Diary of Frederick Phillimore Howell-Price, 1916 - Part 1

Printed inside front cover of diary - see original document.

 

39  Arrived Gallipoli night

of 3^rd October 1915.

Left Gallipoli (Anzac)

night of 15 Dec 1915.

arrived back @ Maadi

23/12/15 @ about. 8.30 p.m.

No 15

Rue Sulieman Pasha

Same as National

1000 covers @ 5 pt.

off

C. 8 9 Dark Chestnut.

(AP (near sh) slight star. 2 white

hind fetlocks. to 1^st I. Bat

to 3^rd Inf. Bat

on Brown Gelding

no AX14 3 Inf Bat

C’nut gelding Mare

No 3507 from 1^st Inf Bat

Lt G. H 25.0

Friday night

1 SAT 

First job. Stop men making too merry

after midnight. Day passed as usual.

very quiet, Beautiful weather.

Coy. in good working order again.

 

2 SUN Heard Cookie’s father

is Sgt in Rem’t.Unit,

Passed off quietly, went to Nat. Hotel

to tea with Mrs Perry, Cookie’s friend.

Very nice, Quite a pleasure to see a

smiling Austn face,

3 MON Do wish we could get

on the move again,

Sent batman to Cook's to inquire about

boxes. Say they have none in my Name,

must try & find Cookie, as he put

them in for me & holds receipt.

 

10 MON

Heard we are to leave

here in a few days. Hope

it is true.
11 TUES

Went to dentist today.

Fixed up stopping in ¼ of hour,

charged 50 Pts. Quite a good

job Feel better for it

12 WED
Ordinary Routine.

Paid the men in afternoon.

Pictures at night, not too

bad, but have a bad lip with

cold blister on it 

13 THUR Nothing exciting to liven

things up, after tea went for walk

with Capt Kendall, then to bed

& read drill book for about an hour
14 FRI

Usual argument with Capt Rudd

over horses etc. Quite used to it

now. Rec’d parcel from Hirst's & home

Very welcome.

19 WED Went to tea at Nat.

Hotel with Gran & Cookie.

Great treat to see both

again as I get fearfully

lonely. It was lovely.

20 THUR Went in to tea with

Gran at Continental. Then to

Kursaal which was fairly good.

Got home at 2 a.m. Fearful.

Cookie had to go back today.

21 FRI Had Gran out to dinner

with us. Then went to town

& saw him off by 6.15 p.m t'n

Sorry to see him go, went

back to camp then
22 SAT

Fearfully slow & dull

Same

23 SUN
Same.
24 MON

"

25 TUES
Heard we are to go with

Brigade for 3 days &

then return to camp. Rotten.
26 WED

All ready to go on

Friday. We get back

here on Tuesday next.

Pay day for men. Finished it.

27 THUR Started on carting kits to

Cairo when whole move out

was cancelled. Fearful lot of

swearing & disappointment. Went

to town to tea dinner & afterwards to Kursaal. Not bad

28 FRI Leave Maadi 9 a.m. }

Arrive Zeitoun                      }

all cancelled                         }

Beautiful day, first real fine

one for some time.

29 SAT Leave Zeitoun 8 a.m.}

Arrive Nawa                            }

all cancelled                            }

Impossible to beat the weather, but

nothing to do, so feel out of sorts with

everything. Do wish more work would

turn up.

MEM Leave Nawa 6.30a.m.

arrive Belbeis

OC. & Reg. officer making fearful

fuss over the supply work. Can’t see

why as it is easy enough in my

opinion. Why can't we be away

fighting instead of doing nothing.

30 SUN Leave Nawa} cancelled

Arrive Belbeis  }      

If only the trip had come off. Three

perfect days for it. Was recommended for

D.S.O. but G.O C in his wisdom did not send

it in. Hard luck. B. Gen'l Ryrie is now a C.M.G.

31 MON
Very quiet nothing doing
1 FEB TUES

Men arranging for feast

tomorrow. Hope it is a

success.

Entry written across two pages - see original document.

2 WED
Gran put in appearance again.  

Came out to Camp for few minutes

Dinner tonight for our men. Celebrate

anniversary of arrival at Maadi. 12 mths ago,

Fancy, & we were afraid of being too
MEM 
late for the war. Great success. 
Closed at 10.15 p.m. Lights out
Some of the men sing real well.
Had to put off going to tea with

Gran. Make up for it later.

3 THUR
Spent day in town

with Gran, buying presents etc.

which he sent to various places.

Very nice time, Saw Dr re toes, (English)

He said to leave them as they are, might be

lame for life if touched Finish

4 FRI Gran says Phil is now a

Captain, Good luck to him, My

turn next.

5 SAT Did the "Mousky" on my

own behalf with Gran. He

also spent a bit more

Hard to stop spending.

6 SUN
Gran left for Tel-el-Kebir

this morning. All alone

again
 

22 TUES 11^th & 12^th attached to this

Brigade left this morning to

reform at Heliopolis. Had enough

baggage for a regiment. Hear

the Brigade are to move but

no time stated. Heard we are to go

as well. Hurrah.

2 WED 3^rd L Horse left

this night. Had to transport 

them & baggage to Cairo. Got

back to Maadi about 2.30 a.m.

by motor car. Pretty tired

Everything went smoothly

24 THUR 6^th L H & Sig Troop

off tonight Saw them

safely away & then back

to bed

25 FRI Left Camp ourselves

at 8 p.m. Started to entrain

at 12.30 a.m. Everything like clock

work. Started at last on

trip. Maadi finished.

26 SAT Arrived Serapeum at 7 a.m.

Unloaded in quick time.

Sand feet deep. Broke several

sets harness getting wagons up

all fixed at last. Very tired.