Photostat copy of diaries of Benjamin Bennett Leane, 1915-1916 - Part 15

66                         

don't you. However, I was

just feeling at peace with

the world again; and

had finished a letter to you

and was on the point

of going to bed, when

along comes another urgent

message to have all the

men for the training

battalion sent into Railhead

by 2 am. Well, I've

sent out to all the posts

and am now waiting

for them to come in so

that I can send them

on in one party. They've

got a good two hours' 

march to Railhead and 

then nearly twice as far

to the Canal, so they'll be
travelling all night. I expect

it will be after one am

before I get to bed. It's

hardly worth going, is it.
These blanky Turks 

disappointed us this morning;

stafe 'em. Young Fairley 

reported to me when I

went the rounds at stand to

that he had seen figures

moving on the skyline just

on towards dawn, so I rode

out to see if I could find

any trace of them. Some

distance out I struck two

sets of footprints heading

away from our positions. I

could see they were fresh

prints because there had

been a heavy dew in the

68                           

night and the sand turned

over by the boots was quite

dry. I followed them

for a long way out but

could see no sign of any

one so gave it up and

came in. Very likely it

was a couple enemy scouts

spying out the position.

I am afraid Jacko is

going to think twice about

attacking, though
I had letters from Norman

and Mother today also.

Yours and theirs are the

first Australian letters I have

received with my new address

on them. They were

dated April 2^nd.
Goodnight sweetheart
Saturday May 13^th 1916
The Brigadier has expressed 

himself as being very satisfied

with the work we have done

since we came here. The 

boys certainly have done well,

too. They dig all day

and man the trenches all 

night, and are very

cheerful about it too, all

things considered. The Australian

never minds hard work when

he sees that it's for a good 

purpose. Anyway, they

are getting a half holiday today

and a full holiday tomorrow.

We expect to leave the trenches

early next week. The 13^th

Brigade are coming out here

and we are going back to get equipped

for France.

70               

Sunday May 14^th 1916

Yesterday and today

have been frightfull hot,

not only has the sun been

fierce, but a scorching wind

has blown all the time. The

nights are pleasant though.
This afternoon I rode into

Railhead to pay for the

Canteen goods, and then on

to the Canal to square up

last week's pay. The pay 

office people say we will

be in France by June 1^st.

I had tea with young Allan

at Railhead, and then rode

out in the moonlight. He

came with me some of the 

way. I thoroughly enjoyed

the ride, and got back to
camp just before "lights out"

I must finish up now and

get my light out.

Your darling face is looking 

at me from the table, sweetheart,

and little Gwen's too. Happy

daddy to have such dear ones.

By the way, those tracks I

followed the other morning were

genuine alright. During the

day a patrol was sent

out. They followed the

tracks for nearly three miles

and then came on the place

where he had left his horse.

This morning the aeroplane

reconnaissance reports three

large parties about 15 miles

out advancing this way, so

perhaps we'll get something tonight.

I hope so, anyway.

72                          

Monday May 15^th 1916.

The weather gets hotter 

every day. At three o'clock

this morning the breeze was

quite hot, so you can 

imagine what it was like

by midday. Thank the

Lord we have orders to

move into Railhead again

on the 19^th. We will at

least be able to get a swim

once a week from there.

Tuesday May 16^th 1916.

The C.O. Padre, MO

& self rode into Railhead

this afternoon, and had

tea with young Allan.

After tea we visited Major

Imlay at the 12^th Field Amb

base (he was badly kicked
by his horse) and then rode

out in the moonlight. Not 

only the days, but the 

nights also are very hot

now. Colonel Ross, the

C.O. of the relieving Battalion

(the 51^st) came out with

his officesr this morning and

I had to conduct them round

the various pots. It

was very dry work and

we were all glad to 

find a few cold bottles

in the water tank at

A Coy's post.

Wednesday May 17^th 1916.

Today General Antill's official

cinema show came out to

take the 48^th at work. We

put up a good stunt for them

74          

with ball ammunition and

live grenades - in fact I

think it was a bit too

realistic for them; bits of

bomb were whizzing all

over the place; one piece

caught the Colonel's horse in

the leg, but didn't hurt him

badly. Then when the

firing was over we made

a counter attack, with

much cheering and several

casualties. In case you

should see the picture later

on and be straining your

eyes looking for me. I'll

warn you that you won't find

me. I kept well in the

rear and made myself a

casualty in the first rush.
Cameras are worse to face than

machine guns. After the 

show was over the General

insisted on getting a group

of all the officers, so I had

to be in that.
It was extremely hot, so 

after the show we adjourned

to the mess and had

something - several somethings -

wet and cold. As Colonel

Ross said the day he was

out here going round the

posts; there are only two

things to do in this desert

-drink and work.

We get hot weather in Australia

-hot enough in all conscience

-but it can't hold a

candle to this place. It is

76                 

frightful. We have given

up working the men at all

in the afternoons now.

Unfortunately too, water has

been very scarce during the

last two or three days. The

ration has been cut down to

a bare gallon per man per 

day for all purposes. Anthow,

we will be back at

Railhead in a couple days,

and please God we'll be

well out of the damned

country in a few weeks

Friday May 19^th 1916 -9.15am

I'm putting in my last few

minutes in this hole, thank

goodness. I wish it was my

last few minutes in Egypt. 
Unfortunately we all have a
fortnight or so to do. The 51^st

battalion arrived her about

seven o'clock this morning, and

took over the defences. Five

minutes ago the last of the baggage

camels moved off to Railhead,

and I am now waiting for

one company commander to

report that his post has been

handed over and I am off.

I've got the mare's reins round

my arm and she' restless to

be off, consequently the book

gets pulled out of my hand

every minute or so. Now

she's nosing at my shoulder,

Now she's knocked my helmet

off, strafe her. And here

comes the company commander

so I'm off.

78             

Saturday 20^th. I got inoculated

again yesterday afternoon, and

am feeling rotten today.

The Doc quite cheerfully

informed me that he was waiting

to see how it affected me because

he had discovered that the

stuff he had injected into me

had gone bad. These scientists!!!

I am going to bed now

Sunday May 21^st

The whole battalion marched

down to the Canal this morning

for a swim, and came back

in the cooler part of the

afternoon. Ray has gone

on to Cairo. One of our officers,

Capt. Evans, is getting married to

a sister from the 3rd A.G.H. and

Ray has gone up to give the
lady away. On the way back

to camp we passed Evans

on his way to Serapeum.

I would like to have got a

snap of him, squatting

down in the bottom of a

jolly limber. I saw

Geo McLean while I was

at Serapeum. He is a corporal

in the 16^th Bn. He is very

browned, but looks rather

thin & not too strong. I should

think. Poor old George, I 

beat him for you, didn't I?

Thank the Lord I did, too. It was

the best day's work I ever did

for myself.
I had a jolly letter from

young Ba Perkins today, also

a photo of himself in dancing costume

80                 

She is a great kiddie, and

writes a very jolly letter.

There were also three Punches

from Uncle Arthur.

Monday May 22^nd.

More mail today. A letter

from Uncle Arthur and 

another from Ba Perkins,

I've been frightfully busy

today. We are equipping

and organising for all we 

are worth. I'll be glad

to get on the boat and

away. All our horses

were inoculated today, so

we won't be able to ride

them for a day or so.

Tuesday 23^rd

Been busy on musketry

all day today. Got my
preliminary move orders this

evening. The whole Division has

to be ready to embark by the 30^th

-just one week. I notice

a para which states that no

cameras are to be taken. Bad luck.

Today I received two letters from 

England. Poor Aunt Agnes is not

at all well. She has had quite

a long spell of poor health now.

I hope you are all keeping 

well sweetheart. I am in

excellent health myself, but this

sand makes my legs terribly

tired and aching. I pity the

poor devils of men marching about 

in it, with packs up too.

Friday May 26^th, 1916

We are back at Serapeum

East again now, within a few

82                        

hundred yards of the Canal.

We got orders to move in

last Wednesday afternoon,

so combined the move in

with practice in night work.

We left struck camp at

Railhead at half past three

Wednesday afternoon and

marched out at 6.30pm. 

The scheme was to test the

inner defences of the canal.

Certain troops were told off

to defend the canal while

we - 2 Brigades in all-

formed the attacking force.

We left the rendezvous at

8pm Wednesday and

marched on Serapeum.

Of course everything was done

without noise, talking, smoking
etc. At about ten pm we

issued picks & shovels to the

men, and then moved on

to the attack. At about

half past eleven one of the

companies came in touch with

an enemy outpost, which

opened fire, but was rushed

with the bayonet and captured,

At about midnight the 48^th

was ordered to halt & remain

in reserve, while the others

pushed on to the attack.

At 1.30am I received orders

to move up on the left of

the firing line and entrench.

When I got there I found

that the oth first battalions

had entrenched too soon,

but it was no use for us

84                 

to go forward as we would

have masked their fire. So

we dug in where we were, 

leaving 2 companies in reserve.

By 3 am we had a line 

of fairly deep trenches, and

telephone communication with

Headquarters & the firing line and

supports. At 3.30 am

the 'no parade' was blown,

and we assembled and

marched to our new camp.

Everyone was dog tired so we

lay down and slept until

after seven. The tents came

down from the Railhead camp

at about 11am. and by 

lunch time they were all

up and the men in them.

They returned from Cairo
about noon. At 7pm

the operations were continued,

and we took up our positions

in the trenches again. We did

little all night, however, except

shiver in the cold, but at

dawn we moved forward to

the assault. The 48^th Bn

had the job of seizing the

first positions and holding 

them while the other battalions

moved forward to assault the

inner line. We took

the position alright and

established two lines of fire on

two successive ridges. Just then

an unfire put Ray out of

action, so he handed over

the command to me. The ^enemy

fire was too heavy to any