A Soldiers Journal (page 3)
After breakfast had been consumed we would have to clean the mess hall, But it was not all hard work. Many hours where spent in the classroom where we would be lectured on many things on ship board life such as removing rust and resealing, cleaning and general maintenance. we also would learn about everyday items such as compass reading, flags, signals and chain layouts for forecastle.
A SHIPS FORECASTLE (Click Picture To Goto Image Source)
I can remember the day I left Brisbane, the seas where that rough the boat would rock side to side. You would look out the window as it rocked and see nothing but the sky and in a matter of seconds it would be the ocean. Many a time it felt as though the boat was about to flip over and send us to a watery grave. This was my first taste of sea sickness and would not be my last.
(Hayman Island is a island consisting of 400 hectare plot in a area 4 km long by 3 km wide. It has perfect white sandy beaches and crystal blue waters with beautiful views all round. There has been a resort on Hayman Island since the 1940s, Sir Reginald Ansett chose it as his ideal destination. The current resort is a $300 million 5-star hotel (it is one of the 'Leading Hotels of the World') was built by Sir Peter Abeles and opened in 1987.)
Eventually we arrived Hayman island and some of the sailors formed in into details and embarked on the shore. The HMAS Barrcoo then move over and anchored near hook island where we where to stay for a week.
HAYMAN ISLAND (Click Picture To Goto Image Source)
I had a nightmare Last night, The dream was that of my brother, my comrade he had fallen, he had died. His body had floated to the surface of the ocean, so lifeless and putrid as the mighty ocean tossed it about, between the Sea waves. Fish of all and shapes and sizes began to surround the decomposing corpse and feed from it,plucking his eyeballs from the skull. As there hungry little mouths begun pulling off chunks of flesh, maggots began to rain from the holes they made in the corpse. Slowly floating, floating into the dark ocean void bellow. But then suddenly, voraciously, the strange fish had consumed it all where only a skeleton had remained.( I can only hope this means nothing and is only a dream)After of which I had awoken abruptly with wet sheets and was now very cold. It had seemed to be a bad case of night sweats, my bedding had felt as though some on had thrown a bucket of water on me.
I would have to deal with this later because before the sun could shine the next day, we where rushed about to do our chores.
Today we had a day of competition. It was to be between the ships company and the reserve members. we started by rowing the ships questionable life boats ashore, then a member of your company would go a shore through a mangrove swamp where it seemed to be so peaceful and quiet. where nature's way was on display! The water's was low as it had ran back to the sea where it longs to be, Leaving only mud and leaves and decay. one would wade through the mud and slime . Only to round the marked point , which was a big old fig tree, which had seen a better day. Half dead with decay, as the new growth began to slowly consuming the old dead past here is where we played. After you had found the tree, you would round the tree. Thus running back to life boat with up most haste and rowing back to the ship to see if you got a place. The Best time won unfortunately that was not you or I, nor the engine room where I reside.
The sound of bullets could be herd everywhere, we pushed our life raft a shore wading through waste deep water only to trudge through the sharp coral which cut us up like razor blade . Before us stood a bank, a tower of sand over 5 meters tall. Boats and men could be seen for about 30 yards, As smoke created confusion and haste. we hurried along with our 303 on side and made our way up the hill. Suddenly a Bren machine started up and flew above our heads. I have never seen men dig holes so quick.
https://steemit.com/australian/@scoopslapues/my-stories-featured-on-two-sites (Page One)
https://steemit.com/steem/@scoopslapues/a-soldiers-journal-pg2 (Page Two)
https://www.publish0x.com/a-soldiers-journal/soldiers-journal-page-3-xokpdp