Thomas James Richards, Diary No. 1, 26 August - 18 November 1914 - Part 3

Wednesday   Sept. 30th
General leave 5 to 10pm
Our new camp contains 9 men
the ground is very uneven and
makes one very stiff to sleep on.
The three buglers are in our
tent and everything seems very
reasonable
A good long walk, carrying stretchers
through the pretty Spring folag
foliaged Centennial Park was
very pleasing. The lake of
water lilys were delightful.
I went to Manly at night
and saw W.B. This girl
does attract me, and sometimes
evens haunts me, yet when I
attempt to reason matters out I
cannot see matrimony looming
at all. Circumstances of cance
prevents me considering the point
at present.
Camp at 12 o'clock

October 1^st
Thursday    Octobxx
General leave 5.30. to 10 pm
Flag drill ^signaling has been much
practiced during the past few days
Capt. Poate, who has only had a
few lessons himself, took over
the instruction of A Section with
astounding confidence and done ^did so
well that few could have known
his short connection experience with asemphonre  Semaphore 
 signaling with flags. In the afternoon we
went out for practical stretcher drill
and "first aid dressings" it was
very good practice.
A cricket match commenced
at 3.30 between A & B sections
I got up the teams but did not
play as there where such a lot
of keen players but alas, as could
only be expected the more they talked
of past performances and pleaded for a
game the worse bally cricketers they
were. Tea with Cis Sponza  & M^rs. Kennard
Camp at 10 o'clock

Friday October 2nd
Leave from 5. to 9.p.m.
Called the camp at 5.30 this
morning so that the tent orderleys
can go on parade and still do their
work. This is unecessary if everybody
was honest & willing
The Colonel announced that there
would be no further leave granted
and special leave only until 9.pm.
in very important cases.
The ruling is certainly annoying and
is brought about by the drunken misbehaviour 
of the infantry crowd who
are to be seen in the streets at all
hours of the night. Special police have
been engaged to clear the town.
I went to Manly with
Annie Stout and saw M^rs. Hynes.
about her getting a room down there.
I enjoyed the trip immensely and
gave me a fountain pen.
Camp by 9 o'clock.

Saturday. October 3^rd
No leave
Full dress parade this morning.
Each man came out with his kit
which were examined; many little
things were missing and fellows had other
men's things ^goods in there kits.
We dismissed after a little drill
In the afternoon all hands fulled
robed for marching orders including
great coat, folded up. set out for
South Head, it was very pleasant
walking down over Belvue  Hill
but the return through bush and over
sand hills was hard & hot work.
I applied to the Colonel for leave
to spend to-morrow at Narrabeen
He refused, but I was very determined
to go and felt the restriction very
severely.  The Manly Phonegraph
was in use, so George Hill & I played
chess until 10 p.m.  I got beaten
and "Lights out."

Oct. 4th
Sunday     No leave.
Physical drill as usual at 6.30.
but the bugle goes off at 5.30
Much to early.  Church parade
looked very nice with only a broad
leather belt & pouch. The Methodist
service starts at 9.30 on the ground.
The other denominations march out
to the surrounding Churchs. I enjoyed
the service and the singing.
At 10.30 p.m. I cleared out against all
orders and made for Manly and
arrived later at Narrabeen in time for
dinner with M^iss Donaldson at the
camp. At walk amongst maiden
hair and pretty l   wild & violets with W.Z.
from the hill just across the bridge
The moonlight and evening effect
were just life to me. I hurried
miserably away from delightful
Narrabeen at 9.16 arriving unseen 
back in camp at 12 o'clock
unobserved and safe.
Monday  Oct 5th
They smother up the roll call in
my favour yesterday, and instead of
trouble to. day, I am clear & free.
It was, however, a big risk.
We all marched in good order for
about 8 miles out around Marowbra
arriving back to camp at 5.35.
The back section of the 3 had a lot of
trouble in picking up the correct step, due
considerable to the fact that our officers are
such bad, short stepped and rambling
marchers. But the average soldier
as far as my experience goes with the
A.M.C., is a arrargent conceited and
boastful person, "superb grand stand
players." Alway judging their standard
of manhood by the worst man in the
squad. The Englishmen mostly are
a loud voiced, empty inconsiderate lot
and can be easily picked out by their stiff
and bound up movements. No leave
to night but I went & had tea with Cis
Sponza.  Picket duty from 11 to 1.30. a.m. 

Obligatory Calls
Scouts' call
Alarm
Charge
Orders
Warning for Parade
Quarters Bugle
Fall in
Rations
Scouts dinner
Reveillé
Last Post
Dismiss
Light out

Oct 6 th
Tuesday.
We are this morning preparing
for a march through the City. The fellows are
keenly looking forward to it and are now
bustling round in great expectation, it
reminds ∧me in a little higher level of the
anxiety surrounding the preparation for a
Sunday school picnix.
The grand march past for which
the public have been clamouring for weeks
is now over, and from observations I
mad believe it was a wonderful success.
We filed out of Moore Park about
the appointed time (11.45 a.m.)
and from this point the whole route
was thickly lined with people.
The Army Medical Corps were last
in the procession but nevertheless they
came in for applause and complimentary
criticism. We broke away from the
main body at Darlinghurst at 1 o'clock
after 1¼ hours a of hot but pleasant
marching. Going though Macquarie St.

where our Doctors are so well known
we had a great reception particularly from
the Hospital. Many of the people provided
fruit for the troops the skins of which
covered the Oxford St. It was very
thoughtful indeed. I did not notice
the artillery guns in the march, and
this, from my own view point, is the
most important weapon and the most
inspiring looking object in this war
business.
At night a party of fellows went to
the picture show in charge of an
officer. They paid their own way
The Colonal was very pleased at
our showing to-day and complimented
the company on parade on our
return to camp but he did not
grant any leave
W.Z came out by tram we had
tea at Coogee and arrived back in
camp at 9.20. She is very fine and it
was a shame for her to go right back to Manly
alone.

No leave
Wednesday    Oct 7th.
N^o real physical drill
this morning, just right & left turns
inclines, form fours &c.; and some
practice for the smaller type of officers.
who are very poor drill commanders.
Tents were struck after breakfast &
as I write the sun is pouring down
fiercely and Summer is here again.
Centennial Park is a fair picture with
its young trees shrubs & birds and
a plentiful show of pretty blossoms.
This park still improves with acquaintance
I got off to see the Dentist at
2 pm and did not return to camp
until 12. p.m. M^r Neve the
Warrant Officer let me through in
sportsman like style. He is a damn
good fellow.
The dentist could have finished off
my tooth with a gold cap, but I
made him hold it over until to morrow
another afternoon away from camp life.
I got the 10.15 boat from Manly

Thursday.   Oct. 8th.
I was very tired at drill
this morning, this waking up
at 5.30 and sleeping for a few
hours on the hard ground does by
no means suit me. I feel so
very stiff and weak my weight
I don't know, but judging by
my activity and strength I have
fallen away a hell of a lot since
this camp life began.
The 220 fellows are putting in
1^d . a day to supply extra rations
The camp grub is very poor very
much so when you think that we
are in the midst of plenty. One
would think it time enough
to live hard when it is absolutely
necessary only.
Harris, dentist, gold crowned one
of my back teeth to day; £1-3-6.
Left camp at 2 p m returned at
8 p.m.
Friday    Oct. 9th.
We have a better camp party
now than when Schwarz and
lazy Mark Lewis was with us.
It is yet a bit grumpy at times
Bob Miller & Sponger Heady are always
at one another's necks, is a startling
manner. George Hill is a
champion fellow Pickering is up "against
it" most of the time. The three
buglers are only fair, two of them
alway under a drop, but Scotty
is a real good fellow.
This drill is damn monotonous
particularly as the non commission
officers use the squads to practice
on and some of them of very
poor. Sagt Coleman does not know
decent English, his commands
savour of Wooloomaloo. He is a
disgrace. Several of the others
also are bad. The Corporals are not
other than ordinary either. 

Saturday    Oct 10^th
The whole company marched down
to Bondi beach yesterday afternoon
and all enjoyed it immensely.
The men behaved splendidly, their
patience in the refreshment room
was splendid while the rush was on
Captian Welch was in his glory. The day
was very hot, the first real summer was
experienced.
It is raining to-day and we have
had no drill but plenty of guards.
Disasifaction reigns supreme. I wish
we were away and busy at work.
There was no leave to-night
but as W.Z. came down to the
Park we ^a had tea at the dainty
tea shop in this delightful Park.
I got back to camp before 10 o'clock.

Sunday   Oct 11^th
It rained again this
morning and caused the 6.30
drill to be postponed.
Church parade at 9.30. I fell
in with the Methodists and as they
did not come down to the camp
we waited until 10.30 and marched
up to Bondi Junction. where they
were holding the 70 th- anniversary
The children sang splendidly, and all
round it could be voted quite a
successful morning. M^iss A.B.
Stout was waiting from 10.40 until
I returned at 12.40 from Church.
We wandered into Centennial Park
and had lunch, I left her at
3.30 p.m. I missed the rollcall 
at 2.30 but Sargent Griffiths
cleared it up alright. I should have
gone to Manly but I stayed in Camp all
night.

Monday    Oct 12^th
In the afternoon we marched in
full dress, with waterbottles & pouch down
to Bondi beach, where at the cost of
5^d most of the company went into
the surf.  I could not see how
I was going to get down to Manly
by fair means so I just broke
away after the swim walked up to
Bellevue Hill caught the tram to the
Five Ways where Joe Neilson is
working for Williams, Chemist. I wraped
up my belt haversack & bottle and
carried it down to Hill Bros. where I
gathered 1 doz silk stocking for W.Z. and
with W.W. Hill took the 6 p.m. boat,
I returned by the 10.15. I don't know
what to make of this girl. I should, and
believe, would, marry her, if I could see
ahow I was going to provide a home
in comfort. Marriage without a comfortable
home and a settled position cannot be other
than a failure.

(Bed at 11.50.)

Tuesday      Oct. 13th.
Samples of the companys'  blood was
taken by the Doctors to-day. For what purpose
I don't know, but presume it is to find
out if the innoculations against fever were
successful. In the afternoon we went
190 strong down to Coogee beach for
a swim. The breakers were very poor
anyhow Coogee never is any good for
surfing shooting the beach is too short
& deep.
I am trying to write my American
friends but I find it difficult to get
peace to think it in.
To-day is one of the days when my
thoughts get troublesome. I feel ashamed
to be with a noncombatant side; this
"linseed lameness"  business,  / or in other
words, ambulance work is puny and
unfit for an able boyded bodied man, I should 
be with the Light Horse, and get
right into the fighting line. 

Pay Day    £ 3-10-0
Wednesday   Oct. 14^th.
Rumours are freely circulated as to the
exact day on which we will sail for Europe.
One swears you to secretriacy & tells you
from what source excellent the information
came that we sail in 2 days.
Another man, in all confidence, states it
will be 9 days before we sail.
I don't listen to any of the stories now.
After pay I went to the Cricket
Ground where the Public Schools were
giving a display. There were thousands 
of children, daintly dressed and
going through their various feats
with splendid enthusiasm. It was
delightful to see the whole ground
looking so bright and cheerful, so
different to sporting crowds.
I had dinner with Cis. Sponza
listened to the Camp Fire concert
and went to bed at 10.15.
I bought a water pouch & belt at 6/-

Thursday  Oct. 15^th
It is raining this morning, it
having started yesterday afternoon, so we
done no physical drill.
The fact that war troubles threaten
South Africa, and Father laying dying
makes me worry very much over Mother &
her future life. Bert is, I expect,
having a pretty miserable time garrisoning
up in those cursed Islands of the
North.
Things are taking the appearance
of a near removal. I hope it
will be so, but the possibility
of going to South Africa seems to
loom up largely, which is very
annoying, as I dont want to
rough it on the veldt.
I caught the 5-45 boat for Manly,
had dinner at Btainrig. Win seems
to be getting a stronger hold as time
goes on. I got back to camp safely
but luckly at 12.30. 

Pay Day     £. 2. 0. 0.
Friday   Oct. 16th.
It is now officially
stated that we leave on the
"Euripides" next Monday, but our
destination is very much in doubt.
Leu. Beer gave us drill in full
company with the transport throw in
He is a great soldier & respected by
everyone about the camp.
Payed at 2.30 and general
leave was granted until 8 p m when
a great camp fire concert was
to take place on the ground.
I met Marcia Elvy & Earnest
Bosch at Farmers' & had a
delightful dinner to the Tivoli
after; a poor show indeed.
Farmers certainly get up a good dinner
at 4/6, The menu is somewhat overloaded 
by French. The music,
table decorations (poppies) and the whole
appearance of the place was very pleasing
Got back at 11.30. all safe.

Saturday  Oct 17th
Our black kit is packed &
sent in. It has been raining all
the morning, and is disquietening to the boys.
All the fellows are delight/ed at getting
away, but I am sure they have no idea
of the seriousness of their mission, and
treat matters very lightly. Many of them
are drinking. Yet they are a good set.
Only 1 hours drill this morning we then
got leave until 9. p.m. Bob Miller, George
Hill & myself got into the City by 1 0'clock
and had dinner at Sargents, George St.
I went to Manly by the 3 p.m. had a
shower at M^rs. Hynes. Offered her 10/-
which she would not take. I have
had a number of meals there & leaving
behind my luggage consisting of
1 large portamanteau  3 suit cases
1 fairly large kit bag. She is very
very good indeed. Tea at Broads & the
last boat back. Camp at 1. a. m.