frev Posted 14 March , 2005 Share Posted 14 March , 2005 Hi Jules, Hope you're not getting too frustrated with the deciphering - I'd really enjoy it (surprise, surprise) if you were to scan some of the original text for us to help with. I'm kind of glad it's slowed you down actually (selfish heh) - 'cos I've been off line for a few days (longweekend in Melb.) - and have come back to so much to catch up on (hope you're having a break at Easter!). October 7th John mentions his brother Arthur, then he goes on to mention many names, Eric, Ethel, Colin etc etc - do you know which ones were family, which ones were friends etc.? Nov 13th: A very good Pierrot? troupe here tonight. Don't know whether you were questioning whether it was the right word - which it was - or what it meant - from what I understand a Pierrot troupe put on a similar show to the Black & White Minstrel Shows. Nov 29th, Dec 4th & 7th: entrics Forgive me for being pedantic - but I think this would be enterics - as in those with enteric fever (typhoid). Don't despair if you don't find any more diaries - just remember how lucky you (& we) are to have found what you have. Cheers, Frev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frev Posted 14 March , 2005 Share Posted 14 March , 2005 I'm doing my own Grandfather's letters. Was also interested by the mention of the Southland as this was the troopship my Grandfather went out to Gallipolli on. Matt Matt, I probably should have PM'd you - but hopefully Jules won't mind me interrupting his thread. I was just wandering who your Grandfather was & what unit he was with, and whether he mentioned the torpedoing of the Southland in his letters? Cheers, Frev. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew King Posted 14 March , 2005 Share Posted 14 March , 2005 Again sorry to Julian for interrupting his thread, Frev My Grandfather, Lionel King, was in the 6th Essex Regiment, he travelled out to Gallipoli on the Southland between 24/7/1915 to the 11/8/1915. He doesn't mention the torpedoing of the Southland in his letter but I do have a diary of his trip on the ship on my website to him (see below in signature if interested). Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pompeyrodney Posted 14 March , 2005 Author Share Posted 14 March , 2005 Wonder what John meant buy 'old men' days? HI Frev and Marina Welcome back to the forum Frev, I have missed your insight into the characters involved. I have no idea what "old men" days may mean Marina, it may even be my interpretation of the words that are wrong. I must get myself a scanner so you can all see what I am trying to read, thanks for the offer by the way Frev. Sorry if there is a wait for the next instalment. Cheers Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Wills Posted 14 March , 2005 Share Posted 14 March , 2005 Nov 13th: A very good Pierrot? troupe here tonight. Don't know whether you were questioning whether it was the right word - which it was - or what it meant - from what I understand a Pierrot troupe put on a similar show to the Black & White Minstrel Shows. Pierrot troupes were staples of popular entertainment from the mid-1890s onwards. If you have ever seen 'Oh What a Lovely War' you may remember the pierrots performing a seaside pier show, but they also played variety theatres throughtout the year across the country. They wore what you might call an outsize baby costume; sometimes as an all-in-one suit, or as loose trousers and long loose top, decorated with pom-poms and ruffle collars, often surmounted by a conical hat, but usually in WW1 a scarf drawn tightly over the scalp. I will try to post a picture in due course. I agree with Frev about enteric fever, and going way way back in this lovely thread, I can confirm that Charles Knowles was an opera singer and I am trying to find some background information for you Julian; and the troopship you mentioned on I think page 3 should be the Minnewaska. Thankyou Julian. Keep up the RSI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pompeyrodney Posted 14 March , 2005 Author Share Posted 14 March , 2005 Hi Kate Many thanks for your input to this thread, have you read the rest of the diary as I am sure we would all welcome any feedback you are able to provide. Cheers Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Wills Posted 14 March , 2005 Share Posted 14 March , 2005 I haven't been around quite so much recently, but I am getting back into the groove once more, and your thread is the Forum at its best - a remarkable addition to our knowledge of the war from a man now dead, and the membership pooling their expertise and adding and amending as you throw them each new episode. Great stuff Julian, and the gang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pompeyrodney Posted 14 March , 2005 Author Share Posted 14 March , 2005 Wonder what John meant buy 'old men' days? Marina Marina I have sussed it, it actually said "Old Mena" days. Regards Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pompeyrodney Posted 14 March , 2005 Author Share Posted 14 March , 2005 31st Instalment Saturday June 3rd Tent commanders paraded at 6 o’clock and told that in future reveille would be at 5.30. Roll call 5.35 and parade 8.30 for BR. Lecture on the care of arms, loading and unloading smoks. Bayonet fighting and company drill by an absolute ass of an officer. In camp 2 o’clock. 2.45. Parade for the purpose identifying men marked as missing. 6 o’clock. Parade to end with specially prepared trenches, and reir arredon then for almost 2 hours. Back to camp 8.50. Sunday June 4th Reveille 5.30. Duty company today. 7.30 Depot 2 M fatigue went down to Etaples and helped to load all the stores for the depot unloading 2456 loaves of bread. Back in camp 2.30. Nothing doing in the afternoon and evening. Hospital train passed here full up. Monday June 5th Reveille 5.30. Parade 8.15. Marched out to the bull ring and had just taken up our positions when it started to pour with rain and the No Parade sounded midst rousing cheers from the boys. Returned to camp. Parade 2 o’clock. It has been blowing like fury all the morning and the dust from the sandy soil is horrendous, in fact blinding. Skirmishing charging and bayonet fighting. In camp 5.30. About half an inch of sand all over us. A wild night, blowing like fury. Tuesday June 6th Parade 8.15 with the BR. Rifle exercises and judging distance. Raining all the time. About to go, the “No Parade” sounded and we made back to camp. The other boys went on a route march to Paris Plage in the afternoon and got back about 6.45. Played cards in the afternoon. A batch of officers left here for the line this morning. Wednesday June 7th Left here at 8.45 for the rifle range which is well back in the scrub about 3 and a half miles away. It is a small range. As I expected I put up a very poor show, but managed to scrape through without causing any enquiry to be made. Left there about 12.30 and got to camp about 1.45. News of the sinking of the “Hampshire” with Lord Kitchener and his staff onboard. The “Hampshire” was one of the escorts to the 1st division from Australia. A batch of about 1500 men arrived in today from Egypt. Thursday June 8th Parade 8.30. BR 9 o’clock. Trench tom. Bomb lecture. Smoks. Skirmishing and bayonet fighting. In camp 2 o’clock. Another –-afs from Monpekder? got here about 3 o’clock. About 40 2nd brigade. This makes things better. 5 o’clock left camp for the town and was surprised to find that it was quite a decent sized fishing town and decidedly interesting though very dirty. Had a good look round. In camp 11 o’clock. I know June 3rd was in the last instalment but I missed off the last line !!! Regards Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marina Posted 14 March , 2005 Share Posted 14 March , 2005 '-afs@ cou;ld he mean 'draft'? marina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew King Posted 15 March , 2005 Share Posted 15 March , 2005 Julian I was wondering what you intend to do with your master copy when you finally finish the transcribing. I reckon you should publish it on a website with extra links to the addition information that fellow pals have contritbuted to the background story. It something I am trying to do with my Grandfather's letters but the detail you have in your Granddad's diary is exceptional, you definatly need to do something with the completed item. Keep up the good work Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pompeyrodney Posted 15 March , 2005 Author Share Posted 15 March , 2005 Hi Matt It is a great idea to publlish the diary to a web site which I would certainly consider doing. The only thing is I would not really know where to start. I have not done any web site creation before but I do have Frontpage on my work computer so I could create it at work. If you have any advice you might be able to give me it would be much appreciated Matt. Cheers Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew King Posted 15 March , 2005 Share Posted 15 March , 2005 I'll start a thread on the off topic forum about web design and see if any pals can give suggestions. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest UNCLESPUD Posted 15 March , 2005 Share Posted 15 March , 2005 Great work that you are doing Julian, I have been reading with great interest. I got on to this site trying to follow up on the 8th Battallion AIF. I have a photograph of the 18th Reinforcements 8 th Battallion in near perfect condition, I will try to scan and load later. I think my Great uncle Edwin Meade is in the photo but have not identified him. Waiting to show photo to an elderly Aunt who was his niece. Keep up the good work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pompeyrodney Posted 15 March , 2005 Author Share Posted 15 March , 2005 Cheers Matt that would be a great idea. I have web design software at home that I could use, I would jus have to find the time !! Thanks for your help Matt. Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pompeyrodney Posted 15 March , 2005 Author Share Posted 15 March , 2005 Great work that you are doing Julian, I have been reading with great interest. I got on to this site trying to follow up on the 8th Battallion AIF. I have a photograph of the 18th Reinforcements 8 th Battallion in near perfect condition, I will try to scan and load later. I think my Great uncle Edwin Meade is in the photo but have not identified him. Waiting to show photo to an elderly Aunt who was his niece. Keep up the good work Hi Unclespud Welcome to the forum, it is nice to receive some fresh input and all your comments are welcome. Cheers Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frev Posted 15 March , 2005 Share Posted 15 March , 2005 Jules, A website - that'd be great. Matt, This may sound terrrible, but I was hoping your grandfather might have been on the 'Southland' when it was torpedoed - lucky for him he was on the trip before. I checked out his diary & the website in general - you've put together a wonderful tribute to him - I'm sure he would have been proud. Jules, Part of the extra line you added for June 3rd has me stumped - ......., and reir arredon then for almost 2 hours. ...... ?? Sad to hear John didn't do too well on the rifle range, I guess his eyes still weren't 100% - am I surmising correctly that his eye problem had nothing to do with needing glasses, but was a side effect of the fever? (are there any typhoid experts reading this?) Had a quick scan back through my copy of the diary today, to fix up 'old Mena days' & Kate's find of the "Minnewaska" (which was April 24th: "Mumewoska") - and may have worked out a couple of others: Feb 9th: ....... and the P and O mail steamer Maloja? 'Maloja' was a P & O steamer built in 1911 (& unfortunately struck by a mine 27/2/1916) June 2nd: ....... through village of Cammins? and down to the beach ........ Could be Camiers - a seaside village near Etaples. Till next time, Frev. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest UNCLESPUD Posted 15 March , 2005 Share Posted 15 March , 2005 I have tried to attach a picture here, hope it works. The photo is 31x18 CM's, was scanned at 150dpi res then saved as jpeg file to reduce file to 200kB size. Resolution loses a lot in jpeg, if any one wants the 2.3MB .bmp file email me directly. ameade@bigpond.com Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest UNCLESPUD Posted 15 March , 2005 Share Posted 15 March , 2005 I have checked the WWI nominal roll at www.awm.gov.au and found not one but two great uncles in the 8th, they were, 608 Pte Edwin Meade enlisted 17/8/1914 RTA 20/10/1918 and 810 Pte Herbert Meade enlisted 18/8/1914 RTA 23/9/1918. I would like to know were they both in the photo, did either or both go to Gallipoli, ( believe they may have) and any other details available. Can anyone point me innthe right direction to find out more info Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pompeyrodney Posted 15 March , 2005 Author Share Posted 15 March , 2005 HI Frev and Unclespud Just so you can see what I am up against I have managed to scan a page of the diary today so you can see how hard it is to read. Regards Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pompeyrodney Posted 15 March , 2005 Author Share Posted 15 March , 2005 I thought you all might like to see a photo of John that was taken at Broadmeadow Camp when he was a very young looking 20 years old. This photo was sent to me by a 77year old lady who is the daughter of the farmer whom John used to work for when he went to Oz. Compare this picture with the other one taken in 1917 that I posted earlier, what a difference!!! Happy viewings Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mat McLachlan Posted 15 March , 2005 Share Posted 15 March , 2005 Julian, I've sent you an email about this, but in case you don't get it: If you are looking for a website to post your diary transcript to, I'd be happy to discuss incorporating it into my site (www.diggertours.com) The site's been running since 2002 and explores Australia's involvement in WWI. This diary would fit in perfectly, and it would also be a good way for you to promote it without having to launch your own site. I do all the web design and posting myself, so this shouldn't be a problem. Let me know your thoughts. Cheers, Mat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pompeyrodney Posted 15 March , 2005 Author Share Posted 15 March , 2005 Hi Mat Not had the cahnce to check mail this evening but your idea sounds good to me, will get back to you when I am nearer finishing the transcribing of it. Cheers Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marina Posted 15 March , 2005 Share Posted 15 March , 2005 He's a lot fuller in the face in the new photo - but then I suppose the enteric and such didn't help. Spud's picture - how small some of them are! Is John in this pic as well as your relltive, Spud? Marina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Posted 16 March , 2005 Share Posted 16 March , 2005 Am Australian and desperately waiting for France July1st to December30th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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