Diary of Frederick Phillimore Howell-Price, 1917 - Part 2

April & May 1917
30 MON Adv Strat hand in money for reg, Very glad get rid of it Saw S.C
re Sack apt's. He will stir up Units. 4^th Rgt on stunt, also some
Indian Cavalry, who look well. Expect. extra 6 horses shortly. Good "bis"
Notice re election  Am Ret. Off for my Sect
1 MAY TUES "Stand to" at 0400. Very early. Bde move off on
Stunt. We awaited return. Got back about 0730. All very
tired. Convoy arrived at 1600 by camel. Keenan to 
Hospital. Short reported for duty.
2 WED Up a bit later today. Convoy (wheeled) out early. 2^nd
trip this afternoon. Bde. move Sheik Nuran tomorrow.
Follow with convoy. Voted today with the men.

Dr Law D.A.Q.M.G. I.M.D. Expect I go Hqrs A.S.C. A.M.D

3 THUR Went to Depot at 0600. Men there voted. Get rest done later

on. Convoy left 0900. Arrived Sheik N. 1200. Issued at 1400.

Got away after bit of trouble with t'port. Saw S.C. re same. Allotted

so much each rgt. Turkish trenches here are wonderful. Best I have seen.

What must they be like in Germany

4 FRI

Horses to water. Back at 1030. 2½ hrs away. Convoy in wagons & 1 Caterp

Issue all off O.K. Rest of men voted. In to see Strat & OC ASC A.M.D All O.K.

Back to camp at 2300. Each Unit 1 G.S. 2 L.G.S. to cart forage etc. Belah bombed.

5 SAT

Issue O.K. T'port more successful than before. Had slow

time of it. Camels for Convoy.

6 SUN Up to see Bde if any complaints. None. 

Got some Canteen stuff from Padre. Attack expected

tomorrow. Khan Yunus or Belah bombed tonight badly.

 

May 1917

7 MON Wrote S.S.O. re shortages in cases & as to advice re any

alteration to rations. No attack. Heavy fog. Convoy out

O.K. all issued. Strat out to see me.

8 TUES Nothing exciting doing. Received 6 new

remounts from Hqrs Bde Not too bad. Sent

6 in to Lt Stratton for men there. Convoy & issue O.K.

9 WED Up to Bde. No complts Good. Saw watering place.

Convoy in & issue O.K. Indians digging more trenches

behind us. Letter from S.S.O. re Trench rations etc.

10 THUR Mail due in today. Hope so. Wrote Bde re No. of Tch rat's

taken over from 5^th Mtd. Bde. Convoy in & all O.K. F. meat all

good except 81 lbs. for 12^th

11 FRI Great rumours of a move. Hope it is to beach otherwise

hope we stay here or go further out. Convoy out O.K. Barley

short. Word from Bde we move Abasan tomorrow. Rotten.

12 SAT Moved off at 0700 for Abasan. Found convoy, but had

to wait until sight fixed. Gen'l chose our camp. Had to

move. Issue O.K. Fodder bit short. Arrive tomorrow. Had look

13 SUN at Stock & Bag books. Latter got me wet. Must get new syst.

Pretty cool last night. Flies bad here. Convoy O.K. & issue Same.

O.C. A.S.C. A.M.D. Has put in for my t'fer also that of Hosking.

 

May 1917

14 MON Slept out in open last night. Much better. Saw S.S.O.

re sacks ret'd. Not very satisfactory. Move to 

beach this afternoon. Bde follow tomorrow. "Good Oh". A dip in

the "Briney". Have list of reasons for shortage. I.Rat's. Try to get replaced

15 TUES Camped at beach for night. All enjoyed swim in

morning. Convoy arr'd 0930. Bde little later. Issue O.K. Fixed up

"bivvy". Heavy wind came up. "Bivvy" went down. Slept in open

Fix tomorrow. Approval for Harmer to ts'fer. to hand from Major S.

16 WED Convoy out at 0900. Issue over 1030. Strat Field out for

swim. Notice from S.S.O. that 3 days Emgcy Rat. to be eaton on 19^th

or 20^th Extras to make up to full issue only to be sent. Bivvy up

again. Hope it stays.

17 THUR Convoy O.K. issued finished 1030. Selints saw

S.S.O. re Iron Rat's to issue & forward papers to him. O.C. A.S.C.

inspected t'port today Heard unofficially that B.V.O. handed him

complaint re grain averages. None made to me. Am protesting against

such proceedure. Nixon to Hosp'l.

18 FRI Milcoy to Sig Sqd'n for test.

Convoy O.K. only small issue. Emg'cy rat's come into force for

tomorrow. Major S. out to see us. also Strat. ordered to come daily now.

Major S. promised Hosking corn, next horses Very glad, he is worth it. Had

wire from S.S.O. meet him 1400 tomorrow. urgent. Hope something doing.

19 SAT

Convoy out 0830. Issue over. Start to blow gale from inland Very hot.

Left at 1230 to see S.S.O. Finished @ 1550. Stunt coming off. Move in tomorrow

Fearful day. Dugouts nearly full sand. Moved camp Night awful. Milcoy back.

20 SUN

Still blowing gale. Bad as yesterday. Expect stunt will be off if this

keeps on. Nixon from Hosp. Stunt off. 3^rd Bde now at beach as well as us.

Await our next move. "C" Sqd 11^th in to draw at K.Y. not on convoy, which arr'd

at 0600 for some reason. Move tomorrow X day

 

May 1917

[*X*] 21 MON Convoy out again early Issue O.K. Move to Khan Yunis

Saw Hqrs & Strat re figures. Had a'tea with Major S. Back to camp

Await time of convoy to Abasan tomorrow morning. It will be early

4 men from details reported to Lt. Stratton. Convoy altered to Marakeb. Left @ 08

[*Y*] 22 TUES Up at 0400. Out with convoy, issued. Fixed up figures.

Details to go out tomorrow to Marakeb. Cpl Cook & Greman going 

with him it. Leaves at 0515. Main convoy to Gamili leaves at 0700.

Only got word at 2100.

[*Z*] 23 WED Cook away. We leave in about ½ hour. Rotten night.

Windy & dusty. Tried to rain this morning. Convoy away. Got

Gamili about 1600. Issued by 1800. Had tea, back to K. Yunis.

Arrived about 2245.

[*Z1*] 24 THUR Down to Beach by 0700. Issued & returned to K.Y.

Very tired. Up at 0400. Bde move to Abasan tomorrow.

[*Z2*] 25 FRI Convoy out at 0630. Dumped at ground 0800. Bde

arrived about 1600. Issue alright.

26 SAT

26 SUN Rations out O.K. by camel. Issue O.K. Conference with

S.S.O. re an F.E.I. Start using it on 29^th. Back to camp. Good

Sleep. Arranged about checking averages.

 

May & June 1917

27 MON Bde move tomorrow further out. Genl had me up re

forage. He was quite satisfied at finish. Draw

from K.Y. at midnight take convoy (camel) out to wadi S.K.

by 0500. Section leave for there at 1900.

28 TUES MON Left with convoy at 0530 for Fara. Arrived at 1030.

Issued O.K. Emgrs. No rations. Fixed up Johnny over three times

Have a  hosker blowing Got to move again tomorrow.

29. Tues. Johnny over, early, Dropped 7 bombs. No damage. One about 20 yds from

us. Moved to new camp & refilling point. Issue O.K.

30 WED Convoy out 156 lbs short in potatoes, 110 in Veg's Only small

issue wood. Weigh out meats Veg's to 12^th Rgt, Stops all

argument as to weight.

31 THUR S.S.O. advised no potatoes but double issue tomorrow also make

up shortage yesterday. Saw him re wood & ave. of pot's & veg's. Is going to

see into matter. Davis on leave. Field at Depot for time being.

Only half issue wood.

1 JUNE FRI Convoy out O.K. Shortage wood about 1500 lbs. Form of appl'n

Com. out for Hosking to fill in Good. Only single issue potatoes not as

promised by S.S.O. Also spoke him re forage averages. Johnny over every

day

2 SAT Convoy out All O.K. Averages & wood good. Strat's appln

for leave forwarded to S.S.O. Not applying myself. Beastly and

dusty today. Nothing exciting. Bit of firing on right left this morning

Smoked fish to come into issue. Tins (oil) etc chargeable @ 3 P.T. each

3 SUN

Convoy & issue O.K. Hear am to go shortly to Hdqrs A.M.D. A.S.C. O.C. ASC

this Div has been advised. Hosk'g getting his commission, Good.

 

June 1917

4 MON Convoy issue O.K. Pretty seedy myself. Rotten night. S.S.O note wr bills

marked short by me, as impossible to consider, Ret'd them to him. Alter when

shortage made up. Have to move camp about 500yds, 1 Dft Horses died  further from

Hosp'l.

5 TUES 1 Dft horse died last night. Greman lost, Spent night looking

for him. Found at daybreak, O.K. Was thrown off horse

Had to move camp again away from Hospital rotten job.

Did it yesterday

6 WED Quite comfortable, good dugouts & hope to stay here,

Strat. out this afternoon with Jupp & Short also one tent

will stick to bivvy, use tent for office.

7 THUR Issue O.K. also issue Strat's birthday. Got word we had

to move closer to Bde. Did so after tea. Saw O.C. A.S.C. who spoke

about way bills marked short, Fixed matter up, Now in a tent

8 FRI Strat. down to load convoy at 0400 Arrived here O.K. &

issued at 1130. Took Sack a/c to Bde. Total Debit 6986, are going

to ask for complete write off of amount. Agnew & White off fro 12^th.

9 SAT Convoy, camels & wagons out O.K. & issue completed. Bde

out on stunts. Hdqrs A.S.C. move today. Agnew to remain, White

to 3rd Bde Supply.

10 SUN Convoy & issue O.K.  Sent to Bde re P.west issue twice

weekly. All quiet.

 

June 1917

11 MON Just fancy. 29 today. 3rd Birthday in Egypt. Hope the last.

Nothing exciting. Great stunt round on left Gaza way at

2100. Lasted 3 hrs. Cannonade great. Convoy & issue O.K.

12 TUES Convoy & issue O.K. Rumour that Gaza taken last

night. Hope so. Expect to move again shortly. Pay today.

13 WED Convoy etc. all O.K. Nothing exciting. Bde failed

to get sacks cleared Have to render Unit a/ct's.

14 THUR All O.K. Took Sack a/cts to Bde for Units. Bde going 

on Stunt. Hosking's com. thro'. Great. Goes tomorrow

morning. Hear 5^th MD. leave this Div. Simpson comes place

Hosking.

15 FRI Hosking rept'd to Hqrs A.S.C. O.C. M.D. Was at 2^nd Bde Hqrs re 16770.9 Pty

of 2^nd Bde Train at A.S.C. Bk. Also saw Major S. & stayed to lunch. Expect to

go across 20^th. 6^th MD took over from 5^th MD. Back camp time tea.

16 SAT At Bag Bde from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Fearfully slow Hope procdg's

go through get clear sheet before Sellars comes. D.Horse from mob. Vet's

returned today. Good. S.S.O. back from leave. Field away today.

17 SUN Saw issue O.K. Weighed out meat to 4^th today. Do same to

all Units in future. Stops arguments. Everything else O.K. except potatoes a bit

light.

June 1917

18 MON Convoy & Issue O.K. Coles Butters from 3^rd Bde today to their

new jobs. My move comes last awaiting Sellars. Some Potatoes

bad today. Hear Jacko over. Not so frequent lately. Supposed to

have brought one of his down today.

19 TUES Convoy & Issue O.K. Role of batmen called for. To do

with man power scheme I suppose. Forage ration altered 6 Barley 6 grain

3 Divs 3 Hay, other same as before. Saw S.S.O. & asked for 2 extra Tib

lieu 1½ Hay. Funny chap. Does not understand us. Got it anyhow.

20 WED Convoy & Issue O.K. Major S. Capt Sellars & Young out. Sellars

to stay & take over. Stayed awhile then Major S. & Young left. Logan, Wayle,

Davis & Deverill to visit us, All O.K. Had walk & then to bed.

21 THUR Took Sellars to see G.O.C. & Staff. Said goodbye Fine lot.

Car from Col. Mac Arrived at Anzac ASC. 1600. Found Scott &

Roberts going on leave. Go out to D'Troops tomorrow.

Conference of S.O's about promotions.

22 FRI Up at 0400. Saw convoy loaded out & issue over, all

O.K. Only 6 Units, Fearfully slow. Not enough to do, for

my liking, Unions Light's horse. PS VII coming in. Plenty of

promotions coming off.

23 SAT

Out with convoy. Issue O.K. Pawsey & Hodgetts SfSgt's Fairly

hot & so slow.

24 SUN Gt excitement awaiting as to whether PR VII

comes in or not Hope it does.

June & July 1917

25 MON Rumours PR VII not coming into force. Rotten

luck for A.S.C. especially Major S. who ought to get

his Lt Coliy.

26 TUES Go on leave this afternoon. Train left at 1800 Rotten

journey. more alterations near establishment. I believe

Cancels our promotions.

27 WED Arrived Ketara 1900. Had breakfast caught 0915

train to Cairo. Arrived 1400. Very hot. Did some shopping

& to bed early.

28 THUR Bought clothes & ordered new suit. They know how to

charge. Kinsaal at night then bed. Saw Auditor Johnston

re 6 A.A.S.C. a/c. He is advising G.O.C. & Major Stansfield.

29 FRI Nothing exciting. Very Hot. Went to pictures.

30 SAT Did bit of shopping. Jewellers shop is closed with M's watch.

To Saw G. in motor with A. &  Siska for a'noon tea. Lovely outing.

1 JULY SUN Left Cairo 1100 for K'tara. Left K'tara 1800 for K. Y.

Rotten trip. No sleep all way. Too crowded and hot.

 

July 1917

2 MON Arrived back 0600. Feel rotten. Nothing doing. Div. move

out on 6^th. Supply Sectors on afternoon 5^th Very tired.

Take on Div. Troops supply.

3 TUES Out with Div. Troops. Convoy at 0500. Issue all O.k.

Parade of section with horses at 1500. O.K. Maunder out to S.N.

4 WED Out with convoy O.K. Move tomorrow with Sup

Section to S.N. Draw from that Depot first time.

following morning. Hear D^r Law is coming back

Notice in orders Dick died of wds. Awarded M.C. too. Oh. God. how many

more to go. Poor Mother & Father.

5 THUR

Moved out to W.S.N. Tomorrow. Only Supply Section of Hdqrs

Rest remain in @ K.Y. for present.

6 FRI Got a good place for camp. Clean & plenty of

breeze. Trenches all round it. Phil a Major.