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[Page 43]
The Machine Gun Sections are a credit to any Force. They have been placed under the charge of Captain Harcus, late of the Scottish, and Sgt. Major Marsden of the Musketry Staff, a man who highly distinguished himself at Hythe, and whom I had no hesitation in recommending for a Commission as Lieutenant. In addition to taking a keen interest in instructing these Sections, Marsden has invented a means of carrying the Machine Guns and Tripods by a canvas belt suspended from a bamboo pole, which are borne on the shoulders of two men each.
The whole of the men were inoculated against typhoid before leaving the Agricultural Ground, and on board ship they have been done a second time, also the whole of the Naval portion of the Contingent. In addition, all men who could not exhibit effective vaccination marks were vaccinated against Small-pox.
I consider I was very fortunate to secure the men I did to act as Officers. All the Company Commanders are experienced men who have had Military service, and have a great knowledge of the human nature. The Subalterns also are a good lot. Something like eight of the Officers were Area Officers, and I must express my gratitude to the District Commandant for placing no obstacles in the way of their appointment to my Command.
This letter is rather long, but I know the interest you take in details of this kind, and therefore realise that I shall not be wearying you.
Well, as you know, we got on board the Transport on Tuesday, 18th August, and sailed from Sydney Harbour on the following day. On the previous Monday His Excellency, Sir Gerald Strickland, inspected the Force at the Agricultural Ground, and he was also present at the wharf to see us depart for the dock. We cleared the Heads on the 19th idem at about 1-0 p.m. and arrived at Moreton Bay at 11-30 p.m. on the 21st August.
Before arriving at Moreton Bay I found on examination of the stores that there were no mess tins for the men, or Signalling equipment, on board the Transport. All this equipment was duly requisitioned for by me, and arrangements were made with the Ordnance Department to deliver same at the Ship in the Dock. The issue vouchers from the Ordnance Department contained full details of this equipment, but unfortunately the same has not been placed aboard the Ship. At Moreton Bay I telephoned from the Pile Light through the District Naval Officer, requesting them to apply to the Commandant at Brisbane for these portions of the equipment, but although I had two messages back enquiring whether the number of mess tins I had asked for, viz. 1,043, was correct, and the other message asking me the pattern of the mess tin I required, both of which messages I replied to at once, these articles were not sent down to the Ship and we sailed without them.
On the morning of the 26th instant, Captain Glossop of H.M.A.S. "Sydney" despatched a wire to Garden Island asking that the articles previously mentioned be placed on board the "Aorangi", or if that Ship had left Sydney Harbour, they be despatched by train to Brisbane and picked up there by the "Aorangi", so that I hope yet that these articles will arrive in due course.