December 19th to Christmas Eve 1914

December 19^th Saturday

Off guard at 9.30am. Paid 7/- and waited for dinner. Directly afterwards all of us crossed the harbour by ferry, all happy as sand boys up to any devilry. Went round the bay and bought various little odds and ends. Finished the evening in the wine shops.

December 20^th Sunday

On guard as usual, know my beat like a book, also regular passers by. Prisoners have a singsong, supposed to be Kaiser’s b’day and did not pack up till 2.00am.

December 21^st Monday

Off duty at 9.30am, as there was nothing to do all day, Gael and I went down to the docks and looked over some of the warships being repaired there.

December 22^nd Tuesday

Usual guard again, Maltese are building us stone guard rooms, to replaced the damaged tents. Raining cats and dogs, but we managed to keep a bit dry.

December 23^rd Wednesday

Off at 9.30am. Small mail in, I got a parcel from home and a few letters, also another parcel from Mrs Causton.

December 24^th Thursday

Christmas Eve. On No 5 Guard this time. In the middle of English quarter a Scots woman gives us some jugs of cocoa to warm us up. Germans have another night of revelling. Their hard lot does not seem to trouble them. The natives stay up all night and march all round the town, singing accompanied by banjos and violins.

December 15th - 18th 1914

December 15^th Tuesday

Off guard at 9.00am. Had a rifle inspection 1 hour later. Could do as we pleased for the rest of the day. So made a tour of the town and shops.

December 16^th Wednesday

Same guard as before. Nearly all 3^rd Batt men are Prisoners baggage guard. 200 cartloads came in. Sure sign that the Navy is still knocking about. Rained hard during the night and got drenched to the skin. We are worse off than the prisoners who have better food and beds.

December 17^th Thursday

85 Prisoners, Germans, Turks and Austrians brought in, but majority are Germans off a liner. Have got the Commander and some of the crew of the ‘Exden(tbc)’ here. Unlucky again, not relieved till 6.00pm.

December 18^th Friday

On at the usual guard at 9.00am. Am quite used to my post on gate now. The English people here lend us newspapers. A characteristic Eastern evening, myriads of stars, lovely and cool.

December 10th - 14th 1914

December 10^th Thursday

All of us were attached to ‘C’ Coy. Marched to Vendala, under Capt Ving Bariles in 4 hours. Just missed a guard that night. C Coy Colour Seraf breaks his leg. We relieved ‘H’ Company and will do guard on alternate days with the 3^rd Batt. Established myself in No 1 Room St Pauls Bastion with Buglers Jul and Reullier. First time we have ever been in barracks.

December 11^th Friday

20 of us under Lieut Lang escorted 26 German and Austrian Prisoners from compound to a French warship and handed them over to the Froggies. Maltese hiss and spit at prisoners.

Changed our quarters to St Johns Bastion. Settled down with L/Cpl Bruce and Pte Galé. Proper beds to sleep in. Mattress, pillow, 2 sheets and 3 blankets. Have got 2 rooms to ourselves.

Racks, lockers, table forms, lamps and fireplaces in fact everything necessary.

December 12^th Saturday

Mounted guard at 9.00am and relieved 3^rd Batt men from No 4 Exterior Sentry group. Life sentry. Don’t think there is any chance of escape for Prisoners. Orders are ‘shoot on sight’.

December 13^th Sunday

More Prisoners came in, so were unfortunate and did not get relieved till 2.00pm. Washed and changed and then went out to enjoy ourselves in Gospicun. Plenty of English people.

December 14^th Monday

On No 6 guard this time, which is on the other side of Compound and much better. All of enclosure borders the town so we slip off to shops when nobody is about. Made friends with English folk. Prefer this place at any time.