Next afternoon, that is Wednesday 20th September 1915, Harold and I reported ourselves to the adjutant of the camp, independently and thus missed having the discouraging calls hurled at the straggling batch of new recruits which had just arrived per the afternoon train. We at once attached ourselves to Bert Allen and he found out for us where our quarters were to be and generally shepherded us past all the pitfalls and made our first introduction to the rough life of a new military camp quite easy for us, for which we both felt very grateful.

Our first meal in Armidale camp consisted of bread and quince jam, washed down with tea without milk and only a very little sugar, but since we both felt very awkward in our new surroundings, we did not eat much of it and presently when things had settled down a little, we went to a canteen and bought some tinned fish and preserved fruit which we three consumed in a quiet corner by ourselves. We three then inspected the camp as we were free until morning.