Diary and photograph of John Adams, 1914-1916, Part 3 of 16

all alike, he can divorce either wife 3 times, after 
which he cannot marry her again. The woman 
may divorce her husband if he marries her for 
her wealth. He said there were yet a few old 
Egyptians (Copts) living. The reason why the 
females wear a veil (Yasmak) is, in the olden 
days when the Arabs came into Egypt they 
admired the Egyptians ladies, or Copts, & to 
stop this they wore a veil to hide their beauty 
14th. 
Marched about 2 miles from camp & did rifle 
drill, returning to camp at 2 p.m. 
15th. 
Marched about 2 miles from camp & did rifle 
drill. On our way back whilst marching at ease 
in column of route, I patted a donkey on the 
back, for which my platoon sergeant made me  
appear before Capt Dignam, my Coy. Commander, 
he gave me 2 days C.B.  Was annoyed as my 
turn of leave was on the 15th. now I have to wait 
six days before my next leave. 
16th. 
8 a.m. left camp, marched about 5 miles & 
did musketry, returning to camp at 2.15 p.m. 
7 p.m. our Coy. marched 2 miles from camp, & 
received instructions on night attack, returned to  
camp at 9.45 p.m.     

December
17th. 
Morning. Coy. kit inspection. Our Coy. 
marched to the Sphinx & had our photos taken. 
In the afternoon I went to Cairo, & went over the 
Citadel, & Mosque of Mahomed Ali. The interior 
of the Mosque is mostly built of Alabaster, & the 
floor is covered with a magnificent Turkish carpet. 
The interior lights were suspended by a huge  
candelibra. Slippers had to be worn inside the 
Mosque. Got back to camp at 10 p.m. 
18th. 
8 a.m. the Bn left camp & marched about 5 
miles.  here we carried out musketry instructions. 
Till 11 a.m. it was a very thick fog.  At night with 
A. Edwards. I went across to the 1st. Coy. A.S.C. to 
see one of his pals. To-day Egypt was proclaimed a  
Protectorate. 
19th. 
40 of our Coy. (C) detailed for pioneer fatigue, 
we marched a mile to a quarry to load stone 
into trucks, & push to our Bn. lines, to build up 
the cooks lines. Much to my regret I took on 
pushing the trucks. At 2.45 p.m. with others 
I went to Cairo, we had a good look around 
the city, & had dinner at the Metropole, 
returning to camp at 10 p.m. Its very cold & foggy. 
20th. 
Church parade during morning, remained  
in camp other part of day.

December 
21st. 
8 a.m. the Bn. left camp & marched 4 miles 
for Coy. & Section drill.  At night our Coy. went 
out for 2½ hours night attack instruction. 
22nd. 
At 8.15 a.m. the Bn. left camp & marched 4  
miles, here we carried out, extended order drill. 
During the afternoon McMasters & self, went up 
to the Pyramids & took some snapshots. 
23rd. 
At 7.45 a.m. the Bn. left camp & marched 4 miles 
to carry out an attack on trenches dug by our Bn. 
officers (which was great fun for us to watch them dig.) 
Got leave from 3 p.m. till 11. I went to Cairo & 
met a Frenchman who invited me to visit his sugar 
plantation in Upper Egypt & to go any time I wished. 
24th. 
At 8.15 a.m. the Bn. left camp on a route march, 
we marched through several native villages, dirty 
little hovels, yet interesting to us. At one place we 
were moving off after a halt, when our Bn. band 
struck up, exciting a buffalo yoked to a plough, the 
infuriated animal bolted for home, charging  
through the rear of our Coy. knocking several 
over & carrying one man several yards, 
dropping him near a pond, he only received a 
slight shock. The Nile valley is very rich 
arable land. The main crops are Maize, Sugar, 
Lucerne, Cotton & Tomatoes. We took bread & cheese

December 
for midday meal & returned to camp at 4.15 p.m. 
after a treck of 15 miles. 
25th. 
We were awakened early in the morning 
by bands playing Xmas. airs. 9 a.m. church 
parade. Xmas was spent very quietly. Dinner 
consisted of stew, & a piece of cake. Several 
sneaked out of camp & came back very merry. 
With a few others I remained in camp eating oranges, 
dates, figs, & nuts, which we purchased at the canteen. 
26th 
Being detailed for guard, I did no other duties but 
clean my kit during the day. 5 p.m. mounted 
guard, post of duty over 8 men in detention, awaiting 
court martial. Very cold night. The guard had to 
sleep outside their tent to make room for prisoners. 
27th. 
A scorching hot day. Dismounted guard at 5 p.m. 
28th. 
Marched to our usual parade 4 miles off, & 
did a few hours skirmishing. 
29th. 
Marched about 4 miles off & dug trenches, 
returning to camp at 2.45 p.m. At night the 
Bn. marched a few miles from camp & carried 
out a night attack. A stiff days work. 
30th. 
Marched to our usual parade & carried

December. 
out bayonet fighting, returning to camp at 1 p.m. 
During the afternoon 15,000 of us were 
marched to a prepared spot on the desert, 
to hear an address from Sir George Reid, High 
Commissioner of Australia.  The address was 
much appreciated by all.  He said "Lord 
Kitchiner" promised we should enter the field 
as soon as we are fit. I got leave from 4 till 
11 p.m. I had a good dinner, & run around town. 
31st. 
Marched to our usual parade area, & carried 
out outpost duties, also dug trenches. 
1st.  January. 1915. 
A few sat up to see the old 
year out. I fell asleep & was awakened at mid- 
night by bands & rattling of biscuit tins. During 
the morning the Bn. was arranged into platoons. 
Instead of eight Coy's, there are now four 
made up as follows :- B. & C. Coys, are now A. Coy. 
commanded by Mjr Gordon. Capt Dignam our 
old Coy. Commander is second in command. 
Lt. Stewart commands No 1 Ptn. Lt. Kelly No 2 Ptn. 
Lt. Frodinyah No 3.  Lt Brown No 4 Ptn. Old 
D. & E. Coys, are now B Coy. F. & G. Coy's are now 
C. Coy. A. & H. Coy's are now D. Coy. Our Mess 
Shed now complete, we enjoyed our dinner under 
its shade, after our usual stew the following 
luxuries were thrust upon us, 1 bottle O.T. Chilli

January. 
per 12 men, 1 bottle soft drink per 2 men, ½ lb 
of biscuits per man, & 1 box of chocolates per 
man, presented by the Commonwealth Association, 
London. & 10 Cigarettes per man, presented by an 
Egyptian tobacco merchant. 
2nd. 
Detailed for guard over canal bridge about 2 
miles along the Mena Road. After inspection I got 
the easy job of waiting guard most of the day, 
during this time I watched an Egyptian cobbler 
sole & heel my boots, it cost me 20 piastres. 
3rd. 
I was Bn. marker for church parade. Got 
leave from 2 till 11 p.m. on V. Price's pass. 
McMasters & self went out to old Cairo. We were  
shown a place on the banks of the Nile where 
Moses was supposed to have been found by 
Pharoahs daughter, also an old Coptic Church, 
it was under repair, the crypt is supposed to 
have been built over the cave where Jesus was 
hidden from the Jews, after leaving Palestine. The 
crypt is built mostly of Alabaster. There are 
magnificent old cedar panels inlaid with ivory, 
also an old painting of Jesus, dated 500 A.D. 
in the walls of the church. We went to Cairo 
had a good feed, & returned to camp at 10.45 p.m. 
4th. 
The Bn. marched 2 miles from camp &

January. 
carried out our new platoon drill returning to 
camp at 3 p.m. Each one was presented with 
a jack knife, a gift from Sir George Reid. 
7 p.m. left camp & carried out a night stunt 
returning at 9.30 p.m. 
5th. 
8 a.m. Bn. parade, we marched 2 miles, then  
carried out platoon drill, returning at 3.30 p.m. 
6th. 
Bn. parade usual time, marched to usual 
parade & carried out platoon drill. 11.15 a.m. a 
blinding sand storm sprang up & we made 
tracks for camp, I can see how easy it 
is to get lost in such storms. We reached 
camp at 1.45 p.m. 7.30 p.m. I went to a lecture 
on the Boer War, at the Y.M.C.A. in camp. 
It was very interesting. 
7th. 
8.15 a.m. the Bn. marched to their usual 
parade 2 miles off. Still plenty of sand blowing 
about making the day very miserable. We 
took bread and jam with us for lunch, but could 
not eat it for sand. Returned to camp at 2.15 p.m. 
8th. 
The Bn. left camp at 8. a.m. marched 4 miles 
& carried out platoon drill, returning to camp at 
3.30 p.m. During the morning the sand still 
made it uncomfortable, it moderated towards

January            
evening. for the past 3 days it has been miserable 
with sand in our food. 
9th. 
7.45 a.m. No's 3 & 4 platoons left camp with 
field service order & marched about 5 miles, here 
we made a rifle range, returning to camp at 
3.15 p.m. I got leave from 3.30 till 11 p.m. 
McMasters & self went to Cairo. The first thing 
we did was to get a good feed. Mac. bought a  
Kodak & took a few snaps about town. returned  
to camp at 10 p.m. 
10th. 
I went on church parade in the morning 
McMasters & self took a stroll to the Sphinx 
also took a few snaps. At dinner we received 
our XMas pudding, it was given by the London 
"Daily Mail". I slept in camp during the afternoon. 
11th. 
The Bn. marched 5 miles & carried out bayonet 
fighting using dummy rifles & bayonets, also 
wearing padded coat & mask. Passing the pyramids 
on our way back to camp, one of our pack horse's 
bolted, dashing through the rear of our Coy. 
knocking 4 fellows over, luckily did no injury 
12th. 
Our platoon detailed for fatigue until 5 p.m. 
I was detailed for guard & mounted at 6 p.m. my 
post was over the Bn. water supply.  At 11 p.m.

January 
I did 2 hours extra for Gordon Holt, as he is ill. 
13th. 
5.30 p.m. we dismounted guard. 
14th. 
7.45 a.m. the Bn. left camp & marched to our 
rifle range five miles away. Each man had 
to pass a test. 25 rounds per man was fired. 
returned to camp at 6 p.m. 
15th. 
The Bn. left camp at 8 a.m. & marched to 
our rifle range. The right half Bn. carried 
out platoon drill, whilst the left half carried 
out their firing test. Our Coy. returned to 
camp at 2.45 p.m. other companies returned 
later. I got leave from 3 till 11 p.m. & went to 
Cairo with Peter Smith, H. Price & C. Davis. 
16th. 
8 a.m. the Bn. with machine gun section, 
signal section, & other details left camp & 
marched beyond our rifle range. The 4 Coy's. 
carried out platoon drill & skirmishing, whilst 
other details did firing test. Our Coy got back 
to camp at 3.15 p.m. Other Coy's were later.
17th. 
I went on church parade & remained in 
camp for remainder of day. We had more 
"Daily Mail" XMas pudding for dinner. It 
appeared in Bn. orders, leave would be stopped

January. 
until next saturday, & in future, we get leave 
of one half day, per week. 
18th. 
The Bn. with mobilization gear, marched to a spot 
near the Pyramids & were inspected by the Brigadier. 
19th. 
8.30 a.m. the 1st. Brigade, with their Artillery, 
Ammunition Column, Army Service Unit, & Field  
Ambulance, left camp with all equipment, we 
marched about 4 miles towards Cairo, along the 
Mena Road, then branched off along the track our 
Bn. marched on the 24th of December 1914, returning 
to camp at 3 p.m. 
20th. 
8.15 a.m. the Bn. left camp & marched about 
2 miles, here we carried out an attack using 
blank ammunition, the attack lasted all day. 
Returned to camp at 4.20 p.m.  A stiff day. 
21st. 
8.30 a.m. the Bn. left camp & marched about 
5 miles, here we started another attack, going all 
out till 1.30 p.m. returning at 3.30 p.m. 
22nd. 
I was detailed as ammunition carrier for 
our platoon.  The Bn. marched about 4 miles, here I 
left them to get instructions regarding my new 
job, from our Bn. Sgt. Mjr. Lowe.  All platoon 
Ammunition carriers were present.  We had an easy