Mosman 1914-1918

March 1916

23 Thursday

Cairo, Goods train at 6am arrived Cairo 1pm. Had a look round Sheblanga Village. Went Pyramids. Ride on donkey Rameses II tomb. Roman coins Fortune teller. Pyramid Cheops went inside, very slippery 410 ft high 30 years to build 4 to 6 thousand years old. Got money from Bank

24 Friday

Khaki trousers & Drill jackets issued. 8th Brigade left for Ismailia. We rec'd orders to move tents down & sent to Railway. Went pictures. Slept out in heavy dew. Tobacco & cigarettes issued. Hughie Steanes called & told me about Roy Stevenson. Puttees issued

25 Saturday

Cooks Fatigue. Getting ready to move. Baggage being sent away Monday we start on march to Ferry Post, a march that has only been done once before but numbers died. Slept out in heavy dew

26 Sunday

More preparation to move slept out again.

March 1916

27 Monday

Dinner at Kassassin scene of old battle Roused out at 4am. Started at 6am in heavy fog and marched to Mehsamah 16 miles. Numbers dropped out. 14th Brigade 5000, 15000 moving this week Slept out but got little sleep.

28 Tuesday

Up at 4 am and continued march at 6.30 bound for Moascar 21 miles. This was a most terrible day. Most of the going was over sand and the weather fearfully hot. Swim in pretty water hole when least expected. From then on it was a death struggle. Numbers dying & wailing for water. In trying to help the poor beggars by giving all our water and carrying their heavy bundles we were exhausted but finished with the few hundred out of 5000. New Zealanders fine display.

29 Wednesday

Another hot day. slept out in desert N.Z. brought us 4 dixies of tea last night and sent their waggons out all night with 8 horses bringing in the men. Horses had a frightful time yesterday. Continuing the rest of our journey NZ Battalions went out with water bottles. Prince of Wales came to see us. Marched through Ismailia to Ferry Post. Aeroplanes flying overhead. Swim in Canal Terribly hot day. Saw [Allworth?]

April 1916

17 Monday

Beautiful Day. Swimming parade which we converted to Ismailia trip. Rode in on Amb waggons which were being returned to Ord. Face to face with Prince when stepping off punt. He was with Gen. Murray, holding a thermos flask. Good look round Ismailia including native quarter. Bought set of post card views. Met [Spoggie?] Cameron W.O. 5th Div A.S.C. missed train. Rode home to crossroads on limbers then from these to our camp on LH. horses bareback. Thrown off. Saw Prince on camel.

18 Tuesday

Water fatigue. Fine Day

19 Wednesday

Lovely Day Making sand-bag pit in morning. Route march in afternoon. Playing draughts at night. Shortages of uniform to be made good immediately on account of our prospective early departure for France

May 1916

11 Thursday

Train to leave 5.45 Nurse woke us at 5am. Breakfast of eggs & ham, jam bread & butter. Orderly wouldn't take tip. Major & Captn looking at passes on Ismailia station. Arrived Cairo 9am. Nice day shopping in morn Bath & dinner at Anzac Hostel. Visited Zoo. Sent cable home. Rode from Shepherds to Railway on donkey to catch return train at 7.15. Motor lorry to Ferry Post slept 15 F. Amb!

12 Friday

Warm Day. Waited till mid-day for Anzac DR Train. On returning camp learnt that we move to Ferry Post tomorrow Packing up

13 Saturday

Extremely hot. Marched from standing camp to standing camp Arrived like drowned rats

14 Sunday

Still hot. No Church Parade. Building Incinerator