Diary_1

20 tea. Heck got quite acquainted with people of house. He had a good yarn. Had a game of cards in back soon after ten. Bill Sid & self. Ray Roberts read books. Heck inside. about 8.30 Andy Grant came informed us Downs looking for us. We all to withdraw at 9.30 pm. Heck quite upset. Packed up & put gear in Pl truck. Gathered rest of platoon. together. A couple of lads A.W.L. Snodgrass & Walder. Got back to Bivouack area about 10 pm. Francis in trouble with his gear coming home. I carried his blankets & Bill Kerns his rifle. I am in tent with Zackrisens E & R. Blue Joy. & Allan Fraser & Bill Kerns. Went to bed about 20 to 11.

Thursday May 21 Out at 6.30 a parade. Breakfast a bit light on. Downs gave us a lecture after breakfast re duties & leave. Still day leave & a possibility of home leave again. Done nothing all morning. A bit of brushup on bren Tommy & a bit of goss. Had a bit of a lecture from Heck on some pamphlets he had quite interesting. We went for a stroll round area about 3.30pm. Tea pretty good. Had beer at

21 dinner time. Informed us at 6.40 pm that we had to go on a patrol. Went out & stopped talking to Yank at search light & came home Picked Snodgrass up this afternoon he reconed he knew nothing about withdrawal last night. Went to bed early.

Friday May 22 A new [dodge?] this morning woke us up at 6 sharp. At administration parade they bunged on a turn of rifle drill till 7.15. A bit of gas for awhile after breakfast. About 9.15 they decided to send a man to each section area. I went down to 8 pl Saw a Catalina land also an Empire Flying boat. Nothing doing much all morning just read a book. Was releaved about 1.30. Had a bit of dinner & fell in again. Went for an observation march all round the North Ward. Got paid about 3.30. They only gave us to the nearest note in money i.e. I got £4 instead of £4-4. The silver is short in the town. Had a shower & a shave & a pot of beer. Am on guard tonight 4 - 6 in morning.

22 To Manager Commonwealth Bank & Pass book To City Studio's with proofs for Mum Marge.

A rumour floating round that home leave back in again. I hope so. Went to bed about 10 PM. Had a drink of coffee & a sandwich John Price brought them.

Saturday May 23 12.15 A.M. routed us out of bed. The niggers advancing on Townsville. Got bren tripod & humped it round to Pl truck & got bren. Issued with 50 rounds & 2 magazines. Jim Anderson & Andy Grant one each. Climbed in to one ton trucks & they took us out to Ross River. 7 & 8 pls advance & 9 in reserve. About 1/2 hour later 3 bren carriers came out to act as spear head. & a road block. Just lay down alongside of road. About 3.30 they told us C coy had surrounded camp & everything was under controll. The tale was these niggers had taken over a Yank camp ammunition and all. Got home at 4 A.M Had a couple hours sleep & out. Never went on adm. parade. I done the cleaning up around our area. Spaghetti mince for breakfast

23 Letter from Marge Put letters in to Mr Haynes to be Franked.

it was pretty good. Went down on beach for the morning. Nothing exciting happened. Today a bunch of other NCO's under Darby Bucanan are training the lads on everything again. Dick Gabasa & Louie Veish are with them No dinner kept for us. If it was it was as cold as hell. Had a piece of ham & some bread Lads training at Show Ground. Went up a bit late. Bayonet training Tommygun & Bren for the afternoon. Darby bunged on a turn or two. Came home & had a beer. & then tea. Had a bath after tea & a shave. They approached Downs tonight to see if lads could go to the open air pictures at Park but he refused. Stopped in & read etc. Had coffee. Blue Joy bought some Sandwiches & cake Went to bed.

Sunday May 24 Adm parade & a church parade after it. Some of lads fell out as didn't believe in it. I was of two minds. Done washing & had an ice cream brick & then went & saw Mr Hayes if I could go

24 round to B.HQ to get registered letter. I got round to 26th & asked if they knew when it was they said no. Came back & John Prince picked me up in a Coy bike He had been round to BHQ. I was only about 400 yds off. Never went far enough. 26th lads Say they charge with us later. Had a sleep after dinner. Had tea. Lads went round to go on Brn guard tonight. H.Q. coy dress job. They came back. We are on tomorrow night. 51st Bren football team defeated Artillery 8.5 today. Nothing exiting hapening. A few aeroplanes fluttering round tonight. Bought some sandwiches & then had coffee & went to bed.

Monday May 25 ,- Nothing exciting before breakfast.Bfast a bit light on Got a cake from mum also Income Tax papers. The beggars socked me £12 and 15/- for state development. Must find out what it is for. Went over & done training again, today last day until next week. Nothing exciting all day. Heard rumour we shift about

Letter from Mum & cake