River scene on the Zambesi
The message on the back of the card reads: My Dearest Bob, A typical scene on the Zambesi, but it is much prettier higher up. One has to beware of croc. When making this journey. Love from Walter xx
Monday 1st
Chinde once more. Dropped anchor about 8AM Landed about 9AM & found we had got to stay here. The famous Murry’s Hotel is under new management so we fare better.
Tuesday 2nd
Sat down to a splendid breakfast. 3 Courses. We patronise the Rest Hut well. The tea & cakes in the afternoon are very acceptable. Mosquitoes busy to night.
Wednesday 3rd
Still hanging on waiting to go up the river. Rolled up in full force for afternoon tea. More writing after dinner.
Thursday 4th
Had our Photos taken this morning. At last. Embarked on board the River Boat “Centipede” at 4PM Shortly after commenced our eventful journey up the Zambezi. Spent a musical evening.
Friday 5th
Some of the hunting enthusiasts busy shooting at Crocs. After lunch arrived at Marromeu where there is a big sugar factory. Hasty look over the works. Very interesting. Spent remainder of time in Rec Room.
Saturday 6th
More halts for fuel. It seems to get hotter. The scenery is getting a bit more interesting. The hunters hit a croc. What cheers rent the air. After tea we were all in a remeniscient mood.
Memo
Saw a Pelican which had been shot at one of the crossing places on the Zambesi. Its measurement from wing to wing was 8 feet 6 inches.
Sunday 7th
Arrived Chimolio at 11.30AM Junction of Zambesi & Shire Rvrs. Went ashore & fixed up in tents. Later on it rained so returned to the boat to sleep. Had a lovely dinner of Duck.
Monday 8th
What a lark. Missed the train. So to prevent further accident we make our home on the Station. Had a “bonser” tea off of fried fish. Fried in the London style.
Tuesday 9th
Did not intend to miss the train to day so was up at 4.30 A.M. Left about 7. Arrived Port Herald at 10.30 Found my Batt there so I proceed no further. Pleased to see Uncle & Jock.
Wednesday 10th
Started the uneventful life again. Breaking myself into work once more. On fatigue this morning clearing ground on which to build a camp.
Thursday 11th
Having lost touch with Von Setow for 8 days the heads have got the wind up as was busy digging trenches this morning. Very cold & wet.
Friday 12th
Still keeps cold. Nothing doing before lunch. A small mail arrived but of course nothing doing for your humble. Fatigue on new camp ground.
Saturday 13th
A little drill before breakfast provided a change. Fancy having to work on a Saturday afternoon. The usual job.
Memo
The sight of a lifetime to see a train load of niggers on the S.H. Rlys. What a noise they make as they crowd into open trucks. And what a picture they make some standing & others almost sitting on top of the weaker.
Sunday 14th
Able to lay in a bit longer this morning. No work & nothing to do. Some try fishing. Like a bolt from the blue the order came to pack up. We’ve got to be isolated. Reached our new camp just before dark.
Monday 15th
Not too bad sleeping under the stars but the mosquitoes were busy. Cutting wood this morning to build Banda’s Chicken 3 times to day. After dinner sat around the campfire talking. It kept the "moses" away.
Tuesday 16th
Heavy dew last night. After breakfast we moved over into an old farmhouse. Reminded one of Billets in France. It is much more comfortable.
Wednesday 17th
Nothing much doing. Did about an hours fatigue. We are pretty free from mosquitoes in our new billet.
Thursday 18th
An hours drill before breakfast after which we had a lazy time. Started the foundations for an oven in which to bake our bread.
Friday 19th
After lunch strolled into Port Herald “poke yangue”. Stayed there for dinner. Strolled back in the dark tormented by mosquitoes. The baking day has not been a success. Loaves hard as bricks.
Saturday 20th
1 hrs work & then nothing doing save a little correspondence. The boys bread is more of a success than ours.
Memo
What one can buy at Port Herald for 2/-. 5 Chickens, 1 Duck & 1 Pig small.
Sunday 21st
What a lazy day. Nothing doing so I spend nearly all the day lying on the bed.
Monday 22nd
Cutting more wood to day. In the wood behind our billet monkeys are very numerous.
Tuesday 23rd
Got paid to day so after lunch strolled into Port Herald. I needed a little exercise as I had no work to do to day. Spent a merry day.
Wednesday 24th
More drill before breakfast. After that nothing eventful doing.
Thursday 25th
Howell left for Port Herald to take charge of Porters. To day the last of the Batt leave P.H. for Limbe. Only we are left. Nothing doing to day. Getting fed up.
Friday 26th
More drill this morning. Again after lunch in the so called cool of the evening. After dinner spent a musical evening.
Saturday 27th
Various orders floating round. I am to stay behind. O.C. Sick. Later I proceed I proceed with the Batt tomorrow & on arrival Limbe report to 4/1st K.A.R for a course in the Stokes Gun.
Sunday 28th
Getting up so early does not agree with me. Bad headache. O.C. Wapagari to day. Some job. Entrain at 9 AM. Arrive in Limbe at 7.30 PM. Work finished at 9 PM.
Monday 29th
Up about 4.30 PM. But found that I do not proceed with the Coy. Report to 4/1st K.A.R. & then am sent to Blantyre to M.G School. Reach there in time for lunch. Bitter cold & raining.
Chinde once more. Dropped anchor about 8AM Landed about 9AM & found we had got to stay here. The famous Murry’s Hotel is under new management so we fare better.
Tuesday 2nd
Sat down to a splendid breakfast. 3 Courses. We patronise the Rest Hut well. The tea & cakes in the afternoon are very acceptable. Mosquitoes busy to night.
Wednesday 3rd
Still hanging on waiting to go up the river. Rolled up in full force for afternoon tea. More writing after dinner.
Thursday 4th
Had our Photos taken this morning. At last. Embarked on board the River Boat “Centipede” at 4PM Shortly after commenced our eventful journey up the Zambezi. Spent a musical evening.
Friday 5th
Some of the hunting enthusiasts busy shooting at Crocs. After lunch arrived at Marromeu where there is a big sugar factory. Hasty look over the works. Very interesting. Spent remainder of time in Rec Room.
Saturday 6th
More halts for fuel. It seems to get hotter. The scenery is getting a bit more interesting. The hunters hit a croc. What cheers rent the air. After tea we were all in a remeniscient mood.
Memo
Saw a Pelican which had been shot at one of the crossing places on the Zambesi. Its measurement from wing to wing was 8 feet 6 inches.
Sunday 7th
Arrived Chimolio at 11.30AM Junction of Zambesi & Shire Rvrs. Went ashore & fixed up in tents. Later on it rained so returned to the boat to sleep. Had a lovely dinner of Duck.
Monday 8th
What a lark. Missed the train. So to prevent further accident we make our home on the Station. Had a “bonser” tea off of fried fish. Fried in the London style.
Tuesday 9th
Did not intend to miss the train to day so was up at 4.30 A.M. Left about 7. Arrived Port Herald at 10.30 Found my Batt there so I proceed no further. Pleased to see Uncle & Jock.
Wednesday 10th
Started the uneventful life again. Breaking myself into work once more. On fatigue this morning clearing ground on which to build a camp.
Thursday 11th
Having lost touch with Von Setow for 8 days the heads have got the wind up as was busy digging trenches this morning. Very cold & wet.
Friday 12th
Still keeps cold. Nothing doing before lunch. A small mail arrived but of course nothing doing for your humble. Fatigue on new camp ground.
Saturday 13th
A little drill before breakfast provided a change. Fancy having to work on a Saturday afternoon. The usual job.
Memo
The sight of a lifetime to see a train load of niggers on the S.H. Rlys. What a noise they make as they crowd into open trucks. And what a picture they make some standing & others almost sitting on top of the weaker.
Sunday 14th
Able to lay in a bit longer this morning. No work & nothing to do. Some try fishing. Like a bolt from the blue the order came to pack up. We’ve got to be isolated. Reached our new camp just before dark.
Monday 15th
Not too bad sleeping under the stars but the mosquitoes were busy. Cutting wood this morning to build Banda’s Chicken 3 times to day. After dinner sat around the campfire talking. It kept the "moses" away.
Tuesday 16th
Heavy dew last night. After breakfast we moved over into an old farmhouse. Reminded one of Billets in France. It is much more comfortable.
Wednesday 17th
Nothing much doing. Did about an hours fatigue. We are pretty free from mosquitoes in our new billet.
Thursday 18th
An hours drill before breakfast after which we had a lazy time. Started the foundations for an oven in which to bake our bread.
Friday 19th
After lunch strolled into Port Herald “poke yangue”. Stayed there for dinner. Strolled back in the dark tormented by mosquitoes. The baking day has not been a success. Loaves hard as bricks.
Saturday 20th
1 hrs work & then nothing doing save a little correspondence. The boys bread is more of a success than ours.
Memo
What one can buy at Port Herald for 2/-. 5 Chickens, 1 Duck & 1 Pig small.
Sunday 21st
What a lazy day. Nothing doing so I spend nearly all the day lying on the bed.
Monday 22nd
Cutting more wood to day. In the wood behind our billet monkeys are very numerous.
Tuesday 23rd
Got paid to day so after lunch strolled into Port Herald. I needed a little exercise as I had no work to do to day. Spent a merry day.
Wednesday 24th
More drill before breakfast. After that nothing eventful doing.
Thursday 25th
Howell left for Port Herald to take charge of Porters. To day the last of the Batt leave P.H. for Limbe. Only we are left. Nothing doing to day. Getting fed up.
Friday 26th
More drill this morning. Again after lunch in the so called cool of the evening. After dinner spent a musical evening.
Saturday 27th
Various orders floating round. I am to stay behind. O.C. Sick. Later I proceed I proceed with the Batt tomorrow & on arrival Limbe report to 4/1st K.A.R for a course in the Stokes Gun.
Sunday 28th
Getting up so early does not agree with me. Bad headache. O.C. Wapagari to day. Some job. Entrain at 9 AM. Arrive in Limbe at 7.30 PM. Work finished at 9 PM.
Monday 29th
Up about 4.30 PM. But found that I do not proceed with the Coy. Report to 4/1st K.A.R. & then am sent to Blantyre to M.G School. Reach there in time for lunch. Bitter cold & raining.
Tuesday 30th
Started work this morning at 9 AM finished at 11 AM. Not overworked here. It is very cold here. Afternoon spell from 2 to 3.30. A good mess here.
Wednesday 31st
Much warmer today. Had a stroll round Blantyre. Not too bad. Some good stores here.
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