Horses being unloaded from pontoon boats, very possibly those of the 3rd Field Artillery.
[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - P00821.003]
Monday 19th
Last night when just going to bed I was called by a chum - Corp Tinton and invited to join him in a supper of boiled Fowl & a bottle of Porter. I was not slow in accepting & we sat out in the moonlight & talked over the incidents of our lives for hours on deck. It was delightful I always thought that in the Southern Hemisphere that the infinite beauty of a moonlight night only existed there but I find it even goes to much higher latitudes. One cannot criticise the authorities too severely in not publishing a bulletin of news of the war. We are completely in the dark as to any authentic news. A little water - fresh was dolled out today to wash our clothes. We were supposed to be washing them in salt - I say supposed. Horses were taken ashore today & guns shifted from one hold to another.
[Courtesy of State Library of New South Wales - William Sparkes diary]
Monday 19th April
Very useful work done today. Several punt loads of
Horses went ashore (72 Horses in all including Jack & Dick). They had a
good swim and roll, also a feed of splendid clover. All transhipping done
without hitch or accident. Major Hughes moved a Section to forward hold so as
to admit of both holds working vehicles and horses simultaneously. Attended conference
on "Minnewaska" at 4.30 PM. Operation Order No 1 issued and carefully
considered. Further conference of Brigade Commanders arranged for Wednesday
morning. Combined naval and Military Signal book issued with Amendments and
Additions. The following British ships (exclusive of submarines, Torpedo boats
and Destroyers) are to cooperate in attack: - "Queen Elizabeth",
"Agamemnon", "Lord Nelson", "Vengeance",
"Triumph", "Prince of Wales", "Albion",
"Goliath", "Blenheim", "Hussar", "Ark
Royal", "Swiftsure", "Cornwallis",
"Canopus", "Implacable", "London",
"Queen", "Prince George",
"Majestic", "Inflexible", "Dartmouth",
"Dublin", "Talbot", "Doris", "Minerva",
"Sapphire", "Amethyst", "Euryalus", "Bacchante",
"Adamant". Quite a substantial list, and one capable of giving the
Turk something to remember. Dined on the "Minnewaska", and afterwards
had conference with Colonel Hobbs.
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