Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Gordon Macrae diary, 20 January 1917-18 April 1918
MLMSS 958/Item 3

[Transcriber’s note – First Gaza Engagement – p 20, (26 March); In charge of camels – p12 – p24; Second Gaza engagement – p28; Sent to the Training Squadron at Moascar – p47 – p55; Attended 5 week cavalry training course – p58; Transferred to Records Office, Alexandria, p74 and then AIF HQ in Cairo; 5 days leave, visited ancient monuments, Luxor, Valley of the Kings etc. p81 - 87; He did not rejoin his regiment and sailed for Australia aboard the SS Port Darwin on 15 Nov. 1918. He was discharged from the AIF, 24 Feb. 1919. The 6th Light Horse Regiment took part in actions in Palestine and Jordan and was part of the force that captured Amman on 25 Sept. 1918, its last major engagement in the campaign]

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Diary of No 294 Sergeant G Macrae
6th Australian Light Horse

Opened January 20th 1917

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January 1917

January 20 to 28th
The Regiment is still at Bayoud [Bir el Beyud] on the Southern flank still doing outpost patrols etc. The weather is fine & warm during the day & cool at nights with occasional sand storms lasting 2 or 3 days. On the 26th B Troop went to Hassaniya to prepare camp for the regiment On the 28th the Regt marched out, being relieved by the “Shropshire Yeomanry” We only expect to be at Hassaniya for a few days. On the 29th we got an Australian & English mail & I was surprised that I got nothing from Australia, but got one letter from Aunt Carrie.

30th Janry
Was sent to Port Said with Trooper Richardson to get some goods for the Colonel. We left camp at 1 oclock & rode to Khirba (4 miles) & caught a train at 3 oclock. The desert train is very rough & travels slow. To make things worse there was a sand storm & it was as much as the engine could do to pull the empty trucks. We caught the train at 10.10 pm to Port Said getting there shortly after11 & went to the Hotel de la Poste. Had a hot bath & a good clean up next morning & put

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February 1917
in a busy day shopping. The Australian Cruiser “Brisbane” was at Port Said & the sailors were ashore & they had a good time. I was told that 3 attempts had been made on the “Brisbane” to stop her from leaving Sydney. First the steering gear broke & she nearly went on the rocks at Watson’s bay. next there was a serious fire aboard which they managed to get under control. The last accident was the bursting of a boiler. All this was put down as the work of the IWW in Australia

1st Febry
We left Port Said & picked up the goods at Kantara but owing to the big movements of troops , we couldn’t get space on any truck to get them out, so we caught the train to Cairo getting there just before dark Stayed at the Anzac Hostel where things are very cheap , It is a splendid place & all comforts are contained in it. You can get things for ½ or 1/3 the price outside So it means a big saving. Went to see Mr & Mrs Warner about 8 oclock & spent a pleasant evening. Their

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February 1917
daughters are in England & one is engaged to an Australian. Next day we called on Mr Briggs, Chief Electrical Engineer, Egyptian Rlways & had a good yarn with him. Afterwards went out to the 14th Genl Hospital Abbassia & saw several of our boys there. They find it very lonely & they are glad to see anyone they know. Listened to the band in the gardens in the afternoon & had dinner there. Cairo has changed very much. Nearly all the old places of amusement are closed as there are so few troops to patronise them.

3rd Febry
We left Cairo by the 7 am train & got to Kantara after 11 am. Managed to get room on the desert train for the goods, so got them over to East Kantara & loaded on the 10 to 6 pm train. Kantara is an immense place now, the most important on the canal At Gilban we saw one of the new “tanks”. Several of them are here & we are wondering how Johnny Turk will like this. We spent all night on

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February 1917
the train & reached El Arish just before daybreak & unloaded the goods. On inquiring I found the Regiment were at Mazar & wouldn’t be coming on to El Arish for some days. I left a guard on the stuff & came back to Mazar & was told to bring it back. Whilst at El Arish a mine was washed up on shore. A machine gun tried to explode it but failed so a mountain gun was brought down & it fixed the mine up. Went off with a great roar.

Two soldiers bathing got caught in the undertow & several attempts failed. An Australian went in on his horse & got them out. It was a good bit of work. A Taube aeroplane came over but our guns gave it a warm time & it didn’t drop any bombs. The Egyptian Labour Corps are very frightened of the bombs & they run about like “lost sheep”. They get silly with terror. A previous night air raid accounted for about 60 of them, mostly through their foolishness. I saw 18 Turkish prisoners

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February 1917
brought in. Many have given themselves up since Rafa. They seem fairly well clothed & in good condition, but they were very hungry & thirsty.

Febry 5th
Got back to Mazar with the goods. Sent over to the camp for 2 timber waggons & soon had the things in the camp. We expect to be at Mazar only a few days. The farriers are very busy shoeing, so it looks like hard country for us.

Febry 6th
We are just doing a few patrols & a little outpost work & as the whole Brigade are here, it is very easy. The amount of work done out this way since we were here last is wonderful. It speaks wonders for British energy & organisation. Turkey’s chances of getting into Egypt are getting more & more remote. It can never be more than a dream of theirs now. At night the Royal Welsh Fusiliers gave a Concert in the YMCA tent & it proved one of the best I have yet heard in Egypt. Their part singing was splendid. Many of their songs were sung in their own tongue, but that did not stop us from

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February 1917
Appreciating them.

Febry 7th
Enemy planes bombed El Arish.

[Febry] 8th
Marched out of Mazar at 9 am. We did an easy march of 15 miles & arrived at Bardawil at 4 pm, getting fresh water for our horses which they appreciated after poor well water at Mazar. Bivouacked at Bardawil for the night – got a good rum issue.

Febry 9th
Left Bardawil at 9.30 am & travelled about 7 miles along the coast: passed the aerodrome. Nearly any time there are 3 or 4 planes continually “up” & the aerodrome is busy place We reached Masaid, our destination, about 4 miles on the canal side of El Arish Masaid is a large palm grove (Hod) of about 750 acres in extent, by far the largest palm grove I have seen on the desert. There is beautiful water in the wells also fresh water laid on. The New Zealanders, 3rd Light Horse Brigade & Camelry are also camped here. There are also canteens & a big YMCA. It gives promise of being the best camp we have been in this side of the canal. The Anzac Mounted Division has been broken up &

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February 1917
2 Divisions formed, to be called the 1st Imperial Mounted Division & the 2nd. Our Brigade is in the 1st Division & we have one English Yeomanry Bgde with us. The 2nd Division consists of ½ Australian L Horse & the other half Yeomanry. The reason I think is that they can divide the work better so that one cant boast over the other. The Anzacs previously had nearly all the work, honor & glory & even the natives were beginning to compare the Yeomanry & Light Horse & such native expressions as Australia good ! English no good ! We are all sorry to lose our name, but we will still be on the job & it might make things easier

At night a concert was held. The 2nd & 3rd Bgdes & some Welsh Engineers contributing the program which was very good. Both Brigadiers were present & Genl Royston, who is now the idol of the Australians, got a great reception. It was very funny when they got on to the platform & hopped round together both of them being very big men. They both gave

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February 1917
a speech & both of them have a way of striking the right ‘note’ with the boys.

Febry 10th
The day was cloudy & cool. The Squadron did an hours exercise in the morning. We got tents & pitched them in the afternoon. The 1st Brigade marched through on their way back to Bayoud & Mageibra. I saw Douglas Cooper & had a yarn with him for about an hour

Febry 11th
“B” Squadron was duty squadron for the Brigade. The duty squadron finds the patrols, camel escorts & pumping fatigues. “B” Troop found 19 other ranks to El Arish on camel escort. There was a lot of aerial activity on our part during the day, but don’t know whether they were out on duty or pleasure. Wrote several letters in the afternoon & have got my correspondence about squared up. We got our colours issued green & red [sketch of patch] are our regimental colours. A thunderstorm worked up at night. I took over orderly sergeant for a week. Several tents got blown down at night & we also had some rain.

Febry 12th
B Squadron was duty squadron for the Regiments. There was a lot of

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February 1917
work to do as Genl Chetwode Commander of the Desert Column inspected at 10 am An enemy aeroplane came over in the morning & dropped a couple of bombs. Our Anti’s covered the face of the sky with white puffs of smoke & the plane soon cleared back. The Regiment played the NZealanders a drawn game at Rugby. It was a good match. Several showers of rain fell during the day. We also got some mail. I got 3 or 4 papers only.

Febry 13th
Up at 3 am as I had to get several men away who were going on leave. They will have 2 full days in Port Said. The regiment parade at 9 oclock, mounted. They are practicing galloping through barrages of artillery fire. There was another football match in the afternoon.

Febry 14th
Mounted parade in the morning. There was lot of aerial activity on our part during the day. About 40 aeroplanes were out in the afternoon. Two good football matches were played in the afternoon. The NZealanders played a splendid

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February 1917
game. The Auckland Regt & the Wellingtons played a draw. An Australian mail arrived. I only got 2 letters

Febry 15th
Got some rain during the night & it was cloudy & windy all day. Numbers of our aeroplanes went out over Turkish positions & I heard later dropped 1600 lbs of bombs. There were 2 football matches in the afternoon. The match between the Wellington & Auckland Mounted Rifles was drawn, neither side scoring & it was a good exhibition of football.

Febry 16th
The day was cloudy & cold. We had the usual morning parade mounted.

Saturday 17th
Another party of 7 men per squadron went on leave at 3 am I had to turn out & see them away The morning was extremely cold with a fair bit of rain & wind There was no parade in the morning. In the afternoon the 2nd Brigade played the NZ Brigade football, the NZs winning by 6 points to nil. It was a stubborn game, the NZ forwards were splendid, as also

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February 1917
were our Back line. Got a letter from Arthur Blomfield & one from Bob Hill.

Sunday 18th
Church parade in the forenoon. Played football in the afternoon.

Monday 19th
Mounted parade in the morning. Got some training in judging distances, fire direction, control etc. In the afternoon was sent over to the Camel Transport for Instruction. Found things fairly easy with plenty of food & fodder for the horse

Tuesday 20th
Went with the camel train to El Arish for the Brigade supplies. Got back about 3 in the afternoon. Met Lieut Lockingtons He is in the N Z Engineers

Wednesday 21st
Took the camels to El Arish & had a fairly busy day as we had to take loading in. Was busy packing up at night ready for a move in the morning.

Thursday 22nd
The Brigade moved out at about 7 am. We followed on behind. There was a great

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mass of men moving East, infantry artillery & mounted troops. An enemy plane came over, but dropped no bombs near the column. On the way out passed through the Scottish Rifles lines & had a feed there & took the opportunity of looking up Cousin Will. Arrived at Sheikh Zowaiid at 7 pm & after fixing things up it was after 11 when we turned in.

Thursday Friday 23rd
Went back in the morning to pick up some loading left behind the previous day The NZealanders & the 2nd Brigade went out to round up some Bedouins. One NZealander was killed & a few wounded & they only got one or 2 prisoners. Both Brigades came back & are now camping on the Beach.

Saturday 24th
Was busy all day fixing up our camp & fixed up a good substantial dug out.

Sunday 25th
Was orderly for the day. Went out with the camels for exercise at 6 am. Took the coons who were sick over to the Field Amb.

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February 1917
& then went for a swim. The water was fairly cold. At 11 oclock attended the sick camel parade & watched them all treated. They are dirty creatures to handle & I don’t think it is possible for anyone to like them The Brigade went out early in the morning as a covering party to a vessel taking soundings on the coast. Am picking up a bit of Arabic & often have little yarns with the nigs. It is the only way to learn.

Monday 26th
In the morning went with the sick parade & later went over to the Regiment. There were 3 mines exploded that were washed ashore It was a good sight to see them go off. A Taube came over in the morning. An Australian mail arrived. I only received 1 letter from home.

Tuesday 27th
Had nothing to do all day. The Brigade was out on reconnaissance & saw some mounted Turks. Some gift stuff arrived & was distributed & was very acceptable no canteen being yet out here

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February. March 1917
Wednesday 28th
Had another easy day. Got several papers. Wrote letters 1 to Doug & one home. The Rail head is out here now. They are laying about 1 mile per day so we expect to be on the move forward very soon again.

Thursday March 1st
Went over to the Regiment & got paid The YMCA have started a canteen, but it is nearly 2 miles from our camp.

Friday 2nd
The Brigade went out early & occupied Khan Yunis without opposition. They got a few prisoners. The enemy only fired a couple of big shells which seemed to come from a long distance This Sheikh Zowaiid is a big camp now & the railway is being pushed on at great speed.

Saturday 3rd
Went over to the canteen to get some things. There was an enormous crowd of troops there lined up & it seemed hopeless. However a 5PT tip to the Tommy military policeman fixed things up & we didn’t have much of a wait. There was a splendid surf & in the afternoon we went in. The water was great. Had a good gallop along the beach afterwards.

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Sunday 4th
Went for a ride along the line & got my horse a good feed of barley The country as one goes East improves splendidly, what with crops, orchards & green pastures. An enemy plane came over & was heavily fired at. It seemed to us as though it was hit but she turned straight back. One of our planes was brought down in our lines and they fixed her up alright.

Monday 5th
The Brigade was out all day. We hear the Turks are evacuating Shellal so the long promised big scrap will be postponed. Posted letters to Arthur Blomfield & Aunt Carrie.

Tuesday 6th
Went over to the dump with the camels & drew the Brigade Rations. Was finished before dinner time. The NZealand Brigade have opened a canteen & I got a good supply of stuff there.

Wednesday 7th
Was on orderly duties. Took the camels out for exercise at 6 am

Thursday 8th
The Brigade moved out & occupied a new camp on the sea shore, about 3 miles from Rafa

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March 1917
Friday 9th
Received letter from Meg – answered same also wrote a note home. A sandstorm came up at night & made things very uncomfortable. Took the horses in for a swim. The water was great.

Saturday 10th
Took some camels into the sea for bathing. Didn’t go in myself, it was too windy & cold. The NZ Brigade came out today.

Sunday 11th
Went round the regiments & collected waste feed for the camels. The day was very cold with wind & some rain. Fixed up a desert dugout for the first time for several nights had a warm sleep & didn’t get smothered in sand.

Monday 12th
Was orderly for the day. The wind still continues & there was some more rain. One of the Arab drivers who stole all our previous days rations was flogged for it at orderly room. I never saw anyone flogged till I came with the camels, but these naffirs seem to take it as part of the game.

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March 1917
Shifted camp again into a more sheltered position. There was a Brigade muster parade in the afternoon. & the troops were lectured about taking the natives fowls, crops etc. Offenders to be strictly dealt with etc.

Tuesday 13th
Took the camels to water. Each camel takes ½ an hr. It is a long job & takes fully ½ a day. Drew the rations in the afternoon & afterwards took some camels to the 22nd Bgde First line

Wednesday 14th
Had an easy day. 2 Turkish planes were about nearly all the morning & were heavily fired on. It is getting quiet common now that hardly any notice is take of them at all.

Thursday 15th
Went round the regiments & collected all the waste horse feed. In the afternoon drew the rations An Australian mail arrived. I got 3 letters. Got paid today

Friday 16th
orderly to day.

Saturday 17th
Went out with the camels grazing. They are getting very little work now & are making up condition

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March 1917
Answered a couple of letters

Sunday 18th
Took some sick camels over to Railhead. In the afternoon took the sick camels with a line of coons to get washed

Monday 19th
Was detailed orderly to day, but was relieved of my job by Sergeant Berry & reported back to my unit. Sgt Fitzgerald was detailed for duty at Moascar & left at 6 pm.

Tuesday 20th
We were lined up in the afternoon & lectured by the doctor on diseases we are likely to encounter in Syria & means for their prevention. Mounted Regt orderly Sgt at night

Wednesday 21st
Being orderly Sgt could not go to the races to be held today It was a big meeting & lasted all day. Australian Horses did very well

Thursday 22nd
We were expecting to move out today & got ready for it However we didn’t go.

Friday 23rd
Still in the same camp We are getting a bit impatient as orders are expected hourly to go. Other troops are in contact with the Turks in front & we don’t know what it means Were lectured by the Squadron O.C.

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March 1917
on matters chiefly relating to discipline through the conduct of Australian soldiers towards British officers etc.

Saturday 24th
Stood by all day ready to move

Sunday 25th
Reveille at 12.30 & we marched out at 2.30 am. It was a busy day & fairly warm. Columns of infantry & artillery were on the move. We reached Dar el Belah shortly after dinner & camped there for the rest of the day, having a rest before we attack Gaza.

Monday 26th
We turned out again at 12.30 am & were on the road by 2 am. It was a bad morning. About 4 am a thick blanket of fog screened everything & progress was very slow. We gave our horses every opportunity of getting all the green feed they could get & there are some splendid crops in this part. We made a wide circling movement & came in contact with the enemy about 2 miles East of the Gaza Beersheba Road. Their patrols were driven back & some of them captured. On reaching the road we captured the Turkish commandant & quite a number of Turks. Enemy aeroplanes came

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March 1917
low & fired on us, but we returned it & every time drove them off. A big Turkish gun tried to pick us up, but we changed direction & pushed right in behind Gaza cutting off all communication, & capturing more prisoners. In the afternoon our infantry attacked Gaza, but it was too strongly held & only one redoubt was captured by the N Zealanders who galloped across an open grass plain & dismounted & charged with bayonets. It was a great sight. The whole fight seemed more like a big parade ground movement From a hill behind the town we could see everything, all the troops & artillery moving into position & the charge across the plain. It was a pity it wasn’t successful, everything seemed to be so well carried out.

Our Brigade held off reinforcements & worried the Turks from the rear. We inflicted a lot of casualties among the Turks, one of our machine guns wiping out whole company. Two guns were captured. The 5th LH had a bayonet charge on horseback. We remained behind Gaza till 10.30 pm

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March 1917
The Turks sent up large reinforcements & the 3rd LH Brigade gave them a warm time & stopped them from reaching Gaza till next morning. During the night we withdrew across the Wadi el Ghuzze as we were liable to get cut off & at daylight returned to camp. The fighting had been severe & losses on both sides were considerable. Boats landed ammunition & rations on the beach & it was kept up to us well. We watered our horses & had a spell all day.

Wednesday 28th
Shifted camp near to the water & it was great to get a swim & a good wash again. At night I was detailed to take charge of the Brigade camels. It was a bit sudden & I had to take over straight away.

Thursday 29th
Had a very busy day getting hold of the swing of things & work started in earnest at once. Each Regt got 2 leads of water I also got some feed up from the dump on the beach. At 12.30 the Brigade moved out I followed with the water which I got up all right losing one

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March 1917
camel on the way. Drew rations for the natives & the camels & it was past 7 when I got the camels fed & barracked for the night.

Friday 30th
The Brigade came back in the morning to camp & I followed with the camels, filled up at the wells & distributed the water. After dinner sent all the camels to the Lake & watered them.

Saturday 31st
Had an easy time distributed the camels among the Bgde. drew the rations & then shifted camp. All the Divisional water & Hospital camels are being put together, so I handed my camels over to Lieut Fisher.

Sunday 1st April
Australian mail arrived today. I got 2 letters. There is artillery & rifle fire every day, but there has been no infantry attack on either side. We get good surfing every day & the water & weather is just right for it.

Monday 2nd April
Managed to buy a good supply of cigarettes, oranges & eggs. They are nearly impossible to obtain here just now & are very dear. We got an issue of bread first for over a week, but are still on the bully beef. 8 “Tanks”

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April 1917
came up this afternoon. They look very formidable & are heavily armoured & armed. They are all named, such as “Lion”, “Tiger” “War Baby” “Pincher” etc & some of them carry 6 pounder guns. They ought to give Jacko a surprise in a few days.

Tuesday 3rd
The Turks opened up a lively artillery fire first thing in the morning. For some reason our own guns did not reply for some time, but when they did Jacko soon knocked off. Under cover of his artillery he sent out a strong party but they were heavily punished.

Wednesday 4th
Finished up with the camels & transported myself back to the Squadron. The Brigade went out on 24 hrs outpost in the afternoon. We were expecting a bombing attack to day & our aeroplanes were up all the time, but the bombs did not eventuate.

Thursday 5th
The day was very warm, so enjoyed a good swim. There was some artillery fire. Enemy planes are over every day & get heavily fired at always

Friday 6th
Reveille at 5 am. Started right away & put in several hours cleaning our saddles & all equipment. The General was to inspect in the

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April 1917
morning, but it took him nearly all say inspecting the 7th & the Machine gun Squadron

Saturday 7th
A & C Squadrons went out at 4 am & one troop of B Squadron followed later. There was much aerial activity & anti guns were very busy nearly all day. All the night on the 7th LH lines Chaplain Colonel Woods gave us an interesting lecture on Gaza & its history. There was a big audience & they listened very eagerly to all he had to say.

Sunday 8th
Had a quiet day in camp. Church parade in the evening before tea.

Monday 9th
The Squadron was up early & got away mounted with picks & shovels to Tel-el-Jemmi where we dug basins for the storage of 24,000 gallons of water
We finished at 3.30 pm. Whilst we were working 2 Turks came in unarmed & gave themselves up. One was a sergeant & the other a corporal. The 7th got a cavalryman but except for his sword & boots his equipment wasn’t very good

Tuesday 10th
The day was very warm. The brigade moved out at 11.30 to go out on outpost before the Turkish post at Weli Sheikh Nuran

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April 1917
Wednesday 11th
The Brigade got back into camp at 3 pm & we soon got the dust off us by a plunge into the sea. Sharks have been seen & police patrol the beach Got news of a big British success in France. An Australian mail also arrived I got 3 letters dated 25th Febry. Posted letters to Doug & Roy

Thursday 12th
We got a lecture on the use of gas helmets & it was very interesting We will have to get a fair bit of drills to make us quick at using them A Turkish aeroplane dropped a few bombs near the aerodrome, but came under heavy shell fire & nearly got hit They are getting a great respect for our anti guns & fly at a great height. Heard that the Scotties captured a Turkish outpost & some machine guns also that a German spy had been captured in our lines dressed as an Australian officer. He was inspecting gun positions. Our Brigade brought in 2 Turks & 2 Bedouins today A watch from home arrived by packet registered post.

Friday 13th
Our guns were more active today. There was plenty of aerial activity

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April 1917
& much anti fire. We had gas drill in the afternoon. Australian parcels & papers arrived today.

Saturday 14th
Early in the morning the enemy shelled the rail head with his long range guns. Little damage was done but the big clearing hospital got a few shells & had to shift to a more sheltered spot. Enemy aeroplanes dropped some bombs near the beach. Some of them fell in the sea a mile from the shore. The minesweepers created some interest in the afternoon. They were firing at something in the sea, but we couldn’t see what! Our Regt moved out at 4 pm to support the Yeomanry on outpost.

Sunday 15th
The Regt got back into camp at 8 oclock. We were covered in dust & after breakfast we took all the horses into the sea.

Monday 16th
As a bombardment was expected we shifted our horses a couple of miles back for a few hours. In the afternoon we prepared to move out. It was 8 oclock when we left. The whole Division was moved together & we travelled all night reaching Shellal just after daylight. The ride was

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April 1917
hardly a pleasure trip. The dust was blinding & choking & the halts & interruptions frequent. In addition the night was cold & we were all tired. We watered in the Wadi & it was just then 2 enemy aeroplanes spotted us & down came the bombs. One killed & wounded 20 men & 18 horses, most of them belonging to Brigade Headquarters. The day Monday Tuesday 17th was very hot with hardly a breath of air. We got no time to boil any tea & nearly everyone was suffering a good deal.

After frequent halts of varying lengths we got into touch with the Turks near Abu Hareira there was a bit of a skirmish & some artillery fire. We got a good well with splendid water. After dark we came back & camped near the Wadi. It was 11.30 when we got to sleep.

Wednesday 18th
We were out again at daylight, watered our horses & managed to get a shave & a wash. A plane came over & dropped more bombs but did no damage. We went out again towards Abu Hareira, got in touch with the Turks & stayed there till dark.

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April 1917
More bombs were dropped & both the NZs & the artillery lost some men & horses. After dark we watered & fed & drew our rations & at 11 oclock left the wadi & travelled to Jemmi which took us all night. We were all very weary & many went to sleep on their horses At every halt men used to throw themselves on the ground & were immediately asleep.

Thursday 19th
A heavy bombardment started at daylight & nearly all day there was a continuous roar of guns. We were in support of the 3rd Brigade. The fighting was very stiff, the Turks proved to be exceptionally strong, both in men, guns & position. We were bombed in the morning, 1 bomb falling in the centre of B Squadron. Fortunately no one was hit. In the afternoon we were heavily bombed & shelled. The Turks using 2 big guns about 8 in. The 3rd Bgde lost heavily. The fighting on our part was in the open. The Turks in redoubts. They must have lost heavily with our artillery fire as it was very heavy. The warships were also firing. Our infantry took

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April 1917
Gaza but had to leave it again. The 5th & 7th Light Horse had a scrap with the Turkish cavalry & punished them. They had to leave because the Turks brought up some mountain guns & shelled the horses. We had only a few men wounded with bombs & shells. We saw a great air fight in the afternoon. 4 enemy planes were over us & 2 British. One of our planes flying very low was suddenly dived on by an enemy plane above. At the same time the other British plane dived & fired but suddenly plane it broke into smoke & turned over & over like a fluttering piece of paper & fell to the ground.
We got back to the wadi at 10 oclock & had a few hours sleep. We had only 5 hrs sleep the whole time since Sunday night & I don’t think any of us before had had such a strenuous time.

Friday 20th
The Turks during the night advanced to the Wadi & our troops drove them back & took a well they had occupied. Our A Squadron captured 6 horses & inflicted some casualties on them, so also did the armoured cars

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April 1917
They were acting as a flank guard. Many enemy planes came over & dropped bombs & the 1st Brigade lost 36 men & 73 horses. We dug in near the Wadi during the day. 6 of our planes went out over the Turks position & dropped bombs. They flew very low & one of ours was brought down by shell fire We moved to another camp & got to sleep at about 9 oclock.

Saturday 21st
Did nothing all day except a 3 mile trip for water. In the afternoon we relieved the NZs on outpost & occupied Weli Sheikh Nuran trenches at night. These are beautiful trenches miles of them & it is a wonder why they ever left them. We had a quiet night & managed to get a fair bit of sleep.

Sunday 22nd
At daylight we saddled & went SW about 4 miles & rounded up a few armed Bedouins. Came back to Weli Sheikh Nuran watered, fed & got our rations & went out a couple of miles on outpost.

Monday 23rd
At daylight B Troop went on patrol. We passed through several villages & gardens. We could hardly get

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April1917
through in places on account of the maze of Turkish trenches. We came across herds of cattle & the natives taking off their crops. The natives must live in the fields for all the mud houses are deserted & show no signs of recent habitation. Wood is very scarce but we managed to get some as our patrols hadn’t been over the same ground before. There was no sign of any Turkish patrols so after travelling SE about 4 miles we came back & had breakfast, watered & went to Nuran for another days feed, rations & again came out on outpost. There was steady gunfire nearly all night north of us near Gaza.

Tuesday 24th
Did nothing during the day except graze & water our horses. It is nearly 3 miles to water so it takes a good deal of time making 2 trips per day. Sent out a fatigue party to get a fair supply of wood . The day was terribly hot & there was a lot of wind & dust. The only shade we had was made by hanging blankets on rifles. We went into the trenches at night. It was too hot to get any sleep.

Wednesday 25th
At daylight B Troop went

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April 1917
out on patrol & made a big circling screen to the South & East. We saw no sign of the enemy but came across some sheep & goats & secured three They made very good eating & a change from the eternal “bully” we have had of late. After breakfast we took our horses to water & we all had a bath. It was greatly appreciated as it was nearly a fortnight since the last & the dirt was accumulating fast. The heat was very intense again & it was a relief to get through the day.

Thursday 26th
Had a fairly easy day again but it was far from comfortable on account of the heat. There was steady gun fire near Gaza all day. Can’t get any news of what is happening. At dusk we were relieved by the Yeomanry & came in to Weli Sheikh Nuran & had a good nights rest.

Friday 27th
Got our horses some good grazing. In the afternoon we cleaned out trenches. B Troop were in the trenches at night. There was fairly continuous gun fire near Gaza all night.

Saturday 28th
B Squadron went to the Shagar [?] cisterns & were all day emptying

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April. May 1917
fantassies into them. It was nearly dark when we got back to Sheikh Nuran & then we had to shift out on outpost. We were in reserve so had a great nights sleep.

Sunday 29th
We moved again further to the left. Barbed wire had been put out in front. Infantry has come out & they make it a lot lighter for us. There was a fair bit of shelling. I wrote 3 letters & got them posted. Had a shower or two of rain.

Monday 30th
We had more showers in the morning. There was also a fair artillery duel We got good news of fresh successes in France. Enemy planes were very active during the afternoon & flew very low over our part of the line. We put a tremendous rifle & machine gun fire into them but with no visible effect.

Tuesday 1st May
We “stood to” at 3 am. A Turkish attack was expected. They opened up a bombardment near Gaza about 3.30 am but the fire decreased after a couple of hours. An enemy plane came over & dropped 3 bombs near the Wadi where we water our horses. No damage was done.

Wednesday 2nd May
We heard that the Turks

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May 1917
attacked near Gaza but were repulsed. There was a fair bit of gun fire, especially early in the morning. In the afternoon we took 2 pack horses & got in firewood. Had to dig in the roof of a house to get the rafters & beams. The fleas were numerous. We voted today. Commonwealth Elections.

Thursday 3rd
Went with 40 men road making across the Wadi Ghuzze We put in a solid days work & started back for camp at 4.30 pm. Had a bath at the water hole on the way back. Throughout the night there was an intense bombardment at Gaza

Friday 4th
An enemy plane came over twice & dropped bombs. Our anti guns gave him a warm time. They had a perfect line but were a little low. Gun fire was constant all the morning. The day was very dusty but not very hot. Enemy planes raided Belah Hospital 23 casualties

Saturday 5th
Took a party & some pack horses, pulled the roof of a Bedouin house & got some firewood. At night our planes as a reprisal raided the Turks.

Sunday 6th
B Troop was sent out early & we put the best part of the day erecting Barb wire. We got back at 3.30 & had to leave again at 4.30 pm. 3 Brigades

[Page 36]

May 1917
moved out across the Wadi after dark & we travelled E.S.E. to El Bugger getting there before daylight. The Turks were not occupying it in force & their patrols retired, so there was nothing doing. Enemy planes raided the Hospital & burnt our aerodrome at Belah. There were 60 casualties, mostly in the hospital

Monday 7th
We returned from El Bugger early & got back to camp at 9 oclock. We were all feeling tired & after getting a feed we got in a good sleep.

Tuesday 8th
We were detailed in the morning for putting out wire over the Wadi. We fixed up over ½ a mile & finished up at 4 oclock. Got in a supply of canteen stuff so ought to live well for a day or two.

Wednesday 9th
Reveille at 3.30 am. Had breakfast & the Brigade got away at 4.45, watered & travelled towards Beersheba. We came under fire at 7.30 am. The Turkish cavalry patrols withdrew to their prepared positions so we sat all the morning on two hills watching each other We returned after lunch & got back to camp at 3 oclock. 2 enemy planes came over about 5 oclock & dropped 20 bombs. Ernie Paul came over to see me

Thursday 10th
Had a quiet day in camp

Friday 11th
Another day in camp, no fatigues In the afternoon saw a duel in the air

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May 1917
Our plane as usual was brought down. The aviator narrowly escaped being burnt as his clothes were on fire when some of the Light Horse galloped out to where he fell. Australian mail in Received 3 letters & several papers.

Saturday 12th
Started out at 6.15 am for Shallal springs. We had to report to an engineer officer there, but he didn’t turn up, so we did nothing. Might as well have stayed in camp. At 11 oclock the Brigade moved out over the Wadi At 4.30 pm our artillery started firing & kept it up till dark. Saw 2 scraps between our planes & Jacko’s but with no result. We came home at 7 oclock after doing nothing all day. Usual stunt ! Getting used to it now. Moral victory & all that ! ‘3 cheers’ & we are winning the war ! Hope they aren’t doing it on the other fronts like we are here.

Sunday 13th
Had a day in camp. The flies are getting very bad & most of the men are suffering from septic sores. We get a little fresh meat & vegetables now & are also able to get canteen stuff. Everything is tinned. Some reinforcements arrived at Belah, so we sent men in

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May 1917
with horse to bring them here

Monday 14th
At 5 oclock B Squadron went out on patrol across the Wadi & nearly up to Sausage Ridge where the big scrap was last month. We got in contact with the Turks & they fired a few shots. We watered at a good well. The water was very cold. In the afternoon our guns started to fire. Must have been picking up ranges & some of the shrapnel was falling too close to our post, so we got away to a safer place & at 4 oclock left for camp, getting in about 6 oclock. 33 Reinforcements arrived. Included among them was McDermott who was a mate of mine in Liverpool camp & who was discharged when sick in hospital.

Tuesday 15th
We spent the day in camp The land is drying up now & all the crops are eaten & much of the ground torn up with horses feet. In the afternoon a strong wind from the NE sprang up & made things quite unpleasant. We had a good tea cooked & we could hardly eat it for the dust. All our bread, butter
jam etc got covered in it.
One of our patrols yesterday got an

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May 1917
Austrian who was rather “fed up” of this war. He could speak splendid English The NZ screen this morning had a few casualties

Wednesday 16th
Half of B Troop went away at 9 oclock on a digging fatigue. In the afternoon the wind came up strong from the NE exactly the same as yesterday. The flies are breeding rapidly. In the morning if you get up early enough you can have breakfast with only a few flies. At noon, if you are feeling game enough, you can fight the flies for your lunch. In the evening, if you are sufficiently hungry not to mind ½ a pint of dust to flavour you stew with, you might make a fair meal.
Some of the 7th on patrol got heavily fired on by the Turks & had 2 men killed

Thursday 17th
In the morning the Regiment went through their gas test. It was carried out in the following manner. We marched up in Squadron column & a smoke bomb was thrown in front of us. The explosion was the sign of gas over & each man had to throw down his rifle & hat & get his helmet on if possible before the smoke from the bomb reached us. In the second test

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May 1917
we had to do the same, except that: 6 seconds after the smoke bomb burst, the “dinkum” gas was turned on, we picked up our rifles & marched through it. Later on we marched through a gas area without our helmets, just enough being turned on so that we would be able to recognise it again. Lastly we marched behind & through a smoke screen. I had one man in my troop gassed sufficiently to send him to hospital & others it affected slightly.
We had the same wind & dust again in the afternoon. We also saw another of our planes being dragged in. It was brought down yesterday. In air fights yesterday 2 of ours were brought down

Friday 18th
D Troop rejoined the Squadron They have been detached over 6 weeks now. We shifted camp again & are further away from water, being about 3 miles west of the Wadi

Saturday 19th
A heavy wind came up from the SE blowing from the Syrian Desert. It got very hot towards noon & it was also very dusty. An English mail arrived. I got 1 letter from cousin Ella Sutherland.

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May 1917
Sunday 20th
Took out our horses to graze in the morning. The wind changed to the NW but is still blowing dust fairly strong. Church parade in the morning.

Monday 21st
We grazed again in the morning. The grass is drying up & there is very little left now. The quantity of the feed that is issued is very little. In the evening B Troop went on guard on the water supply at Gamli. It is a good job we got a chance to have a bath & wash our clothes.

Tuesday 22nd
We were relieved at 9 am & came back to camp to get ready for a stunt at 2 oclock. The 6th were attached to the 1st Brigade & we left the wadi at 3 oclock, travelled SE till 6. Watered & fed our horses & on again at 8. The night was warm but night marches are always unpleasant. Everyone is tired of the constant stopping & moving soon gets horses & men ill tempered. At 2 oclock we stopped & put out outposts.

Wednesday 23rd
Moved on further at daybreak. Our Regt halted 2 miles NE of Khalasa while the 1st Bgde & Engineers went further South to the Railway line. For hours they blew up the line, smashing each rail also demolishing a 9 span viaduct

[Page 42]

May 1917
very little opposition was encountered & several miles of line, Railway platforms & Reservoirs were destroyed. We left to come back at 3.30 & got back to camp at 11 pm after a tiresome ride of about 18 miles most of it in the dark. Sgt Sullivan went to hospital

Thursday 24th
An enemy plane came over & dropped several bombs. 8 or 9 men were wounded & some horses killed. An Australian mail came in I got 3 letters, 2 from home & 1 from Roy.

Friday 25th
More bombs were dropped this morning. The camel corps got them. Several camels were killed don’t know if any men got hit. Got in a good supply of canteen stuff & divided it amongst the troop. The YMCA now supply the Regts in bulk & the QMs divide it out. It is a good way of keeping up extras to the troops. Some light clothes I sent to Alex for arrived to day & it was a welcome change to get the heavy old “chatty” togs off.

Saturday 26th
Some more reinforcements arrived. I got 3 in “B” troop & am up to full strength again. There is a certainty of us moving back for a spell in a day or two. Only hope they give us leave as most

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May 1917
of the men have had none at all for 6 months & some even longer. We had an easy day but it is too hot to have a camp & the flies are so troublesome.

Sunday 27th
We were expecting to move to day & B Squadron was ready to march out at 1 pm but it was put off till tomorrow. Took over orderly Sergeant in the afternoon. Our Regiment was relieved by some of the Cheshires

Monday 28th
We watered our horses at 5.30 & were ready to move off at 8.30. However it was 10.30 am before we got away. An enemy plane was over this morning early & dropped several bombs. They didn’t fall near us. We travelled 11 or 12 miles to a place called Marakeb right near the sea shore. It seemed like meeting an old friend getting on the sand again. It was getting so dusty on the hard ground as to make it a relief to get on the sand again. It is a few degrees cooler near the sea. A fresh breeze is always blowing

Tuesday 29th
Had an easy day. Nearly everyone was in swimming. We sent pack horses to the canteen & got in a good supply of eatables.

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May 1917
Wednesday 30th to June 5th
We have been having a fairly good time. A certain percentage, 2% of the men were granted leave for 6 days to Cairo Alexandria or where they wanted to go. We drew lots, but I didn’t get a place. Swimming has been indulged in daily. We make a parade of it for everyone at 10 am. We exchanged our old rifles & have got the latest pattern with high velocity barrels. The ammunition has been changed also. The weather has kept cool. We got paid on the 1st.

An Australian mail arrived on the 4th I got 4 letters. Have written 7 or 8 & my correspondence is about cleared up. We were issued with shorts & puttees & they are very cool. Artillery has been fairly active of late. We havn’t seen many aeroplanes but bombs were dropped near the railway line. An enemy aeroplane was forced to land by a few of ours & the pilot taken prisoner. Have been acting Squadron Quarter Master as Cheater has been taking McGrath’s place whilst he is on leave.

[Page 45]

June 1917
Wednesday 6th
Men who were away on leave came back & a few more went, only 2 from B Sqdn. We are moving from this camp in the morning. Got more papers & parcels.

Thursday 7th
Reveille at 3.45 am. Had an early breakfast & were on the move about 7 oclock. We only about 5 miles to travel. The New Zealand Brgde passed us on their way to our old camp & we occupied theirs. We were all settled down in the new camp before noon. We get a fair bit of dust here & no swimming. The days are warm still but in the afternoon there is always a cool breeze.
Saw a few French Algerian troops, I believe there are a good few here now. Enemy planes have been less active. Ours have had a few successes lately, so they are not so keen on coming over. Artillery on both sides are very active & we heard the Turks had made a local attack without success.

Friday 8th
Got more papers & parcels. Quite a good supply of stuff came from the Comforts fund & there was also a couple of bottles of beer per man. Wasn’t feeling so good at night. Had a lot of stomach pains & no sleep

Saturday 9th
Had a bad day. Bowels in

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June 1917
bad order & could hardly eat anything Everybody was busy cleaning saddlery, bits & irons today as the G.O.C. Desert Column is inspecting tomorrow.

Sunday 10th
The GOC inspected us at 10.30 am Everybody hates inspections & he was freely cursed everywhere for all the trouble everybody had to go to. However, everything passed off alright. He said that B Sqdn. horses were the best he had seen & that the men also were looking splendid & fit. Our bits & stirrup iron got an adverse comment, so I suppose we are in for some hard rubbing in the future. More beer was issued out, 1 bottle per man. Was feeling much fitter today. Heard that the Tommies advanced last night & did good work near Gaza. Don’t know if it is true. Good news also came from France where the British & French have both advanced.

Monday 11th to 18th
The weather has been getting hotter. We get an issue of beer now, a little more than a bottle per man per day.
I had my 29th birthday during the week. It turned out as expected very dull with nothing to celebrate it

[Sir Philip Chetwode, GOC Desert Column]

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June 1917
The Brigade is doing its practice of bomb throwing & rifle shooting. We used our new high velocity rifles. I don’t like them as well as the old ones. On the 15th I went over to Rafa, 3 of us went through the dump there & got all B Sqdn belongings we could find. Everything was scattered over a about ¼ acre of ground, shirts, sox & all sorts of gear & equipment. Got paid. More men went on leave, only 2 from our Squadron. There is practically nothing to do here & it is hard to know what to do with myself except reado, smoke & play cards.

Some NCOs 2 per Sqdn are to go the Moascar soon to the Training Sqdn & it ought to be a good change. It will probably be for 3 months. We will relieve some of the NCOs who will come out into our places. There have been a few promotions this week. Sgt Major Weir & Sgt Evans were promoted 2nd Lieuts & Sgt Sheridan was made Sgt Major C Sqdn. Was detailed to proceed to Moascar this afternoon (18th) 2 from each Squadron

[Page 48]

June 1917
6 in all caught the 6.30 pm train from Khan Yunis

Tuesday 19th
The train ride to Kantara took us 13 hours. It was very crowded & in open trucks. We got hot tea at intervals on the way down which added much to the comfort of the journey. It was nearly 11 oclock when we got to Moascar & report to the camp orderly room. Found a lot of the old hands there & they all look pretty well. We soon found out that we didn’t come here for a spell, for we had to fall in with rifles at 3 oclock I got out of the drill as I took over Sergeant Major. The camp is very comfortable & clean will [sic] all conveniences & there is a splendid Sergeant’s Mess. Went down to Lake Timsah in the afternoon & had a good dip Thousands of troops are arriving here from Salonica & guns of all sizes

Wednesday 20th
Started work & didn’t have a very hard day. Am beginning to get the hang of things The men in training here, if not on a permanent camp duty have a

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June 1917
fairly strenuous time. We were paraded to the doctor this morning & examined. He put me on a weeks medicine, 3 times per day I have to go & get it. First day I forgot twice In the afternoon went for another swim in the lake. A large number of Australian reinforcements to the Light Horse detrained here & marched into the Isolation Camp. Noticed several old faces familiar in the original regiment back again

Thursday 21st
Was out at 4 am. Parades had to be away by 4.30 am. Breakfast at 8 oclock, so you feel it very long & get very hungry in the 4 hrs. The days are very warm. The swim in the Lake every afternoon is a treat. Tommies in thousands are arriving also guns. The place is absolutely full of them. They have come over from Salonica & they reckon they were glad to get away from there On Saturday there was a big aquatic sports carnival. The finals were all run off. There was a large attendance The Anzacs did particularly well taking nearly all the important events.

[Page 50]

June 1917
Had dinner in town & went to the pictures later. Came back to camp fairly early. Was feeling very tired walking about on the hard roads. On Sunday had an easy day in camp, slept most of the time. Went for a swim after tea

Monday 25th
Started another week’s work. Am not finding too much to do & after I get the parades away settle down on my bunk for a read. There was a big concert on at night. The programme was very good. The Tommie’s Band played splendidly.

Tuesday 26th June to Wednesday July 4th
Have been kept going pretty solid during this period. A fair number of men went up to the School of Instruction. Machine gunners & signallers. I put in an application for 7 days Leave of Absence to Cairo & Alexandria & got the doctor to recommend it. On 30th we sent 5 men out to the regiment & on the 4th July only 28 went. Another 20 will be following in a few more days. The weather has been very hot & windy, but not as hot as last summer. Still it has been

[Page 51]

July 1917
unpleasant enough. Go for a ride occasionally through & round Ismailia It is very nice of an afternoon riding through the avenues of trees. Also visited the town baths. They consist only of a row of boxes built on a jetty. Most of the European residents have their private boxes along the front of the lake. Later in the afternoon it presents quite a continental picture with all the different costumes There are crowds of Tommies here now They seem a pretty good lot & have just come from Salonica & are having a few weeks spell here. The Lake is full of them in the afternoons. They march down in Battalions,
The aerodrome is alongside our camp. They get busy very early in the morning & it sounds like 20 chaff cutters going. An Australian mail, letters & papers arrived during the week Got 3 letters 2 from home! Answered them all

Wednesday July 4th to Tuesday 10th
Have sent a number of men out to the Regt during the week. Numbers of Tommies are still going through here Went into Ismailia 2 or 3 times & called

[Page 52]

July 1917
in at the baths for a swim finishing up with dinner at the Savoy. There is nothing much to do here in ones spare time. The picture shows are rather poor, so there is not much left but read & sleep. Got my mail posted up to date & letters answered.

Tuesday 10th to Tuesday 17th
On Tuesday morning Sgt Gurney & myself got our week’s leave & caught the 10 oclock train to Cairo getting there shortly after 1oclock. We went to the National Hotel & got a room there. Had a splendid dinner & then went to reacquaint ourselves with the town. On Wednesday afternoon we went out to the 14th AGH & saw Sister Holmes, Sister Parker & afterwards took Sister Holmes for a drive around Cairo & Gezireh in a car. Saw Lieut Alford at the hospital & had along yarn with him. Quite a number of the boys are going back to Australia tomorrow. Stan Rogan being one of them. On Thursday after lunch we got a car & picked up sisters Holmes & Cuthbertson at the Hospital & after doing a little shopping we had a nice drive out to the Barrage

[Page 53]

July 1917
had afternoon tea there, took some photos & had a stroll round through the pretty gardens. We got afternoon tea out there Stayed till nearly 6.30 & then drove back to the National Hotel where had dinner & afterwards a chat in the garden lounge. Next day we put in very quietly but managed to get terribly tired all the same. Met Joe Nevitt & Leo Johnston up on leave from the Regt & arranged with them for a box at the Kursaal.

Had a sleep in the afternoon & it was badly needed. Didn’t like getting up out of bed, but it seemed like wasting good leave so we got on the move again. The play was all in Italian, so we didn’t understand a word. However we managed to get a little fun, principally through Joe Nevitt who used to laugh always at the wrong place. We also decorated the artistes with flowers much to the amusement of the audience. Did not stay till the finish of the show, but saw Joe off safely on the 11.30 pm train to Alex. On Friday morning I met Alan Soul late of Dorrigo & 2 of his

[Page 54]

July 1917
friends. We put in a couple of hours together & talked Dorrigo for some time. Also visited Mrs Warner & had morning tea with her & quite a long talk. Promised to return another day. Went to see a friend of Arthur Gurney’s at the Nazrich Hospital. She is a VAD Nurse there & is a nice girl. We did not stay long as she was busy, but promised to return. In the afternoon we had a bit of a sleep & later got our passes altered to allow us to visit Alexandria.

We caught the 11.30 train Friday night & got to Alex shortly after daylight Saturday morning & went to the Windsor Hotel overlooking the sea. Got in another couple of hours rest before breakfast & after we went out to Chatby les Bains for a swim. The water was very heavy & the surf dangerous, so we didn’t stay long in the water. After our swim we called on Mrs Avgerinos & promised to call again after dinner & take the girls to the races. We got a car & had a nice drive out to the Sporting Clubs grounds & had a great afternoon. We picked several winners

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July 1917
but they paid very little & we hardly got our expenses out of it. However we were very satisfied & the girls enjoyed themselves immensely. After dinner Sergeant Long came round & took us to an English friend’s place where we had a quiet evening. I was terribly tired & managed to go to sleep on the sofa so also did Gurney, so we apologised & explained & went to the Hotel to bed. On Monday morning the others went away. I went down to the beach & spent most of the day there with the girls, also the next day right up till the time I had to catch the 3.30 train back to Ismailia. It was hard breaking away. Got back to camp about 9.30 pm. We sent a big batch of reinforcements out to the Regt at midnight 37 altogether, which leaves us little more than 50 here in the camp hardly enough to carry on with.

Wednesday 18th
Must have caught a chill on the train last night because this morning I was aching all over & felt terribly tired & dopey. It was a strain to get out of bed. Later in the afternoon I felt better & after tea went to see the

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July 1917
Boxing Tournament. There were some very good fights

Thursday 19th
Took over SQM Sergt from Halloran who is going Sergeant Major. The job is fairly easy & I for one am not going to make it hard.

Friday 20th
This Quarter Master’s job is too easy. There is absolutely nothing to do for most of the day & one doesn’t know what to do with oneself. Besides the weather is too hot to sleep or read. In the cool of the evening went for a walk along the canal & on our return went to the pictures.

Saturday 21st
Got some more men into camp, some from hospital & others from the School of Instruction. It will make the duties much lighter. Today was very hot fully 108° in the shade. Applications were called for the Flying Corps. I put in one, but don’t expect anything will come of it.

Sunday 22nd
Had a quiet rest. It was not so hot. After tea we went into Ismailia & had a swim & later a walk round the town & listened to the Band playing. Soon got very tired & had to

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July 1917
come back to camp

Monday 23rd
Had a little more to do this morning, what with weekly returns & some men going out.

Tuesday 24th to Friday 3rd August
Things have livened up in the QM’s department here. About 100 reinforcements marched in & several batches have gone out which makes a good deal of work. Found out that cousin Keith Morice is here & went up to the Isolation camp to see him He is in charge of a cable section & they all went on to Alexandria after coming out of Isolation.
The weather has been very hot these last few days. Have been into Ismailia a few times to the baths Generally go for a walk after tea There is always a cool breeze every afternoon. We often go to the pictures. It is about the only recreation there is here.

3rd August to Sunday 12th August
We got the long expected Australian mail on the 10th. Have been having a fairly easy a time during the last few days as far as actual

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August 1917
work goes, but am getting fed up of details camps. They have too many restrictions & require the top notch of efficiency all the time. The weather has been terribly hot & work of any sort is a strain. Have answered most of my letters, but have a few more to finish off yet. Went into Ismailia for the afternoon & evening of the 4th & again on the 11th We generally go up to the N.Z. soldiers café where they generally have some decent music

On Sunday 12th Gurney, Harrison & myself went to the School of Instruction at Zeitoun for a 5 weeks Cavalry Course. We were glad to get away. Caught the 2 oclock train & got up to the School a little after 6 oclock. There only 32 NCOs in the school & about the same number of officers. We were all allotted rooms , about 3 or 4 in each room. There is a servant to each room. On Monday we got to work early. A Squadron

[Page 59]

August 1917
of Westminster Dragoons look after the horses & come out with us on parade to hold them. We do 2½ hrs mounted work before breakfast & on our way back we take a couple of hurdle on the way. The horses are in great condition but are rather heavy for Light Horse work. Most of the work is done at the trot a pace we do not have in the Light Horse & the horses are a lot rougher than our own. We have several lectures each day & also bayonet fighting. On the Wednesday afternoon we got leave into town & met several of our regt there.

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August 1917
started. Several sections were roaming over the country for hours & did not get back till nearly dinner time. We had an examination on Saturday morning & in the afternoon went into town. Met Major Cross there & he gave us all the news. Had dinner with Lieut Butter at the National & got back to camp fairly early. On Sunday we went into town after dinner & spent a quiet afternoon there. Went out to the 14th Hospital to see Sister Holmes & spent the evening going for a drive getting back at 10.

Monday 19th
Resumed work at the School. Have discovered a good horse at last & tip the groom to keep it for me. Had quite number of lectures. Get very sleepy & can’t concentrate my attention on them. We have an hours bayonet fighting each day & they keep you going pretty hard at it.

Tuesday 20th
Was doing rearguard work in the morning, after breakfast more lectures. We have no parade after dinner till 5 oclock & we finish up at a quarter to

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August 1917
seven.

Wednesday 21st to Friday 7th September
The 2nd & 3rd week at the school was pretty solid. We went into town every Wednesday afternoon, Saturday afternoon & Sunday. Had an exam on Sat 24th. I got 47 out of 50 which wasn’t too bad. I thought only one got the possible. Went into Mrs Warners a few times & on Wed 28th we all had dinner at St James & quite a nice evening. Just managed to catch the 11.30 pm train as it was leaving the station. Went to the Hosptl on Saty 31st & saw some of the boys who were there. We got a mail in on the 1st Sept I only got 2 letters, one from home & the other from Roy. Have most of my letters answered although we get such a lot of writing up of lectures. In the 3rd week exam I got 94 out of 100. Went in early on Saturday morning & got my money at the bank OK. Went up to the Station to see Mr Briggs but he wasn’t there. Friends came up from Alexandria & we had a

[Page 62]

good week end. On Saturday afternoon we got a car & went out to Helouan, called in at San Giovanni cafe on the way back & had afternoon tea. Got back to town & ran on out to the Pyramids & saw them & the Sphinx by moonlight. Had tea in a cafe in Mena & went back to Cairo by train. Had dinner at York House on the roof. It was beautiful & cool there after the hot day. Stayed till 11.

Sunday morning
Rifle inspection & Church parade at 7 am. Went into town early had lunch at York House & spent most of the afternoon there. When it got cool we went into the Esbekiah gardens & listened to the band playing. Afterwards had some refreshments at Saults & then went out to Gezira. It was the 11.30 train I got back to camp again.

Monday 3rd Sept.
Was feeling very tired on early morning parade, but everybody seemed to be suffering similarly. They understand what Monday morning are here & show some consideration. We have no

[Page 63]

horses here but expect them in a day or so. We had a fairly easy week until Thursday when we had a 4 hours mounted parade before breakfast. On Wednesday afternoon we rode to Abassia & attended a vetinary lecture on horses feet & shoeing with demonstration. Lately we have been going down to Helmich House for tea, as we can’t get anything decent in our own mess.

Friday 7th Sept
Had no parade before breakfast. Bruce Campbell came up & we had a good evening. Went to Zeitoun & Helmich. Should have been on night compass march but got someone else to take my place.

Sat 8th Sept
Mounted parade till 9.30 am putting out outposts. There was no parade after breakfast & no exam. Went into town about 12 oclock. Saw Mr Briggs in his office. He invited me to dinner on Monday. I then went down to

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September 1917
Mrs Warner’s & had lunch there. They sent my parcel OK. Went down to the National Hotel & saw Jack Garden who is up on leave & had a game of billiards. Caught the 4.15 train to Alex. Went down with Sergt Markwell of the 1st LH who is at the School with me. We got to Alex about 8.30 & I went & got a room at the Windsor. Afterwards went round to Mrs Averinos place & spent the evening there.

Sunday 9th
Had a good sleep in followed by a hot bath, shave boots-a-clean etc & a good breakfast. Could not make myself believe I was not a civilian again. Went to the beach with the family. There was great crowd there. It was beautiful & cool & an English military band was playing. It is not much of a place for a swim being too rocky. Had lunch in the box & smoked & lolled about in a deck chair till nearly dark. Took the girls out for tea & spent the evening up till the train went at the house. Got a first class apartment from the guard by arrangement, picked up Markwell & had a seat each to sleep on all the way to Cairo

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September 1917
which place we reached at 6 oclock. Had a cup of tea & got the 6.30 train to Helmich getting there about 7 oclock. There was no early morning parade, everyone was in bed feeling very dopey after a heavy week end.

Tuesday 11th
Mounted parade in the morning. We went out & consolidated a village for defence. It was 10 oclock when we got in for breakfast.

Wednesday 12th
No parade before breakfast & only one lecture afterwards & a half holiday in the afternoon. Went into town as usual, first going to the 14th AGH where I saw sister Holmes & our SQMS Cheater who is quite right again & will soon be back. Had afternoon tea there. Found quite a number of our boys in town. They were up playing cricket against Gezireh Sporting Club. We had dinner at the National & later went to the Casino where there was a very second rate show on.

Thursday 13th
Went out on a compass march in the morning, about 12 miles altogether. Each party having to find 4 flags. We found ours

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September 1917
easily & got back a little after 8. Some were not in till 9 oclock.

Friday 14th
Had the exam before breakfast. The results were out before 12 oclock. I got the possible the papers were not very hard & they mark very liberally. We got a car into town & had lunch at St James. Went visiting in the afternoon. Had to take a few Australians to spend the afternoon with Mrs Price so I took my own friends. We met quite number of people & Mrs Davies Bryan took us off & showed us her collection of curiosities which are very good. Mr Bryan being a keen collector & an old resident of Cairo.
Jim Nevitt (one of ours) was celebrating his birthday, so a little party of us had dinner together & drank his health in champagne. This was our last evening, but I was satisfied with my spell at the school. We got a car home about 11 oclock.

Saturday 15th
School broke up this morning & went away by special train. Got to Moascar

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September 1917
at dinner time. Had a quiet afternoon in camp.

Sunday 16th
Went into Ismailia after dinner, had a swim & tea in there, bought a few little requirements & went to the pictures which were very good.

Monday 17th
Said my adieus to Moascar left by the 2 oclock train. Left Kantara in the trucks, but got a good lie down & managed to get a bit of sleep on the run out. Got to Rafa just after daylight, had breakfast & lunch there & got a train on the loop line at 12.30. The Regt shifted camp today & it was dark before I found them. The day was terribly dusty & windy. You could only see a few yards through it.

Wednesday 19th
Had another dusty day. Renewed my acquaintance with the Regt. Things are not at their best. Its a long way for water & food is not too plentiful or wood to cook it. A man will have to put up with it. Canteens are here but prices are enormous now, so one will have to do a certain amount of starvation

[Page 68]

September 1917
Thursday 20th
Went to Kafa in the morning to get some canteen stuff. It was nearly dark when I got back. The Sergeants mess got in a supply of stuff.

Friday 21st
It is still very windy & dusty. There is nothing much to do here excepting feeding grooming & watering. I took over SQMS in the afternoon. We are expecting a turn out at night to see how long it takes to form up in full marching order with 48 hrs feed & rations limbers & waggons loaded.

Saturday 22nd
The dust was not so bad today.

Sunday 23rd
Went over to the 7th in the morning Got some mail English. Wrote a letter home. There is a Brigade band now & they entertain the various camps here. The weather is fairly warm but there is always dust in the afternoon.

Monday 24th
Usual sort of day. Nothing doing.

Tuesday 25th
The Regiment paraded in the morning, full marching order & the Brigadier inspected us. He said he was well pleased with the turnout. We are expecting one at night. In the afternoon we played

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September 1917
football. They are encouraging it as much as possible to get us in good condition. At night I went over to the 5th LH to see Williamson & Crawford.

Wednesday 26th
Quiet day. Very dusty & windy. B Squadron was Brigade duty Squadron.

Thursday 27th
Reveille at 4. Breakfast at 4.30. The Regt went out early to practice an attack. There was heavy gun & rifle fire just before daybreak. Lasted about ½ an hour. There are some new aeroplanes at the aerodrome alongside our camp & we see some good exhibitions of flying looping the loop etc.

Friday 28th
Genl Allenby inspected the camp. We had another game of football in the afternoon. Wasn’t feeling very energetic after the game was over.

Saturday 29th
The Regt was on the range today. We had it very dusty & windy in the afternoon & at times you could hardly see the target at all. I got 6 hits out of 10 shots which was a good deal above the average. The range was 500 yards. It is hard

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September 1917
to shoot in this country there is generally a mirage & no background to your target.

Sunday 30th
Another inspection today. It was equipment this time. Pay day.

Monday 1st October
One of the dustiest days we have had. A & C Squadrons played football. The match ended in a draw. Major O’Brian our Squadron OC went to Moascar. Sgts mess meeting at night.

Tuesday 2nd October
Several enemy aeroplanes were over in the morning flying very high. They were heavily shelled & made off.

Wednesday 3rd
Got a letter from Uncle Charlie giving me the news of Aunt Carrie’s death at Newcastle on Tyne. Replied same day.

Thursday 4th
Jack Cheater came back in the afternoon. B Sqdn 2nds played A Sqdn 2nds & beat them 3 to nil. I played centre forward. It was a pretty hard game.

Friday 5th
Handed over SQMS to Cheater. The Division had a practice turn out in full marching order & they got out in very quick time. B & C Sqdns firsts played football in the afternoon & C won by 11 points

[Page 71]

October 1917
to 3.

Saturday 6th
More enemy planes came over at a great height & were heavily fired at. One unexploded shell fell fairly close. Some thought it was a bomb coming down & ran for a ditch. Was having a bath at the time & had to stand fast. Brigade sports were held today. There were some good events. The band was playing & General Allenby & Genl Chaytor were both present.

Sunday 7th to Sunday 14th
We have had an easy week. The weather has got a good deal cooler & several mornings have been very foggy. The afternoons have been dusty. Football has been continued with vigour Several squadron matches & 2 inter regimental matches, both of which were draws. We had the pleasure of seeing a German aeroplane brought in. It was brought down by one of ours over the Wadi & the pilot was captured behind the lines. Our air service has improved considerably. There are some splendid aeroplanes here now & they ought to shake Jacko up a bit.

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October 1917
The aerodrome is alongside our camp. Their sergeants are often over here & they took some of us over, showed us everything & gave us a good feed. The workshops were most interesting & it is an eye opener to see how complete they are, seeing that their camps are only temporary. We had a field day on Friday & were out nearly all day practicing a dismounted attack. We got a fair bit of mail during the week. Received 3 letters from home & also several papers. Replied to some.

Monday 15th
There was a good bit of artillery fire during the night. There were several football matches in the regiment played. Everyone has got football fever. A big consignment of beer arrived for the Brigade. They are issuing it out at 2 bottles per man per day. The quality is not too good. In the afternoon several enemy planes came over our lines & were heavily shelled & later attacked by some of ours. The enemy formation was broken up & they made off in all directions. One was engaged by

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October 1917
one of our Bristol fighters & we saw a good air fight lasting nearly 5 minutes. They were right over our lines about 10 or 12000 ft up & it was a great sight to see them circling round diving & side slipping to get an opening. Our machine was too quick for the Taube. The pilot was nearly shot to pieces & his machine did a sudden nose dive our plane broke off & he came spinning down in flames & hit the ground about 2 miles from our camp. The pilot was unrecognisable & was picked up 30 yds from his machine. This is the 2nd one we have seen come down in one week. Now our fellows have got some good machines here they are beginning to give the Huns a warm time when they come over.

There is a lot of talk about a move from here in a few days & indications point to a strenuous time ahead. If the next move isn’t successful it won’t be for the want of preparation. There was a sergeants mess meeting at night. About 10 oclock there was heavy artillery fire in the direction of

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October 1917
Gaza.

Tuesday 16th
Took over orderly sgt in the morning. Medals are being presented today & we had to send a troop away to represent the regt at the ceremony. They turned out very well 30 men & 1 officer.

Wednesday 17th to Wednesday 24th October
Had another Field day on the Thursday practicing taking trenches near Rafa. We are getting tired of all these practice affairs & wonder why we have to travel for 8 miles to do them when they could be done quite close to the camp & save horseflesh. There was a Brigade football match on Friday the 1st played the 2nds & beat them 3 to nil. On Sunday 24th [?] we moved out at 4.30 pm & did a night march to Esani about 15 miles. We reached there at 7 am on Monday.
About 10 am I got orders to report to the Record Office at Alexandria for duty.
Got my few things packed together & started for Shellal Junction. It took me nearly 4 hours to get there. Caught a train at 4.30. It was

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October 1917
practically empty & although it is always a rough ride I did enjoy having a bit of room to lie down & have a sleep. Got to Kantara on Monday morning at 4 am. Went to the Soldiers Club there had a shower bath & a shave & then went on to Moascar. Had lunch there & went on to Alexandria by the 2-10 train. Had to stand a good part of the way as the train was crowded. Went to the Windsor Hotel , had a good dinner & went to bed. Was feeling very tired as I had very little sleep since Saturday night. Reported for duty next morning at 9 oclock. The time soon passes as they knock off at 4 oclock. Went with Sgt Long to afternoon tea at Mrs Cornishs place. They have a scotch nurse for the 3 youngsters & they are great kids.

25th to 29th
Find work here very easy, have plenty of time off to knock about. We got a big mail in on the 27th I got 6 letters & 2 more on thew 29th. Have been going pretty strong answering them. On Saty

[Page 76]

October 1917
we went out again to Mrs Cornish’s & had tea there, afterwards going to see the pictures. We had a fair bit of rain, some of the showers were very heavy. There was more rain on Saty night & some showers on Sunday. Went out with Sgt Long & called on a Mr & Mrs Gunn who are very nice people. They live at Camp de Caesar. We had tea there & then went to see the Averinos

Monday 29th
Fine weather again. Went out to Mrs Cornish’s on Wednesday afternoon for tea. On Thursday afternoon went to the gardens. Am beginning to find my way about Alex. It is a big place & some parts of it are terribly crowded. On Thursday Ive got the first list of casualties from the fighting round Beersheba & at night we got word that the place had been taken with 1600 prisoners. The Light Horse took a big part in the attack. Casualties were fairly light many of the regiments not having a single casualty.

Saturday 3rd [Nov]
Had to remain in the

[Page 77]

October 1917 [November]
office on Saturday afternoon in case further lists came through. Put in the time writing letters & reading.

Sunday 4th to Tuesday 13th
Had several more casualty lists through. The 6th were very light 4 killed & 5 wounded. Corpl Suffolk was wounded again & G Warren & Prendergast who were in my troop when I had “C” were both killed. Good news of the advance has been coming in continuously & I believe right through our losses have been small. We are making preparations to remove from here to Cairo & everyone is very sorry especially the chaps who have made a wide circle of friends. They don’t like leaving them. Cairo will be very strange for most. Have been out several times. Last Sunday Long & I had quite a round of visits & had quite an enjoyable time. Was up at the hospital a couple of times to see Sister Barrow. Last Friday I got some cards & sent them to all my friends. Mail was going to

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November 1917
Aust same day so they ought to reach there well before Xmas.

13 to 16th
Have been rushing around saying our adieus & packing up ready for our move to Cairo. It is wonderful the amount of property different chaps have collected & are now discarding as they wont be able to remove it. The Tommies round about have been getting quite a haul. On Wednesday we did hard work as we had to load all our Records & truck them at the Station. We parade before the General in the morning & he gave us a speech. Said he was sorry to lose us etc. We left by the 11.30 train on Wednesday [14th] night. Quite a number of civilians were on the Station to see us off. Some of the chaps had made large numbers of friends including all nationalities. It was raining when we left. We had a horrible trip up to Cairo, but got there at 6 am on Thursday morning. We went to a AIF Headquarters Mess for breakfast & were busy

[Page 79]

all day unloading lorries & getting cases up stairs. There is more room here than in Alexandria & the mess & quarters are much more comfortable. The hours of toil have been altered from 8.30 to 1, & from 5 to 7.30. with the afternoons free for sport.
Work has increased a great deal Casualties have been coming in freely & we have also had to prepare copies of nominal rolls so have had to work extra hours for fortnight or more. I have visited several of my friends. Called on Mrs Warner & Mrs Rice & have also been out to Briggs several times. The first 2 or 3 Sundays we had off, but now we have to work on Sunday mornings, which none of us like a bit. However it gives us a chance to deal with our private letters.
I go out to the 14th AGH a good deal as quite number of 6th LH boys are in there wounded & sick & I got full accounts of all the recent fighting.

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December 1917
Also see a good number of the boys who are up on leave, so am kept well posted in all the news. The worst of living here is the drain on the cash. One never seems to have enough felouse. They are so many hundreds of little things a man wants. I have been enjoying myself a good deal, often go to the Kursaal & concerts & sometimes to picture shows.

Decr – January 1918
We had a good dinner at our mess on Christmas day. Everything was there one could wish for. I had to meet Dick Busby & George Berry, as they are coming with me to the Briggs on Xmas afternoon, so will have a second xmas dinner there.
Mrs Briggs prepared a good dinner & we had some music afterwards & enjoyed ourselves immensely. We took presents out for the 3 little girls. Olive Dorothy
& Eva & they were very pleased with them.

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January 1918
Half of the staff got 5 days holiday over Xmas & the other half took 5 days over the New Year. I took mine to cover the New Year & left on the night of the 29th for Luxor & Assouan. [Aswan] 5 of us went together. We had a fairly good trip up in the train. It is 13 hours journey to Luxor & we got there for breakfast next morning & caught a train about ten oclock for Assouan[Aswan] which place we reached late in the afternoon. We engaged a guide named Ibrahim Ayrjad. They are very plausible fellows & are out to get all they can from you. Still it is not much good doing the trip with the aid of books alone. The guides know their work & they know their usefulness too. We stayed at the Grand Hotel at Assouan[Aswan]. It is a nice place & is the best one open up there. The bigger places are closed as there have been no tourists to speak of since the war, except local people & soldiers. We got a felucca

[Page 82]

and went out on the Nile round Elephantine Island to Kitcheners Island, which is a very pretty place, being one big garden. We got back to the hotel for dinner & afterwards went round the Bazaars. I did not buy anything as it would be too much trouble carrying the things around. Next morning we took donkeys & went to Shellal crossed the River & visited the Temple of Philae. We got a good chance to see it as the dam is open & the Island the temple is on is dry. Often it is under water, so very little of it can be seen. It is over 3000 years old & it is wonderful how preserved the place is. A lot of the relief work has been damaged by the Early Christians & Roman s but still enough remains to recognise the figures All the history of the time & of different Kings are carved on the walls on the temples. Victories were commemorated in this way

[Page 83]

After visiting Philae, we took the felucca again & sailed to the Assouan [Aswan] dam which we inspected. It is a fine piece of work & is about 1½ miles long. The wall is not very high but very strong & thick. It backs the water up for a huge distance behind, so that is why it hasn’t to be so high as Burren Juck. I had a letter of introduction to Mr Walker one of the engineers here, so we were all asked down to his house where we had refreshments. The staff have a little township of their own with nice gardens & cottages. It must be very lonely for them there, I should imagine. In summer it is exceedingly hot & each year the staff get 3 months leave to England. Mr & Mrs Walker wanted us to stay for lunch but we didn’t have sufficient time. We mounted our donkeys again & started for the quarries where most of the obelisks, statues etc were cut. It is a wonderful how they got

[Page 84]

January 1918
the blocks hundreds of miles down the river & set up in different temples, when you consider that some of the granite columns weighed hundreds of tons. After lunch at the Hotel we got the felucca again, stocked it with provisions & started down the River. Everything was comfortably arranged. Played bridge till dark & then turned in. We reached Kom-ombo at about 11 oclock that night. It was bright moonlight so we inspected the big temple by moonlight. We had a good sleep on the felucca. The guide & the natives cooked us a good breakfast. There was a good wind on the River so we made good sailing to Edfu where we went ashore & walked about a mile to the temple of Edfu. This temple is the best preserved of all the ancient temples in Egypt. As in the others, a good deal of the carvings in the stone & relief work has been defaced, but the walls

[Page 85]

January 1918
& the court still stand as strong as ever. After lunch which we had on the felucca we crossed the river & left the boat & caught the train for Luxor about 2 oclock getting to Luxor at about 4.30 We went to the Luxor Hotel. It is a nice hotel with pretty gardens. We just loitered around the rest of the afternoon, playing billiards & talking to the visitors etc. There were a few nice people staying there & they were very friendly. We had some music in the drawing room. It was New Years Eve. We had a splendid dinner that night & remained up to see the New Year in. I was terribly tired when I went to bed that night & didn’t arise till 9 oclock next morning. We only did the Luxor temple next morning as we were all feeling a bit worn out, but after lunch, we went to see the huge temple of Karnak This is the biggest temple in Egypt but most of it is in ruins as the

[Page 86]

January 1918
result of an earthquake a long time ago. A part of it has been rebuilt & more of it will be after the war. There are some enormous obelisks & columns at Karnak, the biggest I have seen Next morning we crossed the River, took donkeys & rode for several miles into the hills to see the Temples Tombs of the Kings. There are 26 tombs excavated & work is still going on. Some wonderful discoveries have been made in these tombs & they are all in an excellent state of preservation. Some of them being 4000 years old. Some of the mummies are still there. The tombs are lit up by electricity. You pay £1 to get the electric light turned on. After visiting the tombs we went to the temple of Thebes & afterwards visited 2 more temples in the vicinity. It was late in the afternoon when we got back to the hotel. We had a bath as the trip had been dusty & the

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January 1918
day fairly warm. We had to catch the train back to Cairo shortly after 7, so we got a basket packed at the hotel. We had a fairly comfortable trip back in the train getting to Cairo at 7.30 next morning, resuming work at 8.30. I was well satisfied with the trip, as I have now seen the principal sights of Egypt at a cost of not much more than £10. In pre war days it would have cost hundreds to come here & see the same things. I sent some souvenirs of the trip home & have also got a collection of photos we took of the different sights, which I must have made up into an album & despatched.
Work at the office has lightened considerably. No more casualties are coming in so we are getting the work cleared up. Mails from Australia have of late been arriving regularly.

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January 1918
Have had a couple of games of football here & find the game very strenuous for one who has got so soft here. Have been to a couple of dances at the British Recreation Club & enjoyed myself immensely. I did not know there were so many girls here & most of them are English too. Had a weekend in Alexandria over the 20th & while there called in at Records GHQ to find out how cousin Willie was as I had received no reply to my letter. They told me he had been killed in action near Jerusalem on the 23rd November. I was very sorry to hear the news & got all the particulars I could.
I went up to the 15th Gen Hosp & saw Sister Barrow & Nurse Averinos. I had lunch with all the nurses, felt quite conspicuous surrounded, being the only man in about 50 of them. After lunch we went out for a drive

[Page 89]

January 1918
& had afternoon tea at the Casino San Stefano. It is a fine place with a covered in garden & quite a popular resort on a Sunday. The orchestra give a concert & the music is splendid. It is right on the sea shore & is quite charming. Must be glorious in the summer time. The worst part of the trip to Alexandria is the coming back on the midnight horror. It takes about 7 or 8 hours to do the 120 miles & there are generally a fair number of passengers, only officers are allowed to travel first class so it is impossible to get a comfortable seat.
On the 26th I went to the Races at Heliopolis. Had a good afternoons sport & managed to pay my expenses with a few piastres to the good. On Sunday I went out to dinner to Mrs Briggs. We had a great feed, with Yorkshire pudding first I have had since I left home.

[Page 90]

January 1918
on Tuesday Captain Todd turned up & I went round to the National Hotel & had dinner with him and a Lieut Philip from the same Battalion. We had champagne & quite a dinner. After dinner they got a box at the Kursaal & we heard the “Scamps” in the “girl on the Train”, enjoyed the show. Captain Todd & Philip I saw a great deal of when in town. We had a motor ride to Helouan one afternoon & afternoon tea at San Giovanni Went out to Briggs one aft evening Todd charmed them all with his playing & singing. On Saturday afternoon the 3 of us went to the Races. I did no good but the other 2 won. Met a French lady friend Madame Bannarow on the lawn. Another French woman was with her. They made us take afternoon tea with them. She was taken with Todd’s Croix de Guerre, & wanted me to bring him out to see her at her home in Helmich.

[Page 91]

January February 1918
I could not promise, although Todd wanted to go. Madame is a widow with means & rather good looking. I told him I had to look after the interest of my cousin. Next day Sunday [3rd Feb.] we went out to Mena House to have afternoon tea with Mrs Cornish, who is staying there. She has a suite of rooms & Miss Burness & the children are also there. We had a pleasant afternoon. Long & Boyle were there. Long took several photos on the verandah. We stayed till after 7. motored back to down at all had dinner at the National Hotel. After dinner we went into the drawing Room. Todd started to play & soon had quite an audience including several civilians a few young girls I noticed there too. When Todd got the dance music going they started dancing & we kept it up for about an hour. About 10.30 some Australian officers came in including the AIF official artist

[Page 92]

Lieut Lambert [George Lambert] who is a good singer, so he & Todd kept it up between them till midnight. They had the Scamps, the English Theatrical Company, now on at the Kursaal among their audience towards the finish.
On Monday night Todd went to Alexandria & young Cave & myself went to the Kursaal with Lieut Philip to see the “Gay Parisienne”. Philip shouted us a box. Neither Cave nor I were financial enough to have gone otherwise. We also had a trip to the Mousky Bazaar one afternoon. Todd & Philip both bought a quantity of stuff, including a nice coffee service for cousin Mattie. I contented myself with 4 ash trays, 2 of which I sent to Roy & 2 to Doug.

[Page 93]

[This page repeats some events described in earlier pages]

February 1918
Saturday 2nd February
Went to the Races at Heliopolis in the afternoon. Managed to win a bit. After the Races, went to Briggs, they live almost alongside the race course, & stayed for tea & supper, getting home about 11 oclock.

Sunday 3rd February
A party of us, including Sgts Long, Frazer Harry & Fisher went out to Mena House where Mrs Cornish joined us. We got donkeys & rode over to the Pyramids Estate where we spent an enjoyable afternoon. We got several snaps taken, stayed for tea & afterwards had some music. Mr Pengelly manages the Pyramids Estate. He is a nice fellow, very quiet. His wife is a very pretty woman. There are 2 little children who are quite wild as they rarely see other children, living in such an out of the way place. It takes nearly an hour to ride across to their house from the Pyramids.

[Page 94]

February 1918
3rd to 10th
The adjutant was in town during the week having a look through the work. Things are fairly slack now. There is very little work coming in. The Regiment is spelling now at a place called Wadi Hanein somewhere near Jaffa. There has been a great deal of rain on the Palestine front. They get about 30 inches in about 3 months. It is fine after that for the rest of the year. Leave is being granted again a few get down to Cairo every week. Port Said Rest Camp is going again & the men take 10 days spell there & are relieved by another lot. There has been no fighting to speak of for some weeks. Our troops have been going in a lot for football lately & have done very well in the matches they have played. They have been beaten once by the New Zealanders. Only had one letter by the last Australian mail which I

[Page 95]

replied to from Doles. Also had a letter from Ella Sutherland & a parcel of cigarettes & tobacco from Uncle Charlie & Aunt Annie which was very welcome.

Sunday 10th to Sunday 17th
The weather has been quite dull of late & we have had several light showers. The days are lengthening out & getting warmer. Work is as usual fairly slack & I get a chance to put in a bit of time learning Arabic Take 3 lessons a week, on Monday, Wednesday & Friday nights. It helps to put in some of the evenings. When the nights are a bit cold I generally go round to Mrs Warners get warm by the fire & then turn in. They only live about 2 or 300 yards from our quarters.
In the afternoons Burrows of the 10th LH & myself generally go round to the British Recreation club & play billiards & read the latest papers. At the Quarters a piano has been installed & the big hall furnished with tables & chairs

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[Page 96]

February 1918
All the Australian papers are there & you can play cards at one of the many little tables if you please. It is a good idea & keeps a good number of the fellows in. An Australian soldiers club has been started close to our quarters & you can buy most of the necessary wants there at a reasonable rate.
I went to the Races on Saturday afternoon with SQMS Halloran There was a great crowd there & we had a good afternoons sport. One meets so many people there, military & others. It is really the only day of the week. On Sunday Long & self went out to Briggs & stayed for afternoon tea & supper. A Major Yuill was there of the AAMC & a Mr Ayres a local resident. Major Yuill has just returned from England where he was married. I met him just before he went to England at the Briggs.

Monday 18th
Had a letter from Meg this morning. She had

[Page 97]

February 1918
received word of cousin Wills death & wanted me to send what particulars I could gather. I had already written about a month previously, but as a mail to England was torpedoed about that time I wrote again. I was lucky to meet a cadet at the School of Instruction who is out of Will’s battalion. He was in the same action Will was killed in & told me how he got killed. It was in a counter attack by the Turks on a ridge called Nebi Samwel (Samuel’s Tomb)[Neba Samwil] 5 miles N.N.E. of Jerusalem. He was shot through the head while on the Lewis Gun & was killed instantly.
Had dinner with RQMS at Rossmore house. He is going to England on 3 weeks leave. Another Sergeant, Milner is also going by the same boat. We went to the pictures at night. The Colonel was in the office on Tuesday. I showed him my work & Capt Hall gave me a good

[Page 98]

February 1918
report. He is taking me back to the Regiment, told me I would do better for myself if I was with the Regiment. Cpl Marriott I believe, will be sent down to relieve me.

Wednesday 20th
Went to the Kursaal to see the “Million Dollar Girl”. The play was very well done & is one of the best I have seen the “Scamps” perform.

Thursday 21st
Have been fairly busy these last couple of days. A boat went to Australia on the 15th taking quite a number of troops mostly wounded in the recent fighting. There is a good deal of work to do clearing up their Records. Had some rain at night. Went to the Obelisk Cinema at night. Posted photos to Todd & Philip

Friday 22nd
Very cloudy but no rain. Usual days work. Arabic lesson at night.

Saturday 23rd
Wal Sharp was in this morning. He is down from the Regiment on duty. Went to the Races in the afternoon at Heliopolis.

[Page 99]

February 1918
Got on to a couple of winners but they didn’t pay much. Had dinner at Rossmore House with Wal Sharpe & 2 or 3 more of the boys from the Regiment. After dinner we were going to the Kursaal. It is the Scamps last performance before going to Alexandria. We found the place crowded so we went to see “Quo Vadis” at the Salle Kleber pictures. It is the best picture I have seen here.

Sunday 24th
Was in the office till 12 oclock. At 3 oclock went out to Mena House Hotel. It is Mrs Cornish’s last Sunday there as she is going back to Alex next Wednesday. She asked quite a lot of the boys in the office to go out. About 12 of us were there & we had a nice afternoon. Mr Cornish has managed to get up for a few days. Mr & Mrs Pengelly were there & Mrs Clark from Maadi also a Mrs Adamson & Mrs Scott. The afternoon tea was set out in the lounge & we all sat round a big table. Mrs Cornish

[Page 100]

February 1918
said she was sorry she could not have had 20 more present. We dwindled away in 2s & 3s. Mrs Cornish wanted some of us to remain to dinner. I didn’t like to make “too much of a good thing” so went back to town by the 7 tram & had tea at the Australian Soldiers Club, a place just recently opened here by the Church of England under the management of Canon Garland. There was a Memorial Service at the Cairo Cemetery in the afternoon for fallen Australian Soldiers.
I would have liked to have gone. I believe there was a good attendance there.

Monday 25th
Major Ferguson was in the office in the morning. I showed him a good deal about the work here. He is now in command of the 2nd Training Regiment at Moascar. The weather turned very cold after 12 oclock, with heavy gusts of wind. Looks a good bit like more rain. Went for my lesson

[Page 101]

after dinner.

Tuesday 26th
Pay day. Sergt Chisholm orderly Room Sgt of the Regiment was in the office in the morning. Had a few showers of rain. Got a parcel made up in the afternoon for Captain Todd & posted it together with a letter. After dinner went round to Mrs Warners & got warm by the fire.

Wednesday 27th
There is a fair bit of work coming in & I am kept pretty busy. However I havn’t begun to work overtime. Burrows & myself generally play billiards of an afternoon at the British Recreation Club when there is nothing else doing. Went to my last Arabic lesson at night. It is no use taking any more as another fortnight will probably see me away. The first of a Australian mail that has just arrived was delivered in the office this morning. I got none, but expect a few tomorrow.

Thursday 28th
Got 7 letters this morning. Letters from Frank & Carrie with Arthur Blomfield’s

[Page 102]

February 1918 – March
enclosed, also letters from Doug & Ada & Edna Ferguson. Latest letter I received was dated 12/1/18.

Friday 1st March
Usual days work. Had a game of billiards in the afternoon. Stayed in the quarters after dinner & played bridge in the music room.

Saturday 2nd
Went to the races at Gezira in the afternoon. It was a beautiful day, nice & warm & there was a good turn out. The Sultan was present, with his bodyguard. It was quite a spectacle seeing him arrive. He is rather a fine looking man & seems to be very popular. He occupied his private stand. He had a horse racing in the 2nd race which came second. I managed to pay all my extras with a few shillings in.

Sunday 3rd
It was quite a spring morning. The air had a warm glow in it. Wrote 2 letters, one to Arthur Blomfield & another to Carrie, afterwards went for a walk. It was great in the sun.

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March 1918
Had a sleep after dinner and about 3.30 Long & myself went out to Heliopolis & had afternoon tea with Mrs & Miss Curtis. They are very nice people being friends of Mr & Mrs Gunn of Alexandria. It was them that wanted us to call. We went on to Briggs where we had a nice dinner & lefty for home at about 10.30. There was a terrible crowd in Cairo. Sunday night is the night most people seem to go to the pictures & other places of amusement. It was hard making headway through the crowd when we left the tram.

Monday 4th
Was quiet busy all the morning. The warm weather makes one lazy & inclined to sleep. It is quite a custom here to sleep after lunch. All the shops close till 3 & 3.30. We dont start work till 5 pm, so manage to get in a decent sleep if we want to. During the hot weather people shutter up their houses during the day

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March 1918
it keeps them much cooler.

Tuesday 5th
Orderly Sergeant for the day. Was on duty all day till 10 pm at night. Went up to the Bank to see if any money had arrived in the morning. It seems as though no money is arriving now for soldiers in Egypt, but cannot find out why it was stopped. It makes things rather awkward as I want to pay for some things I sent to Kate. Its impossible to save money in Cairo at £2.10/- per fortnight. Wish some of the heads who stopped the cables would come over here & give it a try. Got through a good bit of work in the afternoon & at night wrote letters to Doug & Edna Ferguson, which I posted. Believe there is a mail going out in a day or two.

Wednesday 6th
Put the usual day. Met Bill Williamson & Joe Nevitt in the afternoon. Both are at the School of Instruction. Went to a whist drive at the Australian Soldiers Club in the evening. Quite a number of English people go there. Must have been fully 20 ladies there.

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March 1918
16 games were played. I didn’t do much good only scoring 100. We finished up a little after 10.30. Supper was provided. The tariff was only 5 piastres. They are going to hold something similar every Wednesday night, either a whist drive or a social. A library has been opened at our mess. They have over 200 books already, it should soon increase.

Thursday 7th
The day was very cloudy close & depressing. Felt no good all day. Played billiards at the British Recreation Club in the afternoon. Went up to the Bank but there was no felouse. Remained in after dinner & went to bed early. We are getting crook bread issued to us, it is very dark in colour heavy & full of grit. Most of us are buying our own bread. The doctor has condemned the issue bread, but we get nothing in lieu of it. The A.S.C.[?] still collect our 1/9 per day. The Egyptian jam they issue no one will eat & it is all sent back. We wouldn’t mind if they would allow us to buy our own

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March 1918
& give the mess committee the money. I think we could do much better.

Friday 8th
Was fairly busy all the morning getting out orders etc. In the afternoon got a decent book & had a read. The weather is very close & hot.

Saturday 9th
Went to the Races at Heliopolis in the afternoon. I picked the winners of the first 2 races & did fairly well up to the last race. Had a good afternoons sport. It wasn’t a backers day as very few of the favourites did any good at all. Saw Bob Thorne at the Races & he came into town with me, He is at the cavalry school. Saw Frank Grant of Bellingen after dinner in the street & had a yarn to him. He is also at the School of Instruction.

Sunday 10th
Half the staff got the morning off & many of them went to Alexandria. I elected to work & will have next Sunday off. An English mail was in this morning, but got nothing out of it. Am expecting a parcel. Ella

[Page 11]

March 1918
Sutherland is sending me. Won a sweep on the Races last Saturday but it was only worth 10/-. There was some excitement in Cairo this morning. The Jewish Battalion which has just arrived here from London paraded through Cairo & were entertained. There was big turn out of people. It didn’t take us long to pick out what they were when we saw them close. At first we thought they were ordinary Tommies. They are not a very good looking lot & are all shapes & sizes from 4ft 6 ins up. I wasn’t very much impressed with their appearance.
Met Williamson & Lyall, 2 cadets from the school & they had lunch at the mess with me. We all went out together to the 27th General Hosp. It is a British Hospital but there are a few Australian sisters there & they entertained us to afternoon tea. Williamson is in the 5th LH & Lyall belongs to cousin Will’s Battalion the 7th Scottish Rifles. It was he that gave me the particulars of his death. The day was very

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March 1918
sultry & cloudy & at night it came on to rain & rained fairly steady all night, an unusual thing here. The town is very flat & rain is not too good for it. All the water has to be swept into the sewers. There are some boats in from Australia & we expect some letters in a day or two.

Monday 11th
Usual days work. Had a quiet read in the afternoon. Sent some photos out to Todd & Phillip, the group we had taken with Mrs Cornish at Mena House. The “Scamps” opened again this time at the Opera House. They stages “A Chinese Honey moon”. The Theatre is beautiful, all the seats are of Red plush & the boxes are very much larger than the ordinary. The stage is very large. The dressing & the costumes were very good, but several things combined to spoil the play, & I was pretty tired of it when it was over.

Tuesday 12th
The weather has turned real fine again. Got paid today. Was absolutely without ½ a piastre. A boat arrived from Australia Colonel Fuller of the 6th LH was on

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March 1918
board.

Wednesay 13th
There is a fair bit of work coming in especially on Wednesdays & Thursdays. An Australian mail was delivered today. Got 1 letter from home, one from Doles & 1 from Edna Ferguson. I believe there is another boat arriving in a few days time. There was a social at the Australian Soldiers Club. Quiet a number of nurses were there & we had a nice little evening finishing up at about a quarter to 11.

Thursday 14th
The day was very warm & windy & dusty in the afternoon. Nearly everybody is putting up blue & red stripes. A soldier leaving for active service in 1914 can wear 1 red & 3 blues. Then there are good conduct stripes turned down on the left sleeve & As on the colour patches on your shoulder for Gallipoli service. I havn’t taken to wearing any of them yet. Some of the chaps will be stripes & colours all over if the war goes on much longer. Put in for a pass for a week end leave to Alexandria.

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March 1918
Friday 15th
Was very busy all day Wrote & posted a letter home. Joe Nevitt came in & had dinner with me.

Saturday 16th
Was going to go to Alexandria for the week end, but as no cash has yet arrived I didnt put in for a pass.
Went to the Races. The Sultan was present & his private band played during the afternoon. The afternoon was windy & there was a shower or two of rain Nevertheless there was a good attendance & a good afternoons sport. Didnt manage to get away with any felouse although I got on to a couple of winners.

Sunday 17th
Had a good sleep in in the morning as I didnt have to go to the office. Went down to the Tennis Courts at about 10 oclock & afterwards had a game of Billiards. Went out to Mr & Mrs Briggs for dinner & in the afternoon went out for walk round the Koubbeh Palace Gardens. The kiddies also came with us.

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March 1918
Stayed for supper & got back to our quarters about ½ past 10.

Monday 18th
Had little to do in the morning so wrote a couple of letters, one to Doles. Saw
our colonel in the afternoon he has just come back from Australia. Remained in during the evening. Had some music in our Recreation Room at the Quarters.

Tuesday 19th
Had a fair bit of work to do, but enjoyed a good sleep in the afternoon. 5 of us got a box at the Opera House, & saw Miss Hook of Holland. It was really very good & quite witty.

Wednesday 20th
Usual day at the office. Went round to the Bank in the afternoon. Still no money. It is over a month since I cabled. Went to see the Mummers, a soldier troop who are giving 1 performance here at the Piccadilly. They are quite worth hearing.

Thursday 21st
Wrote a letter or two as there is not much work coming in now. Went for a walk in the afternoon.

[Page 112]

[The remaining pages are written in a French diary]

March 1918
Friday 22nd
Went round to the Warners after dinner.

Saturday 23rd
Went to the Races at Heliopolis in the afternoon. It was a splendid day & there was a big turn out. Backed 4 seconds & one winner.

Sunday 24th
First news of the German offensive on the west front this morning everyone is expectant. Worked in the morning & remained at home in the afternoon & evening.

Monday 25th
Usual routine.

Tuesday 26th
Genl Chauvel was to inspect this morning. He was in the office but inspection was postponed till Thursday. Got paid to day. Most of it went buying shirt for the summer. Worked back in the afternoon.

Wednesday 27th
Everybody is watching the Western Front & all the cables are eagerly read. A Further advance has been made over the Jordan. Our Regt is up that way now. Went to the Whist Drive at the Australian Soldiers Club at night. Met several Australian nurses there that I knew & had an enjoyable evening.

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March 1918
Thursday 28th
General Chauvel & Staff inspected right through the office this morning. He seemed to be well satisfied with the way things were carried on here. Got a letter from Captain Todd in the morning.

Friday Good Friday
Had the whole afternoon off. It was very windy. Met Mrs Price & a Miss Williams in the afternoon & arranged to call on Monday
Left Bayoud for Hassaniya Australian mail arrived English mail arrived

[Page 114]

Left Hassaniya
Arrived Mazar
R Welsh Fusiliers Concert Mazar
Enemy bombed El Arish
Left Mazar arrived Bardawil
Left Bardawil arrived Masaid
1st Brigade went through here to Bayoud
Genl Chetwode inspected us
Australian mail distributed
NZ & 2nd Bgde football match
Went to Camel Transport for a month
Went to El Arish with 320 camels
Brigade left Masaid & arrived Sheikh Zowaiid
NZs &2nd Bgde had skirmish with Turks
Fixed up camp at Sheikh Zowaiid
orderly for the day

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March 1918
Saturday
Usual work in the morning. Went to the Races in the afternoon. Won 30/-. Was pretty tired after tea & went to bed early. Got 3 or 4 casualties in. The Regt have been in action again.

Sunday 31st
Worked in the morning although it was my morning off as I want to go to Alex next week end. Got more casualty lists in. 7 officers & 89 O/Ranks which is the biggest list I have yet had. Several of the good old fellows have gone including a few of my particular friends in the Regiment. Went out with

[The 6th LH Regiment was involved in the attack at Amman]

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March 1918
young Cave to Briggs for dinner & afternoon tea. We went out then to some French friends of the Briggs. Met 5 or 6 French girls. They were very friendly. We stayed to tea & afterwards had some games. They are much more merrier than any English girls you meet & we were soon on good terms with them. It would take a month to make ½ the progress with an English girl. We enjoyed ourselves immensely & are going to picnic to the Pyramids with them tomorrow afternoon.

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March 1918 April
Monday 1st April
Got 1 letter only in the Australian mail from Doug. Cant understand why some letters have not arrived. 2 mails have been missed now. Usual morning work. Went to the picnic in the afternoon. There were 14 or 15 of us at the Pyramids altogether & we had some good fun & took plenty of grub etc. Felt very tired when I got home.

Tuesday 2nd April
No further particulars as to the casualties in the Regt have been received, but Corp Marriott who was to have relieved me here is in hospital.

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April 1918
with appendicitis, so I dont know what will be done. I wrote to the Colonel last Sunday. Went down to the Mousky in the afternoon & bought a crepe de chine blouse length & sent it to Dorothy Blair.

Wednesday 3rd April to Saturday 6th April
Have been very busy. Got a full list of the casualties in my old squadron B have 26 men missing, 10 of them are out of my old troop. Sgts Sharpe Burlace & King are missing also Lieut Ridgway, Major Ryrie is dangerously wounded in the head. There were nearly 100 casualties in the Regiment

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April 1918
altogether
I went to Alex on Saturday afternoon. Stayed at the Bonnard Hotel & next morning went up to [indecipherable]. It was a beautiful day but I wasnt feeling too good having caught a cold so wasnt able to enjoy my trip a bit. Had a sleep on the lawn till dinner time. After dinner went & picked up my VAD & went out for a drive and afternoon tea. She had to go back to the hospital on duty at 5 oclock so after that I went & had a sleep & caught the 11.30 pm train back to Cairo. It was a rotten trip. Wasn’t feeling like work on the Monday. The Doctor put me

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April 1918
off duty & I didn’t go to work till Thursday. Had a lot of work to do when I got back & it took me a few days to make up the arrears of work. On Saturday several of us went out to Mrs Clark’s at Maadi & had tea I heard her husband is an officer on the intelligence staff & they have a nice garden home at Maadi near where our old camp used to be. On Sunday morning we went to the Symphony Concert at the Kursaal, it was splendid. There was a good orchestra of 50 players & it is quite the best music I have listened to here yet. These concerts are very popular & are much appreciated

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April 1918
On Sunday afternoon Hornsey & I went out to the Briggs We stayed for afternoon tea & supper. They had their French friends there & we all had a good time. I cant remember the name of the people but was asked to go to dinner next Sunday. Will be on duty next Sunday so arranged to go the following Sunday. They are going to have a motor picnic to the Barrage on the Monday following & was asked to go but don’t know whether I will be able to go yet. Went to see the Belle of New York played by the Scamps at the Kursaal on the Monday night

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April 1918
& I enjoyed it very much. In the last Australian mail I got 3 letters, one from Kate one from home & one from Edna Ferguson. Havn’t had time to reply to any of them yet.

Thursday 18th April
Usual mornings work. In the afternoon Records Section played AIF H’Qrs cricket & beat them by 50 or 60 runs. It was a good match. I went out to Gezira to see it. Havn’t made up my mind yet whether to play this year or not.

[Transcribed by Peter Mayo and Adrian Bicknell for the State Library of New South Wales]