Photostat copy of diaries of Benjamin Bennett Leane, 1915-1916 - Part 9

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It is nigger-driving fine and

simple, and the camels

are the mangiest lot I have

ever seen. The train

with the camels came in

at about half past three. Besides

our ninety there were about

200 for the Transport Corps.

We eventually got them

all unloaded and set off

for camp, arriving there

at about 8 o'clock. I then

found that Ray had been

out to see me; also

there was a reply to my wire

of the previous day to Ray.

It had been opened by

Major Peck, and he had

replied informing me that Ray

was staying at the National Hotel.
I went into town at once but

he was not in, so I left a note

asking him to ring me up &

make an appointment.

Thursday 2^nd

The DOC. informed me as I 

was shaving this morning

that Ray expected me to

breakfast with him. It was

then nearly 7.30, so I had

to get a wriggle on. I reached

the National about 8.15, but

found Rays room empty when

I got there. However, as his

clothes were on the chair

and his coffee untouched, I 

guessed that he was in the

bath, so waited. Presently

he came in, and, when he 

saw me, looked at his watch

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in surprise — Half past seven

it said. However he was

soon dressed and we had

breakfast. Afterwards we

went round to the Base Offices;

to Shepherd's to meet Colonel

Weit (who we heard was

staying there) to find that he

had left for Ismailia the

day before. Then to Parlade

& Taha Ibrahims to order rubber

stamps etc; then we met

Father Fahey and had a 

couple drinks together, then

Ray went to Gizeh and I

came home. However I have

decided finally to go with him,

and he is ging to finish the

application from his end

in order to get it through quickly.
I am afraid he puts too much

confidence in my ability as

an adjutant. He seems to

think that I am capable

of taking over and organising

the whole of the administration 

of the battalion, and I am 

afraid he will be disappointed

in me, However I will do

my best and I hope

we get along alright together

I won't relish getting down

to solid graft again after the

easy time I/ve had here, 

but still it means promotion.

Friday 3^rd March

Took our new camels out

today. Some of them were

very troublesome, but on 

the whole the fellows got

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them in hand very well.

Most of them (the camels)

are frightfully nervous and

roar as soon as you go near

them. One jumped about

a lot and threw his

rider three times. The 

third time the poor chap

sustained a fractured skull

and had to be taken off

in the ambulance. Another

of the fellows got bitten too.

This evening Denison and

I took two of the sisters

from 3rd A.G.H. to the

concert ay Saults. It was

an excellent programme, and

the music was beautiful.

Summer seems to have

commenced in earnest. The
heat of the sun is very fierce, 

and the wind swirls about

and stirs up the sand

horribly.

Saturday 4^th March

Lt Jenkins batman came

back from Assuit today

(where No 2 Company have 

gone) and he says

they are having a great

time. There are a lot of

European residents and 

tourists in the place and

they are entertaining them

day and night. Very

good, very nice, Mr Mcking is.

He took back Capt Butler's 

best uniform with him

so that looks suspicious

156

Sunday March 5^th 1916

Orderly officer today, so

stayed and read. The

book was Tom Sawyer, so

you'll believe me when I

say I it was one of the

most pleasant days I have

spent for a long time. I

reckon at some time or 

other in his life Mark Twain

must have been a  boy -

and he didn't forget it.

I've lived lots of my boyhood

over again today. I've just

finished the book, I'm sorry

to say.

Monday 6^th

Kiddie this must be

terribly uninteresting stuff to you.

I cant help it though. I cant
make adventures come my way. I

could manufacture a few, but

that would be no good to you.

I received a letter from you today

sweetheart dated December 27^th

one of your back ones came

to light. It was none the less

welcome for being old, though.

I also received a parcel

from Uncle Arthur - 2 tins

shortbread, a box of Coal tar

Soap, a tube of toothpaste

& a toothbrush.
This afternoon Woods,

Perry & I rode over to

Eir el Shenir to find some

stray camels. We had

to go along the Cairo-Heliopolis

road and through Cairo Heliopolis to

get there. It was the first

158

time I'd had my camel

among traffic and he was

very nervous, especially of

motors or electric cars coming 

from behind. He would

shie from them as badly

as any horse. Altogether

though, we enjoyed our long

ride, and got back about

half past five. I'm feeling

rather stiff and tired though,

and would gladly go to bed

only that tonight is Monday

and I dont want to miss

the concert at Saults.

Denison and I are going in

with two of the girls from

3rd A G H. Alright sweetheart

now, there's not the least occasion

for jealousy, I assure you.
In fact if you knew Cairo,

Kiddie, you woud be grateful

to them for keeping me

out of mischief. Ordinarily

a fellow goes to town, drinks 

follow, then more drinks, 

then the Kinsaal or the

Casino or some other place

where you can spend a lot

of money but get very little

genuine pleasure.

As it is we go across

to the Hospital, dig up a

couple girls who are disengaged

& are off duty (any two out

of the half dozen or so that

we know) go into Saults,

listen to a couple hours very

good music at the cost of a

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cup of coffee or an icecream,

and a program, and then

come straight home again.

It means that we're home

earlier, spend less money,

and get an evening's 

clean enjoyment into the bargain,

as well as having given

pleasure to Australian girls

who have been all day performing

duties of the sick

wards. And I think

I know you well enough

to know that you'll

understand. I have yet to

meet the girl who can

rob you of any of my love

for you.
Tuesday March 7^th 1916

Just the usual.

Wednesday 8^th

Today a messenger came up

from Ray at Tel el Kebir to ask

me when I can get down. I'm

hanged if I can tell him.

I've had no word yet from

Division and I cant go until

they authorise it. This 

afternoon I ran into Cairo to get

some stationery for him and

then out to Zeitoun & Helmea

to see some of the officers who

were going down tomorrow.

While in Cairo I met Gardner,

the officer who was in charge

of our first draft from England

last July. He was thrown 

from his horse, back in

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January, and smashed his face

a bit. The lucky devil

has been boarded for Australia

and goes back on the next

boat. Oh lucky Jim.

Thursday March 9^th.

Now let's think. What 

have I done today? Up at

six; riding drill at seven;

breakfast at none; grooming 

at ten thirty; lunch at one;

afternoon parade at two thirty;

afternoon tea at four; wrote

a letter to you; dressed at 

seven; at Heliopolis House

at seven fourty five;

had dinner with Lt Graham and

his wife; smoked, talked,

and listened to the orchestra

until ten; came home;
and here I am at ten

fourty five. Next item on

the programme - bed, at 

11pm. Terribly interesting,

isn't it?

So Ewen Pasha is dead.

Perhaps the Young Turk party

may fizzle out now that

their leader is gone. Turkey

as a nation has already had

more than enough, and now

that this schemer has been

removed I think the Germans

will fast lose their grip.

On top of this comes the news

that the German Fleet has

at last come out into the

open. I wonder what

their policy will be - whether

to give bottle to the English Fleet

164

or split up into flying

groups as it were, and

harrass Allied shipping 

and Allied ports as did 

the Goeben, and more

particularly the Einden.

The rumour that the

Australians are bound for

France this month becomes

more and more persistent.

The latest now is that

all outward correspondence

is being delayed, so

you will get no mail for

a few weeks if that is true.

This afternoon some hundreds

of horses from the Lewisunt Park 

passed along the road in

front of our quarters. They are

en route for France I believe.
Friday March 10^th 1916

This morning, more riding drill

and grooming. This afternoon

I took thirty of the best riders

of my company and rode across

to Ein al Shems for some more

camels. We arrived safely back

about 5.30pm. I had expected

some trouble with the traffic,

especially in the very back with

the led camels as well as the

ridden ones, but the fellows

handled them splendidly.

They looked very well riding

along in column of fours

with their neat drill uniforms,

their khaki helmets, their

leather bandoliers, and their

distinctive scarlet patches.

If we were photographed once

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along the road we were

photographed half a score times.

I can tell you the Camel

Corps is some swank, and

the secret envy of all other

Corps in Egypt at present. 
I thoroughly enjoyed my

afternoon's ride.

Saturday 11^th

This morning I received a 

wire from 12th Brigade to see

Gen Selheim & ask him to

expedite my transfer. I did

so, but he says he has

already wired Army Corps

to expedite and can do nothing

until he receives their reply

I asked him did he think

it would be advisable for me to go

down before the authority came
through, but he wouldn't consent.

So I'll just have to wait.

After lunch I went along to the

Museum and put in an interesting

afternoon among the relics of

ancient Egypt. Afterwards I

went along to the Continental for a

haircut and hot bath. As I was

coming away from there I met

Dryden Smith of the old 10^th

They were on their way to meet

Herbert Leazer, so I went

with them and we had 

afternoon tea together in the lounge.

They are all with the 50^th Bn.

now. Major Hurcombe is in command,

& Major Jacob 2^nd in Command,

After tea we went to see

Charlie Chaplin at the pictures,

then back to dinner at the "National"

168

We finished up the evening

at Shepherds' where the

usual weekly dance was

being held, and where

the wealth, beauty and

fashion of Cairo are to be

seen — I don't think.

I often wonder what is

passing through the minds

of the big, well trained

Egyptian servants at Shepherds

as they stand by with

expressionless faces, looking

on at the mincings ad

springs of boy subalterns

and giggling girls with faces

of forty and skirts of seventeen.

There's not one in a 

hundred of us who, but
for the war, could have scraped

together the necessary to buy

a third class passage to Egypt,

much less cut a dash at

Cairo's most select hotel.

Yet now we are able to dine

in state in the great hall.

to watch the beautiful colorings

of the famous electric fountain,

to loll at ease in the

luxurious settees and couches

of the Oriental lounge and

fill its rich dome with 

the smoke of our cigarettes

And I often wonder what

these old servants, who have

seen the elegance and lavishness 

of _^many a Cairo "season" at 

its height, think of us.

There are many of us who are