Diary of Herbert Vincent Reynolds, 1914-1915 (second diary) - Part 5










March 1915
citadel & the Mohammed Aly mosque
but far enough away to give you a
splendid view of them, against the
sky the twin minarettes & the great
domes ^of the mosque stand out above the Citadel,
& upon turning around, the surrounding
city with its hundreds of minarettes
is in full view, just across the
road stand two fine mosques, so we
made our way to one of them the
El Riface mosque, which no one is
allowed to enter equ except upon
special occasions, we managed to see
inside the chambers containing the tombs
the tomb of the previous Khedive being
one of them. There are two chambers
both being magnificently fitted up,
silver being lavishly used in the
process. The place is kept well
locked up, & a guard accompanies all
visitors when they are inside the place.
After seeing this place we decided that we
had seen enough of the mosques for one
day so got on a tram & went into the main
part of the city where we had tea.
We had a look at certain native parts
of the city & seen on xxxxxxx what is
almost beyond believing, but seeing is
believing & it is the only way to realize
what sort of a place certain parts
of this city really is, it is impossible
to try & describe it, the streets are
filthy & really cannot to describe as & very narrow
streets being only a few ft wide in
most cases, the buildings are rotten
hovels at the best, & the whole place
reeks from the filth which is everywhere
allowed to collect & remain, the place
March 1915
is positively loathsome, even
the atmosphere is intolerable.
It is something of a shock to
have to realize that such a
place exxists, a huge fire would
do the world a good turn if it
swept through certain parts of
these cities & consumed all they
contained. After spending a
very interesting day we went back
to camp in a taxi arriving there
about 11 pm. Sent photo home
also keepsake to Flo today.
Frid 26th Spent the morning on a route
march & had the afternoon free of
parades.
Sat 27th The funeral of our late comrade Pte E
Pickles who died at the Mena House
hospital took place from there at 10 a.m.
Being on duty in camp I could not attend
the funeral.
Sund 28 Church parade was interupted this
morning by a really severe sand storm
comencing in the middle of it, it has
been almost unbearable during the day.
Mond 29 The whole division ^minus the 3rd Brigade was drawn up
in formation on the desert at 9 30 am
while Gen Sir Ian Hamilton inspected
us, we then marched past a saluting
base back to camp. The late Pte
Pickles kit was sold by auction today
it will fetch in about £15 15 0. 1510
piastres was received for it, which
will be forwarded to his people at home.
Tues 30th. Spent evening at Pathes pictures
Wed 31st Granted leave from 10 am to 10 pm
but did not make use of it & had
an easy day in camp.
April 1915
Thurs 1st Reveille sounded this morning at
5 am, & the division went out on
the desert for a days field work
Our unit marched out to White house
where our section remained while the
remainder of the unit went further
on they returned at 3 pm & we set
off back to camp.
Frid 2nd Good Friday Church parade was held
at 7 am & we were ^then given the day to
ourselves. xxxxx Spent the morning
with half a doz mates going through
the Pyramids again, Received orders
today to the effect that the 1st Brigade
are to leave camp & proceed to Alexandria
tomorrow.
Sat 3rd The whole camp was astir early
& sets about striking camp, a
proceeding which every-body energetically
carried out, glad of the prospect of
something less monotonous than solid
training & camp routine to engage our
attention. At 7 am the advance & baggage
partys left camp to entrain, & at 7 pm
our unit moved out of camp leaving
our mess hut standing to mark the
site of our camp, As we took a last
backward glance at our camp site
one could not help but notice the
contrast in the scene at sunrise,
& at the time of our departure sunset.
The great camp had disappeared, all
that remained being the mess huts
standing deserted, & hundreds of fires
dotted over the whole area consuming
the rubbish & unnecessary articals
etc that had collected in camp.
All day a huge cloud of locusts
April 1915
have been overhead, one cannot
realize what a locust plague is
untill seeing one, looking at the
sun is like looking at the moon
the density of the moving swarm
of insects acts in the same
manner as a smoked glass, the
whole sky seemed to be a
moving mass of them.
The march into Cairo along
the Mena road & over the "Kasr
el Nil" bridge was by no means
inclined to become monotonous, as
every one shows a restrained feeling
of pleasure, off at last being on
the move to take an active part
in the great event for which we
left home. Through out the day
no sign of unnecessary bustle
could be observed, but a steady &
consistent orderliness could be observed
every where. At 11 pm we arrived
in the square in front of the
Cairo central station where we waited
to entrain.
Sund 4th Easter Day Most of us obtained
a couple of hours sleep on the lawns
in front of the station before entraining
at 3 am. At 5 am we left
Cairo reaching Alexandria about
10 am, the train carried us right
to the boat & we went on board
immediately after leaving it, the boat
being the transport A9 City of
Benares. Our quarters are
very cramped being situated in
the fo'castle there are also
horses & mules on board.
April 1915
Mond 5th
We completed loading this morning
when the engineers who are on board
hoisted their pontoons & wagons on
board, & we packed the remaining
bundles of fodder in the hold this
afternoon. At 4 30pm we weighed
anchor & set out for an unknown
destination, though of course we can
guess it will be somewhere at
the Dardenelles.
Tues 6th.
We encountered a heavy sea during
the night & in consequence a
good number were sea sick.
I experienced the sensation but
by no means counted it as a joke.
Wed 7th.
Sea been very calm. Passed
numerous groups of islands. Sighted
several other transports about 4pm
& all headed for an island
which turned out to be Limnos.
Nearing the harbour entrance we passed
a couple of gunboats & a light cruiser
then entered & anchored at about 6pm
A great number of other vessels are
anchored here including many battleships
the "Queens Elizabeth" being one of them
she is the most powerfull boat afloat
& carries 15 inch guns. We were all
issued with 48 hours "iron rations" today
they consist of a few hard biscuits, a
1 lb tin of beef & a small quantity of
tea & sugar, also two cubes of oxo,
done up in a calico bag. All our
belongings which can be possibly
done without including our blanketts
were packed away upon our transport
waggons today, our black kit bags were
left behind at a base in Egypt.
April 1915
Thurs 8th.
We received a pay today with English gold
Slept on deck & woke up almost frozen
a very heavy dew having fallen during the
night. This harbour is a fairly pretty
looking place, half a doz small villages
are to be seen upon the surrounding hills
the slopes of which appears to be all under
cultivation Numerous windmills after the
style of the old Dutch mills are to be
seen. At about 8 am we moved alongside
the transport A8 Lake Michigan anchored'
& made fast to her. During the day we
practiced descending rope ladders onto
life boats over the sides of the ship.
Numbers of Greek traders selling nuts figs
chocolate etc came out in small boats
alongside the ship & done a pretty good
trade, they use the same method of
trading as the natives at Colombo.
Frid 9th
The fire alarm was sounded this
morning for practice & every one had to take
up a position at their stations. Spent
the afternoon at boat practice, we rowed
to the Russian cruiser Askold round
her & back to the transport. The
Askold led the attack at the Dardanelles
when the navy made an attempt to force
the straits a few days ago, she is a
peculiar looking vessel with five large
funnels she is termed the "packet of
woodbines". Transports keep arriving
ever few hours.
Sat 10th
A very stiff breeze has been blowing
all day, numbers of transports arrived.
Sund 11th.
On duty with the guard today, a
number of war ships entered the harbour
during the night. A sea plane ^rose & circled
over the harbour for about an hour today.
April 1915
Mond 12th
The harbour is just packed
with boats of one description or
another now. & we are patiently waiting
for the next move which we expect at
any time Received mail from home today.
Tues 13th.
Rain fell during almost the whole night
& continued during the day at short
intervals. We were to spend the day at
disembarkation practice, but it had
to be cancelled, for, at about 10am, it
comenced to rain & came down in an
absolute deluge, a few boats from some
of the transports had been lowered &
loaded & the occupants were thoroughly
drenched when they got back on board.
Wed 14th
All the sick on board were removed to
the hospital ship "Soudan" which is at present
in the harbour. We received another pay
in English coin today. Aust mail arrived.
Thurs 15th.
At 11pm a party of 4 of us were
detailed for duty to guard an ammunition
barge alongside, & prevent it bumping
the transport.
Frid 16th.
At 7am the tug "Jessie" came & towed
the barge away. At 8pm the water-tank
ship "Sunik" came alongside & replenished
our supply of fresh water.
Sat 17th.
A party of us rowed ashore today &
went for a march over the hills, the
exercise was very welcome after being on
bard board ship for a couple of weeks.
We passed through one small village, it
had no streets or roads in it whatever,
the buildings having been built here there
& everywhere no attempt having been made
to lay out any sort of thoroughfare. The
people dwelling here are chiefly all Greeks
& are all following agriculture as a means
April 1915
of livlihood. At present most of the
crops are ready to reap & the place
is very beautiful with wild flowers
poppies & other flowers ^are growing thickly
amongst the corn. Gen Hamilton & a
body guard of Marine infantry met us
on our way back to the boats, &
stoped, the Gen having a few words
to say to us before going on.
I obtained a small wooden cross from an old
white haired priest on the beach, he was selling
them for 3d each & doing a good trade in them
a they are pretty decent curios, the Greek
coins which we seen for the first time were
much sought after for souvenirs of the place.
Sund 18th.
Church parage at 10.30am. The few sick
on board were today removed to the
hospital ashore. An aeroplane has been
circling about over the harbour today.
Mond 19th.
We have all been busy today
shifting ammunition etc. artillerymen
have been attaching fuses to the 18pdr
shells which we have on board. Aust mail
arrived today.
Tues 20th.
The Lake Michigan took on water today.
Wed 21st.
Rain has been falling near all day & the
wind has been bitterly cold.
Thurs 22
A party of our unit left this boat today
for duty on other boats as medical orderlies
We received instruction today upon how
to handle the service rifle. Infantry
have been practising disembarkation from
some of the transports today.
Frid 23rd
Late in the afternoon our boat cast
off from the Lake Michigan & steamed
down the harbour on passing the Queen
Elizabeth the salute was sounded & every
one was lined up on deck. We moved
April 1915
outside the harbour boom & anchored
An aeroplane has been circling about
again today. Received mail today.
Sat 24th.
At last the big move which we
have been awaiting has come, & orderly
preparations can be observed everywhere,
every one has his respective kit reduced
to the lowest possible amount, & the rest
packed away on the waggons in the ships
hold, we are taking no blanketts with us,
our gear consists of our great coast, which is
rolled bandolier fashion with a waterproof
sheet rolled around it, 48 hrs iron rations
in our haversacks, & a full water bottle which
we have been warned to take. Orders
have been read to us giving such details
of the undertaking as are necessary,
we have been informed that it is to be
generally understood that what is about
to be undertaken is a most difficult
task, & must be pushed through at any
cost there must be no thought of turning
back. From our anchorage outside the
harbour entrance we obtained a splendid
view of the Navy transports leaving
the harbour several left at dawn
& others left during the morning,
every one appears eager & anxious now the
movement has comenced, every boat moving
within hailing distance of another receives
a regular outburst of cheering, which is
quickly replied to. About 2pm we
witnessed the Navy steam out of
the harbour on its way to the scene of
operations at the Dardenelles, headed by the
Queen Elizabeth, the ships steamed
past presenting a magnificent
spectical which to those who witnessed
April 1915
it will never be forgotten, during
the rest of the afternoon transports
have been leaving in an almost
continuous stream.
Sund 25th.
At 1 30am we ^the boat weighed anchor & got
under way. Every one was astir early &
watching for the first signs of the
engagement. At about 5am we could
just discern the break of day, & the
report of the guns could be faintly
heard, but they got plainer gradually
as we steamed along, untill the light
increased & the outline of land could
be dimly seen, every few seconds a
stab like flash would be seen from
the guns & the shells as they exploded
As we slowly steamed towards the
other transports anchored off the coast
in an extremely calm sea, we passed
an overturned life boat, the observation
balloon on the ship Ark Royal was well
up in the air when we passed her &
a sea plane was alongside ^the Ark Royal ready to rise.
At about 7 30am we dropped anchor
amongst dozens of other transports. All along
the coast at intervals the battleships were
firing salvos, great sheets of flame issuing
from them at each discharge, & a deafening
crash like thunder seems to shake the
xxx boat, occasionally a shell from
the enemy would come & fall harmlessly
in the water amongst the transports
very little notice being taken of them.
At about 9pm the Torpedo boat Destroyer
Scourge came alongside & we got on board
her with our gear, only the bearer section
of our units are landing, in a very few
minutes the decks of the destroyer were

This transcription item is now locked to you for editing. To release the lock either Save your changes or Cancel.
This lock will be automatically released after 60 minutes of inactivity.