Diary of Frederick Trouton Small, 1915 - Part 4

26
January 26 TUESDAY 1915

Heard the booming of guns during

the night & today that

5 were wounded - effects of 

shrapnel.
27
1915 27 WEDNESDAY January

Our pontoon bridge is progressing

excellently. It was coupled up, or

rather boomed out, &  linked  in several

ways & is in every way satisfactory 

Queensland is at present building a
skew bridge at Kantara over the sweet

water Canal.

28
January 28 THURSDAY 1915

Started on the files & got the water

file completed by 11.15. pm. These

hours are too long: only for the fact 

that its war time we I would 

probably squeak

Captain Russell got his majority. 
29

1915 29 FRIDAY January

In the office I started on the "material 

for defence file" to day & got it into shape.

The guns still boom out & from what 

I hear we are to let them come right on 

till the main body arrives & then make 

one job of it for if we start on these 

"advance guards" it will discourage them

& perhaps stop the main advance.

In one engagement they brought in 

an Egyptian who was serving in the 

Military College in Turkey. At first when 

questioned he would not speak but

subsequently gave a great of valuable information

When asked why he made war he did "not

know - its "Kismet". He was a first year

student in the Military college & was made an 

N.C.O. by the Germans & promised a Commission

later on. He told the Army Authorities at

Kantara the strength, composition, and

movements of the invading army.

Chas Hudson came in from Kantara today

He said Norm & Durack were having an 

interesting time. Dury was directing the line

ofo the whole battery & when the Swiftsure 

starts he will direct their fire as well.

They take their observations from the large 

stone building at Kantara. This is sure to 

be a target for the Enemy & they will be the 

centre of the fun. I wish I was with them

30
January 30 SATURDAY 1915

Hudson left for Kantara again. Wish I 

were with him. Spent a deal of time

today writing letters etc. My poor friends

have been sadly neglected lately I must

really try & get some more writing done.
31

1915 31 Sunday January

A very heavy day. Decembers Balance had 

to be got away as well as a lot of weighty

correspondence. I missed my lunch & 

had dinner at 9 30 p.m. Another of 

the misfortunes of war. My fine

officer Major Russell makes these things

easy to bear

I still detest office work. I remember 

in 1905 being in Goldsbrough Mort for 

11 months. I hated office work then - I

hate it now but will do my best to

make things easy for the Major & 

run the office systematically.

32
February 1 MONDAY 1915

Great deal of shooting going &: we could plainly 

the shells bursting quite close to the lake It came out

in "Orders" that there was a general engagement.

Our Company got marching orders this 

morning and manned the "front bridge"

which, by the way had scattered all

over the lake owing to the rough water

by afternoon it had freshened considerably 

& Clogie, who was frightfully sea sick,

& others ship wrecked mariners had considerable 

difficulty in being rescued.

Spent most of the day running about getting

guncotton nines flares etc sent away

to the scene of action

At night NZ patrol reported that the 

telegraph lines had been cut so after uniting

the ends I reported to the ESR & T while they 

went to H.Q. I thought I had struck something 

great but it afterwards transpired that

the heavy winds had done the damage 
33

1915 2 TUESDAY  February

An unusual reveillé this morning - the noise

from the guns. It was great to see the red 

burst of the shrapnel & to hear the gun boats 

broadside.

Things livened considerably during the day &

our Merchantman "Hardinge" had a fine gap in her

funnel.  The unfortunate pilot had his leg blown

away & his arm shattered. We heard that Kantara 

had killed 43 and captured 50 without any loss.

By 8 pm we heard that the ''Requin' had spotted

their 6", which had put a few holes in the "Hardinge's"

funnel & various other damage. This gun had been

difficult to locate & the fourth shot after the Requin

had found it put it out of action.

The casualties on our side for the day were

Fitzgibbon, 1 sapper, & 12 others Killed

2 sappers & 27 others wounded.

They lost over 200 killed & 300 prisoners here

I saw the wounded being brought into the wharf

per barge; it was a pitiful sight. Men had bandages

extending the whole length of their legs, the whole being

saturated with blood. Another with his shoulder

hurt or rather, mangled lay there smoking a cigarette 

given to him by an Australian. Others were quiet and 

still, with a palor that told its tale - altogether 

it was a sickening sight but we may be destined to

see many more such pictures before this war is over.

34
February 3 WEDNESDAY 1915

Wounded, dead, and prisoners still

continue to be reported

Feb 4 Thursday

There were eighteen pontoons (one sunk in

deep water) They were scattered in 

three lines of advance. There were four

pontoons on the ^East bank - partly in water -

at the most southerly point; another was in 

deep water. Three boats at the waters

edge on E bank in front of the 'gypie"

position. The northerly path indicated by

three pontoons at various positions up

the East bank. The remaining seven were

back in the dunes.

Diagram/Map - see original document 
35

1915 4 THURSDAY February

Visited Toussum. Turkish dead were

being buried where they fell on the

banks of the Canal. Examined the

enemy positions. These were made of light

gauge galvanised sheet splendidly braced

& light.

Diagram - see original document

Pockets of dead had been rifled

Mosquito craft permitted two pontoons to be 

floated & then opened fire, with sad 

results for the enemy. Apparently the little

vessel had been purposely stationed in 

the locality where the enemy officer on 

a white arab charger had been permitted

to approach the banks of the canal

in an endeavor to obtain information

He came fair between two ^outpost positions

hidden in the sand dunes & which were

manned by the Indian troops. Major

Russell later informed me that the 

Indians had been ordered not to fire

& that they could hardly contain themselves

for excitement. Apparently it was the  

purpose to allow him to reconoitre in

the hopes that the enemy would be 

led into crossing the Canal at this 

point. The path taken led down

between two high sand dunes.

Map - see original document

36
February 5 FRIDAY 1915
37
1915 6 SATURDAY February 

Major Russell had discussion with Serapeum

who requested a lookout-tower. Later told the 

SORE we could design & complete in six days

a tower based on one shift per day &

in four days on a 3 shift basis.

He told me to go ahead & commander

any necessary material & transport.

Wired Cloqitorin his sixth major job 

today.

Russell is finding the Australians 

very useful - overheard a word of praise

when he 'phoned Cairo this morning.

Said we were "energetic & chockfull of 

initiative". He has not seen half yet.

38
February 7 Sunday 1915

Spent most of the day designing a 

"look-out" for Serapeum.

At night wired to "Clogie", who was 

at the Ferry Post with "our" Bridge, for

Lindsay, Baillie, Herbert, Campbell & 

McWatt. 
39

1915 8 MONDAY February

A little concerned because my carpenters 

had not turned up, so wired to "Clogie"

again with the result that they

all turned up at 12 & started work 

right away.
 

40

February 9 TUESDAY 1915
Turks seemed to have withdrawn altogether
everything is very quiete all along the Canal.

I hope this means I will go to France

but I fear it will stop us, for as long

as there is a Turkish force there must 

be a British one handy.
Spent all day in the office except 

when I visited my carpenters to see

how they were getting on with the 

"Look out" I am more than pleased 

with the work and although the job 

is heavy it will be none the worse for 

that.

This work is quite a change from 

the ordinary office routine and 

keeps me in good fettle. It certainly

makes me wish I was back with the 

section but —

This tower was purposely made heavy in case 

a light gun might be taken up. Platform

room would then be scarcer

Diagram - See original document 
41

1915 10 WEDNESDAY February

Not a Turk within 20 miles of the Canal

Work on the tower progressing

satisfactorily. Believe I am to supervise

its erection at Serapeum. Hope I can take

Queenslander's with me.

Everything ready to load on the barge.

Diagram - See original document

42
February 11 THURSDAY 1915

Serapeum

Got most of our gear loaded at the store

& away down to the Canal Coys work -

shops by 8 30 am. After borrowing a 

breast drill & a screw driver we loaded 

the water barge which was to be towed 

down by the ''Dekade" to Serapeum.

It took us 4 hours to do the journey as 

all water tanks en route had to be filled

We got a good deal of enjoyment out of the

trip especially when the Indians tried to 

block the end of the hose when a powerful

''Worthington" pump was at the other end.

We landed at 1 pm & after dinner started work.

It was a stiff job unloading the barge & carrying

the heavy timber over the steep sandy banks &

we gladly accepted the services of the Indian

fatigue party.

We managed to get the right fixed 

and while the others dug holes we or

rather I went off in search of tackle.

I was given a single & double 1½" block

& a fair amount of 1½" rope but it was 

too light for the work in hand. However

it was all we could get so we managed.

We were cramped for room on account

of trees which were not to be cut down as they 

offered excellent cover. This of course 

increased our difficulties for quick erection

but like good sappers we managed.

Our tackle was made fast up a hefty

tree and 2 legs & a top transom hauled 

into position

Diagram - see original document 
43

1915 12 FRIDAY February

Cont.

Diagram - see original document

When in position we threw out a guy - using

the fall of the rope. A third leg was then

put in and the bottom ledger on. By this time

it was "knock off". We did full justice to

Mac's tea and spent a very sound night 

in the bottom of the barge.

After breakfast the fourth leg was put in

& the remaining bottom ledgers then the 

top ledgers & all the bottom diagonals

this left us a firm base to work on for

the top section. We made a single derrick

40 ft long & lashed it to the side of the 

base & hauled two legs & a top transom

from inside the structure

when bolted the                                               

legs were stayed

with 13' x 4" x 1"
Diagram- see original document

The derrick was

then lowered & the operation performed 

on the opposite side. By this time it 

was tea time so we left the derrick to

stay this position.

Once again we slept in the old barge

which slipped one of its moorings during the 

night and swung out in the stream a bit.

44
February 13 SATURDAY 1915

Some ticklish work 'up above" today but 

thanks to Bill Baillie's aid & Jim Lindsay's

common sense we pulled through without a 

mishap and managed to finish the job
right off. Should the job ever be done again
there are improvements to be added both
as regards site & construction. The tower is
beautifully concealed on the right and front
but leaves much to be desired on the left side
Well the whole thing is a strong sound job
& ought to stand a smack.
Diagram- see original document
45
1915 14 Sunday February
Leave Serapeum
Thanks to three blankets borrowed from the A.S.C.
I passed the night very comfortably in the barge
As there was no boat going back to Ismailia
till 1 p.m. I put in an hour going over the
lookout & tightening up all round. I then had
a lunch and came away on the "Robuste" at
1 p.m. & what a cold wet journey it was
I finally arrived at the Custom house and
after a wash reported at the Office. Major
Russell was very interested in all I had to
report.
Saw Norm for a few minutes - the first time
for over three weeks (21^st Jan). He looks
extremely well & is faring excellently