8th Battalion AIF Diary Found !

[Guest Flora]

Hi Rodney old sweats ,I have really loved readily ur grandfathers diary, it's amazing, my father was tk( Thomas Keddie) he never ever spoke about the was Only even once stating any man that's says he is not afraid at war isn't telling the truth,dad never attended a march even, every Anzac Day he just got out his medals and allowed us girls to hold, look at and take turns wear, dad's two best friends he enlisted with, all school headmasters were killed on landing gallipolli also. I remember dad just said god bless them on Anzac Day, mum told us their names , one was lietenant lightbody, can't remember other but they both had listings numbers either before or after dad , dad was 856 number I think. I was only 13 wen 2 war ended,dad kept under house trunk all his gallipolli stuff,dad dropped dead heart attack at age 60, suffered terribly his wounds,dragged leg etc,mum died 3 months before dad .WE WERE SO SHOCKED AT MY PARENTS EARLY DEATHS,AS MY BROTHER WAS ONLY AGED 10 ,HOUSE WAS SOLD, WE NEVER KNEW WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS TRUNK,HOUSE WAS DEMOLISHED 30 years ago for park to be made, I dream someone finds, but think it must been dumped in error,anyway see ur grandfather mentioned my dad a few times, such a joy thanks

DO YOU HAVE ANY PHOTOS AT ALL WE HAVE NONE, LOVE SEE SOME, COUNT LOCATE ANT AT WAR MUSEUM OF DAD EITHER

Old sweats please contact me via email address- 

THANKYOU flora keddie-daughter tom keddie

Wonder if ur grandfather knew my dad before the war as they both enlisted in country on ship benalla

Was ur grandfather a school headmaster also?

[Guest SailorSoldier]

My Grandfather was 547 Cyril Francis EASTGATE, 8 Battalion 1st AIF. He left Australia on the 'Benalla ', then to Egypt for training and then to an island to wait to go to Gallipoli. He landed at Gallipoli 25 April 1915 in the second wave. On the 16th May 1915 he was wounded in action, shot through the upper thigh/buttocks/pelvis and after the Greek hospital he sailed home to Australia on 3 September 1915 aboard HMS Ulysses and was discharged medically unfit. The sad thing in all of it was that he died aged 39 from his wounds(as per the Obituary Notice in the local Bendigo paper} leaving behind a very young family. The other thing to mention is that he was one of five brothers, all served in various capacities within the 1st AIF.

[Blackblue]

Hi Flora,

Hope you get this. This was on the internet.

Rgds

Tim

Link here:

http://empirecall.pbworks.com/w/page/45308550/Keddie%20T%20%20%20%20Sgt%20%20%20%20856

[Blackblue]

And brothers.

And...

[Blackblue]

There was a Private Robert Lightbody with the 8th Bn who was killed 11 August 1918, but he did not enlist until 1916.

Teachers around Thomas Keddie were 855 Private Campbell Peter, 858 Private James Roadknight, 859 Private McHarg McKenzie and 860 Private William Colvin. All were killed.

855 Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS)Campbell McDiarmid Peter, 8th Battalion, of Cobden, Vic. CQMS Peter was a school-teacher prior to enlisting on 18 August 1914. He embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Benalla on 19 October 1914. He received a gunshot wound to his right shoulder during the Gallipoli landings on 25 April 1915, and died from his wounds on 6 May 1915 at Heliopolis in Egypt, aged 20. Photo 1.

858 Lieutenant James Roadknight was commissioned and Killed in Action in Belgium on 12 October 1917 serving with the 37th Battalion. Photo 2.

859 Private McHarg McKenzie was Killed in Action at Lone Pine on 8 May 1915. Photo 3.

860 Corporal (later 2nd Lieutenant) William Colvin, 8th Battalion of Rutherglen, Victoria. A school teacher prior to enlisting, he embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Benalla (A24) on 19 October 1914. On 25 July 1916, he was killed in action at Pozieres, France, aged 23. He has no known grave and is remembered with honour on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, France. Photo 4.

[pompeyrodney]

Hi Blackblue

Do you know which schools any of these guys taught at as I would be very interested, as I believe my grand aunt taught at Mount Arapiles school at the time.

Cheers

There was a Private Robert Lightbody with the 8th Bn who was killed 11 August 1918, but he did not enlist until 1916.

Teachers around Thomas Keddie were 855 Private Campbell Peter, 858 Private James Roadknight, 859 Private McHarg McKenzie and 860 Private William Colvin. All were killed.

855 Company Quartermaster Sergeant (CQMS)Campbell McDiarmid Peter, 8th Battalion, of Cobden, Vic. CQMS Peter was a school-teacher prior to enlisting on 18 August 1914. He embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Benalla on 19 October 1914. He received a gunshot wound to his right shoulder during the Gallipoli landings on 25 April 1915, and died from his wounds on 6 May 1915 at Heliopolis in Egypt, aged 20. Photo 1.

858 Lieutenant James Roadknight was commissioned and Killed in Action in Belgium on 12 October 1917 serving with the 37th Battalion. Photo 2.

859 Private McHarg McKenzie was Killed in Action at Lone Pine on 8 May 1915. Photo 3.

860 Corporal (later 2nd Lieutenant) William Colvin, 8th Battalion of Rutherglen, Victoria. A school teacher prior to enlisting, he embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Benalla (A24) on 19 October 1914. On 25 July 1916, he was killed in action at Pozieres, France, aged 23. He has no known grave and is remembered with honour on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, France. Photo 4.

[Blackblue]

Hi Jules,

Long time no see. No, I think I just looked at their service papers at NA from memory. Perhaps a look at them and some Ancestry search will tell us more? I'll have a look again later on.

Rgds

Tim

[allyloua1]

Re my grandfather SGT THOMAS LEE HEARD KEDDIE

WOUNDED LANDING GALLIPOLII APRIL 25 1915

Any one have any photos at all of AUSTRALIAN 8th battalion

I can't find any

Or if anyone else relatives in my granpas battalion please contact me thanks beth

Email 

Thanks

[rksimpson]

HI

Lots about the 8th Battalion here - https://www.awm.gov.au/search/all/?query=8th+battalion+aif&op=Search&format=list&section%5B%5D=events&section%5B%5D=units&section%5B%5D=places&section%5B%5D=articles&section%5B%5D=books&section%5B%5D=people&section%5B%5D=collections&submit=

including photographs.

regards

Robert

[Guest]

Mate,

There is also the Book "Cobbers in Khaki" by Ron Austin, which is a unit history of the 8th Bn AIF during WWI.

Ron also did a book (unit history) on the 7th Bn AIF called "Our Dear Old Battalion".

S.B

[aussiesoldier]

Mate,

There are multiple listings on some very helpful sites that I have used before. Some have images and links to other helpful sites.

8th Battalion AIF - Digger History ANZACs Online - 8th Battalion Archive 8th Battalion AIF - Facebook People at 8th Infantry Battalion - RSL Virtual War Memorial

A previous thread called "8th Battalion diary found" started on 12 Feb 2005

Hope some of these help. Many have images. Use the battalion embarkation roll via the Australian War Memorial and search individual soldiers. I have done this and had some limited success.

[Neb-Maat-Re]

Hi Blackblue

Do you know which schools any of these guys taught at as I would be very interested, as I believe my grand aunt taught at Mount Arapiles school at the time.

Cheers

Hi. William Colvin taught at taught at Leongatha High School for some time in 1914 before going to Warragul High School where he has been commemoratedin their school newsletter: www.wrc.vic.edu.au/index.php/download_file/view/232/101/

William was my great-great-uncle.

[AnneD]

I have just recently discovered this thread and have read it with great interest.  My great uncle was in the 8the battalion and travelled on the Benala to Egypt. Your diary has given me such an amazing insight to my great uncles life.  His name was Allan Couper Robertson.  HE was killed at Nieppe Wood on 14th April 1918.  He is buried at Nieppe Bois British Cemetery, Vieux Berlin. I am going to France next year to visit his grave and that of his brother Roy who was killed on 3rd April 1918 during the battle of Dernancourt. He is buried at Millencourt.  

I have translated the Passport application if you still need it.

Republic of France

Visa Passport Application

1.  Name and first name-  Pitt (John Gibson)

 2.Date and place of birth- 13/2/1874   London, England

3. Address- Stuart Rd Thornton Heath Surrey England

4.Current Nationality-  British

5. Original Nationality

6. Travel patterns (plans)-  Go ashore during the stopover in Toulon

7. Length of stay in France- Duration of stopover

8. Places the applicant wishes to go to- toulon or Marseilles

9. Indicate the name and address of two residents of France-  British Consulate

 I also have a photo from the Australian War Memorial that has my great uncle and your grandfather.  I will try to find the link and send it to you.  There are two copies if the photo.  One with numbers written on each person and keyed to a list of names below.

kind regards

and thanks again for your fantastic work.

Anne

 

[AnneD]

Here is the link to the photo with the list of names.

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E01071/

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/E01071K/  This one has the numbers on it.

According the list I have your grandfather is the bottom right seated almost facing right.  My great uncle is front row third from the left.

The photo was taken 'men of the 8th and 6th battalions making their way under shellfire from the trenches near Railway Wood in the Ypres sector."

regards

Anne

[Guest]

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, Carps said:

Have just found this site, my grandfather served with the 8th Bn, he was originally with the 24th Bn 7 reinforcements, embarked at Melbourne on the 26th November 1915 for Egypt. On the 24 Feb 1916 he was transferred to the 8th Bn and arrived at Marseilles France on the 31st march 1916. I will read the diary fully soon. I too have a diary covering 1917 written by Charles and many photos. At the Battle of Poziers an the third day he was wounded and evacuated to England. He returned to the unit on the 10 Feb 1917 and back in to his old coy D. They were at the time near Fricourt Farm. You diary is a lot more detail than the one I have and will help fill in the gaps. Thanks very much, will do more as time permits.

[Old Codger]

Armidale,

 

"Has the character peering out of the 'tent' been identified?"

I doubt it,  but I have a UNsubstantiated theory on this bloke.

He looks 'African' and i imagine he could be a French-African soldier serving in the French Army.  Possibly seconded to the 8th Battalion as a batman perhaps, or catering assistant?

We will never know.

 

OC

 

[gareth morris]

Have just come across this thread started by @pompeyrodney 18 years ago.

What a fantastic story and one hell of an undertaking. I know from personal experience, as no doubt many others do, how hard deciphering some handwriting can be. The effort was well worth it.

I have to ask, did anymore material ever reveal itself from the loft ??

Although a bit late, the word that was being searched for re 15th Sept 1916 is "revetting".

One other query. Reading through the thread, the earliest entry that i can see posted is for boxing day 1914. However I get the impression that there are are earlier entries that were once shown, but now for some reason cant be seen. Can anybody advise how these can be accessed please.

 

From one Pompey Boy to another, well done and thankyou

 

 

[pompeyrodney]

Hi Gareth

I'm so pleased to get some positive feedback from you. There is indeed diary entries from when John sailed on the SS Benalla, I don't understand why you cannot see them, I will check visibility and get back you you.

Regards

Julian

[gareth morris]

Ok, thanks. 

[pompeyrodney]

Hi Gareth

Would you like me to send you the diary entries up to boxing day 1914?

[gareth morris]

That would be fantastic, just want have the full picture. 
either post here, or PM me. Don’t mind which. 
Thanks for taking the trouble to oblige, it’s much appreciated. Cheers 

 

 

 

 

[pompeyrodney]

Here is the missing portion for those that are interested.

Monday October 19th 1914

Sailed on troopship "Benalla", destination supposed to be England.
Tuesday October 20th
Off Portland. Glorious weather.
Wednesday October 21st
Sea still calm, saw whale and any amount of porpoises last night.
Thursday October 22nd
Calm as a duck pond.
Friday October 23rd
Raining this morning, saw a shoal of porpoises.
Saturday October 24th
6 AM Weather fine. Western Australia coast in sight, coast fairly rugged, two other ships in sight. 10 AM Lying off Albany, 4 other troopships around here. 9 pm 9 transports here now. 

Sunday October 25th
Anchored off Albany. No shore leave granted. Fresh transports still arriving. Church parade. 

Monday Oct 26th 

Albany. 22 transports here and one warship (HMAS Sydney) raining like blazes. 

Tuesday Oct 27th. 

Albany. Raining this morning, transports still arriving.
Wednesday Oct 28th. 

25 transports. 11am. 12 boats arrived today, 7 transports and 5 men of war.
Thursday Oct 29th. 

Still off Albany. Showery 

Friday Oct 30th. 

Pulled into wharf for water.1030 am. Battalion landed and marched through the town, which is a very pretty one. There are some huge granite boulders there. 

Saturday Oct 31st. 

Pulled out from the wharf and anchored in the old spot, Just as we were leaving a bugler rang out the "Fire Alarm" aboard the Africa which was on the opposite side of the wharf to us. Smoke was to be seen issuing from one of the holds and there was a good deal of excitement. It was only some bags smouldering however which was soon put out. 

Sunday Nov 1st.

Left Albany and its fine harbour today. 38 transports & their escorts including HMS's "Minotaur" "Sydney" & "Hampshire". A glorious sight with a bright sun and a calm sea. 

Tuesday Nov 2nd 

Supposed to have passed Lewin early this morning, no land in sight, steaming North West, looks like Suez route, boat rolling a treat, pretty rough this afternoon. 

Wednesday Nov 3rd. 

Heavy sea, several seasick. 

Thursday Nov 4th. 

Pretty rough last night, tinware rolling all over the decks. The old "Benalla" evidently knows how to roll. 

Friday Nov 5th. 

Still travelling north west. Getting warmer every day. 

Saturday Nov 6th. 

RMS Osterly passed us at 6.30pm full up with passengers. Within the tropics today, weather very sultry. 

Sunday Nov 7th 

Well within the tropics, a few flying fish to be seen. 

Monday Nov 8th. 

Misty rain today. One man died on one of the ships. Very close and stuffy. Church parade.
Tuesday Nov 9th 

"Sydney" puts the Emden out of action and captures German collier off Cocos Island. Flying fish in abundance. 

Wednesday Nov 10th

Still very hot, sea calm. Tucker poor. Eternal stew. 

Thursday Nov 11th

Thunderstorm last night, intensely hot,, nights very sultry especially below. 

Friday Nov 12th. 

Rain last night, nearing equator, celebrated crossing the line this afternoon, tank for christening, father Neptune and barber all on hand, ship drenched with water from end to end. 

Saturday 13th. 

Crossed the line about 4am, raining like fury. 

Sunday Nov 14th

Very sultry. Meat rotten, chained up, previous to military burial, very funny

Sunday Nov 15th 

Coast of Ceylon in sight, very mountainous, steamed through a fleet of native fishing boats this morning at 8am. 2pm arrived at Columbo, buildings appear to belong to the oriental. Warships of several nationalities lying behind the breakwater, English Russian Japanese and Australian. Anchored off the town, no wharf. Good revolving lighthouse, Church parade. 

Monday Nov 16th 

Columbo, intensely hot at daybreak. last night the lights on the various ships and the lighthouse, with the search lights on land and the warships, made a pretty sight. Much to our disgust no boats with fruit and veg allowed near the transports, colic feared, surmised that the plague is raging here. 

Tuesday Nov 17th

Columbo. Fleet of catamarans out fishing; these are very narrow native boats with an outrigger. Cingalese alongside today diving for coins, they are copper coloured. Part of the convoy sailed at 12 noon today. 

Wednesday Nov 18th

Sailed at 8pm last night from Columbo. Western Ghats, India, in sight 12am. 

Thursday Nov 19th. 

Magnificent sunrise, very sultry. 

Friday Nov 20th 

Very hot. Caught up to the first division of the fleet. 

Saturday Nov 21st  

A very sultry night, thousands of flying fish to be seen. Slight collision between "Shropshire” and "Ascanius", a hole in the bows of the latter, & a boat carried away and smashed. 

Sunday Nov 22nd

Still sultry, tucker poor. Church parade 10am. 

Monday Nov 23rd 

6 am. Socotra plainly seen. 

Tuesday Nov 24th 

Beautiful sunset last night, extremely hot. 

Wednesday Nov 25th 

Arrived off Aden 6 am. Barren rocky cliffs along the shore. No sign of vegetation, small town built on slope of a cliff, exposed to a glaring sun. 

Thursday Nov 26th 

6 am. Steamed out of Aden this morning, steaming close to the low and sandy shores of Arabia, passed through the Bab Al Mandab between Persia and Africa. Coast of Africa plainly visible. 

Friday Nov 27th 

6 am. Passed several rocky islets off the Arabian coast, a light on two of them. Intensely hot. 

Saturday Nov 28th 

Still frightfully hot. 

Sunday Nov 29th 

Informed yesterday that we were to land in Egypt "for further training". Disappointed. A cool change. Passed several ships going the other way. 

Monday Nov 30th 

Cool weather. African coast in sight tonight, mountainous and rugged. Lighthouse on a rocky islet. 

Tuesday Dec 1st

Running close to the high rocky cliffs of Africa. Arabia also to be seen. 9 am. Anchored off Suez. Flat roofs of houses to be seen. New Zealanders started off through the canal this afternoon. 

Wednesday Dec 2nd

9 pm last night entered the canal & passed through Suez, the town is built on the bank of the canal, it was like a "movie" to be gliding past the streets and houses, Indian troops guarding the canal, strong camel corps and lancers. Immense shallow lake on Egyptian side, this side is also covered with fine plantations of trees. The Arabian side is bare of vegetation. Passed French mail boat. Now immense swamp on other side of the canal. 11am. Arrived at Port said, which is crowded with shipping. Hundreds of tons of salt to be seen. 

Thursday Dec 3rd 

Passed through to the mouth of the Suez into the Mediterranean. Anchored off Port Said, a fine large town , good buildings built on the bank of the canal. 

Friday Dec 4th

Off Port Said. Lovely weather. 

Saturday Dec 5th 

Left Port Said at 6pm last night & arrived off Alexandria at 6 am, entering the harbour at 11am. Crowded with shipping. Now in the land of the fez and turban. 

Sunday Dec 6th

Alexandria. Still lying in the harbour, thousands of sea birds around the ship. 

Monday Dec 7th

Still in the harbour, beautiful weather. 7 weeks today since we left Melbourne. 4 pm. Pulled into the wharf. Alexandria appears to be a fine large town with good buildings. 

Tuesday Dec 8th 

Part of 8th Battalion entrained for Cairo today, raining like blazes. 9pm entrained for Cairo. Niggers, cattle with humps, dates, maize, mules, black sheep, rich flats. Arrived at Cairo 7 pm. 

Wednesday Dec 9th 

After messing about until 11pm last night we took trams and went out to Mena, 10 miles distant, situated at the foot of the Pyramids. Camped on the sands, no tents, cold night. The tram ride yesterday was through the fertile valley of the Nile. Every piece available is under cultivation, & there are absolutely no fences. The plough is still the old wooden affair drawn by Oxen with humps on their shoulders. It is sheep comical to see a big burly Egyptian mounted on a small donkey, his feet dangling near the ground, they also pile immense heaps of green stuff on their backs, until it appears like a moving mass of grass. Camels and mules are also employed on the farms. Black sheep graze here and there. Cotton is grown in large quantities, also sugar cane & rice. Date palms all along the line, tomatoes in large patches. The land is all irrigated.The pyramids are built on a high ridge, & the foundation is limestone, with a mixture of shells. 

Thursday Dec 10th 

No tents. Raining last night, the transport here is amusing, small donkeys & mules pulling heavy drays, with romantic looking drivers. Camels carting old sleepers for firewood. The pyramids are now devoid of their principal attraction, the mummies having been removed, only the bare chambers remaining; these however prove the ability of the mason that build thousands of years ago. Hundreds of niggers are employed here laying 4" pipes for the water supply, tents supplied at noon today. There is a professor from the Harvard University here who is carrying out excavations on an intensive scale. A complete burial ground is to be seen on the north side of the Pyramid de Cheops

Friday Dec 11th

Weather beautiful, niggers employed quarrying limestone from the ridge on which the pyramids are built. Egyptian fortune tellers & guides await us as we come up the ridge, the former are of course frauds, although very shrewd heads. Had a march today over stony ridges, some covered with water worn pebbles.

Saturday Dec 12th

Drilled, ate, slept in the sand, days becoming hotter.

 

Sunday Dec 13th

9 am Church Parade, followed by a route march around by the Pyramids. They are certainly immense constructions and cover acres of ground. The sphinx is a marvel of ancient sculpture, all the sand has been cleared from the base of it. The temple of the sphinx is made of very massive blocks of granite, one block measuring 16' long by 5' high by 5' thick.

Monday Dec 14th

Had a rotten day. to start with the water supply failed and the tea was awful, then 4 hours drill in the sand, which now rises like flour.

Tuesday Dec 15th

Weather getting warmer, another days drill in the sand.

Wednesday Dec 16th

Ditto

Thursday Dec 17th

Ditto

Friday Dec 18th

Sham fight.

Saturday Dec 19th

5 hours drill in heavy sand. Mail today. Went on evening leave to Cairo, electric trams run from the camp, the fare being 1 piasters (2.5 d) This is a strange country, one is passing palaces at one moment & ****** villages built of sand the next. A fine town, with a strangely mixed population, a large proportion of the whites being French and Greek. Had a hot bath at Sheppard's which is a splendid hotel, patronised in peacetime by the wealthy tourist class. Good feed at Greek restaurant, not bad four courses for 10 piasters..

Sunday Dec 20th

Church parade and route march for about 4 miles.

Monday Dec 21st

Another days drilling and playing the fool in the sand.

Tuesday Dec 22nd

Same as yesterday. Sand getting very fine and dry.

Wednesday Dec 23rd

Another big day on the sands.

Thursday Dec 24th

Christmas Eve on the desert, tucker pretty scarce.

Friday Christmas Day

A lovely morning. 9 am Church parade. Issued with 2oz Havelock and tinned fish and fruit. In the afternoon we, being duty company, I was told off to go to the Garrison Military police barracks with 3 other fellows and an NCO (Cpl Craven) to fetch out a couple of prisoners to the 6th and 7th battalions. Also went to the Citadel, a poor Christmas day.

[gareth morris]

Thankyou. 👍🏻

[pompeyrodney]

My pleasure, feedback welcomed.