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

May
the Coy stores by light railway, to rail head, arriving
at 3 p. m. Bn had passed before we arrived. It was
dark before we were ready to move off to find
the Bn, which were 3 1/2 miles away. It took us
hours to find them there being no naked lights made
our task more difficult. Q.M.S. Saul & our 2 Coy Cooks
& Self eventually found A & C Coys manning the trenches
At rail head everyone was issued with mark VII ammunition
9th
In the morning with Saul I went out & had a look
around the trenches. They command a splendid position
a few outlying sand hills are occupied by out outposts
We can see 7 or 8 miles ahead
10th
Our Coy in reserve to-night, no clothing allowed to be
removed. Information that an attack on a large scale
is about to take place on the Suez Canal & large
columns of Turks are mustering a few miles off
all day our Coy was digging trenches & occupied
them at night
11th
6 a.m Coy came into camp. Bn stands too 3 a.m
every morning. 6 a.m half Bn relieves the other from
the trenches.   12th
5 p.m Coy went into trenches, also
B. C. & D Coys. 7 p.m B & D Coys returned to camp
13th
Coy came into b'fast & immediately after, returned
to the trenches. General McKay was around to inspect
them later 14th
All our rations & water come by camel
train. It's very hot.  15th
5 p.m Coy went into trenches
the hottest day I have experienced this side of the Canal
16th
6 a.m our Coy returned from trenches
17th
6 a.m with Lieu  Sorrenson Bn Q.M. I left camp
for railhead. Sorrenson had a horse, I had a mule
with no saddle. We tied the animals up at the
Light Horse lines & boarded the Light railway train
for Ferry Post to draw mobilization stores from

D.A.D.O.S & the Comforts Fund. 2 Truck loads of stores
were loaded for rail head, then we had a dip in the Canal
Left Ferry Post at 5 p.m. with our stores. (The mobilization
stores were left at Ferry Post with one of our guards)
& on arrival at rail head, we got our [[moakes?]] &
rode back to camp.  18th
6 a.m. left camp on a mule &
brought back to camp 10 Camels laden with Comforts Gifts
11 a.m. gifts distributed to all Coys.
19th
With 2 men I was detailed to go to Ferry Post & draw
the remainder of mobilization stores for the Bn & place
them in 2 marquees alloted to us about 1 1/2 miles from
the Canal. 6 a.m we left camp. I had the loan of a
mule as far as rail head, here I left it on the Light Horse
Lines. About midday the train arrived at our camping
area. we pitched our camp near the site of our old camp
then drew several loads of mob stores from D.A.D.O.S.
useing our mule transports, they are close by. Leaving the
2 men in charge of tents & stores. I returned to the
Bn. arriving very late
20th
6.15 a.m. with all my kit aboard a mule I left camp
for rail head & am now to stay at Ferry Post; until all
mob stores are drawn.
21st
Drawing stores from D.A.D.O.S.
27th
I have been busy for the past week & have not
had time to continue the diary. The Bn is still at
Katoomba Heights. Lt Sorrenson visits us occasionally
We drew 40 Cases of Comforts today, again Sorrenson
approached me about a Commission & eventually persuaded
me to send in an application
30th
Bn arrived from Rail head & camped where the
8th Bgde had just left. I moved all stores to Bn camp
1st June
Still drawing mob stores
2nd
All spare kit returned to Q.M. stores, leaving everyone
with full marching order
4th
Kit bags stacked on waggons ready to move off

June 

15th
Usual parades & daily routine, also several
inspections. All night we were packing tents & made
ready to move off.  16th
4.30 a.m Bn moved off & marched
to Mouaska Camp. Here we stayed a few days & did
parades. 19th
At 4. p.m we left Mouaska & entrained
for Alexandria arriving at 3.30 a.m on the 20th
Tuesday & boarded the Caledonia.
22nd
With several other transports & escorted by
several Men-O-War we left Alexandria
25th
Arrived at Malta & anchored in St Pauls Bay. A
good run so far.   26th
We heard that an enemy
submarine had sunk an oil boat about 40 miles
off Malta this morning
27th
Still under escort we left Malta at 6.45 p.m
There are numerous transports at Malta full of troops.
29th
Arrived at Marseilles & berthed at 4 p.m.
30th
6 a.m we disembarked & marched to the station
Then entrained for the north of France. It is a paradise
to see the beautiful green trees & fields, after the
continuous glare of the sands of the desert.
1 st July
We stop at stations 3 times a day for hot
water, & have a meal. The French people are very
hospitable all along the line. At Dijon we
stopped for a few minutes
2nd
1.35 a.m we passed through Paris. Everyone tried
to keep awake to see it. Very little could be seen as all
lights were shaded. We reached Boulogne at 7 p.m
& Calais at 8 p.m. At midnight we arrived at

Thiennes our area.
3rd
We got billeted in the early hours of the
morning. Ours was a waggon & fowl house. We
could hear the artillery banging away, & see the
reflection in the sky from flares. The French
people carrying on their work in good heart.
9th
8. a.m we left Thiennes & marched to Estaires
about 12 miles towards the front line, here we
were billeted in the town.
10th
We left Estaires by Platoons & eventually by
Sections of 4 to 5 we arrived at Fleurbaix &
billeted in blown down Farms.
12th
I took a walk up to the firing line during
the afternoon. It looks a picnic to Gallipoli
The German trenches are 200 yards off
20th Sept
Night of 50th Bns second raid I was knocked
through the finger by a piece of H.E. The doc
fixed it up. 

EARL HAIG'S "BACKS TO THE WALL" ORDER
To All Ranks of the British Forces in France :—
Three weeks ago to-day the enemy began his terrific attacks
against us on a 50 mile front. His objects are to separate us
from the French, to take the Channel ports, and destroy the
British Army.
In spite of throwing already 106 Divisions into the battle
and enduring the most reckless sacrifice of human life, he has
as yet made little progress towards his goals.
We owe this to the determined fighting and self-sacrifice of
our troops. Words fail me to express the admiration which
I feel for the splendid resistance offered by all ranks of our
Army under the most trying circumstances.
Many amongst us now are tired. To those I would say
that victory will belong to the side which holds out the longest.
The French Army is moving rapidly and in great force to our
support.  .  .  .  .
There is no other course open to us but to fight it out! Every
position must be held to the last man; there must be no retire-
ment. With our backs to the wall, and believing in the justice
of our cause, each one of us must fight on to the end. The
safety of our homes and the freedom of mankind alike depend
upon the conduct of each one of us at this critical moment.
                                                                                 D. HAIG. F.M.
Thursday, 11th April, 1918.

Miller
Loose Leaf Book
PAT'D NOV 1 1904
707 

Self
Taken by Reg Healy
1916 of Village of 
Guedicourt on the
Somme