Lewis war diary, August 1917-March 1919 / James Ray Lewis - Page 21
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[Page 21]
Chapter IV "Sailing"
We are to sail there is no doubt about it now. On the 27th of October our kits were handed in, and our names have been posted as sailing, and we are ready to go Old men, youngsters, & adventurers, patriots, asses, by asses I mean those who enlisted because they were [indecipherable] without a thought of anything. All going over to the holocaust in Europe, that necropolis in which many will stay for aye & ever. Who will not say there is a fate moulded on our former actions. And Pte L- what of you I know not "J'espoir". It is morning now, when we leave England it will be sunset & may it be golden like our own sunsets.
On Wednesday morning the 31st of October heavily loaded with packs and in early morning at 3 oclock, we boarded the train at Liverpool for Sydney. The embarkation was supposed to be secret but everyone seemed to know, for they lined the streets nearly all the way in Sydney as we marched from the train to the ship. After boarding the ship which was known as the "Euriprides we were towed out into the harbor