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Wartime Heritage
ASSOCIATION
Remembering Earle R. Miller
Return To Canada
Earle Russell Miller (Service No. 283361) enlisted at the age of 17 with the 219th
Battalion at Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, April 3, 1916.
He was born July 4, 1898, in Yarmouth, the son of Avard Herbert and Hannah Sarah
(Allen) Miller.
Prologue
On
numerous
occasions
I
have
promised
to
write
a
description
of
this
particular
trip
across
the
Atlantic.
I
intend
to
write
it
in
the
form
of
a
diary
and
see
it
through
a
soldier’s
eyes
as
a
soldier
for
I
am
still a soldier although for not much longer. Thank God!
Wednesday April 16th. 1919
Reveille
this
morning
for
the
draft
was
at
5.45.
Breakfast
at
6.15.
Fall
in
on
the
parade
ground
at
6.45.
The
roll
was
called
and
one
man
struck
off
the
draft
for
being
unsteady
(hadn’t
got
over
the
effects
of
the
night
before).
A
heavy
wind
was
blowing
and
it
rained
all
the
morning.
It
certainly
was
rotten
weather.
I
never
had
much
use
for
English
weather
and
this
my
last
day
in
England,
has
just put the cap on it. I am leaving England with a very poor opinion of the weather.
We
stood
on
the
parade
ground
until
7.30
and
then
marched
to
the
station
(Kimmel
Park,
about
a half mile). Before boarding the train we were given embarkation tickets.
The train (special) left the station at 8.35 bound for Liverpool. Chester 9.55. Warrington
10.40. And reached Liverpool at 11.30. But were not allowed to leave the train for some time.
There was quite a crowd of civilians to see us off, mostly men.
We boarded the boat at 3,30 and were allotted our places.
Now
as
an
N.C.O.
(as
I
am
still
in
the
army)
who
of
course
is
supposed
to
know
everything
and
to be able to answer all manner of questions I set out to explore.
So perhaps I had better tell a little about the ship.
She
is
a
large
ship
nearly
as
large
as
the
Olympic
but
has
never
been
fitted
for
passengers.
She
was
being
built
as
Belfast
at
the
time
that
was
was
declared
and
was
taken
over
by
the
government
for the purpose of transporting troops.
She
was
to
have
had
two
more
decks
and
one
more
funnel
(She
has
only
two
at
present)
There
are
no
finishings
at
all
there
is
nothing
but
just
the
bare
steel
walls.
The
only
place
to
walk
around
is
on
the
boat
deck
as
that
is
the
only
deck
open
to
the
air.
And
as
there
is
nearly
three
thousand
aboard this ship it is rather crowded there.
We
got
dinner
at
15.00
and
then
I
spent
a
while
watching
the
people
on
the
shore
with
my
binoculars.
Then as I had not much sleep last night I went below for a little snooze.
Supper was at 19.00.
Then I went on deck and watched the tugs manoeuvring the ship around the docks.
The ship is inside the locks here and as the tide is low at present we can’t get out.
It has cleared up now and is fairly fine but there is still a strong wind blowing.
Well I am pretty sleepy now, it is only 20.30 o’clock but I think I will turn in in a few minutes.
We
sleep
in
Hammocks
slung
so
close
together
that
the
side
of
each
bump.
But
it
isn’t
bad,
I
can stand it I guess.
Our
messing
tables
are
directly
underneath
our
hammocks
and
we
are
walking
all
over
them
most
of
the
time
getting
in
and
out
of
the
hammocks.
The
[sic]
There
are
no
lights
near
my
hammock so I will have to make a habit of going to bed early.
I
will
turn
in
now.
I
have
been
feeling
fine
all
day
as
far
as
health
is
concerned,
but
of
course
the fooling around rather gets on a fellow’s nerves and I haven’t been in the best of humor all day.
Thursday April 17th 1919
I
woke
up
this
morning,
about
7
o’clock
by
English
time.
During
the
night
the
ship
had
left
Liverpool
and
when
I
went
on
deck
England
had
just
passed
out
of
sight
and
we
were
in
the
Irish
Sea
somewhere.
Breakfast was at 7 or supposed to be. I didn’t get mine till about 5.
After breakfast I went on deck and watched the ships etc. which passed us. The Irish coast has
been in sight all day. I spent a good deal of my time this morning watching the gulls, they have been
following us all day.
Dinner was at 12 noon.
I
am
not
sure
about
the
time
as
the
ship’s
time
is
changed
about
3/4
hour
each
day
and
I
don’t
known at what hour it is set back. I set my watch back in the morning anyway.
This
afternoon
and
evening
I
have
spent
on
deck
also.
It
is
regular
Monte
Carlo
up
there
with
crap games, crown and anchor, etc. running full blast.
Tea
as
served
at
17.00
o’clock.
And
we
get
butter
real
butter
my
but
it
tastes
good.
And
lots
of sugar in our tea, oh! we are well away.
There
was
a
heavy
wind
blowing
all
the
morning
but
it
has
gone
down
now.
I
had
my
last
look
at
Ireland
at
about
19.30
o’clock
when
I
came
down
here
it
was
just
fading
in
the
list
and
darkness.
It
seems strange to think that perhaps I have had my last look at the Old Country.
The old boat has acted fine all day up till tea time I could imagine I was ashore somewhere.
There was no motion midships at all and very little fore or aft. But to-night we have struck the
Atlantic swell and she is moving around a little.
I
have
been
almost
praying
all
day
that
it
would
get
a
little
rougher
so
that
some
of
the
boys
would
get
sick,
not
that
I
wish
anyone
and
harm
or
anything
like
that
but
there
would
be
more
room
to
move
around
on
deck
and
more
to
eat
if
some
of
the
boys
stayed
in
their
hammocks
instead
of
being up.
I was talking to one of the stewards to-day and he said we would make the trip in six days if
the weather was fine. Well here is hoping she makes an extra spurt somewhere on the way.
My bunk is midships and on the second deck so I am in a good place if it is anyways [sic] rough.
The only thing is that there is quite a vibration from the engines as I am directly above them. I have
a slight headache to-night because of this and so I think I will turn in, in a few minutes.
I
havn’t
[sic]
had
either
a
wash
or
a
shave
to-day
the
first
time
I
have
missed
for
a
good
many
weeks, and I don’t seem to notice it much. I guess it must be the salt sea air.
Well I guess I will have a smoke and then turn-in (21.00)
Friday April 18th 1919
(Good Friday)
Got up about 6.30. Eggs for breakfast.
It
has
been
fairly
rough
all
day
and
my
selfish
wish
has
been
fulfilled.
It
was
hard
for
a
good
many
of
the
fellows
but
the
deck
was
not
so
crowded
to-day.
Most
of
the
fellows
who
were
on
deck
were either over the rails or lying down out of the way.
I spent the whole morning just wandering around the ship.
It
was
so
foggy
during
the
morning
that
it
was
impossible
to
see
more
that
a
few
hundred
yards
away from the ship.
The
Nova
Scotia
boys
were
paid
this
morning
at
9.30
{L1
and
a
slip
for
$5
(to
be
drawn
cashed
as soon as we reach Halifax)}
After
dinner
I
had
a
sleep
until
tea
time.
I
don’t
know
what
is
the
matter
with
me
but
if
I
go
on
deck
for
awhile
I
get
very
sleepy
and
hungry
and
my
only
ambition
to-day
has
been
to
eat
and
sleep.
All
day,
outside
of
the
ship,
I
have
not
seen
a
single
object
of
any
kind.
After
tea
it
was
clear
but
I
didn’t
see
as
much
as
the
smoke
of
a
steamer
not
even
a
bird
of
any
kind.
Nothing
but
a
stretch
of
dark
blue,
white
capped
water
beneath
a
clouded
sky;
through
which
stray
rays
of
sunlight
gleamed.
The
Monte
Carlo
aft
has
been
going
full
speed
all
day,
there
are
enough
fools
who
are
not
sick
to keep it going strong.
To night I had supper at the canteen ( a few cakes and a bottle of pop).
I
have
been
feeling
fine
all
day.
Havn’t
[sic]
been
in
the
least
sick,
although
I
spent
most
of
my
time
to
day
either
in
the
bow
or
stern
of
the
ship
just
to
see
if
I
would
get
sick.
But
I
guess
I
am
as
good a sailor as ever.
I
am
not
enjoying
this
trip
in
the
least.
I
wish
I
could
sleep
through
the
whole
thing
and
wake
up
the
day
we
enter
Halifax
Harbour.
I
have
met
a
few
fellows
I
know
on
board
but
no
one
that
I
can
call
a
chum
or
even
a
friend.
I
am
struck
here
all
by
myself
and
just
keeping
wandering
around
alone.
I
can
pick
up
acquaintances
fairly
quickly
but
am
very
slow
making
chums
or
friends
and
I
am
getting
sick
of
this.
There
is
no
one
on
the
ship
(or
at
least
I
have
not
met
no
one,
that
I
knew
in
pre-war days.
I
wish
a
huge
aeroplane
would
take
us
in
tow
and
land
us
in
Halifax
tomorrow
morning,
instead
of sometime next week when we expect to reach there.
Well, it it [sic] getting along to 21.00 o’clock so I guess I will turn in for a little snooze.
Saturday April 19th 1919
Rev for me was at 7.30
I
had
a
good
sleep
last
night,
am
just
getting
used
to
my
hammock.
A
fellow
can
only
lie
one
way
in
a
hammock
of
course.
That
is
of
course
with
ones
head
and
feet
about
two
feet
above
the
rest of the body.
Breakfast (sausage & spuds)
After
breakfast
I
went
on
deck
again
but
to
day
has
been
just
the
same
as
yesterday
not
an
object of any kind in slight all day, nothing but the deep blue.
The
ship
changed
her
course
last
night
to
a
more
westerdly
[sic]
direction
and
the
wind
is
blowing across the port bow, this makes the ship roll quite a bit as well as pitch.
At
11
o’clock
this
morning
there
was
a
fire
alarm,
and
we
all
had
to
fall
in
on
deck
and
were
allotted our positions in case anything did happen.
To-day
at
noon
has
been
the
first
day
time
that
the
sun
has
been
showing
clearly
and
I
watched
the officer using the sextant and set my watch accordingly.
Shortly
after
dinner
we
ran
into
a
rain
squall
but
it
only
lasted
about
fifteen
minutes
and
it
came
out
fine
immediately
afterwards.
This
afternoon
has
been
the
first
time
it
has
been
anyways
pleasant on deck.
I spent most of the afternoon watching the gamblers.
After
tea
I
went
on
deck
and
there
met
Sgt
Eldridge
(James)
who
I
havn’t
[sic]
seen
for
four
years.
He
took
me
down
to
his
quarters.
They
have
fine
quarters
two
nice
bunks
and
a
fair
amount
of
room
and
electric
fans
besides.
We
had
a
good
old
talk
together
about
old
Yarmouth
which
we
both
hope
to
be
in
very
shortly.
But
more
than
anything
else
our
talk
rested
on
the
subject
of
English
girls
and
how
they
were
going
to
compare
with
the
Canadian
girls
we
would
soon
be
amongst
again.
We
both
agreed
that
the
Canadian
girls
would
have
to
look
out
or
all
the
young
fellows
would
be
coming
back
to
England
for
their
wives.
And
that
they
would
certainly
have
to
be
at
their
best
to
use
the
boys any better than the English girls have.
I
stayed
with
Jimmie
until
20.00
o’clock
and
then
came
down
here
again
and
now
I
guess
I
will
turn in.
I
have
been
feeling
fine
all
day
and
to-night
I
don’’t
feel
quite
so
disheartened
as
I
did
last
night.
The ship is supposed to be about halfway across the Atlantic to-night.
Sunday April 20th 1919
6.30 Rev.
Had breakfast - no eggs this morning.
After breakfast I went on deck until noon and spent the time walking around the gambling, etc.
After
dinner
I
read
till
tea
time.
After
tea
played
45’s
till
20.00
o’clock
and
am
now
sitting
down to write this.
It
has
been
foggy
all
day
although
it
wasn’t
bad
this
morning.
But
this
afternoon
we
ran
into
a
heavy
mist
just
about
as
bad
as
rain
and
the
wind
has
increased
in
strength
so
that
it
has
been
far
from pleasant on deck so I have kept below.
Today
has
been
just
the
same
as
yesterday
as
far
as
scenery
is
concerned.
Not
an
object
of
any
kind in sight all day.
Well
the
old
ship
is
drawing
close
to
land
now
instead
of
getting
father
away.
This
afternoon
we
were
only
900
miles
from
Halifax
and
we
expect
to
dock
in
Halifax
the
day
after
tomorrow,
The
sooner
the
better
is
all
I
can
say.
It
is
a
little
rougher
tonight
but
nothing
to
speak
of.
Nearly
as
the
boys have got their sea legs now, I have only seen one fellow sick today.
This
afternoon
|I
examined
the
log.
It
is
the
first
time
I
have
had
the
chance.
It
is
more
like
a
speed meter on an automobile than anything I know of.
I
have
been
feeling
fine
all
day
in
health
as
usual
but
the
time
drags
and
it
gets
on
my
nerves
seeing the same old thing day after day.
Well I guess I will turn in (20.30 o’clock)
Monday, April 21st 1919
Well
one
more
day
nearer
home.
I
was
up
this
morning
about
6
o’clock.
But
the
ships
whistle
woke me quite a while before that.
During
the
morning
we
were
in
the
vicinity
of
icebergs,
we
passed
numerous
small
ones.
The
fog
was
so
thick
at
times
that
it
was
impossible
to
see
the
length
of
the
ship.
It
kept
this
way
all
the
morning until 10 o’clock when the fog lifted and it began to get warmer.
The ships engines were working all the morning at just enough pressure to give headway.
From
10
till
11
o’clock
I
watched
a
few
boxing
bouts
that
were
taking
place
on
deck
under
the
supervision of the Y.M.C.A. officer.
At 11 o’clock there was a medical inspection for M. D. 6 and that took up the time until dinner.
After
dinner
it
came
on
colder
but
not
quite
so
foggy
and
the
ship
did
not
slacken
speed
any.
She has been making an average of 18 knots this afternoon.
During the afternoon I just wandered around on deck seeing the same old thing over again.
After tea I stayed below and played cards.
All
the
fog
has
disappeared
now
and
we
are
going
along
fine.
The
seas
has
been
almost
like
a
mill
pond
to-day,
I
would
hardly
realize
that
I
was
on
a
ship
if
it
were
not
for
the
throb
of
the
engines.
I
saw
quite
a
number
of
young
sea
birds
this
morning
just
learning
to
fly
so
we
are
getting
close
to land again.
Two whales were seen from deck this morning before I was up so of course I missed that.
Well
at
present
we
expect
to
be
in
Halifax
by
tomorrow
night
if
we
don’t
strike
heavy
fog
again.
The
boat
is
scheduled
for
six
days
and
was
eight
hours
ahead
of
time
last
night
but
lost
all
of
the gain this morning. But we will strike Halifax Tuesday night or Wednesday morning for sure.
The
boys
are
so
pleased
that
there
is
no
holding
them;
they
have
been
like
a
bunch
of
raving
maniacs
all
day,
doing
everything
conceivable
to
make
a
racket.
I
have
been
feeling
rather
that
way
myself.
Well it is about time I turned in for a little sleep. Have been feeling fine all day.
Tuesday April 22nd 1919
Usual
routine
today.
It
has
been
foggy
all
day.
I
couldn’t
see
fifty
yards
any
time
during
the
day.
During
the
morning
I
watched
the
boxing
for
about
an
hour
and
the
remainder
of
the
morning
I
spent below playing cards.
During the afternoon I watched the boxing for awhile and then went below.
It
has
been
warm
all
day
although
rather
damp.
The
ship
has
been
going
full
speed
all
day
in
spite of the fog.
The
whistle
has
been
blowing
all
day
at
intervals
of
two
minutes
and
is
still
at
it.
I
don’t
know
whether I will get any sleep to-night or not as the old horn is enough to deafen a person.
After
tea
I
spent
my
time
packing
up
and
sorting
out
my
kit;
and
did
a
little
shinning,
the
first
I
have done during the trip.
We
expect
to
reach
Halifax
before
daylight
and
[perhaps
I
will
be
a
civy
by
to-morrow
night.
I
hope so.
Well it is about time to turn in and see if I can forget that - whistle.
Have been feeling in the best of health all day.
Wednesday April 23nd 1919
(Halifax)
Reveille
was
about
4.30,
anyway
I
got
up
about
that
time.
I
got
my
breakfast
and
then
went
on
deck.
The
coast
of
good
old
Nova
Scotia
could
be
seen
on
our
starboard
side
about
two
miles
away.
Now you talk about an excited bunch of kids well we certainly were that.
We
entered
the
mouth
of
the
harbour
about
7
o’clock
I
think
it
was
and
had
to
wait
there
for
a
pilot.
Then
we
steamed
up
the
harbour.
When
we
came
in
sight
of
the
city
I
guess
they
blew
off
all
the steam that they had in the place.
All
the
fellows
were
on
deck
or
the
majority
of
them
were,
the
remainder
were
amongst
the
riggings.
We
docked
at
about
9.30
o’clock
and
I
clambered
off
at
9.45
o’clock.
And
maybe
I
wasn’t
pleased although I knew nobody in Halifax.
From
the
pier
we
were
marched
up
to
the
Armories
where
we
were
given
a
lecture
by
some
Major and were then sent over to the barracks until we would be called for.
I
had
my
dinner
and
a
change
of
clothes
and
then
hung
around
until
15.00
o’clock
and
then
had
to collect my surplus kit and go to the Armories again.
I
got
over
there
with
about
a
couple
of
hundred
other
fellows
and
had
to
hang
around
till
17.00
o’clock
before
we
got
started.
After
I
entered
the
first
department
I
was
discharged
in
about
twenty
minutes.
First
we
went
to
Q.
M.,
then
chaplains,
M.O.
Dentest,
pay
master,
badge
dept,
discharge
dept,
(where
I
got
my
precious
slip
of
paper)
Railway
office.
Then
to
the
bank
to
get
my
check
cashed
and
my English money changed.
I
met
Ken
Vickery
in
the
bank
office
and
I
was
some
pleased
to
see
him
as
he
was
the
first
civy
I
had met on this side I knew.
Well my soldiering ended this afternoon at 17.30 o’clock and I am now a full fledged civy.
After
getting
my
discharge
I
walked
down
town
to
a
“chop
suey”
joint
to
get
something
to
eat,
and then I walked around till about 22.30 o’clock and then came back here to barracks.
Well I guess I will turn in now. 23.00 o’clock.
Feeling fit as a fiddle.
Finis
April 24th
And I am back to the same old place I started from over three years ago.
E.R. Miller
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