Diary of Gordon Colin Cooper, 1916-1917 - Part 13

SEPTEMBER, 1916.

Monday 18

Left Bir-el-Abd & ^came straight

back towards Romani: near

Hod-Dêbabis we had a

half for dinner & marched

past The General Vetrenary

Surgeon: in sections: & then

leaving Oghratina & Qatia on

our left we came home

arriving at 5.30; the horses

were very done up & tired

we had travelled over

70 miles during our "stunt"

& the water was not too

plentiful for the horses.

It was by far the biggest stunt

we have yet been on.

SEPTEMBER. 1916.

Tuesday 19

On "daystableman" all

day

Wrote Helen & Enid.

 

SEPTEMBER, 1916.

Wednesday 20

Nothing doing. giving

the horses a days spell.

Bought some stores at night

SEPTEMBER, 1916.

Thursday 21

Sanitary Fatigue in

morning: held horses

in evening; section

went down for swim.

 

SEPTEMBER, 1916.

Friday 22

Took horses down to

Palms, read all day.

SEPTEMBER, 1916.

Saturday 23

Water Guard with Jacky

Jowett. "Leather" Kane

came back from school

& brought me some photos.

Wrote Home - Jess [*shorthand*] &

Nedda

 

SEPTEMBER, 1916
Sunday 24
Put on mess - on duty.
put in day packing
up and fixing up,
Was at the Church service

at night, Capt McGowan
gave a great speech.

SEPTEMBER, 1916
Monday 25
Nothing doing again, except
but packing up

 

SEPTEMBER, 1916
Tuesday 26
Still packing up, went
on mess orderly as I was
on for a week. listened
to lecture by Capt M^cGowan
on India; one of the best
lectures I have ever heard
on the subject

SEPTEMBER, 1916
Wednesday 27
Same old thing; put in 
charge of fatigue party
& sent down to Railhead
to receive our gear as it
came down;

General Chouval gave us
a lecture; & presented 
the Medalle Militaire
to Lieut Nasson and
the D C M, to Corp McDougall
M^cRae; - of the Field Ambulance

 

SEPTEMBER, 1916
Thursday 28
Left Railhead at 2.30 and
came on down to Kantara,
and and unloaded train
and waited till limbers
took most of it away.
New Zealanders' coming back
from the "Sity Bech" at
Alexandria
SEPTEMBER, 1916
Friday 29
Still getting things away
from the Station. plenty
of loads taken away early.
Finished loading at Station
and went down to camp
at Kantara West.
 

SEPTEMBER, 1916
Saturday 30
Just doing fatigues all 
day fixing up camp
went for a swim in Canal
Received "bakseesh" tucker
from the Victorian Racing
Club.
OCTOBER, 1916
Sunday 1
17 of the Section came
in early & are off to
Alexandria; left horses
in our charge; went down
to railway to bring horses
back.
Wrote Home [*shorthand*] & Mrs
Branch
 

OCTOBER, 1916
Monday 2
Nothing doing except
ordinary Routine
stables etc.
OCTOBER, 1916
Tuesday 3
Got paid again
30/- same old joke.
very tiresome.
 

OCTOBER, 1916
Wednesday 4
Nothing on, went 
over to Regiment
OCTOBER, 1916
Thursday 5
Took, horses down
for leave party
 

OCTOBER, 1916
Friday 6
Orderly Corporal
same old jokes
went in for swim
OCTOBER, 1916
Saturday 7
Orderly Corporal
for Squadron.
nothing much on
Some fine boats
went down Canal.
got paid £5.