Diary of Gordon Colin Cooper, 1916-1917 - Part 11

AUGUST, 1916.
Wednesday 9
Got to Oghratina about 12 then
made due east towards
Bir-el- Aba, and went
in a circular Route
getting to our destination
we came in contact with

the enemy about sunrise
they opened on us with
high explosives, were under
heavy artillery fire practically
 all day, one of the worst
days ever experienced
Ronnie McDonald & Nobby killed
Left Bir-el-Abd about sundown
and proceeded back to Hod-el-Debabis 
and watered there &
came onto Oghratina & camped
the night got picquet, only got ½
hours sleep
AUGUST, 1916.
Thursday 10
Left Oghratina and went
out looking for a Hod;
after riding all the
morning we found it -
we watered up at Hod el- Bakieh; 
then went
into Hod-el Oghara & waited
there the day, had a good
night sleep.
Richardson joined us with
fresh horses.
 

AUGUST, 1916.
Friday 11
Had a quiet day in Hod-omen- Ogra;
watered horse
and got a shrapnel band
off an empty case.
AUGUST, 1916.
Saturday 12
All quiet still in Hod-emin-Oghra; 
a taube flew
over chased by one of our
planes. Burying party went
out: & buried two of our boys.
 

AUGUST, 1916.
Sunday 13
Left Oghratina at 9.30 and
came back to Romani arriving.
 about 1.30. got parcel
with 5 sovs. from home.
 AUGUST, 1916.
Monday 14
The whole squadron got
inoculated for Cholera
very warm day, on day
Stableman wrote
Home & Jess [shorthand]. Aunt Emily
and Sadie. Mrs Branch,
 

AUGUST 1916.
Tuesday 15
Horses to palms in morning
had to return at 2.
and were given an address
by Gen Cheval: on our work
during the recent engagements
wrote Lucie.
Got mail and 11 letters.
AUGUST, 1916.
Wednesday 16
Out at Palms all day.
Wrote Phyllis
 

AUGUST, 1916.
Thursday 17
Out in palms all day,
wrote Nedda
there was a concert at Y.M.C.A
but was on picquet so missed
seeing it.
Got some Wedding cake from
Mary & Don, & books from Jess
AUGUST, 1916.
Friday 18
Section went over to
"Mahomadeer" to the sea
to swim the horses; I changed
a chap jobs who wanted
to go. got parcel from Aunt Agnes
Wrote Mrs Walker
 

AUGUST, I916.
Saturday 19
Bought alot of stuff at Y.M.C.A.
"Dick" came over to see us
Ante Aircraft duty on Vickers
gun in evening.
Wrote Home & Jess [shorthand]
AUGUST, 1916.
Sunday 20
Nothing much doing
pretty easy times, took
horses down to the
palms.
Wrote Elsie.
 

AUGUST, 1916.
Monday 21
Went down to Mahomadear
to swim horses
in afternoon. Very
pleasant afternoon.
got home 5.30.
AUGUST, 1916.
Tuesday 22
Great excitement over Canteen
opening; went over to
the palms. had a ding-dong
 bony tung feed.
 

AUGUST, 1916.
Wednesday 23
Did not go out to palms
waned horses kept in to
inoculate for Glanders.
AUGUST, 1916
Thursday 24.
All old horses inoculated
did not go out to the palms.
Had a very nice concert
at Y.M.C.A. The General
and Brigadeer were there.
a huge success.
 

AUGUST, 1916.
Friday 25
Got 7 letters; nothing doing
Horses still crook from inoculation.
Saw Squeaker Fenner, got bonnie
little photo from Sadie.

Theo, Jess3, Sadie, Elsie, Enid.
AUGUST, 1916.
Saturday 26
General Cox inspected camp
great preparation for it.
Wrote letters [shorthand]
 

AUGUST, 1916.
Sunday 27
Water guard all day. the section
went down for a swim to
Mahomadeer Dick took sea
Mum & Bill for me.
Wrote Sadie & Jean.
Letters from. Home 3, Jess 1, Loo. Marjorie
AUGUST, 16.
Monday 28 
Fatigue all morning
putting up Q.M. stores
pretty warm
Went over to 6^th and saw
Bruce: Roger; and Wilson
& Allman.