May 2.
Same routine today.
May 3.
Nothing much doing today, Draft going to France very soon, don’t know whether to go or to remain here for some time yet. Had a letter from Ron dated 9th March, today. Also one from Ag(nes). Weather still warm.
May 3.
Nothing much doing today, Draft going to France very soon, don’t know whether to go or to remain here for some time yet. Had a letter from Ron dated 9th March, today. Also one from Ag(nes). Weather still warm. May 4.
A number of units are getting ready to leave overseas in 24 hours. Read all (R or A’s) letters tonight in bed. Wishes she was with ?? again.
May 5.
Same old routine. Some of the new draft who were going to France were rejected by the doctors for weak hearts.
May 6.
Fairly quiet today. Had a half day holiday, did some washing in the afternoon, wrote some letters in the evening.
May 7.
Went to Church parade today but Priest didn’t turn up. Worked in afternoon, temperature 103ºF in the shade.
May 8.
Very warm and dusty today. More men rejected from draft by the Doctors and have to go back to Australia, Lucky Dig(gers). Not feeling too good myself.
May 9.
Draft for 2nd Division Signals Company after today. Letters from home.
May 10 and 11.
Nothing special on today, putting in phones etc.
May 12.
Parcel from home today, my acceptance too. Nothing else to report.
May 13.
Half holiday today. Weather extremely hot and dusty. Heard some recruits returned today. Believe we’ll be home for Christmas. Had a few letters from home this evening.
May 14.
Church parade today, very warm. Heard we are going to England within next two weeks.
May 15.
A few papers from home. Left camp at 6.15 for rifle range at Moascar. (another training camp). Laid lines at rifle range for infantry. Finishing up of phones etc. Very hot and no water drank the sweet stuff from Canal. (Tel-el-Kebir was a few miles from the Canal which was salt water, but it was on the outskirts of the irrigated areas of the Nile Delta. The Ismaillia Canal ran close to the camp.)
May 16.
Very quiet the last few days, very warm and dusty, received papers from Agnes, saw Jim ?? Worked until until 11pm.
May 17.
Still warm etc. Have had no letter of recruit dates from any of my ?? ones. Worked to 7.30.
May 18.
Nothing much doing today, weather quite cool. Commenced writing in the evening.
May 19.
Lovely and cool today. I heard that tomorrow we are going to join the 4th and 5th Divisions I will be going if possible.
May 20.
Nothing much happened today, worked during the afternoon.
May 21.
Didn’t go to Church parade today as I worked in the morning. Selected to go and join the 5th Divisional Signal Company as 1st Reinforcements.
May 22.
Had an early day today, we expect to move out soon.
May 23.
Very quiet today, called off linesman’s job and doing nothing, Letters today and one from Ron. Spent the day sleeping and training others.
May 24.
Camp moved today, Rumours that the Signals Camp moving to England in a few days, nothing definite, hope it is true. Had a cricket match in the afternoon. (Army Records show he was allotted to 5th Division Signal Company today.)
May 25.
We were inoculated today. It was pretty severe and my arm is still sore from the effects of it. Issued with our shortages. Have to be up at 4.30am for our kit inspection.
May 26.
Heard that we were leaving for England on Sunday by Suez. No more mails close here for Australia. (It was decided to move the Australian training camps from Egypt to England as the focus of the war had moved from the Egyptian/ Turkey area to France. It was mainly some Light Horse Regiments who remained with the Camel corps and fought in the Sinai through to Palestine).
May 27.
All the unallocated left for England at 9 pm. We go to 5th Division Base for a few days until we sail.
May 28.
Church parade in the morning, weather very warm and dusty. Don’t know when we are sailing but hope it is soon.
May 29.
We have not much to do here, four hours per day, 0600 to 0800 and 1600 to 1800; flies are a nuisance. Hear that we will be sailing at the end of the week. Cruiser went out today for France.
May 30.
Nothing much happening today, weather very warm. Still quiet today, no word when moving out yet, very dusty and warm.
Camp at Seymour, Victoria, when doing their initial training. Photo would be taken in late winter and it would still be cold. Note the "Long Johns' hanging out to dry.
2 comments:
the weather did sound terrible which could range from "hot", "warm" to "cool" in just few days....
yeah, i noticed the 'long johns' ...... after u mentioned it though, hehehe !!!
eh, the 5 of them looked so 'robotic'....hahaha (same uniform, same size, height & style lol).......
Yes Jacss the weather can get cool in the desert even in the summer months as if the cloud cover disappears at night then the day time heat radiates out, It would be hot when the wind was from the south as then it has blown across the hot sahara desert.
Army issue only 2 sizes too small or too large!! and it was not designed for style. Plus as Seymour would be cold the great coat was to keep them warm.
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