Mosman 1914-1918

February 1916

3 Thursday

Letter from [Ted Geach] England Orders to prepare for departure to Tel-el-Kebir. Everything packed up and sent to Railway. H.M.S. Jupiter passed in Suez direction. Big ship with funnels side by side. N.N.M.R doing our transport. Carried patients across Canal to clearing hospital Preparations have advanced rapidly on the other side. Road, Heavy & Light Railway. 7 Battalion. 2nd & 3rd Brigades Trench mortars. Lion sunk 2 Battleships & 1 Cruiser news from passing ship

4 Friday

Slept in old building used as Barracks at time Canal was being built, trouble with bugs Pipe run across the Canal with Donkey engine on the other side to pump water across. Bugle calls again being used.

5 Saturday

Slept in old buildings again last night killed 5 bugs on me this morning. Digging Dugout. Letter from Bank. Not allowed to visit Port Said. We are now attached temporarily to the 1st Division For some time there has been doubt as to where we would go. We were with the 10th Indians for a time, then other Aust. Div. wanted us. Now it is thought that we are forming a new Division with the 4th, 8th & new Brigade of Re-Infs from Cairo so that we will be the first to go into action, most likely France.

6 Sunday

Turks abandoned Canal Attack. Caught a bat. Roy bought Camera. Malwa passed for Australia. Ladies

Feb. & March 1916

28 Monday

Beautiful Day Morning Squad Drill. Meeting of officers to start sports. Strolled about the [camp] at night

29 Tuesday

Beautiful Day. Long route march across the old battlefield for about 5 or 6 miles. Came back like a drowned rat. Ground hard after Serapeum. Afternoon signalling. Concert at Y.M.C.A in evening Typhoid fever Water all boiled

1 Wednesday

Very warm. Stretcher drill in morning. Heavy work & made us too tired to do anything in afternoon. Luckily enough we weren't asked to. Pay day. List of leave to Cairo Stiff luck again. I am second last go in 6 weeks time. Instruction about respecting graves.

March 1916

16 Thursday

Warm. On Guard in morning Paid in afternoon. Went to Pictures at night. All soldiers present making remarks in Arabic. Walked off with niggers chair. Crowd jeering at fight of [?] who just [?] Saw last 8 rounds of fight Neil v Dyer

17 Friday

Stretcher work using waggons. A.M.C. comforts given out. Cigarettes & Tobacco & Billy Can. Royal Welsh Fus camped near us. All invalids They say they saw Aust. going on way to France. Heard talk about chap riding into shop in Cairo on Donkey.

18 Saturday

Raining in showers. [? of Cigarettes & tobacco. Horse kicked in leg by another & had to be shot. Cricket match V [?] [?] Some of our chaps came home with silks etc. (pinched)

19 Sunday

Carrying water. Met Bert Newman

March 1916

20 Monday

Inoculated, Artillery A. S. C. and numbers of troops leaving Tel-el-Kebir for France (presumably) Military Canteen now open [?] Graves mostly Scottish on other side of line

21 Tuesday

All day off. Saw Aust. mail going through to Cairo 4 Iron barred trucks. Met Ginger Smith & Cullen (spring healed Jack) of the Artillery. They left today Helmets issued. Tunics & long drill pants arrived. Artillery practice Plum pudding aswell

22 Wednesday

Still off duty. Eventful day Prince of Wales inspecting the camp accompanied by Gen. Irvine brother to our officer. Escort chiefly Indians. After saluting each regiment gave 3 cheers. Gas helmets arrived. Mail Day.

April 1916

13 Thursday

Hot to Mid-day, Then came a renewal of the dust storm. Something frightful. Cannot leave tent. Other tents blowing down. According to Egyptian mail this kind of wind is called Kamsein meaning 50, that is to say, it may last up to 50 days March, April & May are the worst months.

14 Friday

Assisting Carpenters all day. 60th Batt. Infantry arrived also more mail. Towards mid-day a heavy down pour of rain came

15 Saturday

Nice mild day. Engineers not coming this morning so I have charge of the job. We put the roof on. News of fight off Serapeum by 8th & 9th A.LH capturing 130 turks & 1 German officer. Cigarettes issued

16 Sunday

Went to Church Parade. Washing day & general cleaning up etc. writing letters. Nice bright day Money changers in Cairo