Diary of Trooper Ion Llewellyn Idriess-1916-Part 3

the devil of a row.
What on earth has
happened?" 12^th We
are nearly overflowing

with the monotony 
of this cursed desert. It
is very close now to
the "Last Straw". Some
of the old fellows have
already stow awayed
on boats leaving Port
Said, to get in the
trenches of France.
We four have been
trying hard to get
away but it seems
next to impossible.
Curse this inaction.
14^th Bert went over on
a visit to a pal of
his in the 2^nd Light Horse
yesterday. His pal told
him that they had
only just finished
burying the last
of the poor scattered
Tommies around 
Ogratina. Many

ourselves. Let them keep
the bread and jam and
a bit of meat and enough
water up to us and we
won't growl. 26 Two monitors
and a sloop bombarded the Turkish
base at El-Arish, aided by
14 bomb dropping aeroplanes. The
bombardment was a great
surprise, the Turks & Germans
fleeing all directions. Now
couldn't those gun boats have
escorted a transport with a
few thousand man on board,
landed them in the dead of
night, and silently marched
towards the Turkish position.
The All of our own Brigade, and
the New Zealand Brigade,
could have marched from
here and in a couple of
night marches, aided by
the infantry from the supposed
transport, surrounded the
Turkish camp. Then the
monitors could have
opened fire on the Turks,
who would have ran
 

of the Tommies had
their skulls smashed
in, and others had
wire w twisted
around their necks,
which had been
tautened by twisting
the wire
around and around
on a stick. That
was the Bedouin's
work. Stan,
Morry and I are
in Port Said again
The military police
have not said a
word to any of us.
There were a lot
of soldiers with
us down bathing,
and nothing was
said to us. It
looks as if the
commander of
these police is
getting civilised.
18^th We had a
great time in Port

clean into us and been
shot down, at dawn we
could have rushed their
camp, and captured the
whole outfit. This would
have totally finished a
nest of hornets. As it is, a
firestick has been thrust
into their nest. They will
buzz about a bit, and
then come back. Doubtless
they are back now, and
getting well prepared for
another surprise, should
it come again. It is just
the same if a Taube
bombed our own oasis.
We would get out of it in
a hell of a hurry, wait
until the Taube had
gone, then come back,
and laughed. We wouldn't
care if a bomb had
destroyed a few cases of
bully - beef, in fact all
the men would be
damned glad. No doubt
there are reasons for all
 

Hand drawn diagrams - see original document

things, but these reasons
don't ever seem to give us any
advantage, or bring the war
one day nearer to its end.
.. The 6^th & 7^th have gone back
to Hill 70, men and horses
dead beat. . . . . If the Turks
tackle the post, they will
have the devils own hard
nut to crack now. I reckon
big credit is due to our old
Colonel for the way he has
built defences around the
place since we came here.
It would take a very
powerful and determined
force of Turks to take the
place with artillery now,
and then I'm damned if
they'd take it. Colonel
"Royston" of the 12^th is in
command now. 1^st June We had
another bit of a sprint
the d yesterday. The
New Zealanders were out
miles ahead to attack a
Turkish camp. Some of
the Australian mounted
 

Said, and were not
troubled by the police
once. Why the deuce
couldn't they have
let us alone all the
time. . . . . A Scottish
regiment came out
yesterday, and this
morning came a
long camel train
loaded with camp
equipment, mostly
cane chairs and
deal tables. The great
majority of damned
officers will be very
sorry when the
war is over. They
never had such a
good time in their
lives. We can't forget
that in the
terrible heat we
were perishing here
for a drink of
water, because we
could not get camels
to carry water out

troops were somewhere near
them. They were miles ahead
of us. We were a mile south
of Quatia, to protect their
right flank, to prevent the
Turks doubling back and
hitting them in the back.
We travelled all through
the night, but all we
heard yesterday was a few
distant guns. The New
Zealanders s met the
Turkish outpost, and
smashed it up, but the
main body in the meantime
cleared out, and were
bombed by our aeroplanes.
We came back last night
11.30 a.m. This morning
the Turk has hit back,
hit quickly, and hit hard.
One of his aeroplanes
bombed the third Regiment
camp at Romani. The
first bomb smashed the
wireless, the second fell
on the wireless lieutenant's
tent and killed him, the
 

other bombs killed eight
men and wounded fifteen,
also killing 34 horses. The
'plane then came back and
turned its machine gun on
the camp. The horses of
course stampeded, some
300 getting away. Most of
them were caught at Quatia
a few even got away back
to hill 70, and a few we

caught here. Such is the
news as we have got it
now. . . . . What a pity it is
that the Turks won't stand
and put up a fight when
we get up against them.
They always clear out just
before we can bring them
to a fight. The New Zealanders
blame their horses
for whinnying the other
day, and putting them
away to the Turks, after all
their weary marching. 2nd
There are very persistent
rumours through camp
that we are very shortly

going to camp. We are
all almost praying that
the rumour will come
true. 3rd June. The 12^th L.H
have gone back, and their
place has been taken by the
H.L.I., men in kilts who
wear no pants, which we
have decided is very cool
and convenient. The weather
is very cool now, and
we are having a good
bread issue handed out to
us. Some Backsheesh arrived
the other day, four tins of
fruit, tobacco and cigarettes
to every four men. From
the Overseas fund, I believe.
The tinned fruit was very
much appreciated by us.
They are working the Quartermasters
Canteen stuff now
differently, running it as a
canteen. That is a real
good idea, as we can go in
and buy what we want, that
is, if he has it stocked. The
stuff is mostly tinned fruit,
 

to us, and yet here
are officers who can
get a whole camel
train to carry out
their chairs and tables.
Our own officers do
with any old box
or a clump of sand
bags for a chair.
20^th 8 a.m. Last night 
our squadron were to
have gone out on a
Gawk act, and most
of us were grumbling,
as usual. But two
hours before we filed
out word came through
that there were three
thousand Turks at Bir
el Abd, and another
four thousand close
behind. The men
received this news
at first jeeringly, but
a quarter of an hour
later orders came
through for the other
two squadrons to

but for us it is very expensive.
These military are a
damned queer people. During
the Awful days, a little while
ago, we could not get
enough camels to carry us
over a little drinking
water. But now camels
were procurable to cart
us over 40 small kegs of
beer, and £300 of canteen
stuff, in one morning.
There is plenty of water
now though, thank goodness.
I got at logger heads
with a fat headed sergeant
yesterday. The order came
out that we had to shave,
as Colonel Royston of the
twevlth, wanted to say a
few words to us before
he went away. I would
not shave. So last night,
the brave sergeant, in a
very bombastic way,
put me on extra horse
picquet. As I was on the
night before, and am
 

be ready to file out
with us at a moments
notice. Then a little
flutter of excitement
ran through the camp.
The good news might
at last be true, a
fight may be in store
for us at last. It
was marvellous how
the air cleared. Where
the men had been
jeeringly sarcastic at
all our false alarms,
they now started
whistling and singing.
The time came to
file out, but the
order came to stand
fast, and later on to
turn in with all
equipment on. At
2.30 this morning
the regiment stood
to and moved out,
but we are in camp
again, and very
anxiously awaiting

worn out for want of
sleep, I objected pretty
strongly. It was no use,
so I finally went to
Captain Bolingbroke, and
he settled the matter
quick and lively, to my
advantage. But of course
the sergeant is spiteful
and he's put me on duty
on picquet to night. It
was very decent of Captain
Bolingbroke to stick up
for me last night. 4^th
I went to sleep standing up
last night, leaning on the
rifle. Couldn't help it. Our
casualties at Romani from the
aeroplane bombing the 3^rd
L.H was 35 men, and a
good many horses. 8^th June. Am
on guard at the canteen today.
The poor Scotties are coming
up, five at a time, the leading
man with an Egyptian
pound note in his hand.
Their Colonel is only allowing
them 4/2 a fortnight.
 

news of the Turks
advance. As long as
they come it will be
great, but if the
news turns out to be
one more on the long
list of rumours, well —
10 a.m. A plane has
brought in word
that the Turks are
occupying Oghratina
in strong force. One
of our L H Brigade
patrols ran against
them, and had the
Turks machine gun
turned on them. It
looks as if Jacko at
last does really
mean business. Our
'planes are continually
bustling by

overhead, flying
over Romani towards
Oghratina. We are
ready to move
out at a moments
notice. 2 p.m. Latest
 

a man. The poor beggars
spend their fortnights
money on a couple of tins
of peaches and pineapples.
Their Colonel is in England
on furlough, so he's alright.
. . . . There are big movements
of troops out to Quatia. So
perhaps at last there
may be something doing.
.. Our old Colonel is a
long headed old beggar.
To deceive the enemys
aeroplanes and minimise
damage in case of attack
he has

Jun 12 3 pm We have just come in
from a reconnaissance
and got back in time
for a little excitement.
We had unsaddled
and were lying about
 

plane report is that
8000 Turks are
hurriedly entrenching
at Oghratina with
artillery. 21^st 8 P.M.
Was on standing
patrol last night. We
were very much on
the alert. A desert dog
came sneaking among
the dry leaves in the
oasis, and startled
the horses. We were
all glad when daylight
las came.
Coming back to camp
we passed the regiment
coming out. 9. P.M. Our
old Colonel has come
in from the regiment,
and at the watering
trough told us that
three divisions of Turks,
each division
numbering 27000
men are advancing.
The divisions are a
days march behind

the camp, when there
came a peculiar buzzing
hum which rapidly got
louder and louder. We
all listened, because
the sound was louder
than our planes, then
some of us stepped
out, and there, high
up, and very white in
the afternoon sun, was
a rapidly approaching
Taube. A few of us ran
to the horses, but there
came another loud
fast approaching hum,
and behind the taube
was racing one of our
own machines. The
Taube kept straight on
over the camp, very
intent on getting clear
away from our own
machine. 3.30 p.m. A
wireless message has
just come through,
saying that enemy
aeroplanes have just
 

one another. That
means that a Turkish
army of 81000 men
are advancing
rapidly on our little
outposts. What Ho!
She bumps. We'll get
all the fight we
are looking for
now. There are
already 40,000 Turks
at Oghratina by
last night. Train

loads of Scottish
infantry are hurrying
to Romani by the
desert line. Things

are getting very
interesting and
soon will be
exciting. Quise Quaterri
5 a.m.. There have
ba been a few
affairs of outposts today,
round Romani.
Both sides patrols
firing on one another.
Troops are coming,
 

been seen flying towards
Port Said, and that they
will probably pay us
a visit on their way
back. So a few of the
men are a bit excited
but the old hands don't
care a damn for any
damn taube. There are
too many Gawk acts in
this damned life to
worry over alarms; if
they come they come.
. . . . The enemy aeroplane
turned her machine gun on
Romani as she flew over,
but did no damage, as our
pursuing plane hurried
her too much. June 13 Cantard
was bombed yesterday, and
some mules and men
killed. What other places
were bombed we don't know.
June 14^th They are actually
granting us leave now, three
men a troop get 48 hours
in Port Said. The trouble is
that nearly all of them have