Diary for Roy Rowe, 1915-1916 - Part 6

MARCH  3rd Month 1915
Cairo—Mena
88  29 MONDAY  277
We were surprised at 12 a.m.
when S. Srgt Rankin arrived in
the motor ambulance with a
party to take the guard in
our place.  Gar & Clive C. & Sid D.
& I had a fine ride back to
Mena.  The rest came back
by train.

1915 31 Days  MARCH
Mena
89   30 TUESDAY   276
I began duty early this morning
by taking x phsy physical drill.
The W.O. is not well.

MARCH  3rd Month 1915
Mena
90  31 WEDNESDAY  275
xxxxxxxxx
Capt Clarke took us for
a march along the road
towards Cairo this morning.
We were paid about noon.

1915 30 Days   APRIL
Mena—Cairo 
91   1 THURSDAY   274
xxx Capt Clarke took us
for a march along
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Gar & I went to the
Macattam hills today &
had a magnificent view
of Cairo & suburbs, pyramids
of Giza & Sakara, The Nile & the
desert. at sunset & afterwards.
Tomorrow Good Friday is posted
up as a holiday but we not
for our unit. We have to send
20 men(nurses) to No 2 G. Hospital.
 

APRIL  4th Month 1915
Mena
92  2 FRIDAY—Good Friday  273
This afternoon about 3 p.m.
a riot began in some
bad houses in Cairo. Some
fellows started it by throwing
the furniture out of the top
windows on to the road Soon
a big mob gathered a went
mad. They set fire to other
places & cut the fire brigade
hoses. The Red Capes drew
revolvers to restore order
with the result that 2 men
were killed & 5 others wounded.
All of them soldiers. Damage
is estimated at over £900.
Late tonight the 1^st brigade
received their marching orders
for tomorrow. I went to see
Arthur Stewart but he was on
leave. Sgt White house - took party
to No 2 G.H.

1915 30 Days   APRIL
Mena 
93   3 SATURDAY—Easter Eve   272
We have all been waiting to go
away but only the first brigade
left today. No holiday for nursing
party today.
 

APRIL  4th Month 1915
Mena
94  4 SUNDAY—Easter Day  271
Today the party left for No 2 G.H.
as usual. Easter Sunday last
year we were in camp at
Greenmount W.A. It seems
a year since we left W.A. but
it is just 16 weeks tonight.
The 2^nd brigade marched out
this afternoon & the 9^th & 7^th
Artillery left tonight.

1915 30 Days   APRIL
Mena 
95   5 MONDAY—Easter Monday   270
The 7^th Artillery received their
letters early today. They have got
orders to stand by. I took the
party to Mena Hospital today.
 

APRIL  4th Month 1915
Mena
96  6 TUESDAY  269
Capt Clarke went to Cairo
today to try & get our letters
but could not find them.

1915 30 Days   APRIL
Mena 
97   7 WEDNESDAY   268
Geo. Stead went again to Cairo for
the mail but was told, it had
been sent to Alexandria to
meet us there. It does not look
as if we shall ever see the place
(Alexandria) again. We are shifting
tomorrow to another part of the
camp.
 

APRIL Mena 4th Month 1915
98  8 THURSDAY  257
Reveille at 5 a.m. Kits packed
& tents struck before breakfast.
A long line of donkey carts came
along at 7.45 & we soon had

every thing transferred to the

new site on the side of the
sand hill.  I like it much
better over here. No nursing
party for No 2 General Hospital
today.  Jim Cann managed to 
get hold of our mail today in
Cairo ( base office).  I received
letters from Vera & Jack from
R.A.G.A. Barracks

 

1915 Mena  APRIL
98  8 THURSDAY  257

Cpl Taffs had charge of the 
nursing party for No 2 G.H. today.
They will not be going again
as they are not needed now.

 

APRIL Mena  4th Month 1915

100 10 Saturday 265
Uneventful.

 

1915 Mena  APRIL

101  11 SUNDAY - 1st after Easter 264

Allan & I went to No 1 G.H.
at Heliopolis to. Allan went to
inquire about Red Cross equipment

for is & I tried to find Jim Wiseman
but could not. We had tea

in Cairo & went to church

in the evening.  Have written

home & sent P.C. to Ethel & Uncle Bob.

 

APRIL Mena 4th Month 1915
102  12 MONDAY  263

Uneventful

1915 Mena  APRIL

103  13 TUESDAY  262

To night we were issued
with sox, handkerchiefs & a

towel from Red Cross Equippment.

 

Mena- Sakkara- Memphis
APRIL 4th Month 1915
104  14 WEDNESDAY  261
Reveille at 5 a.m. & breakfast
at 6 a.m. We left camp about 
8.30 on a march to Sakkara &
Memphis. I was detailed to go
with the transport ( & camels) & rode

until we reached Marriets house.

After dinner we visited several
of the tombs & then marched on

to Memphis where we arrived
at 6.45 & stayed for the night.

 

Sakkara- Memphis Mena  
1915   APRIL

105  15 THURSDAY  260

Most of our men went to see

the statue of Ramses II & the
small Sphinx after breakfast.

We left for Mena at 9.30 &

received our mail & were told
we had orders to move to
Zeitoun on Saturday.  I got a
letter from home & a presbyterian.

 

APRIL Mena 4th Month 1915
106  16 FRIDAY  259

Major Barber send me
to Zeitoun today to enquire

about our site there  our

tents were struck this'

afternoon.

 

Mena - Zeitoun
1915   APRIL

107  17 SATURDAY  258

Reveille 4.20 breakfast 5 a.m.
& by 7 a.m. we were on our
way to Zeitoun where we
arrived before noon.

Capt Clarke, Cyril Bennett & I
went across to No 1 G.H. tonight.