Diary extract - 1914
26 June 1916
Chelsea Arts Club,
142 & 145, Church Street,
LONDON S. W.
In this revision of my Diary for which my friend Mrs Haines has so kindly acted as amanuensis, I have described exactly my feelings at the time the incidents related occurred. Owing to my lack of space, opportunity, and, in part, inclination, much was omitted in the original diary that is now herein set down.
Whether or no this record of my experiences during the first terrible year of the Great War will be of interest, time alone can prove. When the din of battle has faded into the realm of the past, and the country is strewn with memorials paying tribute to those Great Heroes who gave their lives so gamely for the Cause; these little sidelights on the lives of those of them that were at Anzac, keeping fresh the glorious tradition of a Great Empire, perhaps may be of value.
I may rewrite the rough details into something more tangible, though so much that is good has been written on this subject that perchance I had best occupy myself with other matters.
Signaller Ellis Silas
16 Battalion. AIF.
1914
AUGUST
Entered Camp Blackboy Hill West Australia. Am in camp for three weeks during which time I often break camp to go to my studio to work on my large canvas which I hope to finish as it may be the last I shall ever paint. After the quiet of my studio I find this terrible, life in camp and the uncongenial society of rough Bushmen. They are good fellows and seem to think a lot of me. On one occasion, when drilling, there was rather a fine sunset which greatly occupied my attention. Suddenly I heard an explosion of frightful language – I looked round, found myself standing alone at the attention; the remainder of the squad having marched off, which I also should have done. It is needless to remark what the drill sergeant thought about it.
SEPTEMBER 1914
This morning at drill I nearly fainted; for five days I had little or no sleep. I go to the MO. I am given a pill, which seems to be a general cure for all minor complaints. My terrible imagination, the thought of having to give up my brush, is getting too much for me. I have not yet been sworn in, and as I don’t feel I am going to be much use, and as I can’t get into the AMC where I know I should be useful, I think I should take everybody’s advice and give it up.
NOVEMBER 1914
- J. W. Waterhouse, Great Britain, 1849--1917
Circe indvidiosa, 1892, London
oil on canvas, 180.7 x 87.4 cm
South Australian Government Grant 1892
© copyright Art Gallery of South Australia
Link to Art Gallery of South Australia website
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3 am. Feeling very miserable – ten minutes to get kit together – we are shortly moving off, to leave behind, probably for ever, my dear friends and everything else that was of any count. I pray God when we get to it I shall not be found wanting. Rushed to a telephone to bid goodbye to LadyG.
7 am. Entrain for Fremantle – 12 noon, on S.S. Dimboola en route for Melbourne.
NOV: ReachAlbany. Once spent a very happy sketching tour here; little did I think I should ever have to venture upon such a terrible mission.
4 pm. Leave Albany, suffer much from mal-de-mer. I obtained permission to remain on the officers’ deck for sketching – I tried to do a little; mal-de-mer too much for me. Dimboola a beast of a ship.
Reach Adelaide – four hours’ leave. Dash off to the Art Gallery to see one of my favorite paintings, ‘Circe invidiosa’ by Waterhouse – colour glorious and general treatment most decorative – also a very fine picture by Adrian Stokes, ‘The Wet West Wind’, full of atmosphere and good in tone. For its size the Adelaide Gallery contains an excellent collection of pictures. Visit Jane Ashton (artist) – Willie Ashton is away painting – rotten luck, wish I could have seen him.