Diary of Frederick Trouton Small, 1915 - Part 12

186
July 5 MONDAY 1915
Hospital
187
1915 6 TUESDAY July
Hospital

188

July 7 WEDNESDAY 1915
Hospital
189
1915 8 THURSDAY July
Hospital

190 

July 9 Friday 1915 

191

1915 10 SATURDAY July
"Shirty" paid a surprise
visit at 10 a.m. to inform me
that he was “off”.  As far
as he knew they were
for Alexandria.
So am I “off”.  I p_^araded
before the Major with the
bandage on the good
knee and he passed me
for Alexandria.  We are
timed to leave at 6.30. am
am tomorrow.

192

July 11 Sunday 1915
Left the skating rink at
Luna Park at 6.30 am.
The motors took us to the
Cairo main station where
we caught the mail train 
for Alexandria.  At the 

latter place the motors met

us and took us to a
Convalescent Home at Ras-el-Tin.
This place is beautifully
situated on the road
leading to the beach
Needless to say we took
full advantage of the
bathing hour 5 pm to 6.30.

The evening was spent 
on the roof.  This roof 
has an area of about 2 acres
which and is perfectly
flat after the fashion of
all Egyptian buildings
193

1915  12 MONDAY July 

Paraded before doctor at Ras-el-Tin
Convalescent Hospital.  He
ordered the knee a rest. 
The food in this place is
a treat, by far the best I
have had since leaving
Australia.  That is, excepting
private houses & the Menu
enjoyed at the “Continental”
and “Shepherds”

S.S. KNIGHT TEMPLAR.
WINE CARD.
___________________________

___________________________
Date______  ____________Signature. 

J Spurdens
10 Barnston Rd
Aintree
Liverpool 

 238

August 26 THURSDAY 1915
Routine duties DORE office 

239

1915 27 FRIDAY August
Saw Col GC.E. Elliott again today
& it appears likely that I shall
be transferred from the RE's to
the 5^th Field Coy
The knee is slightly puffed from
desert walking but is not giving
any trouble & the physical strain
on it would not be any greater
at Gallipoli than here.
Met Sturdee Farquhar & Cutler
all seemed pleased at the prospect
of my rejoining them.  I admire
them all - each has "guts" &
is always there.
Elliott said he was sorry I
did not get some recognition for
throwing up the wire entanglements
in front of the battery on
the right flank during the first
days of the landing.  I had
almost forgotten the incident but
"Pompey" has the reputation for
remembering detail.  Anyway the
party (Lloyd Baillie & self) was
in charge of. Lt. Fred Savage

240
August 28 SATURDAY 1915
Did the rounds of the Camps
to day including the rifle range
Had a ride out to the range
just about dusk on one of the
3 L.H horses.  If I am not sore
in the morning it is not the
horses fault or Thornes either
However I enjoyed it.
241
1915 29 Sunday 1915
Went to the Aerodrome Camp &
found Norm none too well.
Mum & Crubby managed to
dose him up so he should be
A.1. in the morning  I have
great faith in "Wormie" as a
quack.
My affairs with the DORE at
last seem definitely settled
I've been cursing my ride of
yesterday evening somewhat &
have been busy doctoring skinned
knees etc. 

242
August 30 MONDAY 1915
Completed my term with Mr Hartnoll
Most of the day was spent in
fixing up odd jobs
I am sorry to leave Lt Hartnoll
he has been more than kind to
me & I know it would not
have been long before I was
more comfortably settled
Still my place is at the front
& I am sorry my place here is not
to be taken over by some of the
slightly wounded instead of an
able bodied man. 

243
1915 31 TUESDAY August 
Left the race course camp at 8 am
to take up new duties in the 5^th
Field Coy Divisional Engrs. 2^nd
Aust. Div. 

244
September 1 WEDNESDAY 1915
July 1^st
Went to the Army Hd Qrs to see
Major Russell re loop-hole. He seemed
very impressed with the work we
were doing. I afterwards went to
the Aust Int. Base & inquired for
Allen McKinlay & discovered he
was at No 17 General Hospital
Alexandria suffering from Rheumatic
Fever.  Managed to get £2 from
the pay office.
Met Shirty at 2  30 pm & got a car
to the Pyramids.  Went all around
the neighbourhood, arriving back
home at 5.30.
At 6 pm Mrs Bailie took us ^(N McGill & self, to
her flat for dinner.  Here we spent
a most enjoyable evening
245
1915 2 THURSDAY September 
Elliott, Sturdee Farquhar Cutler
have certainly made me feel
I'm wanted & I've been told
to "step in & take a grip of
things"
Apparently I'm to be an NCO of
some sort- probably corporal.
although I'm attached to the
Q.M.S. who is drunk at a
most inopportune time.