Thomas James Richards, Diary No. 1, 26 August - 18 November 1914 - Part 4

Sunday
Oct 18
It has been raining on & off all
day. We got up at 5 a.m. & took
the horses down and aboard the
Clan Macoradale. 102 went on in
40 minutes We walked back to the
Camp and got general leave until
10 p.m. I again & as ever
went to Manly to return by the
last boat. The day was
cloudy cold & heavy shower regularly
Oct 19^th.
Monday
The eventfull day has as last
arrived. The camp was [[?]]
at 5.30 with kits packed and
handed in by 9 a.m. A damn
poor breakfast and we were on
the road by 7.45. Tram car
were used from Charing Cross to
Fort Macquarie wherewe where we
were aboard the majistic looking
"Euripedis" by lighter in very quick
time. We were put off into
messes of 20 men and there we sat
for hours until the 3^rd Infantry
were put aboard.All seemed
is readiness to leave by at 2.p.m.
but we are still at anchor at 4 o'clock
 

There were but few people out
this morning as we passed along Oxford
St. Yet there were some sturing little
to cold charness, but warm offection +
a manly
inesdents as we drove by, One agid
consuncious fare upon it, fills my eyes
man holding to a stont stick for support
with tears of joy and brothirly feeling.
tried with as have a heart as ever
that one is understood. This being
a soldies possessed to stand at
Dmissunderstood, is the greatest troull I have
attention.
Another old worrier straight
noticed on this globe,. Most people are so
himself by the aid of a veranda and
wrapped up in themselves that they forget
Tots of men &
alld saluted
even thoses mrest them until something
women waved a pleasant good-lye
urious happens and bings home there
foolish idea that because they are alright
but it was only skin deep; it oe
everything and everybody as I matter
nobody but agnorant persons could
triate such a mission as we are above
of iause must be also
to undertake so lightly, and almost
Many of the hundreds of boat loads of
people that sailed around the Eunpuidies
with pivolity. But the men who have
sun service, were as the hoo
to-day thought of nothing further or deeper
mentioned, full of sineerity and hope
than that a friend or brother was going
knowing that thre was hard week for
to the war and as the was going a
us to do and at the same time with
long voyage they came to wave to him
doubt sorrow & sympathy laying beneath.
(not the troops) a pleasant and safe
their hardined but thoughtful easings
The boast Artillary
return.
of their experiencea bodies.
 

with their lrass band aboard th
SA Mines went around about our
vessel for 1 1/2 hours plaging theirfull
tunes but just before leaving they
struck up Old Long sine, it sumed
to some right from their heart and
it again downed upon my they theneelr
were warriors and knew and understood
the work ahead of us. They finally
played Godut have the King and
at was fighting again to kup back
the leass, as we stood lined up at
attention on the lep dick.
5
Many of our wellwishes waved
plogs and shoated frantuly, they were
in earnest too, but it was a coupte
of people on the Bunra Bra making for
Manly that t made water come to
my eyes when they stood still
and held a blue Austratian flag
outstritched.
It was plain to me what
was ment they were cold bul headed
persons, and sumed to say kap your
 

end up boys wherevce your going too
just for the honour and for the glory
of your dear Austistia and your
love for the Mothercountry. It fairly
thrilled, to me through & through. It was
one of those silent signals full of meaning
and respect.
When some broken
down insignifigent waft came upelose
to us and tooted her good wishes on
the shrill siren, it same from the
right place under the coat.
The rain in heavy showers enterminglin
with sunshine must have dampened &
dencouraged the folk who some down
to the Qusy and I am love to see
us away.
Our boys are lind
and slupy as they have been up early
in the morning and late to bed
cach night.
Dinner was a bit
topey turvy, but is fall of promise
there are 6 or 8 nuses on board,
this afternoon I saw them on the puominase
dack and amongst so much barke colour
 

their sky blue suesses with a bright sed
cape & white hanging eap makes a pleasant
this wett be particularly
change
notuabls later on when the dungrees o
and brown git become an exisore
Midst the hooting of whistles
and the cheesing of our boys we
slowly steamed down the Hanbour
5.30 po, but to our
at
sstonishment we put into
Mosman's Bax and hung up
There was a
for the night.
for bunks or
great scramble
pammocks at 6.15. They were
hung very close together so much
so, that when one man turned
over he woke up the man
next to him & set a whole line
of them swinging. Yet the
fellows remed to favour sleeping
in hammocks to the ground
at Quiens Park. I went
to bed abovt 8 fm and
up again at 6 a.m.
 

Sips ration
Bread
1lb
hee man
Meal
3/4 bl
I am
&oge he week
sall
2
Pickle
6o
Milk
condenced o the ten he sua
to
Sugar
140
her men

Batter
10150
her wuech
472 l6
Patitoes
3.011 mer all toto on bosed
 

Deasewell to Sydney
th
Oct 20
Tuesday.
The Cunpides got under
weigh at 5.300 and steamned
down past Watsons Bay with
a hogh wind and ktinding
We were sunning fouly
rain.
steady yet before breakfast the dicks
were covered with prostrated forms
The fall in was sounded at 10am
& it was sorrowful to see the fellows
dragging themselves and one another
up for the parade. As more
forloan spectacle could be eotrused
crowded
than a troops ship on the first day
at sea. In the afternoon we were
will shead of the Star of Victoria
and the blen Macorguadal and
moving pleasantly along in fine
weather with dry decks ara
sea and a number of siniling
faces about
So for we find the conveniene
 

of the Curipidies somewhat lacking.
There are not enough hammocks.
for the men, and the gattey arrange
ments of inefficient as the poor
mess orderlys have to wait a very
long time to be served.
There is a terrible congestion of men
both underneath and on dicks.
The wet canteen was opened to
day between 11712 the fllows
went past in single file and paid
3 for a mus of been. Burwas
the only beberidge dispensed, I was
a little surprised that the fellows
did not iush it more fininstly
as there are some exccllent
lasking beer loving suntinance
about the ship
It is surprising
the number of sports follower then
are on board and the present
cricket season and the coming
fothell season must suffer in
consequence

When one
 

looks over the troops as they
stand around then hnight and
physigue as admirable, their
age as thrroughty mature and
their faces though hard and
weather beaten, are very determined
and strong lishing. I like
them immencely
Rumour has it that we will
call in at Albang and contenue
on through the Red See, this
news I hope is correct as I
will love the trip through the
heart of the old world
I regret not calling on
Dr. Moran and Paddy Mc Eue
before leaving Sycney
It is alos hard to part him
H.L.B. too after the month I
have sfeat with her. I dont
quite feel as if we can ever
he much to one another though
Got knowswe should be all
in all with each ether
 

s
2
 

Wednesday
Oct 21
Last night the sky was
fairty clear and the boys merry, the
Bag-pipes and orchester keeping them brig
At about 8.30 the Dean hild a
short service on the will-dick which
was also a pleasant break in a day
made somewhat miserable by the
number of sad faus and subly forms
laying about in all directions
there does affeer to be anything
like sufficieat accommedation
for the 3r2d odd men aboard.
itt 9 clock I had some breed
butter & henings before going to
bed, at 2.a.m. I felt very bee
and womited freely.
The hammocks are placed to
close together yet the fellows
like them & sleep will
through some mumanigement
or other there was no arrangement
Army
made aboard for the
 

gredical barps at all to that
we have just to sqneeze in +
make the best of a bad posstion.
so for I have no reguet at
having volunteered but I wish
we were at the end of our
destination this ship life doe
not offer anything movel
The mess orderlies are having
a rough time and by the
growling that goes on the ship
is generally unsatisfactory. this I
hope will retify itself as time
goes on
The wet easteen has met
with general approval and is
opened only between the hours of I1
& 12 am and it takes the full
hour hard going to get finished
with the long time of constantially
waiting men.
The dry canteer is open from
7to & in the morning & 415
in the afternoon of tog at nght
 

the subber shoes supplied as
E/6. are scoundlous they hull
away from the sate int 1/s hours
wear. The dry canturns firms
seen for above Gzaney Jernes
Ins of Joffee
all round.
losting 6 in sydney stores are soll
at ye
 

no
Oct 22
Thursday
It was reported last night
that a steamer would be eiming
elong side and anyletters would be
then sent ashore I hurriedly
wrote two of some considerable
importance to yoe Neitson and
W.J.B.. but as the cunpides
did not stop or even slow down
last night I doubt as to whether
any mail went into Milbourn
We have no idea as to what
speed the vessel is making bot
by the sun we know that it
is in a western direction that
There are

we tranl.
some really terrible leoking
fellows amongst the traaps +
reports of that the Germans have
bur looting and murdering with
not be any worst than that
these wreatihes are capable of
 

We parade from 9.30 to 11 in
the morning and from 2 to 4 in
the afternoon. The dick is too
small for marching so we have
to doubte mark time, and wall
or run around in single file
cerals, some physical exercises and
sometimes leap pog in small
parties.
The childret behavion
of some of our fellows reminds me
of the holiday grients to Towns-
wille & Ravenswood when we
indulged in horseplay and nowny
deidely singing only theat
ow we have gearousy and
concutidness entermingeed with
it.
I have adopted my
but air of reservation and do
more reading & writing than ever
before with very little conversation
Why I dont look more, for company
I cannot say, as there are many
real good fellows amongst our
party of 204 men.
 

ad
Oct 2
Friday
The menie shows ip a
little better and stronger just now
Yesterday we had possidge +
shar
stewed sausages with tread & yom
to finish off with At dinner
12 o'clock there was soup, meat
with beans & potatoes followed by
plum pudding. At to we had
tea with bread buthr & jam
The miss ordertis are settling
down now and though our
rations are a little under weight
I fet sure all will come
round pleasantly as the
journey continues
The sea is now as ialm
as is possible and in consequence
none of the fellows are sick though
if it should blow up a little these
crowded decks would be hell
with a vingem record roll call
 

as the fllows have to take down
their hammocts at 6 oclock tidy up
and are not
their odds & ends
allowded inside again hardly
until 6 pm when the hammet
are laid out with lights out.
The bag-pipers
at 9 pm.
and the military hass band
with terpaps a short evening
Church service add considerable
to break the dulners of the day
and give the troop a little
harmony which is absolatet
issentest to their brute like
nature. Gambling goes on all
no
over the bost, yot allempt are
made to preveent it.
I writed for 1 hour in a line
to get to the dry canteen and when
I got there I could not li any ink
fruit or cake so I bought 2
hackets of ergarittes & matches and
two bottles of limonade.
 

IAN
 

10746
 

th
Oit
4
Saturday
I have written an8
page letter to Mas Fhench
which centains astounding, profe
-language & thring delight
I evene out on dick this
morning at 6. a.m. and had
a run arounds but I dont
feel like excersing, my muscles
do not work as puely as of
you I winder if it is due
to the past 12 months hrouble
around sydney, or Manly in
I hardly think
particular.
so as I was not livily
in south officia last trip

My back sums
1913)
to go a little wrong at the
slightest Liviot, just about
the pelves rugion.
I walked the deck with
Sullivan for 40 minutes this
morning and let him talk
 

on the necessary ability of
cimmercial travelling
the pee-masonary that
exists, for instance, the
men sometimes meet and
work together and if one
men leaves the filsty and
rushes on ahead he is often
branded as a pointer.
This man possibly exist
amongst the 2and and
hoour class, dulkatave +
swelled headed traveller.
with whom Sultivan
evidently associate
He mentioned that when
Murphy /a solicitor now a
member of the ef M.C) was
called lep on the dilepshone
& told that there was a
vacancy in the sectio
Musply evered.Presental
court but with report at
that afternoon
2pm.