Hobsons Bay
Tuesday October 20 1914
We got payed today 25/- but it is
not much good to us now only to waste in the dry canteen. We started on our outward journey about midday
and passed the Heads about 4.30 or so, it is most remarkable such a small
opening to a large Bay. The Queenscliffe
fort is in a picturesque place and a good place to guard Melb. The wirlpool is near the opening and it is
said that if a ship gets into that she is a goner, well the sea is as smooth as
a duck pond and if it stops like this till we get across the Bight it will do
me. I am in charge of guard tonight and
have a bird in.
The "rip" adjacent to Port Phillip Heads (Billy's "wirlpool"), c.1900.
[Courtesy of State Library of Victoria]
20 2-30
Left
Hobsons Bay
for ALBANY W.A.
TUES 20th October
New Chief Steward and Assistant came aboard during
morning, also Ships Stores. Moved off at 2.36 PM from Anchorage, delighted to
once again get moving. Very pleasant trip down the Bay, with the
"Shropshire", ‘Moldavia", and "Star of England"
astern. Pilot very interesting, had served in South Africa with a brother and
sister. He told us of the capture of the last German ship to enter Melbourne
port and of his "bluffing" the skipper that Fort-search lights were
only being run for the usual quarterly trials. Dropped Pilot at 6 PM. Arranged
details for N.C. Officers classes. Very amusing incidents have come to light re
Lieut Jenkinson, a lady admirer or admired and his orderly, and another re an
absent gunner when time came to embark, a lady friend and a Sergeant and party
sent to bring him aboard. The details hardly suitable for Diary, but the
foregoing notes will always suffice to bring the incidents clearly to mind
again. The Australian soldier is certainly resourceful. Pay issued to men
covering period from last pay in Brisbane to date of embarkation in Melbourne.
Lieutenant Claude Erle Jenkinson, of the 3rd Brigade
Ammunition Column - the imagination runs wild at the
escapades this 20 year old Gympie boy was embroiled
in above, however the details are likely lost to history.
10 weeks later, Lieutenant Jenkinson resigned his
Commission, & joined the 2nd Light Horse.
[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - A03102]
No comments:
Post a Comment