Handwritten transcript of diaries of Apcar Leslie De Vine, 1 January 1915 - 6 October 1918, Part 1 of 26
Diary. Jan 1. 1915.
To
July 17. 1919.
330 Sgt A. L. de Vine
A Coy 4th Battalion
A. I. F.
1
4th Battalion left Sydney Oct 19. 1914
on the SS Euripides
Arrived Albany. W Australia Oct 26
Left " " Nov 1
Arrived Colombo Nov 15
Left " Nov 17
Arrived Aden Nov 25
Left " Nov 26
Arrived Suez Dec 1. 2pm
Left " Dec 1. 11 pm
Arrived Port Said Dec 2. 12am
Left " " Dec 2. 12 midnight
Arrived Alexandria Dec 3
Arrived Cairo Dec 5
Left " April 3. 1915
Arrived Lemnos April 6
Left " April 24
Arrived Gallipoli April 25
Left " (1st Brigade rest) Sept 14
Returned Gallipoli Oct 29
Left " (Evacuated) Dec 19
2
Arrived Lemnos Dec 19. 1915
Left " Dec 24.
Arrived Alexandria Dec 28.
Left " Dec 3 1.
Arrived Tel-el-Kebir Dec 31.
Left " " Mar 1. 1916
Arrived Serapeum Mar 1.
Left " Mar 22.
Arrived Alexandria and left
for France Mar 23
Arrived Marseilles and left
for Staples our first billits in
France Mar 30
Arrived Staples after being three
days on train April 2
3
1915
1/1/15 Adoption of four Company organisation, in Bn.
Previous to this date, we have had eight, A to H
subdivided into half companies, under this new system
of organisation there will only be four complete
companies, each a seperate fighting unit, my old Coy
C is now joined to A, we are now known as A Coy.
The companies are again subdivided into four
platoons. Am detailed to No 3 platoon.
2/1/15 Given light duties untill the 9th by the Bn
doctor Dr Tebutt, have not been feeling very well
for the last few days.
10/1/15 Sunday. Attended church parade
11/1/15 On the march today, halfway to the second
Pyramids, rather a sevear test, nearly broke down,
returned to camp very tired, marched from 8am
untill 3pm = 7 hours
12/1/15 Marched again to same place, made an attack
on the sand hills, we are now marching each day 7 hours
13/1/15 Long march in the desert, very fagged out,
"letter call" blew tonight at 10pm, all the boys ran
for their letters. One from mother, and one from
Australia, my first mail Paid 65pts = 13/4
14/1/15 Marched across desert to the distant hills
on sky line, platoon drill, attended lecture in evening
4
at Y.M.C.A. hut on the Pyramids by Mr
Quibell, curator of Cairo Museum, very interesting
lecture, theories etc were advanced as to how
the Pyramids were built, and the reasons for
building them. Feeling much better today
15/1/15 Marched across desert to "Valley of Despair"
Bn manouvres and attacks, weather very windy,
we are all covered with very fine sand, another
letter from mother today, night parade, very tired
16/1/15 Long march over desert, Bn atack on the
hills. Divisional lying-in piquet tonight, stand
to arms all night and sleep in equipment,
letter from mother today
17/1/15 Sunday. Attended church parade. Private
of the 10th Bn married today in camp, after
church parade great fun in camp. Visited Cairo
during the afternoon, general leave granted.
Visited the Ciladel and the Mosque of Mohamed
Ali, also a few smaller ones, also saw a military
funeral at the Citidel, and an Arab wedding,
had a hot bath at the Bristol Hotel, and a
good square feed, spent the rest of day in native
quarters, very tired.
18/1/15 Very hot today, some heavy marching over
the Libyan desert, full Bn parade under war
conditions with full pack, very heavy, inspected
by the Brigadier Col Maclarin, several men
collapsed owing to the heat. all wearing heavy singlet
"greyback" shirts and tunic, much too hot we were out
in the desert for 8 hours
5
19/1/15 A long Brigade march today with full
transport, marched to Ghezieh, turned off to the
left following the Canal, passed through
several native villages, the column about five
miles long, our first full Brigade march since
leaving Sydney, wrote letters home today
20/1/15 Very slack day, no parades, general leave
granted to the Bn from 12 o/c untill 9.30pm
Visited Cairo, sent home New Years gifts of a
choclate box given by the Commonwealth, and a
parcell of small souvenirs etc. Pay day, paid
65 piastres, hot bath in Cairo, returned to
camp early
21/1/15 Long march to rifle range at the "Vally
of Despair" passed all shooting tests. A and
B Coys only on range. heel of left foot very sore
nearly fell out of march on return
22/1/15 Marched to "Valley of Despair" for company
training. C & D Coys on rifle range, very cold day
wore overcoat all day, night parade on returning to
camp, shortage of food, general complaints about
same
23/1/15 Route march into desert and back, slack
day
24/1/15 Sunday. Attended church parade,
reviewed by General Birdwood after parade, sermon
preached by the Bishop of Egypt, no leave granted,
warned for guard, mounted quarter guard at 6pm
third relief 10-12 & 4-6
6
25/1/15 On guard all day, heard sentance of
Court Martial read out on parade of Bn
26/1/15 General leave granted to the Bn from
12 o/c to 9.30m. Broke! no money, but managed
to borrow 50 piastres from Bob Pierce, visited
Cairo, very hot day, glad no marching today
27/1/15 Long march into the desert, very windy
and cold day, got into a heavy sand storm, eyes
mouth and ears full of sand, rotten day for a
skirmish, we all arrived back at camp covered
with sand, both inside and out
28/1/15 Marched to the "Vally of Despair", drill, &
extended order work
29/1/15 Left camp at 8 o/c for a long march in
the desert, the whole of the Bn marched 3/4 of
the way to the Sakarah Pyramids, fought a rear
guard action all the morning, at mid day dug
some very long trenches, and held the position
we formed part of the "Brown Army", the White
Army attacked us about 3pm, had an exciting
fight, ball cartridge used by mistake, nobody hurt
heat midday very great, the trench digging was
stopped for 1½ hours for a long rest and lunch
which we all carried, absolutely no shade in the
desert you have to remain in the sun all the time
After the sham fight we reformed and marched to
our bivouac for some hot tea, water now is very
scarce. all water in our bottles used up during the
heat of the day, we are absolutely parched with
thurst, after tea had a short rest, then
7
took up our positions for the night, and dug a
long trench, we struck rock about 18" down, very
hard digging, could not get down far enough before
the whole white army attacked, ball cartridge
again accidently used, heard the bullets whistle
quite close to me, attack stopped at 12 o/c midnight
we are all very tired out with the long day, after
posting sentrys and reliefs for the night, we settle down
for the night in our overcoats, we could not get a
wink of sleep, feet to cold, no blankets, this is our
first bivouac
30/1/15 Revelle at 5o/c to man the trenches, had a
fight before breakfast, back to our bivouac about 8.30
had breakfast, bread and butter only and lucky to get
a little tea, absolutely no water for our bottles, fought
a rear guard action all the way back to camp. arriving
in camp about 10.30am pretty tired, another very hot day
no further duties today, rest untill Monday
31/1/15 Sunday Attended Church parade, very
quiet day, visited Cairo in the afternoon - back
early to camp
1/2/15 Marched to the "Vally of Despair" for rifle
practice, did very well, brought down my target
in two shots at 600 yds, passed all tests
2/2/15 Marched to the "Vally of Despair for field
firing exercise. A Coy did very well at all ranges
after practise a dust storm arose, marched back
to camp through the storm
3/2/15 Rest in camp, completion of first sylibus of
8
training. The 7th & 8th Bns 2nd Inf Brigade
left Mena camp for Ismallia, all the camp
turned out to give them a warm send off. Pay
today 130 piastres, no leave granted, passed the
day darning, mending, & washing clothes
4/2/15 Marched into the desert for Bn firing
competition. my Coy disqualified as we walked
into a machine gun without knowing it, so we
were sent back to camp. Competition won by 3rd
Bn. Leave granted from 2o/c till 11pm Visited
Cairo, large parcell from mother. a ham large
cake etc
5/2/15 Marched to "Vally of Despair", carried out two
attacks on the hills, used blank cartridges,
returned to camp at 4pm, a death occured
today in the 3rd Bn
6/2/15 Marched into the desert for 5 hours, easy
day, washed & mended clothes
7/2/15 Sunday Attended Church parade, visited
Cairo during afternoon. 1st reinforcements arrived
today
8/2/15 Holiday all day, visited Cairo from 10am
till 11pm. Visited the Citadel and the Tombs
of the Caliphs, also the "City of the dead" &
Napoleons fort
9/2/15 Mounted Divisional guard, 3rd relief
2-4 & 8-10 very quiet day
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