Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 14]
[18th October 1914]
A few days after this, we were ordered to hold ourselves in readiness to move at any time, but we did not place much reliance on it for we had had so many false alarms that we did not know (how) to take it but the morning of the 18th of October, broke dull & stormy, & as we formed up on the parade ground at 6.30. in readiness to march off it started to rain slowly, but we did not mind that for it seemed as if our wish was at last to be fulfilled, & that we were really going to move at last, the march through the streets was very quiet for they took us round the quiet the way so as to avoid the people, but before we reached the wharfs a pretty big bunch of people had
collected, & we had a job to get through them in places, they gave us all sorts of things, as we passed them, & there were a few tearful scenes, but they got us away well, as each company passed through the barrier, they were checked, & marched straight off to the ferry boat, & they lost no time in getting us over to the A.19. (Afric), by the time the last of the men were on board the streets & Botanical Garden's were alive with people in spite of the rain which was now falling fairly heavy but they were too late, & there was many a chap on the boat who they would never see again, & who no doubt was taking a last look at old Sydney