Pages That Mention 30.56146,31.78723
Allsop Diary
Page 15
February 1916
3 Thursday
Letter from [Ted Geach] England Orders to prepare for departure to Tel-el-Kebir. Everything packed up and sent to Railway. H.M.S. Jupiter passed in Suez direction. Big ship with funnels side by side. N.N.M.R doing our transport. Carried patients across Canal to clearing hospital Preparations have advanced rapidly on the other side. Road, Heavy & Light Railway. 7 Battalion. 2nd & 3rd Brigades Trench mortars. Lion sunk 2 Battleships & 1 Cruiser news from passing ship
4 Friday
Slept in old building used as Barracks at time Canal was being built, trouble with bugs Pipe run across the Canal with Donkey engine on the other side to pump water across. Bugle calls again being used.
5 Saturday
Slept in old buildings again last night killed 5 bugs on me this morning. Digging Dugout. Letter from Bank. Not allowed to visit Port Said. We are now attached temporarily to the 1st Division For some time there has been doubt as to where we would go. We were with the 10th Indians for a time, then other Aust. Div. wanted us. Now it is thought that we are forming a new Division with the 4th, 8th & new Brigade of Re-Infs from Cairo so that we will be the first to go into action, most likely France.
6 Sunday
Turks abandoned Canal Attack. Caught a bat. Roy bought Camera. Malwa passed for Australia. Ladies
Page 21
February 1916
24 Thursday
All prepared for moving presumably to Tel-el-Kebir, when orders came to say that through railway disorder we can't go till tomorrow. We have been exactly 3 weeks in suspense. Tin 1/4lb. Condensed milk and 4 packets of cigarettes given out
25 Friday
Cleared camp. Heavy day transporting luggage. Lively train ride to Tel-el-Kebir, finally getting settled at 11 o'clock. Put on piquet all night. Camped on old battle ground of 1882 where Kitchener & Gordon fought in the Soudan War. This is a tremendous camp yet far ahead of Liverpool in administration.
26 Saturday
Setting out new camp. Visit by Harold Alcock, Hughie Steanes & Reg Cannon, Hughie took our photos. Went down the lines at night. Gambling frightful & drunkenness very evident. All old units being split up.
27 Sunday
Doing nothing all day. Visited Lennie Rial and stayed talking to him all afternoon Quirk called to see me
Page 23
March 1916
2 Thursday
Route March round earthworks of old battlefield. Tel-el-Kebir was the last of Soudan wars where the enemy were completely surrounded Bones lying about. Infantry now engaged in burying remains Signalling all afternoon. Saw Lennie & Allan Bruce. Fun at Canteen chap eating crockery
3 Friday
Stretcher drill in morning Warmest day since leaving Aust. Fearfully hot. Ridiculous having to turn out with Tunics on. Parade hours altered Nothing from 11.30 to 3pm then French lesson. Very funny indeed. Pictures at night.
4 Saturday
Stretcher drill in morning Otherwise a quiet day On guard at night Cricket match
5 Sunday
On Guard. Cricket match 8 ambulance wagons & 2 G.S. carts from 4th Light Horse F.A arrived to join our unit 60 odd horses also arrived
Page 24
March 1916
6 Monday
Very warm day. On Q.M Fatigue. Saw Field Bakery. [?s] out beautiful breads 22,000 loaves a day. In afternoon saw Sherring on Artillery cart. Passed Sandford and saw another Liverpool friend who is now in Art. Art going to form howitzer battery Troops moving by a fortnights time
7 Tuesday
Hot day. On Cooks fatigue carrying water Measured for helmets, drill coats, short pants and puttees Capt North & Capt Donald taken from us thus spoiling the unit.
8 Wednesday
Visited Ismailia to get Red Cross Cases & money. Huge Camp there larger than Tel-el-Kebir. Seven Aeroplanes up Everything prepared for departure to France in few days time. Saw RHA enroute for France Passed Gen Birdwood's House. Warships Monitors & French ships on lake at Ismailia. This is a very pretty town. Train guard told me history of Tel-el-Kebir battle.
Page 28
March 1916
20 Monday
Inoculated, Artillery A. S. C. and numbers of troops leaving Tel-el-Kebir for France (presumably) Military Canteen now open [?] Graves mostly Scottish on other side of line
21 Tuesday
All day off. Saw Aust. mail going through to Cairo 4 Iron barred trucks. Met Ginger Smith & Cullen (spring healed Jack) of the Artillery. They left today Helmets issued. Tunics & long drill pants arrived. Artillery practice Plum pudding aswell
22 Wednesday
Still off duty. Eventful day Prince of Wales inspecting the camp accompanied by Gen. Irvine brother to our officer. Escort chiefly Indians. After saluting each regiment gave 3 cheers. Gas helmets arrived. Mail Day.