Tuesday 1st February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. Parade 6.45 a.m. roll call, orders and gargle then went on duty at hospital. Breakfast at 8 a.m. cleaned up for inspection by O.C. at 9.15 a.m. and then dressings foments, etc. kept me busy till 11 a.m. Dinner 12.30 cleaned up and dressings foments again. Off duty at 3 p.m. and sat in the sun reading till 5 p.m. when on parade for roll call and gargle. Beautiful day again. Our boys and transport all went on route march to ferry post ths afternoon arrived back at 4.30 p.m. Turned in 8.30 lights out 10 p.m.


Wednesday 2nd February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a.m. roll call, orders and gargle, then went on hospital duty. Breakfast at 8 a.m. cleaned up for inspection by O.C at 9.15 a.m. then dressings etc. Divisional manouvres today B section of our corps went out. Saw some of Hyderabad lancers (Indians) looked a fine lot of fellows. After dinner and dressings etc, went and played Rugby football for our corps against New Zealand artillery, gave us great licking 19 points to 3. Then went for swim and shower bath. Back in camp at 6 p.m. had tea and did some writing, turned in 9 p.m. lights out 10 p.m.


Thursday 3rd February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a.m. Roll call, orders and gargle. An order read out that no transfers from our corps will be approved of under any considerations, but am going to put in for mine if I get the chance to engineers. Went on hospital duty after parade. Breakfast 8 a.m. cleaned up for inspection at 9.15 a.m. then dressings etc. till about 11 a.m. After dinner dressings again and off duty at 3 p.m. Was reading for rest of afternoon till 5 p.m. Parade roll call and gargle then tea and a choir practice from 6 p.m. to 7.15 p.m. Wrote a letter and turned in 9 p.m. lights out 10 p.m.


Friday 4th February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a.m. Roll call, orders and gargle then went on hospital duty. Breakfast 8 a.m. cleaned up for inspection at 9.15 a.m. Dressings etc. till about 11 a.m. After dinner and Page 8 of 69 cleaned up, did dressings then watched half dozen of our fellows at riding test for transport, had a bit of fun. Afterwards did some washing. Parade 5 p.m. roll call and gargle, then tea. Four new officers arrived for us today, hope they are a good lot. Trains have been running by to station full of Australian troops all day. Choir practice 6 to 7 p.m. Bed 8.30 p.m lights out 10 p.m.


Saturday 5th February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a.m. roll call, orders and gargle, then went on hospital duty. Breakfast 8 a.m. then cleaned up for inspection by O.C. at 9.15 a.m. Afterwards dressings etc. till dinner time. After dinner and cleaned up, renewed dressings and went to football ground. Our corps played 13th Battalion at soccer, we won 1 - 0. On parade again 5 p.m. roll call, gargle and dismissed. At 7 p.m. we gave concert at Y.M.C.A. tent, very successful, Major General Russel in the chair. Rained heavy tonight. Back at camp and had usual yarn before turning in at 9.30 p.m. Lights out 10 p.m.


Sunday 6th February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a.m. Roll call, gargle and orders, then on hospital duty. Breakfast 8 a.m. and cleaned up for inspection by O.C. at 9.15 a.m. then dressings etc, till dinner time. After dinner renewed dressings and cleaned up and off duty at 3 p.m. Went through and repacked some of our panniers and stores of drugs etc. then did some writing. After tea had yarn with boys till they went to church then settled down and did some writing. Sent home all Xmas, Birthday and other cards. Had yarn and turned in 8.30 p.m. Lights out 10 p.m.


Monday 7th February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a.m. roll call orders and gargle then on hospital duty. Breakfast 8 a.m. General Assembly sounded at 9.30 a.m. so fell in and had medical inspection (Ven) Afterwards was busy till dinner time with dressings etc. Cleaned up after dinner and did dressings and foments and at 2.30 p.m. had kit inspection. Captain Furber told us, had too much clothing etc and to get rid of some, but am not going to. Off duty 3 p.m. Had rugby practice 4 p.m. On parade 5 p.m. roll call and gargle then tea. Had read this evening and turned in 8 p.m. Lights out 10 p.m.


Tuesday 8th February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a..m roll call, orders gargle then went on hospital duty. Breakfast at 8 a.m. cleaned up for inspection by O.C. at 9.15 a.m. Afterwards did dressings, foments etc. busy till dinner time. Applied for and granted leave from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Went into Ismailia and made few small purchases tucker etc. Back in camp for roll call 5 p.m. gargle and dismissed. Our officers had dinner party tonight, got paralytic drunk, some carried to tents on stretchers, rotten affair, example to men, were kicking up row till midnight.


Wednesday 9th February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a.m. Roll call, orders and gargle, then went on hospital duty. Cleaned up after breakfast for inspection by O.C. at 9.15 a.m. Weather unsettled today. Dressings and foments till dinner time. After dinner dressings again and off duty at 3 p.m. Reading this afternoon, on parade 5 p.m. Roll call and gargle. A bit shorthanded tonight so gave hand in hospital for hour or so. One of our chaps taken ill tonight and sent to base with pneumonia. Writing letters till bed time, turned in 9 p.m. Lights out 10 p.m. Page 9 of 69


Thursday 10th February, 1916

Order issued late last night, no bugles to be sounded in camp or on the march till further notice, consequently things were a bit out this morning at Reveille and parade which were few minutes later than usual. Roll call, orders and gargle. Breakfast at 8 a.m. Afterwards cleaned up for inspection by O.C. at 9.15 a.m. then busy with dressings etc. till dinner time. After dinner cleaned up and dressings again. Off duty 3 p.m. read till parade 5 p.m. when roll call and gargle. Beautiful day, received five letters. Warships and minitors in the lake. Parade at 7.30 p.m. to see if a man who broke camp had returned. Turned in 9 p.m. lights out 10 p.m.

Friday 11th February, 1916

Reveille blown on whistle 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a.m. Roll call, orders and gargle then on hospital duty. Breakfast 8 a.m. then cleaned up for inspection at 9.15 a.m. by O.C. Afterwards did dressings etc. till dinner time. Cleaned up after dinner and did dressings then did some washing. Our boys went on route march this afternoon. Off duty at 3 p.m. and read till parade at 5 p.m. when roll call and gargle. After tea had yarn and turned in 8 p.m. Lights out 10 p.m. Been lovely day.


Saturday 12th February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a.m. All calls are made on whistle now instead of bugle. Roll call, orders and gargle, then on hospital. Breakfast 8 a.m. then cleaned up for inspection by O.C. at 9.15 a.m. Afterwards did dressings etc. After dinner did dressings again and later did rounds of hospital with Major Clayton as corporal went on leave. Off duty 3 p.m. Some talk of our corps being split up shortly. Had real loaf until parade at 5 p.m. with roll call and gargle. Had a dozen fried eggs for tea then yarned till turned in 8.30 p.m. Lights out 10 p.m.


Sunday 13th February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 roll call, orders and gargle then hospital duty. Breakfast 8 a.m. cleaned up for inspection by O.C. at 9.15 a.m. Dressings etc. afterwards. Our Adjutant Captain Furber sent into No 1. Staty(?) Hospital sick, also O.C. in bed sick, evidently booze up last week has upset them. After dinner played soccer for our corps against New Zealand Engineers. We lost 3-2. Went straight and played game of rugby football for our corps against New Zealand Ambulance lost by 6 points to 3. Parade 5 p.m., roll call, gargle. Wrote letters tonight, turned in 9 p.m. Lights out 10 p.m.


Monday 14th February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a.m. roll call, orders and gargle. Routine during day just as usual except transport paraded for inspection. Major Clayton went into No. 1 Staty(?) Hospital sick. Lot of talk of our brigade being withdrawn from New Zealand Division. Also of Brigade and our Ambulance being split up. Orders given out to be ready to move at short notice to Tel-el-kebir about 24 miles from here, might have to march it. Off duty 3 p.m. parade 5 p.m. roll call and gargle. Booze up and party in sergeants mess tonight, none only Sgts allowed by strict orders of O.C. In bed 8 p.m. Lights out 10 p.m. Page 10 of 69


Tuesday 15th February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 roll call, orders and gargle. Breakfast 8 a.m. cleaned up for inspection by Major Riack Vice O.C. sick. Then did dressings etc. Made up parcel to send home, in it, Ghurka's kukri, Turks water bottle, driving bands off turkish shells, Turkish cartridge coins and badges. Rained steadily all day. Did the dressings again after dinner and off duty 3 p.m. Had read till parade, roll call and gargle at 5 p.m. Expecting to move at any time, wrote letter home tonight and turned in 9 p.m. Lights out 10 p.m.


Wednesday 16th February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a.m., roll call, orders and gargle, on duty hospital 7 a.m. Breakfast 8 a.m. cleaned up for inspection by O.C. at 9.15 a.m. then did dressings etc. Posted parcel of trophies from Gallipoli this morning home. Played rugby football this afternoon for our corps against 13th Battalion, lost. Very heavy rain storm while playing. Parade, roll call and gargle 5 p.m. New Zealand Ambulance gave us farewell concert tonight with regards our severance from N.Z. Division, very good. Turned in 9.30 p.m. Lights out 10 p.m.


Thursday 17th February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a.m. Roll call, orders and gargle, hospital duty 8 a.m. Cleaned up for inspection 9.15 a.m. by O.C. dressings etc. afterwards, very busy till dinner time. Dressings again after dinner and off duty 3 p.m. Observation balloon up by lake today, can see ships passing through canal. Received orders just before tea to pack up stores etc. and load wagons, finished by 7 p.m. Advance guard expects to leave morning. Officers having burst up tonight in their mess, some nurses there. Also sergeants having burst up. In bed 8.30 p.m. Lights out 10 p.m.


Friday 18th February, 1916

Sergeants party last night developed into drunken rowdy scene. Officers was quieter but degrading. One or two officers refused to participate, about 8 nurses were present and were smoking and drinking beer and wine freely, they left in ambulance wagon just after 10 p.m. after which officers had carouse on own. Reveille 6 a.m. parde 6.45. Rountine for day just as usual except that we got rid of all patients but two on account of moving. Our heavier stores and advance guard let this morning. Balloon up by lake today. Turned in 9 p.m. Lights out 10 p.m.


Saturday 19th February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a.m. Roll call, orders and gargle, on duty hospital at 7 a.m. Breakfast 8 a.m. cleaned up for inspection by O.C. at 9.15 a.m. then did dressings etc. rather awkward as most of our medical stores have gone. After dinner did dressings again and off duty 3 p.m. Parade 5 p.m. roll call and gargle. Had news of Russian victory and fall of Erzerum today. Has been several court- martials lately in our corps, some of fellows out of hand. Turned in 9 p.m. Lights out 10 p.m.

Sunday 20th February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a.m. Roll call, orders and gargle then on hospital. Breakfast 8 a.m. and cleaned up for inspection by O.C. at 9.15 a.m. after which did dressings. After doing dressinga Page 11 of 69 again at 2 p.m. did some writing. News of Russians further advance in Caucasas. Parade again 5 p.m. roll call and gargle, after tea spent evening writing till turned in 9 p.m. Hear they are going to split some of our corps up to make another field ambulance. Talk of moving tomorrow. Lights out 10 p.m.


Monday 21st February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a.m. Roll call, orders and gargle then on hospital duty. Breakfast at 8 a.m. cleaned up for inspection by O.C. at 9.15 a.m. afterwards did dressings etc. Discharged all our patients this morning. After dinner on parade 2.30, marched to lake and had swimming parade, back in camp 4.30 p.m. Parade 5 p.m. roll call and gargle. Delayed from moving as troops to replace us have been stopped on account of measles so applied for 48 hours leave to visit Cairo from 6 a.m. tomorrow. Got my pass at 9.30 p.m. Fixed up ready to go in the morning. Lights out 10 p.m.


Tuesday 22nd February, 1916

Up at 5 a.m. caught train for Cairo 6.10 a.m. Tedious journey, arrived Cairo 9.35 a.m. had breakfast and went out to Zeitram to see my brother Harry. Found him looking well at dinner time. Left him 3 p.m. dropped across J. Brownell who ran me in to Cairo and for a look round in his side car. At 5 p.m. went and booked room at the New Khedivial Hotel, bed and breakfast 5/- then met my brother in Cairo at 6 p.m. Went and had dinner, 4 courses, at Cafe la Paix. Walked round Cairo together and had good yarn, left him at station 9 p.m. Went back to hotel and turned into bed 10 p.m. First bed I have slept in since leaving Melbourne.


Wednesday 23rd February, 1916

Splendid nights sleep. woke about 6 a.m. had hot bath, dressed and went out 7 a.m. for shave and boots and leggings cleaned. Back at hotel 8 a.m. for breakfast, then went to post office then to Heliopolis by car. Met brother Harry at 10 a.m. at Heliopolis Palace Hospital, had look round then took car to Cairo, walked round Cairo and had light luncheon at Y.M.C.A. in Ezbekiah gardens. Went out bought wristwatch and took tram to Citadel, could not get inside. Back to Cairo and had good dinner at Y.M.C.A. walked round city and caught train for Ismailia at 7.15 p.m. Harry came to station, arrived Ismailia at 10.30 p.m.


Thursday 24th February, 1916

Cairo full of troops, but number of officers who seem to be there is outrageous, seems to be thousands of officers and quite a lot of nurses, simply there for pleasure, am utterly disgusted. Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a.m. Physical drill till 7.30 a.m. then breakfast. On parade 9.30 a.m. struck bell and hospital tents, loaded them on G.S. Wagons and at 10.30 a.m. marched out of camp for divisional manouveres. Over desert about 4 miles, unloaded and built up camp then had dinner. At 2 p.m. had wagon practice and lecture, packed up 3.30 p.m. marched to camp by 5 p.m. erected it again, had roll call and tea. Put in claim for transfer of brother Harry today to this corps. Pretty tired so turned in 8.30 p.m.


Friday 25th February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a.m. Roll call, orders and gargle and physical drill till 7.30 a.m. Breakfast 8 a.m. On parade 9.30 a.m. struck camp and moved out 10.30 a.m. Marched over desert about 3 miles and erected camp, had lecture and dinner. Then collecting wounded and wagon practice Page 12 of 69 till 3.15 p.m. when struck camp again and set out home at 3.30 p.m. Arrived back at 4.15 p.m. re- erected camp and at 5 p.m. hd roll call and gargle. Put in an elder brothers claim application for brother Harry's transfer to this corps. In bed 8.30 p.m. Lights out 10 p.m.


Saturday 26th February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on physical parade 6.45 a.m. Roll call, orders and gargle then physical drill till 7.30 a.m. On parade again 9.30 a.m. and went for swimming parade to lake, had good swim and back in camp for dinner. No parde this afternoon so did some writing. A seaplane ship in lake today, seaplane flying about, also aeroplanes one of which did some good flying, looping the loop beautifully and making a fine spiral descent. Guns and troops passing both ways along the line. Parade and roll call and gargle 5 p.m. In bed 8 p.m. Lights out 10 p.m.


Sunday 27th February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a.m. Physical drill till 7.30 a.m. Breakfast at 8 a.m. On parade for church parade at 10 a.m. Church parade service taken by one of our fellows in our own lines, very good service. Most of our brigade has left this last few days for Tel-el-kebir. Developed into very rotten day, hot, windy and very oppresive, everybody complaining of headaches. Lay in tent all afternoon. After tea settled down and wrote letters till I turned in 8.30 p.m. Lights out 10 p.m.


Monday 28th February, 1916

Reveille 6 a.m. on parade 6.45 a.m. Roll call, orders and gargle then physical drill till 7.30 a.m. Did not go in parade 9.30 a.m. as our day for duty, so was doing dressings etc. all morning. General assembly at 2 p.m. and worked hard all afternoon packing up and striking camp ready to move in morning. Still going after tea and cleaned up camp at 6.30 p.m. Some of our corps gave concert (minstrel troupe) in Y.M.C.A. tonight, went off very well. Had to bivouac tonight. Turned in in the open about 9.30 p.m. Cool night but am feeling warm.


Tuesday 29th February, 1916

Our transports, horses and vehicles marching to Tel-el-kebir, set out at 4 a.m. this morning. We were roused out at 4.30 a.m. Breakfast at 5 a.m. quite dark. General fatigue work followed in Officers lines which were filthy and we moved to station at 7 a.m. Train moved out 7.10 a.m. New Zealand band playing us off. Travelled in open trucks. Arrived Tel-el-kebir about 9.45 a.m. dis-entrained and marched to camp ground. Lay about waiting orders till 4 p.m. when erected temporary camp, got it fixed up about 6 p.m. Had quiet evening and turned in about 8 p.m. Lights out 10 p.m.