Loose page diary of Clarence Herbert Dakin, 15 August 1915 - 12 March 1916, Part 8

22.1.16 Order to move today, so we
have been busy fixing up the gear
& packing our own stuff. We probably 
move off & entrain tomorrow morning for
a destination unknown we have heard
the usual rumours & the most persistent
is that we go to Ishamila & then

to occupy our front line of defence.  

24.1.16
Yesterday we struck camp at 6 pm. & made
everything ready to move off at 1.30.a.m. we marched
down to the Station & entrained on ordinary open trucks
40 men per truck. rather crowded but made the best of
it. making ourselves as comfortable as possible. After we
had been going a little while it turned most bitterly
cold. It was a bright moonlight night, but the country
we passed through was most uninteresting being
similiar to Tel el Kebir, nothing but sand, except
for the Canal which ran down one side of the line
& all along its banks was the usual beautiful green
of the irragated area. We left Tel-El-Kebir at 2.30
am & arrived at Ishmalia at 4.15 am nearly frozen
stiff. it looked a most desolate place we had
come to, there was a big camp right at the Station
but we moved off, crossed the line & marched along
the Canal for some distance, it was really very fine
we then turned into what appeared a tumble down old
village which we marched through until it gradually
became more modern further on it was a really fine
town big houses surrounded by beautiful gardens & all
kinds of big trees. All along here we were marching
along the Canal we were in a most beautiful
avenue of large trees it was one of the prettiest tracks
I have ever seen we were on a good asphalt road all
the way. we got out of the town. Still on the banks
of the Canal till it opened out into quite a large
lake where there were, large ships & a few men-of-war
further on we came to where the canal was cut through

& we had to cross on a pontoon bridge thus
bringing us into Arabia, just here the 6^th Engineers
& 30^th Battallion were encamped & their band turned 

& played us through. We marched further until
we came to our camping ground where we had
to pitch our tents & make ourselves at home. We
are now told that we will probably shift again
tomorrow.
26.1.16.
We have arrived here at our camping place after a very tiring
day.  We had to turn out at 6.a.m. Strike tents then we had
breakfast which comprised a small allowance of tea. only
we then drew 24 hours rations which was 1 tin of Bully Beef

for 4 men & a piece of cheese weighing about 3 ozs for 3 men also
some biscuits that was our days ration. C company left at
8 am as advance guard then we followed at 9.am 17^th &
19^th Batt following. we marched on a fairly decent road
for about 2 miles then had to get into the sand as they
had not completed the road any further. we then had
march for 4 miles of the worst marching I have ever
had to do, we had all our pack.100 rounds & fortunately
it was so cold that we were able to wear our greatcoats
making less weight in our pack. Another thing in our favour
was the fact that it had been raining & prevented there
being any dust which would have been unbearable. The
Transport could only carry to Roadshead. where they dumped
it & then had to all be carried by camels of which we
saw a great deal of during the march. We were
assured the the C.O had given orders that owing
to the bad condition of boots & so forth we should only
do 1 mile per hour & that only Tents dixies & war equipment
I.E. Machine guns & Sigs Stores would come out the very first thing
at any rate when we arrived & broke off awaiting the
camels. & when they arrived they had. only brought 12 bell
tents & all the officers mess. 6 of the tents were for the
officers & the other 6. for the Batt. It then came on to rain 

26.1.16 cont.
very heavy. everyone of course getting wet. they managed
to get us a drop of hot tea from the 30^th Batt.
who have a Coy stationed here. during the night xx
more camels arrived with more tents & some got busy
& erected some then.
27.1.16. Issued some biscuits & cheese. then got a small
quantity of tea. after breakfast erected our tents
& got them alloted. In the afternoon had to fall
in & parade we stripped the 3 guns & cleaned them
this occupied all afternoon. Bully Beef stew for dinner
& tea for tea. Officers having Ham & eggs bread
& everything they need. had a good deal of rain

during the day a thunderstorm in the afternoon.
our guns arrived on camels this morning.
We are on some high ground at the foot
of hill 353 from here we can see
in the distance the line of the Canal
and Ishmalia also watch the camel trains
approaching. There is a light railway line
being laid down it has not reached here yet.
17^th & 18^th Batt are on our left & the 19^th on
our right Brig H.Qs are just in our rear.
There are no bugle calls used here all everything
being done by the whistle. It has been awfully
cold for a long time now. & I feel the loss of
my Sheepskin which I had unfortunately to
leave on the SS Moreton as I was so loaded although
at the time I did not expect to strike any
more cold weather. 

Australia Hill

Arabia

Feb 5 1916.

Had an urgent Telegram from Dick Tomlinson

to see him in Cairo but was refused leave.

All our men (13) went to the Gun School (Zetoun) today

for a course lasting 3 weeks. 80. 5th Rein. arrived

to day. Taken on 28 men for the reserve

Section

Wed. 2.

Half Holiday to day So Sgt Rentoul & myself

broke bounds & walked into Ferry Post a

distance of 6 miles over the Land we got in

their & bought bread & other things at the

canteen there & carried them back arriving

in a pretty tired condition.