Author: Catherine Davis

The wind died down again last night and we had one or two rain storms. Out early this morning with the guns. I have put Kitty on the sick list for a few days to be physicked so shall have to ride anything I can get hold of for the next day or two.

I bathed about eleven, it was quite rough for the canal today, as the wind was rising again. Just as we were getting out of the water the first signs of an approaching sandstorm began, and it was a very painful business as the sand, driven by the wind, stung like anything. We got back to our tents just about in time, as by twelve o’clcok the sand began to fly properly. Driven by a strong wind, it got in everywhere, even through the canvas of the tents. Several tents succumbed and many others were only just  tightened up in time. Food, clothes, blankets, and everything are nothing now but sand heaps. The storm went on all this afternoon and it wasn’t long before nearly all of the cook houses of the brigade, which are just native rush netting fastened to poles, were flattened out. One tree was blown down near the horse lines but luckily did no damage.

One thing is the horses were sheltered from the storm a bit by the row of trees along the side of the Sweet Water Canal; it’s the only cover there is.

The major, to cheer us up, has been telling us that these storms very often last three weeks! And if that’s the case, as our eyes, ears, and mouths are already full of sand, in three week’s time some of us, like the horses, will be down with sand colic!

The storm eventually stopped just before seven o’clock this evening, and about time too. I only hope we shan’t have a repetition, as I am not particularly keen to see another.

Gun drill from 6:15 to 7:30 this morning. Stables after breakfast, then a bathe.

We went round to see if the foxes had been to that earth again, but they hadn’t, so I expect they must have moved the cubs out the night before last.

Garside lectured to us and the 1/2nd Lowland Brigade this afternoon on horse management. The flies have been an awful nuisance today, Gen. Horne told Powell yesterday that in about a month’s time the heat, flies, and mosquitoes make it practically impossible for a white man to live here, so I hope we’re in France by then.

Tremendous excitement: a mail came in tonight, and most of us had a double batch of letters which we ought to have got last time, but which we thought had gone. Down in the Sussex came along too; I suppose they salved them.

I believe we are in for a pretty bad sand storm tonight as the wind is steadily rising.

Orderly dog today. Elliott and I went over with the teams and fetched the guns over the side of the canal near the camp. Bathed about eleven o’clock. We went and had a look at the fox earth which we dug at last night. This morning we could see where the old dog fox had come round outside and opened up one of the holes and there were a lot of pad marks but it was impossible to tell whether the vixen had brought the cubs out or not, so we smoothed the sand down again tonight and shall see if there are any fresh marks in the morning.

Powell and Franklyn went into Port Said today and Powell met Gen. Horne there, who is sailing for France tonight. He told him that two divisions are leaving the canal for France. The next one to go will be the 11th which is waiting till they see how things are going in Mesopotamia ; and the Australians are coming out to hold this frontier which our division is responsible for at present, so then we shall go to France.

Three transports of Russians went down the canal yesterday from Vladivostok, and are on their way to Salonika.

Quite a heavy storm of rain just as we finished bathing this morning, it lasted about a quarter of an hour. The divisional band played this evening and we were told to dance when they played “Destiny”.

Away early this morning to the guns. General Parker came and watched us practicing in cooperation with the aircraft. We had to wait over an hour before we could get back across the pontoon, as a large caravan of camels of all sizes and colours had to come across before us and they took it very leisurely, in single file.

C.B. is over now, till another canteen gets gutted, so leave can start again. Kenning went to Cairo tonight for three days.

Bathed about half past three. After tea, Powell, Badcock and I and about ten beefy men from the column went to try and dig out a fox earth which Powell had found in a sandhill close to the camp. There wasn’t much doubt about there being cubs there, you could see the scrabbles in the sand all round where they’d been playing. We made three big cuttings and got down about seven feet and then it got too dark to go on. We’ve smoothed the sand down quite flat all round so shall see if anything comes out during the night. An Egyptian fox would make a very good battery mascot.

Mosquitoes rather active again, the major got badly bitten last night, so I shall have a net over me tonight. The frogs are making an awful din tonight, the Sweet Water Canal is full of them.

Elliott, Badcock, and I went and had a bathe before breakfast. Voluntary Service at 9:30. We bathed again about midday.

Elliott, Franklyn, and I were away at six this morning to the Forward Observing Station. The 1/3rd Lowland Brigade were firing today at about 3000 yds, our observing trench was about 200 yards from the targets. We were up there till nearly one o’clock. Got back to camp and bathed about 3:30 pm. On the way back from bathing we saw a great grey shrike sitting on a bush; we looked and found the nest with one nearly fledged bird.

Quite a chapter of accidents today. To start with a biggish steamer somehow or other got broadside or across the canal and went aground, stopping all the traffic for a good time. Then an aeroplance came to grief, but I don’t think anyone was killed. And lastly an old steam roller that had been making a road along the side of the bank, fell on its side in the water.

[Later]

Since mess tonight we’ve been arguing and haggling over gunnery, distributions, contestations, angles of sight, etc. till all our heads are in a whirl.

Up at half past three this morning, watered and fed the horses, breakfasted, and were away by six. The Essex battery shot first, then the West Riding, and we were to shoot third – but the West Riding didn’t finish till one o’clock so we had to put our shoot off. I expect we’ll get it in a day or two though. After the shoot, there was a “pow wow” with about six Generals present including General Horne, our army corps commander (1st Army Corps).

I got back to camp and bathed about 3:30. The divisional bands played tonight for an hour or so. We’ve had a very busy day on the whole and I’ve been Orderly dog into the bargain.

Away again early this morning to the guns; I got back and had a lovely bathe about midday. Rode out the other side of the canal after lunch with Elliott and finished getting ammunition into the wagons and Limbers  as we are going to shoot tomorrow. We have got to take up our position and do everything exactly as we shall if the Turks attack. I got the teams hooked in about dusk and took the guns to the position the brigade is going to hold. I got back over the canal to the camp soon after eight, ravenously hungry. Franklyn down with a bad go of fever tonight, but I expect he will shake it off in a day or two.

I do wish we were going to let fly at the old Turks tomorrow, but I don’t believe they will even try and attack the aeroplane. People tell us there is a strongish Turkish post about forty miles away; our flying men pop over and say good morning to them periodically, and drop a bomb or two.

We bathed before breakfast this morning. Kit inspections etc. took up the morning, we also had an officers’ “pow wow” with the colonel about various things. A flock of about thirty pelicans flew over camp this morning, but quite high up.

We had to ride over to another general “pow wow” this afternoon by the G.O.C divisional artillery. The authorities are very annoyed at the gutting of that canteen the other night and as a result the three artillery brigades this side of the canal (ourselves, the 1/3rd and 1/4th) have got CB until further notice, so not much chance of leave until they find out the culprits.

Very early – again – and I had all the work and everything finished by eleven o’clock, before it got really hot. Bathed at midday and thoroughly enjoyed it.

A mail came in after lunch, but I heard nothing from home. I heard from Cecil Ellis ; he is still a fixture in India and seems to think they will be there for some time.

Bathed again about three. The divisional band came and played again this evening. There seems to be some excitement about the burning of that canteen last night. The native says he had 150 [pounds] in cash there, so somebody has done well. I don’t think any of our men are responsible – probably the brigade next to us.