Diary of Gordon Colin Cooper, 1917-1918 - Part 4

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG0000904
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

MARCH 3rd Month 1917 20 Tu 12 Bardwell at7. Left 20 & came to al dresh wdnst camp nea the Town, but ferst 20 about Rils 13 rtched Dirts in moiner 21 Wed—Vernal Equinox a fatigue alld an ficquel at night MARCH 31 Days 1917 22 Th canteen fired 59 up ees birthday ker 23 Fri- 04.5 a.m. t AA SN day wer towin piet min durin doy did home woshing
MARCH 3rd Month 1917 24 Sat 2n comet corps came t con through ped quite dose to us -Passion Sunday 25 Sum Annunciation B.V.M. Lady Day Uttack started at Ga 4 ver fongy morining got holth diving the day. layed the AH. wit 320 MARCH 34pa 1917 26 Mon doy. yetting warner quiet horses for sever bood 27 T4 Combined E.AA 142H playea a very hardgame sevre concert at Y.M 2. noculated for do Choern
TTARCH 3rd Month 1917 28 Wed . Natives doing date inoccilation Lanks passed is route for to 20 Th 2 6o1 as ye at paice from aunt Cinil Requet at night MARCH 31D5 1917 12 0189 LEBE 30 Fri—D 10.36 a.M. Hot day; wises swent ming in morning aid some washing 31 Sat days sports at Grest Schular ioon F.B. Br gade championship.
APRIL 4th Month 1917 1 Sun-Palm Sunday chuid parade in mornion Wnote 10 2 Mon 14 heg playeo combined KA. & mcs great yoine but no scort. APRIL 30 Days 1917 3T4 Rayed 1t Zielk Twop very lost 3.0. foth frenny goine: 4 Wed—Hilary Law Sittings end Brigade rac meeten the Wade; but didn'ot on picquet at night. to wst
APRIL 4th Month 1917 5 Th.—Maundy Thursday. Dividends due Carriecome back of ngade possed lease through caw all the boys Gelliry ready for Strenf C FrI Good Friday Left be aust cast fpassed a Bregade, procieding the shelk fowand to lost hurse containing £33 APRIL 30 Days. 1917 7 Sat-Easter Fve 29 149 pm. Left Thiek-Zowand early a got io kapa about didnertine. tod some hote of the nozzy. arried at than junn about 4. camped just out of the town, awfiely pretty neace peenty 107 vegitation 8 Sun—Easter Day up Fraing camp tanls not all day. anorat over on ant too 7 them kipt
APRIL 4th Month 1917 9 Mon-Easter Monday. Bank Holiday. Lady Day Fire Insurance ceases funt day: General routure Gudge Brown You 10 T4 —Easter Tuesday In 9th faligu took of oid casth phots yr Khan feners. APRIL 30 Days 1917 Ir Wed ged camped: to Char hosze beeter MCH back horse to Took rcquet at night 32 lefte Inspectiion mornio sawes over boinbed lafor + hit our canbeen 12
APRIL 4th Month 1917 pFri Cricade on outpost letcamp or 12 very interesting & fertile cunt Taubesand in galvr berto no bornbs. 14 Sat— (8.12 p.M. stayed on outpos tell 23 in afternoon event back to Kha Yience Beg mai in including parcels: mother. Bluebyes. Jis) Wis hos rouna, neddon, messt. APRIL 30 Days 1917 15 Sun-Low Sunday 1.12 My Pilot Narade in mornnng tauke over during service saw dirdi Cunninhan ned Kelly as he is known in the inroBregade 16 Mon on laystableman busy day paskig up tr bia stouch Crint Left Khan Yunus at 7.30 for shelal. havelled all night.
155 APRIL 4th Month 1827 10 17) T4--Easter Law Sittings begin arrieed at Shelal at sunrese-o watered up at Wads Tuyy caniped sutpostarigh till 5.20 n01 18 Wed Left outpost early and came back to cam up about 10.30 for supports to Lno Brigade. Vaut ovr & drophed two bombs in the artellin conssing a few casicalities. packa up p a g stun. 6 82 APRIL 30 Days 1917 19 Th—Primrose Day (1887) it Atseded Hamerea into dayeight: + atraight action wen heavily shell crossing the flat wihe counte cttachled at 4.30 Lept Rosition after dark + Zel.d proceeded bask to fiminet: watterd in the about 12.3s PMM vade 20 Fri arrieed at Tel. Cl. Kmmnd stayed till 9.30 then proceeed S.W. to Guz- Il-Seleit where we were reavily bombed with beg casualihles. 76 horses B men. 14bombs weere dropped Guzze watered up at Wade
AUSTR 4th Month 1917 JRSON 21 Sat—e 2.1 p.m. Styed on outpod all day; rreleived at 4.30. X proceeded to Wadi Guzzi watered up & wen back to Chan Yunies. arriving at 930. on prequit at night Sasan el Rebir. 22 Sun—and after Easter Gineral Rautine tanbe over dropped 3 bombs but did litte damage backed up at 220 shrocceded to abn Sitta Tusts night off duty for a ced camped near a bartey 1o patch: & had agreat cleet Gold letters from fees 1917 30 Days 23 Mon—S. George Cheaidileat 520; quiendo grozing horses Ty Wath saell not Wathing. Mrush de 24 APRIL
4th Month 1917 APRIL 4011 -S. Mark 25. Wed rother reely hat an 9 to more la 4 wl 47 26. Th Renailt at 2.20 left for yo Teld Fara passe a seledt. Brigade at Ger wen watered up at Wadi ino baot Dure. Sirta dont 1130 af again to arrior Sheeal again on 42 late in afernoo outpost at night 30 Days! 1917 APRIL 27 Fri uppost at day ner gsh forve cordy a couple hasedo pable al a/5.3 retieved off out nolf 28 Sat Hand to arms H.30 had gretted sheak for breakfast rosued with some gy stiff Ihoppital Jumny, Febles event Very coridy day. gotenon shod

MARCH 1917
20 Tu
Left Bardwell at 7.30
& came to El Arish
did not camp near
the town, but just
about "Kilo 152"
Pitched tents in morning
21 Wed
On fatigue all day.
Picquet at night
1917 MARCH
22 Th
Sq canteen fixed
up
Reneés birthday
23 Fri
Quiet day. went swimming
during day.
did some washing.
 

 

MARCH 1917
24 Sat
2nd Camel Corps came
through & camped
quite close to us.
25 Sun
Attack started at Gaza
very foggy morning
got hotter during the day.
Played the F A. lost 3-0
1917 MARCH
26 Mon
Quiet day. getting warmer
took horses for swim
27 Tu
Combined F.A & 1st LH played
very hard game: no
score
Concert at Y.M. C. A.
Got inoculated for
Cholera
 

 

MARCH 1917
28 Wed
Natives doing date.
inoculation Tanks
passed en route for Gaza
20 Th
Hot day. got parcel
from Aunt Emily
Piquet at night
1917 MARCH
30 Fri
Hot day; horses swimming
in morning
did some washing.
31 Sat
Great days sports at
F.A. Schular room
Brigade championship.
 

 

APRIL 1917
1 Sun
Church parade in
morning
Wrote [shorthand]
2 Mon
1st Reg played combined
F.A. & M.G.s great game
but no score.
1917 APRIL
Played 1st Field Troop
footy. lost 3-0. very
funny game:
4 Wed
Brigade race meeting on
the Wadi; but did not go
On picquet at night.
 

 

APRIL 1917
5 Th
Clarrié came back off
leave 4th Brigade passed
through saw all the boys
Getting ready for Stunt
6  Fri 
Left El Arish early, passed
the 4th brigade, proceeding
to Shiek Zowaiid
lost purse containing
£5:
1917 APRIL
7 Sat
Left Shiek Zowaiid
early & got to Rafa
about dinner time. took
some photos of the "nozzy."
Arrived at Khan Yunus
about 4. camped just
out of the town: awfully
pretty place: plenty of
vegetation
8 Sun
Fixing up Camp
all day. hot, taubes
over but anti aircraft 
kept them too high.
 

 

APRIL 1917
9 Mon
Quite day: General
routine:
Saw "Gudge" Brown
10 Tu 
On 9th fatigue took
photos of old castle in
Khan Yunus.
1917 APRIL
11 Wed
Changed camped: to
better pozzy.
took pack horse to Y.M.C.A.
On Picquet at night
12 Th 
Rifle Inspection in
morning
Taubes over bombed
Rafa & hit our canteen
  

 

APRIL 1917
13 Fri
Brigade on outpost.
left camp on 12. very
interesting & fertile country
Taubes over in galore but
no bombs.
14 Sat
Stayed on outpost till
2.30 in afternoon &
went back to Khan
Yunus.
Big mail in including
parcels:
Mother. "Blue Eyes."  Jess(2) Theo
Loo, Norma, Nedda. Mess P.

1917 APRIL
15 Sun
Sky Pilot parade in
morning taube over
during service
Saw Andy Cunningham
(Ned Kelly as he is known
in the 2nd Brigade)
16 Mon
On day stableman: busy
day packing up for
big "Stouch Stunt"
Left Khan Yunus at
7.30 for Shelal. travelled
all night.
 

 

APRIL 1927
17 Tu
Arrived at Shelal at
sunrise & watered up
at Wadi Guzzi: & camped
till 5.30. & outpost at night
18 Wed
Left outpost early and
came back to camp left
about 10.30 for supports to
2nd Brigade. Taube over
& dropped two bombs in
the artillery causing
a few casualties: packed
up for a big stunt.
APRIL 1917
19 Th
xxxxxx Arrived Hareira at
daylight: & straight into
action: were heavily shelled
crossing the flat: were
counter attacked at 4.30.
Left position after dark &
proceeded back to Tel-el-Jimnel:
watered in the
Wadi about 12.30 P.M.
20 Fri
Arrived at Tel -el - Jimnel
stayed till 9.30 then proceeded
S.W. to Guz- el- Seleib where
we were heavily bombed
with big casualties. 76 horses
& 33 men. 14 bombs were dropped
watered up at Wadi Guzzi
 

 

APRIL 1917
21 Sat
Stayed on outpost all
day; relieved at 4.30.
proceeded to Wadi Guzzi &
watered up & went back
to Khan Yunus. arriving
at 9.30.
on picquet at night -
Basan - el - Kebir.
22 Sun
General Routine taube
over dropped 3 bombs but
did little damage backed
up at 2 30 & proceeded
to Abu Sitta
First night off duty for a
week: camped near a barley
patch: & had a great sleep
Got 2 letters from Jess
1917 APRIL
23 Mon
Revaille at 5.30; quiet day.
grazing horses.
24 Tu
Weather still hot.
Nothing much doing  

 

APRIL 1917
25 Wed
Another very hot day.
too hot to move around much.
26. Th
Revaille  at 2.30 left for
Tel - el - Fara. passing 2nd
Brigade at Guz - el -Sebel
watered up at Wadi & went
back to Abu Sitta arriving
about 11 30 left again for
Shelal again at 4 30 arriving
late in afternoon
On outpost at night 
1917 APRIL
27 Fri
Outpost all day. very
cloudy a couple showers
passed over. very 
acceptable
relieved off outpost at 5 30
28 Sat
Hand to arms 4.30 had
grilled steak for breakfast
issued with some gift stuff
Jimmy Gibbs went to Hospital
Very cloudy day. got Lemon
shod
 

 
Last edited by:
Jen RevellyJen Revelly
Last edited on:

Last updated: