Diary of Samuel Hedley Hemming Hawkins, 1914-1916 - Part 3
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4 February
1915
THURSDAY
Put into our tents & preparing
to put our new
drill into operations.
Camped on desert which
was very sandy & dusty
at first almost blinding
& choking us. The beautiful
town of Heliopolis included
in military area so that
we could go into town
without leave.
Heliopolis is town & suburb
where all the rich of Cairo
live.
Meet H Linley who is camped
on our grounds.
1915 February 5
FRIDAY
Drill. Sand is very
hard for us to march
through.
6 February
1915
SATURDAY
Take trip to first contg
camp at Mena. Mena possesses
the pyramids & sphinx
which are of very great
interest to soldiers at Mena.
Meet George R and many friends
1915
February 7
SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY
Church Parage.
Again visit pyramids
which are 13 miles from
our camp. They are very
great work so also is the
sphinx: the cost to go
to pyramids in train is
3 3/4 d or 1 1/2 piastres.
Try climbing to top of first
but don’t succeed. I saw
tombs inside and also at
the sphinx.
8 February
1915
MONDAY
First route march across
desert. About 6 miles which
makes us all very tired.
One sinks to his ancles
in sand & has to keep
up to the colonel on horseback
who is doing all he can
to give us the 150 paces
per minute regs required
military distance in
that time.
1915
February 9
TUESDAY
Route march cross desert
8 miles. Are now getting
into nick again (?)
Drill in afternoonRov
All soldiers now beginning
to get very sore feet & so
our next march is to
be round one of the
villages rather than
give us a spell.
(One realizes he has
left Australia now)
10 February
1915
WEDNESDAY
Route march round town
about 12 miles. Heliopolis
& district.
Great turnout from
public who seem much
impressed. The
marches are meant for
this purpose viz to keep
the population from
rising
1915
February 11
THURSDAY
Route march 12 miles
12 February
1915
FRIDAY
Battle Practice. Artillery
fires over our heads.
Total march 16 miles.
This was to get us used to
gun fire but only three
shells were fired, one of
which did a little damage.
Needless to say to take
the gun & enemies positions
by assault. We never
loose a battle. Thanks
to our glorious leaders
on horseback. We only
have about a mile in all
to double over.
1915
February 13
SATURDAY
Drill. Extended order.
More assaulting position.
One would think we
were racing with the
officers nags rather
than playing soldier.
This time we take the
railway to the
brickyards. (Ever
Victorious)
1915
14 February
QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY
Church Parade.
Write Home Father & Mother
1915
February 15
MONDAY
Troops rest day. Everybody
has fine shower, bath, otherwise
no work to be done
Water is supplied from Nile.
There is an excellent flow.
One of our compulsory
washing days
16 February
1915
SHROVE TUESDAY
Route March
1915
February 17
ASH WEDNESDAY
Battle practice.
For once the New Zealanders
beat us. What is
more likely, the Colonel
in charge of NZlanders
bluffed Cannan.
18 February
1915
THURSDAY
Rifle Range.
Situated Abyssinia
about five miles from
our camp. Lucky Sam
goes marking which
ment the easy work
it was at Enogerra
1915
February 19
FRIDAY
Route March
20 February
1915
SATURDAY
Drill at camp
1915
February 21
SUNDAY
1 in LENT
Church Parade
Write home Alice
22 February
1915
MONDAY
Rifle range.
Take good care not
to go marking today.
1915
February 23
TUESDAY
Trench digging
Trenches 4 ft long
2ft wide
4.6 wide
Later these are all
connected
Something like hard
work.
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