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[Page 10]
passed the West coast of Africa and some land but I could not find the name of it. Then we came in sight of France and it looked a beautiful place and all of a sudden the siren started to blow and all hand were up on deck as fast as they could get. But nothing could be seen only coast of France about 5 miles away when someone shouted look submarine so it was but it was a French one so it escorted us into Tulou [Toulon] Harbour. And I think with a good many more of the boys that it was the preetiest scene we ever saw the sun was going down and the Harbour in through two heads and a very big mountain rises right from the waters and all the houses are all red tiled roof and the sun was shinning on them and it made the place look so pretty. So we droped anchor amid stream for the night and alsorts of boats came around us for we were the first load of Australians to go into that port an we got some cheers from all directions. And we hung over the side of the boat till long after dark watching for what we could see then after tea we settled down to card playing at the mess tables And I was one of six playing snap and we played from 8 P.M. till 7.a.m. with out a stop and I won £7.15. then in the morning we went to sea again Along the coast to Marseilles were we landed on shore at 8 P.M. on the 29/3/16.
There was a rumour going arround that when Colonel Heane went and seen the Transport Officer they told him (The Colonel) to take the men ashore and put them in camp about 1 ½ miles away for three or four days. But the Colonel would not have it those men dont leave that boat until there is a train ready to take them to the war. Yone [?] Wether this is true or not I dont know. But I do know this that we marched off the boat up to the railway station yard and stayed there till the train backed in then we had about ¾ of an hours work loading the train with Rations for the trip and by the quantity that we put aboard we knew that we were going some distance. And the funny part of it was everybody was looking for the best things on the trip such as condensed milk and tinned Fruit. Well when you would get a case of that, [you'd] let it fall so it would break then put a few tins in our overcoat pocket then pass them to your mate in the carraige for safe keeping while we looked for more. When I finished carring I had 10 tins of milk and 4 of Fruit. at 11.15 P.M. we were all ordered aboard the train and at 11.30 on the 29/3/16 we started our trip where for we did not know And there was a lot of places mentioned. We had 3 class carriages they were much the same as the 2 class out here. And we had 8 in a compartment. Our first stop was Orange where we were met with the French red cross and they gave us coffee cakes and sandwiches and fruit and this was in addition to our Army ration. We stayed there for about half an hour then on again we went. We traveled through some very good and pretty country. I really forget the names of the Towns we passed through that day the 30/3/16. But we were on the main line from Parris to Marseilles. And on the 31/3/16 we passed through Lyons. And it was by Accident that we stopped there the line was blocked and our train was stopped just out side of the station. And off course the orders were nobody to leave the Train without permission. But we did not wait for that we were out of the train and over to the side of the railway which was built up over the town and the boys started to Coo-ee