Photostat copy of diaries of Benjamin Bennett Leane, 1915-1916 - Part 2

10
skinned native with his
robes bulging with stores, will
exhort you to purchase "orangees"
and "choc-lat." You may
go out alone into the middle
of the desert thinking to
escape them; but so sure
as you stop a dirty black
ill clad figure will rise up
from somewhere or nowhere,
like a genie, and produce
"orangees", "choc-lat" or
"Jip-shun Lime-es."
During the night one of the
men (a little bit "free" I think)
fell of the train while it
was going. I managed
to make the native station
master at the first stop
understand after a great

deal of difficulty, and at
Zagazig we received word
that he had been picked
up, dazed, and cut about
the head a bit, and
was being sent on by the
next train. So far he
hasn't arrived.
We were able to purchase
some cooked pidgeons,
"eggs a-cook" and bread
at one of the stations, so had
a good breakfast. We
reached Tel-el-Kebir about
9 am (late owing to a
break down of our engine
on the way). Roy Hurcombe,
our Transport Officer met us
at the station. He has all
the horses here, and they are

12
in excellent condition.
This afternoon all the mounted
officers decided to try their
mounts. We intended
to have a little riding lesson
under the Transport Officer,
but the school fell through
or broke up. First the
C.O. mounted, and managed to
jerk out that he didn't want
officers to break away all
over the place (He didn't
say it in nice even tones
like that - he jerked it
out in between endeavours to
keep his seat). While he
was issuing these instructions
McCann mounted. At once
his horse bolted and
made for the horse lines,

clearing a bundle of fodder
on the way. That didn't
make me feel too confident,
but I wasn't going to be
bluffed, so I mounted.
Two twists, a rear, a
plunge, and my horse
was also making for home
at the double. James'
horse followed. Arrived
at the lines my neddy
pulled up of his own
accord. I wasn't going
to let on that he had
bolted with me, so just
casually asked the transport
sergeant if he didn't think
my horse wanted a different
bit. While I was asking
that James arrived. His horse

14
of course, had also bolted,
but he had the cheek
to say that the colonel
had sent him after me.
After much trouble we got
the horses back to the starting
point again, and after
awhile set out across the
desert. We tried to make
the beggars walk sedately
but not they. In about
five minutes the desert
was filled with horses
galloping here, there, and
everywhere, and riders
hanging on with all their
might. I had about
two hours of that and
at the end very proudly
brought my steed home

prancing, but well in hand.
But sore - where's the
violet powder. And stiff
- but I'll be stiffer
tomorrow.
We've got no tents yet,
except one which the C.O. begged
from Brigade, and in which
he and I and Capt Shaw
are sleeping. Bon soir; dormez bien.
Friday Dec^r 31^st 1916. - It isn't all
joy being a mounted officer.
I said I'd be stiffer - and I am.
I went for a short ride again
this afternoon, but couldn't
stick it for long so came home.
I've been writing letters all the
evening (New Year's Eve you
know) and am now going
to turn in. There is still

16
no tentage for the men, and
very little food. All they
had for tea tonight was bread,
and not too much of that.
The Army Service people are
upside down and by no
means ready for the influx
of troops. It isn't a very
cheerful New Year's Eve for the
men. We managed to
bring over a few things
from the Lemnos mess, so
will be able to last out for
a few days, and I still
have a little tinned stuff
from my Xmas parcels.
This time last year I was
sitting in my tent at Mena
writing to you and listening
to all the discords that

usually accompany the passing
of the old year and the
advent of the new. There's
been a lot happened since then.
I wonder what will have
happened by this time next year.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 1^ST 1916.
Hail to the New Year! May
it see the conclusion of this
pesky war, I don't know
whether I've started the new year
well or ill. I've been unlucky
in that that beast Ochre pitched
me off, and lucky in that I
didn't break my neck. I'll
tell you how it happened.
We gave the men a holiday
today, and this afternoon
held a sports meeting. As it

18
was a beautiful afternoon
and not much doing I
went for a ride with Roy
Hurcombe. We had a
very enjoyable ride and
Ochre was as good as gold.
We watched the sports for
awhile and then started
for home. I said we
started for home. Ochre knew
it and it wasn't long before
we were going home. We
left Hurcombe far behind.
I did my level best to pull
the beast in, but I might
as well have had my
reins round the buffer of
a railway engine. It
was pleasant enough going
however until we reached

the metal road and the blighter
shied. I then had my
final lesson on "How it feels
to be pitched off a horse."
I distinctly remember hitting
the road with my face.
How many yards I slid in
that position, I can't say,
but if you could see the
right side of my face -
or where my face used
to be - you would think
I must have slid several.
I can't wear a boot on
my left foot either, as I
caught it in the stirrup
and strained the muscles.
I believe I remarked once before
that it isn't all joy being
a mounted officer. "Oh well!"

20
Happens that quite a lot
of the chaps went on the
jog last night. They
couldn't get any liquor in
the camp and enjoy
New Years Eve in the good
old fashioned style, so they
went to Zagazig (about
12 miles distant) to get it there.
Unfortunately for them they
 were nabbed by the
piquet and brought back.
Among them were three
sergeants. I had a little
"heart to heart" talk with
them on the matter and
then sent them to their lines
with instructions to refrain from
being __ fools and risk
losing their stripes. Just
 
between ourselves I don't blame
them a bit - or rather
I do blame them because
a N.C.O. ought to set a good
example, but I don't
wonder at their break. They
can't even get enough food in
camp, let alone liquor.
I suggested to the C.O. to
send into Zag-a-zig and
buy some provisions etc
out of Regimental funds,
but he wouldn't hear of it
- wanted to know who was
going to 'recoup' him etc -
and when I said I was
willing to put in a fiver
myself and was sure all
the officers would do the
same and chance whether

22
we were "recouped" or not,
rather than let things go on
as they are, he got
quite cross. I am about
fed up with the doddering
old fool. Between ourselves,
so are the men and most
of the officers. They have
no regard whatever for him.
Tonight he has put a
cordon round the camp
- a sentry every few
yards. If a man wants
to go to the latrines he
has to be passed from
one sentry to another. It's
positively ridiculous, and
is asking for trouble.
I am just about full
up of the job.

Sunday January 2^nd 1916
Kid. I don't know whether you'd
love your hub very much just
now if you could see him. He
looks and feels as though he had
had a very very bad Saturday
night. He's stiff and sore in
every part of his body, two
of his toes are absolutely purple
and his face - well, I'm
afraid it's spoilt. He'd take a 
prize at any fancy dress show
as a battered pugilist.
It's an ill wind that doesn't
blow any good though. I only
have one side of my face
to shave now.
I meant to have gone for
another ride this afternoon
but we got some tents so I've

24
been busy getting them
pitched etc. Also about
sixty came up for Orderly Room
this afternoon. We took 'em
in clusters, and served
out detention at the rate of
14 days per head in wholesale
quantities. Several wouldn't
take the C.O's sword, but
elected to go on for Court Martial.
Very foolish of them, for
they'll most likely get a
more severe punishment. Also
it means a hell of a lot
of work for me.
The C.O. had adopted my
suggestion at last, and sent
a party to Zagazig this
morning to purchase stores.
They came back about five

with a lot of salmon, cakes,
∧ tinned fruit and other stuff.
Also we had a glorious mail
today - 220 bags in all -
and that has made things
much more cheerful. It is
now nearly midnight, and I
have just finished reading those
I have already received. Three
from you, three from mother,
and one from each Norman,
Ethel, & Mr Dean; also four
from various friends in England.
And three be-yew-tiful
parcels, two from Aunt Agnes and
one from Nora and [[Boe?]] Perkins.
One of Aunt Agnes' parcels contained
a pudding (in a cloth); ∧ the other a big cake,
some sweets, biscuits, camphor
and a magazine. The one from

26
the Perkins girls was full of
delicious home-made biscuits,
and contained also two prs of mits.
There are still about sixty
bags to sort, so expect much
more yet.
Monday Janry 3^rd 1916.
Still more mail. I'm
overwhelmed. Several more
letters, including one from
darling old you, and five
more parcels - one from you
with socks made by your mother
& yourself; and hankies;
one from Norman with all manner
of goodies - cheese, nuts, tobacco,
potted meat, prunes, pipe & tobacco,
cigarettes, café au lait etc etc;
one from mother, with a lovely
whopping great pudding in

it (the outside was rather fermented,
but it hadn't gone right through),
some candles, cheese, soap, etc etc;
one from Jack Dean with figs,
raisins, two mouth organs, a diary,
writing pad & sundries; and
one from Ethel with hankies,
writing pad, sweets; & a photo of
the "famibly".  When I'll eat
all the goodies I don't know
- but I'm doing my best.
We got 38 tents today -
and pitched them in 30 minutes: not
bad going that. Camp is beginning
to look a bit more home-like and
ship shape now. Heard today
that Heritage has gone back to
Australia - went yesterday.
I hope you see him. He
deserves his trip home.

28
Tuesday Jan 4^th 1916
Still they come! Three more
parcels today - one from Uncle
Arthur containing 2 prs underpants
& 2 singlets, splendid quality stuff
too; one was from Ethel, the
one she sent me for my last
birthday! It has been eight
months getting to me. Originally it
contained socks and toffees;
when it arrived it contained
toffee socks. The third parcel
was from Julie and contained
a hanky with a very nice note.
Also there were five more letters
one each from yourself. mother,
Ethel, June, and Aunt Agnes. It's
grand to get all these bonny
letters - but when am I
going to reply to them all!

There has been a good deal
of rain again today. This part
of Egypt is quite different to Mena
as regards weather conditions. I
suppose it is because it is nearer
the coast. I got my
batman to go over to the village
today and bring me some
rush mats. My tent is quite

swank now, and looks so
clean and spruce - not a
bit like me. Ted came
over to see me today. He
came over from Lemnos yesterday.
2^nd Division Headqrs are comparatively
near us, so I should see him
fairly frequently. He could tell
me nothing really about Pay or Allow.
We had Aunt Agnes' pudding
at our table (Headqrs.) at mess