Photostat copy of diaries of Benjamin Bennett Leane, 1915-1916 - Part 8

130
asked for 18 men from us
to replace backward men
in their own company (the

C.O. is trying to get Nos 1 & 2 Coys.
out within a week). We
knew the men would be keen
to get out, especially as at
present they have no camels
themselves, and we anticipated
rather a lot of volunteers.
Eventually we got the 18,
but I am pleased to say
that not one of my section
would leave it.
Clarie Fairlie came over
this afternoon and brought
a young chap by name
Stan Thomas with him. They
are both protegees of Ethels.
Clarie was able to tell me
where to find him. Edie (Ethel's friend,
who has received instructions from
Ethel to hug the first Leane she
meets, and for whom I have
naturally been hunting ever since
I received Ethel's letter), so this
evening Butler, Rae, and self
walked across to the No 4 Aus.
Hospital, where she is. We
found her alright, but I
regret to say that owing to
various circumstances the hugging
had to be postponed. Anyhow
"Barkis is willin'."
Saturday Feby 19^th 1916.
CO.'s inspection this morning
No 3 Coy were just IT. This
afternoon I went to the races
at Gezireh with Morgan & Denson.
Rather an unpleasant day as

 

 

132
regards the weather — windy
& dusty. However, we went
to the Continental after and
had a hot bath which took
the sand out of our ears
& eyes to a certain extent.
We had dinner at the
Petrograd and then came

home. It is only 9.30 now
and I am going straight to bed.
Sunday Feb 20^th 1916.
I stayed in this morning
to write letters, but was interrupted

first by one and then by
another so that I wrote
very little at all. About
four o'clock Parker and I
went over to Zietoun to see Francisco.
He was asleep, so we woke
him up and made him
come into Heliopolis with us. I had
arranged to go to church with
M^rs Morlet so when Parker and
Francisco went off to Cairo to have
tea at Groppers I stayed behind
& had tea at Heliopolis. stayed
and listened to the Orchestra until
nearly six and then went across
to the Villa Montrose, only to
find that M^rs Morlet had had
to go to Heloun unexpectedly.
So I caught the train and went
into Cairo. Saw everybody
flocking into the Salle Kleber Picture
House, so followed. A very
fine picture entitled "Cabiria"
took up the whole programme.
It is about the finest thing
I have ever seen in the
picture line, and the music

 

 

134
was very good too. Coming 
out I met Parker & Francisco
again, so we all went to
the Petrograd to dinner.
After dinner we went first
to the Casino and then to
L'Abbaye des Roses, at
both of which places the
shows and everything connected
with them were rotten. So
we came home. Oh Kiddie,
I'm absolutely fed up with
this life. It's a waste of
money and a waste of
time, and the "pleasure"
one gets out of it is a
sort of Dead Sea fruit.
I would rather a hundred
times spend a quiet
evening in our own home.
I wish something would develop
so that we could get into a
scrap and do our job. xxxx
We'd be happier and
better off.
Monday Feb 21^st 1916.
Still on foot drill etc , for
want of camels. It gets rather
sick. I am teaching
the whole of my section signalling,
partly, to break the
monotony of the work but
mainly because I think it
will be very useful.
This evening I have been
writing to you. Presently I
am going into Cairo to an
Orchestral concert at Saults.
It does not commence until
10 pm so I expect it will

 

 

136
be well into morning before
I get home again. I had
intended going to bed early
tonight, but I would miss
lots to hear good music.
Tuesday Feby 22^nd 1916
I got home at one o'clock
this morning, but the concert
was worth it. I think I
shall go to them all.
This afternoon I went over
to the Hospital with Capt Parker
to arrange about getting our
teeth fixed up. The dentist
was very busy, so we have
made another appointment
for Thursday. This evening
I have been writing again.
The Russians seem to have been
very successful against the
Turks recently. I should think
Johnno would be getting just
about sick of the whole show
now. If they were to pull out
it would make an enormous
difference to affairs, and would
perhaps mean the speedy termination
of the whole show.
When Turkey first declared herself
on the side of Germany we
were rather inclined to treat
her with contempt, but she
has proved herself a very formidable
opponent. Germany has
certainly played Turkey very
cleverly.
Wednesday. Feby 23^rd 1916.
This afternoon Rae and I went
into Cairo together, he to the bank,
I to the Citadel to make another

 

 

138
inspection of the Mosque of Mahamat
Aly and to take a few snaps.
We managed to meet again at
5.30 and go to the pictures.
I met Francisco at the Citadel,
and as he had an appointment
at Groppis with Col. cass, I
went back with him. We
met Col. Cass and all had
tea together. Rae also blew
in and joined us. After
tea we went to the first house
of "Cabiria" at the Salle Kleber.
I was able to follow the
picture better this time. After
the pictures we had dinner
at the club, and then home.
Thursday, Feby 24^th 1916.
Man proposes — etc.
I was to have gone to dinner
at 3^rd AGH tonight with Parker
& Butler, but have just lobbed
home — 8 pm. This afternoon
I took in an escort
of 20 men to draw 257000
rounds of ammunition from
the Citadel. We got there

alright but found that
only three wagons had
been sent instead of seven.
I rang up Kasr el hil, and
got them to send along the
extra transport, and while
we were waiting I went
along to have a look at
the Turkish prisoners. About
30 of the officers were playing
football in the compound,
and seemed to be a very
merry crowd. They were a

 

 

 140
fine looking lot of fellows on 
the whole, too. I met
the English commandant
of the prisoners camp, and
he introduced me to one 
of the officers, a Bimbashi.
He was a very decent fellow,
and was very interested
when I told him all my
escort were Australians
(they had on their new drill
uniforms with shirts, and
certainly looked a fine lot
of men). He said "The
Australian, he is good ; he
is strong like a lion."
I returned the compliment
by telling him that the
Australians have great respect
for the Turks (which is
quite true) so we were soon
very good friends.
Eventually the extra
transport came along about
5 o'clock, and we loaded
up. All went well until
we were coming down
the Citadel hill, when
one of the wagons got
away and the two mules
were unable to hold it
back. It ended up
by crashing into another
wagon and practically
telescoping it. I expected
to find both mules smashed
up, but when at last
we managed to get them
from under the wagon I
found that they were very

 

 

142
little damaged. The wagon
however, was badly smashed,
I commandeered another
wagon which happened
to pass (much to the

displeasure of the driver)
and finally reached
the barracks at about
half past seven.
Friday Feb 25^th 1916
No 2 Company move
off tomorrow to the Western
Frontier, to a place near
Tripoli, about 50 miles beyond
Mirza Matrub. I have
been dodging about all day
trying to get revolvers and
field glasses. I managed to
get hold of the revolvers, but
field glasses are non-existent.
I started a short course of lessons
in French at the Berlitz school this
afternoon. I hope I have time
to finish them before I go away
Tonight I am going in to Saults
to another of those orchestral concerts
I saw Allan (Ted's boy) today.
His father is at Ismailia and
is well, but Allan Sen^r
has gone to hospital, they
think with para-typhoid.
Saturday Feb 26^th 1916
Went to town this morning to
get chin straps and puggarees
from Ordnance. this afternoon
at 2.30 No 2 Company left
for Tripoli. They are to
convoy a big consignment
of camels, and expect to be
away about six weeks. 

 

 

144

After they had gone I went 

into town again, as I had

to be at the Berlitz school at 3.

After the lesson I took a 

few snaps of Cairo, has a 

hot bath at the Continental,
tea at Gropper's, and then 

went to the pictures. Got 

home about ten.

I net young Ray in 

town. He and his father

are both at the Base Camp

at Gizah.

Sunday 27^th

Orderly Officer today, so have

not been out. Anyway, 

it has been a beast of a

day. I did think of 

going to a concert tonight,

but don't think I will after all.
Monday 28^th

Had a good day with the camels

today. About noon I got a 

message from Allan (Ted's son) asking

me to ring him up. On doing so

I found that he went down to Ismail

yesterday and say Ray,

who has been given command

of the 48^th Bn. and wants me 

to go with him as his adjutant.

It has placed me in quandary.

On the one hand I have a job

that suits me down to the ground

and in which I am more

contented than ever before in 

my short military career,

but in which there is not

much opportunity for promotion;

and on the other hand there

is (most likely) immediate

 

 

146

promotion, and every chance of 

future promotions, and I 

should be able to work very

well with Ray, I think.

Everybody here thinks I would 

be foolish to turn down the 

opportunity, so I think on 

the whole I had better

apply for the transfer.

This evening MacDonald

brought a couple nurses from

3rd A.G.H. to dinner. One

of them had the fragrance 

of phul-nana about her

and it brought back to my 

mind the remembrance of those

happy days when I first met

you.

Tuesday. Feby 29^th

I sent in my application
for transfer this morning. The CO.

wouldn't hear of it at first, but

after awhile he consented as he 

considered it would be to my

advantage. I sent a wire to 

Ray at Ismailia, but it was 

returned this afternoon "whereabouts

unknown. I went into town to 

make enquiries, and find that 

he is most probably at Tel-el-Kebir,

so tomorrow I must either go down

myself or send Perry.

The Sergeant major has just come 

in with news. There are 100

camels for us at Zeitoun; and

No 1 Company is to move out 

to Minnia (down towards Khartum)

at 2 o'clock tomorrow. There

has been a big fight down

in the Mursa Matruh region

 

 

(148)

(where our No 2 Company went)

In which our fellows (South African 

Infantry and English yeomanry) were

successful. Even Pahsa's brother 

has been killed, and his xx

lieutenant taken prisoner.

Our No 2 Company would hardly

be in the region of the fighting

yet. The real German 

Offensive seems to have developed

at Verdun, so it would

appear as though the

final victory will be decided

in that region, and not 

in this theatre of the war as

was at one time thought.

The taking of Erzerum by

the Russians has made a 

lot of difference to affairs

in this region. Probably we
will not see France. I hope so.

Wednesday March ^1st

After much ado, No 1 Company

got away about 3 o'clock this

afternoon, with Capt Butler

in command. So I am now in

command of No 3 Company. This

afternoon I took 50 men over

to Eir Shemir, about four

or five miles distant, to get

90 camels just through from 

the Soudan. the Camel Transport

Corps is near Eir Shemir, and I 

had a look around their camp

while waiting for the train

to come in. I would not 

be in the Transport Corps for 

all the tea in China. A company

 consists of 1 Officer, 8 NCO (White)

1000 natives and 2000 camels.