Item 12: Miles Franklin pocket diary, 1919

[The following is printed in the diary:]

Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal. - Awarded by the Government of Cape Colony with three Bars, to commemorate Services from 1880 to 1900.

The Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Oval). - A decoration frequently seen; was originated in 1830 by King William IV, and has been and is awarded to the present day to men who have served fifteen years in either Army or Navy and performed their duties with exemplary conduct.

D.C.M. - Distinguished Conduct Medal. - Was first issued during the Crimea to Officers and Men for distinguished conduct in the Field, and has been so used when the occasion merited it down to the present time.

M.S.M. - Meritorious Service Medal. - Instituted in 1845. Is awarded to N.C.O.'s and men of both Army and Navy who have rendered distinguished and faithful services.

"The 1914 Star." - "The 1914 Star" will be issued to officers and men of the British and Indian Forces, and doctors, nurses and others who served under Field-Marshal Sir John French during the first phase of the war up to midnight, November 22 - 23, 1914.

T.E.M. - Territorial Efficiency Medal (Oval). - Granted to N.C.O.'s and Men who have completed twelve years' service.

Soudan (1910). - This Medal was awarded by the Khedive to our troops who took part in the campaign of this date.

Chitral. - Originally issued in connection with the relief and defence of Chitral (1895), subsequently issued as an Indian General Service Medal; in 1908 another similar Medal was issued by King Edward as an Indian General Service award and carries a Bar for the N.W. Frontier.

[page number:] 7

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The Scout Law.

1. A Scout's Honour is to be Trusted.

If a scout says "On my honour it is so," that means that it is [italicised] so, just as if he had taken a most solemn oath.

Similarly, if a scout officer says to a scout, "I trust you on your honour to do this," the scout is bound to carry out the order to the very best of his ability, and to let nothing interfere with his doing so.

If a scout were to break his honour by telling a lie, or by not carrying out an order exactly when trusted on his honour to do so he would cease to be a scout, and he may be required to hand over his scout badge, and never be allowed to wear it again - he loses his life.

2. A Scout is Loyal to the King, and to his officers, and to his country, and to his employers. He must stick to them through thick and thin against anyone who is their enemy, or who even talks badly of them.

3. A Scout's Duty is to be Useful and to Help Others. And he is to do his duty before anything else, even though he gives up his own pleasure, or comfort, or safety to do it. When in difficulty to know which of two things to do, he must ask himself, "Which is my duty?" - that is, "Which is best for other people?" - and do that one. He must Be Prepared at any time to save life, or to help injured persons. And [start italics] he should do at least one good turn [end italics] to somebody every day.

[page number:] 8

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4. A Scout is a Friend to All, and a Brother to Every Other Scout, no matter to what Social Class the Other Belongs.

Thus, if a scout meets another scout, even though a stranger to him, he must speak to him, and help him in any way that be [he] can, either to carry out the duty he is then doing, or by giving him food, or, as far as possible, anything that he may be in want of. A scout must never be a SNOB. A snob is one who looks down upon another because he is poorer, or sho is poor and resents another because he is rich. A scout accepts the other man as he finds him, and makes the best of him.

"Kim," the boy scout, was called by the Indians "Little friend of all the world," and that is the name that every scout should earn for himself.

5. A Scout is Courteous: That is, he is polite to all - but especially to women and children, and old people and invalids, cripples, etc. And he must not take any reward for being helpful or courteous.

6. A Scout is a friend to Animals. He should save them as far as possible from pain, and should not kill any animal unnecessarily, even if it is only a fly - for it is one of God's creatures.

7. A Scout Obeys Orders of his patrol leader or scout master without question.

Even if he gets an order he does not like he must do as soldiers and sailors do, he must carry it out all the same [following in italics] because it is his duty; [end italics] and after he has done it he can come and state any reasons against it; but he must carry out the order at once. That is discipline.

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8. A Scout Smiles and Whistles under all difficulties. When he gets an order he should obey it cheerily and readily, not in a slow, hand-dog sort of way.

Scouts never grouse at hardships, nor whine at each other, nor swear when put out.

When you just miss a train, or someone treads on your favourite corn - not that a scout ought to have such things as corns - or under any annoying circumstances, you should force yourself to smile at once, and then whistle a tune, and you will be all right.

A scout goes about with a smile on and whistling. It cheers him and cheers other people, especially in time of danger, for he keeps it up then all the same.

The punishment for swearing or using bad language is for each offence, a mug of cold water to be poured down the offender's sleeves by other scouts. It was the punishment invented by the old British scout, Captain John Smith, three hundred years ago.

9. A Scout is Thrifty, that is, he saves every penny he can, and puts it into the bank, so that he may have money to keep himself when out of work, and thus not make himself a burden to others; or that he may have money to give away to others when they need it.

10. A Scout is Clean in Thought, in Word and in Deed: That is, he looks down upon a silly youth who talks dirt as a "ninnie," and does not let himself give in to any such temptation.

Trusty, loyal and helpful, Brotherly, courteous and kind, Obedient, smiling and thrifty, Pure as the rustling wind.

[page number:] 10

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A Sleeping-sack for Scouts.

On my visits to scout camps I have seen many kinds of sleeping-sacks, from the army pattern to a flour sack. There is one, however, which surpasses any I have ever seen or used. It is made as follows.

[Diagram of sleeping-sack with measurements]

First get your material - any odd pieces of flannel sewn together will do. Cut out the back piece A, which should be 6 feet 8 inches long (this will do for

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