Terrell, Frederick Leopold – February 1915

1 February Monday
109.8 Deg
Holiday Foundation Day.
Rose at 8 oclock to experience the most trying day of the year, it being an extremely hot day with northerly wind…

3 February Wednesday
Another warm day went out with Sid to see about job in Government, but as usual no single men need apply…

5 February Friday
… went to the Labour Exchange to see if there was any chance of work But as usual none..

6 February Saturday
…Got cleaned for city… arrived at Keswick Military Barracks for examinations, Weight 11.4 Height 5-7½ Sight 6/6 Chest 37½. expansion…

7 February Sunday
… A lovely morning perhaps the last Sunday morning I shall have home…

8 February Monday
A beautiful day, had breakfast at 6.30. Got myself cleaned to go out for the day with Clara…. Went to Matters & Co to make enquiries re my land being willed to whom I wished, Signed, signature to transfer in case anything happens to me. Met Clara at 11.30… After dinner caught tram for Henley. Had tea a Bishops, Put in evening with Clara Perhaps last for a while.

9 February Tuesday
This may be the last day of freedom for me for a long time. Arrived at Keswick Barracks at 9.30 did not leave until 12.20 for Ascot Park. Had dinner at 1 oclock, then were allotted our Tents received Blankets and waterproof, Got leave at 4.30 caught train home…in good time for tea…Bed at 10.20 not too soon either

10 February Wednesday
… packed bag as I have to go to town on business before entering into camp… Have to be on Duty at 2.15 this afternoon…

11 February Thursday
Turned out at 5.45 after a very rotten, Dusty night, Assembled for Physical Drill, Breakfast at 7.20, Went on parade at 9.15 retired at 12.15 preparing for dinner. Left grounds at 3 oclock for a swim Had tea at 5.40 Then posted letter to Clara and home, Went to lecture at 7.30 in Orderly Tent into bed at 9.45

12 February Friday
Turned out at 6 oclock after a lovely nights’ sleep, Went on parade at 7.15, Had breakfast at 8 oclock, Taking my turn on as orderly for tent. Had boots and Blue overalls issued today. In afternoon there was a tug of war contest by teams picked from every company, out of a total number of 2;500 me, C. Com. have to pull off in final tomorrow.

13 February Saturday
100.6 Deg
… Tent orderly today. C Company won the tug of war contest Champions of Ascot Park, I took leave at 3.15 to day to go home, Arrived home at 5 oclock had tea and a shave, then had a talk with all Then prepared to leave for camp, Rang Clara up… Arrived at Ascot at 9.30 dead tired.

14 February Sunday
106.3 Deg.
A very warm day, poked around camp until 3 oclock when I took the chance of being caught on general leave… got into camp at 8.50 not feeling too well got to bed in hope of being better in morning

15 February Monday
… turned out at 6 oclock feeling a little better. There is hardly one man who is not unwell…

16 February Tuesday
A cool Dusty morning … Turned out at 6 oclock to take up Fatigue duty at 6.45. Knocked off for breakfast. Resumed duty at 9.15 had tough time until Dinner time when I knocked off for hour, Put in last lap of fatigue duty was not sorry when it was over as I believe it is impossible to experience worse conditions climatically than exist.

17 February Wednesday
A real Dusty rotten day, one of the worst possible to experience. On sick parade at 8.30. Had bad eye and bad cold have to appear three times a day at doctors tent. Went to bed at 8.30 rather worn out, and fatigued.

18 February Thursday
Turned out at 6 oclock after an extraordinary windy and Dusty night went on parade for foot inspection. Went on Sick parade again, and had to stay in my tent all day as unfit for Duty Had a little excitement in camp as one of the fellows got out of hand and knocked a couple of Officers and 4 men. made quite scatter…

20 February Saturday
… Paid at 12 oclock from 8^th of this month to 15^th … Left Ascot Park on French Leave at 3.17 P.M for Adelaide Arrived safely then went and rang up Clara. Arrived in camp at 9.30 and bed 10

22 February Monday
…Turned out at 6.20 Paraded at 6.45 for Physical Drill. Dismissed for breakfast. Had more drill until 12 oclock. After dinner at 2 oclock went for 9½ miles route march finished up at 4.50 and might state was a little tired…

24 February Wednesday
…turned out at 6.15 Went on guard Duty at the bird cage or Detention camp. Took up post at 1 oclock relieved at 3 oclock. Went on again at 7 oclock until 9 oclock…

25 February Thursday
Took post again at 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. A real rotten morning Did my last beat at 7 to 9 oclock then was relieved for day by D company… Had few hours off Duty until 2 oclock then fell in again on Parade for swim having to march six miles for it, I can assure you this is the toughest I have been through up at 6 oclock yesterday morning and only 4 hours sleep in all…

26 February Friday
…Turned out at 6 oclock. Paraded for Physical Drill at 6.40 Had breakfast at 7.40 Paraded for Platoon Drill at 9.15 was acting platoon commander for the morning and got on better than I expected…Paraded for inoculation at 2.30. The injecting part was not so bad only the after effects were rotten Seem to take me like a severe cold coming on and during the night I perspired until my blankets were wet through Bed soon after tea

27 February Saturday
A nice morning, turned out for roll call at 7.20. and feeling much better, Did not do any Drill all day … Layed about all day until 6.30 then rang Clara up, Went for a walk with lads until 8.20 then returned to camp and put in rest of evening listening to entertainers in Y.M.C.A TENT.