Item 01: Eric Susman war diary, 1 January 1915-4 April 1916 - Page 62
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[Page 62]
Sunday 7 February 1915
I was a member of the Quarter Guard to-day – the first land guard that I have done since I joined the Force. I may mention Guard is not a very strenuous job usually (although you have to keep your wits about you). But to-day there was a lot of "presenting arms" to generals and other "heads", as a big ceremonial church parade was held. The massed bands play the hymns, and it took two of the twenty-two-and-sixpence chaplains to conduct the service. Generals Maxwell and Godley were present, and a march past was subsequently held.
To-night I put in a couple of the coldest two hours I have ever spent. I was on sentry-go towards midnight, and the cold was really "something to write home about". You can put your hand flat on the ground, and, it does not need a great deal of imagination to suppose that you are laying hands on a block of ice. Being a Sydneyite, these cold nights, after fairly warm days, do not in the least appeal to me or my exaggerated idea of comfort.