Collection relating to the service of Fergus Robert Cox, 1915-1917 - Part 7

waste of waters to gaze on.

Most of the sea sick chaps were

quite well now, and the water

much smoother, but the tucker

was no where near as good as the

start.

=4^th= Nov

On the fourth we passed a

tramp ship, the first since

we left Australia, The sun-

shades were put up on the

upper decks, the heat being

like midsummer. We usually

fell in the morning for -

physical drill. and for the forenoon

and evening parades had

rifle exercises or Musketry instructions,

Boat drill with life belts

on sometimes, opp occupied the

evenings, as appointed by the

G.S. of Hawkes Bay.-

=5^th=Nov. & 6^th=Nov.

By special arrangements of

our Sergeant with the red +

officers our parades were changed

to first aid instructions and

practices, The instructors were of

full experience being returned with

wounded, they also told us what

to expect at our destination, and

gave a good description of what the

places were like; with the value

of coins and habits of dealers.

=7^th=Nov.=

Towards evening the sky clouded in

and at lights out it commenced

to rain, continueing all night.

=8^th Nov

It kept up drizzling rain all

day making it quite miserable

on the upper deck, this was the

first rain this month, t

=9^th Nov.

The sun shone out very bright

again, the atmosphere here was

much cooler since the rain.

It was decided to hold the

next day as a day of sports.

=10^th Nov

It turned out a beautiful day

and there was quite a stir

everywhere, the time being so

short for preparations. Several

very amusing events took place.

A large canvass tank was filled

with water above which (one rail)

was to be a pillow fight. This

bath was so tempting that a few

were tossed into it, then they

returned the joke on the first ones

they could catch hold of, within

an hour almost everybody had

been treated alike, includeing

N.C.Cs. and a couple of the ships

crew. About the most laughable

item of the day was an

obstical race. The way they

had to run was blocked with

rope intanglements and long

bags full of different colours through

which they could only crawl; it

was great fun to see the men go

in clean and come out the other

side. like a rainbow, all mixed

colours. There was a scratch

pull between of 10 men ^on a, side

The first prize was won by

the Victorians, two of whom

were so exhausted that they

fainted directly after victory. The

Queenslanders were second.

There was also a boxing Contest

Heavy Weight, only N.S.W. Entries

it was all their own

Middleweight = Welter weight

and light were won by

Queenslanders, There were a

couple of accidents during the

day. One a dislocated arm

and the other a dislocated wrist.

There were many other minor

events during the day but

I did not keep any record of them

=11^th Nov. 

It was the 7th of 11^th our Units turn for

duty, and what a game we had on 

There was a large heap of blankets

and hammocks to be washed and

the only way we had to do them

was put them under the shower

and tramp them, it was all salt

water so no soap was needed

I think we had a better bath than

the blankets had wash.

=12^th Nov

On the 12^th Nov we crossed the

equator, nobody acted as father

Neptune & there was no extra fun

or equator bath's such as generally is

aboard ships.

=16^th Nov

Nothing happened ^on the latter evening between the

12^th and the 16^th till the ship's

Crew gave a concert. which

passed a very pleasant night.

=17^th Nov

Early in the morning we

sighted land and by nine

o'clock we were turning round

Cape Gardafui. All were highly

delighted at being near land

once more as the waters were

becomeing very monotinous,

not seeing land since we

left Australia. Several natives

were out fishing in their canoes

but kept well away from our

ship. As we crossed into

the Gulf stream we noticed

a distinct line and different

colour in the water. They did

did  not mix one with the

other but seemed quite enemy's

The one rolled north while the

other came south. Our pleasure

was turned into sadness at

about 10-30 when the news went 

round of the death of one Mr

(Newport) of Victoria. Diseased was

suffering from Measles a few days

after he came aboard and with

it Developed Phemonia which was

the cause of death, Diseased was

buried at sea at about 3 o'clock in

the evening. Much sympathy

was felt for his dear wife they

were married just prior to his

departure.

=18^th Nov

We passed what is nicknamed

Hells Gates, It was very hot - no doubt

also passed the big rocks

commonly known as the twelve

Apostle's rocks

=19^th

A lengthy lecture was given

by the head doctor on the

sicknesses and disease of the foreign

states which we were likely

to be in

=20^th

Most of the troops were very busy

getting their kits together and

were watching their chances of getting

any equipment they were short of

not bothering about how the one

whose they took would share.

=21^th

Lieu Baker of N.S.W. had the misfortune

of falling down the steps, resulting

in injury to the back

We passed a good many ships

after we sighted africa being

then in the ordinary route.

=22^th

About 2 o'clock on the 22. we pulled

into Port Suez. the ships then

in port were, 4 troops 2 horse

transports and one Gun boat

our troops were again very

lively shouting to every little

Egyptian boat. which came

round.

=23^rd

When we got up in the morning

there were another two ships anchored

quite near to us, one was a hospital

ship the other the troopship A38 which

passed us at Melbourne, signallers

were out on all the boats talking to

each other. The Egyptians came

in little sailing boats alongside

our vessel, they had baskets with

ropes attached which they threw

up to us, by these we could

send money down for which

they would return either

postcards, magazines, papers

sweets, or cigarettes, We were

very anxious to see the latest war

news, but did not care for the

Egyptian Mail as it did not

have much of the Australians

doings, which we so longed

for. We had fine sport with

one little boat named (FREDA)

The occupants came requesting

clothing, by pointing to the

holes in their own. They spoke

very little English, several dongreys

garments. and a few pair of old sandshoes

were thrown down to them, they

showed pleasure when they received

anything by waveing their hands

Quite a number of pennys

were thrown down to them.

We soon found the flies had

found us out, their absence

being to me the cheif pleasure

of a life on the waters, in the

evening 4 nurses "came aboard"

from the hospital ship and we

gave them 3 cheers, they returned

after seeing round our boat.

=24^th

Everything was prepared for our

disembarkation, all ships goods

were counted and returned

at about 9 - so we lifted anchor

and pulled into the wharf.

The Piano purchased by the

Hawkes Bay Expeditionary forces

at Melbourne was presented to

the red+ for Hospital comforts

We got off the boat at 2 o'clock

each one carrying his kit to

the train which was about

50 yards opposite, we all got on

the train and started off for the Sea Town

The carriages were 3rd class. There were

some nice buildings and scenery

at the commencement of the journey

but it soon turned into

the sandy desert with a herd

of camels here & there and

broken only by an odd

native farm every few miles

which has to be artificially watered

'by trains' we were in sight

of the canal all the evening till

darkness cast off our view

It did not take long to discover

how pesting the Egyptians are

when selling goods not takeing

no for an answer, They conduct

their sales any where they can

come in contact with you &

carrying their goods in baskets

the general way of getting rid

of them is to give them a tap

with a cane or stick.

There were a few small Indian

guard parties camped near the

railway line. They would present

arms to us as we passed and it.

was peculiar to see the different

way they would return to the

order to which we do, returning

the rifle to the side in two motions

without first comeing to the

order slope. At nine o'clock

our train pulled into Sea Town  ZIE. Town

and glad we were to get out

and stretch our weary limbs

The Army Service had their

waggons waiting for our

kits, We had to wait for our

baggage to be emptied safely

from the train and then

marched to our Camp.

Aerodrome Camp Helipolis about

1½ miles from Sea Town, We had

to wait for our baggage to be

sorted again and were then

alloted to our tents, had tea

and were issued with blankets

we soon got to bed feeling very

tired, it was then one o'clock

in the morning but we made

=25^th Nov.

Prepared some Xmase mails.

up for it by sleeping in late.

Fresh L.H Troops have 48 hrs off.

the time which they are not

recognised for; The dry Biscuits

and corned beef, let you know

you are not recognised and do^nt need

to work. I had the fortune of

meeting one, (Joe Fisher) the first morning in

the 5 rfts of ^4^th who was very good

and gave our tent a loaf of

bread & a pound of butter and

some beef, this being a great

improvement on the former

In the morning everything

was fresh and we were makeing

ourselves at home, half of our

units. got passes and went to

Cairo ^ in the evening The other half had their

chances the following day, so

to put the evening in we went

round Heliopolis, We can go there

without passes.- Heliopolis is 

a fair size place with some

very large beautiful buildings

The hospital which was previously

the Palace Hotel is very large

and beautiful. It is fitted to

receive about fifteen hundred

patients.

=26^th Nov.

It was our turn for passes to

go out of bounds now, so

about noon we were on

our way to Cairo, Cairo is about

5 miles from Heliopolis, where

we catch our tram, The tram

fare's for this distance are ½ Piastre

There are nearly 5 Piastres to the 1/-.

We were soon in Cairo and

did not return till 9 o'clock.

Cairo is a very old time place

you see the ancient history

such as carrying pictures and poles

on their heads, Dress is very

similar to the old scripture pictures.

The Bazars are full of very ancient

curios. The streets are very narrow

and in want of proper sanitation.

Hotels all have some theatrical

amusement free, the amusements are

not the best but the actors are attractive

Drinks are very cheap also.

We returned home at night

very tired and wished next 

day was not duty, we have yet 

to see the Mosque & Pyramids

- 27 -

This was our commencement

of Duty in the new Land

Our first parade started

at 6.30 returning at 8 o'clock

it was a march across the

desert sands, The next parade

from. 10-10 to 12-30 was changed

to shifting to fresh tents two

rows forward, Saturday Evening

and Sunday are off.

We went on with our Traing

as usual with nothing to

make daily notes of now

=2 - Dec.

On the 2 Dec a friend -

Wallace Tench. came from

Nou-Adi a distant training

camp to see me, he is in

the A.M.C. .L.H. and came over

some few weeks previous so I

was suprized to see him he had

news of my comeing from

a cousin.

=5^th Oct Dec

On the 5^th Oct Dec we were. sent to

The Barricks to act as Police picquet

This was not quite in our line

to work with the Red Caps

but as our duty we have to do it

it way very quiet durying my

stay there which was only 8 days.

=13^th Dec.

Sickness of different kinds had

broken out with a few of our units

and this day two of us paraded sick

and were sent to the No 4 Aux-

Hospital Abbassia- with the mumps, we

were not ill long with them

but had to put in 5 weeks in

the Isolation, After I had

been in bed 4 days. I felt

quite well enough to get up