Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 7]
words were - "Au Revoir, dear lad - smile, smile once before you go - it's a long way to Tipperary, but you'll come back again." I gazed a long time at her dear features, as she bravely smiled herself, and I somehow got a firm impression that I should indeed come back home again. On the 20th as we passed Watson's Bay at six in the morning - looking towards my home, I could see my people waving farewells, and I heard my Mother's "Cooee" across the Bay. In the endeavour to get a better view of them, I climbed up on one of the cross poles, breaking my wristlet watch in doing so. I tell you straight, there was a very big lump in my throat as my home got lost to sight. I felt as if someone had suddenly died, and that I had been left absolutely alone without a friend. But I also felt that I was a Soldier, starting out on the great adventure of my life, so I sat back and told myself things.
Our departure was very quiet indeed, no public demonstration - no fuss - and that is how the 1st Australian Division left good old Sydney Town, for active service bent. We passed through the old headlands, and were soon travelling along at 13 knots an hour. Our time for the next two days was taken up in settling down into our separate places and other duties, parading on deck with hammocks, blankets, etc.
23rd.
Had a little excitement today in watching two whales, one of which was spouting water several feet up into the air. Some of us had been wondering as to what Escort we were to have, when suddenly at 6.p.m., a Man of War Boat was sighted, and a general ripple of comment went round. It was not long before the Doctors and we A.M.C. men were wanted, and we soon had some patients -