Diary of Henry 'Harry' Langtip, 1916 - Part 1

To Bert

from Lil.

No. 2347

Harry Langtip

16/4 Light Horse

JANUARY 1916

1 January SATURDAY

should this book

fall into the hands

of a stranger please

send it to the following

address

Miss Lily Langtip

Korumburra

Victoria

Australia

FEBRUARY 1916

2 WEDNESDAY

Enlisted.

Passed riding test at

Sturt St. Barracks.

Went into camp at

Royal Park

APRIL 1916

17 MONDAY

Left Seymour Camp at 6 am

arrived at Spencer St. Station

Ruth & Jack waiting to

meet us. Marched to Flinders

St took train to Pt Melb.

Ruth & Jack came down in

same train. Ruth seemed

to want to be with till the 

last. Went on board the

S.S. Itria. Got leave till 11.30 am

forgot to meet Pt. Albert train.

Went around to Cristal Cafe but

Ruth left 30 minutes ago. This is

where we missed Lily. disapointed

expected to meet Bob & Alla in the

morning.

APRIL 1916

18 TUESDAY

Up early waiting to load horses

10 O'clock can see our friends waiting

to come alongside. Horses

arrived late so public prevented

from coming on pier till after

dinner. Glad to see Lily, Ruth &

Jack. Poor old Jack seemed to feel

it very much. Lily through up

4 paper parcels with one of our

initals on each but I droped one

into the water ^it being my own. Ruth brought me a

tube of ink tablets. Ruth & Lily

kept a straight face with an effort

Didn't think I would feel ^it so much

never forget it. Could see Ruth & Lily

after all others were lost to sight

as they were standing on the end

of pier.

MAY 1916

27 SATURDAY

Arrived at Suez and have

to wait till tomorrow

before we can get in to the

warph. It is very hot here

and not much wind although

the sailing boats go along nicely

Several big sharks ^are swimming

around the boat. The natives

rig their boats different from

ours. One long yard reaches

from the bow up to where our

yard goes. The sail is in one

piece a sort of main sail &

jib combined

MAY 1916

28 SUNDAY

4 Oclock PM drew in to the

pier. Started unloding horses

got the first lot 118 off in

40 minutes then had tea

& got the rest off before

dark. On the train for

Tel-el-Kebir at 8 Oclock

travelled all night

very poor acomendation

in these cariages.

They seem full of fleas

MAY 1916

29 MONDAY

Arrived at Tel-el-Kebir at

4 Oclock in the morning.

issued with blankets

buiscuits & bully beef.

Then marched accross

the desert to our camp

was surprised at the

sand thought it would

be softer & deeper. but

found it quite hard in

places. didn't like

putting blankets on

the sand.

Water very bad here

JUNE 1916

4 SUNDAY

Very hot, worst dust storm

I ever saw. couldn't see more

than 50yds. Greatly impressed

with sermon at church parade

Egypt the worst place

on gods earth.

JUNE 1916

5 MONDAY

Very hot. glare off sand terrible

I think it is worse than the sun

Received the first mail

from home, 1 post card from

Ruth & 1 letter from Eileen.

It takes a long time to

get a letter from home

Tonight, I don't know why

but I feel as if I was sick

of the whole job.

East. West. homes best.

JUNE 1916

6 TUESDAY

Very hot. Called up before a court

marshall to give evidence & claim

my pen. Guatta N2334 pleaded

guilty & was given 21 days in

detention camp at Abaseer.

Didn't have a bad day

today was carring sand

bags making a wall

around the cook's shop.

Can hear the bagpipes

playing tonight.

JUNE 1916

7 WEDNESDAY

Marched out to the Rifle

Range. 5 miles out.

Through some misunderstanding

we had to go without our

breakfast. jolly

hungry & thirsty but

it is all in the game.

Very tired tonight

but glad I went

out as the irigation

is wonderful.

Edward W. Bray & Herbert

Palmer from Western

Port came over to see us.

JUNE 1916

8 THURSDAY

Shifted camp this morning

over to the horse lines

Not feeling to good.

drank too much water

yesterday got diarea.

changed to a new tent

today.

Post card from Lily.

very hot.

JUNE 1916

9 FRIDAY

On guad tonight

been very hot all night day

Fred Scott volunteered

for the pioneers

corps. Sooner be 

shot than be a

sanatry man or try

to get out of a bit

of fighting.

Scott got rejected

JUNE 1916

10 SATURDAY

On guard all day.

Very hot & terribly dusty

Les & Bert gone to

Cario with 18 others

for guad to prisoners

JUNE 1916

11 SUNDAY

17/4 Arrived here last 

night. First day

we have had horses

Took the job of Squadron

groom & got 2 horses

to look after. It has

been very hot today

& dust has been bad.

didn't have time

to write today.

but will try to write

tomorrow