Diary 4th Battalion AIF 1st January to 31st December 1915

We join 4th Battalion AIF in Mena Camp on 1st January 1915

[Where there is [ …] it means that I am unable to read what has been written]


1/1/1915: Adoption of four company organization in the Bnts to this date, we have had eight, A to H subdivided into half companies, under this new system of organization there will only be four complete companies, each a separate fighting unit, my old coy C is now joined to A, we are now known as A coy. The companies are again subdivided into four platoons. Am detailed to no. 3 platoon

 

2/1/1915: Given light duties until 9 by the Bn doctor, Dr Tebutt, have not been feeling very well for the last few days.

 

10/1/1915 Sunday: Attended church parade

 

11/1/1915: On the march today, half way to the second Pyramids, rather a severe test, nearly broke down, returned to camp very tied, marched from 8am until 3pm = 7 hours.

 

12/1/1915: Marched again to the same place, made an attack on the sand hills we are now marching every day 7 hours

 

13/1/1915: Long march in the desert, very fagged out, “letter call” blew tonight at 10 pm, all the boys ran for their letters. One from Mother, and one from Australia, my first mail. Paid 65 pts = 13/4

 

14/1/1915: Marched across the desert to the distant hills on sky line, platoon drill, attended lecture in evening at YMCA hut on the pyramids by Mr Quibell curator of Cairo Museum, very interesting lecture theories were advanced as to how the Pyramids were built, and the reasons for building them. Feeling much better today.

 

15/1/1915: Marched across the desert to “Valley of Despair” Bn manoeuvres and attacks, weather very windy, we are all covered with fine sand, another letter from Mother today, night Parade, very tired.

 

16/1/1915: Long march over desert, Bn attacked on the hills. Divisional lying-in equipment tonight, stand to arms all night and sleep in equipment, letter from Mother today.

 

17/1/1915 Sunday: Attended Church Parade. Reinforcements of the 10th Bn arrived today in camp after Church Parade great time in camp. Visited Cairo during the afternoon, general leave granted. Visited the Citadel and the Mosque of Mohamed Ali, also a few smaller ones, also saw local funeral at the Citadel, and an Arab wedding, had a hot bath at the Bristol Hotel, and a good square feed, spent the rest of the day in quarters, very tired.

 

18/1/1915: Very hot today, pulled some heavy marching over the Libyan desert, full Bn parade under war conditions with full pack, very heavy, inspected by the Brigadier, Col Maclaurin, several men collapsed owing to the heat. All wearing heavy ‘greyback’ shirts and tunic much too hot we were out in the desert for 8 hours.

 

19/1/1915: A long Brigade march today with full transport, marched to Giza, turned off the left following the Canal, passed through several native villages, the column about five miles long, our first full Brigade march since leaving Sydney, wrote letters home today.

 

20/1/1915: Very slack day, no parades, general leave granted to the Bn from 12 o/c until 9.30pm. Visited Cairo, sent home news years gift a chocolate box given by the Commonwealth and a parcel of small souvenirs etc. Pay day, paid 65 piasters, hot bath in Cairo, returned to camp early.

 

21/1/1915: Long march to rifle range at the “Valley of Despair” passed all shooting tests. A and B coys only on range heel of left foot very sore nearly fell out of march on return.

 

22/1/1915: Marched to “Valley of Despair” for company training. C & D coys on rifle range, very cold day were overcoat all day, night parade on returning to camp, shortage of food, general complaints about same.

 

23/1/1915: Route march into desert and back, slack day.

 

24/1/1915: Sunday. Attended church parade reviewed by General Birdwood after parade sermon preached by the Bishop of Egypt no leave granted was used for guard, mounted guard at 6pm third relief 10 -12 and 4 – 6

 

25/1/1915: On guard all day heard sentence of Court Martial read out on parade of Bn.

 

26/1/1915: General leave granted to the Bn from 12 o/c to 9:30pm. Broke! No money but managed to borrow 50 piasters from Pierce visited Cairo, very hot day, glad no marching today.

 

27/1/1915: Long march into the desert, very windy and cold day, got into a heavy sand storm, eyes, mouth and ears full of sand, rotten day for a skirmish, we all arrived back at camp covered with sand, both inside and out.