Diary_1

39 Wrote Bill post on Friday in town.

boiling up tin today. Have to go & get truck signed over tomorrow about 10 AM. Was going on leave. Told Sam to put it off til Friday now. Bill Kerns was out with Agitant all day looking over new area near Mt Stewart. Rumour shift Friday may be right. No new recruits yet. Arm not so sore as previous innocculations.

Thursday June 11th about 8 on adm parade & work party of 20 went to Brigade today. No walkabout before breakfast. Just clean up. Bill Kerns on leave. New recruits expected. this morning. 9 pl is now 7 pl. 7 is 8 & 8 is 9 I am 7 pl driver now. Everyone shifted around I shifted Bills gear over for him dumped my own in truck. Maxwell told me about 8.30 we would not be getting trucks signed on today. Buzzed about for truck to go on leave with & then he told me the trucks were going to be signed over. Went round about 10.30 & got back at 12.30 from the sign over. Havent got licence. Capt Downs asked me

40 Letter from Mum.

this morning if I had it yet. He & Rich Greenway went out on rece today possibly of Mt Stewart area. New troops arrrived before dinner. From Boggabilla near Goondiwindi. Poor buggars. Parade about 2.30 PM to clean up a sports ground opposite Baths area. on road. I had sleep in front of truck. Saw Downs about my leave tonight. Champ to fix up in morning. Work party from Bgde came home after dinner. 1/2 holiday today & believe all other Battns in town to sports Bomber squadron to put on a turn too I believe. Supposed to be 2 subs in town too. Went to bed fairly early.

Friday June 12th Went to town got a hair cut first thing. Went to bank to get some money & had to get indentified Pay book would have been sufficient but didn't have it. Got Morrie Ross to identify me. Got money o-k. Saw Jack Sandlands in town he is in

41 boat shop at Canberra House. Was to see him at 12 AM & have a few drinks but couldn't find him. Went to pictures after dinner. Went round & saw Stan Shepperson at St Ritas. He was pleased to see me. Mob there offered me tea. also a bed for the night. We had a good old yarn. Went up to Ross' place about 8 p.m. Had a yarn there & Father Kelly came in. He is air force Padre. Very nice person. He gave me a lift to corner where trucks pull up. Was pleased to have met him. Came home lorry packed. Got to bed about 1 AM.

Saturday June 13th Told Stocker was over looking for me yeaterday He's in 31st. Am duty driver today. Party going in to Canteen today. Drove driver down & picked up rations 3 miles for any Ford of Toddies pretty good. To be issued

42 Letters from Doris & Marge also one of Gordon Duncan.

with Great Coats today but Q store too busy this afternoon to give them to "A." Coy Stuter came over tonight with 2 cobbers. Forget their names. One is Joyce Browns boy. Vick Mulldorf checked dates on Arms today. Put handle on cooks knife also soldered a hole up in one of their cookers. Hope to Christ I am out of this in a week or so. Old Gordon will be expecting me soon.

Sunday June 14th No walkabout after adm parade this morning. Battn parade as usual at 0835. Downs with dogs disease also Ponchillo. Sammy Wright done talking on Battn parade. Stopped at church parade. Andy Grant pretty crook told to stop at home & came down to tin hut. After adm parade the AASC chap gave a lecture on different

43 Wrote to Mum.

types of ammo from .455 revolver to 25 pdes. Very interesting. Trained men went down to ?ime Range & had a shot. Bill Moody had 200 rds for 9 pl. I had 9 shots. Came home about dinner time. Didn't do any washing today. Had a sleep after dinner. Jim Keddie woke me up. Half awake & Stuter came but he never woke me up. 5 pt won at football today 18 to 5. agains Artillery.

Monday June 15th Same procedure before breakfast. Went out training. Toddy & Rolley pissed off down the bush Darby & I like bloody fools stopped. Worked with Bill Moody & Edwards. The pardu was out all day. Nothing eventful happened. Had a game of crib with Darby Dick & Jock Rogers. Filled night in nicely: No word yet about getting out.