Diary_1

15 Wrote Mum & Marge.

barrel of rifle was pretty dirty. Went out to job. We had to improve the sleeping bays on Mt Bohle. Frank Trembath & I dug one a bit longer covered it with timber & grass & then dirt. I think they will be good for the goats there. Came down for dinner & worked on sleeping bays in pl [platoon] area. Carried some sticks & helped Ike & Ron cut others for two or three bays. Came home about 4pm. Am on patrol tonight. Had a couple of beers. So on patrol at 9pm I think. Went on patrol with Mr Cook. He didn't work it same as Mr Haynes tried to work arrow held country too close & broken for that. Route was round Mt Bohle & up far side of line of hills & back down creek at Bohlevale School & to Burdells & home. Got lost somehow & went completely round

16 Mt Bohle & back down road & through 9 Pl [Platoon] area & across to Burdells went about 1/2 distance. Lost a couple of men at 9 pl area & on road across to Burdells couple more pissed off. Got home about 12.30 got to bed.

Friday May 15th Sam advised me I could go on leave this morning. Got a lift to Aerodrome on gravel lorry & then picked up by Townsville Shire Councill lorry & got right to town. Got a hair cut & got photo taken Went to matinee & after that went round to Ross' place had a bit of tea there & left about 9.30 & picked up leave truck & came home it was very cold on road home Bought a pocket knife. A.I.F. open for AMF in paper this morng.

Saturday May 16th Coy parade this morning Out onto job & done some wiring all day Dannect mostly. Word came through we had to occupy position tonight. Went back about 6 P.M. to position. Took bren & mounting. Fred Stamp with me. Took it in turns to sleep up to midnight. although I didn't get much. Fred went on a patrol

Posted letters to Mum & Marge 15/5/42

17 Got a letter from Marge 16/5/42 also one from Commonwealth Bank - re 17/- cheque

about 10.30 p.m. Soup came out it was fair. Downs put Fred & myself through 3rd degree re friction fire of bren etc. It was as cold as hell no blankets etc carried. I had 2 shirts woolen jacket long strides on. Dud gave me 5 rounds for Bren

Sunday May 17th Got a couple of short bursts of sleep in before daylight. Fred slept fairly well in dugout. I covered it with leaves to stop breeze Breakfast came out about 7.15. Steak & spuds fair. Withdrew at 9 AM & came home. Had a look at an anti tank gun on way back No water to wash with when we got home Had a sleep before dinner. Dinner fair. Washed a few clothes after dinner & had a shave. Had a bit of a knap. & had some tea. Tea late wating on footballers. A Coy cleaned up. 6 A.I.F lads arrived tonight 5 corporals & 1 lance Jack. Seem to be decent lads. They Came from Hughenden. They were out there training the other lads. Am on guard tonight 6-8 - 12-2. Talked to 2 AIF lads in tent. Smith & Anderson

18 till eight & went to bed.

Monday May 18 Cleaned Bren after adminstr parade. Medical parade after breakfast. Just a show. He just tickled a man's nuts. Went out to job. Sat there about 10.30 AM. Done a bit of wiring low double apron. Done some more wiring after dinner. Finished about 3.45 & came home. Beer at 4.30. had 3. A.I.F. lads reverted to privates this morning They got equipment this morning & came out to job to look it over. A few of them on guard & night patrol tonight. No patrol went out last night. Was on me duties up to about 9pm & Peter Taylor came around & said I was to go with him on patrol of his men at 12 pm.

Tuesday May 19 Went out with Peter at 12 & came back at 1 A.M. nothing to report. Got my shells from hideout. Packed all gear before fall in at 8.15. Went out & finished wiring. Finished at about 11 AM. Got home for dinner. A registered letter for me at Post Office Went over after dinner to collect. No post

19 Got proofs from City Studio.

office open. Never done anything all afternoon. Put gear on trucks at about 4 P.M. had been & tea at 4.30. Loaded trucks went back to Batallion. We went out to job. Slept between mosquito bites at pits. 31st to take over at about 9.30 P.M. They arrived after 11 P.M. Rowdy mob. Had soup at north gate about midnight.

Wednesday May 20 Climbed aboard trucks about 1A.M. came into town. Unloaded gear about 1/2 mile from position. Sid Tullipan & I guards of gear. Gear picked up by Coy truck & taken to Bivouack area at 3 a.m. Unrolled blankets etc & had a nap. 4 A.M. shifted to Pl head quarters. Slept till about 7.A.M. Had breakfast & another sleep up to about 12 AM. Dinner. & went round to A Coy on bike & came back on truck. Went for stroll with Bill Kerns & collected arms 290 rounds. Had a couple of beers at Sea View. Came back had a shower & shave. Had a sleep again woke up for

Got a letter from Mum also pair pyjamas.