Unit diary - update - 30 October 1915

Whilst Athol was in Egypt the rest of the 5th Battalion were still at their 'rest camp' on Lemnos Island in Greece. The conditions at this camp together with the men's general state of fatigue and poor condition led to a steady flow of men to the makeshift hospital on the island (the No.3 Australian General Hospital - which was a row of tents). From there many were transferred to hospital ships back to Egypt.

Even if the men recovered from their illnesses and were well enough to rejoin their Battalion it was not always practicle for them to re-join their units. Athol was probably well enough to be transferred back to Lemnos by early November. However, on 30 October the unit diary for the 5th Battalion says:

'...as laid down in Bn order no.127 of today's date, no person except for transmission of messages or other duty will approach closer than 10 paces from the cordon line on either side'.

The battalion was in quarantine due to an outbreak of Diptheria. The quarantine restrictions were not lifted until 10 November.

Athol was probably not transferred back to Lemnos because the Battalion was in quarantine.