Allsop Diary

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Five diaries of W.J.A. Allsop that cover the period 1915-1917 were purchased by the Mitchell Library in 1920. In August 2012, Geraldine Walsh spoke to Allsop's son John, who shared this diary with the 'Doing our bit, Mosman 1914-1918' project.

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Page 26
Complete

Page 26

March 1916

13 Monday

Very warm day. Innoculated again in morning. No drill in afternoon. Laying down nearly all day. Inoculation is for Typhoid and has bad effects. [?] all limbs. Dull head pain in back etc.

14 Tuesday

Day off. 41 hours off after the inoculation. Doing nothing all day. Called on Stanton & Wilcox. Gillies transferred to transport. I put in application.

15 Wednesday

Still Warm. Guard from 12 midday till same time tomorrow. Norman Lillyman put his head in tent asking for Kenna. Conversation re Pickles the Airman. Wrote letter in to O.C. asking for Anzac Books to be sent home

Last edit over 7 years ago by Lenore
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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

Last edit over 7 years ago by Lenore
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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.

Last edit over 7 years ago by Lenore
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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.

Last edit over 7 years ago by Lenore
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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?]

Last edit over 7 years ago by Lenore
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