Diary of Henry 'Harry' Langtip, 1916 - Part 9

NOVEMBER 1916

3 FRIDAY
At N^o. 5 works this

morning. Out on
observation with Bill
Sweeny. There are
miles of old trenches &
earthworks that were
used by the Australians
& Tommies in the first
attack on the canal
very cool today 

NOVEMBER 1916
4 SATURDAY
A fairly heavy shower
of rain last night
The only real rain
we have had
It is fairly cool today
the coldest
since we left home
On water guard
to day 

NOVEMBER 1916
5 SUNDAY
Beautiful weather
here now but cold
at night.
This is the first
Sunday without
a church parade
for a long time 

NOVEMBER 1916
6 MONDAY
I have been working
at the trenches & wire
entanglements all day.
Mark Ward & I walked
over to post 4 for the mail
this evening & I took
it out to the boys on
outpost. They were
reading their letters
by the light of the
moon. 

NOVEMBER 1916
7 TUESDAY
I am water
guard to day.
Have been writing
letters to all of
home so as to
catch the Xmas
mail
got some Xmas
cards but they
are not to good 

NOVEMBER 1916
8 WEDNESDAY
I am grooming
for the Major
I posted 16 cards
to catch this mail
Got 1 letter from
Ruth & P.C. from
Dorothy
I am sleeping
down at the stables 

NOVEMBER 1916
9 THURSDAY
Got another mail
it was very old
& some letters 

NOVEMBER 1916
10 FRIDAY
Same old thing
geting very cold
I am thinking of
geting leave to
Ismailia 

NOVEMBER 1916
11 SATURDAY
Same old thing
don't know when
we are going to
ships
been bad with
diarrea but
geting alright
again 

NOVEMBER 1916
12 SUNDAY
Feeling fairly
well today
It gets very cold
in the evenings

now. 

NOVEMBER 1916
13 MONDAY
Nothing doing
Bert got a
parcel from
Lily that
was sent
a long time
ago 

NOVEMBER 1916
14 TUESDAY
Big gun practice
with airoplane
observers &
smoke bombs for
targets 

NOVEMBER 1916
15 WEDNESDAY
Pay to day
Major Mills came
out & payed us
I got 4 letters today 

NOVEMBER 1916
16 THURSDAY
Xmas parcels arrived
today for Bert Ern &
myself but Les didn't
get any. I am so
sorry that the
cakes should go
bad it is real
hard luck & after
taking such a
lot of trouble geting
the tins made
and all. The
wet must have
got into them. 

NOVEMBER 1916
17 FRIDAY
Been writing letters
home today.
My word they must
have taken a lot
of trouble packing
these parcels. 

NOVEMBER 1916
18 SATURDAY
Rifle inspection
Had a tin of pineapple
for dinner that
was sent from
home & it was a
treat. Beat No 4 post
at football easily.
As far as I can see
there is no nation
on this earth can
produce the quality
of fruits & other things
as we can in Australia 

NOVEMBER 1916
19 SUNDAY
Same old thing
nothing to do but
play football.
Have had a slight
cold in the breath 

NOVEMBER 1916
20 MONDAY
Lovely weather
only got to groom
the majors horse
now. having an
easy time.
I put on my riding
breeches this morning
as it was geting
too cold for shorts 

NOVEMBER 1916
21 TUESDAY
Nothing doing
very cold at
night compared
with the day
& heavy dews. 

NOVEMBER 1916
22 WEDNESDAY
Same old thing
expecting a mail
shortly
Moved down to
rail head from 
No 5 post