afternoon. The horses were
most treactious, I just missed being
kicked on the head twice by
apparently tame horses.
General leave until 10p m
but I am remaining in camp. 
to-night very tired.