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Garrett War Diary - DECEMBER 1915

01/12/1915 Wednesday

Have been in charge of every station have been ****. Sergeant READ asked me tonight if ***** take stripes, if they were offered and replied ** **** *****. He said I would have had them by now had I not been away sick. ***** *** ** ***** *** * *** **** ** *** ****** *** ** ** **** * ** ****. I told him I did not care to take promotion over *** ***** ** **** ******* has been acting corporal C Squadron until Corporal JONES returned to duty which pack his temporary stripes away. Now that JONES has gone away Dickson has a chance of getting corporalship permanent.
Fine day but snow still lying on ground in places and pools still frozen. Am glad to get roots for the fire, this weather. It gives one a chance to warm himself. A big fatigue are working under cover of darkness digging a new road higher up the hill above the old one in the bottom end of this Dere just where the Turks have been making the road impassable during the day with shrapnel. Killing mules wholesale all the convoys move under the cover of darkness at present. A rotten job during this bad weather. Especially as a light is impossible.

02/12/1915 Thursday

Went down to Anzac Gully to see Percy B. this afternoon. Noticed Army Head Quarters has shifted from that gully. Gone to Imbros. G.H.Q. now at Lemnos. General MONRO in charge of whole eastern operations as far as English at Salonica and the Peninsular is concerned. General BIRDWOOD is in charge of all the Divisions on the Peninsular. Percy says 60 men died of exposure to cold last night. An Egyptian also snuffed it. Beachy Bill is still doing damaging work and got a few victims while I was there. I saw a few bodies sewn up for burial and plenty of bloodstained stretchers. Water shortage among the Anzac people and on ¼ ration. Hope for relief tomorrow. The one pier at Anzac is now rarely used and this part of the beach presents quite a different appearance to formerly. (Watson's) . All the business is now done at Walker's Pier opposite Walker's Ridge which appears to be immune though I saw some shrapnel burst out some distance from it showing that the Turks were trying their best.
Later:- Re Army HQ. Still here but shifted one gully nearer to Walker's.

03/12/1915 Friday

Snow and ice has now thawed and the trenches are terribly boggy. Overcast all day and some very light drizzle. Not so cold but some are pessimistically forecasting snow. Issue of rum every night now and extra blanket issue is approved making the total (officially this is - in reality it will make my total five) three. Rubber mackintosh capes and hip boots have been issued as trench stores (gum boots) cheese is part of the regular issue. Anyone who likes lime juice can get as much as they want as no body seems to trouble to draw it. Army Corps Commander general GODLEY was around today. Army Corps Headquarters are shifted to Imbros. First Australian Division Headquarters is a sight for sore eyes, wooden doors and windows. Walls of double thickness of sandbags and in some cases made of ammunition boxes filled with earth. Galvanised iron roof made shrapnel proof. Going to brigade tonight it was very dark and felt my way along the saps in places with a stick. Noticed that the Turks were flickering a searchlight onto the clouds in one place on the left and on the other on the right flank. Noticed that it illuminated the gully and I could see clearly though the source of light must be over a mile away and was only reflected from the clouds. In this was the Turks can illuminate our lines without exposing the searchlight to gunfire.

04/12/1915 Saturday

Major PRIESTLY is now temporary Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment.
Cooks gave us some duff today made of issue flour. Food is very much off lately. Have not tasted fresh meat or bread for over a week. On account of damage to piers and shipping Imbros beach (K Beach) is strewn with lighters, tugs and pinnaces. I notice the wounded being taken out in open ships. Boats towed in string by a picket boat. Middies in charge of each boat. At each stern is a 6 foot pole with a tin flag (Red-cross) attached. The Field Hospital is full of men with frost bitten or trench feet. HEATLY is down there with his feet like balloons and toes going black. Heavy bombardment going on somewhere today. Lone Pine I hear. The Turks recent bombardment of that position caused more casualties than we care to admit. Lone Pine is evidently the worst and most exposed part on the line. Like Quinn's Post in the days of Yore.

05/12/1915 Sunday

Compulsory Church Parade this morning.
All men and officers fully armed. All men not on duty attended. No working parties today unless absolutely necessary.
Turks bombarded Divisional H.Q. very heavily today with high explosives. Most powerful high explosives I've seen the Turks use yet. Reported casualties 16 killed and 25 wounded. This occurred at the Field Hospital, which is directly behind the next ridge to Div HQ, and is in a direct line with it and the Turks unfortunately. It is about the only place where a Hospital is possible. Can't take it out on to the flat because that is thick with out guns. Said to be 150 out there. Where ever they go they run into concealed batteries or HQ of some sort. Licker SMITH has gone into C Squadron temporally to work Sap phone with DIXON in place of FOSTER who is doing HEATLEY's job.
Bought a tin of Ideal unsweetened milk from JEFFCOT for 2/-. A chap selling pineapple at 3/6 per tin. Maltese 1/6 for a pound load of bread.

06/12/1915 Monday

Turks attacked "Apex" this morning. Easily repulsed. Reported that Russian Army has invaded Bulgaria through Rumania.

06/12/1915 Tuesday

Lt. Col. FULTON returned this morning from England.

08/12/1915 Wednesday

A yarn from Anzac. One of the Egyptian labourers stole a jam tin bomb and took it to his dugout. That night he lit it in their cookhouse, full of expectation. Half a dozen others were gathered around and they took the bomb to be a new sort of lamp. Presently stretcher-bearers were much in demand and 6 damaged Gipoes were carried to Hospital.

09/12/1915 Thursday

A big white aero with black crosses passed overhead today, firing a machine gun. Two of our machine-guns open fire on her. Saw no damage done to either side.
While down at North Beach (Anzac) the other day what looked to be the same machine passed overhead and dropped a bomb into the water nearby. It came down with a swishing noise but splashed harmlessly into the water and was aimed at a crowded and busy pier (Williams).
Lieutenant Colonel FULTON returned and took command of the Regiment a couple of days ago.
Latest rumour. That we are to be reorganised as mounted Division under Brigadier General CHAUVEL. He is said to have left for Alexandria today.
Reinforcements for us are said to have returned to Egypt after getting as far as Lemnos. The parties spelling in Lemnos are not returning to the Peninsular. In view of the latest developments in the Balkans there may be some truth to it. Though we have heard this sort of thing before.
We have been getting oatmeal for breakfast for last 2 or 3 mornings and doubtless we will get it fairly often during the cold weather. Bread is scarce, first issue (about enough per man for one meal) that we have had for about a week, today. Issued also with Bovril tubes, enough to make 5 cups. Got a 2 lb. loaf of bread from Percy B.

10/12/1915 Friday

Witnessed a very heavy bombardment by our warships this morning. A couple of cruisers (obsolete type with a stumpy bowsprit and a bulge below the water line like monitors, but equipped with up to date guns.), a big 4 funnel war ship and a monitor. Another monitor lay south but did not seem to be participating, perhaps except as a spotter. One of our planes hovered overhead and plenty of destroyers and minesweepers circled around. The four vessels lined up and started pouring in heavy bombardment from their biggest guns. Their target must have been a great distance away because I could hear no explosions of shells. The volleys were pretty continuous and rapid. Mostly too rapid to count the number of flashes, but on one occasion I counted 8 flashes to a broadside. Concussions terrific as the ships were fairly close into Anzac. At times the 4 funneller was enveloped in brown smoke. Must have kept our gunners working at top speed for over half an hour.
Bottom left hand corner tooth giving trouble and made a fine day miserable.

11/12/1915 Saturday

Small landing stages are being built on the beach. Which signifies something.
Also men and munitions are leaving here. Maltese and European Labor Corps have left. Major VINEY has gone attached to 2ne Australian Division on Staff as Assistant QMG and AAG (or something like that).
Lieutenants DICK and BENNETT are promoted to rank of Captain.

12/12/1915 Sunday

Beaches very busy last night.
Fifth and Sixth Battalions, English Mary Battalion people. Artillerymen (Tommies) supporting 4th and 6th Light Horse. Ammunition, howitzers, mule Transport Corps, ambulances have been leaving during the night.
Loading stores etc today. Intense activity. Something doing alright.
Captain LAWRIE O/C B Squadron and Lt. DICK of A Squadron

EVACUATION of ANZAC

13/12/1915 Monday

Second Light Horse are taking over our posts today and we are packed up to move off at any moment (mid-day).
Knew nothing of this until this morning. Weather permitting we go abroad transports tonight. Expect to go back to Egypt and thence, goodness knows, perhaps Persian Gulf, perhaps Salonica. But horses next time I imagine. Seventh Infantry Brigade left last night I hear.
Evacuation seems to be in the air. On duty all day and very busy. At about 5.00 p.m. the 2nd Light Horse took over our signal station. At about 7.30 p.m. we moved off single file down the Dere. We were to report to no.2 post, which was the appointed assembly place. No smoking or talking, everything to be done as silently as possible, "We must think of the lads staying behind and not spoil their chances of getting away.", the Colonel said.
All spare baggage such as blankets and signal stores had already been taken to the beach under cover of darkness. Everything we could not carry, heard afterwards, would be burnt. The 10th had filed down the Dere a head of us, part of the 9th and 8th are staying, though I heard that all of the 9th were in the covering party. We took sap over hill to Brigade, but when we got to top found that only HQ and MGS were with us. I was sent back to pick up Squadrons. Met Lt. BENNETT and C Squadron. Bringing them up sap when word came up line that Major PRIESTLY had decided to go on to the pier. Awful mess up and Colonel FULTON had messengers out everywhere picking up the fragments. I could see why things got so confused.
Packs and baggage was awfully heavy and the pull up that Brigade hill (old No.3 Post) very exhausting.
Arriving at No.2 Post, which was assembling place for Brigade, we sat upon out packs and waited a couple of hours. We were near and facing the beach under the shelter of No.2 Post. Good job howitzers do not bombard much at night, because this spot is very dangerous from shellfire during the day. Three transports could be made out lying about half a mile off shore. Also brilliantly lighted hospital ship. Like a butterfly among the moths. The transports were small and had no lights. We arrived at the pier an exhausted body of men, everyone has his pack full of momentous. Some pretty weighty, such as shell caps (Turkish), and as most had a lot of tinned stuff on hand when orders came to move (from last canteen stores) there was a good deal of salmon etc in packs too. We were carrying much more than we should have.
Beach crowded with troops. Mules being loaded. A light trestle bridge is being built out to the break water boat. Looks as if we are going to embark troops from it.
Another wait and then we board a chuffy lighter, which takes 15 minutes to steer into satisfactory position along side the Abbassia, which is to take us to either Imbros or Lemnos.
Crowded everywhere in holds and every available space on deck. Lucky enough to get in the hold, though pretty stinking and rat smelling.
Time 1.30 a.m.
Moon had gone down by this time. When we started from our bivouac at Destroyer Hill the moon (at ito ½) was hidden behind clouds though even then it was pretty light and I should think the Turks with good glasses could have seen us, though the rifle fire was no stronger than usual.
Sea calm, and it is to be hoped it remains so or the evacuation will not go smoothly. All spare loose and tinned fish, fruit etc was finished up during the day, so that most of us had the feed of our life. I heard a man went over the side of the lighter and disappeared, but I have my doubts or you would have heard more about it. I was meditating which would have been the best chance, a cat tied in a bag or a man with pack and full kit up if he went over the side, which is a feat easily performed on slippery decks and no railings.
Very depressing affair. To think of the 100,000 casualties and the thousands of good men underground, to think that it had all been for nought. Perhaps the only purpose served was to attract the Turk's attention from Russia. Of course we don't know yet whether it is to be a partial or complete evacuation. In any case men are to be martyred shortly. At the pace troops are leaving I should say the climax will arrive before the week is out.
Some, unthinkingly, are very joyful at getting away and although one can't help feeling please when he thinks of a return to some sort of civilisation, if its only an Egyptian one, the thought of those staying behind and the abandonment of our hard won position depresses me.

14/12/1915 Tuesday

I hear that the party (1/3 of Regiment) comprised of portions of the 1st Light Horse Brigade which was spelling at Lemnos left for unknown destination about a fortnight ago. 12th Light Horse, or that part which was attached to the 1st Light Horse, took over our post at Camel's Hump. Portion of the 9th Light Horse are aboard this boat. About 40 came away. Lt. Col. FULTON is Commanding Officer aboard transport. Lt. MacFARLANE is the ship's adjutant.
Reveille at 6.30 a.m., breakfast jam, dinner noon, tea 5.00 p.m.
Had a few hours sleep in hatch, rats squeaking all night. Entered Mundros in a fog. Going in consequence at a very slow pace. Sirens and bells keeping up a shindy all around and progress very slow. Arrived at anchor at about 11.00 a.m. Destination is still uncertain. Salonica, Suez Canal, Baghdad are all mentioned as likely. Hear there is likelyhood of trouble on the Canal. After dinner we boarded the transport, "Karroo" North Shields. I think there will be 2,000 troops aboard by the time we sail. 1st and 3rd Light Horse Brigades (in part), 53rd Division (part), Ambulance and Signal units. We get no issued of tucker until tomorrow morning. Canteen is not open. Two large biscuits one each for breakfast and dinner. At teatime some generous friends of mine let me have a cut in at a tin of salmon. Had a bath, glorious, went and chucked my louse-infested shirt over the side. This boat had a couple or more trips from Australia as a horse boat. I think that on the 1st occasion she brought part of the 1st Light Horse Brigade and on 2nd the 9th Light Horse. Parts of the fittings are still in the mess deck. The framework of the horse stalls, 12 men to a table, 2 mess orderlies per table, changed every meal.

15/12/1915 Wednesday

Eleven a.m. Still in Lemnos harbour.
Very cold and worked up windy, slept under mess table. Two blankets but very draughty, as hatch is right overhead. Stewed steak, ¼ lb. Bread and tea for breakfast. Life belts issued to each man. Should not think weather is favourable today for evacuation. 10th Light Horse in same mess room. Destination seems to be Alexandria now, almost a certainty. 5.00 p.m. left Lemnos, very cold night. Slept under the table, every piece of available space, tables, on and under, covered with sleeping men. No hammocks on his deck, as there are no fittings to affix them to, this previously being a horse deck.

16/12/1915 Thursday

Weather cleared

17th December 1915 Friday

Parade at boat stations 10.00 a.m. Balanced right on edge at the stern of our ship is a 12 pounder gun manned by His Majesty's Marines. She had a practice shot at a box while we fell in. At the bow are posted two machine guns continually manned by the M.G.S. of 3rd and 10th Light Horse.
Tucker pretty good, coffee and porridge for breakfast, meat and vegetable stew and tea for dinner, pickles, jam, butter and biscuits for tea. Issue of bread in morning.
During afternoon we passed some wreckage. Looked like the wooden framework usually built over the companionways of a troop ship. We circled around it and went on our way. The very erratic and irregular course we are taking testifies to the nervousness re submarines. We are tacking almost like a sailing ship. It is said that the wake churned up by propellers remain visible for a long while and would give away our direction to a submarine. Travelling on the surface. That may not be the prime reason. Up in the crows-nest are two little Lascans, so slim that the breeze might blow them down. Right forward is a third. These constitute the lookout and the officers give them great praise for their keenness of vision, picking up objects with the naked eye that the officers cannot seen without the aid of glasses. Most of the crew are Calcuttites and are the lightest, feathery make of human being I've ever seen. Pretty black with beaked nose and brown eyes they are a race of weaklings.

18th December 1915 Saturday

Land in the distance on the port side. We seem to be hugging some coast and what land it is causing a lot of debate and puzzling. Late last night we passed a big revolving lighthouse on that side.
Flour has run out so we are living on biscuits. Coffee and stewed meat for breakfast. Evacuation to be brought to a close, yesterday or today I hear. There is a possibility of us staying aboard ship on arrival to keep news of evacuation from spreading. The officers say that they were nervous of piece of wreckage we passed yesterday, fearing a submarine may have been lurking underneath. From the bridge a body seemingly clothed in blue overalls was seen tangled among the spars, swollen and shapeless. As day wore on our course became straighter, the danger of subs becoming less. Some of the land we sighted on our zig-zag track yesterday I hear was Crete.
Beautiful moonlight and we had a good evening's entertainment, given impromptu. Part singing by Welsh R.A.M.C., sacred sentimental and gleeful songs. Beautiful voices and most of them have had some training of some sort. Nothing vulgar about the repetoiur either, quite the opposite. I have often read of the delight the Welsh take choir singing. Songs in Welsh language recitation and monologues, the taffies completely held the floor to themselves.

EGYPT

19th December 1915 Sunday

Arrived in Alexandria about 2.00 p.m. Already the sun shines fiercer. Each day since leaving Lemnos, however, had been warmer than the last. We have taken probably a day longer than we should have because of our zigzag course, which was changing every 15 minutes. We steamed in under our own steam to the further end of the harbour and dropped anchor. Nearby is one of those obsolete warships, which were stripped of most of their guns and converted into troopships.
Passed what at first looked like a pleasure yacht flying a gigantic Stars and Stripes, nearly as large as herself. Getting closer we saw 4 small guns protruding from portholes. "Guarding Yankee interests" I suppose.
Several steamers were decked with strings of flags, including two flying Russian flags. It is the anniversary of the Sultans accession. One small American cargo steamer has painted in gigantic letters along the whole length of her black hull, GARGOYLE of NEW YORK, U.S.A.
Greek vessels have the prosaic Greek flag of blue and white painted all over her sides. The more conspicuous Italian flag is to be seen. Transports of all descriptions, some containing troops are berthed in the harbour. Alexandria is wholly an artificial harbour. Main breakwater is of loose stone. At the entrance are two quick-firers commanding the mouth.
Concert on deck tonight. Mostly Welsh talent. Came down stairs and watched the gambling for a while. I amassed a few bob and lost it again at banker. 10/- notes were flying from hand to hand like dirt.

20th December 1915 Monday

Boarded our train at about 9.00 a.m. after a scratch breakfast. We were unlucky enough to be allotted to a horse truck, not to clean, and nothing to sit on but our kits.
Some very amusing incidents occurred going up to Cairo. Outside Alexandria the line runs through miles of reedy swamp on which are nigger fishing boats and camps. We sighted a giant flock of ducks. A regular volley rattled from over the trucks and from the carriage windows. I almost imagined myself on a armoured train in action. Plenty of nigger boats and nigger camps scattered among the reeds and I hope there was no casualties among them. One fair size boat with half a dozen occupants were directly in line of fire. Scuttering darkies everywhere.
The Police were supposed to prevent natives from hawking refreshments and fruit and were to be barred from the platforms. I have never had much of an opinion of the Police although they certainly look very smart. At one end of the station they came on the scene too late to find fellows buying through a big double gate. The Police got among the Gipoes, belting into them with sticks and canes but they seem quite impervious to this sort of treatment, a good deal of belting and shoving among the crowd and then they began to make an impression, of course our chaps had, in most cases, change to get or the actual goods. The gate went down flat, smashed with the impact pinning some of the nigs underneath. Men, woman, and kids went flying in all directions and our chaps among them.
The nigs were only too eager to have a chance of getting something for nothing and the consequence was that although in most cases the soldiers went back empty handed and in the remainder of cases lost the whole contents of baskets. Most carriages had supplies of road metal aboard to deal with this sort of customer. When sighted from a distance, and nigs retaliated quick enough and proved themselves quite adept in the art of slinging rocks. A chap was saying that near here on his last journey over the line soldiers and villagers had a pitched battle on opposite sides of canal near the bridge, which crosses to the station. The train left the station amid a perfect volley of railway metal from which everyone had to seek cover in bottom of tracks and carriages. These incidents which occurred in more or less modified form formed the most entertaining part of the journey. The nigs quite deserved it. They try to take down at every opportunity and charge exorbitant prices. But there are always a few extremist and I saw one fellow throw rocks at niggers and camps while we were in motion. The Egyptian is a repugnant individual in the main and instils chronic dislike. I can feel no sympathy whatever to the spawn. Treat them kindly and they gull you or imagine you are frightened of them.
The country is much the same all through and a good idea of the life of the fellaheen and the irrigation system can be gathered from the journey. The road looks to be very good and at one or two places we saw native convicts road making, under supervision of armed warders. All along the line and especially at bridges are sentries. Egyptian soldiery, wonderfully spick and span. Sentinel boxes and tents. Reminds me that on the flat in front of Abbassia barracks were squads of smart looking men practicing bugling, bandsmen. Something after the style of a circus man directs a horse around the ring standing in the centre. Was a lot like putting a piper through his paces.
A good journalist would have material for supplying articles out of our trip.
Disentrained at about 4.30 p.m. and marched a mile or so into camp passing through military camps most of the way. Men running out into intercept all along the route. We were a puzzle to them. Light Horse equipment and infantry promiscuously scattered. Tommy's boots and tunics. All sorts of headgear, even Ghurkas'. Some puttees and some leggings, some carrying blankets like swags, we were a variegated looking mob in fact we were a new species to the military life of this place and I doubt whether such a motley looking crowd of British soldiers have ever walked through a Cairo byway. A few men had Turkish rifles and bayonets, discreetly covered from Officers' eyes by a rifle cover. One man had a kukri slung on his belt. Some men were in Tommy slacks others were wearing shorts. This even applied to officers. Lieutenant WELLS had infantry breeches and puttees, Tommy cap with ear flaps, dirty tunic and disgraceful boots purposely mutilated on account of frostbite. Scarcely a sword belt among them. Lt. WELLS wore nothing pertaining to an officer but his stars and revolver. As far as I can remember the officers were, Lt Col. FULTON, Mjr. PRIESTLY, Capt. LAWRIE, Lt. DICK, Lt. BENNETT, Lt. COPLEY, Lt. WENDT, Lt. MacFARLANE, Lt. DERRINGTON, Lt, KENYON, Lt. WELLS, Lt. DERRINGTON, Lt. OBORN.
Assailed everywhere by questions. What are you? What reinforcements are you? What boat did you come from Australia in? Did you come in the Ceramic?
We were chuckling all the way.
After telling the truth a few times and told we were liars we gave it up and commenced to ask, "Have the Narrows been forced yet?" and other equally facetious questions. We were a staggering, to most, who came out to meet us, the variety of equipment (everyman could carry what he liked and how he pleased) stunned them. As they were mostly reinforcements and had never seen campaigners on the trek, we will excuse them. Struck everywhere by the growth and permanent appearance of the camp. Strange faces everywhere. Find that reinforcements up to the 12th consignment have arrived. We have no sleeping accommodation and are dossing anywhere in or outside the mess sheds. If we want to eat we must wait until "the regiment" has eaten. So find all of our old accustomed positions occupied by strangers and our horses being ridden by strangers fills us with a sense of being left in the cold. Not that anyone is complaining because I don't suppose it could be helped.

21st December 1915 Tuesday

Suffered a raging toothache last night. So I decided to get leave and go up to town to a good dentist. On Roy DOUGLAS's recommendation I called in to see a gentleman named Dr. Alexandre GARABDEIAN of Lyon University. Found a fussy, polite little gentleman who is very smiling and sympathetic. He takes out broken bridges and proceeds to bore rotten tooth. I stood it for a while but when he commenced to bore the nerve out I nearly kicked him over. So he decides I am "too light" and put creosote in the tooth and a temporary filling. "Open much" he says. He almost embraced me consolingly at one moment and when the drill did damage he gets in first and exclaims "Blooda Basha". He tut-tuts all the time things are not going well. My 10/- note deposit paid to me on Gallipoli and bearing the Arabic superscription he intends to keep as memento as it is the first he has seen. Appearances may be deceptive, as he appears too slight to trust with the extraction of a refractory molar. He injected cocaine and tried to bore then but no use. So I went out and up to Cairo in agony. Three hours later I was back in the waiting room pacing like a madman. Never felt such excruciating pain before in my life. But strange enough it went away without any further aid from Alexandre. He consoled me and advised applying cold fomentations. He is going to charge 10/- for each crown. Afterwards went up to Cairo and enjoyed a good tea.
No aches tonight, thank God.

22nd December 1915 Wednesday

Went to Alexandre again today. More boring and then he gets out a minute auger and commences to pull nerve out. The corkscrew grips and then out it comes. Alexandre remarks I have stood it for months on the Peninsular and yet - All very well for him.

23rd December 1915 Thursday

According to paper Evacuation was successful. Lieutenant General MONRO is to succeed General HAIG in France. After another visit to dentist I went up to Cairo. Put in an afternoon at Egyptian Museum. Rameses II was there but looking very careworn and thin in his mummy case. It was he who (it is thought) oppressed the Israelites. Mummies have fine golden hair. One old Pharoah has eruptions of the skin, supposed to be smallpox. Mummified cats, hawks, human livers and other parts of anatomy. Papyrus, sarcophagi and gigantic statuary. Wooden dolls and models found in tombs illustrating ploughing, baking, butchering oxen, roasting and goose and other forms of cookery. Metal workers, graneries and all sorts of industries and domestic occupations. Two companies of Nubians, one archers and other spearmen with shields marching in fours are masterpieces. Each man stands about a foot high and each company is in a big glass case. God Horus is laughable. Dined well on wild duck and fish and went to the Kursall Music Hall. Seems to be a lot of troops and artillery moving towards the Canal during the last few days, although at present one hears of no fighting going on there.

24th December 1915 Friday

Met Charlie BROWN this morning. 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance. He has not been to the front and seemed disappointed now he will have no opportunity to see Anzac.

25th December 1915 Saturday

Marched out on desert and were presented with Xmas presents by ladies. List in rear of book. We merely wore side-arms with infantry belt to distinguish us from the rest of the Brigade who were mostly reinforcements. We held the place of honour being first to receive our presents. Afterwards the Colonel addressed us referring to us as campaigners and seasoned veterans.

26th December 1915 Sunday

no entry.

27th December 1915 Monday

Commenced to reorganise today for mounted work. My old "Rory O'Moore" is dead, a broken rib. So I have Murphys "Bob". A most peculiar coincidence. His identification number is the same as mine, 709, front and off rear. A7, 709. Hind ditto 3 L.H., S6. Bay gelding, stodgy.

28th December 1915 Tuesday

Saddlery issued today and went for a mad gallop on desert. Sergeant REED's horse bolted with him. They all are pretty fresh, barring Bob who has a cold.
Coming home tonight to bed from the City, the camp was astir with news that we leave here tomorrow for west of the Nile to scrap with Bedouins.
How am I going to get my teeth finished? Have been going to a Dentist for about a week and he has only half done the job.
Licker SMITH was clinked for jobbing a red cap. He got 28 days. Detention Barracks at Abbassia, arriving there he asked for clean change of underclothes on grounds that he was lousey. This caused quite a commotion especially when he demonstrated by catching two or three. The matter was reported to the Governor straight away and he ordered that SMITH be sent back where he came from immediately, so that he is put in detention at Heliopolis Camp instead.

29th December 1915 Wednesday

Issued with full kit clothes and all. We are due to leave at 6.00 p.m. and I spent most of the day in Heliopolis with Dentist.
Later. Postpones till 9.00 a.m. tomorrow otherwise I would have no hope of getting my teeth done. Four visits today, 11.00 a.m., 1.00 p.m., 3.30 p.m., and 9.00 p.m. We are to keep pestering Bedouins from raising and to keep scattered bands from joining up.
Posted a parcel home, including my presentation watch, enclosed a Turkish pouch, empty cartridge shells and bullets, shrapnel pellets and coins, French, Greek, and Turkish.
Colonel FULTON gave us a lecture in evening in mess shed, outlining plans for the next few days. We are to be on the march for four days and are doing the job on our own. We are to be very careful about straggling or possibility of a cut-throat. Halt at every 10 minutes to the hour for spell to adjust saddlery, spell horses etc. Ten minutes after starting there is to be a halt for this purpose. Men are to refrain from "halloing" runaway horses. An extra blanket is to be used as a saddle blanket. Thin and light and this extra is to sleep in. Usual felt blanket is to be four folded. We are to travel very light discarding all that is not absolutely necessary. Change of underclothing, shaving kit and towel is the sum total.
Went to Dentist at 9.00 p.m. He had sent mechanic up to Cairo branch to get bridges done and did not return until 12.00 p.m. Got into camp 11.30 a.m.

30th December 1915 Thursday

Left for Western Frontier.
Plenty of bustle this morning. Went out of Camp at about 9.30 a.m. marched along electric train line into Cairo. Arrived at Barrage in evening. Stinking fine dust chokes. Heavy fog during the night. Horses breaking loose and walking about the sleeping men. At a point in Cairo when we halted to spell the horses someone passed me a big piece of rock chocolate, to break a piece off I used my bayonet and almost cut the top of my finger off. Was afraid I would have to go back, Babe FRY gave me first aid and so I carried on although temporarily disabled. We took a road, which runs parallel to the railway and good asphalt. Scot STEWART's horse disabled by kick by another horse. My 'Bob' is very out of sorts with a cold and was knocked up at the end of the journey. 2nd Light Horse transport supplied us with rations at Barrage and there was a small quantity of beer and bread to be bought from nigs. Fixed a line between two trees to the horses. Distance by road, 35 miles.

31st December 1915 Friday

Arrived El Wardan at about 4.30 p.m. after travelling all day. At about 11.00 a.m. we came upon the western edge of the Nile valley. Crossed Nile at Barrage. We travelled along the edge of the desert. No road. A railway and canal runs along our right and we are proceeding north west direction. Advance and flank guard out. I was sent out with left flank guard as the signaller. Lt. KIDMAN in charge. Brigade camp of Tommy infantry camped at Wardan. Very sandy country and our party kept close to the ridge of sand hills sending scouts out in pairs to reconnoitre them. Owing to heavy sand we had to ring our horses at night as pegs would not hold. String of camels dumped rations and fodder alongside us as soon as we arrived. Tibben, and barley, a small quantity of bran almost negligible quantity and no maize. Small bread issue. Jim KEANE officiated as cook. Bully, cheese and bacon, meal biscuits.
Distance about 18 miles.