Tues Dec 21st.
I went into a Greek village today on the Island. It was only a small place and we got chocolates and mandarins. Things are a high price here but it’s nice to have some fresh fruit again. Lemnos is about 90 square miles in area and is owned by the Greeks but at the present time is a big British military camp. I believe we are to leave here in a few day’s time for Egypt where we rest for a while before going into action again. We have heard that there is a rising in the Sudan so we will probably have to go there.
Thurs Dec 23rd.
We have started to do a bit of drill again which seems quite strange after four months "do as you please". When in action no compliments are paid to officers and discipline isn’t enforced as much as when in camp.
Sat Dec 25th.
Christmas Day. How different to previous Christmases. It’s just the same as other days except that there is no parades.
Sun Dec 26th.
Went to Church today which reminded me of Liverpool again with the whole brigade lined up. Got a Xmas Billy each today in which we were packed a lot of useful things and eatables.
Fri Dec 31st.
We went for a route march this afternoon. After going about 1and ½ miles we stopped for a swim in the bay and then came home a different way passing through 2 Greek villages on the way. That is 3 villages I have been in since coming to the Island. They are very much alike, the streets are very narrow and dirty and the buildings are mostly rough, being built of stones and some sort of mortar. The inhabitants here are Greeks and some Egyptians. Lemnos, at one time, belonged to Turkey but since the last Balkan War it has been a Greek possession.
Sat Jan 1st 1916.
The dawn of a New Year. Last night, being New Year’s Eve we were allowed a little bit of latitude and the camps are very noisy. As a rule the "Last Post" is sounded at 10pm and "Lights Out" at 10.15pm, but last night they were extended till 12am and 12.15am, so we made good use of it and saw the Old Year out and the New year in. In our tent we sang all night and had a great time and at midnight we got out in front of the tent and "hurrahed" and banged tins about and then sang "Auld Land Syne". The ships in the harbour sounded their horns and it was very much like Sydney Harbour on New Year’s Eve. We have spent a good Christmas considering all things. It is better here than at Gallipoli anyway, as we don’t have to dodge bullets and lumps of shell.
Sun Jan 2nd.
Church parade this morning and this afternoon 4 of us went into one of the villages for a stroll. It’s the same here as in Egypt, the shops are open on Sundays, the same as on week days. There is any amount of oranges and mandarins to be had here and they are very sweet. We went into a Greek Church and had a look round. It was done up very nicely inside but it looked rough outside. The Greeks are a sort of Roman Catholic. The Rabbi who was preaching, was of course speaking in Greek so we didn’t understand what he said.
Mon Jan 3rd.
We were inspected this afternoon by General Holmes, who expressed satisfaction at the way we drilled considering that we hadn’t done any for 4 months while at Gallipoli.
Tues Jan 4th.
We moved off from Camp this morning at 11am. and marched to the Bay, about 4 miles down and embarked about 1.30pm on the troopship Ascanius A!!
Wed Jan 5th.
We left this morning about 7.15am. The sea is fairly rough as a strong wind has been blowing the last couple of days. The ship rolls a good deal, although she is a big vessel, but she is only lightly loaded. The 19th Battalion is the only battalion of the 5th Brigade on board and we also have the 21st and 22nd Batts (6th Brigade) and 6th Field Ambulance and Engineers.