Diary of Henry 'Harry' Langtip, 1916 - Part 4

JULY 1916

26 WEDNESDAY

Been in the trenches

all night and am

tired had breakfast

and put our gear on 

and carried all our

the things we want

to a new camp.

The sand is the

worst of any I

have saw.

There is a shortage

of water here &

it is a good step

down to it 

JULY 1916

27 THURSDAY

On fatigue work

digging latrine hole

Then in the trenches

JULY 1916

28 FRIDAY

Same old thing

in the trenches

every night. The

sand is bad &

when it gets windy

it is terrible in 

the trenches.

The heads fear an 

attack & we were 

called out to stand

to arms at about

12 oclock pm. 

JULY 1916

29 SATURDAY

On outpost all night

and then fatigue

in the morning.

We were on at the

observation post from

1 p.m. till 7 p m so

had a sleep at 
the camp

JULY 1916

30 SUNDAY

standing to arms 

at 3.30 am. then

on fatigue digging

a well xx the S.M 
has got to get the

water before the

Quarter Master will

get the nessary timber

The aeroplanes

are flying over

this camp every

day 

JULY 1916

31 MONDAY

The guns are making

a great noise up the

canal a bit. we had

eleven in our tent

but some had to go

& we are seven now

On outpost all night

There are a lot of

black crickets here

and some are in

our tucker box

so are leaving them

there for bait

AUGUST 1916

1 August TUESDAY

Just come of outpost

and go on observation

Packing up ready

to move

Shifted to 46 post

& are camping in

the open to night

after carring all

our kits over

and my word it

is heavy sand 

AUGUST 1916

2 WEDNESDAY

We are at 46 post

slept in the open

all night it wasn't

bad, as we had a good

breakfast am going

to the trenches to 

night

Had to erect tents

this morning so

couldn't get a pole

so pinched a piece

of quartering from 28th

AUGUST 1916

3 THURSDAY

Slept on the parador

of the trench last night

was digging trenches this

morning & picking up

papers after breakfast

then got paid 200 PI

going on No.3 post

to night carting

stores in for the

canteen.

AUGUST 1916

4 FRIDAY

On out post last

night could hear

the big guns &

rifle fire from 12 0

clock. Been working

on the trenches all

day from 5 O clock

expecting an attack

to night and geting

everything ready

put detonation in

21 doz hand grenades

Am looking fordward

to the attack & if I

don't come out all right

I have the satisfaction of

doing my duty

AUGUST 1916

5 SATURDAY

Waiting for the Turk

nothing doing.

can hear the cans

all day.

digging trenches

getting everything

ready to receive them 

AUGUST 1916

6 SUNDAY

Expected the Turk

to attack this morning

but they didn't come

4 train loads of

prisoners &

2 trains of wounded

went through to 

day

Went down to Moaska

& camped in the

open all night

AUGUST 1916

7 MONDAY

Got a present for Ruth

Got up & had a cup

of tea first thing in

the morning with the

Tommies then went

to Ismalia where

we had a good look

around. It is a fine

place with lovely

trees & drives. Had

dinner at a resturant

the best we have had

for a long time. Went

down to the remount

depo for horses but

others took them & we [[went?]]

back to the town 

AUGUST 1916

8 TUESDAY

camped last night

at El Ferdan in

a mota lorry seat

and had a good

nights rest it being

the softest bed for

a long time. came

out to rail head

in the train & walked

to camp where we

were put on duties

for the day

AUGUST 1916

9 WEDNESDAY

Same as usual nothing

doing

Didn't see the 

prisoners come

in but believe they

were a very ragged

lot 

AUGUST 1916

10 THURSDAY

Saw the wounded coming

in sand carts & on

camels. It must 

be terrible to be out

in the desert for

days before you go

to hospital

AUGUST 1916

11 FRIDAY

Went in to El. Ferdam 

for canteen stores

Saw the prisoners

working under escort

armed guard

didn't get back

till 10 O clock

at night.

Had a ride on a

horse from rail

head to the

camp & nearly

got a sore on

my seat.

Slept in tent for the

first time for weeks 

AUGUST 1916

12 SATURDAY

Sayed in bed this

morning for the

first for ages & it

wasn't bad. Wouldn't

have got up then

if it hadn't been

for the AMC fellows

waking me up to

see if I was

going on sick

parade

AUGUST 1916

13 SUNDAY

Got up as usual

& went on fatigue

till 7.30 then

nothing to do all

day except to

parade for boot

inspection

didn't go to church

as was writing

letters 

AUGUST 1916

14 MONDAY

From the trenches

we were sent up

to signal hill &

told to stop on duty

there for a week

There has been

nothing doing