Diary of Trooper Ion Llewellyn Idriess-1916-Part 1

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
RCDIG0000449
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

AUST ppsng on 724 14 net in 45 fiotw 44 is blowing uner by ul phelfery wwhich Beorgnes all the if ourof us Whth we just loed fin 4 hemp of aheany Gason of dry lee and an insull uhwtance af tea Wa only an of water in 0 it an all 4 4 with thirst And milet snl Al & Usan dosis N5 A 12 oi 30m every work and fatee Ste trough the day and hau we to last on tthe food and e ginen she ollawance that is 14 was got me thinking pder The old dotor hascut the the meny lists We believe we reggring to have rice insteady Blormin Hurrah H tamned water question is du all had a go at the wel water but ad it is backish Ledohe and o warket ip be expected to hun through the dip from drinking it Bt in is weather men X must b omething (to drinkp.M. Feder ally hat day, The puns 24 saking through e to be the horkes aned mach We have gust of accusen i tin sinner an Chill a 2 all snce £
sys De w that isuss 2 o this 0 unjust. mansent sand 4 tha thta sne led rfally muss b 1 20 o 0 a savd a ip a wo 4 th al them immided divan d and oli ned entoa alr wat 224 A onr el oes 6 i a th 2 its de 12 best three oyet lavay a will at prom the c wch L13 line agmelsu wnd an $ dinrs and ms milesandy hil is d water there anic 6 up Wrom wn main Cantar andn and att pirt a the 19 i t an omp av an And 9 25 a 0 Spt desertnout this sims iy wmites an Bofe 4 then to in 12 and d armilt atm aht author me n th int take de sim i st brck to X 76 a this a d 2 We nd n 88
a 4 d 4 hepe 16or 2 ance must a naming no posicent battle i went di 4 & th Hie an was we 9 l ssan and ent 43 ednt susch Husal at th khaki th put ra a Stis and D ent A i ad she i p policen were immed red ssd th 6 also t A t e N X th $ wns from the epst epmle d supfeteo. It wwas like riding ing wind. towards the openavoro of a hurnace it squadion of our fellow went out hast night with gne waterofte and each 2 will be away all day devils I dn Wokd deg 4 water to drik in camp. ad drinking doing away 19 t 0 frent. but all r p pm travelled the plate such met never Fie as this hellis 14 bans stor th 4 shanked through 4s 4 a C phelt e l ke a wreath ie of to Wal. man h Shelter eebl 4 palms shit of ver
d Well clean head would and had been 24 to But ongen Englis think it to cssan alto 4 AX srd esa t itt nid curs th at milesd Police iglish We were to the Kursall and were gredtly surprised cecti adind it wds intold that saids best muss A Is makely place he Therewere Wroshal parties of English and and there foog Acl t the dancing girly. Tu the men Ihad on then shoulder said have wthe d sense, Officers of the 9 furmy can pldy English prosptutes in 1a lth peace iut an hand Flow private windto the smell toprott 359 P.M. H Squadia ill nan spust come in wtha has Borng and 360 canal all quadm pifap luchs. Only Th collansed with t 24 plan head the they found H find Jues ispued li as 7h canteen stul att andred Sc Hisito 2 sised i 3 e hs 7 Sraha f h squado Tomeno h 46 we fter yes ye e ill 48 terrible trip had Ther wdls demn wildnesteday moning mothing though the out Adendy th Mort ron f the long 24 aderpsentt he mnen were pemp Esfacter h tems tanke 46
4U5 a 4 4 Aet at cannot walk without his tim me w yesterday moming sur bathing and a toup arive drowen a afternoo lo sons tusiserand dowe th 4 a a sending ght t itt th t easo ip third a lon di and on Dnd al on Duidar to and d night Hdddin cupsed Jun ergeant Edgigt lf Skan same up to agh and him tol he was up te Irderty X morning a tis eisa erime being withof D essedi l to i was a all f in ap the emly wter tis tpping ons of rying to get a drop and th fill a water bathe pesns to R42 ds sitting on a fause of bottled anavinking across beer soon as they to an officer. As cork and had arawn the filled tear Ish quickly dfuct water tin acros tak JCR turned the d oft quart Manr gic 42 b and 5 the Deathadder edint Satahin sly Marry t tent and sumped ffrom this Geabbear mo roaring whele seaing that Bewa haneno nd water for hims ended iup by carrying 24 hlsown pind 24 1 he pat adraint 4 his wottled beer inpeace pal tie issued Banel bbeen yessepdy whe adepint ant ray to a t
4 6 remased the Case 7h cursed police hav ot set as Isustat and and al ceiming the most trimal things fellows wee o hane timed thon li ta potcke are He cursed spiine Aymas pussing in 6 against us noto We had a great little but of excitement this morning the ffirst were had since th first day we same here hout half past eight this moming a few of us sopted anaur I f very nigh., Then the sun shone on ther she wd very white. From lip to lip let Garbe - Tanbe. Then Dt tus lut lut tus but bug tut 6 4 tut but one of the 4 machine guns opened fire sB iyt He camp Th wot the their feet gaven up ag BDems Sinst An the fora the great mataripy af es we camel was employed tha us two cases of fam. n of ieee insseadl of two learren e mase of mine hadd narrow epcape last night Watter We was on quard on the tanks wheen are against the Guarter masters Vent Dwthems and is a case of whishy i Mymlafe Crawle iito the and Bt ander insider the set ated the lide slowly e boeer th cpe tin af bag owhich was very capefully iantore and almost arawh from the batited But at the Clas moment the bay caught andtbot aclas came together with my masermade arunt grabbednto Tward snew th Hood 6 tnpo heGong al fumssell a mart Bushed befom wiglu o tt mat ah h thes
a evliar droning house X came do the white taube sailed serencly hish over the camp. dut tut hrr wik ty but the tande but tut tut but has very high fling last through she searked JusJ. skimming the aur do she disappeared tewarde andaral. Then the stowly resumed its amt al life. Then halfa 4 sald fterwards glasses were suddenn Woindea Skywards ars and coupsg off stood in little me goups on the edge of the Balms looking shy& dur wards over jsuddedl shouted le old colonely dute and blew the quick whistleso Aldran the Immediately the Came Spiak mand o acki ashed p to is horse bekind every lno XX desert of Se to his 26 2 oy Holders get field prinish com I we sleep withut our fule on) What (were y an pment Wyelled n it at I asked my 14 mate What were ask t ele 9 in mytent 4 atgatr Goaway th youre dringe man 24 my mdde He ware wentmade neurly corparal of the auard uf aan and 44 tand to his Asealing sman Aching the hour added the last thal Ln onlybe here glaily replied tenminit Welies mynete e havemonly yus th nanged last St ay watthimds iea mis mate met and nexhaska satisfied and 4 year 2 pon 1004
14 Man wen and horsed most with bridles oned dood many only with head noped then on to them bare backa quick gallots out into the desert epreadin sut like a soders wal aadis the with sentre the tanle was a H 2 on her was wan e d sized Dild that droned the forthe theair Straght doubts Theht nt bet a th tus tat t ti tthe further redongs and th 2 b tule woomedsud and suddenty arge redlised tha standing ands the wnrelen. adding redougt the vis pos and immediate ay I thou the taube esure an wt t A and tooking pickly St had all them not hhis morning. of the to line on the Camel Idon't went lands and wangons are arriing with lodds of barbed with And yet they andist them cartyy watth let wantt the ink 2 for us to arrined 12 hd Hise 44 ace 9 Just un 124of minutes S 0 Ed All and a sd al an at 24 sian Dis hottest of 424 4a 4 4 that X Re b phri a Bral X
A 14 madindat head loosenen th halfe Spidng the andy et af heady and went like nell. Lut but litt tat Int rer taspt A tit Tertren th that tuste ll th maching guno redoubts sosute 46 e and men in the Fredowlts arded rifle fire tha straight awar spras a heamgvolume sings andd fiend. like old stimes perst W expected to see her oinded arop every second it she circled gone rredoults and then e ibling one ape the h 2 kind us can X ing at C wd was onte 40 he tube heade The evening before tyester. 18 day sisteen of us and a sergeng were desailea! Aact as coneping and guard parties for the Royar sotch Finsillers as they marched away. They were the men who Teinforcea their compaded from the To when they were attained a Lomigs DuedarCts te the ousis ga marched pact fellows gave them some rops ing cheers The Gomnes did understand at first not quite peased they were very then arwered back reartal and rear I was in charge of the and do guard going along along omnies ndrcged the right ahead thought what a great put away a Sight match would e to d wd Thare marining columng. not any real danger sugh A wfasegwite possible it therr piped the 2 the men ll l Ct Ga ol th m d 20
d X 15 Deaadht Boe and net wnds endense plane the mach gaining. Land ripl oen sed and s X was nothing t0 Dean but Hap disanearing machincA0 4 duill hear lnt dissant but ahascode thi maching I cas 6 and engaded 2nd al ni lanes are consinually coming now When a tanhe approaches us Romany or wasia the telephone immediat. Il soy do in 7antard and fraight away some of our lanes Trush out terni pate and at d ed 2424 Fine haiding Oyr eraf. co a fred 24 had sort 2y night how the out, and the desert was at readly still. night. Then from the main body would come the disbant laugute and talk of men whose hearks were very glad to be leaving the desert o o only for a Then on again fewmonths again the stillness, and I look for the shading would the redignard figures parsemen more again to Dourgob with Hl At the eswas finished mine back a We were toescort the eale camelto train in teggeant went morning hhead officers of the to fall the lik not one of them Hill th anything defout knew sergeant at Hlast camely Our ded to pulh on to Hill be must find the as sameld Fpom hill sometout 18 ha 70 have made 4 and 26 d a t 20d 28 r a 4 af

On outpost as

last night. 14th

sapping again this

ing, from 4 to 6. Star

to items is a quarter to

now, so that a man gets

very, very little sleep. It

is very hot. The flies

are simply awful, and

they remind me of Lone

Pine....11.30 [?] A hot wind

is blowing under our a blanket

as Shelters which scorches

all the life out of us. 1 p.m.

We have just had dinner. A 

lump of greasy bacon fat, 

dry bread and an insufficient

allowance of tea. We are 

only allowed one water

bottle of water in 24 hours

now and are all parched

with thirst. And yet the

military authorities have

thousands of camels our

own transport is here

and a railway line only

three miles away. W.R are

on night duty practically 

every second night, stand at

arms at 3 a.m every morning,

stable work and fatigues

through the day and how we 

are to last on the food and 

sleep allowance that is given

us has got me thinking. 15th

The old doctor has cut the bacon 

off the menu list. We believe we 

are going to have rice instead.

Hoo-Bloomin'-Hurrah! This

damned water question is serious

We have all had a go at the well

water but as it is brackish

diarrhea and do worse might

be expected to run through the 

camp from drinking it. But in

this weather men I must have 

something to drink. 1 p.m. Fearfully 

hot day. The suns heat 

seems to be soaking through

a furnace. The horses are

drooping. We have just 

had dinner. A tin of accursed

Salty bully beef and dry

bread. A short allowance

of tea and our water-

bottles are empty. And

 

English police system

in France. We said 

that Australians would 

not stand much of this

unjust military police

nonsense but he

said that there were

more military police 

in France what there

were Australians.

He must be totally 

wrong there, or else

England has got no 

soldiers in France,

only policemen. He

said if a soldier kicks

up a row, the police

grab him a taxi is

immediately alongside

and away he goes,

"and is tried by

English generals not

your own Australian

generals", our police-

man genially informed

us. We are beginning

to be doubtful what

 

yet we are but three miles

from a military railway

line along which there

are thousands of camels with

their native drivers, and

hill 70 only six miles away

up to which there is a water

main connected from

Cantara, and at Cantara

there is a great British

camp, on the canal itself.

And every day down the

canal past the great

camp go big supply

ships. And yet there is

this tiny desert outpost

so few miles away in the 

desert blazing sun, thirsty

and hungry. God help

the army if our military 

authorities take us far out

into the desert after the

Turks. And take pity on 

the wounded men who

would scorch to death on

a day like this. 16th 7a.m

We have been on patrol to

373 Long before sunrise.

 

we came here for.

France must be a 

training ground for

policemen, not a 

battle ground. 24th

11.30. Last night 

after dinner we went

to the Kursall. Now it

was nine o'clock and

Stan and Bert thought

surely it wouldn't 

matter to go to the Kursall

without tunics. Stan

even put a khaki tie 

on. We want downstairs, 

and ran fair

into a sergeant of

police with a squad 

of policemen. We 

were immediately

ordered to go back

into the hotel, stay

there, or else put 

our tunics on or 

else go to the guard 

room. Now we

ought to have

knocked that

 

from the east came a suffocating 

wind. It was like riding

into the ope towards the

open doors of a furnace.

A squadron of our fellows 

went out last night, with

one water bottle each, and

will be away all day. Poor

devils. 9 a.m Not a drop of 

water to drink in camp. We are

going away and drinking from

the horses well. The water

is forbidden and brackish

but a man must drink

something. 1 p.m. In all

the places I've travelled

I've never met such a 

hellish wind as this. It 

blows through the oasis,

through our blanket 

shelters and scorches

our naked bodies with

a breath of fire. If a 

man has to walk from 

the feeble shelter of the

palms, he shuts his eyes to

close out the burning

wind, and with the

 

fellows head clean 

off, and we would

have, if we had been

strong enough. But

the English think it

necessary to fill the 

quiet streets of Port

Said with military 

police curse the

English military police

"We went to the Kursall

and were greatly surprised,

expecting the having 

been told that it was

Port Saids best music

hall. The place is merely

a brothal. There were

two parties of English and

Scotch officers there fooling

with the dancing girls.

Two of the men had

crowns of on their shoulder,

and should have better

sense. Officers of the Great

English army can play

with prostitutes in a 

public place but an

ordinary, low private

 

wind to the smell of rotting

camels, 3.30 p.m. B. Squadron

has just come in with a 

few Bedouins and 30 camels

The squadron was lucky. Only

one man collapsed with the

heat. They found the place

we could not "find" " 5 p.m.

The Quartermaster has just issued

out some canteen stuff. Our

share is 2 tins fruit, 1 tin

sausages, 1 tin syrup, 1 packet

biscuits. The lot cost the

four of us 34 piastres. What

a gorgeous blow out we

will have and then

more starvation. But what

a feed we will have to-night. 

16th Some of B Squadron

are very ill after yesterday

They had a terrible trip. "" I

was damn wild yesterday

morning though thats nothing

out of the ordinary. Bert, Morry

and I were around the long

Quartermasters but, where the

men were emptying the water

tins into the tanks. We were

 

cannot walk about 

without his tunic, 25th

yesterday morning we went

surf bathing, and a 

drive around town in 

the afternoon a look

over HMS. Jupiter and a 

sail down the Canal

thus ending a delightful

little holiday. Then the

third class trip in the

train the long dreary

night ride, and now

a weidar to night on

night duty and the

cursed desert again.

27 June. Sergeant Edgington

came up to Stan last

night and told him

that he was up before

Orderly Room in the 

morning, as the Port

Said Military Police

had crimed him

for being improperly

dressed in Port Said

It was a shock to us.

Our Colonel finally

 

tipping up the empty water tins

and trying to get a drop out of

them to fill a water bottle. The

Q.M. was sitting on a case of

bottled beer, and winking across

to an officer. As soon as they

had drawn the cork and

filled their glasses I ran quickly

across to an empty ^a full water tin, 

turned the tap, and got a

quart pot of water out of it.

Sorry then took the quart

pot and went over but

the Deathadder must have

been watching, for immediately 

Morry turned the tap he

jumped from his tent and

grabbed Morry, roaring the

while, swearing that he would

have no water for himself and

ended up by carrying the

case ^water tin into his own tent where

he sat down and drank 

his bottled beer in peace.

......We were issued with two

barrels of beer yesterday which

ran out to a quart half pint

a man, at two piastres, 5.00

 

dismissed the case. The 

cursed police have got

a set on us Australians

and are criming them on

most trivial things, one

of our fellows was

crimed for having a

button on his tunic pocket.

The cursed swine are

putting in lying charges

against us now. 28 June

We had a great little

bit of excitement this morning,

the first we've had since the

first day we came here. Short

half past eight this morning

a few of us spotted an air

craft, very high. Then the 

sun shone on here, she was

very white. From lip to lip

flew Taube-Taube. Then

tut tut tut, tut tut tut tut tut

tut tut, one of the 12th L.H.

machine guns opened fire.

The whole camp sprang to

their feet gazing up through

the palms into the clear

blue sky, from where the

 

the great majority of us wish

that the camel was employed 

carrying us two cases of jam

instead of two barrels of beer.

" " A mate of mine had a 

narrow escape last night

He was on guard on the water

tanks, which are against the

Quartermasters tent. In the Q.Ms

tent is a case of whisky sunk 

into the sand. My mate crawled

just inside the tent, and very

very slowly lifted the lid of

the box. The bottles were

wrapped in a bag, which was

very carefully undone and

almost drawn from the bottles.

But at the last moment the

bag caught and two bottles

came together with a clash.

My mate made a run for

it grabbed his rifle and

stood on guard over the

water tanks The long

Quarter master jumped 

from his bunk and rushed

over to my mate in a tiny

short shirt which reached 

 

peculiar droning noise

came to the white taube

sailed serenely high over

the camp. Tut tut, rrr-rrr, tut

tut tut tut tut , but the taube

was very high, flying

fast though she seemed

to be just skimming the

air as she disappeared we

towards Cantara. Then the

camp slowly resumed its

normal life. The half an 

o hour afterwards field

glasses were suddenly

oper pointed skywards,

little groups of officers and

men stood in little

groups on the edge of the

palms, all looking sky-

wards. Then suddenly our

old Colonel shouted "File

out" and blew the quick

whistles of the Alarm.

Immediately the camp sprang

to active life. Each man

rushed to his horse. From

behind every palm, out

into the open desert

 

only to his belly. (The We  

common soldiers get field punishment

if we sleep without our full 

equipment on) "What were you

doing in my tent" yelled 

the Q.M. "What?" asked my

astonished mate. "What were

you doing in my tent" yelled

the Quartermaster. "Go away,

man! You're drunk"

replied my mate. The Q.M

nearly went mad. He woke 

up the corporal of the guard

and accused my mate of 

stealing into his tent. I've

been watching the man for

the last half hour" he added.

"Garn", I've only been here

ten minutes" gaily replied

my mate. "The reliefs

have only just been 

changed". At last the

Quartermaster went away

very angry. My mate is

satisfied that he has had

a very narrow and lucky 

escape. " The Quarter

masters and their satellites

 

ran men and horses.

Most with bridles on, a

good many only with

head ropes, then on to them

bareback, a quick gallop

out into the desert, spreading

out like a spiders web 

with the oasis the centre.

The taube was a long

way off, on her way back

a good sized white

bird, that droned through

the air straight for the

redoubts. Then tut tut tut

tut tut tut tut tut tut tut

from the furthest

redoubt and the 

taube loomed suddenly

large. And suddenly

I realised that the 

taube I was standing

against the wireless

post of the big redoubt

and immediately I thought

the taube would surely

bomb the wireless and

redoubt and looking 

quickly up, there she

 

all had cocoa and coffee

this morning. Trust them not

to live on the fat of the 

land, I don't think, " " Camels

and waggons are arriving

with loads of barbed wire

and sticks. And yet they

won't let them carry water 

for us to drink. In the 12th 

L. Horse has arrived. 12 a.m.

I just had occasion to go 

out in the sun for five

minutes. As soon as I was on

the open deserts, the burning

wind struck me, and I 

actually had to shield my

face with my hands. And 

I have laughed at the 

hottest Australian sun

for years. It is the sun

being reflected by the

sands and the hot wind

passing over it that makes

the burning wind. The

leather in our boots is 

actually shrinking. Last

night on horse piquet

it was breathlessly hot

 

was immediately over-

head. I loosened the

halter away sprang the

neddy, and the lot of 

us went like pure 

hell. Tut tut tut tut tut

tut rrr rrr rrr rrr tut tut

tut tut tut tut, all the

machine guns of the

redoubts stuttered out the

men in the redoubts

started rifle fire that

straight away sprang

into a heavy volume of

sound. It was great.

Just like old times.

We expected to see her

bombs drop every second

but she circled over 

the redoubts and then

came doubling over

the oasis. Then high

up behind us came a

heavy buzzing and

coming at a great

rate was one of

our own taubes planes. 

The taube headed

 

18th. The evening before yesterday

sixteen of us and sergeant

were detailed to act as covering

and guard parties for the Royal 

Scotch Fusiliers as they marched 

away. They were the men who 

reinforced their comrades from Hill

70 when they were attacked at

Dinedar. As the Tommies

marched past the oasis our

fellows gave them some rousing 

cheers. The Tommies did

not quite understand at first

then they were very pleased

and answered back heartily.

I was in charge of the rear-

guard going along, and as

the Tommies march along

right ahead, though what

a great put away a lighted

match would be to a 

marching column. There was

not any real danger, though 

it was quite possible. As

the men lit their pipes the

blaze could be seen far

away down the column. 

Then the moon came

 

straight for Romani

and El Arish. Our

plane was evidently

gaining. The machine

gun and rifle fire

ceased and soon 

there was nothing to be 

seen but our own

fast disappearing

machine and nothing

to hear but a dull

distant buzz. " " 12am.

Word has come through

that our machine caught

up to and engaged the

taube at Romani. 2nd

Planes are continually

coming now. When a taube

approaches us, Romani or

Quatia, the telephone immediately

sounds in Kantara and

straight away some of our

own planes rush out,

and at a terrific rate,

come after the raiding 

air craft. " " Our old 

doctor is a real good 

sort. I had a quiet talk

 

out, and I thought how

deadly still the desert was at

night. Then from the main body

would come the distant laughter

and talk of men whose hearts

were very glad to be leaving

the desert, again, if only for a

few months. Then on again,

again the stillness, and I

would look for the shadowy

figures of the rearguard

horsemen to move again.

At Hill 70 our job with

the Tommies was finished.

We were to escort back a

camel tain train in the early 

morning. The sergeant went

to all the head officers of the

Hill, but not one of them

knew anything about the 

camels. Our sergeant at last

decided to push on to Hill

40, as he must find the

camels somehow.  From hill

70 they have made a hard

metalled road, and the

horses did not seem to

understand it after the desert

 
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