Thomas James Richards, Diaries, Transcript Vol. 1, 26 August 1914 to 24 April 1915 - Part 1

DIARY OF LIEUT. T.J. RICHARDS. M.C
1st Battalion. A.I.F
BOOK. 1.
26 August, 1914 - 24 April, 1915.
2DRL786
AUSTRALIAN
WAR MEMORIAL

COPY OF DIARY OF LIEUTENANT THOMAS JAMES RICHARDS,
M.C., 1st Battalion. A.I.F. Commercial traveller;
of Charters Towers, Q'land, and Manly, N.S.W.;
born Emmaville, N.S.W., 8 April 1883; joined the
A.I.F. on 26/8/14, returned to Australia in 1918.
(Played International Rugby football, both for
England and Australia in test matches.)
BOOK NO.1.
July 1914. I left Sydney as manager of the Manly
touring side on July 10th and played football at
Inverell, after a train journey of 409 miles. We
played on the following day and were defeated by
10 to 9. On the Wednesday, 15th inst., we played at
Bundarra, winning by some 10 to 6. Bundarra is 38
miles south of Inverell. We had a fine lunch at
Tingsh, the home of tin dredging, and got some
specimens of grass stone.
On the 18th Inverell again beat us by some
3 to 0. On Sunday we motored to Glen Innes in
intense cold. The team went back to Sydney but I
stayed overnight and worked the town with underwear
&c., going on to Armidale on Monday night. The
New Zealand arrived that night. I tried to do
business but failed. The New England team beat
N.Z. for the first half hour but were eventually
defeated by 31 to 6. I trained from Armidale at
4 a.m. and arrived at Brisbane July 23rd. The three
games that followed between Queensland (2) and
Australia were easily won by N.Z. after very
uninteresting displays.
The war news on the 9th August prevented me
doing any business at all so I went and enlisted
for the front, but the authorities seemed so slow
that I went down to Sydney by the "Wollowaka" on
August 18th, arriving in Sydney on the morning of
the 21st after a rough, seasick passage.

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I at once set about volunteering for the Light Horse
but after wasting four days I found they were full
up - no further room - so Fritz Schwarz and I signed
on with the Army Medical Corps and went into camp
in Queen's Park on August 26th.
The first day I drilled with an awkward
crowd of fellows and was also an awkward man myself. too.
The officers did not know their drill either. Most
of them are doctors and without much in the way of
military knowledge but are nevertheless a splendid
set of men.
25th August, 1914. Fritz and I again turned up
at the Rosebury.
26th August, 1914. Fritz Schwarz and I signed on
and got into the ranks today after being sworn in
and medically examined. I had to do a lot of
thinking and keep at a very high tension to find
the correct way to turn on command. Colonel
Newmarck has already taken a most apparent liking
to Fritz and I and there is no doubt but what we
will get along splendidly with him.
1st September, 1914. Queen's Park. I have been
fitted out with a new uniform, and had a fairly easy
day. I was vaccinated today. All hands not done
during the past five years have to go through it now.
The Light Horse Ambulance, camped adjoining us,
are a reserved crowd of fellows, in fact they are
conceited.
I went out in plain clothes to meet Annie
Stout at David Jones. She was looking splendidly.
I had dinner with her and an enlightening two

-3-

hours' conversation in Centennial Park. I got back
to camp at 9 o'clock, made my bed which is as hard
and cold as on the first night. My neck is stiff
and my hips and shoulders ache.
Captain Poate is a much improved instructor.
It is surprising.
2nd September, 1914. Up at 6 a.m., a wash and brush-up, 

a cup of poor coffee, and line up for physical
drill which is fairly stiff and makes a number of
fellows squeak. Breakfast on dried fried chops and
a little writing, then parade at 9.30 o'clock, which
means we have 1¾ hours for breakfast. Met W.T.B.
at the Quay, tea, and out to Bondi leaving at the
Junction to return home to camp by 9 o'clock.
3rd September, 1914. Pay Day. Miss Childers and
Doris McMullen brought a hamper out to the camp
and Fritz, McKilvey and myself enjoyed tea on the
grass with these well-meaning and amiable girls at
about 6.30. It was a lovely moonlight night. I
told the girls a story or two aboutthe stars and
went back to camp at 9.20 leaving them to it.
My first war pay-day. I signed for £1.10.0.
4th September, 1914. Harold Baker came down to the
camp on a lovely horse and took me away to his home in
Randwick for dinner. His wife is nice and very
young. They were married when she was only 17 years
of age. It appears that Harold as well as the girl's
mother thought she was 19 but when her lawyers in
England started to fix up her estate they discovered
their mistake. They have one child. We wandered
around Coogee in the moonlight and I admired it

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immensely. I got into camp at 10.45 after taking
off my leggings, boots and socks and leaving them
in a tree to return for them as I had to beat the
guard. An eclipse of the moon was a startling kind
of phenomenon. It took two hours to complete and
when covered looked like a blood red disc.
5th September, 1914. We fell in for physical drill
at 6.30 a.m. and drilled from 9.30 until 12 o'clock
with a lecture thrown in, and clothes distributed.
We now have a full uniform. General leave was
extended from 12 to 12 midnight. Bob Miller and I
went across to Manly. I went for a walk in the
afternoon and went down the Corso with W.T.B. at
night where the band was playing. It was my first
night out in uniform and I certainly felt very
uncomfortable. I did not know whether to raise my
hat to the number of friends I met or not. Left
Manly by the 11.35 boat and got back to camp at 1
o'clock.
6th September, 1914. This is the second Sunday I
have been in camp and again went to the English
Church service in the open air. The preacher with
all his regalia worried me by his one-sided
version of Britons righteousness in taking the part
of the weaker nations in the present war. The
singing was very poor. We fell in as usual at
6.30 a.m. and again at 9.30. Church at 10 a.m.
The English followers were asked to step forward,
also the Methodists, and marched off to different
parts of Queen's Park. General leave was granted
from 12 until 9 p.m. I went to Manly with the boys,
had dinner with Mrs. Hynes also tea and after a

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walk in uniform on the beach and Corso caught the
8 p.m. boat and got into camp without seeking the
pickets.
7th September, 1914. My vaccination is five days old.
and just beginning to give me a rough time. I got
out of physical drill this morning on that account.
Our tents were struck and aired for 6 hours to-day
and the camp looks like an African market square.
Captain Poate lectured this morning on circulation
during drill hours and I regret saying I went to sleep.
I am expecting Will in Sydney from Africa at any
moment. I have been worrying about Bert lately as
there is a good lot of news about town written from
his party. I was "Mary Ann" (mess orderly) to-day -
it is a rotten game. There seems to be something
doing right through the interval, and ^as we have several
loafers in the tent it is disheartening.
8th September, 1914. I caught the 7.30 boat for
Manly and came home by the 11.35 arriving in camp
at 1 o'clock. My head was aching badly from
vaccination. Met W.T.B. in the Corso. No 6.30
physical drill. All hands on fatigue work, cleaning
up the lines, etc. The morning went by slowly,
marching, and with stretcher drill. Breakfast on
cold tinned beef. Same stewed for dinner. Drill
and bandaging in the afternoon. Camp at 4.40.
I went up to Bondi, did some shopping and came back
to a party tea. Two Manly girls - Doris and Vera
Childers - brought tea and I enjoyed it immensely.
Roll called at 9.50 p.m.

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9th September, 1914. Roast mutton for dinner today.
Yesterday we had tinned beef, cold for breakfast and
made into stew for dinner. The usual bread and jam
for tea. The Commander is tightening up all leave
and it is going to be very difficult to procure any
further time off. The fellows have, as fellows
always will, abused the good privileges afforded them.
We appear to be sailing in about four days' time.
A quantity of gift clothing was distributed today.
It seems to me that the average man has, with all
his years of civilisation, raised himself but little
above an animal, as when these clothes were given
out their eyes were as those of a begging and anxious
dog. Brother Bill called at the camp. He just
arrived by the "Benalla" from Africa. I had dinner
at the Grand Central with Bill. He looks very well
indeed. Camp at 9.45.
10th September, 1914. We are having trouble with
our tent orderlies, as our camp contains several
loafers. Lewis and 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 and at Manly. I opened an account
in the Bank of North Queensland at Manly depositing
£5. We are all at sea regarding the day of our
departure from Sydney and wild rumours are being
circulated. I have been transferred from the
"Bearer" section to the Transport which is harder
and longer work.

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11th September, 1914. I am very tired today having
worked hard and raced away at dinner time with Fritz
and did some shopping in the city. At 4 o'clock I
rushed away again and bought a camera from the
Editor of the "Sydney Mail" with ½ doz. films for
£3.3.0 (10% off). The camera looks very fine and 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
10 o'clock.
12th September, 1914. General leave was granted
from 12 to 12 today but I remained on duty so as to
get away another day. Fritz and I went up to town
at 7.30 and to the National where we both went to
sleep and left at half 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 it did
come down heavily so I went over to Sponza's and
slept there, Our tent was in a hell of a mess -
all under water. Bill went back to Brisbane today.
He has been here three days. The language one hears
in our camp and all around the place is vile and
noticeable amongst the empty-headed young fellows
mostly.
13th September, 1914. It is raining, in fact it has
not properly stopped since last night so everything
is very miserable today. 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 some benefits and go
thoroughly into First Aid work.

-8-
I left Sponza's at 4 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 butthe transport section marched
to Church today.
14th September, 1914. I have been shifted away from
the horses back to my old section, the "Stretcher
Bearers". I am so glad to 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
leeway to make up. I regret more and more the fact
that I am not in the real fighting line instead of
buggaring about with Ambulance work or "linseed
lancers". There is always that doubt but what a
fellow is likely to be termed a "quitter". Leave
from 2 until 12. I went up town and on to Manly
returning by the 10.15 boat.
15th September, 1914. This is the third wet day
we have experienced. 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 or bottom side of the country, then
a trench, or flues, say 8 ft. long, 72 ins. wide and
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 dirt.
Breakfast in the rain this morning was the very
devil, and I am Mary Ann too. It rained throughout.

-9-
16th September, 1914. I went with a six-horse lorry
down to Circular Quay. The drivers drove postilion-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 coming summer. This was a cheerful
drive as this crowding of men in camp is so rude
and vulgar that I long to get away. Arthur Hollingworth
called for me and we went into town. I called on Cis
Sponza on my return.
17th September, 1914. 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 perhaps not so hard as it is depressing.
I can sleep well on the ground nowadays and as I
usually have tea away from the camp the grub is passable 

but though it is plentiful and wholesome there
is a miserable sameness about it.
18th September, 1914. No early physical drill this
morning on account of the weather. Sergeant Bullmer
and Harrison, the storekeeper, 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 be done twice more.
19th September, 1914. The weather seems to be breaking. 

I applied to Sergeant Neve for leave and got