Raymond Diary

Aug 31st Victoria Barracks and Lewis's at night. Isabel going away.

Sept 1st Victoria Barracks.

Sept 2nd Victoria Barracks and Down to the Patriotic Ball. Had a glorious time.

Sept 3rd Arrived at Barracks and found a telegramme calling me to Melbourne. Went home and went Back to Barracks to get £15 Outfit Allowance. (not Ready) Went and met Dezzie Hyde at Central (from Grantham) and took her home in car. left Hydes and arrived Back in Barracks and got money. Ida. Mrs Scot Fletcher. Florrie & Lilly Lewis & Marion Ward. (She gave me a Balaclava Cap.) Came up to say good bye. Packed everything up.

Sept 4th Left by Sydney Mail for Sydney. and have met some splendid people in the train have just passed Dalveen (Summit of the Range (3030) at 4.45 P.M.

Capt Anderson and was told to go to Adelaide by the train on the 8th. Went to St Kilda Beach for a tram ride. Very nice all kinds of amusement there. Went to a picture show arrived home about 11 o'clock. Read till 12.

Sept 8th Tuesday Went for walk in gardens and for a row on the Yarra and met Aunty Joe and went shops with her and Dennis at the Vienna Cafe Went out and saw Ena & her husband Harry Chambers. And left by Adelaide mail train at 4pm.

Sept 9th Wednesday Arrived in Adelaide and reported at once to Lieut Waite and during afternoon got kit from Station and was in uniform for tea. Went out with Lieut Richardson and saw some of his lady friends.

Sept 10th Thursday On duty and during morning took the columns at Battery March and in afternoon took them for a ride.

Sept 11th Friday. Took men at mounted Drill and at stables during afternoon and wrote some letters at night.

Sept 12th Saturday. Ordinary routine work all day and at night the Army & Navy Club gave us officers going away a right royal time and patriotic songs were sung.

Sept 13th Sunday. Church Parade during morning and enormous crowds came down during afternoon and I met quite a number of people and wrote letters at night. I met Mrs Mackie who is going to show me around.

Sept 14th Monday. Out mounted and had our photo taken with our pets a fox terrier and kangaroo and said good bye to the Tasmanian Boys. Went to dinner with Mrs Mackie & her son and Scott. to Jackmans and afterwards at the pictures with her two daughters had a good time.

Sept 15th Ordinary routine work is being done and drawing out pay sheets and doing no 9's for clothing etc. Went into Adelaide to a send off from the old Battery Boys and had to reply to a toast of our adopted brother officers. Quite a nice affair and quite enthusiastic.

Sept 16th Fixing pay sheets. Battery drill and during afternoon swim at Glenelg baths and cleaning harness etc during afternoon and writing to Dez & Lily and sending photos to them and home.

Sept 17th Thursday Wrote letter home and took horses out for exercise. Went into the Wondergraph Picture theatre to see some war pictures with Mrs Mackie who calls me her adopted son.

Sept 18th Friday & 19th Saturday Ordinary routine work and writing letters. Cleaning up camp for Sunday's inspection.

Sept 20th Sunday Was on ordinary officer duties worse luck. A [huge?] crowd in the afternoon Mrs Mackie & family looking after me as usual. Stayed in at night.

Sept 21st Monday Ordinary routine work and went at night to the 40 thieves at the Theatre Royal with Lt. Richardson & Miss Allen. Was not a bad show but not as good as in Brisbane. Route march through Adelaide. Very unenthusiastic crowd.

Sept 22nd Brigade drill and horse exercide in afternoon. Went to bed early.

Sept 23rd Wednesday Ordinary routine work and went to the Wonder Graph Pictures to see the route march. Quite a failure and took Mrs Mackie & family a [summer?] party. She gave me some Queensland bananas.

Sept 24th Thursday Still not gone and a rotten cold comming on. Went out to Mrs Mackie's house had a good time.

Sept 25th Friday Made out my pay book and opened an account in the Commonwealth Bank and wired £9 to Harry.

Saturday Sept 26th Got all stores that could be spared down to the medic and the waggons on lone back to the Ordance. [Are] last night of leave for the men