29th October 1914

Albany Harbour

Thursday October 29 1914

We are still on board in the harbour.  It is very quiet here no news from shore yet we havent had any decent news since we left Pt Melbourne.  I have had several letters from home but from today all letters are supposed to be sanchioned and it is just right.  A chap on board who has a real German name had his letters opened and he couldnt make it out.

Billy's above reference very possibly refers to 1602

Battery Quartermaster Sergeant Leopold Novak 

Augstein.  Despite the stigma of a German surname,

Leopold served throughout the War & after returning

to Australia as a Lieutenant, changed his name in

1919 to Leo Austen to avoid anti-German sentiment -

he would go on to become a renowned anthropologist

due to his work in Papua, writing extensively on his studies.

[Courtesy of National Library of Australia]

Thursday 29th October

Another message stating that General was to inspect just received this morning. He visited the "Shropshire" but afterwards returned direct to his own ship. Our ship had been very nicely prepared. Units at work during day. One horse took ill, suffering from colic, but has much improved. Most definite instructions received re censorship. Boat crew put off to "Shropshire" to get kits of three men recently posted to "Rangatira". Only one could be found. Reading up afternoon and evening. Received wireless instructing ship to go into harbour for water tomorrow morning.

[Courtesy of State Library of New South Wales - Sir Charles Rosenthal diary]

Two of the First Convoy vessels berthed at the

Albany Pier, taking on coal & water.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial]