A WW1 Soldier’s Diary

July 21st. 1916.

We rose at 6 am . to find that the sea had calmed considerably and many bright faces were seen and good breakfast eaten and hopeful prospects of moderate weather- our boat was now steaming W,S/W by W and therefore deprived herself of the privilege of making it awkward for us to pick our way along the deck- in fact, the old tub maintained such an equilibrium that the infantry and tunnelers re-enforcement’s were able to carry on with physical jerks and rifle drill from 9am till noon. I can’t resist to repeat the fact that the variety and quality of our meals are excellent – curry and rice, bread ,butter,jam ,cheese & tea for dinner who didn’t satisfy their now returning appetite with beef,potatoes,swede,turnips,plum duff & sauce, also onion pickles, so what more could a soldier want? There is only a small copper in which they produce the stuff . The limited means of obtaining hot water seems to me the only defect in the line of kitchen business- as soon as we get he water anyway we set to work to wash up- hang mugs up on the hooks provided, place the plates in the racks, polish knives and spoons with a patent cleaner, wash down tables and seats, sweep floor and mop up any dust etc. which may be left. Tidiness is essential and Mess Orderlies have power to order any man to place his things in their various compartments allotted to him for them. Until 11 o’clock is given for all washing,cleaning and tidying up and when that time arrives an inspection is carried out by the Captain of the ship, the O.C. of the troops, and the ship’s doctor , accompanied by Mate, Orderly Officer & Orderly Sergeant. They are very strict with their job and are quick to detect any dust or matches perhaps cunningly secreted behind the legs of a table and so-forth. It amuses me the Captain or Doctor notices something out of order and gravely refers it to the O.C. who turns immediately to the Orderly Officer following him up and points out the interruption, this official does the same thing and down the complaint goes through the Orderly Sgt. to the Mess Orderlies who are sternly admonished for the offence which is instantly removed and the Orderly Sgt. starts the report of the reparation up the ladder until it reaches the Head who inspects again the fault and if he is satisfied – away they file off like a string of beads. We’ve got till 12,15 to get things ready for dinner, have a wash and attend to out toilet generally and the same proceeding for dinner is gone through as at breakfast- we get the afternoon free. Tea comes to pass at 5pm. We generally get a ration of stewed apples to set that going and when that is over and utensils washed we have finished for the day. It rained the best part of today and consequently there was no parade for the troops- but take it all through , the orderlies have the best time of it as the sooner they get their work done the more time they have to themselves- they don’t have to parade on deck and they miss all guard, fatigue and police duties. I don’t think I mentioned before that we were lucky enough to land a piano on board from somewhere and tonight I was trying a thing or two on it- not long after the fellows began to settle down around and we had a real good time, Bull& Bush, Old Apple Tree and those old timers – they roared them out with much noise- but they were enjoying it. The Captain Chaplain had done his best to get up a concert which went off alright- voices of all sorts and songs as well. the wind has gone down a bit and the old boat seems to be getting along alright but very slow doing about 10 miles a day and has her head turned a little more to the north. I wonder if we will call into any Westralian port- I don’t think we are somehow.
I wonder if my little wife has got home, I am imagining she is and everybody buzzing around to see to her comfort- and how is the son? How does he like his new quarters? and here I am getting further away every moment.