On 19 September 1914, Charles David McIntosh enlisted in the Railway Supply Detachment of the Army Service Corps. He was 34 and living in Frederick Street, Rockdale.
On 5 July 1915, he wrote home:
Right amongst it at last. Arrived here five days ago, and were accorded a salute of shrapnel, but landed scathless, and no casualties since, though they have been banging away day and night. Satisfied now about the achievement of our chaps who landed here on 25 April. Reminds me a lot of Austinmer, but about three times as steep. We live in shrapnel-proof dugouts in the different gullies, and the place is not unlike a mining settlement round Clifton way. From our hillside dugout we can see right over the beautiful Aegean Sea to the neighbouring islands. There’s long twilight here, and last night’s sunset could not have been beaten. The troops have been busy besides fighting, and have constructed miles of trenches, dug water wells, installed telephones and wireless, etc. Have met several old friends from Sydney and the “Berrima,” many with whiskers. No barber here, no canteen, no shops, …; but plenty of good tucker, sufficient water, good swimming, post office, etc. Ration issue includes tobacco, cigarettes, matches. Have not started to smoke, but have no trouble in placing my allowance. All the coves, capes, beaches, gullies, and peaks have fresh names, mostly after the commanders who captured them. Anzac is the first letters in Australia and New Zealand Army Corps. No mosquitoes, sharks or sandflies here; but plenty of flies and locusts (our sort, not the Egyptian). Have done some pretty stiff work since we arrived, most of it at night, in connection with the supply for the camp, but no railways available yet.
Charles returned to Australia in 1919.
Plan your Anzac Day commemoration in St George
Arncliffe
6am: Memorial and Wreath Laying Service, Cenotaph Arncliffe Park, 71B Wollongong Road, Arncliffe.
Bexley
6am: Memorial and Wreath Laying Service at Bexley RSL Club, 24 Stoney Creek Road, Bexley.
Brighton Le Sands
6am: Memorial and Wreath Laying Service at the Memorial next to the RSL Club, 251 Bay Street, Brighton-Le-Sands.
Hurstville
6am: Memorial and Wreath Laying Service at Memorial Square, Forest Road, Hurstville.
Kingsgrove
7am: March from the corner between Shaw Street and Kingsgrove Road.
7.15am: Service at Kingsgrove Memorial Park.
Kogarah
7.15am: March from Bellevue Street (behind Kogarah Clubhouse), along English Street to the Jubilee Stadium Cenotaph.
7.15am: Service at the Jubilee Stadium Cenotaph, cnr English and Park Road.
Mortdale
10am: Service at Mortdale Memorial Park, 65 Oxford Street, Mortdale.
Oatley
6am: Service at Oatley Memorial Gardens, Oatley Avenue, Oatley.
11am – 2pm: Anzac Day Family Day featuring Historic Military Vehicle Displays, Historic Aircraft Flyover, Oatley Lions Club BBQ, Emergency Services Display, and Local Community Groups
Ramsgate, Sans Souci
7am: March from the Sans Souci Literary Institute, 107 Ramsgate Road, Ramsgate. The march will be led by the St George & Sutherland Pipe Band. It includes a colour party, local schools and sports groups, Army Navy & Air Force Cadets, South Pacific Concert band, and a catafalque party.
7.20am: Memorial and Wreath Laying Service at Ramsgate RSL Club, Corner of Chuter Avenue and Ramsgate Road, Sans Souci.
Riverwood
5.30am: Dawn Service at Club Rivers Memorial, Littleton Street.
9.15am: Anzac Day march from Belmore Road.
9.30am: Service at Club Rivers Memorial.
South Hurstville
5.50am: March south on Connells Point Road to the RSL.
6am: Service at 72 Connells Point Road, South Hurstville.
Sydney City
9am: the St George & Sutherland Pipe Band will also march in the city, leading the 9 Royal Australian Regiment Association (9RAR) along George Street for the Act of Remembrance as they pass the Anzac Memorial in Martin Place.
12.30pm: Following the march, a commemoration service is held next to The Pool of Remembrance at the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park South.
NRL Anzac Round
4pm: St George Dragons vs. Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium