Grants Australian Militaria - Fred Garretts WWI Diary

01/04/1916

Lt. COXALL, Sgt. REID, acting Corporal LOMAX, Privates BOYER, PRINCE and GARRETT leaving at 9.48 p.m. today for "IMPERIAL SCHOOL of INSTRUCTION", at ZIETOUN. Since we have had Lt. COXALL in charge of us we have had plenty of work. Weather is very warm. A couple of days ago it was 117 degrees in the tents at SONHAG.

02/04/1916

Left GIRGA yesterday at 9.50 arriving CAIRO 7.50 a.m. this morning. Had breakfast and a few drinks and a stroll around town arriving at ZIETOUN in time for dinner. Went up town again in the afternoon with Corporal LOMAX. LOVATTS SCOUTS (now dismounted) came down to school same carriage. 1st Light Horse are at the MINIA, 2nd Light Horse are split up, one squadron are 23 hours ride north of BENI KHALAF, one at SOHAG and the other at ASSUIT. The Division we are attached to extends right down to ESNA south of LUXOR. 4th Light Horse are camped here at ZIETOUN, and have been here, I believe, since arriving from the peninsular.

I hear that some of our infantry has gone to LEMNOS and other rumours that they have gone to France, but no doubt there is big movements of troops out of EGYPT. We are sleeping and eating in huts.

-ZIETOUN-

03/04/1916

Synopsis of today's happenings.
Fell in about 6.30 a.m. approached our respective mess huts. English regular W.O. roars the stragglers up for not doubling up sorted into classes, or regiments, but with no respect to ability. 1st Light Horse Brigade is along with Tommies belonging to 10 Division which is at SALONICA and who came up from their base detail camp at ALEXANDRIA and other Regiments I have not found out name of yet, but I think the Cheshires from Wadi Natrun are with us.
This sorting out took up time before breakfast and after being handed flags we were allotted to mess tables. Dismissed for brekker.
Fell in and listened to a very interesting lecture on origins of Morse and semaphore signalling by an officer. Our own officers were at the lecture as well. Went out on desert and did dots and dashes and flag drill by numbers under a Tommy sergeant who is in my opinion not qualified for an instructors job. Very tiring.
Next parade was not until 4.30 p.m. and was a group reading and afterwards flag drill, dismissed for day at sunset. 50% of men here know hardly the Morse code, some are being returned to their units on that account.
First impression of school not very good.

"IMPERIAL SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION"

04/04/1916

54 men left to rejoin their units today. The school authorities sent them back because they are beginners and the school is intended as a memory refresher for men who do 5 words per minute in Morse.
All the 1st Light Horse Bde. details passed here this morning entraining for TEL EL KEBIR where they are encamping.

05/04/1916

Wednesday half holiday.

06/04/1916

Went sick parade this morning try to get a doctor to give me authority to draw money for dental purposes. No go. English officer offered to lend me some.

09/04/1916

Sunday revile 7.00 a.m.
On Friday morning Lt. Col. MACKWORTH visited school. Tests in lamp Morse and semaphore reading during the afternoon.
Saturday squad drill judged by Lt. Col. CLOUSTON Camp Commandant, mounted on a white Arab stallion, gorgeous red martingale blanko halter and brassard breastplate and the rider enswarthed in red braid.
Buzzer drill in morning.
Church parade practically compulsory, same as in GIRGA. Afterwards went over to wards HELIOPOLIS Golf links where there is an aeroplane camp. ROYAL FLYING CORPS. Saw an aeroplane alight and wheeled into sheds. There must be 12 or more.
While we were out Captain MERRYFIELD from our details came in and paid REID, LOMAX and PRINCE. However, REID lent me a quid.
Some buzzes. 1500 men at Luna Park are embarking tomorrow for Australia. Venereal, disciplinary and physically unfit. A contingent expected from Australia shortly. Derby men also arriving from England.
Routine. 5.00 a.m. reveille 5.30 hot tea, 6.00 a.m. flag drill till 8.00 a.m., breakfast, 9.30 parade, 12.30 dinner, 4.30 parade, 6.30 p.m. tea, 10.15 p.m. lights out.

14/04/1916

B.W.I (British or Indian) there are 3 battalions of darkies from Jamaica mostly at Alexandria and we have 20 or 30 of them in the next hut learning signalling.

4th Light Horse shifted over to our old camp at aerodrome yesterday. Rumoured that 1st Light Horse Brigade go to England to be turned into cavalry. I hear that a squadron of the 4th Light Horse left for unknown destination (embarked) about a month ago. There are lots of South Africans knocking about Cairo on leave.

SOUTH AFRICA
7 INF
ZUID AFRIKA

shoulder piece. Some wear kilts and call themselves the African Scottish.

23/04/1916

GIRGA

Left Cairo 8.30 a.m. and arrived GIRGA 6.30 p.m.
Bill BOYER16 and self went Station Hotel and had a plate each of 5 eggs, plate macaroni, tin peaches. We left ZIETOUN without rations. Refused what we used to draw for 14 men. Seven loaves, 2 tins pineapple (or three tins salmon), four small jars jam. Scandalous treatment.
Got 100% in all practical work and 91 % in theory. I beat everyone in former and was second to a Sergeant in latter (everyone in 3rd Light Horse). Lance Corporal SMITH, Private ALLEN 2nd Light Horse Privates REED and GUILE 1st Light Horse. Shunted niggers out of 3 Class carriage.

24/04/1916

A Squadron left for DERIUT between SOHAG and MINIA.
Major LAWRIE is back again.

30/04/1916

B Squadron Sigs are coming in to HQ from BIET KHALIF today. Troop men to carry on. Signal Service are laying a military line through here and a query came in the other day as to whether we had any operators. My name was sent in we have 2 corporals and 1 sergeant, 1 officer to 11 men.
KEANE7, ROBERTSON and SYMES37 "B" Squadron signallers.