Monday 20 October 2014

20th October 1914




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.


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.




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