Grants Australian Militaria - Fred Garretts WWI Diary

02/05/1916

Left for SOHAG today in pursuance message yesterday to report to Lieutenant SMITH 1st Signals Troop. Went to Brigade HQ which is in a big white house. Lt. SMITH gone to ASSUIT. Saw the sets they intend putting on line. Went down to Signal Troop camp and saw Sergeant A Company who is a heligraphist put me through a test which I passed. Brigade want two telegraphists permanently and names of all others, no extra pay and the status of a reinforcement. Sedentary work. Though we are getting a pretty rough time in the regiment I would rather stay where I am.
Word to get ready to move came while I was there. Met COSGROVE in afternoon and we went around SOHAG together and had a bit of fun. All the English troops that were at SOHAG have moved to EL QUARA so that at SOHAG there is one Squadron of 2nd Light Horse, some Artillery (Liecesters RHA I believe) and C Sig. Troop and other Brigade units.
Returned to GIRGA in evening.

03/05/1916

Signallers Programme, now that COXALL has bounced the ball.
5.00 a.m. reveille, exercise, take the horses under trees, feed.
7.30 a.m. breakfast.
8.30 a.m. signalling.
11.30 a.m. water horses, feed and groom then knock off for dinner.
4.00 p.m. Morse signalling (buzzers etc.) feed water and groom. Tea.
Twice a week, lamps between 7.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. feed up. Twelve hours shift on phone 2 men. Picket about every 5 days, 4 men. Squadrons are supplying some men for picket, mess orderly and stable men.
Khamseen season now on. About tea time big dust storm came up and made meal impossible. Dud down about 9.00 p.m.

04/05/1916

Received a parcel yesterday, tin Menz's biscuits, soap, face washers, insect powder, cocoa and milk, tobacco, snap hanky, lollies. Sender 'E J WOODROOFE' Kadina, but I think Nell must be the real donor.
Another dust storm and another spoilt tea similar to yesterday, rotten tent.

05/05/1916

I am to report to Signal Troop today attached with view to transfer. Do not want it. Rang up saying so. JEFFCOTT has gone to see Captain BELL to get transfer troop Sgt.
Another consideration as to why I should not transfer though even if I were next for promotion service still leave signal troop well to itself. Lt. WELLS gone to Artillery, Lt. SMITH (Lt. for a day or two on the peninsular and has since been away eight months in England) returned and is to be M.G.O. Sgt. major WICKERS transferring to some other unit. Bob PAPPS to be Sgt. Major Regimental (W.O.).
Left for SOHAG by 11.15 a.m. train 7 or 8 miles transferring to artillery. Arriving at Signal Troop camp I had dinner and was informed by officer that he wired GIRGA saying I need not come if I did not wish to transfer. But it arrived after I had left. Two of signal Troops operators have gone to ASSUIT to replace two injured and gone to hospital through a lamp explosion. So at Officer's request I am staying until they return.
Brigade HQ is in a large white building and the phone occupies the kitchen. Expecting to entrain in a day or two in pursuance warning to be ready to move at any time received on April 2nd.

06/05/1916

Sohag Athletics Sports.

President H.E. Muder of GIRGA - Judges Brigadier General C. F. COX VD., G.D. MacNAUGHTEN Esquire, Inspector of Interior, Mohamed HUSSARRY Eff Director of Education, Thos. J. GATT Esquire National Bank, Major BOURNE 2nd Light Horse, Major Crawshaw WILLIAMS 1st L.B.R.H.A., Lieutenant J. BURNS H.Q. 1st Light Horse. Starter Major MARKWELL 2nd Light Horse, Superintendent SIDDER BEY Commander of Police.
Horse dancing, 150 yard flat race pupil's of Sohag school sateen knickers and jumper red yellow ribbon hot socks and suspenders, 3 legged race by ditto. Six furlong horse race (open) soldiers and natives, Australians came in first in a bunch then RHA and lastly Arabs. Horses untrained and not been to public races. Gaffirs drill 150 yards flat race, Australians all places. Tent pegging Egyptian Cavalry N.C.Os and
an Australian from Australian Medical Corps 2nd place. Three quarter mile Camel race. Half mile horse race, British Officers and Native Gentlemen, former beat the later hands down. Tug-of-War, Gyppy soldiers and Gaffirs. Donkey Race. Horse Dancing very interesting and unique.
General COX evacuated sick to Cairo.
Fact that TOWNSEND has surrendered on the Tigris.
Hours of duty, 4 hours shifts between 6.00 p.m. and 6.00 a.m. Six hour shifts during the day. Stations ASSUIT, A.T., QUARA PZB, SOHAG, S.O. Open circuit line, galvanometer, relay in brass case with glass top and sounder.

07/05/1916

Quiet day. Studying French, "Kitch to K". Baksheesh shower bath in eating, up garden, very sedentary work. Nothing to do but read.

Frank working in Survey Department at 2 guineas per week at present at Mount Remarkable encamped surveyors. Said to have been plot at Hahndorf. Duetches drilling, Light Horse went up and collared eight Germans for Liverpool Internment

09/05/1916

Yesterday the river went a very muddy colour but today it is about normal again. Slight rise, so that evidently it was a water release by the barrage at Asswan. Saw a 40 lb. catfish tethered today.
Staff Captain roused about guil writing. "You fellows despise the Gippoes but they DO write a decent hand."
By first train this morning arrived a Sergeant and Sapper who had been doing base tele work at Lemnos. They were to help running things here. Lt. SMITH sent them back to AT, "where they are more urgently needed." "A.T." as a rule can't take more than four words though this evidently applies to one man working there than to us.
Advanced party of Dorsets arrived.

10/05/1916

Instructions regarding shifting have come. Regiments are moving to KANTARA from Thursday to Sunday, Headquarters Sunday.
Dorset Yeomanry arriving. Deruit, Manfalut, Sohag.
Present distribution Brigade.
Third Light Horse, one squadron each Girzah (HQ), Deriut, Biet Kiet Khalaf.
Second Light Horse, Sohag (H.Q.) Assiut, Naf El Shiek Allam
First Light Horse, Minia (Turb el Khiel).
Was inoculated about a fortnight ago by Doctor MAINWARING against typhoid, left breast, missed two times (todays after) through being here. Owing to Brigadier General COX's illness, Colonel MEREDITH of First Light Horse is temporary in charge of Brigade.

11/05/16

Major STOLE, an infantry officer, in charge of signals Assuit, asked particulars office staffs names, civil occupation anils replied.
Sgt. H. LETCH, telegraphist (?)
Corporal L. SUTHERLAND, draughtsman.
Sapper R.U. MONTY, postal clerk.
Sapper M.S. OPIE, analytical chemist.
Sapper BATE, planter.
Sapper F.L. GILBING, telephone mechanic.
Sapper J.H. REHNSTROM, tailor.
Trooper J.W. DONNELLY, telegraphist, 2nd Light Horse Regiment.
Trooper F.G.H. GARRETT, telegraphist, 3rd Light Horse Regiment.

****STAMP 'ARMY TELEGRAPHS' 11.V.16****

Mr SMITH made it look as rosy as possible when the regular operator sarcastically remarked, "where are all the telegraphists you speak about" I said they were all down at the pub swallowing shandies. Gilberg can't take more than about 12 words with safety and Donnelly is very slow and uncertain, as to myself though I get on alright, I'm out of practice though I reckon that with a week or two more of this I would be good enough for 30 a minute. Bert BILLINGS came back from Assuit tonight. The Tommie sergeant is now in charge Assuit.

12/05/1916

GILBERG returned to the troop today. Billings has fixed a night bell on a sounder so that operators can get a nights rest. Have had little sleep since on this job. Dorset Yeomanry arrived, been to Mersa Matruin. Our destination is KANTARA.

14/05/1916

Just heard that Signaller Gruller, 1st Light Horse was drowned at the Canal a couple of days after returning from Signal School.
At about 2.00 p.m. a fire started at the back of Greek Canteen. Instantly the fellows rushed the stock out making a specialty of beer (7pt per bottle). The Signal Troop had Four dozen bottles. Packed up office few backseesh souvenirs for our feudal enemies.
At 7.00 p.m. we left HQ for the station. Five of us calling in at a Greek cafe and had coffee gagooza, wonderful! The old Greek stood us a bottle of lemonade each.
Army Medicals, Signal Troop and H.Q. aboard and left about 9.00 p.m.. Carriages 3rd Class, horses then in big 30 ton open trucks with wagons and vehicles. Signal Troops has a carriage to themselves. Distributed the salvaged beer. Had a bottle to myself and a bit extra from the others. GILBERG played harmonica and we sang and ate rock melons. I curled up on floor, seat too small, others sleeping on platforms outside.

15/05/1916

Tommies had tea cooked for us at BENI SEUF and we got up tarpaulin muster. Letter from Winnie yesterday, about Clive . Captain Garfield who was drowned in surf at Manly (?) was his officer. He is mechanic in Wireless Troop. Going to India then to Mesopotamia.
Watered horses Cairo. Watered horses in Cairo. Benta Zagizig, interesting country. Bento becoming open spread palms. Guard of Honour. Stores ammunition chaps on roof. Telegraph line. Arriving at Saltia, which is the termination of the line at then end of Nile cultivation we found that the line had been continued out over the desert reaching Kantara after a stretch of about 15 miles across desert sparsely sprinkled bushes grazing camels. Kantara reached just before sunset. One horse died on taking out of trucks. Stacked gear, loaded G.S. Wagon with blankets, necessities, cooks gear and set out on foot.
All the wireless men are without horses until they form up with Signal Squadron. We walked about 1 ½ miles. Bivouacked in sand. G.S. wagon came up and we had tea at 9.00 p.m. Near a small fresh water canal.

Figure 4: Clive, Winnie's brother, at a training camp in Australia. He joined as a driver in the Wireless Squadron, and became a Staff Sergeant and wireless operator. This unit went to Mesopotamia in secrecy, to supplement British and Indian forces

-KANTARS-

16/05/1916

Owing to mosquitoes near canal where horses are we continue to sleep out in the open but still have our meals in the shade.
A Squadron are here, Ward, Telford, Botten. Lt SMITH told me I can join up as soon as rest of the regiment arrive. Swimming in canal in morning and evening. Noticed four steamers going through during the day. One a big French boat with what appeared to be Malay coolies.

17/05/1916

Rest of regiment arrived. KEANE has my horse. Lomax in hospital with pleurisy. Returned to Regiment which camped in sand in open between Suez Canal and freshwater canal. To ride "Charlie", Len Scott's chestnut. No baggage to go by transport. Have cut down my belongings to overcoat, and blanket, waterproof sheet, cardigan, jacket, spare singlet, and spare pair socks. Shaving gear, soap and a few toilet odds and ends. Issued two days bully and biscuits.

18/05/1916

Reveille 2.45 a.m. In about half an hour we were mounted. Sun rise found us waiting pontoon bridge behind 2nd Light Horse. (1st Light Horse went out 2 or 3 days ago) and H.Q. details and 1/1 Lecesteshere R.H.A. A cargo steamer was making her way towards us and it meant that the pontoon bridge could not swing across until she passed. Very large camp and some store houses on other side. Passed through entanglements along a metal road. Lines of telegraph diverge for all directions. Two lines of light railway, about 3 foot gauge and one small trolley railway run parallel to road. Passed large camp about 2 ½ miles out. Probably our Divisional (ANZAC Mounted Division) Head Quarters is here. About 6 miles along we struck another camp on the rise, the Column halted and erected tents. It looks as if we are to be here for some days before moving on. The 1st Light Horse were here before us and left the day previous.
Out ahead is the village of KATIA, where the Turks swooped down on the Warricks Yeomanry.

19/05/1916

Phone on to Brigade. Shephens phone. Hill 60 is the name of the camp. Water comes out from Kantara in a 3" pipe. A 5" pipeline is being laid.
6.0 p.m. taken off phone duty and warned for patrol early tomorrow.

20/05/1916

Out of bed 3.45 a.m., left camp at 4.30 a.m., watered and made out South East.
Lt. KENYON, sergeant and seven men, two signallers. Looking back we found Hill 70 to be a low hill with a flat top overlooking miles of desert country to the East. During the Turkish invasion last year a lot of fighting occurred around here. Old redoubts, empty shell cases, and skeletons of dead camels testify to this. About 4 miles out the country becomes broken, heavier going and shrubs sparser. Lt. KENYON marching on compass bearing about 12 to 15 miles out we rode up a big sand hill and halted. Country here very broken and some of the sand hills have precipitous sides and an edge like a knife.
North of us about 3 miles away is a gigantic hill which must be nearly 400 (if the name indicates metres is more HILL 383). Set about to pick up a Yeomanry patrol about 5 miles south , no sign of them. Turning to Hill 383 we found (by helio) that 5th Light Horse patrol were there. Passed two groves of palm trees, but no sign of water, presume wells were there but have been filled in.
Returned to camp 12/30 midday, rode about 30 miles.

21/05/1916

Last three days weather delightful. Surprising considering that at Kantara we experienced 120 degrees in the shade.
KEANE and DOUGLAS have gone to Squadrons. As HOPE has gone to hospital I am temporarily in charge of C Squadron station.

22/05/1916

Twenty four hours off duty owing to being inoculated. 1st inoculation was about 3 weeks ago, 10 days is about prpersisterist, 2nd dose double the first. 1st had little effect barring soreness in left breast. 2nd in the right and in addition to soreness very listness.
Two areos went overhead flying abreast and very low at about 5.00 a.m.
This evening an areo flew overhead and dropped a message at Brigade Head Quarters giving the result of reconnaissance.

23/05/1916

Stable picket today. Rumoured that Colonel FULTON is returning to Australia on furlough rhumaticism.

24/05/1916

Colonel FULTON left, taken to Field Ambulance on stretcher. Major LAWRIE in charge for today.

25/05/1916

Major LAWRIE, a tall thin scholarly looking chap from 2nd Light Horse now temporarily in command. Air raid on Port SAID. Got in touch with outpost, 12 miles out, by helio.
BOYER transferring to 2nd Light Horse, no stripes. KEANE and SCHOFIELD placed over him in charge of station. Latter again yesterdays patrol. About midday received orders to get ready to evacuate this camp, leaving tents standing and proceed to ROMANI, 17 miles I think. Leaving 3.00 a.m. tomorrow. Sixty camels accompanying with baggage.
Rumour - dismount again and go to France.

26/05/1916

Signaller on duty until we hooker up a phone at midday. Then we loaded three camels with signaller's gear. Horses fed, line taken up, and horses linked and ringed. Made a drink of tea on a fire of our making and at 2.30 a.m. saddled up.
In addition carried a Stevens phone round neck and a nose bag containing personal odds and ends half full on saddle. Horses not watered. Left at 3.00 a.m. Had a treat though, Bob getting tangled in some light glav were lying across the track. Went parallel for about three miles with telephone line, about 4.00 a.m. sunrise. Going north east through country, no smoking while dark. Something similar to sand hills some parts like coast. Gradually becoming more broken and shrubs thinner. Quite different to Wadi Natrun country. Halted for breakfast, bread and marmalade. Off saddled and feed up. Flanks and other guards not to off saddle. Camels with baggage following in our wake. While here the 6th Light Horse passed us going in to take our place at HILL 70. Notice they still have felt and serge tunics (wallaby fur).
We are travelling column of route I had one message to take out to flank guard. Passed Canterbury Post (redoubt Tommies) 10 miles.
Country becoming more sandy that ever, and hills in places devoid of shrubs. Passed more oases. Clumps of palms in lee of sand hill, where water is probably close to surface. Hardly a bush on surrounding hills.
Bedouins huts of palm leaves, deserted and burnt, some still smoking. Two miles from ROMANI.
Sight sea. Then a big sandy peak with an outpost on top.
Arrive at New Zealand Regiments camp then R.H.A. and coming over brow of hill our camp as left by the 6th Light Horse, tents and all. Water at oasis, canvas trough and pump.
Our camp in a big gully between sand hills, and the big peak to north of grove of palms and soak. Water only three feet below surface at one spot, but useless for drinking, nearly as salt as sea water. Officers tents under palms. Got here about 9.15 a.m. but had lots of spells on way up. Eighteen miles. Sea about 4 miles away. Aeroplane came flying low and spurting smoke towards evening. Flew over almost low enough to recognise the occupants and dropped a note the result of reconnaissance in sort of wallet with streamer trailing behind. To acknowledge a ring of men, horses or camels in formed. If not understood a cross formation.
This is the camp which was held by the Yeomanry who were surprised and captured by the Turks last Easter .

27/05/1916

Stood to arms and saddled up 3.00 a.m. to 4.30 a.m. 2nd Light Horse arrived so that the whole Brigade are here.

28/05/1916

Party of four and one corps to take horses out under shade of palms about ½ mile out. 9.00 a.m. to about 3.30 p.m. I had a job today and will get it pretty often owing to a good many of the other chaps being kept in camp for instruction. Barney MARSHALL took my place on a camel.
Four men to 16 horses. Rail head is about ½ mile from here. Machine gun on each side of camp trained and with crew ready for hostile aircraft. All of 2nd Brigade have left. Plenty of other guns mounted in other parts of camp.
Still rumours regarding France.

29/05/1916

Reveille 3.15 a.m. At 4.00 a.m. rode out with piquet to take up position on high sandhills overlooking troughs and eastwards. Established telephone with A.P.A. One squadron also gone out to Katia, taking six signallers (3 strs) Established helio with this reconnaissance party. Breakfast and dinner on bread and marmalade nowadays, and lucky if you get that. With the continual night duty and standing to arms this life is going to pull a man down.
Fires are being lit in KATIA direction. Party evidently getting to work cremating or burning Bedouins camps . Scores of dead camels killed in fight with Turks out also horses and men but with exception of corpses exposed by drift sand the latter are buried. Sun very hot during midday and built wurlie of bags and sticks. Drift sand bad on eyes.

30/05/1916

Warned for out post duty, 4.00 p.m. COWELL had the cheek to have me and the others off duty flag wagging this morning, because we happened to have an hour or two off.
Aero passed low over camp circling over twice and dropped a message. Very pretty. Out post about 6.30 p.m. At 9.30 we picked up advance guard under Mr MILLS (Hellfire Charlie). Left shortly after. Horses not watered. Marching about East by stars until we struck telegraph line which used to connect Jerusalem with Cairo, we then followed that. I think this is the route which the Turks took in their attack last year. Also a caravan route. Until we struck this we had a lively time trying to keep touch with the main body. We struck Ocrihatina oasis a little after sunrise and then another large oasis where we (2nd, 3rd and Brigade H.Q) met the 1st. A wireless installation is here. It appears that the New Zealanders were attacking a position further up a few miles and we were the supporting body.
Struck water at about three feet down but too salt for humans. Horses tackled it O.K.
Had breakfast and, being thoroughly dog weary with night marching tried, to sleep. At about 9.30 we got orders to saddle up. Ten a.m. left camp for ROMANI. New Zealanders had pulled the job off without our assistance. Left telegraph line and cut across country shortening distance. Arrived somewhere between 3 and 4 p.m.. Horses troublesome at trough. Four men had to go on night outpost, thank goodness I was not one, being thoroughly knocked up. Colonel FULTON came back the day before yesterday.