Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Dunolly and Betbetshire Express 1 January 1915.

First Expeditionary Force, ON BOARD THE TRANSPORTS.

…Among the letters was one from Private Andrew Rose, to his sister, written on board the S.S. Benalla, on which vessel there were others from Maryborough and Dunolly. The letter gives an account of the departure from Melbourne on October 19, and experiences onward.

"The experience of slinging hammocks was a novel one for the writer and others but in a few minutes the roof of our deck was covered with hammocks, and at 9 o'clock the bugle sounded 'lights out.' The call to turn out sounded at 6 a.m., breakfast at 7; a real scramble to have a wash before breakfast; salt water baths any time; drill from 9 to 11; beer parade after drill (3d a pint), one man one drink, but some men manage to get more than one. After dinner drill from 2 till 4 o'clock. (The writer was laid up for some days with a bad knee, and could say little of the trip to Albany. Doctor and nurses very kind and the food very good. A few men sea sick but on the whole well and enjoying the trip. One day in ten is duty day, when 60 men act as guards, sweepers, &c. A fleet of 14 boats arrived on October 28, New Zealand ships painted grey, four warships with them; 35 or 36 troop ships in now. All letters censored. Eleven men who broke leave were discharged. (A description of Albany is given.) On 1st November we sailed out, formed up into three lines, 38 troopships in all—28 Australian and 10 New Zealand—a sight not to be forgotten to see them getting into line. The sea rather rough and boat rolling, and some feeling squeamish but not greatly affected, but things are apt to go rolling about the deck. It is rather funny trying to drill and keep steady; when the roll comes, we all go in a heap. Within the tropics on 6th Nov., and cold sea baths are just the thing.

Sports on the afternoon of the 7th; very hot for the boxers; concert at night. On 8th, a funeral from the Euripides, with church service. Great stir over inoculation; petition sent in by a large number against it. On 9th another funeral on the Euripides. Great excitement; something doing today. Warship Sydney went off at full speed, also other ship, after a boat believed to be the Emden. 10th —Definite news and great excitement. Sydney put Emden out of action; Emden beached of Keeling Island; German collier sunk. The boys have made a song on the subject. 12th — Holiday, crossing the line Father Neptune appeared; a great time and plenty of water; Officers as well as privates went into the water; a good day's fun. 14th— Bad chops for breakfast. Men lined up and gave them a military funeral from promenade deck. 16th— Colombo presents a fine sight; the approach to it is nothing, and a stone breakwater is the only protection, but the town looks A1, some of the buildings are very fine, and the grounds near the shore are green and well cared for; it is a fine thing to see over the harbor at night with the search light. 17th— Natives were out to day in a bit of a boat hollowed out of a log; they made a bit of money by diving for coins thrown into the water, none of which they missed. Some fine ships in; several warships, Russian, Japanese, and British. We left in two divisions. 18th—We are making fair time, but Afric cannot keep up, so not going so fast as expected. 21st— Great stir this morning about 4 o'clock; our ship stopped suddenly, and the boat jumped about like a cart over a rough road. All the fleet had stopped, and lights were on the water; they were buoys that had been thrown overboard. A warship soon appeared at full speed; one of our boats was put out. It was a great sight to see the ship steam round our vessel just at daybreak. We found out that the Ascanius and Shropshire had a slight collision. We lost two hours, and the remainder of fleet caught up. A boat from the Shropshire bumped off; thought at first men overboard. Saw hole in Ascanius as she passed us to take up her position again; nothing serious; soon left fleet behind. 23rd —Saw land this morning—a small island off Africa.' (The above are simply 'extracts from the letter.)