At 11.30 a.m. we were disembarked and marched toward Melbourne for a “leg stretcher” and on the way were constantly cheered by the Melbournites who showered us with cigarettes, fruit and flags and made us feel just “it.” We returned in time for dinner and after the midday meal repeated the morning’s performance, returning at 4.30 p.m. in time for tea. After tea we were all given shore leave, with the exception of about 30 men who were placed on piquet duty for-the purpose of rescuing anyone who might get drunk or play up, etc.
I happened to be one of the unfortunates selected for piquet duty and was marched ashore, armed with a webb belt and an entrenching tool handle, to the Town Hall, which place was made our headquarters. Then the piquet was told to “just stroll about” until 11.30 p.m. and then report back at the Town Hall. I followed the orders out to the letter and just “strolled” about keeping out of trouble until I met Harold Mitchell and the others and looked after them until the time came to report. Next day the members of-the previous nights piquet were given a half holiday in recognition of the strenuous work of the night before!
On the third day in Melbourne we were all formed up on our parade decks, had our names checked and then were disembarked for another route march, this time through the streets of the city. All the way the people clapped and cheered and photographed us as we marched with bands playing in great style up Flinders St., Collins St., Bourke St., and Swanson St. as far as Royal Park where there was a small artillery camp. Here we were given a meal and the previous nights piquet were dismissed for their half holiday, the rest of the troops being marched back to the transport.
Being free for the rest of the day, I indulged in a little sight seeing and went along and inspected the Museum, Art Gallery, and Public Library and then boarded a motorbus and went out to St. Kilda via the Esplanade as far as Luna Park. Then I returned to the city, had a meal and then spent the evening at a picture show, where I saw a program which I had previously seen in Sydney, after which I returned to the boat at Port Melbourne. Next morning, which was Wednesday, we went ashore for the usual route march, this time to Albert Park where we were provided with lunch by the Red Cross ladies who worked very hard indeed to provide for about fifteen hundred hungry men. When it was over, we cheered them to the echo and then formed up in column of route and marched back to the boat at four o’clock and were informed that we would be sailing again in the morning.
We left Melbourne on March 17th with feelings of gratitude for the hospitable reception; we had received from the Melbournites and after clearing Port Phillip Bay turned westward for Fremantle. The trip from Melbourne to Fremantle took about five days and we experienced some rough seas whilst crossing the Australian Bight which caused numbers of the men to experience the trials of sea sickness. They however soon recovered after we had crossed the Bight and by the time we reached Fremantle on March 22nd. We were all old sailors and quite used to the motion of the ship.