Diary of Frederick Phillimore Howell-Price, 1918 - Part 2
MARCH 1918
MONDAY 25
Saw Gen T. at 1030. Told
him about result of trip,
also that had been to
Wilhelma. Told me to go &
see Yeomn'y at Beit Rima
soon as possible. Raining
hard, Roads too bad Go when
they dry up. Have not heard
from Colonel. Must ring
up Ausdiv Train see if
they have any news.
Mack. wants get rid of
driver. Will give him to
Leonard
MARCH 1918
TUESDAY 26
Doing Office work nearly
all day. Let all men go
to a local wedding after
getting permission from
Gen. Trew. "Sourface" who used
to live in this house. Out
to D.D.M.S. for dinner. Very
nice. Leggett went to Pt Said
today. Had Errol over to
lunch to break monotony.
D.A.G. wiring reference
"A" class men to expedite
their despatch. Units
awaiting receipt of "B"
class, before can do so.
MARCH 1918
WEDNESDAY 27
Wire from O.C. 6th Rep. Unit
arrived Ramleh 1400 26th
Over to see him. Doing O.K.
Ordered in 1175 & 1255
tomorrow morning early.
Two ambulances finished
and issued from Ludd.
Drivers absolutely new and of
no use. Conference at 1600.
Nothing very exciting. We
lose Aus. & anz. & get I.C.C. &
53rd Div. Rotten I call it but
cannot be helped. Gen Trew
rang up ask after Col S.
Going to see Yeomn'ys reg't in
hills tomorrow. Letter from
A.D.T. saying British personnel
would be sent when Native
artificers not available.
MARCH 1918
THURSDAY 28
Left at 0800 and caught
transport drawing rations
five miles. this side of Beit
Ello, so inspected them there,
In fair condition. Require
Some new parts. Back to
lunch. Road metalled &
lorries use it, but very
rough. Made by 10th Div'n.
Met Carter there. His Div
in that area. Out to Dinner
No 3 mess. Very nice. Bidder
down reference his new
establishment. Always
changing Auth'y for same to
hand Troops all around
Amman on 27th @ 1630. Expect
nearly all over now and
railway done for. Hope so.
Still hard fighting in France.
We must win but at what
cost. Col. Badcock rang up
tell me to attend conference
tomorrow at 1100.
MARCH 1918
FRIDAY 29
Question from Ausdiv
Train reference 4 Ordnance
wagons. Always a trouble.
Quoted G.R.O. to them. ref
same. Gen. Trew agrees that
require understudy. Asked
Ausdiv Train for Walker, will
be here on Tuesday. Conference
at G.H.Q. A.D.T. in chair. Waste
of time. Nothing of importance.
Across to Jaffa in afternoon.
All well there. Depot will be
ready for us. Wrote to J.O
and Col. S. then to bed.
Raining still.
Took over tin new ration
for Errol to get different
weights of.
MARCH 1918
SATURDAY 30
Out to Wilhelma per
horse see what roads like
after rain. Pretty slippery
but not too bad, Very bad
near Ludd. Back through
Kefr Ana & Safariyeh. Norrish
nearly got lost in boggy
wadi. Home about 1430.
Col. Downes down to try &
borrow car. His to go to
No 6 work shop for repairs.
L.C. 453 & 492 finished Doing
well. Pitfield to go to
Port Said on 3rd on leave
Ausdiv start move Selmeh
on 1st. Yeodiv move back to
Gaza on 2nd. also 7th Mtd Bde
Roberts arriving tonight ref
some rations or other.
Sending car for him. Hear
Yeodiv to be disbanded
MARCH 1918
SUNDAY 31
Roberts arrived last night.
Stayed all today Caught
1600 train back to Belah.
Troops out Amman way
getting it in the neck so I
heard. Rotten luck. Nothing
fresh from France. Leggett
says Colonel getting on first
rate. Nothing much doing
here. Ausdiv move tomorrow
Come under 21st Corps on
arrival at Selmeh. Don't
know what this Corps is
going to do. Over to workshops
today. All well. Easter Day.
Wonder what all in Aust
are doing.
APRIL 1918
MONDAY 1
Gen. Trew sent me off to
Medjel YGaza today to see
if supplies were O.K. for
various moves. Alright.
Had lunch at Gaza. Saw
lot of Ausdiv Train chaps.
Back here by 1700. Road
pretty good. Out to No 7
L.C Patrol to dinner. Very
nice. Could not get Gen T.
on 'phone. Our people
coming back from Amman
Could not take the place.
Supply question very difficult.
No word from Col. Stansfield.
Mail from Home yesterday.
Lovely to receive.
Ausdiv at Gaza
Yeodiv at D. Seneid
APRIL 1918
TUESDAY 2
Gen. T. rang up. Pleasd that
all is O.K. down the line.
Localites getting Town Hall
again for some shivoo in
connection with Passover.
Get treated far too well.
Rumour that Haig has
resigned. Not surprised.
Things look bit better in France
Rode across to workshops
after lunch. All O.K. Not
enough to keep No 6 busy
at present, with the Divisions
away. Wrote Home tonight.
Ausdiv at Mejdel today
Yeodiv ,, Belah.
APRIL 1918
Ausdiv at Sukerier today.
WEDNESDAY 3
Out with D.A.Q.M.G. Ausdiv
Show him road direct to
Yazur. Also out to Sarona
Depot Roads all O.K. at
present. Back to lunch
Conference at 0600. Nothing
extra. Yeodiv (9 Rgts) leave
for France on 7th & 8th.
Lucky beggars Also 52 &
74th Divn's. Getting lot of
Indian Cavalry to take place
of Yeomanry. "W" Corps
Signals got all their cars
now. 0835 reported here
today. Will give to Ausdiv
tomorrow. Seem to be
improving in France.
Country round Amman said
to be fearful. Too steep for
horses. Anzacs now back at
the Jordan. Jewish concert
tonight. Having a recruiting
meeting tomorrow. Marched thro'
village singing tonight
APRIL 1918
THURSDAY 4
Ausdiv arrived Deiran
today. Out to watch the
Train arrive. Looked well,
and beautiful day. Had
Maunder & two of the others
to afternoon tea, & went
afterwards to dinner with
them. Very nice. Walker
reported today to assist
during absence of Col. in
Hospital. Col. D going down
today. Will let me know on
Sunday how Col. S. is
getting on. Jews having
great time of it, recruiting
for the war today. All
talk & noise I think.
Yeodiv (9 rgts) embark
for France on 7th & 8th.
No time wasted.
2nd Cty Lond at Sherkiyeh
3rd " " at Gaza
APRIL 1918
FRIDAY 5
Ausdiv moved out
this morning for Selmeh.
Up to Sarona Depot by car
See all O.K. for 21st Corps to
take them over. Rations
pretty fair Dickenson down
for lunch & dinner. Caught
1936 train to Kantara. Gen T.
wanted see me, but he has
been out all the afternoon.
Wire asking for Muir to go to
Moascar for Loveridge who
has evidently arrived. He
does not want to, & I want him.
Have wired Colonel re posting
of Officers. Letter from latter
today. Doing alright evidently.
From A.D.T. giving list of
officers to be replaced by
"B" class as available from
England. Letter to O'sC Trains
(Anzac & Austdiv) ref. procedure
getting up Officers & O. Ranks.
APRIL 1918
SATURDAY 6
Saw Gen. Trew reference
underdrawing of rations
by Units. He states must take
it all, Indian Hay included.
Over to w'shop & 295. Told
Errol issue 2 days S.E.R. to
Staff. Yeomn'y. Wired Ausdiv
to do same their Division.
Posting of officers through
L. to O.C. D. to S.S.O. Dicky. S.S.O.
Ausdiv. Light to rel. Kaye.
Copies of letter to O.C. Anz Tn
Ausd Tn & A.A.S.C. Tng. Depot.
Muir wrote W.B.L. saying
he would like to stay.
Letters from Home, Mab. & Col S.
APRIL 1918
SUNDAY 7
Plenty of screed from A.D.T.
today. Sunbeam broke down
near 295. Into workshop.
Out in about a day. Wrote
workshops stating no cars
to be touched without authority
this office giving exceptions.
Rode across to them today,
Ausdiv & L.A.C.B. with cars
in. No notification. Will
take up with D.A.&.Q.M.G. Col. D.
not back today. Nothing
doing all afternoon. Very
quiet. Went for walk then
dinner. Number Boards in
for D.V.'s to be issued. Some
of Units have left the country.
See Gen. T. re same in morning.
APRIL 1918
MONDAY 8
Saw Gen. T. this morning.
D.V's for Units leaving to
be issued as usual and
forwarded through G.O.C.
Also District. Burrows over
with templates etc for
wagons axles and wheels.
Good idea. Across to Ludd.
Show Walker round this
afternoon. First time he
has seen it. Saw captured
Austrian airman go past
today. His machine was
brought down. Wrote Ausdiv
ref cars going into shops
without authority. Photo
of Maunder just to hand.
Freeman arrived back
today. Brought note from
Colonel. Doing O.K.
APRIL 1918
TUESDAY 9
Saw Col. D. this morning.
Old man doing well, but
be about six weeks yet
before he gets out. Loveridge
arriving here today. Came O.K.
Looks about the same. Not
much better. Waits for Col.
to arrive tomorrow before
going on. Sent out to Trains
instructing them to try
Natives at long rein driving.
Sent out bring in Col. Corder's
car from Masuriyeh. The Col.
walked in. Looked hot and
tired Poor beggar. Loveridge
not much to say ref Aust but
that good place to be away from.
Wrote Anzac Hqrs. ref D.C. order
re M.T. vehicles to shops. Are
a bally nuisance
APRIL 1918
WEDNESDAY 10
Loveridge up to see G.O.C.
and away to Jericho after
lunch in box car. Wesley
in to see about a transfer
to the Artillery. Three "A" class
officers to be replaced 2 for
Yeodiv 1 for 7th Mtd Bde, also
two for Yeodiv replace those
already taken. Took L. over
see Ludd Depot. Conference
at "Q". Nothing exciting.
Gen. T. told me had better
go down and see the Col.
Probably go on Friday night.
Miss meeting the Nurses at
afternoon tea Jaffa Depot
Can't be helped. Not expected
to move from this place
for at least another 6 weeks.
APRIL 1918
THURSDAY 11
Dickenson arrived
today from Cairo.
Wanted to report to
Anzac train, handover
to Dr. Law. Everything
fairly quiet.
APRIL 1918
FRIDAY 12
Up to see Gen. T. re new ration
also re Nat. H.T. being replaced
when untrained. Over to G.H.Q.
D.S.T. conference at 1100. Losing
one of the Mobile W'shops to go
to Ludd. Butler's to lunch. Up
to Ausdiv after. Took templates
along. Will ask for 1 set per
Div. Train. Caught 1936 train
to Kantara to see Col. @ Pt. Said.
Taking up matter of training
natives of Amblces with DTC
Trains. Dickinson away
for Jericho hand over Dr Law.
APRIL 1918
SATURDAY 13
Caught 0800 Goods Train to
Pt Said. Long dirty trip. Had
bosker bath at Casino Hotel.
After lunch across to see
Col. He has now been up
three days. Looks rather bad
but says feels O.K. Stayed
with him until 1600 then
caught boat back & did
bit of shopping. Train
left at 1830 Arrived K'tara
had tea Mrs C's. Waited for
Cairo train went over in
lorry. C. in C. down in
same train. Got good bunk.
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