Diary of Gordon Colin Cooper, 1916-1917 - Part 17

DECEMBER, 1916.
Thursday 7
Did fatigue at Ammunition
dump
Got film developed.
DECEMBER, 1916.
Friday 8
Nothing much doing
1 & 2 out on outpost.
Wrote Aunt Maggie
and. Mr Scott Ireland.
& Mrs Rickman am
enclosing films & 10/-
 

DECEMBER, 1916.
Saturday 9 
Came in off outpost. &
got 3 parcels, from Gussie
Jean & Sadie.
Got £4 from Mother
Wrote. Gussie. Sadie
DECEMBER, 1916.
Sunday 10
Taube over again but did
no damage. got stores from
Mazar.
Got cable from Mrs Hayes
about Jess leaving.
Wrote Mrs Hayes, "Blue eyes"
Home [shorthand]
 

DECEMBER, 1916.
Monday 11
On 9th Fatigue in day
out on outpost at night
Taube dropped 3 bombs ' no damage
Wrote Lucie (9)
DECEMBER, 1916.
Tuesday 12
Came in off Outpost.
Put up some M.G. possies
Taube came over & we oppened on him
with 4 guns he did not drop any bombs
Wrote Jean.
 

DECEMBER, 1916.
Wednesday. 13
Nothing doing, horses on
exercise
Wrote Elsie. (13)
DECEMBER, 1916.
Thursday 14
Quiet day, Taube flew over
& dropped bombs near
1^st LH. doing no damage
opened on him with our
guns
Outpost at night
 

DECEMBER, 1916.
Friday 15
Taube over early very high
nothing doing in particular
On pumping party, The General
in command of the Entire
Sinai Desert Column
paid us a visit.
Wrote Mrs Branch
DECEMBER, 1916.
Saturday 16
Out on exercise. not
much doing
 

DECEMBER, 1916.
Sunday 17.
Out on outpost.
Wrote letters Home [shorthand]
DECEMBER, 1916.
Monday 18
Out on exercise: got a good
mail of 21 letters from
Mother (2) Theo (1) Jess (2) Sadie (~1
Nedda (2) "BlueEyes" Mary, Mollie,
Norma, Lucie, Mrs Colton, Elsie.
Gwen, Marjorie
PC Gussie Edith & Aunt Emily
Wrote Miss Carson
Jessie [shorthand]
 

DECEMBER, 1916.
Tuesday 19
Went over to 1^stRegt for

saddles two Taubes
over
Wrote Mary, P C. Mrs Walker
Outpost at night

DECEMBER, 1916.
Wednesday 20
Came in off outpost & exercised
horses & went out outpost chged at night
Wrote Norma, Mrs Cotton
P.C. to Mrs Valisé
Got orders to pack up

immediately & travelled

all night & arrived at 

El Arish at sunrise &

xxxx xxxxxxx xxxx
 

DECEMBER, 1916.
Thursday 21
Arrived at Sunrise
and rode through
the village & brought
in all straying Bedouin
Watered horses by the
'Shedoufs'
Sgt Major Sheppard &
L C Corporal  Struther were
blown up by a Cami
mine, awful accident
got into permanent
camp after watering up
at dark
DECEMBER, 1916.
Friday 22
Had a pretty quiet day
moth buoys were ordered
out on a stunt - left

El Arish making due

south down Wadi El Arish 
to Magraebindahba
travelling all night
40 minute riding 10 minute
walk 10 minute spell

in every hour
 

DECEMBER, 1916.
Saturday 23
Stayed on the plain

till ordered to advance

our planes dropped

a lot of bombs and came

all round us in fast

two of them lighted

just near us

Was in Body Guard to Gen

Chouval. The Indian mountain

Battery came into action quite

close to us; & then "inched' to

better pozzy. After walking

till all brigades & prisoners

(numbering 1300) & everything

o.k. we marched back for

El Arish at 12 arriving

back at daylight

DECEMBER, 1916.
Sunday 24 
Quiet day all very
tired after long ride.
Two Taubes flew over
parapet bombs in the
sea - near the infantry

who were camped on the

other side of El Arish

[shorthand] as on picquet a night

DECEMBER; 1916.
Monday 25
Quiet day, nothing doing
½ rations of water; & bully
& biscuits for Xmas dinner
Rained at night but had
a pretty good shelter
Wrote Mother & Jess [*shorthand] and
Mrs Branch
Got letters from Mother Mr Scott Ireland
DECEMBER, 1916.
Tuesday 26
Big muster parade in the
Evening when General Cheetwode
 gave us or speech of
appreciation for the work done
at Magdahba: & said it was
the first time he has seen
mounted men; assault
& capture trenches
It rained just after, & No 1
Maxim was on outpost,
very wet & chilly night.
Our boys went down for a
swim on the beach in
the morning.
Got letters from Mrs Rickman
& C.C. from Mme. Piot