Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Gordon Macrae diary, 12 November 1914-4 January 1916
MLMSS 958/Item 1

[Transcriber’s note:
Gordon Macrae was 25 years old, unmarried, and a farmer from Dorrigo in NSW, when he enlisted on the 10 September 1914, just 5 weeks after war was declared. He joined the 6th Light Horse Regiment and trained at Liverpool Camp, NSW. The regiment sailed on the troop ship, Suevic on 21st December and arrived in Egypt 1st February 1915 for training at Maadi Camp. He sailed for Gallipoli and landed at Anzac Cove on 20th May. He remained in action (unwounded) for the duration of the campaign apart for two weeks duty on Imbros in August, was promoted Corporal and then Sergeant in October. He was in the last but one group to be evacuated and arrived back in Egypt on 25th Dec]

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Gordon Macrae
Trooper
No 294
B Troop B Squadron
6th Light Horse Regt
Australia 2nd Light Horse Brigade
2nd Expeditionary Force
address
"Aberforde"
Dorrigo
N S Wales

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Notes to 12th Novr
Joined 2 2nd Expedy Force Septr 10th & went into camp at Roseberry Park on the 11th. Found things pretty rough there, arrangements not completed. Caught a bad cold & it rained for several days. Shifted camp to Rosehill on the 23rd Sept & had a fairly rough week there. Our regt was moved to Liverpool on the 30th & conditions got much better. A big recreation tent was erected & we had a fair amount of room to drill. We had a lot of rain at Liverpool during the first 2 weeks & the parade ground got very sloppy. However we had a fairly easy time & got a good amount of leave. We had all foot drill up till the end of October. We got some excitement when our horses were given us. Spills were very common.

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Novr 1914
Thursday Novr 12th
Inspection by Govr Genl in the afternoon. Still muddy but firming up again. Bayonet drill & instructions in guard & sentry duties in the afternoon. McDermott turned up again. Ashworth & Pickering had a scrap.

Friday 13th
Mounted parade morning & part of afternoon 2 or 3 miles along the road. Bayonet drill. On fatigue duty in the afternoon on forage. 5 of the troop had uniforms issued. Fairly warm day.

Saturday 14th
Extremely hot muggy day. Mounted squadron drill in the morning B Squadron had a wild gallop. No damage beyond a couple of spills. On fatigue duty in the afternoon putting up a shelter for blacksmiths. Regiment got their uniforms.

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November 1914
Sunday 15th
Very hot & thundery. Church parade in the morning. Remarkable numbers of Presbyterians & Methodists. Service in the YMCA. Bath parade & medical inspection. Full uniform parade in the afternoon. 4 men taken out of B troop & transferred to 2nd Reinforcements. Detailed for main guard tonight.

Monday 16th
On main guard. Very hot day. Thunderstorm in afternoon. Had tea in Liverpool & went to picture at night.

Tuesday
Mounted drill in the morning, 2 or 3 miles along the road. Very hot in morning. Heavy rain about noon & showery thereafter. Pay day, drew £3/15/-. Went to Fergusons, catching the 3 to 6 train.

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Got back through the fence at 1am next morning.

Wednesday 18th [Nov]
Nothing about McDermott. Looks as if he isnt coming back. Bayonet drill all the morning. Captain McLaghlen Instructor. In the afternoon independent troop drill mounted. Fairly cool day rather cloudy.

Thursday 19th
Full regiment parade in uniforms with rifles. Cinematographer operator took pictures of the regiment marching past. In the afternoon went out to Holsworthy with an advance party of 9 from B Squadron to help get things fixed up. All leave stopped at night.

Friday 20th
Struck camp at Liverpool. Went out with guard over the transports. We got our horse lines

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& tents fixed up before regiment arrived. Thunderstorm at night.

Saturday
Very hot sultry in the morning, cool southerly change with rain in the afternoon. Fatigue work all day & I found it was properly named.

Sunday 22nd [Nov]
Church parade at 9.30 in uniform. In the afternoon started to put up YMCA tent, but had to knock off as some of the pole fittings were broken. Not many visitors owing to distance from town.

Monday 23rd
Bayonet drill in the morning. Very hot & muggy. Fatigue work in the afternoon digging garbage pit.

Tuesday 24th
Heavy thunderstorm, steady rain. On main guard. First time in full uniform

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with fixed bayonets. Adjutant very strict about guards appearance.

Wednesday 25th
Very hot & muggy. Mounted drill in the morning. Practicing dismounting for action. In the afternoon mounted drill with rifles. We were sent out to drill in the early part of a big thunderstorm & we all got very wet & had to return to camp. My turn tent orderly.

Thursday 26th
Mounted drill in the morning. Cool breeze blowing all day. Mounted drill in the afternoon in full uniform. Applied for final leave & got 6 days together with free pass to Armidale & ¼ truck for horse. Left camp at 7.30 & met Capt John [indecipherable] at the gate & walked into Liverpool.

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26th contd
We had a long yarn about old times & was very much interested in the Coffs Harbor & Dorrigo district. I went to Croydon with him & stayed at the Fergusons.

27th Novr
Collected my baggage together ready to go home. Met Mrs Jno Beaumont & Mavis Edwards on the train at Ashfield & got some Yanco news. Went out to Drummoyne by the 10.15am boat & stayed there the rest of the day. Called in at the Farmer & Settler office & saw Mr Morice & Normie. They told me of Dorothy’s engagement. Mr Morice wants me to contribute news from time to time to the F & S & is going to provide me with a duplicate diary for that purpose. Caught the 7.15 Glen Innes mail & wired Doug

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to meet the train at W Maitland.

28th Novr
Arrived Armidale 8.40am & got a car about 9 oclock for Dorrigo. Met Billy Ryder & Mr Schley at Wollomombi. Got to Guy Fawkes for dinner. Fairly cool breeze blowing & on the way from Guy Fawkes it started raining. Kept up all the way driving right into the car. Got to Dorrigo Roy was waiting for the car. Had a yarn to a lot of Dorrigo citizens & Roy borrowed Marsden’s sulky & we took the short cut home arriving at 7.25am. Found the place looking A.1. My only wish I hadn’t to go back.

29th Novr
Had a quiet morning at home. Looked round the place & was much pleased with the progress made during my absence. After dinner all of us went round to Sturts to spend the afternoon & stayed to tea. Got home about 10.

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November – December 1914
30th November
Drove into town in the morning with Roy. Had dinner at the Dago’s. Had a yarn with Benny Hall, Jno Edgley & some others. Saw Old Charles Kirby, but didn’t have time to go out & see Stano as I should have liked. Went back home through N Dorrigo & called in to see Andy & Mrs Menzies. Had afternoon tea with them. Got back home at 6.15.

1st Decr
Raining in the morning. Went with Frank to Jim Evans to get some sows. Had dinner there. Got back in time to milk in the afternoon.

2nd Decr
Had a quiet day at home & discussed all the happenings. Frank had to go to the mill for timber & I helped with the milking. Mrs Sturt & Alice came down in the afternoon & stayed for tea. Mr Wright & Ivy came down after tea. We had a pleasant

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evening & it was midnight when I got to bed.

3rd Decr
Got up at 4.30am, left home at 7am. Frank & Alice Sturt rode into town with me. Said Good bye to most of the identities & caught the car to Armidale. Roads very bad to Guy Fawkes. Cool day, no rain. Car broke down 9 miles from Armidale. Had to wait for an hour on the road. Got on the car from Hillgrove & just managed to catch the train at 7.45pm. Train full.

4th Decr
Got into Sydney at 9.5am. Felt very tired. Went to Horderns to get credit for the cart fittings. Called in & saw Billy Gordon & Elena Drury & arranged with with Billy Jones to send the rest of my things home. Went out to Mrs Walker for lunch. Came into town in the

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afternoon & caught the 4.22pm train to Liverpool. Got back to camp at 5.30.

Decr 5th
Was brought up before the Colonel for being a day overdue. Capt Oatley put in a good word form me & I was let off with a 10/- fine. My horse was sent to the sick lines so I rode Weekley’s. Had some bayonet pointing on horseback. Got point in the morning. Mounted drill in the afternoon. Rob Long’s horse. Got no points in the afternoon. Put in some time at the dismounting for action drill. Warm day. My day as tent orderly. Got to bed early.

Sunday 6th
Church parade in the morning. No parade in the afternoon.

Monday
Whole of the 6th & 7th Regts were inoculated against typhoid.

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Many of the chaps went right down to it. Didn’t feel any ill effects myself except a drowsy feeling. Musketry instruction in the morning. No parade in afternoon. Did washing & cleaning of gear. On picket duty horse lines.

Tuesday 8th [Dec]
Put on Army Med Corps Fatigue. Cleaning out drains from Wash Stands. Dug drains at cook house & built officers latrines. Got to bed early.

Wednesday 9th
Told off an orderly trooper. Had an easy day, very hot. Mr Walker looked me up at dinner time & we had lunch together. Went in town at night with Long. Saw Mr Pearce in town & had a yarn with him. Caught 10.30pm train home. McDonald nearly got hit with a train at Liverpool station when crossing the lines. Engine just missed him by a fraction.

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Thursday 10th [Dec]
Long went off to Long Bay for Musketry. Several of the troop went away on final leave. Went out with horses on the forenoon. Got photos taken trotting along the road in front of camp. In the afternoon got harness saddlery cleaned up ready to go to Long Bay next morning. Night picket on the Squadron lines. Came off at 6am.

Friday 11th
Got ready saddled for Long Bay when orders came out to unsaddle & stand by. All leave cancelled owing to orders coming out that the regt had to sail on the 21st. Ashworth "squibbed" & got his discharge. Was put on mounted orderly. Had an easy time. Nothing

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to do except one trip into town. Sent letters to Doug & Arthur B also 3 of to A.B.

Saturday 12th [Dec]
Very hot & dusty day with strong wind blowing. Troop cleaned up gear in morning. I was put on the making up of the nominal rolls. Finished in the afternoon at 3 oclock. Went to Burwood by the 5.30 train & had tea with Mr & Mrs Beaumont. Saw Myer & May & Annie Cochrane. Went on to the Fergusons. Met young Edmundson of the 7th Regt there. Seems to be a bit keen about Eva. Caught the 11.33 train back to camp & got in about 1.30. Long went on leave.

Sunday 13th
My day tent orderly. Very dusty & warm. Water supply very bad. Finished up the nominal rolls. In the afternoon some of us


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went for a swim. A good crowd of visitors came out. Decided to allot my pay in the following manner 2/- per day for myself, the rest to my mother.
Monday 14th [Dec]
Started in orderly room. Had an easy day. The regiment was inoculated for the second time. Seemed to hurt much more this time. 5th Queensland Light Horse arrived at Liverpool. Went into Sydney at night & stayed in Drummoyne.

Tuesday 15th
Got back to camp at 9 oclock. Several men discharged from "A Squadron & transferred to Reserve Regt. Getting pay sheets ready for tomorrow. No drills. Troop took horses out for grass.

Wednesday 16th
Working in orderly room

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not much drill being done in the camp. An instructor came out to give us some instruction as to how to keep fit during the voyage. With the medicine ball B Squadron beat A Squadron but B, our own troop lost to B of A Squadron. Went into Sydney at night. Got back to camp about 12 midnight.

Thursday 17th [Dec]

Nothing much doing except to get the horses ready & fit for the voyage. B Squadron have been taking their horses into the bush every day during this week. Regiment got paid. My pay was rather short after deducting the fine.

Friday 18th
Very busy today getting things ready for our departure. Didn’t knock off till 12 midnight. Could do a good nights sleep any old time now.

Saturday 19th
Very hot day. Doug came

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out about dinner time & went back to catch the 5.20 train to Sydney. Things were a bit messed up when the time came to go away, but we managed to leave camp about 8 oclock. We had a few showers of rain before we left which made the road a lot better to travel on. At Enfield we watered and fed our horses & stayed till about daylight. Got to the wharf at Woolloomooloo about 9.30. The boat put off into the stream at 10 oclock. The horses gave very little trouble getting aboard. We were all pretty tired & got into our hammocks & there were not many who did not sleep well.

Monday [21st]
Stables on ship takes a longer time than in the camp. We have to water the horses from a bucket & it is also awkward getting up forage from the hold. The horses get bran

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& salts in the middle of the day. The 5th Regt Queensland left at 9 oclock by the Persic. It had been raining since yesterday afternoon & a stiff southerly is blowing so things will be about middling when we get outside.
The sea was moderate but that didn’t stop more than half getting sick. For myself it didn’t affect me at all. Felt very tired & turned in early.

Tuesday 22nd [Dec]
Bennett & myself were mess orderlies. Most of the chaps recovered from their sickness, the sea being quite smooth. They made up for lost meals at the mess. The horses seem to be taking the trip alright. Mine was a bit off colour but the vet gave him some medicine & he came on to his tucker good.

Wednesday 23rd
Good fine day smooth

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sea. Time goes very quickly & by the time you have looked after your horse properly there isnt much for anything else. Passed the Melbourne SSCos "Dimboola" in the afternoon. Seemed to be cutting out a fair pace. We are only steaming from 8 to 11 knots ourselves. Our position today is between Melbourne & Adelaide.

Thursday 24th [Dec]
Was put on Quarter master’s fatigue. There wasn’t much work to do so we had a good rest. From 12 noon to 3 we had nothing to do so we managed to get in a bit of extra sleep. Our troop put in most of the day exercising the horses. It is a tiresome job walking round & round in a small space, but it takes the stiffness out of the poor devils legs. Was put on main guard at night. They mount a guard of one officer, one sergeant & 2 corporals

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with 27 men. The 6th Regt combined with the "Suevic" crew gave a concert at night. Some of the items would have been better left unrendered, but the crowd were in a good humour & they cheered everything. The "Suevic" crew showed a good deal more talent than our men. They were especially good on rags & one was a tip top banjo player. We had a thunderstorm about 7 oclock & it turned cold afterwards with a strong headwind. Christmas eve otherwise passed very quickly. Didnt notice anyone drunk.

Friday 25th [Dec]
On main guard. Day passed quietly very slowly with a fairly strong wind and smooth sea. There is practically nothing to do on main guard on board ship. Had a good christmas dinner in fact was uncomfortably full all day.

Saturday 26th
We are having an exceedingly

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calm passage. "B" Troop has been unfortunate with horses. Lost 2 yesterday. One was the old chestnut A12,931 which I had at first. The other was Ashworth’s old horse. "A" Squadron lost one also. Dick Farley was sent into hospital with measles. There are several cases now on board.

Sunday 27th
The best day we have had at sea yet. Calm sea & a fine warm day. At 9.30 we had church parade on the aft deck. Afterwards we were allotted our boat & fire station. My boat no is 7 – fire station no 17. One of an armed guard of 7 on the ammunition room. I had plum duff for dinner. Afterwards some of the boys put in some practice revolver shooting at bottles, boxes etc over the stern rail. They performed very well. Some of them got the boxing gloves out & there were some willing goes. At night Long, Isted

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& myself went down to the stoke hold & helped do some coal shovelling. Had a good look through the engine room & went right down the shaft tunnel. Wouldnt like to stop down the engine room too long. It was fairly warm. Passed 2 steamers today. One was a tramp & other McIlwraith McEachern’s steamer "Katoomba". Had a good look through a telescope at them. All section leaders today issued with field glasses. All our equipment is now complete.

Monday 28th [Dec]
On stable picquet today. It is a quiet easy job. B Troop exercised their horses. All the troops on board were medically examined & as a result several will have to go off at Albany. We are nearly there now. The vessel has slowed down & we will go in at daylight tomorrow morning. I have been getting some letters

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written ready for the mail. There is a bit of a swell on today.

Tuesday 29th [Dec]
Revielle at 4.30am so as to get stables over & the mucking out done before we enter the harbour. There is a big anchorage & we find about 15 other ships there, some of them the best ships trading to Australia. My turn as mess orderly today. It is an easy job nothing to do between meals. Was working in the orderly room in the morning. Cold bleak day.

Wednesday 30th
Had an easy day as Orderly trooper. Several chaps including Jim Burnett were discharged & went ashore. Another cold day & cloudy. Lieut Russell who resigned last week went ashore. It is believed he was medically unfit. Finished duty

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January 1915
at 9.30. Orders came through to get up steam ready to go at 5.30am tomorrow.

Thursday 31st
Orders came to stand by at 5.30am & to keep steam up. Submarine A.E.2 is alongside the flag ship. However we didn’t get away till about 9. Found it quite smooth outside. We were all glad to get away again. It was a fine sight to see all the ships 17 in all in 3 lines. New Years Eve. Quietest I have ever put in. Some of the chaps got a bit merry, but don’t know where they got the liquor.

1915
Friday 1st January
Fine bright day smooth sea. Passed a sailing ship with all canvas spread about 11.30am.

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January 1915

We were joined by another transport at [indecipherable]. The whole fleet stopped at noon & 2 men, one from the "Persic & the other from the "Borda, who had died the day previously, were buried. Was detailed for main guard & went on at 6 oclock. Did first shift on the guns at the stern from 6 to 8pm. Concert on tonight on the 2nd hatch.

Saty 2nd Jany
On guard all day. Some of the ships changed places. We are second on the first line now which consists of the "Thermistocles" "Suevic" "Ajana" "Port Macquarie"& one of the German boats. Middle line "Ulysses" (flagship) "Vestalia" & 2 German vessels. Third line "Ceramic" "Persic" "Borda" "Willochra" & 2 other NZ ships. The Berrima is towing the submarine apart from the division

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& the Ayrshire is right behind.

Sunday 3rd [Jan]
Church parade at 9.30. Boat stations & fire stations afterwards. Like any other week day on board ship. Selected a good spot to sleep on upper deck.

Monday 4th
The weather is getting warmer as we near the tropics. We are steering N.N.W. Must be going to Colombo. A lot of boxing was done tonight. They are having a tournament starting from tomorrow night. Entered my name.

Tuesday 5th
Was put on stable picquet. Got a bosker headache in the morning & was feeling pretty crook after dinner. Was right again after tea. Boxing tournament started. They made

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most of them pretty willing. There was a big crowd. Col Ryrie acted as referee. "B" Squadron pulled off a lot of wins. Weather very muggy & close.

Wednesday 6th [Jan]
Another close muggy day. Seems to take most of the energy out of you. The boxing tournament was continued at night. "B" pulled off several more wins. I was put in the heavyweight class instead of the 11-12 st class. However they let me fight one round against Johnston. He was a good man but I didnt get hurt

Thursday 7th
More hot & close weather. There was a hard shower after dinner. Sergeant Shannon was transferred to D Troop. We

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were sorry to lose him as he was a good fellow. His only fault was that he was too easy going. We got Sgt Tresilian in his place. Worked fairly solid in the afternoon washing out all the horse stalls & [indecipherable]washing afterwards. More boxing again at night.

Friday 8th
Usual work on stables all day. Hot muggy weather with showers. More boxing at night. Some of the finals were put through. Pickering & myself mess orderlies. Mail day. Flagship took the letters off. I wrote one letter home. Was vaccinated today.

Saturday 9th
Strong head wind blowing. After inspection several of us were late on the 11.30am parade & got 4 days stables at reveille. Had to put in stable piquet at 6pm.

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The weather makes you very tired & it is an effort to do anything.

Sunday 10th [Jan]
Clear fine day strong wind blowing. Getting pretty near the line. One of the

German boats has dropped back out of sight & the Persic is also hull down. Had the usual sermon. Cat Chaplain Miller preached one of his usual sermons. Afterwards we fell in for boat & fire stations. No parade between 12.30 & 4pm. Got in a good sleep.

Monday 11th
Crossed the line this morning. Had a pretty busy day on stables & felt pretty tired at night. Slept on deck but the rain drove me down. Another horse was put overboard making a total of 8. Loss was to A Troop B Squadron.

Tuesday 12th
In the morning the "Ceramic"

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"Suevic" & "Persic" dropped out from the main fleet. We presume we are going straight to Aden whilst the other boats are going to Colombo. Was mess orderly today. Vaccination is beginning to take effect.

Wednesday 13th [Jan]
On stable piquet today. Was kept going pretty solid all day. Our day exercising horses. Passed a couple of transports & a mail boat, first ships we have seen outside the fleet since leaving Albany. We are getting beautiful weather now.

Thursday 14th
Splendid day. Usual work on stables. Passed Minekoi [Minicoy] Island at midday. Saw several dhows. This is the first land we have seen since leaving Albany. Had a saddle cleaning parade in the afternoon. Got all our saddlery branded. Passed a tramp

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during the afternoon.

Friday 15th [Jan]
Another fine day. Usual work on stables. Trooper Maxwell came into B Troop today. Our day to exercise horses. Whitewashed all the stalls.

Saturday 16th
12of the Troop were paraded before Major Oatley for minor offences. Most of them got off except J D Weekly who got 7 days in the detention room for abusing Corpl Cheater. Was pretty crook today with the effects of vaccination & had a bosker headache. Concert at night. Great success.

Sunday 17th
Came on to rain in the morning. Church parade at 9.30am. Had the rest of the day off being a bit off.

Monday 18th
Mess orderly, feeling a lot better. Went on guard at night.

Tuesday 19th
Fine clear day. On

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guard. Came off at 6.30pm. Am beginning to get right again. Expect to be at Aden tomorrow.

Wednesday 20th [Jan]
Another fine clear day. P & O Steamer "Morea" passed us in the morning & was in Aden a couple of hours before us. The armed auxiliary cruiser Empress of Russia, the C.P.R. boat was in port. We were surrounded with Indians in small boats wanting to trade. They will work points too if they get a chance. Got several things off them but nothing they sell seems to be of any quality. Got our first war news since leaving Albany 3 weeks ago. We had a yarn over the stern rail with several passengers of the "Morea". They met the other transports at Colombo. Some of the

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infantry swam ashore at Colombo & the guard that was sent ashore also played up. Nobody was allowed ashore here & by the look of the place there doesn’t seem much to go for. We started to coal & take in water & they expect to be ready to go by Saturday. There seems to be a lot of shipping here, boats continually in & out. The fortress looks very forbidding. Saw some of the Garrison artillery. They seem to be a fine lot of men.

Thursday 21st [Jan]
Still coaling. Usual work on stables. 3 or 4 chaps including the 2 Heckleys’ left the boat having been discharged. They will be sent straight back to Sydney.

Friday 22nd
On stable picket with Morris & Culley. Had a fairly easy day & got all

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my washing done. Vessel put out in the stream about 5 oclock, ready to sail next morning.

Saturday 23rd [Jan]
The other transports came up in the morning with the exception of the Ayrshire which didn’t turn up till 2 in the afternoon. Some of the chaps jumped overboard & swam ashore at Colombo & the guard that went ashore also caused a nuisance. They were infantry off the Ulysses. Was on stable piquet. We left Aden about 5 oclock in the afternoon.

Sunday 24th
Mess orderly. Had a fairly busy day. Usual boat & fire station parade. Passed several steamers including 2 P & O mail boats, one was the Moldavia. Passed an Orient boat during the night. The Empress of Russia left us

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& went back towards Aden. Passed through Hell’s gates just before noon & the 12 apostles about 4 in the afternoon. Weather fairly cool. Good breeze blowing, sea calm.

Monday 25th [Jan]
Was on forage fatigue in the morning. Very sultry all day. Got news of another aerial raid on the English coast also that German Cruiser was sunk & 2 battleships damaged. Heard of further British successes at the front. We are all pretty tired of the boat, have been at sea 5 weeks now but a few more days ought to see through. Was paid 10/-.

Tuesday 26th
Hot, sultry day. There doesn’t seem to be enough air to breathe here. Shouldn’t like it to be summer time. Expect to be at Suez Thursday morning. Was

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on stable picket all day.

Wednesday 27th [Jan]
Good cool day, sea very calm. Came out of the Red Sea in the evening. Got fairly cold before night. They tried the machine guns on the rocks ashore, but the distance must have been too far, couldn’t see where the bullets hit.

Thursday 28th
Arrived at Suez daylight. All the rest of the transports also arrived. Suez is a fine place & cigarettes oranges etc can be got very cheap. I was uncomfortably full all day. No one was allowed ashore. Heard of some fighting along the canal. We were allotted places in case of attack. B Squadron got the honour of the deck. Was on special fatigue all day but had next to nothing to do except gaze over the ships side.

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There was a lot of shipping in the port. The "Willochra" landed part of the New Zealanders at Suez.

Friday 29th
Entered the canal about 9am. We were fourth in the line. Passed the battleship Ocean at the entrance & gave the crew ringing cheers which were answered in a like manner. Found the banks of the canal entrenched & fortified & lined with British troops mostly Indians. Passed the Orient Steamer "Orsova" whose passengers cheered us, also the "Persia". The "Ceramic" went aground at Bitter Lakes, but got off after a while & at Ismalia where we anchored the night we also went aground. Passed the armed converted merchantman Himalaya also the cruiser Minerva

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& 2 or 3 French cruisers. Our band played the Marselaise as we passed. Some of the 26th Lancashire Regt gave us the latest news. There was scrapping along the canal with the Turks, but nothing very serious.

Saturday 30th [Jan]
Early in the morning saw 2 aeroplanes reconnoitering. Got out of the mud about 9 oclock & continued our way through the canal. It was all very interesting. Passed a British cruiser & the battleship "Swiftsure" in the afternoon. Could see an engagement with the field glasses on the east bank of the canal about 2 in the afternoon. Saw several aeroplanes flying out at Port Said where we got a good reception. The Kyarra which took the nurses over was in

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port & even the Egyptians knew our Coo-ee & were not too bad at it. We were all delighted. No one was allowed ashore worst luck, as it looks an interesting place. We are staying here all night as we are taking in coal. Was on stable picket all day.

Sunday 31st

Left Port Said early in the morning. Steamed very slowly as we didn’t want to get to Alexandria until Monday. Beautiful fine day. Full dress parade in the afternoon & a lecture by the doctor. All hustle getting ready for landing tomorrow.

Monday 1st February
Was mess orderly with Teddy Isted. Arrived at Alexandria at daylight & drew

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straight up to the wharf. It is a very busy place crowded with shipping with good berthing accommodation. The native population are very dirty & old things we chucked overboard onto the wharf were scrambled for and fought over. We got a lot of amusement out of them. Nearly everyone has something to sell & they are the greatest robbers under the sun. It doesn’t do to have much dealings with them, as they are so jolly dirty & there is every disease here that is known. Machine Gun Section & C Squadron landed first & got away about midday. B Squadron left the boat at 8pm & we got to Cairo early, 2am on Tuesday morning. The carriages were very dirty & plain, being 3rd class.

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Tuesday 2nd [Feb]
First impressions of Cairo will be lasting. Arriving at 2am in the morning we soon got the horses out & the baggage loaded. Each of us led 2 horses & had to walk to the camp at Maadi, 10 miles from Cairo. It was very cold, being winter here. We got to the camp about 8am & were just about done. All mess arrangements were upside down, but we managed to get a bite off some of the other lads here. Had a couple of hours sleep in the afternoon. Had a good shower bath & felt much better after it. Eyes very sore with the glare of the sand & the dust blowing.

Wednesday 3rd
Reveille at 6am. Exercising horses most of the morning. I took on the job of cook for the troop for the day as the squadron cooks hadn’t turned up. We fared fairly well today. Very cold during the night. Went to see the pictures with Walter Kirton.

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Thursday 4th
Went on quartermaster’s fatigue in the morning. Loaded wagons of maize & bran. Had an easy time afterwards. In the afternoon fixed up our saddlery. After tea Gordon Edmondson came round & we had a bit of a yarn. Was on stable picket at night. It was bitterly cold & the horses gave a lot of trouble.

Friday 5th [Feb]
Our transport arrived last night. Clear, fine day. Cleaned up stirrup irons & bits in the morning. In the afternoon exercised horses. Went up to town Maadi at night with McCarthy. Got back early.

Saturday 6th
Grooming horses in the morning. Troop very small, several away on rearguard duty. Makes more work looking after horses for rest. General Birdwood & his staff came on a

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visit of inspection. Fixing up saddling in the afternoon. Wrote a letter home. Horses gave a lot of trouble after tea. Nearly stampeded.

Sunday 7th [Feb]
Cool cloudy day. Finished stables early in the morning. Church parade at 8.40am. Presbyterians had service in recreation tent. Got leave from 2 oclock till 11.15pm & went with McCarthy to Mena where the main Australian camp is situated. It is 10 miles from Cairo by train & takes about an hour to get there. We took a carriage & pair from Bab-el-Louk Ry Station to the Opera Square. Cost us 5 piastres (1/-½). Got the tram from the Square (2½ d) to Pyramids. Found Ted Rabbitts & had a good yarn with him. Had tea at the Artillery mess & didn’t get a bad feed either. Came back after

[Page 45]

tea & had a good look around Cairo. Caught the 10.30pm train back. We rode donkeys down to the Station from the Central Square. 2 piastres each.

Monday 8th [Feb]
Cold morning. Was put on forage fatigue & had a fairly easy morning. Regiment started drill again in earnest. We drill in the streets of Maadi. In the afternoon had to shift some forage about. Was put on stable picket. Horses were fairly quiet. Drew middle shift with Dalley & Blackwell.

Tuesday 9th
Got a course of bayonet & rifle drill. Was put into us fairly strong. Posted several letters as Australian mail closed at 11am. Received a letter from home.

Wednesday 10th
Our troop went on fatigue work improving our horse line. Rest of regiment went on rifle drill.

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After dinner, B Squadron got paid. I drew £4/16/- & not before it was wanted. Went to the picture show after tea. Several of the chaps went to town & came home pretty full.

Thursday 11th [Feb]
Went on Regtl Q-master’s fatigue before breakfast, drawing the Regtl bread & meat. Dress parade for inspection in the morning. Genl Birdwood took the salute as we marched past. Bayonet drill in the afternoon. Concert at night.
Friday 12th
Detailed for Cairo guard. Left by the 10.15am train & got to Maad Boussi [?] Rly Stn at 11am. Had an easy day, & spent most of my spare time looking round Cairo. Had about 8 or 9 hours off altogether to look around. They make you pay for everything very high & the piastres go quickly. Had a yarn

[Page 47]

with a Frenchman employed at Chandres Freres & he says he will show me around Cairo some Sunday. The streets of Cairo are crowded at night & there is no doubt the Austn is very popular no doubt probably because he spends freely. Spent a fairly cold night on guard.

Saturday 13th [Feb]
Came off guard at 11 oclock & knocked about the town till 3 oclock. There was a great crowd of soldiers in town in the afternoon. Races were on. Had dinner & afternoon tea in town. Got back to camp about 4 in the afternoon. Wrote a few postcards & posted them after tea. Felt pretty tired & went to bed early.

Sunday 14th
Cool, cloudy day. Was mess orderly so did not attend any parades. The whole Bgde was inspected after church & the general said we made a good impression. Ted Rabbitts

[Page 48]

came out after dinner & we went down to the 7th lines & found Walter Kirton. We then went for a walk through Maadi & along the banks of the Nile. Ted stayed to tea & struck a lot of acquaintances in the 6th.

Monday 15th [Feb]
Got back the the old troop drill on foot, sections right & sections left. Capt White gave us some instructions in the use of the rifle. Got our saddles out after dinner & cleaned our rifles. Went on stable picket at 6pm. Had a quiet night. Horses gave no trouble which was just as well, as I wasn’t feeling too good. Had an attack of indigestion.

Tuesday 16th
Usual troop drill & rifle exercises in the morning. Got our saddles on our horses after dinner & gave them some exercise in the

[Page 49]

dust & sand. Got leave to go to Cairo after tea, went in per motor & struck Ted Rabbits in there. Had tea together. Spent a good time also a fair number of piastres & got home at 11.15pm.

Wednesday 17th [Feb]
Team drill up till 10am. We then put in an hour judging distances. In the afternoon took our horses into the sand for exercise. Spent the evening with Gordon Edmundson.

Thursday 18th
Troop drill in the sand on foot in the morning. We were kept going pretty solid & wasn’t sorry when we fell in for practice in judging distances. My horse was a bit crook with a slight attack of gripes so took him off the lines for exercise. Our troop was detailed for inlying

[Page 50]

picket tonight. Had to get on full marching gear. We fell in at orderly room & marched to Brigade Hqrs, where we were inspected. Marched back to Orderly room returned in: Was turned out again at 11.30pm & again at 5am & had to stand to arms until Reveille when we were dismissed.

Friday 19th
Troop went out on troop drill & firing exercises. I was put on Regtl Q M’s fatigue drawing fodder & firewood. Took horses up the town about 2 miles for exercise. Was put on stable picket at night. Had third shift.

Saturday 20th
Bayonet drill & signalling instructions in the morning. Several of the troop had town leave in the afternoon, the rest did nothing. Weather is fairly warm during the day but cold at night. Some of the AS Corps bivouacked the

Page 51

night at this camp. Peter Gosling was one. Went over to find him but he was away looking up some of the 7th.

Sunday 21st
Full Protestant Church Parade in the morning. Had leave after dinner & caught the 11.35 train from Maadi with several of D troop lads, including Walsh from Dorrigo. Went out to Mena & got Ted Rabbitts. We all went into the Pyramid & had a look into the Kings Chamber. It is very hot inside & the passages are very narrow. The construction is a marvellous bit of work especially the ceiling of the Kings chamber. Also had a look at the Sphinx. Had tea out there. Came back in the tram & went to the Pathes pictures. They were very good, but we miss a lot not being able to understand the French explanations. Got back at 11.15.

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Monday 22nd
Started out for musketry at 8.30, but when we got over to the range we were sent back. Groomed up & saddled, & for the first time since we landed in Egypt mounted our horses. They all went very quietly, but we weren’t allowed to put them out of a walk. After dinner went to the range & were put through our 100 yards grouping. Didn’t do too good. Only got a 12 inch group. Troop did fairly well altogether.

Tuesday 23rd
Finished our [indecipherable] musketry. Got 14, 4 centres & a magpie at the 200, & 2 centres & 2 outers at the 500. Only hit the disappearing man once. The shooting made the muscles of my arm fairly sore. In the afternoon was detailed off to mark, on the 200 yards range. Didn’t finish up till about 6 oclock.

[Page 53]

Wednesday 24th [Feb]
Went out in the morning mounted D & B troop combined as there were only few of us & Lieut Anderson gave us troop drill. He did not get out of a walk. In the afternoon, we were paid. I drew 28/- being 2/- a day. Got 2 letters from home. Got ready for pumping station guard & went on first post at 6.15pm. Its a good easy job. Had supper at the Nile café.

Thursday 25th
Had a good morning on guard. Was taken off at 12 oclock as I had to do my musketry. Was down at the Territorial Barracks in the morning, where they have the Turkish prisoners. Didn’t do much good at the 500 yds snap shooting, but did fair at the 500 yds independent & 300 yds trapping. Wrote a letter home.

Friday 26th
Went out marking at the 500 yards in the morning. Also about

[Page 54]

an hour in the afternoon. Rest of the troop did rifle drill. Wrote some letters on the afternoon.

Saturday 27th
Mounted parade in the morning. Revielle is at 5.30 now & morning parade 8.30.
½ the troop went to town in the afternoon. I went on main guard at night.

Sunday 28th
On main guard till 6.45 pm. Warm & dusty day. Was fairly tired and got to bed early. There was a bit of an alarm that night before several shots were fired at the Turkish prisoners camp. Guard was turned out several times.

Monday March 1st
Regimental mounted drill in the morning. Fire control drill instructions in the afternoon. Went into town after tea with Sgt [indecipherable] Harry Allman & Billy Crane. Had a good time. Got back to camp about [indecipherable] 30am.

[Page 55]

& dodged the guard.

Tuesday March 2nd
Warm day, very dusty on parade. Regimental mounted drill in the morning. In the afternoon instructions in fire control & concentration on given points. Our troop was inlying picket. We turned out very well & were complimented. We were turned out at 4.30am & stood to arms until 5.30.

Wednesday March 3rd
Was mess orderly. Got in some time in the morning to write letters. There are a lot of rumours about leaving here next week for Palestine or Smyrna to operate against the Turks. Had a spill in the afternoon.

Thursday March 4th
Regtl mounted drill in the morning. Out in the morning assaulting hills at the back of the camp & taking trenches at the point of the bayonet. Fire control drill in the

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March 1915
afternoon.

Friday March 5th
Same as yesterday. Alf Outridge came out to the camp at night. He looks very well.

Saturday 6th
Dismounting for action drill Squadron working independently. Did more good bayonet work. No parade in the afternoon. Several of the troop went on leave. Went to the boxing tournament in the Ma-adi Stadium at night. Sports in the afternoon. The 6th did very well. Won the wrestling on horse-back & the balaclava Meleè.

Sunday 7th
Went to C of E Church Parade in the morning. Had leave in the afternoon & went into Cairo. Spent most of the afternoon in the soldier’s café & in the Park listening to the Manchester Band. Had tea in town & caught the 10.30pm train bank to camp.

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March 1915
Monday 6th
Full marching order Parade of the whole Brigade. We put in a cruel morning. The dust & sand blinded us. General Birdwood was there. The Regt did some dismounting for action drill & our Squadron rather made a mess of things. In retiring we were taken right across the line of fire of a Squadron. We didn’t come in till 1.30pm. No parade in the afternoon. Went on stable picket at night. Drew second relief.

Tuesday 9th
Dust is the prevailing element here & today was no exception. We put in a long mornings work & progressed considerably on yesterdays work. Our attack on the position could have been improved upon. We exposed ourselves too much. In the afternoon the regiment was medically examined.

Wednesday 10th
Practicing advance guard work all the morning, each squadron

[Page 58]

working independently. In the afternoon we received further instruction in the loading loading positions. Got paid in the afternoon, I drew 28/-.

Thursday 11th [Mar]
Same work as yesterday. It was very windy which made it very uncomfortable. The Chaplains handed round New Testaments to the boys, a present from a Sydney lady to all the members of the Aust. Expeditionary Force.

Friday 12th
Went out in the morning. "B" Squadron independently along the Nile for about 5 miles throwing out flanking & advance scouts. Had a good ride, passed through several villages. We had to report on the nature of the country to the Major. It was good practice. All the sections had a go at it at different times. Got back about 1.30pm. Rifle aiming drill in the afternoon. Went to

[Page 59]

a concert at night. It was especially good. The Resident of Ma-adi gave it & they had the best talent they could get in Egypt. Farrier Sergeant Major Knowles of the Westminster Dragoons was especially good.

Saturday 13th [Mar]

Was mess orderly with Isted. Didn’t have to shun [attenshun] in the morning. Got time to write a few letters in the morning. Several of the troop got leave. Was detailed for picket tonight, so couldn’t get any leave myself.

Sunday 14th
Revielle at 6.15am. Went to church parade in the cinema tent. There were several residents of Maadi at this service. Our troop are in-lying picket tonight but I managed to get leave & went with Long to the Citadel & had a good look around. The Mosque built by Mahomet Ali is a wonderful piece of work.

[Page 60]

We also saw the Indian wounded at Joseph’s well & afterwards the soldiers barracks. They have everything fixed up OK. Went to the Kursaal (Music Hall) at night. They had some splendid turns there, especially the acrobatic feats. The show wasn’t over till 12 oclock so it was late when we got home.

Monday 15th [Mar]
Had a big mornings manoeuvres. A Squadron represented the enemy. All were supplied with blank ammunition. We got 4 prisoners & there were a good few wiped out on either side. It would be hard to say who did the best work. Got a letter from Frank in the afternoon. Saw Harold Jones after tea & we had supper together at the café at Maadi station.

Tuesday 16th
Had an easy mornings work. We represented the vanguard to a main body of troops advancing. In the afternoon we had drill to strengthen our muscles for

[Page 61]

firing positions. The Dorrigo identities in this camp had a meeting after tea & a good old yarn.

Wednesday 17th [Mar]
Turned out in full dress (marching order) & got a good start on at 8.30am, passed through Tura & reached Halouan at 10 oclock about 10 miles from here. We watered & fed our horses not forgetting ourselves & started on the road back, reaching camp at 5.30pm. We were all pretty tired & stiff. We appreciated the hot stew the cooks had ready for us.

Thursday 18th
We carried out further manoeuvres attacking, retiring under cover, & put in fairly good work. Fire discipline drill in the afternoon. We were turned out of our big tent & put into a smaller on the other side of the horse lines, the larger tents being required for Red Cross purposes. Was on picket at night. Drew middle shift.

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March 1915
Friday 19th
B & C Squadrons marched out to the quarries 4 miles towards the citadel. The 5th Regt was placed between us and the camp & we had to get through them. However there was some misunderstanding & the scheme did not work properly. Was feeling a bit off, have caught a cold somehow so didn’t shun in the afternoon.

Saturday 20th
The whole brigade turned out in full marching order & were inspected by the Brigadier.

Sunday 21st
Spent a quiet day in camp. Couldn’t go anywhere, as I was broke. Edmundson came round & we yarned most of the afternoon.

Monday 22nd
Usual mounted drill in the morning. Scouting & advance guard work. Didn’t go out in the afternoon.

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Tuesday 23rd
The whole Brigade went out to shamfight the 1st Brigade. The 6th Regiment occupied the centre & in the days operations did fairly well. We finished up about 4 in the afternoon. The B troop did particularly well & the umpire gave us the Red flag. The 1st Brigade bivouacked at Maadi for the night. I was on guard & was on first shift. It was a good rest after the days work.

Wednesday 24th
Got paid. Drew 28/-. Came off guard at 6.30pm & went to bed early.

Thursday 25th
Had a short mornings work attacking positions & retiring under cover. Did our second course of field firing in the afternoon. The results of independent & controlled firing were demonstrated. We did fairly well, especially at the 500 yards

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March 1915
controlled on enemy in trenches.

Friday 26th
Our Squadron were doing patrol work in the morning & firing drill in the afternoon. We were outlying picket at night. The 1st Brigade went back to Camp at Heliopolis after returning from Helouan where they went on a route march.

Saturday 27th
Was on duty all day at the canteen. The Brigadier inspected the lines in the morning. Came off duty at 9.30pm.

Sunday 28th
Usual church parade in the morning. Had leave in the afternoon & with McCarthy went out to Heliopolis & saw Jack Davidson. Came back to Cairo with them, & went to St Andrews Church of Scotland. There was a good service & some fine solos sung.

Monday 29th
Was mess orderly with Thorne. Did no parades. Wrote

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a couple of letters in the afternoon.

Tuesday 30th
Did a hard mornings work. Lt machine guns were planted in the hills about 4 miles from camp & we had to locate & attack them. We were about done up when the "cease fire" went. In the afternoon we got our kit fixed ready for service.

Wednesday 31st
Got rid of all our surplus gear & got ready for an evacuation of the camp. Everything was packed up & put on the transports. The Brigadier inspected us at 11 oclock. We then stripped our saddles & unloaded the wagons.

Thursday 1st April
The 5th & 6th Regts with a squadron of the 7th went on a route march across the sand to Helouan. We had lunch there & came back round the road. Was

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April 1915
pretty tired after it as we never got out of a walk all the way.

Friday 2nd
Good Friday. Was mess orderly all day so didn’t get to attend any church parades. Several of the chaps got day leave. There was a big disturbance. A lot of the soldiers got into a row in one of the Cairo streets of low repute & it assumed big dimensions late in the afternoon. It went on for hours & several houses were pulled about & furniture burnt. In all £5000 worth of damage was done. The soldiers charged the Red Caps & there were several killed & wounded.

Saturday 3rd
No parade. We pulled our things out & struck tents & gave the ground & horse lines a thorough cleaning. Applied for leave, but

[Page 67]

couldn’t get away as all town leave was stopped owing to the big row the previous day.

Sunday 4th
There was a combined Protestant Church parade in the cinema tent in the morning. Segt Major Knowles sang a couple of solos. Nothing doing in the afternoon. No leave granted.

Monday 5th
A very windy dusty day. Was on pumping fatigue with 2 men from each squadron. We paid a couple of niggers a few piastres to do the work, & did nothing ourselves. The 2nd & 3rd Reinforcements to this Regt arrived in camp today. There were nearly 100 of them. Wrote a letter to Doug.

Tuesday 6th
B Squadron went out on patrol duty. 2 troops did the scouting going out & the other 2 coming back.

[Page 68]

It was good cool day. In the afternoon we had more musketry. Got some letters by the mail, one from Doles & one from mother. Got the news of Poor Linda’s death & felt a good bit cut up about it. Was on picket at night. Did first shift.
Wednesday 7th
Whole regt went out to attack machine guns which we captured after some hard galloping. I had a spill in the morning & got my hand trodden on. Received a letter from Arthur Blomfield.

Thursday 8th
Was on QM’s fatigue & had an easy day. Regt went out in the afternoon & got some trench digging instruction.

Friday 9th
We received more trench digging instruction. Didn’t go out in the afternoon. My hand

[Page 69]

was too sore to allow me to dig.

Saturday 10th
Was mess orderly. No parade today. Lines were thoroughly cleaned & disinfected.

Sunday 11th
Got away fairly early in the morning on 3 days leave, & caught the 11 oclock train for Port Said arriving there at 2.30pm. Went to the Continental Hotel, had dinner, went out for a good walk around the town. All the inhabitants seemed to be in the streets, & they it all seemed quite gay. Bands & orchestras played outside cafés & the streets were full of soldiers. Didn’t get to bed until quite late.

Monday 12th
Went on board the "Orsova" early in the morning & saw mother & father. Spent a busy time answering inquiries & remained on board till the

[The troopship HMAT A67 "Orsova" had left Sydney on 11 March for England]

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April 1915
last minute. The boat left at 3.30pm & I caught the 6.10 train back to Cairo arriving at 12.30. It was too late to get back to camp. I was tired so I stayed in town all night.

Tuesday 13th
Got the 8.15am train back to camp. The Regt was out on a field day, so I settled down to read Austn papers I got on the boat. The day was very hot & dusty & the worst yet experienced this summer.

Wednesday 14th
All the Regt went out to gully past quarries & formed a perimeter camp. We dug trenches & built a wall & had explained to us how it just would be occupied in real hill warfare. I was assisting the farrier in the afternoon. Got letters from Roy Blair & Doug & wrote of Roy & Doles at night.

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April 1915
Thursday 15th
Went out in the morning & occupied our perimeter camp & our various positions detailed. In the afternoon B Squadron had some cricket practice. At night the whole regiment went to demonstrate how you can pick out various bodies of men in the darkness advancing in different positions. We also went through squadron drill, the orders being quietly passed down the line. Came in about 10pm.

Friday 16th
Squadron went out, & our troop was detailed as scouts to find out positions of a supposed enemy & also the position of a force we were supposed to connect with. Certain men were put out with information which we had to collect & make deductions from. It was good experience.

[Page 72]

In the afternoon there was no parade. I went on main guard at night.

Saturday 17th [Apr]
Was let off main guard as there were too many warned. There was a general clean up of the lines in the morning. In the afternoon there was a buckjump riding exhibition but nobody managed to ride the horses. A Squadron played C Squadron cricket resulting in a win for C on the first innings.

Sunday 18th
Did nothing all day except stables. It is pretty slow in camp. It is impossible to sleep or rest as the flies are so troublesome. Was warned for picket tonight. B Squadron played C Squadron cricket, C Squadron winning.

Monday 19th
Got ready for town police patrol. About 68 men of the 6th are to put in a week at [indecipherable] Barracks.

[Page 73]

We left at 1.30 & got to the Barracks at 2.30. First shift went on duty at 5pm. I went on at 9.45pm with 11 others. We had a fairly busy night & run about 17 men in altogether. We got them out of all kinds of dens & some were very fightable & had to be subdued. Finished up about 3am.

Tuesday 20th [Apr]
Had all day off & knocked about town till about 3 oclock. Went on duty at 5pm with 6 others to Gamma el-amhar Police Station which is in the lowest quarter of Cairo. Had a quiet time, nothing to do except sleep till the relief came around at 10.30pm.

Wednesday 21st
Had nothing to do all day. The govt buyer was purchasing some donkeys & it was very funny. Some hundreds were waiting outside each with its accompanying nigger. As soon as the gate opened at 9am, there

[Page 74]

was a great scramble & the row of shouting natives & hee-hawing donkies was tremendous. It was all very funny. The 7th Lancaster Territorial Regt are quartered here. They are very small chaps but good drillers and marchers. The tucker here is better than in camp & this job would do me all the time we are here. The niggers do all the work clean camp, dishes, boots, bandoliers, etc. Went on duty at 8pm with 12 others regulating the traffic & seeing that soldiers did not overcrowd trains, etc. 3 of us went down to Manchiet-el-Sadr where we set on a seat & had nothing to do. Knocked off at 11.30 & got back to barracks. Received letter from Frank & letter from mother posted at Suez.

Thursday 22nd
Went into the park in the morning across the bridge & also had a look at the Govt Aquarium

[Page 75]

which contained the fish of the Nile. Went on the afternoon patrol. There were very few in town so had an easy time.

Thursday 23rd [Apr]
Nothing to do all day or at night either, so had a good sleep in camp, in the morning & a stroll up town in the afternoon.

Saturday 24th
Did no duty during the day. There were a lot of soldiers in town in the afternoon, but they got out very quietly & when we went in at 10 oclock there was hardly anyone to be seen. We made no arrests at all, but let several go. It was about 2am when we dismissed. I wrote and posted a letter to Australia likewise one to mother.

Sunday 25th
A very hot & dusty day. Had an easy morning in the reading room & in the afternoon had a stroll around.

[Page 76]

Went on duty at 10 oclock with a corporal & 5 others & had to put in the night at the Gammo-el-ahmar Police station, slept on a form, no bed or blankets. It didn’t make any difference. The niggers kept up a perpetual din until about 1 or 2am, but we got used to that. They ran quite a number of native women in to goal & most of them seemed to know the way. From what I could see I should prefer to sleep in the Police Station, than in any other part of that quarter. We discovered 3 Tommies in a room upstairs in a dark & dingy hovel. They had been in bed but we found them hiding underneath in their shirts. Couldn’t help laughing as they crawled out one after another. We let them go as they promised to go straight back to barracks. Came off duty at 7am.

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April 1915
Monday 26th
No day duty today. Saw the 3rd LH Brigade go through Cairo on their way to Heliopolis where they are shifting to from Mena. Went on duty at 6pm on town patrol. Came off about 11pm.

Tuesday 27th
No day duty. The Manchester Regiment marched past about 7 oclock . They are going to the front in a few days & were in the best of spirits. Went on duty at Bab-el-Hadid at 8 oclock & came off at 11.30 oclock

Wednesday 28th
Went on early morning patrol 6 to 9am & got no more duty that day. Went out to Maadi & saw some of the chaps & managed to rake up £2 which came in very handy.

Thursday 29th
Spent most of the day in town & had lunch at the Soldiers café. Went for a walk round the gardens after tea. Was on the 10 to dismiss

[Page 78]

town patrol & we had a very lively evening. We gaoled 65 men, mostly infantry reinforcements who were under marching orders the next day & were having a final flutter in town. They kept us going to daylight so we got practically no sleep at all.

Friday 30th
Got no day duty & had a quiet time in camp. The Tommies were packing up ready to go today & they were quite excited. Got the Wassah duty at night & sleeping on a bare form all night on top of the previous night was a bit rough. We were only called out once.

Saturday May 1st
Had a good sleep in the morning & at 12.45 was put on police duty at the Franco Belgium Fete in the Esbekieh Gardens. It was illuminated beautifully. We were

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May 1915
treated very well, getting 3-5 piastre tickets to get what we wanted with. There were several wounded Australians back from the Dardanelles & we had a long yarn with them. Came off duty at 12 o’clock. The 7th Lancaster Fusiliers all got their ammunition & marched out from the Barracks at midnight. . The Herts Yeomanry are quartered here now.

Sunday May 2nd
Fairly warm day. Had no duty during the day & went up town for tea. There was a big crowd in the town. At 10 oclock 3 of us were put on the Esbekieh Carocol We had a couch each to sleep on & were not called out once.

Monday 3rd
Came off the Carocol at 7am. The 1st L H Brigade relieved us at 2 oclock, so we packed up & went back to Maadi. It was hard to leave.

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May 1915
"B" Squadron came back from the Barage & the other squadrons were ordered to leave tomorrow as typhoid had broken out. Maadi we found just the same, dust & flies & wind. Austn mail came in. I got 2 letters from England & 4 from Australia including letters from Violet Blair, A Blomfield, Alice Sturt & Carrie.

Tuesday 4th
Warm dusty day. There was a rifle inspection parade in the morning & the usual camp stew for dinner. No parade in the afternoon.

Wednesday 5th
Another rifle inspection parade. The whole regiment turned out in the morning to hear the sentence (court martial) read out for Tpr Tovey. Warm day. Got paid in the afternoon.

Thursday 6th
Regt had to be ready

[Page 81]

to march out at 7am. We were inspected by the Brigadier & then went for a march for about 3 miles. Got back to camp at 9.30. No breakfast until 10 oclock. No more doing the rest of the day. Was on QMs fatigue in the afternoon.

Friday 7th [May]
Had to be ready for a route march to Helouan by 8am. We go there at noon but did not bivouac as we received orders to prepare for embarkation. So we went back, as soon as we had had lunch, across the desert. The dispatch was a mistake however so we had a little excitement for nothing.

Saturday 8th
Cleaned & tidied up the camp. Loafed about the rest of the day.

Sunday 9th
Usual Church Parade in the morning. There were a lot of Maadi

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people present. I got leave & went into town in the afternoon. Went out to Abbassia Barracks to see if I could find a Cousin Douglas Moncrieff’s friend but he had gone the week before, so came on to Heliopolis to see to the Austn wounded. They all seemed very cheerful. I stayed there yarning till after 6. Saw Harry Fitzgerald in town at night. We believed him dead so it was a great surprise. Got the 10.30pm train back home.

Monday 10th
Went out on an early morning parade. Got back at 9.30 & had breakfast at 10 oclock. Nothing to do the rest of the day.

May 11th
Was mess orderly with Dick Blackwell. The heat was pretty solid. Spent some time under the shower. It was the only cool place to get. The Regt went out on foot at 4pm

[Page 83]

for a march of about 4 miles. They didn’t go too much on it. One of our chaps, Miller had a row with the Segt Major & punched his jaw knocking him out for several minutes.

May 12th [May]
Miller’s case was put down for a general court martial. We went out mounted in the morning, but had to take shelter under a hill as the wind & dust was too solid to do anything. Went on stable picquet at night.

Thursday 13th
Was day stableman with Isted & Fitzgerald. Austln mail this week brought me letters from Frank, Doug & Eva Ferguson. Had some bayonet drill in the morning. We were issued with heavy nailed boots in the afternoon. There was a big concert in the cinema tent at night. It took the form of a farewell concert to our Brigadier. There were some good singers present. The

[Page 84]

Brigadier delivered a good speech.

Friday 14th [May]
Was on pumping fatigue all day. Got the niggers to do the work while I wrote letters. Most of the troop went to Cairo. I stayed on Maadi & didn’t get past the Nite Cafe. Most of the lads got inebriated & got home at all hours of the morning.

Saturday 15th
We were kept fairly busy most of the morning getting ready & fixing up our kits. Water was turned off most of the day, so also was the canteen, so we put in a very dry day. We marched out of camp at 8oclock & got a special train at Maadi. We had a great march through Cairo, amid wild whoops, yells, etc. The train for Alexandria was very crowded so we didn’t get much sleep during the night.

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Sunday 16th
We arrived at Alexandria early, just after daylight & embarked on the Late N.D.L. Steamer "Lutzow" . The space allocated to us was very small but we were all a happy crowd so it doesn’t matter, as we will only be a couple of days on board. We got our first issue of biscuits & bully, which in future will be the main feature in our menu. We had a good swim in the harbour in the morning. The water was beautiful. There were dozens of stowaways from practically every regiment, even some Tommies. The weather is delightful & it looks as if we will have a good trip.

Monday 17th
First day at sea. We got on alright with the bully beef & biscuits. A lot of the lads sharpened their bayonets, & the grindstone has been going all the time. We passed

[Page 86]

several vessels. There is a fair wind blowing & the weather is delightful.

Tuesday 18 [May]
We had a most interesting day. We were in sight of land most of the time. We reached Cape Hellas at dusk & saw four aeroplanes making observations. There were a lot of transports & warships. We watched the shells bursting during the night & there was rapid machine gun & musketry fire.

Wednesday 19th
Stayed most of the day at Cape Hellas & were beginning to get tired of looking at the shore & wondering what was doing there. However towards evening we got away to go down to the place the Australians landed. We watched more bombardment of Turkish batteries by the "London".

Thursday 20th
We landed in the afternoon

[Page 87]

Two steamers took us off the "Lutzow" & took us close to shore, where pinnaces with barges attached took us off to the landing place. The Turks found us pretty quickly and shrapnel was bursting right on the spot when the fourth load got away. We all ducked as each shell burst, but they also took it well. I saw Douglas Moreton whom I knew at Yanco as soon as I landed & had a yarn with him. We prepared dug outs at the top end of Shrapnel Valley that night. Corpl Cheater of our troop got struck in the foot, but it was not serious. We had an alarm that night but I didn’t hear it & so slept on.

Friday 21st [May]
We had a fair drop of rain in the morning. Had a good loaf during the day & a good sleep at night. There was heavy rifle fire during the night, but it was only the Turks

[Page 88]

trying to frighten us. But the Austlans are a tough lot. They have taken to this game as though they were born to it. I don’t think they like living in trenches. They are always growling, but they are there when there is anything doing.

Saturday 22nd
It rained the best part of the morning. It wasn’t too comfortable especially as we had to cook our own tucker. We get a good issue of rations, including biscuits, bacon, tea & sugar, beef, cheese & jam, cigarettes, tobacco & matches. After dinner we marched out. By good luck our Squadron was attached to the Battalion Alf Outridge is in & we were in the trenches with them at 6 oclock. The Turks started their usual burst of firing, but made no attack. They fire to keep us from attacking. We came out again at 6 oclock into the rest trenches.

[Page 89]

I looked around for Alf & found him safe & sound & looking as usual.

Sunday 23rd [May]
Most of the troop were on fatigue work. We got a fair bit of sleep during the night but have to turn out at 3am & stand to arms. It is one continual turn out here & you are lucky if you can manage to get more than 2 hours without any interruption.

Monday 24th
We went on duty again at 6am. At 8am the Turks put up a white flag & were granted 8 hours to bury their dead. It was very acceptable. We sent out our parties but they were soon finished. The Turks were all day as the ground was littered with their dead & piled high in places. The smell was considerably reduced, much to our relief. About 5 oclock firing stated again & it was very heavy nearly all night. A party was trying to get

[Page 90]

bombs into our trenches. Some snipers got fairly close. We put in a heavy fire & it quietened them down. Poor old Segt Parkes was killed, a better chap never walked. We were all very much affected about it.

Tuesday 25th [May]
We were on fatigue nearly all the morning. I was very tired after the previous nights duty & just got settled down into a comfortable sleep when we had to shift again to relieve B Company. At 6 oclock we moved into the supports. The "Triumph" was torpedoed in full view of our position today. She took 35 minutes to sink but most of the crew were drowned. She had done some fine work here. We had a crowded night in the supports & were not too comfortable. There was a fair bit of rain during the day.

[Most of the "Triumph" crew were saved]

Wednesday 26th
We went into the trenches

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again at 12.30 & again at 6.30pm. We caught a fairly good shelling at tea time, but there were no casualties. The parapets of the trench were broken down. Again in the morning we got another dose of shrapnel & poor Freddy Isted got a splinter across his eye & head. He was pretty bad but the doctor thinks he will survive. We heard later he had lost an eye but was progressing favourably.

Thursday 27th
Went on fatigue in the afternoon & deepened our trenches a bit. We had all night in the rest trenches & didn’t have to turn out although there was heavy firing just after dark. We don’t take much notice of it as the Turks do that every night.

Friday 28th
Went into the firing line at 6.30am. The sun was fairly hot during the day & I wasn’t sorry to get out into the

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May 1915
shade at 12.30pm & get some sleep. All day the Turks were very quiet & part of the night but early in the morning the Turks blew up a trench (disused) on the left & there was heavy scrapping till about 9am. Our chaps took portion of a trench which will strengthen us considerably. Jack Culley had 2 fingers shot off during the night.

Saturday 29th
Came out at 6.30am & got our mail. I got letters from Uncle Gordon, 2 from mother & one from Kate, also some papers. Had a good sleep during the day. There was further scrapping on the left & our artillery did a lot of execution among the Turks who were massing for an attack.

Sunday 30th
Went back into the trenches at 12.30pm & again at 6.30pm.

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May-June 1915
There was hardly a shot fired on either side.

Monday 31st
Came out for 24 hrs in the rest trenches at 6.30am. Did a bit of digging on the morning & a good sleep in the afternoon. Alf Outridge came round for a yarn. I heard that John Kirby was missing & that Arthur Wright was wounded.

Tuesday 1st June
We had a quiet morning in the trenches. Things are getting too quiet altogether & it is hard to realize you are taking part in a war at all. The Turks shelled the trenches just before we went in but did no damage except for a few sand bags. The sun gets quite warm in the middle of the day & the flies are getting fairly plentiful.

Wednesday 2nd
Came out at 5am &

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June 1915
after breakfast went on firewood fatigue. Had a good sleep in the afternoon. We were first supports at night, but there was nothing doing.

Thursday 3rd
We were relieved out of the trenches at 12.30pm & came out & occupied dug-outs in shrapnel Gully. We will have 3 days rest before we go in again. At night we go into the supports. There was heavy fire from the Turkish trenches at night. The cruiser "Minerva" came round in the afternoon & fired about 60 shots destroying an ammunition train, I believe.

Friday 4th
Came back to our dug-outs at 5am. I was on fatigue during the morning & in the afternoon went down to the beach for a swim. The water was pretty cold. There was a big bombardment down near Cape Hellas

[Page 95]

June 1915
& for hours there was a continuous rumble of heavy guns firing. It was said to be the big hill stronghold of the Turks the ships were bombarding. At night about 11pm the Turks on our left fired very heavily. Our artillery & bomb-guns opened up & there was a terrible roar & rattle for over an hour during which time we stood to arms, but I don’t think the Turks made any attacks.

Saturday 5th
Put in an easy morning. It is alright doing your own cooking for a few days. You can get so much more tea & your bacon & meat hot, whereas in the trenches it is generally pretty cold before it reaches you. The Turks gave our position a lot of shrapnel all day, but didn’t do much damage. Segt Tresilian got hit, but not badly. We went into the supports at 6pm, but had a quiet night & a good sleep.

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June 1915
Sunday 6th
Had a good sleep [indecipherable] morning. At 11.30am got ready to go back into the trenches again. A & C troop are working together & B & D. A & C Troops went in first & we went into the supports for the night.

Monday 7th
At 6.30 B Troop relieved A & we had a quiet morning. We had a spell from12.30 to 6.30. There was nothing much doing at night, hardly a shot being fired on our right.

Tuesday 8th
We came out at 5am & had a good spell during the day. The flies are very troublesome however & the constant moving about from rest to supports, supports to firing line etc is a proper nark. We got our cigarettes & tobacco today. It is very hard to get anything in the way of reading matter, even a sale catalogue would be eagerly seized now. We have had no mail for

[Page 97]

June 1915
a fortnight.

Wednesday 9th
Went into support at 6.30am. We had an uncomfortable time as there was a fair wind blowing & the dust from the parapets was continually showering on us. After dinner we went into No 2 sap to relieve B Company. We went into the trenches at 6.30pm & had a quiet night.

Thursday 10th
Came out at 6.30am. Went round to B Cos supports & had a yarn with Alf whose Co we are relieving at 12.30pm. A & C Troops finished the day & night in the trenches & things were very quiet again. I had a fairly crook night with diarrhoea & vomiting.

Friday 11th
Went & saw the doctor & got a no 9 pill which is pretty severe. Got 24 hrs light duty, so didn’t have to go into the trenches. Had a good sleep in the afternoon but at night didn’t feel quite well. The Turks in front of us were very quiet.

[Page 98]

Mail day. Got letters from Frank & mother.

Saturday 12th
My birthday. Was feeling right again this morning. Went down to the beach & had a swim. The water was pretty cold. Chauncey got sick & it is feared he has typhoid. He went away probably to Lemnos. The Turks put in a good deal of shrapnel in the morning but knocked off about 10am, our batteries must have been making it to warm for them. Had yarn with Capt Robertson this morning & scored a few envelopes off him.

Sunday 13th
Fine warm day, very quiet. Howlett got sick & went for a few days spell. Relieved C Company. Went into the trenches at noon & came out 6am. Received letter from Carrie.

Monday 14th
Had a good spell during the day. The Turks put in some big shells today, but they didn’t do much damage. Was on fatigue at night digging.
Tuesday 15th
Went into the trenches at 6am.

[Page 99]

Got a shelling between 8 &10 with shrapnel & 11 inch. Allen was wounded in the head. There were no other casualties in our troop. Went down to the beach in the afternoon. There was a big swell. The day was about the hottest we have yet got here.

Sunday 16th
At noon our Squadron relieved A Company. There was some rain in the morning. The Turks started shelling about 1 oclock & there was a vigorous artillery duel for a couple of hours. Went down to the beach for [sand?] bags. We got into an exposed position for a couple of hundred yards & got roared on. Was on fatigue at night for a couple of hours in the firing line.

Thursday 17th
Weather fine & clear again. Went into the firing line at noon & had a quiet time. At night there were a good few bombs thrown but I think the Turks got the worst of it with the bombs.

Friday 18th
We were relieved by C Troop at 6am. Our artillery shelled the Turks trenches

[Page 100]

June 1915
at daylight. Tpr Bellenger was shot in the chest. He will probably get right again. The rest of the day was quiet.

Saturday 19th
Went into the firing line at 6 oclock & were relieved by the infantry at noon. We all came out of the trenches & occupied dug-outs in the gully. We are going to be brigaded together again & occupy a certain portion of the firing line. We had a big lot of fatigues to do during the day & at night a big party went out trench digging. They did very well & were complimented by Genl Walker on their work.

Sunday 20th
Was on fatigue in the morning till 10.30am. Was detailed for guard duty at Brigade HQrs. I wasn’t feeling too good but got much better after tea. The day was very warm.

Monday 21st
Had an easy day on guard. The Austln mail came in today. I saw the

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June 1915
Dorrigo Gazettes of 24th April & 1st May. Had a long yarn with the boys & a couple of feeds with them. Went down for a swim after tea & it was a treat in. Got letters from Roy & Kate & one from Jno Scarvell.

Tuesday 22nd
Very warm day. At 10.30am 40 of our Squadron went out trench digging. We put in 4 hrs work & it was pretty hot. We lost a lot of perspiration. The Turks were pretty busy with their guns again & it is said that the "Humber" silenced one.

Wednesday 23rd
More trench digging. In the afternoon all B Squadron shifted over to where the 5th are. I had a great swim. The water is only about 50 yds from our dug-outs.

Thursday 24th
We put in a good solid day with the pick & shovel & fixed up a good camping place for ourselves. The day was

[Page 102]

June 1915
fairly hot & the water too tempting. It is a pity that the water is so exposed to snipers. Was on Q’Masters fatigue at 8pm.

Friday 25th
Put in some pretty hard pick & shovel work at the new communication trenches.

Saturday 26th
Had a fairly easy day only 4 hrs on the pick & shovel.

Sunday 27th
Was on water fatigue. It is a fairly strenuous job this hot weather as we have a full mile to go for it & a good portion of the track is through sand. Got letters from mother & cousin Meg, also from Frank & Doug.

Monday 28th
Very hot day. We had to stand to arms at 12 o’clock. About 12.30 portion of our Brigade attacked the Turks on the right & occupied the Balkan Gun Pits. It was fairly lively. The 5th had a good few casualties mostly wounded slightly. However

[Page 103]

June 1915
The object of the advance was achieved & our machine guns got in some effective work. We had to stand in support all the afternoon & night. I was detailed off for QM’s fatigue & got a few hours sleep when I finished.

Tuesday 29th
Another very hot day. The bombardment south continued all day but was not nearly so severe as yesterday. Our troops are still in the trenches. Was on QM’s fatigue all day. There was an exchange at night a strong wind blowing & a fair sea was running. The Turks, mainly Ottoman Guards charged on Popes Hill. They lost 270 killed. The 1st Light Horse doing most of the damage.

Wednesday 30th
Our troop came out of their trenches at noon. I was on QM’s fatigue. At night 3 of us went out on patrol on the right but it came up a heavy storm with rain & we had to come in after being out about an hour. We got very wet.

[Page 104]

July 1915
Thursday July 1st
B Squadron sent out a trench digging party at 7.45. Cpl Cheater & 4 of us formed a covering party in front. The Turks put several shells in amongst us but they did no damage. Waygood went away sick.

Friday 2nd
Cool windy day. Was sapping in a tunnel in the afternoon & put in a good solid 4 hours at it. Had a swim at night.

Saturday 3rd
Had a spell in the morning & four hours trench digging in the afternoon. It was fairly warm. The Turks gave us a bit of a shelling & we had 2 men wounded.

Sunday 4th
Was on water fatigue all day. It was a fairly easy job. Had only to go the long distance to Shrapnel Gully once. Posted letters to Mrs Blomfield & Dorothy Blair.

[Page 105]

July 1915
Monday 5th
The Turks gave us a good reveille at 4am with about 50 shells. Our guns opened up & they knocked off. One of our men was wounded. Was on pick & shovel work all day. There was great activity in the bay. Seem to be searching for the submarine which sank a French troopship yesterday. The enemy started a big 11 inch going quite close to our lines but quite a number of their shells overreached & fell into the sea. Got a letter from mother in the mail tonight dated June 1st.

Tuesday 6th
Was on a gun dragging fatigue in the morning. Had nothing else to do all day, wrote a letter to mother.

Wednesday 7th
Was mess orderly & had an easy day. Went down on to the beach at night drawing rations & didn’t have to stand to in the morning.

[Page 106]

July 1915
Thursday 8th
There was a fair bit of shelling on both sides. The Turks were very keen on hitting a trawler which came in right close to draw their fire. They wasted about 20 shells on her. We went out digging at night & put down the first 2 ft of 150 yds of trench.

Friday 9th
Had a spell during the day. The monitor shelled a big hill between our position & Achi Baba. At night we went out again & improved the trenches.

Saturday 10th
The artillery was very lively today & shrapnel was falling everywhere. A few of the 7th got hit, a couple of them fatally. The "Lord Nelson" did some heavy bombarding on the same hill as the monitor shelled & the shell explosions were tremendous. I believe they were on to some big gun positions. Later a cruiser of the town class put in some broadsides just where we couldn’t

[Page 107]

July 1915
see but an aeroplane was up all the time & the Turks must have fired over 50 shrapnel shells at her. We did some more trench digging at night. Am beginning to get fed up with all this night work, as it is nearly impossible to sleep in the day time for heat & flies. Was not feeling too good at night time. A change in tucker would be very acceptable. The menu is not sufficient to stand much pick & shovel work on.

Sunday 11th
Went to the doctor & got a pill. Still on duty though. Chauney got wounded slightly by a sniper on the beach. They have been pretty hot these last 2 days. Was on the pick & shovel at night digging a support trench. Came in at 2am.

Monday 12th
There was another demonstration in front of our lines this morning. The Turks put in a hot shrapnel fire. We had 4 men killed & 9 wounded out of about 27

[Page 108]

July 1915
who went out. There was a big bombardment of Achi Baba in the afternoon. It was a great sight, but I wouldn’t have given much on being there. More trench digging at night.

Tuesday 13th
We did nothing during the day but it was too hot to sleep. Our regiment got 60 reinforcements. "A" Squadron was digging at night & "B" Squadron formed a covering party. We had 4 hrs out in front & the Turks put in a very heavy fire. We could hear them talking & their covering party moving in the bushes. We came back to camp at 4am & I felt pretty tired.

Wednesday 14th
Was on water fatigue in the morning. Had a fairly busy day & no time for sleep. Had to go out on covering party again at night. Was relieved at 12.30am but got no sleep

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July 1915
till four

Thursday 15th
Came back to our dug-outs at 6 & slept or tried to till 12. The afternoon was very hot. B & C Squadrons came out & took over the trenches in front. We had a fairly quiet night & I managed to get in 4 hrs sleep in the bottom of the trench.

Friday 16th
B & C Squadrons got to work on their dug outs behind their support trenches. John Turk could see us from their look out at Gaba Tepe & he put in 4 high explosive shells. We worked in the smaller portion after that. I did a solid day with the pick & shovel. Was on covering party at night. The Turks did a bit of firing & tried to bomb us but they didn’t get close enough. Got relieved at 1am.

Saturday 17th
We went into the trenches at 6pm & came out at 6am. Was on fatigue in the afternoon getting bags up from the beach for the new firing line.

Sunday 18th
Went back into the trenches at 4pm.

[Page 110]

There was a fair bit of firing done & at midnight we were relieved by A Troop. We filed out after breakfast. I was detailed off for special sapping in the afternoon with 5 others on 3rd shift.

Monday 19th [July]
Started at 4 am digging firing pits in the new firing line & sandbagging & making new loopholes. Came off at 8 am. Had a fairly easy day & went on again at 4 pm. Forgot to mention that I received letters from mother Doug, Carrie & Roy Blair & sent replies to all but Doug.

Tuesday 20th
A sniper in the bushes in front of our trench exchanged shots with Major Windyer but they both missed. A party of 10 belonging to the 7th undertook to go after him. Os Walker (of Dorrigo) was one of them. They nearly ran into the Turks trench which was full & they were fired on heavily.

[Page 111]

They got in however no one being hit. The Turks must have got a great surprise seeing 10 men charging them. They fired like blazes for an hour later wasting a terrible lot of ammunition. I went after bags in the afternoon & had a swim. There was very heavy firing again at night & the cracking of rifles & bullets nearly deafened us. I saw a high explosive shell crash into the cook house of the 12th Battalion. It was funny seeing the tins & cans soar into the air. No one was hurt. There was a lot of artillery fire between 5 oclock & dark. At night the Turks tried to cut off the Queensland patrol, but did not succeed though young Reynolds was killed.

Wednesday 21st July
Fairly warm day. Was digging firing pits & sandbagging. One of our party Sam Odell was seriously wounded by a sniper & half an hour later Segt Tresilian our troop sergeant was killed

[Page 112]

July 1915
shot through the head. He was a brave man & a good soldier, took risks where he wouldn’t let one of his troop. He was grazed by a bullet in the cheek in the morning. The Turks did a lot of firing at night & late in the afternoon there was a lot of artillery firing on both sides.

Thursday 22nd
Was deepening trenches both shifts. Things were very quiet today except for a bit of artillery fire.

Friday 23rd
Very warm day. Finished deepening our firing line. The monitor put in a few heavy shells into the Turks in front of us & a cruiser further south got on to a party of Turks & gave them a rough time. Got a letter from mother.

Saturday 24th
Started sapping a tunnel out towards the Turks whose front trenches are about 40 yards away. 3 or 4 of our chaps got hit today including Lieut Robson who died about an hour later. The Turks

[Page 113]

July 1915
exchanged shots with the Queensland outpost. One man got hit.

Sunday 25th
Had a fairly good sleep in the morning We got 3 high explosive shells from the Turks but no one was hurt. There was a good deal of shrapnel in the afternoon. We are making good progress with the tunnel 22 ft when we knocked off at 8 pm. Was served out with a good rum issue after tea. Today we had fresh meat, rice & milk.

Monday 26th
Joe Woods got wounded in the leg with shrapnel. Over 30 men in B Squadron out of 90 paraded to the doctor this morning & he said the Regt would soon have to have a spell as the men were worn & tired after so much hard work. Did not go on afternoon shift. We were allowed 12 hrs off after inoculation which was 2 days ago. There was a lot of artillery fire after 6 oclock both high explosive shrapnel.

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July 1915
Tuesday 27th
Did the usual 2 shifts on the tunnel, making fairly good progress.

Wednesday 28th
Jim Ryan went away sick. He had been crook for a fortnight. We are getting fresh meat again now, also milk & rice occasionally. Some mail came in only got 1 paper. Went for a swim after tea.

Thursday 29th
It was fairly hot to day. Things are pretty quiet here all along the line except artillery which has been more active than usual. The 4th LH relieved the 7th. The Turks turned on a lot of shrapnel & several high explosive shells on to us about 5 oclock. Morris Reid of our troop were both wounded & it is believed Morris died later on. Scotty Wilson was also wounded in the leg. Was warned for General’s body-guard with 7 others in the Regt so didn’t go on sapping this afternoon.

Friday 30th
The Guard fell in at 10 am

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July 1915

at Brigade HQrs, but weren’t wanted till 10 pm. There was a lot more shrapnel – several men of the 4th LH were killed & wounded. The guard which consists of 24 men & an officer of the 2nd LH Brigade & the same number of NZealanders embarked on a trawler at 1 pm & got away from Anzac at 8 am Saturday 31st. We reached Imbros Is about noon & found a fine harbour with several supply ships cruisers, battleships monitors (3 of the latest pattern with 14 in guns) & a couple of destroyers. There is a lot of activity here – thousands of Tommies. We marched round to Genl HQrs & got donkies to carry our packs. We were issued with new clothes, burnt our old ones & had a good swim. There is plenty of fresh water here, so after a good wash & new clothes we all felt new men again. Turned in early for a good sleep

[Page 116]

August 1915
Sunday 1st August
Turned out again at 6 am after a good nights rest & at 6.30 went for a swim. There was a fresh sea on & it was a treat. Came back & had breakfast. After breakfast got cleaned & shaved & attended church parade, at which Sir Ian Hamilton & his staff were present. He is a slightly built man & looks a fair age. He inspected us afterwards & seemed much pleased with our appearance. Said we looked very well after 3 months active service.

Monday 2nd August
Had an easy day. Went out on the motor launch in the afternoon & got some luxuries in the shape of chocolate fruit etc. Was on fatigue at night unloading boxes.

Tuesday 3rd
Went over & inspected the aviation depot & had the parts of an aeroplane detailed. The mechanics were very decent. We borrowed the pontoon

[Page 117]

in the afternoon & rowed out to HMS Talbot We got a good supply of stuff there.

Wednesday 4th
Did nothing all day but sleep, read & smoke. There seems to be a lot of preparations going on for a big move.

Thursday 5th
Had a washing day. First time Ive had a chance to do some in fresh water since we left Maadi. Got ready for guard in the afternoon & at 6 pm 12 of us relieved the Border Regt Guard. Was on 2nd shift & No 2 post. It seemed quite strange marching a beat again & I didn’t go too much on it.

Friday 6th
Came off guard at 6 pm. There was a big bombardment in the afternoon & at dusk it was a splendid sight to see all the guns firing at Anzac. There was a big advance & it is believed a large body of troops were landed successfully

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August 1915
at Suvla Bay

Saturday 7th
The bombardment still continues at 10.30 it was one continuous roar. Achi Baba was the principle object & the peninsular looked as if it was in a dust storm. In the afternoon we rowed out to the transport Tringa & got some stores. The RNA Service were on board & they treated us well, gave us tobacco etc. The night was fairly cool. A destroyer brought in a load of Turkish prisoners about 500

Sunday 8th
There was no service this morning. The minister was too busy with the casualties of which there are many. There was more severe fighting at Anzac at night & more men were landed at Suvla Bay, the 53rd Division I believe. Considerable progress has been made.

Monday 9th
Heavy gun fire continues at Anzac & to a less extent at Achi Baba

[Page 119]

It look rainy in the morning but cleared up later. We could get practically no news of the fighting but heard that the Australians had done well & that casualties on both sides were heavy.

Tuesday 10th [Aug]
Had an easy day. Went round the harbour in the motor launch & saw several transports loaded with freshly arrived soldiers & saw the hospital ships transferring wounded to others.

Wednesday 11th
Did absolutely nothing but rest. We enjoyed a splendid swim in the bay in the afternoon. There was a big gun bombardment at night & early in the morning. We heard the French had captured 2 trenches.

Thursday 12th
Went out early in the morning with Robins to K Beach where we got a Greek boat & went round

[Page 120]

August 1915
several of the warships to buy stuff to take back with us We were on the "Exmouth" "Bacchante" "Theseus" "Edgar" & "Royal Ark" It was a busy day & I got a good headache.

Friday 13th
Had a headache all day & was sick in the afternoon. Didn’t go on guard at night as I was feeling too crook.

Saturday 14th
Paraded to the doctor in the morning & got 2 pills which I swallowed during the day at intervals. Was feeling a lot better in the afternoon & the headache was nearly gone. Took some stew at dinner time. Was feeling pretty hungry as I had missed about 4 meals. I had to cut out the swimming worse luck. Packed up at night ready for an early start in the morning

Sunday 15th
Reveille at 4.30 am. Breakfast

[Page 121]

at 5.30. We embarked in a ships boat & were towed out to the Anzac trawler. There was a fresh breeze blowing & a good sea, so we had a good tossing. Several of the chaps got sick. We arrived at Suvla Bay & were surprised to see all that had been done there. There were several warships & a big monitor. The "Talbot" & "Venerable" did a lot of firing & the land batteries assisting. There was an engagement on a big hill on the left which lasted a couple of hours. We left Suvla Bay at about 3.30 & got to Anzac about 4. It seemed strange coming back. We hadn’t gone far before Beachy Bill greeted us. Reported back to the Squadron about 6 pm but wasn’t on any duty at night.
[Beachy Bill was name given to a Turkish heavy gun battery]

Monday 16th
Soon got rid of the cigarettes, pipes etc which I brought over with me. The Regt had been reinforced, but a lot

[Page 122]

August 1915
of the older chaps had gone away sick. Pickering & Elliott were wounded & Cheater went away sick, so also did Johnson & Bacon. Received my mail which included letters from Kate, Doug & Mother & a big parcel from Cousin Meg, containing a shirt, sox & a handkerchief also a cake & several other odds & ends which were very acceptable. Went into the firing line at 7 pm. Things were very quiet. The Turk hardly fired a shot. Major Oatley came along & rather surprised me by asking if I would put my name in for a commission in the infantry. I told him I would think it over & let him know next day.

Tuesday 17th
The day was fairly warm & uneventful. About 4 pm the artillery were fairly active especially our batteries. The boys especially those who have been

[Page 123]

August 1915
here since May all look pale & there is no doubt a spell would do them a lot of good.

Wednesday 18th
The day was very hot & the flies troublesome. Didn’t get any sleep in all day. At night there was very heavy firing near Achi Baba. The rest of the line was very quiet.

Thursday 19th
There was a cool change & it was very acceptable. The day was very quiet. Wrote a letter to Cousin Meg. The destroyer patrolling our right flank put in a lot of shells during the night. It was quite impressive seeing them burst & the search light illumine the smoke.

Friday 20th
The English mail came in to day. I got 2 letters from mother dated 7th & 15th July. Things were very quiet all day on our front. There was some fighting

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August July 1915
on the left. In the south things have been quieter than usual.

Saturday 21st
Posted 4 letters. I wrote to Cousin Meg & Doug, Kate & Mother. Was taken out of the firing line at 3 oclock & at 4 oclock went on sapping again. The tunnel is close to the Turks trenches & you can hear them digging at times. We finished putting in the firing pits Came off at 8 oclock. Had a very poor sleep as I wasn’t feeling too good

Sunday 22nd
Went on shift at 4 oclock did guard till 6, then went on sapping again. Had a good rest during the day till 4 oclock. We did no sapping in the afternoon shift as they have finished all they intend doing for just now. There was a bombardment on the left & I believe our chaps made a successful advance. At night about 9 oclock a red

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August 1915

flare went up at Chatham’s posts & a green one at the Lone Pine. Immediately there was heavy firing & the artillery joined in also a destroyer on the right flank. I think it was only a demonstration they were making. The firing lasted about half an hour.

Monday 23rd
A beautiful clear cool morning. We got orders to go out with the squadron when they filed out of the trenches. At 1.30 pm C Squadron relieved us & we occupied the back fire trench. I was posted on the observation post with 2 others for 24 hours. You can get a great view of the Turkish trenches & can see practically all the right & cemtre of our position. Things were very quiet. There was a good deal of bomb throwing at the Lone Pine where there is

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August 1915
only a barricade between us & the Turks

Tuesday 24th
Was taken off observation at 9 am. The weather has turned very windy & looks rainy. Had the rest of the day off & had a good sleep. There is a heavy bombardment going on at Cape Hellas about the most continuous I have yet heard. There was heavy rifle fire in the south at night.

Wednesday 25th
The Regt got a lot of gifts to day & they were very acceptable. Any amount of cigarettes & matches, also pipes, shaving soap, paper & envelopes & a lot of other tinned stuff. Went on guard on then tunnel at night. Did a weary 3 hours & never saw a soul. Yesterday I got letters from the mater & Doles also 2 papers.

Thursday 26th
Enjoyed a good wash & a shave this morning. I was on water

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August 1915
fatigue. The mail was distributed in the afternoon. I got letters from Violet Blair Kate & Doug, also an "Illustrated War News" Wrote a letter to Violet. Had a yarn with Harold Jones at night. He has been here a fortnight now with reinforcements for the 7th LH. Went for a dip in the briny after tea. We had a little rain during the night. About 10 or 11 oclock there was a tremendous outburst of rifle & machine gun fire, also bombs & it lasted quite while. Seemed to be on the left of the Lone Pine.

Friday 27th
About stand-to in the morning there was another burst of fire. Seems as if they are doing some scrapping on the left. The weather is still cloudy & cool. We heard that Italy has declared war on Turkey & that Greece & Bulgaria may come in at any moment. We won’t be sorry

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August 1915
as it will help to get this over more quickly. Was on Barney’s Post. Did 3rd shift. I have been put down as troop bomb thrower Lamberth having gone away sick. Had a yarn with the Dorrigo boys in the afternoon.

Saturday 28th
Came off Barney’s Post at 5 am. Had a sleep till breakfast. Was on fatigue with the engineers cleaning up in the tunnel where a couple of shells broke it in. It took us all day to get it fixed up. Went on water fatigue after tea.

Sunday 29th
Had a fairly easy day. 2 Squadrons of the 12th LH came over to reinforce our Brigade.
14 out of our Regiment were sent away sick. The 12th LH arrived yesterday. Arthur Blomfield is in A Squadron I believe & they went over to reinforce the 1st LH on the left. Ernie Paull of Eastern Dorrigo I saw

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August 1915
He is in B Squadron attached to the 7th. I had a long yarn with him. Its OK getting in touch with some of your old cobbers again.

Monday 30th
Was on observation in the morning. At 1.30 pm our Squadron took over the firing line from ‘A’ Squadron & we took 2 troops of the 12th LH with us. I managed to get a good dug out & didn’t go on duty at night. We blew in a Turkish tunnel about 8.30 pm. Some Turks were working in it at the time. They kept up a fairly solid rife fire for some time afterwards. Ernie Pauls came over again.

Tuesday 31st
Had another good rest all day. Received a letter from mother also some papers & a tin of ointment which will help to combat the chats. Answered mother’s letter. There was a lot of shell fire to day. The Turks must have had a lot to spare. Went on tunnel guard

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September 1915
at night. Did second shift. About 8 pm there was heavy rifle & machine gun fire mostly to the left. I dont know if any attack was on.

Wednesday Sept 1st
A cool cloudy day. There was a lively artillery duel in the morning. 2 chaps in our troop Snowden & Watts got wounded with shrapnell. Watts only slightly. We had fried steak for dinner today the first fresh meat for some time. Gee was wounded in the afternoon. Had his arm torn about badly.

Thursday 2nd
We had a quiet day. The 6th sent their first lot of men up to Lone Pine for 48 hours. It is a fairly warm corner & takes some holding. The 2nd LH Brigade have been holding it for over 3 weeks now together with the 4th LH who are attached to the 2nd Brigade

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Things were fairly quiet in our part of the line

Friday 3rd [Sept]
Had a good sleep in the morning & wrote letters in the afternoon. Sent a PC to Carrie & wrote to mother & Doug. We had some practice at bomb throwing.

Saturday 4th
The 2nd Brigade sent a big lot of men to the Lone Pine. They expect the Turks to attack either tonight or tomorrow. I went up with 2 others from B Squadron as bomb throwers. We took over about 1am. Saw George Steggles mate when passing the 1st Battalion. The reserve trenches smell something awful & there are still a lot of dead lying about that they havn’t been able to bury. The slaughter must have been terrible. Men are buried in the trenches, being blocked up with sandbags & the flies are in millions. However you soon get used to the smell & after a while hardly seem to notice it. Some

[Page 132]

20 Turks rushed part of the trench held by the 1st Battalion with bombs & killed & wounded a few. One Turk a tremendous big fellow got into the trench & got into grips with one of the sergeants. Some other assisted & held him down & another shot him. He had 4 loaves of bread & 2 bottles of water There was a good deal of bombing & shortly after dark 4 of the 5th LH got struck with a bomb one getting his arm & leg broken. I went on at 9 oclock but it was fairly quiet then. Came off at 11 & went on again from 3 till 5 am.

Sunday 5th [Sept]
Had a quiet day in the support trenches. There is not much chance of sleeping as there are so many men in the trenches. We sat about & smoked & yarned & discussed whether John Turk would make his proposed attack. Anyway we got a big supply of bombs handy

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& after dark we began to throw them & kept it up at regular intervals all night. In our sap alone we threw over 200 bombs. Another chap in the 5th LH got hit, but not very badly. We got several bombs well in to the Turks trenches. George Steggles came round during the day & I had a yarn with him for some time. He doesn’t care too much for Gallipoli, but then who does!

Monday 6th [Sept]
Came off duty at 5 am & got a couple of hours sleep in. Saw a Queenslander from the observation post shoot a Turk who was in a trench on the left which this post commands. Another Turk came in to help his comrade out, but the Queenslander wouldn’t shoot him. We were relieved at 10 am by some men of our Brigade. Reported back to the Regt at 11. Some of the 6th Infantry Brigade arrived yesterday

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September 1915
They are wanted badly as the 1st Brigade has lost a lot of men & some of the Battalions are little more than a quarter strength. Had a spell the rest of the day & the night off.

Tuesday 7th
Jim Ryan went sick so I took his place on tunnel guard. It is a good job, better than observing. Things were very quiet except for a little artillery fire in the afternoon. At 9.30 pm we exploded 2 mines to stop the Turks from tunneling. They replied with rifle fire for some time & were using a lot of explosive bullets.

Wednesday 8th
Today was beautifully cool. The most remarkable thing about it was the absence of artillery fire of the Turks. They did not attempt to reply to our own guns. One of the new monitors fired a lot of 14 inch

[Page 135]

September 1915
shells on to Kilid Bahr. The Turks replied with shrapnel. The monitor kept firing nearly all morning. Ernie Pauls came round in the morning & was here about an hour. I enjoyed a good sleep in the afternoon. We had some fun chipping away at the Turks mud brick parapets with the periscope rifle till they falls in.

Thursday 9th
Porter & May who went away to Malta a couple of months ago came back. They looked well. May brought back a lot of little luxuries with them which were divide amongst us. I was promoted Lance Corporal. Posted a letter to Violet Blair. About 9 oclock pm we had a bit of a demonstration to draw the Turks fire.

Friday 10th
Have been in the Austr forces one year today Pickering, who went

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September 1915
away wounded a month ago, came back today looking very fit. He reported having a good time at Malta & Alexandria. There was a lively bombardment on the left for about ½ an hour in the afternoon. There was heavy rifle fire on our left about midnight.

Saturday 11th
Things are very quiet today. There is a mail on the beach, but they won’t let anyone down to get it. It is over a fortnight since we had any. The mail came in the afternoon. Received only one letter from Frank. Things were very quiet all day. There was a little rain early in the morning. The night are getting quiet cool.

Sunday 12th
There was a heavy bombardment in the south consisting mostly of naval guns. The firing was continuous for several hours. Major Genl Legge & Staff inspected the trenches

[Page 137]

& the chief medical officer inspected us to see if we were still fit. There is some talk of us having a spell. The Genl I heard describing his experiences. The boat he was on was torpedoed. It was bringing to Lemnos some of the 6th Inf Brigade. He said there was no confusion whatever. Col Linton & a few others were drowned. The Turkish artillery have been very quiet lately. This afternoon our artillery sent a good few rounds across, but the Turkish reply was very weak.

Monday 13th [Sept]
The navy bombarded in the south again this morning, but I don’t think it was followed by any infantry attack. Our Squadron was relieved in the afternoon & we came over to the supports behind the firing line. Dick Farley & Jock Reid went away sick today. Our troop is still about the strongest. We have 20 men in it now.

Tuesday 14th
Artillery on both sides were active

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September 1915
early this morning, so also were the naval guns down south. Had a good days spell but was on observation at night. It was very dark & cloudy & looks like rain.

Wednesday 15th
It began to rain at 3 am & kept up fairly steady till 7 am. Had a fairly easy day. Things were very quiet. Drew 3rd shift at night.

Thursday 16th
Received letters from Carrie & mother also a packet containing socks & chocolate. Got leave to go round to the left. Looked up Capt Edgley of the 19th Battn. He was very pleased to see me & we discussed old times & Dorrigo identities for some time. He was looking well & carries the same old happy smile. I got back to our lines at 6 pm.Tpr Watts of our troop was severely wounded, shot through the hip. We carried out a demonstration along the line at 10 pm. The Turks thought we were

[Page 139]

September 1915
going to attack. They poured in a solid machine gun & rifle fire & also a few shells. One burst fairly close to my dug out & a few shrapnel bullets came in. Six of our Rgt were killed 5 with a shell & one shot through a loophole during the demonstration. Capt Richardson & Lieut Buskin of A Squadron were 2 of those killed.

Friday 17th
Was present at the funeral this morning. Capt Robertson & the RC padre conducted the services. The Turks shelled our lines continually the best part of the day but didn’t do any damage worth mentioning. Wrote a letter to mother. Was on second shift observing at night. Things were very quiet all along the line.

Saturday 18th
A fine warm day again. Put in a very quiet day. Wrote a letter to Doug.

Sunday 19th
Very cold windy day. The Turks made a demonstration in the afternoon

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September 1915
They put in a lot of shells, about 10 rounds rapid & waved their bayonets above the parapets. They didn’t hop out however so they didn’t draw much fire.

Monday 20th
Another cold windy day. In the afternoon we shifted over to the firing line relieving ‘A’ Squadron. Lieut Drummond was wounded in the morning with a shell. He had his leg broken. He took it very well & laughed & joked about it. Started duty as orderly corporal (Squadron) so selected a good dug out in the supports

Tuesday 21st
Very quiet except for an artillery duel in the afternoon on the extreme left. Received mail got letters from Frank, Dorothy Blair & Doug. containing news of poor Ted’s death at Malta

Wednesday 22nd
Wasn’t feeling too good. Had a headache. Got a couple of pills

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September 1915
off the doctor which fixed me up alright. Turks put a few shells into our trenches but there were no casualties. Our artillery replied rigourously

Thursday 23rd
The nights are very cold & I had to commandeer another blanket. Paddy Martin & Paddy Walsh both of our Squadron went away sick. We are still the strongest Squadron in the regiment being 68 strong including officers.

Friday 24th
Things were very quiet today, but we had a demonstration at night. Our howitzers put in a lot of shells into the Turks positions so also did the destroyers. The Turks replied but not very vigorously. We had one man wounded St Leger. The rifle fire & machine gun fire was very heavy & lasted for about ½ an hour.

Saturday 25th
Brown of C Troop went away sick in the morning. Got 2 letters one from

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September 1915
the bank in Cairo & another from mother. Answered mother’s letter in the afternoon. Was feeling a bit seedy so I got some medicine & light diet.

Sunday 26th
The Turks observe the sabbath faithfully. We didn’t hear them fire a gun all day. Our guns were at it though especially the howitzers & siege batteries. We must have made it lively for Jack Turk with big shells. The ships at Hellas bombarded very solidly. Was feeling much better today.

Monday 27th
Finished up my week orderly corporal & went back to the firing line. There was a lot of big gun fire at the Cape during the day & again at night. The weather is turning warm again & flies are increasing Signr Corp Mackay went away sick. There were several (prov) promotions made in B Squadron as

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September 1915
most of the non-coms are away sick

Tuesday 28th
A lot of good news came through today. Russia is doing better & the allies have made an advance in France. Things look hopeful. Corpl Cheater & Tpr Mulholland returned today. They have been away about 2 months An aeroplane flew over this morning very low. It was one of ours. The Turks fire vigorously but made no impression. Went into the firing line. The Turks put up a barb wire fence in front of their trench during the night. Stevens of C Troop was killed through the loophole

Wednesday 29th
The weather is getting warmer & flies more plentiful. There has been a lot of big gun fire in the south. We can’t find out exactly what is doing. Did first shift at night & did our best to stop any more barb wire being put out.

Thursday 30th
Wasn’t feeling so good so paraded to the doctor & got marked exempt

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October 1915
for duty. Also went on light diet. There was further heavy gun fire in the south.

Friday 1st October
The Turks put in a lot of heavy shells in the morning & nearly got a big howitzer shell in the major’s dug out. The day was fairly warm. We had some bomb throwing practice in the afternoon. The performance was very creditable. Am still feeling weak & was marked exempt. The bombardment in the south continues. The monitor plastered Gaba Tepe with shells just before dark.

Saturday 2nd Oct
Went on duty again. Am feeling much better. The 6th received 100 reinforcements this morning. We got Adams & Fredrickson back. They look well. Got paid this morning I drew £2. Went out of the firing line at night in the afternoon but came on again on the

[Page 145]

October 1915
8 to 12 shift. Was feeling pretty tired when I came off.

Sunday 3rd
We got the mail this morning I received 2 English papers & 2 letters one from Kate & the other from Doles. They did not contain a great deal of news. Our guns were very busy in the afternoon & from all reports did a lot of damage. There was a big bombardment in the south. Everything was quiet on our front. We are improving & deepening our firing line. Wrote a letter to Kate.

Monday 4th
Wrote a letter to Doles. The Turks about 9 oclock shelled us fairly solidly, mostly shrapnel, but didn’t do much damage. Our guns replied vigorously. There was no infantry engagement. Must have been the Turks 8 hour demonstration. [8 Hour Day holiday NSW?] Jack Carter was severely wounded. We got a good issue of tobacco & chocolate this morning Capt Hordern provided the

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October 1915
chocolate. It was much appreciated. Was promoted Corporal from 29th Septr

Tuesday 5th
Wrote & posted a letter to Kate. Things were very quiet. The Turk’s guns were very silent all day except for a few rounds in the morning. We got a clothing issue. Some of us were very much in need of them.

Wednesday 6th
Got a letter & a couple of papers from mother this morning. The warships were bombarding the coast near Achi Baba in the afternoon. Abdul was very quiet "Beachy Bill" even had a very poor day.

Thursday 7th
Another quiet day. At 8.30 pm we carried out a demonstration right along the line. A destroyer on our flank bombarded the Turks trenches. She was rattling them in too. We sent up several flares which lit up the trenches light as day. We succeeded in drawing a lot of fire from the Turks.

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October 1915
Friday 8th
To day is cloudy & looks like rain. About 8 oclock we had a squally shower which made things fairly uncomfortable in the trenches. Several more showers fell during the night. However, I got in a good sleep. My oilsheet turned most of the rain & I was too tired to worry about the rest. We hear to day that Bulgaria has declared against the allies.

Saturday 9th
The weather is fine & warm again. A Turk tried to give himself up to the 5th LH this afternoon, but was wounded & couldn’t get in. At dusk under covering fire from our artillery & machine guns a party of the 5th went out & brought him in. A party of Turks were out on the same mission but the 5th got there first. A destroyer on the 5th’s flank gave the Turks a rough time about 9 pm. We could hear them yelling. The Turks sneaked a few shells in on us, but no one was hit

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October 1915
Sunday 10th
There was a fair bit of artillery fire especially about dusk. The Turks scored a win with one of the shells getting 12 of the 7th LH. They put them in at irregular intervals throughout the day. Wrote a letter to Doug.

Monday 11th
We were relieved at 10 oclock. It came on to rain at noon & for an hour things were unpleasant. Was corporal of the tunnel guard at night.

Tuesday 12th
Australian mail today. Recd letters from Nellie Ferguson, Frank also some English papers. Had a busy afternoon so didn’t get a chance to answer the letters.

Wednesday 13th
More mail today. The parcel from mother with the socks & chocolate came so am alright for sox now. The artillery were very busy for a couple of hours this afternoon. The weather is very cool now & it is hard to keep warm. Did some washing after dark.

Thursday 14th
Another cool day. Paraded the

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October 1915
sick to the Ambulance on the Beach. It is the first time I have been on the beach since I came back from Imbros. Went on water guard at 6 pm with 6 men. It was very cloudy & cold & the fleas were very persistent all night. Chauncey came back.

Friday 15th
Had an easy day on guard. Nothing to do except read & smoke. It was cloudy & cold all day & we had no wood to make a fire. Were relieved at 6 pm by a guard from the 12th

Saturday 16th
At 4 am there was a lot of artillery fire, both by warships & land batteries. They peppered the Turkish positions for nearly half an hour. Had party making a road till dinner time Had nothing to do in the afternoon. At night went down to the beach with 2 sick men. Was promoted to sergeant.

Sunday 17th
Had an easy morning. At 6 pm

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October 1915
went on ration guard at Brigade. Had a very uncomfortable night as it rained nearly all night & we had no cover at all. Went round to the 3rd Battery to get what information I could about Ted Rabbitts.

Monday 18th
Weather cleared up against. Got things fixed up & a tarpaulin fixed. There was fair bit of artillery fire in the afternoon & we got well showered with dirt. Long Tom had another premature burst & 4 men were hit. Were relieved at 6 pm & went back to the trenches. I am on orderly sergeant for the week. Wrote a letter to Violet Blair.

Tuesday 19th
Had very busy morning. We had the trench mortar going strong all the morning on the Turkish trenches. Porter & Garden came back from Field Ambulance.

Wednesday 20th
We are getting our winter quarters ready. The weather has turned cold & we get very little sun & occasional showers.

Thursday 21st
Jack Turk is very quiet. There has been nothing doing except the usual

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October 1915
artillery duels. Wrote a letter to mother to catch the "Omrah" at Port Said. It rained nearly all night, but our oil sheets turned most of it off.

Friday 22nd
To day was very cold. It is hard to know what to do to keep warm. We have had 5 men go away sick this week from our squadron. Got more rain this afternoon.

Saturday 23rd
Fairly fine again. Had the sun out for a few hours. 2 men who have been away sick came back Martin & Charlesworth. We got an issue of comforts bought from regimental funds. Arundale was shot in the leg while emptying a bag of earth behind the trenches.

Sunday 24th
We all got a drink of tea at stand-to this morning. It was very acceptable From 5 to 6 is a fairly long time to stand to without any refreshment. We had some rain this morning, it was very cold. Our machine gun got onto a few Turks this morning & knocked a few.

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October 1915
Monday 25th to Sunday 31st
The week was fine mostly, one or two showers & towards the latter end warm & cloudy. We got another lot of reinforcements 4 of the old men returned & we got 14 new ones mostly the 8th reinforcements. Our troop got none as we are fairly strong. Jack Garden, Charlie May Segt Beuzeville, Segt Smith & Sanders went away sick during the week. The Segt Major was appointed RQMS temporary & Segt Alford is SSM temporary. I kept on orderly sergt for the week Among the reinforcements was Bert Ekin of Kogarah who was put in C Squadron. We had a fairly quiet week. On Wednesday noon the Turks shelled us solidly for a while but we kept up a good supply of bombs to Abdul & must have made it fairly warm for him. We received our mail on Thursday & I got letters from mother &

[Page 153]

October – November 1915
Carrie. We are still improving our trenches & have some cosy dug outs finished. When they are roofed we will be ready for the winter. The 1st Infantry Brigade came in on Saturday & we closed up a bit to make room for them. There were only about 1100 of them & about the same in the 2nd Inf Brigade. A Turk came in to the 7th LH lines & gave himself up early yesterday Saturday morning. He was lucky he didn’t get shot. Jean McCarthy came back last Wednesday. He has been away 3 months mostly at Malta.

Monday 1st Nov to Sunday 7th
Was relieved from orderly Sergeant Monday morning & went on duty in the firing line Monday night. Things were very quiet for 3 or 4 days in the beginning of the week. All the week our bomb throwers have been busy with catapult & trench mortar & we have considerably quietened the Turks on our front, as many as a hundred bombs being thrown in to the

[Page 154]

November 1915
Turkish position in one night. Several times we heard the Turks yell when one got home. On Thursday night the Queenslanders (5 LH) advanced their line on the extreme right & met with some opposition from the Turks. Things were fairly lively for a couple of hours, bombs mostly being used. The Turks must have had a good few casualties the 5th had 3 killed & 12 wounded. The Turks gave us a bit of a shelling on Friday & at night time we proceeded to make it hot for the Turks Several were blown to pieces with bombs. Our artillery howitzers & field guns also took a hand. On Saturday morning the 5th LH had a good line of trench & barbed wire out. Saturday night bombs were used principally & the destroyer also shelled the enemy’s trenches Sunday morning both our guns & the enemy’s opened up, but most of the Turks shells fell short. Some were indeed much closer

[Page 155]

November 1915
to their own trenches than ours. I received a letter from mother also letters from Kate, Roy, Will Douglas & Dorothy Blair during the week. On Saturday Jean McCarthy & I went to see if we could find Capt Edgley but found he had gone away sick, broken down & they said he would be invalided back to Australia. We were very sorry to hear it However by good fortune we managed to meet Arthur Wright, but only had about ½ an hour to yarn with him. He looks well & I was glad to see he had come through alright so far. Alf Outridge, he informed me had been sent to England.

Monday 8th to Sunday 14th
Things have quietened down considerably in our quarter. There is still a lot of bombing being done by both sides, but principally by us. The Turks are using a mortar which throws a broom stick bomb which is fairly

[Page 156]

November 1915
powerful, but I’m sure they havn’t had the results from it they expect. We have had 2 men killed Corpl Macdonald with a bomb & Tpr Lawrence was shot dead accidently in his possie, 5 others have been wounded. I received several letters during the week from Frank, Doug & Alice Sturt. Artillery on both sides have been active. The Turks shrapnel has done us little or no damage. Several more reinforcements arrived during the week including Segt Fisher & Cpl Sullivan. The weather has been unsettled & squally with odd showers of rain. I wrote & posted several letters so as to arrive in time for Xmas & also received a muffler & a pair of knitted socks from Doles. George Steggles came round to seem last Thursday. He looks fairly well, his spell at Lemnos didnt do him any harm. A fair bit of gift stuff

[Page 157]

November 1915
has been received by the regiment & we got a fair issue of extras.

Monday 15th to Sunday 21st
All our Xmas mail posted on the 14th for Australia met with disaster the boat carrying it was torpedoed between Lemnos & Alexandria. My promotion to corporal has been confirmed. The weather has been very trying & cold, on Tuesday night the wind & rain for an hour or so was something to remember. Was too cold to sleep that night. Bombing was constant on both sides during the week & Abdul has been paying a good deal of attention to the 2nd Brigade’s position with his artillery, Ryrie’s post, Chatham’s & Wilson’s Outlook all getting their share. Segt K Alford, who was our troop sergeant at one time received a commission, so also did a lot of others in the 6th about 8 altogether

[Page 158]

November 1915
I received one letter only from mother during the week & several papers from Uncle J.D. We were relieved out of the trenches at 1.30 pm after being 5 weeks in. We came over behind Hqrs. Sunday was bitterly cold with a very slight drizzle towards dark which made things worse.

Monday 22nd to Sunday 28th
Monday was like Sunday, very cold & in the afternoon our squadron had to relieve the outpost at Wilson’s Lookout. Put in a miserable night, my limbs insisted on going to sleep & I had to keep getting up to restore the circulation. We were relieved after 24 hours. Some bombs got very close, but we had no casualties Tuesday was very cold, but I got in a couple of nights good sleep. I managed to get my washing done but couldn’t get it dry for 3 days as it rained slightly & we

[Page 159]

had no sun. Our guns opened up a lively bombardment on Thursday morning & there was a great roar for an hour or so. I received 2 parcels from mother, one of which contained a muffler & sox. On Friday we removed out on to the extreme right & now have to man Wilson’s Outlook our furthest outpost where there is a fair bit of bomb fighting & which is constantly shelled every day. By day we improve the trenches. Saturday was a very cold day & the ground was wet slippery from the day before. Was out at Wilson’s Outlook at night & it was the worst night I ever experienced since joining. It came on to snow about 11 pm & we had nowhere to sleep. At 8 am we came out & had breakfast & after that turned in. It snowed nearly all day Sunday & it was bitterly cold & windy at night.

Monday 29th to Sunday 5th Decr
The snow ceased Sunday night, but Monday was a freezing day in

[Page 160]

Novr – Decr 1915
spite of the little sun there was. There was an issue of cardigans & I got a sheep-skin W-coat. 10 Wproof capes were issued to each troop. We also had a rum issue & 2 tobacco issues during the week. No mail of any sort came here. We have been without Australian news for a fortnight. The weather warmed up towards the close of the week the last 3 days being cloudy with no wind or rain. We had rum every morning, but only ¼ & ½ issues of water. We are also getting Maconochie’s rations which are making things better also some cheese. Bread & fresh meat is seldom on issue. On our flank things have been quiet. Only the usual bombing & artillery duels. The cold weather has played up with a lot of the men & several have been sent away with Reumatics There was a big movement on the left flank I heard the line was extended & that there

[Page 161]

December 1915
were a lot of casualties. On Saturday there was a big bombardment by the warships of the Achi Baba Ridge & I believe a successful advance followed

Monday 6th Decr to Sunday 12th
The weather during the week has been quite warm. Things have been fairly quiet except for a few bombardments & artillery "hates". On Tuesday we got some mail, both English & Australian. I received a parcel from a cousin Miss Sutherland & also letters from Doug & Uncle JD. Also wrote letters to mother, Doles Blair & Miss Sutherland. A lot of troops have been withdrawn during the week. On Thursday several warships bombarded some new Turkish gun emplacements & it proved the biggest bombardment I have yet seen here. Our squadron were out at Wilson’s Lookout on Monday Thursday & Sunday. Jean McCarthy of

[Page 162]

December 1915
Deer Vale Dorrigo is pretty sick with jaundice & was sent to hospital The Infantry attached to us went away & we got a Squadron of the 5th Light Horse over with us.

Monday 13th to Sunday 19th
We were relieved at noon on Monday from Wilson’s Outlook where we put in a fairly quiet time. Except for heavy sniping & machine gun fire on our parapets they attempt little else. We keep the Jap mortar & the catapults going at intervals. The week has been generally warm with 2 or 3 chilly snaps which did not last ling. The one topic of conversation is the evacuation of Anzac & whether it will be successful or not. Our advance guard has left & we are getting anything we want supplied Dates, porridge, milk, McConochie’s rations etc in abundance, also cigarettes matches

[Page 163]

things

[Page 164]

December 1915
Aeroplanes were up every day continually so as to keep any Taube away. The place looked very deserted by Sunday & in the morning the Turks shelled us with a big gun they must just have put in. They fired about 30 rounds 8.20 I think they were. Very little damage was done & very few casualties as there were so few men left 1 man to each 10 yds of trench the last day. The last party that left consisted of about 35 picked men to form a covering party. It will be on them to cover the evacuation of the others & then get away themselves On the last night, Sunday [19th] the men were divided in 3 parties A party left at from 5 to 6 pm B party 9 to 10 pm & C party (covering party 2 to 3 am) & each party again was divide into 3 each

[Page 165]

under an officer. I was in B, 3 party & left the firing line at 5 past 10 pm There was no hitch & we embarked at 11.15 pm. Only the covering party were left & everything seemed just as usual. Beachy Bill only fired a couple of shells as We were taken out on a steam lighter to the SS "Alcha Ora" a fast cross channel steamer. It was nearly 2 am when we left Anzac & everything was still as usual. We reached Lemnos at daylight, after spending a cold cramped night on the steamer However, I slept as I was fairly tired having been continuously on duty for 32 hrs previously. Lemnos Harbor is a fine harbour & it was crowded with shipping of all sorts including about a dozen battleships, with cruisers

[Page 166]

December 1915
destroyers & monitors. We were transhipped from the Alcha-ora to the "Campanelle" a big transport which was being used as a depot ship. About 3 in the afternoon we were again transferred to the NZ SS Cos "Hororata" which proved to be a fine transport splendidly fitted up for troops & on which we hoped we would be allowed to remain. But on Tuesday [21st Dec] morning we were shifted on to the "Auchises" in heavy rain. We were getting tired of all these removals, but this time we were fixed up. Things were pretty rough the first night & after a lot of trouble we got some tea. At 5 pm we lifted anchor but on nearing the harbour entrance came into collision with another vessel which tore a boat down & smashed the rails a bit. We had to drop anchor &

[Page 167]

did not get under weigh till the following morning at 10 oclock. Owing to us being so crowded in the sergeants mess, we petitioned for the Australians to have a mess of our own Our Brigade Captain & Capt Ryrie fixed this up for us & we were shifted to comfortable quarters & 2nd class accommodation which proved to be luxury after Anzac. Most of the other troops on board were English & Scottish Yeomanry, there being a lot of Scottish Horse on board, I inquired after Charlie McQueen & found several chaps that knew him. We had practically nothing to do on board except provide guards. The MG Sections getting most of that in case submarines should be sighted. On Thursday we heard that the Evacuation of Anzac

[Page 168]

December 1915
was a complete success only 3 men being wounded. The Turks did not find out & I believe shelled heavily next day. We heard also that Greece & the Bulgarians had come into conflict.

Friday 24th
Put in a very quiet day on board We sighted the "Beltana" in the afternoon. She left Lemnos 15 hrs before us. We are travelling very fast & taking a zig-zag course to avoid submarines.

Saturday 25th
Arrived at Alexandria early in the morning & took the pilot aboard at daylight. We did not draw alongside till noon. We were served with a splendid Christmas dinner on board. At 4 pm the Light Horse disembarked & the train left for Cairo at 6 pm. We had a terrible bumpy journey, but managed to knock out

[Page 169]

a bit of fun. One of the NZealanders had a flare pistol & some flares, with which we frightened the dickens out of the niggers.

Sunday 26th
Arrived at Zeitoun about 2 am & had a 2 mile march We camped in a mess room for the rest of the night. Had no blankets but felt tired & slept fairly well on one of the mess tables. There was 95 of our Brigade. The rest are all split up in different parties. We got a good breakfast about 9 am & were practically the first to get back from the peninsular. The camps are much better than they were when we were here last & the quality of the food has likewise improved. We were well treated at Zeitoun, the cooks turning out & making tea. We also got a good breakfast & dinner, receiving a plum pudding each. All the boys have stuck together

[Page 170]

December 1915
so far. About 2 oclock we fell in & marched to Heliopolis, where we found the rest of our unit. We camped anywhere that night getting blankets issued. Had to make our own arrangements about cooking, there being wood water, meat, bread, tea & sugar, butter & tinned fruit. Most of the boys got into Heliopolis & Cairo & had a good time. 2 of them being put in the "clonk" for getting drunk. It was pretty hard on them after doing 7 months roughing it on the peninsular

Monday 27th
Mustered most of our men in the morning ready to move off back to Maadi Most of them were pretty merry dirty & chatty. We marched out of camp to the Rly Station about 45 of B squadron which represented our full strength. We had a gay march to the station. What impressed me most was the huge number of soldiers

[Page 171]

about who have never seen the front We did not make an impressive spectacle marching? to the station. We were not an unruly mob, but the officers allowed some laxity. When we passed some well dressed new arrived the boys would shout Who’s Chatty"! Chorus I am! & Are we "Kiwi" soldiers Answer No!
At Cairo, we had to march 2 miles through the town to Bab-el-ouk & we got a lot of Arab boys to carry our overcoats & rifles Most of us had no packs as we had to leave them behind us, except those that were sent away ahead & it is unlikely we will see them again. We got to Maadi about 4 oclock & jolly glad we were to get back.

Tuesday 28th
We all got paid £2/11/6 or 250 piastres. A lot of the old that had gone away sick had returned before

[Page 172]

December 1915
us & a lot more marched into camp to day. We were given almost a freehand only 1 roll call per day & not much said if you werent there. Most of the boys were out for a good time & a fair amount of leave was granted. There was a lot of liqueur about. A big mail was in but I only got a couple of letters. I went into town at night but came out early. There was a huge crowd in town & you could hardly move for soldiers. It is much different to the old days.

Wednesday 29th
We paraded in the morning 3 squadrons. Some of the troops had no more than 6 men on parade out of full strength of 36. In the afternoon we paraded & all the old hands were given the opportunity of coming into the regiment, if not they could stop in Maadi for a spell as it is

[Page 173]

likely we will be away again in 2 or 3 weeks. The reinforcements were paraded & our regiment were brought up to strength again. Mr Dickson was made out troop officer & I am troop sergeant of C Troop B Squadron We got our rolls fixed up & then were dismissed.

Thursday 30th
We got our saddlery out & inspected the horses & allotted one to each man the old hands being allowed their own horses back again if they wanted them. I took mine. The saddlery was not in the best of condition so we could not have a mounted parade. In the afternoon we went out on troop drill & were also allotted tents 3 to each troop. Squadron Sergeants also had a tent. A lot of parcels were distributed today. We have plenty

[Page 174]

December 1915
of cake, lollies, chocolate & tobacco. We have had so much good stuff given to us lately that I can hardly bear the sight of sweets. Clothes are what I principally want as my kit bag was practically empty (ie the black kit bag I left behind when I went away Got 5 letters today 2 from home & 1 from Mrs Vale & Doug & 1 from Meg & a parcel of chocolates from Kate. Went to the pictures in Maadi at night.

Friday 31st
Was pretty busy in the morning making up nominal roles duty roster & requirements for each man & horse so that we will be properly equipped. More parcels from the Regimental Comfort Fund arrived today. It is a pity we didnt get them at Gallipoli. We are fairly inundated

[Page 175]

December 1915
in them here. The sergeants mess in this camp is very good & I am putting on condition daily.

January 1st 1916
New Years Day; No holiday for us. We are down to hard work reorganising & there is a lot of work to do. Received more letters & parcels. Wrote to Doles. Had a splendid dinner. Turkey & ham & Xmas pudding & drinks. Many of the lads got leace & went into Cairo on leave. Met Les Whipp of Croydon Park. He recognised me first. Was jolly glad to see him as I hadn’t met a cobber for a long time.

Sunday 2nd
Got leave for the day & with SQMS Cheater & Cpl Suffolk hired a car for a fiver & had a day out. Drove into Cairo

[Page 176]

January 1916
Took lunch with us & went on out to the Barrage, 20 miles from Cairo where we lunched & wandered round the gardens, which are very extensive & beautiful. The Nile River flows through here it is the River is locked by huge gates which are opened in time of flood. Over lunch we drove back to Cairo & went out to a hospital at Ghezireh to see a cousin of Jim Suffolks. We spoke to some very nice nurses & would have liked to have taken a couple of them out for a drive. We had a look at the Zoological Gardens. They are well kept & have a splendid collection of animals. We had tea at York House & afterwards met several acquaintances. At 9.30 pm we left Cairo & got back to camp at 10 pm.

[Page 177]

Monday 3rd [Jan]
Had a busy day. We mounted at 9.15 & the horses went very well. They seemed very pleased to get out for a run. In the afternoon it rained fairly hard, so we cleaned up our rifles. Wrote some letters at night & did not get to bed till late.

Tuesday 4th
Another mounted parade in the morning. We had our horses going at the trot & everything is going on well. The reinforcements drill very well. There was more rain in the afternoon. We got paid I drew £15 & also got an outfit of clothes. Wrote more letters at night & sent some photos away

[Page 178]

[Transcriber’s note - some regimental numbers and spelling of names may not be correct]

Lieut
195 Tresilian FR x killed - Nobbs sick 18/9/15
212 Sgt Ryan PF - N Elliott wounded
207 Cpl Cheater HF x sick returned 28/9/15
208 Segt [Cpl] Suffolk JW x sick - Miller rec 2 years hard labour
317 Cpl Spencer RG sick 19/9/15
305 L/Cpl Pickering HG wounded returned 9th Sep
535 Tpr Allen A x wounded
511 " Bacon C x sick
529 L/Cpl Blackwell R x sick
532 Tpr Castleden C x sick
567 " Culley JS x wounded sent to England
257 " Farley HG x sick returned 5/10/15
216 L/Cpl Fitzgerald FX
271 Tpr Howlett SM x sick sent to England
613 " Herps CA x returned to Australia (unfit)
274 " Isted F x wounded " " "
294 L/Cpl Macrae G
608 Tpr Meeks VA x returned to Aus (nervous breakdown)
291 " Morris G x died of wounds
555 " Maxwell KA x sick went to England
C Moran
McGuiness

[Page 179]

[Transcriber’s note - some regimental numbers and spelling of names may not be correct]

29/9/1915
211 Segt Alford temp transferred to D troop 3/10/15
207 Segt Cheater 1052 - Williams A
305 L/Cpl (Cpl 4/10/15) Pickering - 1051 Whyte AM
294 Cpl. Sgt 15/10/15 Macrae - 930 Crozier LF
216 Tpr (L/Cpl 15/10/15) Fitsgerald Crozier L J
530 Ryan JD - Beeson F
311 Sporne sapper 566 Chauncey EL transferred to MGS 19/10/15
324 L/Cpl 4/10/15 Thorne - Martin
531 Cpl 15/1915 Waygood AG - 705 Carter AJ
Ingram C
665 Porter CJ
715 L/Cpl 4/10/15 - Garden JB
713 Ennis S stretcher bearer
805 McLean D on command
285 McLay EJ
424 J Johnson
703 Adams J
257 Farley HG
1109 Quinn TW
1043 Sharkey

[Page 180]

[Transcriber’s note - some regimental numbers and spelling of names may not be correct]

31 Reid [Reed] E.T. x wounded - Watts wounded
530 Ryan JD - Snowden wounded
311 [316] Sporne S – Martin 23/9/15 returned 23/10/15
324 Thorne C.S – J Reid 13/9/15
531 Waygood AG sick returned 30/8/15
424 Johnson J x sick returned 3/10/15
665 Porter CJ sick returned 8/9/15
703 Adams JA x sent to base returned 3/10/15
717 Garden JB sent to Lemnos 26/10/15
713 Ennis S stretcher bearer
642 [?]Cpl Mackay GS x sick 23/9/15
705 Carter AF x sick returned 25/10/15
805 McLean D on command
719 Garden C x sick
285 May CJ sick returned 8/9/15
566 Chauncey EL x wounded returned 14/10/15
873 Lambeth W x sick
Fitzgerald returned to 9th inf
McMillan returned to 16th inf
killed Hollis " " Auk mounted Rifles
Hoare " " 5th Batt

[Page 181]

Returned
returned
Corp Cheater
Corp Pickering
Ryan JD
Farley
Waygood
Johnson
Porter
Adams
Carter
May
Chauncey
Martin

[Two pages torn out]

[Page 182]

Civilian No 7. Saw 4 men presumably scouts of the force we are to meet going south their horses knocked up & no feed last night.
No 6 Saw 4 lots of men going south took 1½ mins to pass presumably a squadron at 8.30 am.
Saw 60 or 70 pass at 7.30 am going south of Cairo.
Saw 4 men at 8 am going south in scouting formation.
Civilian No 8 saw in Cairo a force of mounted men 1 mile ling with carts

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6
B el louk
at 8.30 am 4 lots going south 1½ mins to pass
Saw 4 men last night going south horses knocked up last night & no feed
Saw 4 going south at 8 am in scouting formation
Saw 60 or 70 pass at 7.30 am going south from Cairo

[Page 184]

Thursday 10th
A Squadron Night picket
Norden C Squadron
Nelson 2nd Reinfor
Wells 1st Reinf

Wells 10 to 12.20
Norden 12.20 to 2.40
Nelson 2.40 to 5

Roland Scott-Hill
"Orsova"
9th Batt. 2nd Rein

[Page 185]

Uncle
Chas Douglas Esq
3 St Thomas Square
Newcastle on Tyne. England

Uncle
GAH Douglas Esq
"St Brides"
Douglas Avenue
Burnside
Rutherglen Scotl

aunt
Mrs Alice Moncrieff
36 Snowden Road
Eccles Manchester
England

aunt
Mrs R Smith
Clyde St Edinburgh Newtown
Scotland

[Page 186]

C Squad D Troop
Williams
Tpr Brown HS
Bennett Jas
Rodd
Smart E
Kemp
Graham

Send telegrams
R Blair
D Macrae
Federal Motors

See Hollingdale & Kessell
[indecipherable]

Do you want the moon to play with
or the stars to run away with
In your mammys arms a creeping
soon youll be a sleeping
Singing lulla lulla baby
Ill come to you if you dont cry

[Transcribed by Peter Mayo and Betty Smith for the State Library of New South Wales]