April 20, 2015

Last glimpse of Australia. Weather good.

April 19, 1915

Sighted land near Albany

April 14

Completed coaling and left with Wiltshire. Passed Port Phillip heads at 9 pm. Goodnight Australia.

John Duncan McLeod

April 13 1915

Victorian Reinf. embarked on A18 Wiltshire. Anchored in stream for night. Reviewed by Gov. General Sir R. Munro Ferguson.

April 12, 1915

Arrived Melbourne. No leave. 4 horses dead. Poor class of horse. More will die.

April 8, 1915

Boarded transport A15 Star of England at Pinkenba. 400 horses, 100 LH (light horse), 300 Infantry.

Easter Sunday

Leaving about the middle of next week. Many of us, no doubt, not coming back. A queer mixture of men. There is the adventurous element that could not resist the allurement of a fight. There are the men getting on to middle life, mild failures in their own calling, who recognise this as their supreme chance to make good. There are husbands tired of married life; husky young fellows tired of the monotony of home. looking forward to the trip; “spielers"on the make, genteel clerks and the like, who find it very trying to associate with the "working class,” but who joined up for very shame’s sake; many grey platoons of Australian workers, out of work, in the game because it means a steady job and steady pay. Brown skinned, clear eyed, reckless, yet shrewd, these will be the backbone of our army. They find it hard as yet to knuckle down to discipline; but wait and see them in the real thing. They are sure to make good. 

(added) April 25. They did make good.

April 4, 1915

The outstanding mistakes in the Administration of this camp are: - 

I. It was wrong and wasteful to enlist many hundreds of light horse, feed them, clothe them, and train them for many weeks (up to 14) and then reject 60% in an artificial riding test. Men born to saddle, who earned their living by their horsemanship, were thrown out because they did not keep their “distance.” The test should be gone through as soon as the man enlists. 

II. the same applies to medical examinations. Men are thrown at the last moment by the doctors, after undergoing many months training. 

III. The “boy scout” element is too pronounced among the N.C.D’s. These young fellows might know their drill, but mature men will demand leaders in whom they can place confidence. It will take a big “smash-up” to rectify this weakness.