Diary and photograph of John Adams, 1914-1916 - Part 2

November

17th.

The skipper of a tug that came alongside 
said there was a plague on shore. We left 
Colombo at midday. Several ships remained 
behind for supplies. Weather hot & windy. 

18th.

Detailed for pioneers fatigue.

19th.

Got A. Edwards to relieve me of pioneers 
fatigue. Average mileage, 250 per day. Hot day.

20th.

The 10 troopships and a Japanese Cruiser 
joined our convoy, (They were left behind at 
Colombo) later they went ahead of us. 
The cruiser "Hampshire" is one of our 
new escort from Colombo. Scorcher of a day.

21st.

The "Benalla" ran into the stern of the 
"Shropshire", very slight damage done. News 
was read to us, that the "Goeben & Breslau" 
(German battleships) had been in an 
engagement with & slightly damaged a Russian 
Cruiser.

22nd.

The cruiser "Hampshire" sent one of her 
boats to the "Orvieto". (our flagship.) Very hot.

23rd.

Did fatigue duty in the potato store during 
the morning. Full marching order & kit 
inspection during the afternoon. Passed the 
 

November.

Island of Socotra on the port side.

24th.

Detailed for storemans fatigue. Had a very 
good time, plenty of extras for our Mess tonight. 

25th.

Detailed for guard, post of duty, over 
starboard lifebuoy, astern. 4.30 p.m. arrived 
at Aden. The ships that went ahead on the 
21st. were anchored here also numerous other 
troopships with Indian troops aboard. A 
welcome breeze blew during the night. 

26th.

Left Aden at 6 a.m. no one went ashore 
The New Zealand troopships went ahead of 
us. The Japanese Cruiser remained at Aden. 
4.15 p.m. passed "Island of Perin" & entered 
the Red Sea. Very hot day.

27th.

Did pioneer duty for A. Edwards, he 
was very sick.

28th.

Did pioneer duty for A. Edwards, he was ver sick. 

28th.

Did pioneer duty for A. Edwards. The 
Colonel read a message to us, saying we were 
going to Cairo, Egypt. There was much 
discontent as everyone expected to go to 
France.

29th.

Did pioneer duty for A. Edwards. At 
 

November

10.15 a.m. one of the ships crew was buried at 
sea. The Colonel read the burial service &

our Bn. band played the Dead March. Very dull.

30th.

Did pioneer duty for A. Edwards. All 
ships went in single line ahead. Windy & Cool.

1st December.

At 2 p.m. anchored off Suez. The 
whole convoy of New Zealand, & Australian 
troopships were assembled here, with numerous 
more with Indian & English troops aboard. 
During the afternoon the New Zealand troopships 
entered the Suez Canal. 

2nd.

18 troopships from India arrived this 
morning with Indian troops aboard. The names 
of some of the ships are:- "City of Exeter" with 
Enniskilling Dragoons aboard, "Malda" English 
troops. "Arankola" Sikhs, "Braemar Castle" 
English troops. "Galeka" Punjabis. "City of 
Birmingham" "Devanha", "Dunelvin Castle" & 
Urlana with British troops aboard, remainder 
of ships anchored too far off to be distinguished. 
We actually had two eggs for b'fast not 
eatable ones, the first seen on board. During 
the afternoon several Indian troopships 
passed us to go through the Suez Canal. 
Great cheers went up from all boats as 
 

December

they passed. Detailed for store mans fatigue. 

3rd.

Detailed for ammunition guard, & equipped 
with ammunition. My post astern on the Port 
side. 10 Troopships arrived this morning with 
Indian troops aboard escorted by a converted 
merchantman. At 8.30 am. amidst much 
cheering from approx 70 ships, we entered the 
Suez Canal. About 3 miles up the Canal a 
Bn of East Lancashire's were camped on the 
Asiatic side. A few miles further on we passed 
Artillery & Machine gun troops. 11 a.m. we 
passed a Punjabis Bn, & a Camel & Mule 
unit. 3.15 p.m. passed Ishmaelia. 5 p.m. 
passed a large camp of Royal Engineers. 10.30 
p.m. arrived at Port Said. Our ship took in 
300 tons of coal. Weather cooler. 
4th.

9.30 a.m. left Port Said amidst great cheers 
from the battleship Swiftsure, & two French 
Cruisers, & three Torpedo boats, also a large 
number of troopships. Our Bn band played 
the Marseillaise whilst passing the French 
Men-o-war. Weather cold.

5th.

One of our men got 90 days for striking a 
L/Cpl. 1.15 a.m. arrived at Alexandria. The 
New Zealand troops are disembarking. We 
 

December

were inoculated against Typhoid. Weather Showery.

6th.

During the day several of our troopships 
arrived at Alexandria. Two of our Coys were 
caught going down the anchor chain to a 
small boat to get ashore. They were placed in 
the guard room. Everyone's anxious to get 
ashore. It has been a glorious day.

7th.

12.30 p.m. we tied up alongside the wharf 
Detailed to unload ships stores. The native police 
amused us by slowing the natives to keep them 
off the wharf. We were told to disembark 
tomorrow.

8th.

11.15 a.m left Alexandria by train, arrived 
at Cairo 4.45 p.m. We had a fine meal of Cocoa, 
Bread & Cheese on arrival at Cairo Station. 

8.40 p.m. left Cairo by tram to our camp 
12 miles away. After marching about 1½ miles 
from the tram we halted & bivouaced at 10 p.m. 
A very cold night with showers.

9th.

Very early bird this morning, without 
blanket could not sleep. As soon as daylight 
broke I walked up to the large Pyramid & had 
a look around. Six of us hired a guide for the 
afternoon to show us over the Pyramids & 

Temple. He could speak very good English 
 

December

& appeared a decent fellow. During the 
afternoon we met the guide, he took us to 
the Sphinx & explained it was the ancient 
Egyptians God. Close by the Sphinx was the 
Kings Temple. The king his family & priests 
were the only people to worship here. The 
Temple is built of Alabaster & Granite. Some 
of the slabs weigh tons. The dimensions of 
one slab is 23 ft  7 ft x 5 ft, its supposed to 
have been the roof of a high priests tomb. 
The next place we visited was the largest 
Pyramid. We went inside by way of a very 
small passage, just enough room for two 
persons to pass. The guide took a lighted 
candle ahead of the party. I pitied those 
at the rear of party, as the roof being so 
low we had to crawl. We had to take our 
boots off to get a grip to climb one long & 
very steep passage, here we came to the Queen's 
Chamber, built of solid granite. The Queen 
Cheops was buried in the wall of the chamber 
4,000 B.C. Higher up the passage we came to 
the King's Chamber, here he was buried. The 
guide told us it took 30,000 slaves 30 years 
to build the Pyramid, he then took us back 
to the entrance where we left him. We all 
started to climb the Pyramid which is 470 ft 
high, 3 of us got to the top, the others turned 
 

December

back giddy. It was a glorious view from the top 
Cairo & the old City of Memphis (where it once 
stood) could be seen, also the Nile & Quarries where 
the granite was got to build the Pyramids. The 
Alabaster was taken from the Assouan over 500 
miles away.

10th.

Detailed for Pioneers fatigue. Got leave from 2 
till 10 p.m. On our way to Cairo we saw a native 
wedding. A passenger explained the ceremony to 
us. I posted several letters & cards, & had a good time.

11th.

Detailed for quarter guard, did sentry duty 
over our Bn prisoners. 21 prisoners were sent 
to Cairo military prison, at 10 p.m. they returned 
as the prison was full. At mid-night an Egyptian 
canteen cart passing our tent dropped a tin of 
biscuits, which we had the benefit of eating. 
12th.

After being dismissed from quarter guard, 
several of us climbed to the top of the Pyramids 
Southey & self raced a camel back to camp.

13th.

10.30 a.m. Church parade for the 1st Bdge. 
After our midday meal several of us set out 
to visit a native village, passing the Pyramids 
we met a very interesting Mahomedan, he 
explained to us his religion, saying all Mahomedans 
can marry four wives, providing he treats them 
 

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 Egyptian ladies, or Copts, & to 
stop this they wore a veil to hid 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 halted 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