Photostat copy of diaries of Benjamin Bennett Leane, 1915-1916 - Part 10

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having our first - and last -
taste of "high life", thanks
to the war.  Well, well,
I'd sooner be in my own
little home, with you, any
time, and the sooner this
false bottomed prosperity
comes to an end the better
will I be pleased.
Sunday March 12^th 1916.
Kiddie, I wish you could
have been with me today
dear.  This afternoon
four of us hired a motor
and drove out to the
Barrage, about 15 miles
the other side of Cairo.  The
day was perfect and
the ride most enjoyable.
I never knew that such
a beautiful spot existed
in Egypt.  Acres and acres
of well kept lawns, bright
flower beds, shady trees
and palms; the most
ever pleasing paradise I have
seen since I left England.
We stayed an hour or so
and then motored back
home again. In the
evening Denson and I went
to dinner at the 3^rd A.G.H.
and spent a quiet evening
yarning and smoking in
the garden afterwards.
Monday, March 13^th 1916.
Orders to move at last.
This afternoon I received R
instructions to report at Tel el
Kebir tomorrow, so have
 

172
wired Ray that I will be
down there tomorrow at
noon.  I have been in
town this afternoon making
one or two necessary purchases,
and have just finished
packing my boxes.
Today I received a
letter from you dated
February 8^th written just
after you had received the
wire re my transfer to the
Camel Corps.  Dear old
girl, I wish you could
do as you say and
take ship for England.
Wouldn't it be boring
and if, as we are told but
which I very much doubt,
we go to France presently,
why then think how near we
would be to each other.
Tuesday 14^th March
Here I am at last, back
at Tel-el-Kebir again.  Perry and
I came down by the 11 am
train, reaching here shortly
after 1pm.  Graham came
down by the same train, on
his way to Ismalia.  Poor old
Graham is not at all happy in
the Camel Corps, and wants to
come with me to the 48^th. I have
promised to see Ray & drop
Graham a note as to the result.
The adjutant for some reason or
other has his knife into Graham, and
is constantly finding fault with
his position on parade.  I told
Graham the other day that if I were
 

174
in his shoes I would not stay
in the Corps a day longer than I
could help. Yesterday Graham
paraded before the C.O. & asked
for an understanding, and called
on me as evidence to the testiment
he had received. I was very sorry
in a way to be dragged into
it because I have no personal
grudge against the Adjutant ___
we have always got on very
well together___ but still I
could not go back on what
I had said, so gave the CO.
my opinion on the matter. The
C.O. said very little at the time,
but judging from the adjutants
subsequent demeanour I should
say he hit him up a bit.
However, thats nothing to do

with my arrival here.
Allan, Ted's boy, met me at
the station. He is acting as
Quartermaster here, and Ray
has sent him on for a commission.
Needless to say Ray was very
glad to see me ; and I got
to work at once. I am
afraid my days of ease are
over, & once more I'll have to

work for my living. Ted
passed through on his way to
(presumably) France at
3 o'clock this afternoon. Ray
went down to the station to see
him, but I stayed here as I
want to get things moving straight
away. It's terribly hot
down here in the daytime, but
very cold at night.

176
Wednesday 15^th Mch.
Getting settled down nicely
now, Unfortunately we've got
no horses yet, and it's a long
way to walk to Headquarters.
I went along there this afternoon
for the battalion pay, but it
was not available so will
have to make another trip.
Tomorrow the battalion is
to be inspected by General Cox.

Thursday 16^th Mch / 16.
This morning we sent away
about 40 men to the Pioneer
Battalion, which is being formed
in the Division. Everyday
we are sending away men
to new formations ___ supply
depots, butcheries, bakeries,
artillery etc. it seems strange
that they could not have
fixed these new units up with
men from the various Base Depots
and Training Bns. instead of
sending them down here first
and then taking them away
again.
This morning the battalion
was inspected by General Sir
H.V. Cox. He was very thorough
in his inspection. The C.O.,
Senior Major & your truly accompanied
him on his inspection, and we
were two hours doing the rounds
He spoke to individuals here

and there, and addressed
the men, a half company at a
time. he says we are to
go to France as soon as we are
equipped, but I'm afraid that

178
can't be for the next two  months.
This afternoon I had occasion
to go to Headqrs to see General Cox.
I arrived just as afternoon
tea was on, so had the pleasure
of taking tea with General

& his staff.
Friday March 17^th 1916.
St Patrick's Day ! All the
bands around have put in
the day playing "Kathleen
Mavourneen" "The wearing of the
Green" and numerous other
airs which the Irish heart
delights in. The RC's
in the Brigade spent the morning
in mass and other devotional services,
and the afternoon in getting
drunk. several voices are
now mournfully dragging out
the doleful strains of Kathleen
Mavourneen. I notice that most
Irishmen get onto this air when
they get tight, and they
always wail it out in a most
pathetic manner.
I've celebrated the day
by getting inoculated against
paratyphoid.
Today, sweetheart, I got
a letter from you dated January
26^th. Also one from Girl.
Ray has gone to Cairo to
see the Director of Remounts
re horses for us. Hope he
gets them. He expects to be
back Monday morning
Eighty more men went away
today ___ seventy to Artillery
and the remainder to Signals Corps etc.

180
Saturday March 18^th 1916.
Rain has been threatening all
day, and the temperature has
changed round from summer to
winter. A very strong wind is
blowing, and everything is covered
with dust. I hope we get
a little rain to settle it.
I wrote to mother today, and
sent it down to Alexandria by
my Orderly Room Sergeant, who
has gone to take up his work
at the Record offices. Before he
went he presented me with
a patent telescopic periscope,
in a leather case. Said he
didn't suppose he'd want it
down there. I don't suppose he
will, unless it is to look over
the top of his table when the
papers begin to accumulate.
Kid, this is the best mess i've
ever been in. Do you know
that we've had pudding ___
either plum, date, fig, or currant
___ every day but one since I
came down. One day we had
it twice. This cook will do me.
Sunday 19^th
We got that rain alright
last night, about an inch of
it. Simply poured. It's bonny
today though, with the sand
nice and firm under foot and
the sky bright and sunny,
and not too warm overhead.
We had church Parade this
moening. Rev Ingamells (brother
to S.H.I.) conducted the service.
Like him rather better than Ingey.

182
After the service we  "marched
past" the Brigadier.
I met Bob Selth and
LanceMc Leary this morning. They
are both looking fit. They say
George McLean is with the 16^th,
who are camped near us. I must
go across and see him.
Got a wire from Ray today
to send the transport sergeant
out to Abassia for 3 horses.
Good  iron.
I hear that the 1^st Division
commence embarking today.
The 2^nd Division are already
gone. I wonder is it France
Everything points to France except
the one thing ____ General
Headquarters, from General
Birdwood down, all talk such
a lot about France ,that it
makes me think it is all bluff
As a rule you never know
where you are going until about
a day out of port. However,
we soon will know,I suppose.
Monday March 20^th 1916
Ray returned this morning
Says he had a lot of bother in getting
the horses, but eventually succeeded
and picked out three good [[cabs]].
There's not much he doesn't succeed in.
He has the name here for getting
everything he wants [[?]]
Got another letter from Aunt Agnes
today; also a parcel from either you
or mother.( itwas stamped" [[Prxxpost]] "
with 3 books, writing pad, chocolate
& [[?]] tins of coffee & milk.
Tuesday March 21^st 1916.

184
arrived this morning ___ or
rather, one horse and two mares
arrived. One was is a chestnut, 
the other two boys, and they're
beauties. They are more
nuggetty then Ochre ___ Ochre
was more on the light, racing 
side. We must borrow some
saddlery now so that we can
go for a ride.
Today several promotions for
our battalion came through
___ Captain Imlay to Major, Lieut
Hartley to Captain, several 2/Lts.
to Lieut. among the latter were
Allan (Ted's boy) and Clarie
Fairley. So we had a full
mess tonight ( yes, in more
senses than one ___ I got
away only as I had a lot of
orders to get out, but as I was
going to my tent about 11 o'clock
I met the Doc and two
or three other, who were trying
to out vie each other in lengthy
quotations from Shakespeare. The
Doc won, hands down, and in
the end had the field altogether
to himself.
Such "goin's on " I don't
approve, do you ?

Wednesday March 22^nd 1916
Went for a ride this afternoon
with Ray and Major Imlay.
Rode across _∧ to the other side of
the canal and out into the
desert where the rifle ranges
are being made . My mare
will do me. She shies badly

186
at everything, she meets and
many things she doesn't meet,
but then, shyness is a good
quality in females, isn't it ?
Well, you could hardly
speak from your own knowledge,
could you? Alright, don't
get shirty.
She's a good goer too, but
not so hard in the mouth
as Ochre. She doesn't
carry her head like Ochre
did though. Old Ochre was
the admiration of everybody.
When I got back to camp
about half past five I found
an urgent memo waiting
for me. Our advance
party has to move off to
Serapheum at six in the
morning, so that means we
will be going soon.
Tonight was "guest night " in
the mess. there were 42
at dinner altogether, including
the Brigadier. The mess hut
was very nicely decorated with
our colors, blue and white,
and we had elaborate menu
cards (hand painted ) prepared.
I will send you one.
Thursday Mch 23^rd
Went for a ride with Ray
this afternoon. Still fairly stiff
from yesterday. Sent Perry to
town today to buy bridle,
martingale etc. Have managed
to borrow three saddles from
Engineers, so we will be
fixed up soon

188
Friday March 24^th 1916
Thank the Lord Ray got those

horses. We have just received
instructions that we are to march
to Serapheum ___ 40 miles,
and a good bit of it across
the desert sands. I suppose
we'll have to garrison the camel
for awhile, but I hope not
for long. I fancy we
will see Mesopotamia before
long. I wouldn't be at
all surprised to hear that
1^st or 2^nd Divisions have gone
there and not to France as
we are told.
Ray went to Cairo
this afternoon to see if he
can get the horses for the
rest of the Brigade, so I
went for a ride on my own
this afternoon. The mare
looked very flash with all
her new leatherwork on.
She is a good old mare though
Saturday 25^th Mch.
Went for a short route
march this afternoon along the
S.W. canal bank ___ a sort of trial
trip, about six miles.
Sunday Mch 26^th
Church Parade as usual this
morning. This afternoon we got
orders to be ready to move at
3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, so
I've been busy getting out
my operation orders. I also had
to send one of the officers up to
Cairo to let Ray and one or two
others up on leave, know that we