Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 8]
Wednesday
June 19. 1918 - Day of Embarkation
Left Liverpool 11.50 & arr Sydney station at 5 to 1 numerous halts apparently without reason: Soon ascertained troops were with difficulty proceeding in single file - decided to march in pairs by joining hands but owing to numerous halts abandoned scheme. At 2.20 I was still in eddy avenue. Here saw Ivy Ormsby & later Nina Kelly. Before passing into George St saw one whom I was glad to see & she walked in with me. All attempt to march in military formation having been abandoned We still wandered it was not even walking so dense & so insistent was the crowds. Everyone desired to shake ones hand. say good bye It seemed they were glad to get rid of us. To me it all seemed so much rot as these people yesterday neither knew of nor cared for me & yet today overflowing with sympathy & well wishes. If they thought so much of the soldier element they might have demonstrated it to the men during the period they were staying in Sydney prior to their embarkation. On Brickfield Hill met my mother & sister & walked with them on edge of crowd. Am afraid mum will break down so persuade her to leave me & afterwards rejoin me at St Mary. Route of procession is Eddy Avenue Rawson Place George St Martin place Moore St Castlereagh St Hunter St Macquarie St St Mary Rd St Johns Crescent to No 1 Warburton.
At Queens place mater & sister found me & I said goodbye for last time & moved away quickly with a heart filled nigh to bursting as can be well imagined - saw Mrs Crachers friend. Met Ben Price who informed me that two men one elderly was waiting for me suppose it to be Hawkins. At bottom also met Her & we marched together