Three Australian officers at Gallipoli, identified from left to right: Lieutenant Roy Kernot of the 1st Division Engineers; Lieutenant Edward Stanley Whitehead of the 3rd Field Company Engineers and Lieutenant Louis Willyama Avery (later MM) of the 1st Division Engineers. The three friends were all associated with the Silverton Tramway Company in Broken Hill and survived the war. image courtesy Australian War Memorial P00244.001
Avery, Louis Willyama – September 1916
Sept. 3rd
Big Zeppelin raid on London. Lt. Robinson brought down the first Zepp to be destroyed in England. Came down in flames at Cuffley, the whole crew being roasted. As she came down in flames the people cheered & sang God save the King. Kaiser Bill will not be please about this. Robertson won the V.C. for this exploit.
Sept 5th
Went to a concert given by some Portsmouth talent. Quite good, but on returning to our billet the old girl stormed about being kept up late, threatening to report us to the Commandant. She had locked us out, but we hammered on the door until she came. Accused us of going out with dirty girls & called us a lot of cannibals…
Sept 9th
One of our men has been removed to hospital. Later some R.A.M.C came to disinfect his room. I suggested that they spray the old lady as her thoughts were not clean. She did not appreciate the joke.
Sept. 18th
The old lady is quite tame now & very nice to us. She realises she has 6 quiet men in her house & is feeding us better.
Sept 22nd
Completed course & returned to Christchurch. Several more drafts have been sent to France. Expect to be on draft myself before very long. 2 Zepps brought down in Essex.
Sept. 25th
On duty as Regimental Orderly Corporal. The Orderly Sergeant (fresh from Australia) reported me to the Orderly Officer for being out of camp. The Officer blew his whistle & I appeared from the post office tent where I had been writing letters. Asked to explain my absence, I was practically called a liar. Very well Sir please come with me & I will provide proof. It came from the postal Sergeant & he was satisfied. I the turned on the “deep thinker” from Australia & told him exactly what I thought of him, reminding him that as soon as he arrived in France he would lose his stripes, & I hoped he would be in my section, & in future dont try to bump Anzacs, the real Australian soldiers who did not wait to think. We also call these chaps “War babies”.
Sept 29th
Left Christchurch for London & caught the midnight train for Scotland. Suspect early draft, applied for leave & got it.
Sept 30th
left at noon for Edinburgh to stay with my Aunt
