APRIL 1918 - IN LIVINGSTONE'S FOOTSTEPS

Monday 1st (Easter Monday)

Easter eggs today

Thursday 4th

This afternoon went before a board. I got through very easily. After wards we went down to the K.A.R. Depot to stay until we know the result.

Friday 5th

Pretty slow here. Go to bed after dinner.

Tuesday 9th

Saw Cpt. Allen today.

Wednesday 10th

Ha Ha the result is out & I leave tomorrow for S. Africa.

Thursday 11th

What excitement. Report at the Detail camp at 9AM to go to Limbe but find no cars to take us so have to wit until 2PM. This time we were not disappointed.

Friday 12th

Entrained at Limbe station at 7.30AM. Spire Highlands Rly. Bananne’s cheap. Scenery pretty. Arrived in Port Hearald about 4PM & went straight on to the boat. Made a start but at night anchored.

Saturday 13th

Started again at daylight. Made various stops to load up firewood. It is some trip. No shelter & no where to sleep.

Memo

Our mode of travelling was a steamer with a barge lashed to either side. But what a sight the river was. Country was flooded for miles. Native villages standing on what was once banks made it a scene of desolation. Very pretty at the beginning.

Sunday 14th

Off again at daybreak. Put in at a village soon after breakfast for more wood. After we had started I learnt the name of the place which was Chapatie & that Livingstone’s wife is buried there.

Monday 15th

Landed at Chinde about 8AM. Had breakfast & lunch at the famous Murray Hotel. Stayed here a few hrs & had a look round the town. Portuguese. Boarded the “Hoo” at 5PM.

Tuesday 16th

Arrived at Beira at 1.30PM. Does not look so bad from the sea. Prevented from landing to day owing to a crowd ashore going it too strong.

Wednesday 17th

Landed about 9AM. ½ the batch left by the mid-day train but I have to wait for the next. Staying at the Grand Hotel. A very nice restroom here.

Thursday 18th

Had a stroll round the town. Visited the Indian shops & amused myself by looking at their goods. Spent a good part of the time in the Rest Room.

Friday 19th

Most of the chaps left this morning for up the line so we have plenty of room now. We feel quite lost.

Saturday 20th

Same old round. Rest room & Bridge. It is hot here & my word there is some mosquitoes.










The Bridge at Beira

The message on the back of the card reads:

My dearest “Bob”,
The bridge at Beira. We wended our way across the bridge on our way to the Station & so paid our farewell to Beira. Best of love. Yours as ever. Walter xx

Memo

Beira is practically composed of “Pubs” or cafes I suppose they call them. There are one or two decent shops.

Sunday 21st

Nothing doing today. Even the rest room is closed. Entrained at 2PM. Had our slight snack at Villa Machado where we stopped for an hour.

Monday 22nd

Had a good breakfast at Umtali. 25 miles further on we came to the Odizi River. Had to walk over the bridge & entrain the other side. Meals in the dining saloon now. Left Odizi at 2 PM.

Tuesday 23rd

Arrived in Salisbury about 3 AM. Had a stroll round the town. Quite a good town & decent shops. A fine Restroom where they dispense lovely cakes & tea. Was taken out to lunch & also given a box of fruit. Left at 1 PM.

Wednesday 24th

Arrived Bulawayo 7 AM. Visited the town in the American fashion. Not a bad town. Well laid out. The Ladies as usual treated us splendidly. Left at 9 AM.

Thursday 25th

Arrived Mafeking about 10 AM. Ladies awaiting with tea & cake, fruit & cigs. Left at 10.30 AM. More tea & cakes at Krugendrop. Arrived at Jo’burg at 9 PM. More coffee & cakes. Left at 9.30 arrived at Pretoria about 11 PM.

Friday 26th

Got to the hospital about 12 PM. Thirsty. Had to be vaccinated first. Busy getting Blues etc to day. Quite a dull show.

Saturday 27th

Had to give my kit in to day. They are sending me on a months leave. Some mistake. Arrived at station midday but train does not leave until 7.20 PM so had a look round town.

Memo

Not too bad Pretoria. Some fine buildings etc. Am glad I have had the opportunity of doing this trip. Seen some fine scenes.

Burgher Park, Pretoria

The message on the back of the card reads:

My dear Florrie,
How would you like a stroll around this park. No doubt we should dub it pretty. Hope you are quite well. Fondest love. Yours Walter xx

Sunday 28th

Running through Natal now. Familiar names Glencoe, Ladysmith etc. Arrived in Durban about 8.15 PM. Put up at a boarding house.

Monday 29th

Went to the A & N Institute & made arrangements about going on a farm. Called at 50 Clarence Rd & they prevailed upon me to stay.

Tuesday 30th

Went out to dinner round Avondale Rd. Spent a very nice evening.

JULY 1918 - ZAMBESI

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.

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.