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23rd December 1915
Light Horse left for Egypt
today. Issued with small arm
ammunition so expect to
shift soon. Believe we're
off to Egypt again.
Villageing all morning and
afternoon packing. Raining.
24th December 1915
Orders out to leave here
Boxing Day. All exciting and
bustle. Visited village and
took leave of our Greek
friends. Dry Christmas
sticking out.
25th December 1915
Christmas Day, and I've got
a 45/- thirst! Quiet day
throughout. Concert at
night. Favoured the
gathering with a rendition.
Cold as Charity again.
26th December 1915
Orderly Sgt for the day.
Deleany managed to bribe a
Greek into selling 2 bottles
of Ale, which we had much
pleasure in annihilating.
Sent our baggage down to the
wharf ready for shipment.
Believe we 'Imshe' tomorrow.
27th December 1915
Departure postponed owing to
heavy weather. Nothing much
doing.
28th December 1915
Our old friends the 42nd
(who we were attached to at
Helles) arrived today being
relieved. They landed a
little at a time after us.
Our Bty played the crack
team of Lemnos (1st FA)
Football but lost 9 to 3.
Didn't play. Knee still
crook.
29th December 1915
Our whole Division of
Artillery Details went for a
12 mile rout march. Nearly
got to Therma. Lovely day
and most enjoyable walk.
30th December 1915
Received orders at 5.30 am
to pack up and get out. Left
camp at 7.45. Embarked from
Sapper Pier and got aboard
SS Tunisican. At present
waiting orders to leave
port.
31st December 1915
Left Lemnos Island at 4 am.
Picked up our escort, a
light cruiser. Submarines
fairly busy around these
parts. Have been steering a
Zig Zag course all day.
Great beano tonight with
Brunnell, Seymour, --,
Pyemont, Bloomfield and
Goldfinch. Real surprise for
the New Year; turkey, cakes
and Bass.
1st January 1916
Had a slight diversion from
feeding at 2.30 am.
Submarine reported on the
Port bow, started doing
evolutions which must have
turned Samson green with
envy had he seen them.
Managed to dodge sub all
right. Had several visits
from French destroyer.
Altered out course quite
half a dozen times. At
present are heading SE to S
which means Alexandria.
2nd January 1916
Sailed at high speed all
night. Arrived off
Alexandria at 6.30 am. Got
to wharf at 9 am. Got
disembark orders at 9.30. At
present 12.30 am in --.
Things doing.
3rd January 1916
3.30 am. Arrived at Tel-el
Kebir, and walked about a
mile and a half to our camp.
Snatched about an hour's
sleep. Had a wash and nearly
murdered a couple of Siedas.
Saw B.G.P. Rec a big mail. 3
parcels from England, 1 from
Undoona. Kicked around all
day taking shots of things.
Bunk at 9 pm. Here I finish.
Today I had a look at myself
in a mirror the first look
I've had for some
considerable time, just on a
month. I got a shock,
believe me, and of all the
curios I've yet seen, I'll
confess I'm the biggest. At
present can push the scale
up to just on 13 stone, am
as brown as a nigger, and
feeling bodies fit enough to
slaughter a score of Siedas
before each meal. Will
finish now. Carry on when we
get into more trouble again.
GOD SPEED THE CROWS AND
FORCE THE NARROWS.
Must record 36 hour leave in
Cairo. Went in with Reeks.
Chas didn't manage to get in
as arranged. Had a great
time but felt like a fish
out of water.
SLEPT IN A BED WITH SHEETS!
Still at Tel-el Kebir, but
expect to leave here within
the next 3 or 4 weeks.
FINNIS
[Inside back cover of
diary]
Bedford
Harrington
Booth
Buchannan
Corrigan
Dingle |
