Diary for Wilfred Emmott Addison, 1915 - Part 3

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Aug.7. 1915. A bit better to-day but I couldn't get to
Helouan on account of yesterday's attack - Officers
keep coming & going. A big percentage of both
men & officers are returning to Australia. War's
a frightful thing & it is in Hospitals one sees
the worst side of it. A Captain of Artillery came in
yesterday originally from Tasmania. They all tell
some very interesting facts. Hospital trains arrive
here nearly every day. The xxx line is just in rear of
this building, so they haven't far to take them.
Mostly sick chaps, dysentery & some enteric.
Aug 8th 15. The food here is not bad, a Nubian brings
our meals round & insists upon piling our
plates with food, thinking it will cure us. He's
very funny & always smiling. Ken Wharton, an old
Bank chum, came in today. He has been ^very ill &
attached to this Hospital now & as he has done a
couple of years medicine, hopes to get a commission.
Aug. 9^th. 15. Roberts was packed off to Helouan to-day
Another chap out of the 19th was operated on this
morning for hernia & came back reeking
of chloroform ^& ether (how well I remember it:) Achi Baba
is officially reported to have fallen. This is the
first big thing, excepting the landing, achieved
over there yet. Another hospital train with 300 arrived
to-day. Aug 10^th Got my marching orders for 

Helouan to-morrow. Bought a fine helmet to-day
for 30 piastres (6/-) Nearly all these chaps
 

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coming from the front are have shattered nerves.
Some of them are almost childish. It must
be a frightful strain. About 4 trains arrived
to-day, mostly sick. Aug 11th 1915. Left the
Hospital at about 9.30 a.m. with about 20 other
officers & was conveyed by motor ambulance at
about 50 miles an hour to the Cairo end of the
Helouan Railway (about 30 mins run). That
run was the most interesting I have ever had
We passed camels, laden with gear & corn, natives
on donkeys, Egyptian soldiers, all
very interesting & all busy. After half an
hour's run in a train & five mins in another
motor ambulance we arrived at our destination
at 11.30 am. (2 hrs including waits, it always
seems a series of waits in the Military). This
Hospital was the Hotel Al Hayat before the
War, but has been taken over by the Government
Capt (Doctor) Aberdeen & I kept together &
managed to secure a room between us on the top
story. It is a fine room, nicely furnished,
close to the bathroom, with electric light, two
big beds, table, wardrobe, chest of drawers etc etc
Hot & cold water laid on to bathroom & room
heaters. We have a breeze here all day. We
seem to be on the 4^th story. This is a huge place 

was tourist resort in winter. It is perched
on a hill & can hold 1000 or so, tennis courts
[[e]]very convenience. About 60 officers are here
 

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[[a]] good many going back to Australia) & a some
hundreds of soldiers. Our room opens on to fine
enclosed-in balony, covered with lounges &
chairs & tables (electric light). 2 other rooms
open in to it & as each room has two occupants
we have practically on our own. As I
write, by putting my head out, I can see
the famous pyramids & sphinx (across
Father Nile) about 12 miles distant
but quite distinct. I can only see two of
them as the other is behind them. These are
the principal pyramids, although there
are plenty of others (which I didn't know
before) I met one of my old men here. He looked

dreadfully ill but seemed very pleased to see me.
He has had meningitis & has almost lost his
sight. Poor chap. He hasn't even seen the
Front & has to go back home. The town of Helouan
is a fair sized place, but very native looking.
Their festival of fasting ends to-day, so no
troops are allowed leave for the next three days.
As the natives get excited at the prospect
of a decent meal in the daytime. Ramadan
they call it. They are filthy lot of beggars dirty in
all their doings, the true Egyptians, the Kops,
are dying out fast & being replaced by these
indescribable Arab mixtures. Helouan has
fine sulphur baths, very good fore you. Its a pity
that Pater isn't here to try them.
 

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Aug. 12.15. Roberts got a telegram to-day recalling
him, he was going back in any case. Rumors
that the 5th B'de will be leaving Friday next. Spent a
quiet day, writing mostly. August 13^th 1915. Capt Crisp
got telegram from Roberts informing rumours. I applied
for discharge & got it, although I should have stayed longer.
Reached camp, after stopping in Cairo. I caught the
2.15 train from Helouan & came back with an old 1^st Btn
chap, who is returning to Australia. My Still very
weak. Coy out of [[?M]], [[?]] the night.
Aug. 14th 1915 Went to Cairo in morning, after first visiting
Palace Hospital, & seeing the people. Deane
was away at P^t Said. Bought a few things in
the [[?Mouski]] at Cohen's. A nice silk shawl
affair for Mater & obelisk for Father & a scarab 2000
B C old for Glen. Got back about 2.30 to camp.
Rested all the afternoon. Got some packing done.
Aug. 15^thGot tin trunk & black kit bag with
stretcher away to Cork in Cairo for storage there.
Packed up, am taking xxx sleeping bag. The pack & equipment
Revolver & pockets full of things make a fearful weight.
Am carrying, haversack full & pack full up, roll of
1 blanket & W.P. sheet, Mess tin, glasses, 2 revolver
water bottle full. I sent them down to Helouan in a
gharry to the train. We had a muster parade & cleaned
camp up. Fell in again at 7.10 p.m. Marched onto
the parade ground in the sand. The men looking
like Christmas trees, they had so many
 

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to carry. The 1^st half battalion moved off about 11 pm
we moved off at about 1 a.m. August 16. We
entrain at the Helmich siding. 2 of my men deserted
Walker & Forsyth. Moved out of Helmich at 2.15 a.m.
Reached Alexandria at about 7 a.m. Our Battalion
embarked on a boat but had no more room for our
Coy, so we had to hump our things round to another
boat with the 19 & 20^th Battl (S.S. Saturnia)
The pack & equipment very weighty. [[?Hammerton]] fainted
so had to take his rifle. Doyle stayed with xx the valises
on the other boat. We said "Goodbye" to Alexandria
at 6.30 p m. Our other boat left about an hour before.
Just heard too, cheerful news that a troopship
was torpedoed yesterday only 400 out 2000 being saved
This ship is frightfully crowded 2500 on board, & is very
dirty & smelly. Very hot in cabins, had a
fair night. August 17^th. Inoculated for cholera
to-day, all the Coy. The Medⁿ Sea is a beautiful
blue. Food not bad. Dixon was left behind
on Brigade Post Office, Preston transferred to
13 Platoon, Leone, whose Father is a Major
transported to Div. H.Qrs. Three new men
Barr from 16 in place Mills, Ryan & Muller from
Reinforcements. All the men are delighted at
getting away. They hated Egypt. A good
many got drunk the last night, but nothing
serious. I left 2 men short Lt Sc Loutlan
joined us with Reinforcements He was at Rabual
 

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All helmets were called in ^we are to wear hats & drill
shorts & jacket, Puttees etc - Each man was given
a huge jack knife ^& mosquito net & cigarettes ^& also anything they were short in.
We are risking our valises. A most lovely day. This
trip is rather exciting. Had drill with life belts
for practice, in case, H. Guns mounted on rails
The men were singing a lot to-night, mostly hymns
Very hot in cabins. Felt a bit sick to-night, after inoculation. 

Shoulders still sore from pack. Land in our
port at 7.30 Am, think it was Crete. Aug 18^th - Our
boat has had to take a very round-about
way. We have been passing through an
archipelago all day near Greece. At 12.30
pm we passed a big island, with a pretty
little city on it, Syra by name. At 1 p.m.
we passed between 2 islands, Andros & another.
Passed Milos, where ^famous statue of Venus was found
Was made one of the officers of the watch to-day
9am to 9 pm. Everybody has to keep life-belt
handy. Had a dreadful night last night with
the heat in the cabin, just near engine. It is
beautifully cool outside. Sleep outside to-night
Perfect day today, sea like a mill pond, never
have I seen such a calm sea & such a lovely
blue shade. We are gradually cleaning the
vessel up. Our Coy is on duty to-day, guards
mostly. Pte Grady sick. 102° Temp. Took Holy
Communion by Capt. Single ship steaming a zig
zag course. Passed a few ships in distance
 

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Aug.19^th At present am sharing a cabin
with Ferguson, son of Justice Fr, he's in the
20^th. We arrived at Lemnos at about 7am
after a rotten night. Could not sleep for
the noise on deck. I went up on the boat
deck to get cooler, but it came on to rain.
After anchoring near a mine field for a few
hours, we went right in to the harbour,
alongside some other boats. There were dozens
of warships, troopships & hospital ships
in the harbour. It is a fine harbour, England
certainly knows a thing or two about bases
in the Navy. Issued two days rations & an
emergency one to the men also ^200 rds ammunition
The 17^th & 18^th (minus us) went this evening
over there to Gallipoli, we hope to follow to-morrow
with the 19^th & 20^th We had a sing-song to-night.
Gary "Because". (Don't forget Cook's have my
luggage in Cairo - 2 articles) Nurses on the
hospital ships were funny, signalling to us
in Semaphore. Some were quite proficient.