Mixed papers relating to the service of James William Albert Simpson - Part 3

38
sand-drifts in the valleys. There
is still not the slightest sign
of vegetation or habitation.
Mt Sinai is on our East
and high mountains are on
the West but they are just
great masses of rock and
sand. The next time I write
in this will probably be on

shore - if we stay at Egypt.
Suez Canal
29.1.15
There are so many events of interest
that I thought it best to relate
them before we landed. We arrived
at Suez at daylight yesterday. Here
a scene of wonder awaited us.
The harbour was full of vessels.
We were ordered to stand by
indefinitely. There had been
39
fighting close by and the canal
was closed for the time. We landed
all the New Zealanders here to join
their mates of the 1^st Contingent. Our
ships have been protected by
sand-bags — There is a chance
of being snapped at by Rifle
fire as we pass through
the Canal. We left Suez this
morning at eight o'clock. Each
steamer has taken on a French
pilot. We steamed right along
the chief street of Suez. There
were crowds of Sudanese, Arabs,
French and English to give us a
cheer — "We saw some ladies"!
All along the canal are
trenches and in them are
Ghurkas, Sikhs, Sudanese
and New Zealanders. They cheer
 

40
our men as we pass and ask us
where we are going. On both sides
of the canal as far as one can
see is sand, sand, sand
and still sand. The trenches
that the troops occupy are dug
in the banks of the Canal. I
am tipping we shall be on
the job later on. We have
passed several gun-boats
patrolling the canal. The
Ghurkas are wonderful little
fellows with their short pants
woollen coats and woollen caps.
The nights here are cold. In
fact the climate is similar
to that of Albury in Spring time.
The colouring at sunrise and
sunset is indescribable. I
am sending some post-cards of
41
the Canal and the town
of Suez,
Sands of Egypt.
Heliopolis 3.2.14
It is a long while since an entry was
made in this book but work was at high
pressure and all our boxes were packed.
I cannot possibly describe in the
next few pages all wes saw between
Suez and Cairo but must live in
hope of recounting it to you some
day in the future. In the evening
of 29.1.15 the fleet anchored off
Ismalia in the Suez Canal. Here
we saw all preparations for war —
Camels-corps, cavalry, English
Territorials Indian Troops, and last
but not least some of our own
Australian troops — Tasmanians
and West Australians. There were
 

42
aeroplanes circling over the plains
as well, and a large British
Cruiser had all her guns trained
on shore You will have seen by
the papers of the fighting at
Cantarra — we were anchored
ten miles from it on that night
and the next morning we
passed through the town. In
the evening of the 30^th we anchored
in Port Said. Here we saw
the most wierd sights imaginable
The boat was anchored
seemingly in the heart of the
town — There were all
nationalities along the streets. We
were not on shore at any
of these places. On We steamed
out of Port Said at midnight
and the next morning found
43
us in the Mediterranean. At 4
o'clock we sailed into the
tremendous harbour of
Alexandria. I was on duty
that day and had a good
time trying to keep away
the Arabs from the boats.
They sell adulterated whisky
fruit, cigarettes etc and
they are the biggest thieves
on the earth. The only way
to deal with them is with
the aid of boot. We stayed on
board ship for one night
in Alexandria then we
disembarked on 31^st January.
The train picked us up beside
the wharf and we went on
to Heliopolis that night. As
we did not move from
 

44
Alexandria till four o'clock
we were at a disadvantage
as most of our travelling was
in the dark. We saw enough
of the Nile to demonstrate to
us how fertile it is. Miles
and miles of gardens on
each side of the line. We
pulled up at a little siding
outside Cairo and detrained
at 9 p.m. After a march
through sand we arrived
at Camp at about 9 10.
After getting the men settled
for the night I turned
in myself with the thought
in my mind of Australia
ad all those left behind.
When we awoke next
morning we found
45
ourselves encamped in a
sea of sand. A number
of the first contingent are
here but many are
15 miles away at xMena.
As I meant this to be
a diary of the journey
only I shall conclude
with these few pages
and tomorrow I shall
commence a new one
of our stay on land.
 

Numbers - see original document
Tables - see original document

2
Arrived in Albany 10/5/16 on
board H.M.A.T. Marathon — met the
Hororata with the 34^th on board
leaving. Put two cases of dip off
also one septic leg case and
one meningitis. The weather is
very bad outside.
Left Albany 13/5/16. Innoculated
at sea 16/5/16.
On Wednesday evening 17/5/16 sailing
orders for Colombo were cancelled.
The transport is returning to
Fremantle for coal then reporting
at Capetown for orders.
Sunday evening May 21^st just
arriving Fremantle after 
eight days pleasure cruise.
Two days in Fremantle — went
shore to Oval with troops. Pte
Leahy dies of septic pneumonia.
Left Fremantle 23/5/16 en
route for South Africa. Innoculated
2^nd June at sea 24/5/16.
3.6.16 Sport's Meeting held at
 

3
sea — most successful day.
6.6.16 Received news that the
British fleet had engaged the
German fleet off the Danish
coast — greatest naval fight
since Trafalgar. Saw a
British steamer — first signs
of commerce since leaving
Fremantle. Expect to reach
Durban tomorrow. 7.6.16.
Reached Durban noon 8.6.16. It
was grand to gaze on land once
more. In the afternoon I had
charge of the battalion and
escorted by a guide — we marched
through the main streets, along
the beach esplanade to
the Park. First of impressions
of the town and its buildings
were very fine. In the
evening dined ashore — 
9/6/16. Hired a car along with
Major White Capt Templeter
and Lieut Douglas and drove

4
40 miles through the country around
Durban. We visited the farm of
Mr Fisher and saw bananas
pineapples and tomatoes in
the fields. We dined at the
Royal Hotel and returned to
the troopship. In the afternoon
visited the Armidale Castle which
was carrying reinforcements
to East Africa. In the
evening with the three Fishers
and Doc Rosenthal dined at
Hotel Edward then went to
theatre and saw "On Trial".
10/6/16 Left Durban at 8 a.m.
and pitched at once into a
very rough wind sea.
12.6.16 Arrived at Capetown
and joined other Australian
transports. Table Mountain
is a very fine sight.
13.6.16. Went ashore with Doc.
Drove to Cecil Rhodes home
at the base of Table Mountain
 

5
On the journey out passed the
Union Parliament Houses, also
Rudyard Kipling's home. On
return to town dined at Civil
Service Club with General
Jolson, Colonel Morsehead and
the B.M. After dinner went
to see The Ware Base.
played by the Ethel Irving
Company.
14.6.16. Went for a route
march with the troops to
the presidential portion of
Capetown.
16.6.16  Left Capetown in
convoy escorted by H.M.S.
Kent. Ships in the Convoy
1 Beltana 2 Benalla
(3) Marathon (4) Argyleshire.
19.6.16  Officer of the Day. Fire Alarm
at 21.30.
20.6.16  Fine day getting warmer
Marathon dropped back in the
Convoy.

6
6/16  24/6/16 Crossed the line
Captain Finklater carried out
most effectively the duties of
Neptune. Lieut Coombes [[?]]
Neptune. Algey & Longly
barbers. Sgt Marsden
Doctor. The whole show
was a huge success.
Crossed the line again at night
26/6/16  Captain of the Day
everything O.K. Cruiser
Kent  came alongside at
17.30 Warned as President
of Court Martial
27/6/16  Vaccinated
28/6/16  Court Martial of Pte
Sylgoth & Coy and Peter
Miller Machine Guns Section
Sylgoth 29 days detention
recommended for Mercy 24 dys
Miller 112 days detention
29/6/16. Entered Dakar Harbour
31/6/16  Left Dakar under escort
of H.M.S. Swiftsure