Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Sir Hudson Fysh diary, 1917
MLMSS 2413 (MLK 21833/ Item 1)

[Transcriber’s notes:
This is the diary of Lieutenant Hudson Fysh (Sir Wilmot Hudson Fysh, KBE, DFC) who later became associated with the founding and management of Qantas Airways.]

[Page 3]
Lieut. H. Fysh.
1st A.M.G.S.  
attached 67th Sqdn. R.F.C. (Aust).

[Page 6]

[Pages 4-5 not transcribed]
[Page is headed Janvier]
[10 Mercredi.] Thursday.
Escort. to Amman on bomb raid Pilot Capt Addison  In air 3 hours 15 min. Machines bombed wrong place and rotten bombing

[Page 7]
[Pages are headed Janvier]
[12 Vendredi.]
Recco. [Tul Keram?]
Pilot Lt Austin in B.F. In air 2 hours. Saw 5 Hun scouts but they would not take us on and owing to strong adverse wind they we did not engage.
[13 Samedi.]
My double guns are completed except for sights

[14 Dimanche.]
Escort to Tul Keram in a B.F. Pilot Capt Addison. returned on account of clouds. In air 1 hour Started again R.E.8 dud engine returned again we can [sight?] through telephone lines & [indecipherable] but do a [indecipherable] & land safely. in air 20 min.
Did Tul Keram recco in B.F. pilot [indecipherable]. In air 2 hours 15 min a good recco though cloudy.

[Page 8]
[Pages are headed Janvier]
[15 Lundi.]
Went up with Cameron in a RE8 and tested my double [drums?]. Fired well- very pleased with [result?].
In air 20 min

[16 Mardi.]
Recco. Tul Keram B.F. Pilot Lt. Brown [C?.L.] In air 2 hours 10 min
A good recco uneventfull though 2 Huns followed us. Took my double guns out for first time went well.
Oliver Lee goes on leave.

[17 Mercredi.]
Escort to Photos in B.F. Pilot Capt Addison- Height 14 to 1500 ft.
Saw 2 Huns but could not leave photo. machines to have a [recap?] wanted to try my double guns.

[Page 9]
[Pages are headed Janvier]
[19 Vendredi.]
Tul Keram- Nablus recco in a B.F. Pilot Capt. Addison in air 2 hours
a good trip we prayed to meet Huns but saw none. I have my double guns in full working order.
Flying- Actual jobs 148h.15m. [Aerodrome?] flights etc. 6h 15m

[20 Samedi.]
Lts. Pool & Fred [Hancock?] have dud engine over Tul Keram and land in enemy lines (in a BF.) They [burn?] machine and are taken prisoner.

[21 Dimanche.]
[Escort?] to Jericho recco in a BF. pilot Capt Addison. In air 2 hours. Had to land as gun was not firing got away 2nd time pressure very bad but [rushed?] it and did escort a good trip and uneventfull, have met no Huns since I got double guns.

[22 Lundi.]
A lovely spell of warm sunny weather but the nights are chilly.
Saw mosaic [work?] uncovered near camp.

[Page 10]
[Pages are headed Janvier]
[23 Mardi.]
Went down to Dier [indecipherable] & had a tooth out.

[24 Mercredi.]
Escort to Photographic machines In air 3 hours 27 min. Height 14,000 to 15,500 ft.
Very cold up so high. An uneventfull trip
Pilot Capt Addison in a B.F.

[25 Jeudi.]
Feel off colour today.
The B.F. gives me a thick head for ½ day after a trip.
Lovely weather still continues

[26 Vendredi.] Saturday.
Escort to photos.
Pilot Capt Addison in B.F. In air 1 hour 20 min. Returned owing to thick clouds.
My leave is through for the 1st Feb.

[Page 11]
[Pages are headed Janvier]
[27 Samedi.]
Oliver Lee returns from leave
a wet day.

[28 Dimanche.]
Wet and stormy.
Recco with Addy in .B.F. take off in high wind [one?] crash both unhurt. Machine turns right over on her back.

[29 Lundi.]
Stormy.

[30 Mardi.]
A better day but cloudy.

[Page 12]
[Page is headed Janvier]
[31 Mercredi.]
Escort to Photos. in B.F. pilot Capt. Addison
in air 1 hour returned owing to engine trouble.
Leave for Cairo on leave tonight.

[Page 13]
[Page is headed Fevrier]
[21 Mercredi.]
Leave granted to the Sqdn. two clear days from canal to canal.
Played 13 Sqdn 3rd Reg football and beat them 4 goals > to 10 points.
Revisited Joe Rodnell’s grave
Submitted report vegetables supplied to Sqdn.

[22 Jeudi.]
Photos taken of old [hands?] C Sqdn.

[Page 14]
[Pages are headed Fevrier]
[23 Vendredi.]
O’Bryon receives his [bonuses?]
Drew to Mk. VI [graduated?] plates

[24 Samedi.]
Fred & O’Brion leave for school.

[25 Dimanche.]
Played A Sqdn. football we were beaten.

[26 Lundi.]
Wrote H. Reed.
letter from Home.

[Page 15]
[Page is headed Fevrier]
[28 Mercredi.]
Capt. [indecipherable] [joins Mess?]

[Page 16]
[Pages are headed Mars]
[3 Samedi.]
Clem [Hovis? joins?] Sqdn
Played F. Amb. football & beat them

[4 Dimanche.]
Lent Fred £15.
No Church Parade today
General inspection at 10A.M.
Payed [indecipherable] £1

[5 Lundi.]
Exercise in morning. afternoon gun drill.

[Page 17]
[Pages are headed Mars]
[7 Mercredi.]
Paddock for horses made. Fired 500 rounds [maxim?] gun result poor.
Explanation required, failing to report while in Cairo.

[10 Samedi.]
Duncan rejoins unit under escort.

[Page 18]
[Pages are headed Mars]
[11 Dimanche.]
Rained most of the day. Played F.A. in afternoon & beat them.

[12 Lundi.]
Orderly Officer
Tent inspection at 8.45. Louse killing parade to the disinfectant train at Bir-el-Abd. All leave stopped.
Sgt-Major [oils?] up has a fall from his horse enters hospital. [Garnie?] takes over.
A rough day.

[13 Mardi.]
Letter from Mrs Rodnell.

[14 Mercredi.]
Went out with Quigley, Craddock & Robinson. [Indecipherable] shifted Joe Rodnell’s grave about 20 yards.
Windy day
Payed out

[Page 19]
[Pages are headed Mars]
[15 Jeudi.]
Went round old battle field with Davis

[16 Vendredi.]
Went out to Joe Rodnell’s grave took [bearings & ranges?]
Tents [struck?] in afternoon
we move in morning.

[17 Samedi.]
Moved off at 10 A.M.
Orderly Officer, camp left clean buried [waste?] feed only. Arrived [indecipherable] 4 PM.

[18 Dimanche.]
Moved off at 8.30 AM arrived at [Mazaar?] [4.? 30 AM.]
Fred [Howey?] joins us in afternoon [indecipherable] 114

[Page 20]
[Page is headed Mars]
[21 Mercredi.]
Arrived El-Arish.

[22 Jeudi.]
Orderly Officer.
Received new Vickers gun
Swimm before breakfast
Swam horses.

[Page 21]
[Pages are headed Mars]
[23 Vendredi.]
Swimm before breakfast

[24 Samedi.]
Swimm before breakfast

[25 Dimanche.]
Church parade 0900
Holy Communion after service
Developed films in tank.

[26 Lundi.]
Printed photos.
5 & 6 Sections played 1 to 4 sect. & F. A. we won
Bombardment up coast [heard?] all day

[Page 22]
[Pages are headed Mars]
[27 Mardi.]
Further bombardment.
Inoculated-cholera.

[28 Mercredi.]
Orderly Officer
Very bad water supply at the trough.
Rifle inspection.
Orders that picquet has to be inspected twice every night.
First saw tanks [indecipherable] through [indecipherable]. Letters from Home

[29 Jeudi.]
Played 1st Reg. football & beat them.
No news Gaza operations

[30 Vendredi.]
News from Gaza not very good.
Parcell from Home

[Page 23]
[Page is headed Mars]
[31 Samedi.]
Much discussion over Big races.
Had good swimm splendid [waves?]
Played C Sqdn. 3rd Reg football beat them by 2 points
Pater Gordon preaches for last time.

[The diarist has drawn an arrow from this text toward the date 1 Dimanche Avril on the next page]
[Page is headed Avril]
[2 Lundi.]
Exercise horses with packs up in afternoon

[Page 24]
[Pages are headed Avril]
[3 Mardi.]
Went to ordinance in morning
afternoon stoppages

[4 Mercredi.]
Orderly Officer.
Brig Races.
El-ARish cup- Boom.
N.C.O.s race- no 4 Sect.
Fred has had fall in Officers’ race

[6 Vendredi.]
Left El-Arish- arrived Sheik Zowaid in evening.
we bought some whiskey.

[Page 25]
[Pages are headed Avril]
[7 Samedi.]
Arrived Khan-Yhunis in evening passed over lovely pasture country especially round Rafa. Rode through village of K-Y. reminded of Upper Egypt. Has been [fine?] place at one time, ruins of [indecipherable] Mosque.
The whole country is out in wild flowers, giving a lovely perfume.
The bedouins were getting in their crops of bearded wheat as we passed along

[8 Dimanche.]
Easter Sunday- reminded of old times at Home.
Camped on the sand on the edge of orchards round Khan-Yhunis

[9 Lundi.]
Attended gas lecture at Div. H.Q.
[Visited?] 3rd Brig [M.G?] Sqdn saw [Lowrie & Phillys?]
Parcell from Home.

[Page 26]
[Pages are headed Avril]
[11 Mercredi.]
[Drew?] gas helmets

[12 Jeudi.]
Took over Outpost line.

[13 Vendredi.]
Came in from outpost had a comfortable night in reserve. In morning rode round outpost with Clem.
Through glasses saw the red roofs & mud huts of Gaza
Our planes bombed heavily about 5 miles out

[14 Samedi.]
Gas lecture at B.H.Q.
In afternoon went swimming received cake, books & papers from Home.

[Page 27]
[Pages are headed Avril]
[15 Dimanche.]
Saw Audie Cunningham.

[16 Lundi.]
Big stunt on tonight, preparations going on. All looking forward to a good go. The first time have had section into action, anxious to have a go with them Section will do well.

[Page 28]
[Pages are headed Mai]
[2 Mercredi.]
Received 2nd [Star?]

[Page 29]
[Pages are headed Mai]
[16 Mercredi.]
Take over outpost lines from Bill O’Brion.

[Page 30]
[Pages are headed Mai]
[17 Jeudi.]
Our line taken over by 74th Div.

[18 Vendredi.]
Not feeling well for last week will wear off.
Went over to see Bob at 2nd F.A. he had not arrived

[20 Dimanche.]
Stood to arms 3.30A.M. rifle inspection, [indecipherable.]

[Page 31]
[Pages are headed Mai]
[21 Lundi.]
1.15 P.M. Set out for raid.
watered in [indecipherable] at Bir-el-[indecipherable]
Blew up railway South of Beersheba early in [morning?] 22nd inst. passed through Khalassa an interesting ruined city.

[The following text is written under the date 22 Mardi.]
Distance travelled 55 miles Country undulating sand hills & soil, patches of cultivation, grass land & scrub. Very few inhabitants met with.
Trail of smoke left behind us by burning crops & stacks. Dusty going but lovely day. No opposition

[24 Jeudi.]
Stand to arms 3.30.

[Page 32]
[Pages are headed Mai]
[25 Vendredi.]
Stand to arms 3000

[26 Samedi.]
Gas demonstration.
New pay books issued.

[27 Dimanche.]
Stand to arms 3 A.M.
Church parade 8.30

[28 Lundi.]
Left Shellal & arrived [Aboron?]-el-Kebir

[Page 33]
[Pages are headed Mai]
[31 Jeudi.]
Spent day with Bob on Khan Yhunis beach.

[Page 34]
[Pages are headed Juin]
[3 Dimanche.]
Visited R.F.C. at Rafa. Had first flight in aeroplane enjoyed it immensely.
Interviewed Capt Williams & Major Routledge.
Saw E. [Indecipherable] & Bob.

[4 Lundi.]
Sent letter Capt. Williams
Saw Gen. Cox will recco. strongly.
Submitted application to transfer.

1st cons. beer.

[Page 35]
[Pages are headed Juin]
[5 Mardi.]
Visited Major Routledge [Belir?]
[6 Mercredi.]
Message dropped on us by [Purtace?].
Saw Major Williams at Rafa.
Interviewed Gen. Cox.

[7 Jeudi.]
Put in 2nd application for transfer.
[Mounted?] drill.

[8 Vendredi.]
Aust. mail.

[Page 36]
[Pages are headed Juin]
[9 Samedi.]
Field day very hot work.

[10 Dimanche.]
Church parade.

[11 Lundi.]
Clean up.

[12 Mardi.]
Clean up.
2nd cons. beer.

[Page 37]
[Pages are headed Juin]
[13 Mercredi.]
Section steel work [worst?] in Sqdn.
awfull [nonsense?] having to do it

[14 Jeudi.]
All steel work clean.

[16 Samedi.]
Saw Capt. Williams at Rafa good hope of transfer

[Page 38]
[Pages are headed Juin]
[17 Dimanche.]
Church in evening.
Saw Bob at Aboron-el-Kebir

[18 Lundi.]
Moved down to the beach
a great camp.

[19 Mardi.]
Swimm before breakfast
clean up.

[20 Mercredi.]
Clean up.
3rd beer issue.

[Page 39]
[Pages are headed Juin]
[23 Samedi.]
Arrived Cairo in afternoon.

[Page 40]
[Pages are headed Juin]
[25 Lundi.]
Summary trial Duncan.

[Page 41]
[Pages are headed Juillet]
[3 Mardi.]
Morning. Duncan court-martialed.
received 1 year (hard labour?) for desertion- a bad type.

[4 Mercredi.]
Left Cairo for Palestine

[5 Jeudi.]
Arrived at camp near Fara.
Rode to F.C. at [Belir?]
[6 Vendredi.]
Attached to 67th Sqdn R.F.C. (Aust). Reported to [Belir?]
[Reenon?] & self leave for Cairo.

[Page 42]
[Pages are headed Juillet]
[7 Samedi.]
[Indecipherable]
Arrived at No 3 School of Aeronautics, attended class in afternoon.
Met [Indecipherable] & Lee also Finlay

[8 Dimanche.]
Went to Citadel bought camp bed there.

[9 Lundi.]
Stew

[10 Mardi.]
Passed out in [morse?]
Stew

[Page 43]
[Pages are headed Juillet]
[11 Mercredi.]
Stew

[12 Jeudi.]
Stew.

[13 Vendredi.]
Papers from home.

[14 Samedi.]
Letters from home.
& book of Psalms.

[Page 44]
[Pages are headed Juillet]
[16 Lundi.]
Examination. did well an easy paper.

[18 Mercredi.]
Left No 3 S.M.A. for 7 days leave in Alexandria.
Arrived Hotel Villa Margherita
Looked in at the Casino in afternoon.

[Page 45]
[Pages are headed Juillet]
[19 Jeudi.]
10.30 A.M. Bathing at Sandy Bay beach.

[20 Vendredi.]
Bathing.

[21 Samedi.]
Bathing.

[21 Dimanche.]
Bathing
Dinner at [Skating Rink?]
Finlay, [indecipherable], Self.
Mrs Arnold, Miss [Sheereff?]
Miss Gordon-Smith.

[Page 46]
[Pages are headed Juillet]
[23 Lundi.]
Bathing.
Dinner at Savoy.
[Indecipherable], Self Miss [Sheereff?] Miss G.-Smith.

[24 Mardi.]
Yachting trip out to island of [“Agamede?".]
a splendid day swimming & sailing. Life is worth living in the army after all. Only wish Mater had been there & the girls.

[25 Mercredi.]
Leave Villa Margherita for Aboukir School of Aerial Gunnery.
The best holiday we have had in Egypt a splendid time.
Report at S.A.G. Aboukir

[26 Jeudi.]
Instruction
Lewis gun.

[Page 47]
[Pages are headed Juillet]
[27 Vendredi.]
Instruction Lewis gun.
Ring sights, camera gun
Letters from Home.

[28 Samedi.]
Aerial gunnery .
Firing targets on ground.
" [shaddow?] on sea.
Aiming at planes while flying.
Absolute bliss & will be till novelty wears off.

[29 Dimanche.]
[Indecipherable] & Self.
Dinner at San [Stephens?] Casino with Miss G-Smith & Miss Sheriffs.

[30 Lundi.]
Aerial gunnery.

[Page 48]
[Pages are headed Juillet and Aout]
[31 Mardi.]
Aerial gunnery
Passed out in Lewis Gun.
6 days at Aboukir.
Afternoon left for Cairo.
Miss G-S & Miss S. saw us off at Sidi Gaber.
Arrived Continental Hotel Cairo.

[1 Mercredi.]
Much [shopping?] done.
The Continental is full of Australian nurses, not a very good sample, either

[2 Jeudi.]
Left Cairo for Palestine 11 A.M.

[Page 49]
[Pages are headed Aout]
[3 Vendredi.]
Arrived Belir 7.30A.M.
Reported to 67th Sqdn. A.F.C.
Cable from Mother
Papers from England.

[4 Samedi.]
In the air 1 hour 25 min.
[Crossed?] enemy’s line escort to bombing machines. Hun has a go at us, no decisive results. Fired a drum at 200 [º?] range. Great fun absolutely enjoyed it. Excited before going up but as soon as we got into the air as [cool?] as anything & ready for anything.

[5 Dimanche.]
Caught very bad cold & head ache- a real beauty.

[6 Lundi.]
Felt pretty rotten today.
Nothing doing.

[Page 50]
[Pages are headed Aout]
[7 Mardi.]
Escort to Recco. Beersheba, in air 2 hours 40 minutes.
Feel pretty right again today.

[8 Mercredi.]
Letters from Home
Date 27th May.
Nothing doing.

[9 Jeudi.]
Nothing doing, had a lovely swimm.
Wrote, Mother Mrs G-Smith Mrs [Arnold?]
[10 Vendredi.]
Escort to recco- Tactical Strategical 
In air 2 hrs 10 minutes, well archied, fragment through plane

Orderly Officer

[Page 51]
[Pages are headed Aout]
[11 Samedi.]
Nothing doing, put in the day eating figs & had a great swimm.

[12 Dimanche.]
Northern Heriera in Air 1 hour 45 min. cloudy morning, very tame trip.
Afternoon played 3rd Brig. cricket. They beat us. RFC 18, self 3, 3rd Brig 49.

[13 Lundi.]
Saw Les Lowrie.
Had a splendid swimm.

[14 Mardi.]
Recco. over Beersheba at 5 A.M. in air 2 hours 40 min
Cloudy morning, a few archies at us wild firing.
Saw L.H. coming back from stunt.

[Page 52]
[Pages are headed Aout]
[15 Mercredi.]
Swimm in afternoon.

[16 Jeudi.]
Tactical recco, a quiete trip observation good. First recco.
In air 1 hour 10 minutes

[17 Vendredi.]
Swimm in afternoon.
De Havilland crashed, pilot killed, this is the 3rd pilot killed through accident since arriving up here.

[18 Samedi.]
Escort Beersheba, dud machine, came back to Aerodrome after climbing in vain for 25 minutes.
Lewis jammed, burned up [indecipherable] register, series of no 2 º

[Page 53]
[Pages are headed Aout]
[19 Dimanche.]
Escort to N. Heriera in air- 2 hours 10 minutes
Threw out pamphlets a quiete trip.

[20 Lundi.]
Tactical recco, in air 1 hour 10 minutes a quiete trip.

[21 Mardi.]
Crashed on Aerodrome. Pilot stalled machine, fell from 50ft. crawled out of wreckage unhurt.
[Indecipherable]-fly Pilot Spragg. fever temperature of 103.5

[22 Mercredi.]
[The following text has an arrow pointing up to the previous date:]
Clearing station Belir.
" " El-Arish.

[Page 54]
[Pages are headed Aout]
[23 Jeudi.]
Clearing station [indecipherable].

[25 Samedi.]
Arrived 14th A.G.H. Cairo.

[26 Dimanche.]
Feeling well again but weak.

[Page 55]
[Pages are headed Aout and Septembre. Page headed Aout is blank.]
[1 Samedi.]
Arrived No 10 Convalescent Home Alex. A fine place.

[2 Dimanche.]
Played tennis overdid it. nerves are very bad after any exertion

[Page 56]
[Pages are headed Septembre]
[7 Vendredi.]
1st to 9th. Golf, tennis & swimming, had a really good quiete time.

[8 Samedi.]
[Races?], last 200 ft.

[9 Dimanche.]
Left for Belir.

[10 Lundi.]
Arrived Belir Aerodrome.
Tactical- In air 1 hour.

[Page 57]
[Pages are headed Septembre]
[11 Mardi.]
Tactical morning-
In air 55 min-
Swimm.

[12 Mercredi.]
Swimm in afternoon.

[13 Jeudi.]
Escort to B e Northern Heriera- In air 2 hours
Pamphletts stuck in tail plane.
First time have had wind up in plane,- pilot Spragg
- indecipherable.- 

[Page 58]
[Pages are headed Septembre]
[15 Samedi.]
First crash evidently shook confidence slightly. Every time I go up I get more confidence back again.

[16 Dimanche.]
Recco. Northern Heriera. A good recco & good report.
[Arrow pointing up to previous sentence.] Wing Staff Capt.- V.G.
In air 2 hours 10 minutes

[17 Lundi.]
Shifted over to new Aerodrome at [Kazar?]
Arrived in a sheet of dust a damnable place after our late home.
Flew over. In air 15 minutes.

[18 Mardi.]
A sheet of dust over camp & aerodrome. How the L.H. exist at all beats me.

[Page 59]
[Pages are headed Septembre]
[19 Mercredi.]
Orderly Officer-
A lovely morning quite nippy reminds me of a Tas. morning.

[20 Jeudi.]
Tactical Recco. at 6.15 A.M
Landed at Belir Aerod.
In Air 1 hour 25 min.
A [lovely?] trip & splendid observation.
[Band plays?] at mess & pictures. Bob came to tea.

[Page 60]
[Pages are headed Septembre]
[23 Dimanche.]
Northern Heriera.
In air 2 hours 10 min.
Cricket after afternoon tea.
First started run round aerodrome every evening before dinner.

[25 Mardi.]
Escort to Resm Area
Recco- In air 2 hours [40?] min.
Good trip, a few archies but close.

[26 Mercredi.]
Nothing doing.
[Improved our tent?] all very comfortable now.

[Page 61]
[Pages are headed Septembre]
[29 Samedi.]
Played 7th Reg. football Aust rules.- beat them 1 goal 7 to 1 goal 2. a good game.

[30 Dimanche.]
Scratch game rugby
no flying today.

[Page 62]
[Pages are headed Octobre]
[1 Lundi.]
Did recco to Beersheba
in air 2 hours 40 min
good recco. very cloudy till over Beersheba.
Lee & self had dinner down at the M.[?]G. Sqdn. had a good time
good dinner. Rode my old [block?] [indecipherable] enjoyed the ride on the old [indecipherable.]
[2 Mardi.]
Played Camels cricket we won by 1 run 32 & 31 were scores.
I made 0 & [none?] for 2 runs bowled 4 overs.
Feeling absolutely fit again.

[Page 63]
[Pages are headed Octobre]
[5 Vendredi.]
2 letters from Home.

[6 Samedi.]
Reccco N Heriera.
in air 2 ½ hours.
good recco. very clear
saw Dead Sea quite plainly.

[7 Dimanche.]
Played Div. Hd. Q. cricket they won. by 68 runs to 27.

[8 Lundi.]
Bristol fighters brought down Albatros Scout, machine & pilot unhurt, bullet through radiator & petrol tank.
Pilot comes into the [mess?] not a bad sort for a Hun.
Played rugby in afternoon.

[Page 64]
[Pages are headed Octobre]
[11 Jeudi.]
Recco. to Beersheba
In air 2 hours 20 min
a good recco.

[Page 65]
[Pages are headed Octobre]
[13 Samedi.]
Played Camels football
we won by 24 points, a good game.
Bob comes over for [diner?]
[14 Dimanche.]
Church Parade in morning, it was [not?] enjoyed.
Played 7th Regt cricket they won 80 to 45.

[15 Lundi.]
Played 5th Regt cricket they won by 88 runs to 27.
Steel & Williams in a B.F. brings down another Hun scout a beautifull scrap.
Gen Chetwoode comes to dinner.

[Page 66]
[Pages are headed Octobre]
[17 Mercredi.]
Recco- Resm.
In air 2 hours 20 min
2 new trench lines reported

[18 Jeudi.]
Played a team from D.H.Q. cricket they won.

[Page 67]
[Pages are headed Octobre]
[21 Dimanche.]
Church Parade in morning

[22 Lundi.]
Tactical recco.- In air 1 hour 10 minutes.
a good recco.
1 letter from Home.
General Chevaul & staff came to dinner, band plays outside mess & pictures afterwards. Port flowing freely.

[24 Mercredi.]
Received wing together with [Kirby?] & [Mustard?],.
very pleased to get it- Am now qualified flying officer.

[Page 68]
[Pages are headed Octobre]
[The following entry is written under the date 26 Vendredi, with an arrow pointing upward toward the preceding date 25 Jeudi:]
Fred [Howey?] joins Sqdn with 5 other new observers.

[The following entry is written under the date 27 Samedi, with an arrow pointing downward toward the preceding date 26 Vendredi:]
Recco- Resm area
in air 2 hours 25 min a good clear recco. few archies
received 7 letters- the lost mail.

[28 Dimanche.]
Much aerial activity [preparitory?] to the big stunt.

[Page 69]
[Pages are headed Octobre]
[29 Lundi.]
Flew in R.E. 8 with Capt. Addison (a Tasmanian)
a good trip- stunts. Aim to be Capt. Addisons observer.
In air 20 min.
Preparations for the big stunt, we will have a [bruising?] time. Am certain to come through alright.

[30 Mardi.]
In air 2 hours.
Recco- Resm Area & along Turkish lines for dist. of 10 miles behind- Recco. done with Capt. Addison in R.E.8. they are [great?] machines after [2.E.s.?]
would like to meet a Hun- good machine good pilot. Big stunt starts tomorrow & we have important work- quite anxious for tomorrow.

[31 Mercredi.]
Pilot Capt. Addison.
General recco- In air 2 hours 45 min. Recco right along behind Turk line saw Hun but no scrap. Came down to 2000 ft. over Rushdi & Hawaha systems, machine [indecipherable] transport. Gave very important report in. [Indecipherable red pencil entry]
[The following entry is written next, with an arrow pointing across toward the entry written under the date 30 Mardi:]
[Pick?] in Mono. brings down Hun two seater.

[Page 70]
[Pages are headed Novembre]
[1 Jeudi.]
Beersheba fell yesterday. Was on very important recco. today in R.E.8 with Capt. Addison but engine was dud & had to come down. We only did 4000’ in 45 min
In air- 50 min.

[2 Vendredi.]
Was in recco. in a B E 2 E but recco. was put off.

[3 Samedi.]
On Recco with Capt. Addison but engine dud again, tried another machine but worse- Came down.
In air 55 min.

[4 Dimanche.]
Recco. Mattheson reported. Saw very important work & movement. gave it to 7 [indecipherable] on next recco.
Pilot Capt.Addison.
In air 2 hours 45 min.
[Landed fast?] & run right through [mess?] tents (in between)

[Page 71]
[Pages are headed Novembre]
[5 Lundi.]
Strategital Recco. Pilot Capt. Addison. In air 1 hour 55 min. forced landing at Saba. Spent the night at Saba railway station with 113th Sqdn Hd. Q. looked over Saba. A well laid out place almost surrounded by hills. Had luck to land machine all O.K. as the country is very rough.

[6 Mardi.]
Before breakfast went out to machine & got her off by doing a switchback up & down hills & dodging shell holes by a miricle. Engine [conked?] again & just landed in Saba aerodrome flew home in 4312. In air 45 min.

[7 Mercredi.]
Recco- Strategical- Pilot Lt Morgan In air 2 hours 50 min. Did long recco at 5000 over the hills to N of Saba & round to Huj. Turks left [indecipherable] in full retreat.

[8 Jeudi.]
Escort Bomb raid & bombing. bombed Hun aerodrome at Arak-el-Menshiyeh. Over 20 machines in raid, did good work. Divet bits on hangars & railway.
Turks in full retreat- Gaza has fallen. Pilot Capt. Addison
In air 1 hour 55 min.

[Page 72]
[Pages are headed Novembre]
[9 Vendredi.]
On bomb raid in R.E. with Capt. Addison In air 15 min. at 300ft engine gave out large cloud of smoke and partially seized.
Turks still [indecipherable] with our troops in [indecipherable]
[10 Samedi.]
On bomb raid to Junction Station with Lt A Fraser in R.E. In air 2 hours 15 min bombed R.S. with good results My 4 bombs were on tents & shelters & close to large [indecipherable] Fired 100 rounds into troops scattered and railway buildings- great sport. Saw Jaffa and Ramleh.

[11 Dimanche.]
Very dusty & windy day.
very little flying.

[12 Lundi.]
Recco. to Ramleh & Jaffa. Pilot Capt Addison
very bad day- large rain clouds run into
In air 2 hours 15 min
Engine went badly nearly had to land in Turkish lines.

[Page 73]
[Pages are headed Novembre]
[13 Mardi.]
Recco with Capt Addison
In air 3 hours.
Our troops attacking
a grand sight from the air
very important recco.

[14 Mercredi.]
Our troops take Junction Station.
5 Hun machines burnt on Arak-el-[Meersbey?] aerodrome result of our bombing there they were damaged & were not able to be removed in time.

[15 Jeudi.]
Ramleh taken.
Another Hun brought down by a B.F. [This entry has an arrow pointing down toward the next date 16 Vendredi.]
[16 Vendredi.]
Recco . Jaffa taken today Pilot Capt. Addison escort to Sutherland. Round to N of Jaffa- In air 2 hours 45 min a very bad [morning?] heavy rain clouds overhead – Turks have cleared out- Suthy puts in false report & consequently holds up whole of British Army.

[Page 74]
[Pages are headed Novembre]
[18 Dimanche.]
Recco. to Tul Keram Pilot Capt. Addison- in air 3 hours 30 min. A cloudy morning- rained slightly. A good recco, Turks are in force at Tul-Keram, well archied from there, we [dodged?] like a cork in a bottle.

[19 Lundi.]
A rough day quite a lot of rain.

[20 Mardi.]
Recco, Jerusalem, Bethlehem & Schechem, very interesting. Pilot Capt Addison- In air 4 hours 5 min. A rough day rained a lot during our recco, but a good trip, well archied.
[Cammeron?] owes me £ 5 £ 2. 
Lee

[Page 75]
[Pages are headed Novembre]
[21 Mercredi.]
Very cold snap on here- quite a change. 51º Far. in my test at 6.30A.M.
(Cold for us.)

[22 Jeudi.]
Recco. Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Schechem, Samaria. In air 4 hours 5 min. Landed at Julis & gave in report there. We are attacking just N of Jerusalem, 7 wks [have practically evacuated?] Jerusalem.
A good trip important recco, never meet any Huns now but am on the look out for them.

[23 Vendredi.]
Recco. North Tul Keram Pilot Lt. Fraser. In air 3 hours 5 min. Landed at Julis & gave in report. Started at 7AM arrived back at 1.30PM. A very long & tiring trip

2425 [Samedi.] 
Recco. Tul Keram. Pilot Lt. L. Patts In air 3 hours 20 min. Saw 3 Huns but they did not attack seriousely.

[Page 76]
[Pages are headed Novembre]
[25 Dimanche.]
Recco,- Tul Keram Pilot Capt. Addison In air 2 hours 35 owing to thick cloud banks recco was not done.
Pilot Lt C Brown did same recco. later. in air 3 hours 15 min. Good recco. saw Hun, archied, rifle fire & field gun fire. landed in moonlight. A good trip quite enjoyed it.
[An arrow is pointing down toward the next date of 26 Lundi.]
[27 Mardi.]
Nothing doing. Tested machine gun- double drums unreliable

[Page 77]
[Page headed Novembre with the French dates 29 Jeudi and 30 Vendredi, is blank]
[Next page is headed Decembre]
[1 Samedi.]
Recco- Tul Keram- Pilot Capt Addison.
B.F. left us over Ludd
recco. not completed.
In air 3 hours 50 min

[Page 78]
[Pages are headed Decembre]
[4 Mardi.]
Recco- Tul Keram. In air 4 hours 35 min. A good recco. important [movement?] in area.

[5 Mercredi.]
Shifted up to “Julis" from old Aerodrome at Shiek Nuran. In air 40 min.
Orderly Officer.

[6 Jeudi.]
A day of digging in our tent and fixing things up.

[Page 79]
[Pages are headed Decembre]
[7 Vendredi.]
Heavy rain, much mud about
no flying.

[8 Samedi.]
Much rain last night and today no flying, impossible to take off aerodrome owing to mud

[9 Dimanche.] Jerusalem falls
Much rain in monring & heavy cloud banks,
In afternoon was to machine gun troops [retiring?] from Jerusalem Pilot Lt Brown. In air 20 min Air speed not showing and engine not too good. Very dissapointed, but if we had gone would have been caught in heavy storm.

[10 Lundi.]
Recco. Capt. Addison In air 3 hours 55 min. Made recco. of Jericho, & up to the Jordan, also Schechem, and Samaria. A good trip and a good report.

[Page 80]
[Pages are headed Decembre]
The mountains of Lebanon are capped with snow
[11 Mardi]
Recco. Tul Keram In air 2 hours 55 min. Took photos. of blown up bridges, and got badly archied in doing the job. Two pieces through machine.
Feeling awfully well lately, never felt better, nerves are better than ever, honestly enjoy being archied, but the pilots don’t. Cold spell quite hard to keep warm.

[12 Mercredi.]
Moved over to new aerodrome 1 mile away old drome tis boggy in wet we [indecipherable] to get off the ground.
In air 5 min. Pilot Capt Addison.

[13 Jeudi.]
Peter Drummond brings down 3 Huns.

[14 Vendredi.]
Drummond brings down 1 Hun.
In air 20 min. Flew low over Ashkalon a place of many ruins. very interesting.

[Page 81]
[Pages are headed Decembre]
[15 Samedi.]
Recco. Tul Keram. A good trip. Pilot Capt. Addison. In air 2 hours 45 min.
Very cold up high, reached 11 000 ft.
6 letters form Home.

[17 Lundi.]
Recco. Nablus.
Pilot. Capt. Addison.
In air 2 hours 30 min.
Our B.F. escort forces a Hun to land at Nablus.

[Page 82]
[Pages are headed Decembre]
[18 Mercredi.]
Wet- no flying.

[20 Jeudi.]
In orders.- my transfer is through to this unit. Dating from 16.10.17
Wet & cloudy no flying

[21 Vendredi.]
Wet & cloudy little flying.

[22 Samedi.]
Turks again in retreat on our left flank.
Machine Gunnery- Pilot. Capt Addison. Fired 300 rounds at very good targets mostly R.S. & transport. [Stirred?] them up some.
In air- 2 hours
Our engine was awfull nearly [conked?] out.

[Page 83]
[Pages are headed Decembre]
[23 Dimanche.]
Rough weather sets in.
No flying.

[24 Lundi.]
A very rough day. No flying.
We take 111th Sqdn. mess with Verie’s lights & smoke bombs, but find mess evacuated and in a wrecked condition. 111th. Sqdn. in our [absence?] take our mess without opposition. We proceed to have a glorious night of it. Officers all over the desert. Lt Mattheson is lost in the rain and wind.
3 tents blow down but not mine.

[25 Mardi.]
Machines which were in open broke loose and smashed themselves to pieces we have 2 machines only left serviceable in our flight. A terrible calamity. My old machine is wrecked.
A glorious Xmas Dinner & a great time. All enjoyed ourselves very much.
Very rough day. No flying.
No new of Matt.

[Page 84]
[Pages are headed Decembre]
[27 Jeudi.]
Attend Matt’s funeral.

[28 Vendredi.]
On recco but descended owing to dud engine. In air 15 min.

[29 Samedi.]
Recco. Jericho, Dead Sea, Jordan, Nablus.
Pilot. Capt. Addison. In air 3 hours.

[30 Dimanche.]
We get 2 Bristol Fighters- great rejoicings
Went up with Addie,
In air 30 min, looped twice,- a grand machine.

[Page 85]
[First page is headed Decembre, with the following pages including printed material.]
[31 Lundi.]
First escort in a B.F.
Pilot Capt. Addison.
In air 2 hours 45 min.
A disgracefull recco. The archies drove our recco-machine right away. awfull!

Jan 1st. Tuesday
Orderly Officer.
No flying. very stormy.

2nd Wednesday.
Escort in B.F. to Amman
Pilot Capt Addison In air 2 hours 40 min.

3rd Thursday.
Recco. Jericho. In air 2 hours
Pilot Lt. Cameron.
Bomb raid to [Jerico?] Jack Potts & Parkinson fail to return. 1 machine from 14th Sqdn crashes wings fold up.

Friday 4th.
Lts Jack Potts and Parkinson reported missing- Subsequently reported Killed and [wounded?] respectively. 14th Sqdn. also loose 2 men killed in a R.E.8.

[Page 86]
Mrs E. Isaac
180 George St
Fitzroy.

Miss Gordon-Smith
Sanieh Lodge
Nasrieh
Cairo
1186
central.

Miss [Shirreffs?]
Bulac Training
College.
Bulac
Cairo.
1525
central.

Mrs Arnold
Rue du [Barrage?]
Heliopolis.

[The next diary page contains the following:]
2.40 [min?]
2.

Miss Lulu Jamal
Zeitoun
Cairo
Tel 269 Zeitoun

Driver F. Fysh 3339
6th Btty.
2nd F.A. Brig.
A.I.F.
France.

[Page 87]
Commonwealth Bank
London.
Telegraphic address.
[Indecipherable], London.
Acc No 39102-Hobart.

[Pages 88 to 101 contain printed material.]
[Page 104 is a typed article entitled “Morning Bulletin" Special (By Cable.)]

[Page 105]
With ever so much love
W my dear boy.
Mother

[Page 106]
Mrs M. Fysh.

Ketteringham,
St. Leonards.]

[Transcriber’s notes:
French days of the week:
Lundi- Monday
Mardi- Tuesday
Mercredi- Wednesday
Jeudi- Thursday
Vendredi- Friday
Samedi- Saturday
Dimanche- Sunday

B.F. - Bristol Fighter

Pg. 19- [Mazaar?] is possibly Bir el Mazar.
Pg. 24- Sheikh Zowaid has been spelt Sheik Zowaid
Pg. 25- Khan Yunus has been spelt Khan-Yhunis
Pg. 31- Khalasa has apparently been spelt Khalassa.
Pg. 34- R.F.C. – Royal Flying Corps
Pg. 54- A.G.H.- Australian General Hospital
Pg. 67- General Chauvel appears to have been spelt Chevaul
Pg. 74 Shechem has been spelt Schechem
Pg. 78- Sheikh Nuran appears to have been spelt Shiek Nuran
Pg. 80- Ashkelon appears to have been spelt Ashkalon]

[Transcribed by Paula Poropat for the State Library of New South Wales]