Diary of Geoffrey Gordon McCrae, 1915 (Vol. 1) - Part 1

DIARY I 

Diagram - see original document

Diary. Vol: I.

The Official War Historian of the Commonwealth

Government (Dr. C. E. W. Bean), after his study of the

collections of private war records preserved in the Australian

War Memorial Library, wrote:-

"The private diaries in this collection furnish some of its most

valuable historical records, but, like all private memoirs which were

not compiled with any historical purpose, they should not be

regarded as first-hand evidence except where it is certain that they

are so. The diarist is almost always sincere in his desire to record

accurately, but he is subject to no obligation or inducement to

indicate whether he is recording his own observations or incidents

told him by friends or heard at third or fourth hand at the mess-table.

Thus, in some of the diaries in this collection, events described with

vivid detail, and without any warning that they are told at second

or third hand, have been found to be completely inaccurate in

important details. A certain number also have been written up 

or recorded long after the events, though doubtless usually from notes

made at the time. In most cases the student must rely on his

experience and on internal evidence to guide him in judging what is

and what is not likely to be historically accurate."

Diary.

(1915) Mena Camp (Pyramids)

+ Feby 2^d to Ismailia (Febry 2^d. to 12^th.)

                 ____ [[now?]] ______ and back.

Attack & Defence Scheme. B Co in defence.

Feby 3^d. Attack and defence Scheme B Co. in

attack. 12.15. pm. Wakened and given orders

to move to Ismailia at 10.30 AM. Packed and

wrote letters: turned out at 3 a.m. for a couple of hours,

5.a.m. Reveillé. All stores packed and loaded. 150

rounds of ammunition issued per man. Moved off from

Mena at 10.30. and marched via Charieh El Abram

for Cairo. Reached Adbouli Station at 2.30. Train

left at 4.30. No bread. We had meat and cheese, also

some oranges bought at Kahka. Passed through

Beulia 6.15 pm. and reached Zagazig at 8.10 pm.

An English resident informed us that there were plenty

of Turks at Ismailia. Arrived Ismailia at 10.20 p.m. -

Unloaded stores. Reached camp 11.30 pm. Got men bivouacked 
etc. Made my evening meal off three pieces of cold,

cooked meat on the sand in drizzling rain. Very cold.

∧Feb. 3^d Very relieved when my valise arrived at 2 a.m. and

was able to 'change' Just previously a Gourka Sentry -

- group reported an Enemys Scout. Sent out two

patrols who traced their tracks a long way over the 

+"Attached, (Vide letter 14.2.15 from Mena,") to the 11^th Division of the

"Indian Army on the Canal Defences."

sands. McKenna who came down with the Advanced

party told me that there had been a brush with

enemy at 4 pm 300men and 40 German -

Officers being captured. During the afternoon

Turks shelled Wireless Station —

Feby. 4^th Reveillé 6.am. Men rose; packed kits

Two bi-planes went out to make reconnaissance

returning at breakfast. After breakfast paid the 

Company. 3 Squadrons of Indian Lancers left 

Camp. Went up to Ismailia to look for Agency of

Anglo-Egyptian Bank to pay balance of cash to -

Met Dr Sutherland who was on his way through

to Suez to join the Kyarra which is conveying

invalids home. Unable to pay money to Bank

so, converted cash into notes. Saw two Steamers

pass up Canal. Had tea and went to bed at 7.p.m.

Feby 5^th Reveillé 6.a.m. Roused Company out

got Lines squared up. 7.a.m three bi-planes

went out to make aerial reconnaissance of

Turkish position. Saw a batch of Turkish

prisoners entrained at Railway Station -

11.10 a fourth bi-plane left steering South -

East. 11.20 and 11.30 two 'planes returned

from ENE. In afternoon route marched

through the beautiful gardens and Town of

Ismailiah. In evening Captain Jackson and Swift

with platoon and a half escorted 174 prisoners to 

Cairo. 2 Companies of the 7^th warned to be in 

readiness to move. A green and white rocket

fired from W. of New Zealand lines presumed by

brigade to be enemy's signal. Heard distant

firing during the night.

Feb.ry 6^th Rose at 5.30.m. Two Turkish

Officers shot at dawn for treacherous use of

white flag.- Sent firing party of 1 . . . . 

[*Officer &*]

13 other ranks to funeral of a blue-jacket

of the Swiftsure who died of wounds -

Mr Vaughan came and had breakfast with us.

Two bi-planes went out to make reconnaissance

10 am reported to C.O. 8^th. Bn. and went to

take note on their entrainment at Canif Station

at one and a half miles west of us. Saw

armoured-train manned waiting with

steam up to go out patrolling - Went in

afternoon for another route-march throug

Ismailia. Saw more Turkish prisoners.

Several more bi-planes went out during afternoon. 

Febry 7^th Sunday Rose 5.45.

made preparations for entrainment. Had

breakfast after. Battalion fell in for Church Parade

I proceeded to Camp and marked trucks according

to what they would accommodate. Troops arrived

at Station and I supervised entrainment of

horses and waggons. Marched back to Camp

for lunch Aerial reconnaissances as usual

during the day. Afternoon free. English

Officer serving with Turkish Forces Captured

Heard heavy gun-fire to the South at 10.30 pm

Bi-plane went out to reconnoitre.

st at 8.15 - 8.30 another

out - 2 Companies of 8^th Battⁿ

hes by train - 2 platoons from 

Mason left for some other position

steamer - Febry 9^th. Company-

ual during morning - Aerial

showed Turkish Force in full

troops being their rear-guard

he Canal moving East------

went for a swim in Lake Timsha

Transports, the Neuralia and

Loyalty going down the Canal

arrived with our first reinforcements.

through the beautiful gardens and Town of

Ismailiah. In evening Captain Jackson and Swift

with platoon and a half escorted 174 prisoners to 

Cairo. 2 Companies of the 7^th warned to be in 

readiness to move. A green and white rocket

fired from W. of New Zealand lines presumed by

brigade to be enemy's signal. Heard distant

firing during the night.

Feb.ry 6^th Rose at 5.30.m. Two Turkish

Officers shot at d

white flag.- Sen

Diagram - see original document

13 other ranks to

of the Swiftsure w

Mr Vaughan came and

Two bi-planes went 

10 am reported 

take note on their en

at one and a half 

armoured-train 

steam up to go o

afternoon for an

Ismailia. Saw m

Several more bi-p

Febry 7^th 

made preparations for entrainment. Had

breakfast after. Battalion fell in for Church Parade

I proceeded to Camp and marked trucks according

to what they would accommodate. Troops arrived

at Station and I supervised entrainment of

horses and waggons. Marched back to Camp

for lunch Aerial reconnaissances as usual

during the day. Afternoon free. English

Officer serving with Turkish Forces Captured

Heard heavy gun-fire to the South at 10.30 pm

Febry 8^th. 6.15 Bi-plane went out to reconnoitre.

returning very fast at 8.15 - 8.30 another

bi-plane moved out - 2 Companies of 8^th Battn

left for the trenches by train - 2 platoons from 

A Co. with Capt Mason left for some other position

on the Canal by steamer - Febry 9^th. Company-

- training as usual during morning - Aerial

reconnaissance showed Turkish Force in full

retrest, nearest troops being their rear-guard

20 miles from the Canal moving East------

In afternoon went for a swim in Lake Timsha

Saw a couple of Transports, the Neuralia and

Hospital-Ship Loyalty going down the Canal

Capt. Permezel arrived with our first reinforcements.

10 of which joined our Company -  Night - Operations

for two hours during evening. Febry 10. Raining -

uncomfortable experience of dressing in a shower.

Great disappointment . . . Ordered to return

to Mena by 8.30 train on Friday. Spent afternoon

in making reconnaissance for Night-March.

Night-March in Evening. Febry 11^th  8^th Bn:

returned returned to Mena by 7.30 and 8.30

trains. Bi-plane went out at 8.45.-9.30

Went for route-march along the Canal to see

the scene of recent fighting . . . and fortifications

Returned to Camp . . . Had time for a glorious wash

in the afternoon.  Felt 10 years younger —

Took it easy for remainder of afternoon __

In evening went to the Station to have

a look at the trains which were to take us to

Cairo on following day. Returned to roost

Febry 12. Reveillé 4.30 a.m. Left for 

Camp by 2 trains 7.30 and 8.15 a.m.

Myself in second. Had a fine trip; perfect

day and saw the country looking it's best.

Arrived . . . .Cairo at noon. Route-marched

to Mena. The 5^th. Bn : sent their band to

play us in — Arrived at Camp at 4.30. p.m.

Diagram -see original document

After a sketch in a letter from Geoff (Position of Infantry Camp Mena
to S. of Pyramids)

Diagram -see original document

Taken from an Egyptian newspaper - 

It shows the Mena & Mahdi Camps, Pyramids,

Nile, Cairo Citadel etc.

Prefixed will be found transcript

of a few pages from a Diary of two

Months earlier (+)

(these taken out and

enclosed in a letter

to save copying.)

Diary 

Part 1.

( Transport Service.

( Alexandria.

( Agean.

( Mudros. (Lemnos.)

Gallipoli.

Hospital Experiences. &c.

Note.

The original Book from which this is transcribed had been

seriously injured by fire. Rescued in time from a heap of burning

camp-rubbish at some Station in France by Dr Campbell    he

handed it to a lady on the spot who forwarded it to me here -

Wherever in this transcript xxx crossed or . . . dots appear

it denotes burnt portions. - All interlineations supplying context

for burnt or broken sentences have been carefully

applied (on the principle of "Elliptical Sentences"). In most, nearly 

all instances these will be found in accord with the general

sense, but there still appear a very few which are doubtful

or else capable of a double interpretation - some two or three also 

whose meaning can 

only be guessed at -

GGMcC.

(+) In fact, the same Diary looted by

the Greek Sailors in charge of Officers baggage "at the Evacuation" -

Diary of 

Major Geoffrey Gordon McCrae

VII Battalion 15^th Infty: Brigade

5^th Division

Australian Imperial Force.

from

April 4^th to 29^th December 1915.

Detailed for

⁺Sunday 4.4.1915 Transport (Service)

^Ready by 10.am. Attended ^at Commanding

Officers ^Quarters and received ^my instructions. Called

on the Chief of General ^Staff at Shepheard's

Hotel ^with — who had reported ^for duty on

same ^day Got up at 4.a.m. Tea at 5.45 ^and had

breakfast at ^. . . .a.m  At 1. pm arrived

^at Alexandria ^ran across _^the Quay & took a

boat out to the MASHOBRA A-13 of the

B.I.S.N Co. with Brooks, afterwards the Chief ^Officer Walgett,

Brooks and myself we xxx - ^Alton, ^went over the ship ^with Hall

saw Various parts ^allotted to the units to be ^embarked

4. p.m. went ashore ^to the Embarkation Staff

Office ^and after being relieved, to the ship ^for dinner. Cutter went ashore

⁺It is assumed that the day of his joining the Transport Service

in the Mashobra A.13. was Sunday 4^th April.1915. as next entry appears as Monday

The date is completely destroyed by fire.

^in the evening. I was too busy to accompany him.

Diagram - see original document

Alexandria

Monday 5.4.1915

^At last ship got Pilot. ^Left the

^anchorage at 6 am. x^Moored at Berth at No.

75 ^and at 7 pm commenced ^to embark horses

10.15 Army Medical ^Corps and were

put ^who was experienced ^in horses on board

^Had Tea; ^it arrived late and it ^was some time before

I was able to ^get away

Worked 22 ^hours this day.

[*Alexandria*]

Tuesday 6.4.1915.

^Called by Skipper and ^heard that _____

and in ^Bat had not been sent up and

he ^and I went in search ^of someone responsible

for s^tores After having been ^sent from

place to place in ^vain we returned

to the ship to have lunch. ^Did not get

any satisfaction,  ^so again set

out and ^had a long drive. At last

met Lieut. x x x x x This young

(intelligence ^Officer had) ordered the

meat in ^Alexandria but had not seen

^it put on board despite the fact that he had

signed a certificate ^to say that it

was ^delivered - After inquiries I

drew ^the impression that the order had never

been ^sent by the meat-contractor

^and we ready to go to sea. I got

^an order to the Nile Cold ^Storage Co.

^for the meat they ^said they had only

1300 lbs ^on hand - They sent it down

^by the A.S.C. people ^together with tinned

^meat-  I could personally see ^how poorly people were

^situated cd I was unable ^to find the way of allowing

a ^ration for holding ^out till evening owing

[*^to which I*] 

broke 5 drawers ^open and much

of the Quay.

Wednesday 7.4.1915.

Left Alexandria ^with a fresh sea and wind

moderate ^as I commenced to sort ^my kit but was

soon placed hors ^de combat by sea-sickness

^but before ^this I was given 2 ^parcels & found

inside a letter and P.C. raced ? up Embarkation

^Pier with with Mr. Munn the Purser

^of the Mashobra.

[*MUDROS -*]

Thursday 8.4.1915.

Weather fine. passed Rhodes at . . ^a.m.

Patmos about 4.p.m.

Friday 9.4.1915

Weather fine. wind fair. Passed Scyros

at 9.a.m. Had a fine view of Mount

Olympus' snow-clad heights Entered

Mudros Bay Lemnos at 2.p.m. Many

ships were at anchor and many xxx battleships

and xxx repair-ships a

xxx 2 submarines in x x ship.

Saturday 10.4.1915

^Saw one Torpedo-boat ^put to sea. Several

others came to port -

Sunday 11.4.1915.

^Padré came on board - Church Parade

at 10 a.m. x x x x Watched naval x x x

^gunnery practice ab xxx sighted by H.M xxx

^from a hill high above the water.

Monday 12.4.1915.

Went ashore with Skipper and Chief Engineer x

^Met Noel Fethers at landing ^^and with him wandered

through village^where I had a look at the Wells

and Returned to the Ship at ____ p.m.