Diary of Frederick Phillimore Howell-Price, 1918 - Part 1
MARCH 1918
WEDNESDAY 6
Water off all today again.
Rotten. Office nearly all
day. Fair amount to do.
also wrote Home and to Mab.
Col. bit wild because Anzacs
want to transfer men to
A.A.S.C. and use them as
M.T. Drivers. Out for walk
about 3 miles before tea. Felt
better after it. Plan of move
for A. &. N.Z. Div. in tonight.
Looks like another good
stunt for them. Would like
to be with Train through it all.
Gen Trew & Col. going into it
tonight.
MARCH 1918
THURSDAY 7
Worked out necessary
camels for A.& N.Z. Div.
Col. P. & Gen T. down this
afternoon to arrange
matters. Decided to do with
a lot less. Over to Ramleh
w/shop, afterwards to
Jaffa. Saw Herridge @ Depot
then to Ordnance Shops
to look round. Wonderful
the amount of work they
are doing. Col. Ludd was
there. Seems decent sort
of chap. It was very
interesting. Back to
lunch about 2.30 p.m. For
a walk before dinner.
Col. just been informed
that Aust. Gov't have made
him Capt & Brevet Major.
Good for him.
MARCH 1918
FRIDAY 8
Over to workshop this
morning. Gen T. car to
workshop. Broken cylinder
Keeping Norton going. Expect
to have three more vans
out in a few days.
Trouble with Hardy and
Grantham. Must sit on them
Inspection of Anzac Train
this afternoon. Went round
wagons with I.O.M Lt
Burrows. Not a bad show.
Took long time to go right
through. Hands very sore,
Learnt a bit, but it is
all only common sense.
MARCH 1918
SATURDAY 9
Sent letter to O.C. 6th w/shop
to move to Ramleh on 21st
Letter from A.D.T. ref economy
in tyres. In orders.
Inserting in D.C.RO's ref. ret'n
of A.S.C. Personnel to come
through Trains.
Brought Hardy across
to lunch and then out
to inspect the cars of
Anzac Hdqrs. All in pretty
good condition, awaiting
report from Hardy re
same. Dickenson in
about 2100 to see Col. re
move of Division. He &
Col. go Jerusalem tomorrow.
Noble copying roads onto
maps for this office.
MARCH 1918
SUNDAY 10
Col & Dickenson away
about 0630. Spent morning
in office. Scott away with
them. Miss him as it is
weekly return day. Feel
pretty rotten. Cannot make
it out, but do not feel like
myself lately. Col. back
about 2.30. Had a good
trip. Things not to his
liking up there, but
cannot interfere. Word
that Dr Law coming
back tomorrow
MARCH 1918
MONDAY 11
Over to w'shop. All
going well. Gen. Trew's
car to be finished
on 13th. Hard to get spares
Col's car to go in on
Thursday for new Piston
rings. Wesley arrived
in charge of concert
party. Are putting
him up. Dr Law & D'son
in to afternoon tea.
Concert tonight Going
to A.D.T. check M.T cards
So must run through
them tonight.
MARCH 1918
TUESDAY 12
Over to A.D.T.'s office.
Nearly all cards OK.
Few to be got and some
to return. Back for
lunch Wesley to
G.O.C's for lunch. G.H.Q.
very comfortable. Enough
staff to eat the place
up. Arranged N.Z Sig. Tp.
to send in M cycles to
Ludd for overhaul as to
fitness for roads. Also
Anzac Sig's to send in for
cycle to replace L.B.492
MARCH 1918
WEDNESDAY 13
Office all morning. Rotten
cold. Over to see about
Gen T's car after lunch.
Got it out at 1500. Found
Coates had gone in a Ford.
Dr Law & B'bent in on
way through to Jerusalem.
Most of train also went
past. Would like to be
with them. Better outside.
To concert at night. Very
good. Letter from G.S.
stating L.A.C.B. to be G.H.Q.
troops from 13/3/18. I.C.C.
Bde passed through today
on way out.
MARCH 1918
THURSDAY 14
Over to M.T. Dep. Ludd ask
about Wolseley spares
Took Jarvis & Box Car.
None on hand. To w'shop.
Got fitter & tools. Col &
Col. Downes also out.
Got to operating Amb, found
lorry ready to have Fitter
fixed up to tow to 347 Coy
@ Latrun. Saw O.C. 347 Coy.
Arranged car to stay there.
Hardy to go over this afternoon
& find out what is
wrong. Wesley away by
1600 train. Concert a great
success, Wrote D.S.T re L.A.C.B.
if still responsible as they
will be G.H.Q. troops
MARCH 1918
FRIDAY 15
Office & odd jobs during
morning. Out with Col.
at 1200 to Sukereir to
see Yeodiv Train. Arrived
there and Col. decided
to inspect same Did so.
Animals & harness fair
wagons also fair except
for want of washers
Arranged inspect 1st Line
on Monday at 1330. also
all M.T. vehicles. Will
take Hardy along also
Grantham. Wired Ausdiv
arrange inspection 1st
Line and Train for 20th.
Capt Riley arrived take over
2 & 3 Bty w/shops lieu Robinson
to D.I.M.S. G.H.Q. Robinson
to Hospital on 10th. Only arrived
today. L.A.C.B. to send for
Riley tomorrow.
Maunder arrived about 2359
MARCH 1918
SATURDAY 16
Started out with Col. & M.
to go over Beit Ello road
but only got half way to
Latrun. Rain came down
in buckets so turned back.
Checked over returns 1st Line
with D.A.D.R. for horses etc.
Found he agreed with us
in all figures. Getting
copies from him, then
sending on to Gen Trew.
Letter from 'Q'. re sacks to all
Divisions. Sent copy to O.C.
trains. Dance to girls
of village tonight. Went but
did not dance Only few of
them can do so. Rather
funny. Had a good laugh.
MARCH 1918
SUNDAY 17
Rather tired after last
night. Returns all checked
and away. Maunder
away by 1600 train. Miss
them when they go. Left
word for Hardy to come to
lunch tomorrow & then
on to inspection of
Yeodiv. cars and Ambulances.
Sending letter D.A.T. showing
distb'n "B" class men to
various Units. Mayo
to Hospital.
MARCH 1918
MONDAY 18
Office all morning. Hardy
& Grantham to lunch then
left to try & get to Yeodiv.
Hard going across Yebna flat
Wadi full, got car on to railway
bridge & over. Took Hardy
on. Arrived after muddy trip.
& sticking a few times.
Hardy did some of the M.T.
Landon did D.H.Q. & 22nd Mtd,
Col. & I. 6th & 8th Mtd. Bdes.
Transport rotten. Wheels
rotten & harness requires
attention. Washers badly
needed. Back easily using
bridge again. Only got out
twice. Fairly tired. To bed
early Leave tomorrow
for Belah do Ausdiv. then
Gaza for 7th Mtd.
MARCH 1918
TUESDAY 19
'Phoned 7th Mtd ref
inspection 1st Line & Train
Transport tomorrow at 1600.
Col. 'phoned Maunder that
we would be down. Wire
for Grantham report to
Ludd M.T. Depot Constable
reporting to take his place
Hard on the former. Did
so just before we left to
catch train Rotten trip
Arrived Belah. When Col.
mounting his horse it
reared striking his head
knocking him off. He fell
and wrenched his knee
Had to go to bed at once.
MARCH 1918
WEDNESDAY 20
Col.'s knee very swollen
cannot move today.
With Maunder, inspected
1st Line of Div. Found
it badly in need of
attention. Did the Train
after lunch. Very good
Require washers badly.
Norton did all the M.T
Then on to Shaluf & 7th
Mtd Bde. Harris assisted
me there. Train pretty
fair, but 1st Line in a
very bad state as far
as wagons concerned.
Caught 1840 train from
Gaza arriving back at 1100
Very tired Had some tea
& glad of bed
MARCH 1918
THURSDAY 21
Sent Pitfield & Freeman
away at 0700. Arrived
Belah about 1100. Expect
Col. back about 1700. Hope
his knee is much better.
Got report up to Gen.Trew
by 1000. Good deal of
office work to clear up.
Duke of Connaught at
Hdqrs for lunch today.
Band & great turnout.
Col. got back about 1630.
Feeling pretty bad Leggett
to see him about 1815.
Said he must go to Hosp'l
for about 10 days. To catch
Hospital Train in the
morning. Told Gen. T. Said
he was very sorry.
MARCH 1918
FRIDAY 22
Col. missed Hospital train.
Leggett sent down notice
too late. Just got to Station
time to see the show away.
Sending to D.A. & Q.M.G. for
ruling reference the
7th Mtd Bde Establishment
G.S. asking for Vauxhall lieu
S/beam. A.D.T. says no hope
but can do a Ford if they
like. Norrish back from
Jerusalem trip. Says it
is no good. Only one day
there out of five. Noble
& Lord could not get a horse
so no one for next party. All
refused Port Said leave.
Col. had quite a stream
of visitors. G.O.C. down
about 1830. Col. Farr & Major
Bisdee down after dinner.
MARCH 1918
SATURDAY 23
Col. away by Hosp'l train
today. Saw Gen. T. re Petrol
consumption returns. Told
me to look at Wilhelma
Station, as probably be
based on there. Also that
Ausdiv and Yeodiv moving
up shortly from down the
line. One to draw from
Sarova Depot Other probably,
from Jaffa. Went to Wilh',
then across country to
Jaffa. Saw Herridge & had a
look at Sarova Depot Getting
ready for the two Divs. back
at Deiran 1600. Major Carter’s
brother here looking for
him. Letter from D.S.T. reference
proposal to add 3 Off 18 ORks
& 50 E L.C. to each Division
for railhead & convoy purposes.
Wholly agree. Leave for
Jerusalem at 0600 tomorrow
See how Anzacs are doing.
MARCH 1918
SUNDAY 24
Left with Mackenzie 7th
L.C. Patrol at 0600. Had
great trip to Jerusalem.
Just under two hours.
Straight on for Jericho. Met
Train at Talat Ed Dumm just
loading up to move to J. All
going well with them Rations
fair. Went on to Jordan.
Infantry putting up bridges.
River deep & running hard.
Crossed to other side say I
have been over. Had look at
Monastry of Temptation on
Side of Hill. Wonderful
place to put a building.
Very hot climb Lunch with
Train. Left for here at 1515.
Took Dickenson to Jerusalem.
Back at 1930. Road is good
surface but fearful gradients.
did the car brake in, came
home without using reverse
as such. Put in few hours
in office. Rained some on way
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