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

December

for midday meal & returned to camp at 4.15 p.m.

after a trek of 15 miles

25 th

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. 5p.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 a 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 tenches.

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 Coys 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 boys are now B Coy F & G boys are now

C. Coy A & K boys 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 Bm marker for church parade. Got

leave from 2 till 11 p.m. on V. Price's pass.

Mc Masters & self went out to old Cairo. We were

shown a place on the banks of the Nile where

Moses was supposed to have found b y

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 came & carried out a night stunt

returning 9.30 p.m.

5th

8 a.m. Bn Parade we marched 2 miles then

carried out platoon drill, returning 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 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 & jam with us for lunch but could

not eat 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 returing 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. Nos 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.

Mc Masters & 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

Mc Masters & 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 useing 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 boy's

carried out platoon drill & skirmishing, whilst

other details did firing test. Our Coy got back

to camp at 3.15 p.m. Other boys 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 3.30p.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

January

time whilst the Bn was racing over the sand.

Returned to camp at 3.45 p.m. Mc Master

wanted my job as carrier, so I asked Sgt. Boucher

to relieve me of the job for him.

23rd

Bn. kit inspection C. Davis one of our tent

mates discovered he had measels & was sent to

hospital, our tent & kits were fumigated. The Bn

got general leave from 12.30 till 11 p.m. Mc Master

Price & self went to Cairo Museum. Mc Master took

several snaps, one of Price & self standing on the

main entrance steps to the Museum.We had a

run around town in aa garrie returning to camp

at 10.15 p.m.

24th

After church parade Mc Master & self strolled

up to the Sphinx Mc took a snap of me under the

Sphinx. I got leave from 2 till 11 p.m. & went to 

the zoological gamens  at G hizeh. There is a 

fine collection of animals here, including a well

trained Hyppopotamus. Lord Kitchiner has been

a large contributor to the collection of animals.

In the gardens there is a magnificent grotto.

25th.

With 18 others I was detailed as ammunition

guard. 8.15 a.m. our Coy left camp the remainder 

of  Bn left ½ hour later, we marched a few miles

beyond the pyramids & acted as enemy whilst

remainder of Bn attacked us. In the afternoon

January

our Coy.attacked the Bn. returned to camp at

4.20 p.m. A stiff day.

26th

The 18 ammunition guard rode in A.S.C.

Waggons to the Citadel Magazine Cairo & loaded

2000,000 rds of 303 ammunition, we were posted

either side of the waggons & marched back to

the 3rd Bn. lines where it was handed over. We

were dismissed at  5.10 p.m.

27th

8.30 a.m. the Bn left camp & marched to our

rifle range to carry out firing practice, but a

sand storm prevented us firing a shot, so we

returned to camp. W. Edwards fell sick with

measles he is one of or tent mates.

28th

8.40 a.m. the Bn marched to the rifle range,

ever man carried out firing practice. 25 of us

detailed for guard left the range at 3 p.m. At

5.15 p.m. we mounted quarter guard. My post of

duty was over the prisoners. The Bn. returned at 6 p.m.

29th

The Bn. excepting those on guard left camp at

9.15 a.m. to bivouc at night. We dismounted guard at 5.45 p.m.

30th

9.30 a.m. the Bn returned to camp. With 5

others I was detailed for fatigue duty at the

Ordnance Stores from 10 till 11.45 a.m. I got

January

leave from 12.30 till 11 p.m. McMasters, Smith,

& self went out to Heliopolis ( a great

tourist resort outside Cairo) we saw several

units of the 2nd contingent from Australia arriving.

31st

Went on Church parade & remained in 

camp rest of day.

1st February

8.45 a.m. the Bn left camp when

a few miles beyond the Pyramids we carried out

an attack in the direction of Sahara Pyramids 

returning to camp at  4.15 p.m.

2nd

8.30 a.m. the Bn left camp & marched  a few

miles  beyond the Pyramids our Coy was  hurried

on ahead to take up a position as enemy

the remainder of Bn attacked us, we returned

to camp at 4.40 p.m.

3rd

8.15 a.m. the Bn. marched to the rifle range,

& carried out firing practice returning to camp at

4 p.m. The 7th & 8th Bn's left Mena camp today

for Ishmalia. The Turks are expected to attack

the Suez Canal & we may join the canal force.

4th

8.45 a.m. the Bn left camp & marched to the

rifle range & carried out firing practice, returning

at 4 p.m. The best Coy from each Bn carried out firing