Sunday, 5 April 2009

August 3rd and 4th, 1914

August 3rd Monday

Major Burnett then spoke to us and said that serious things had occurred and in consequence, we should be confined to barracks.  Then we all laid down to sleep on some coconut mats, making ourselves as comfortable as possible under the circumstances feeling tired and hungry.

In the morning we were told that we were mobilized and were given 100 rounds of ammunition each, and also had what little food there was to be had, which was a leaf each, ¼ pot of jam and water.

 

August 4th Tuesday

 Shortly after 12 midnight we marched through the city to Waterloo Station again with as much secrecy as possible, but still crowds of people lined the streets to see us depart.  We entrained at 1.30pm and were sent off in different directions, batches of men being dropped at each station en route to a distance of 60 miles. 

I was put off with some 50 others at Bentley Hants, about 45 miles S.W.  There 5 finished that nights rest on a platform seat.  We took over control of the railway at 8.00am.  Sentry groups and outposts were sent out on trolley cars as far as Alton (M line) and Borden (B line) I had to stay on the station and do guard over Property.

2 comments:

  1. This is great Dan. Really great. So did your Great Grandfather write all this down in a paper journal or something?

    James

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  2. Hey ya James, yep. I have 5-6 small diaries. The first parts my Uncle did and so I'm adding that and then there's a lot, lot more to go! :)

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