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Page 16
February 1916
7 Monday
Tobacco & Matches issued yesterday Not yet moved. Field work in morning finding wounded in scrub & marshes. In afternoon lecture on Sanitation and swim in Suez Canal. New Zealand Mounted Rifles passed on way across Canal Estimated cost of works at this part of Canal & down 4 to 5 million £ Rained last night.
8 Tuesday
Beautiful day. Had photo taken by Roy near Serapeum filtering works for purifying sweet water Canal for troops. Carrying water by Camels & peeling vegetables. Hororata (Plymouth) sailed down towards Suez A20. Carried queer case of paralysis across to Clearing Hosp. over Canal. One arm useless. Good feed tomatoes & oranges very plentiful here. Minelayer H.M.S. Magnolia passed in Suez direction, dropped life boat whilst going a great pace. 2 guns visible & mines were dropped over the sides. The ship is like a destroyer. Steamer City of Cairo passed in Port Said direction. "Arabia" passed afterwards.
9 Wednesday
Showering. Collecting rushes to [?] with natives whom we made get & carry the rushes. Then they made mats from palm branches & rushes. Cordite in cigarette. Practice in carrying patients in afternoon. Playing cards practically every evening. Railway siding right to Canal bank going on to road completed & first train run along the line.
Page 17
Beautiful morning. Long route march to the Bitter Lake. In some places the other side isn't visible. Quite shallow except for the channel. Scenery rather pretty at Canal entrance. Salt thickness over the sand. Had a swim. Lect. on Geneva Conv. of 1864 & 1906. Britain first to sign. Field Amb the most imp. medical unit an army can possess. Capt Wooster referred to instances of Aust. Red Cros abuse at Dardanelles. Good tea Rice & 7 ozs tea bread & strawberry jam. "Borda" passed homewards.
11 Friday
Morning signalling. Afternoon Squad drill by [Bacseich] Corporals. Naval Bridging train arrived. Timber arriving in huge trainloads. Two trains awaiting unloading at siding Surprise at night Bill Lang called bringing Beech from Brighton Guthrie of B.G.S. in Aust C. Dozens of old friends over the Canal & all round us. Still catching live stock one chap caught 15 fleas in his pyjamas. Raid on gamblers
12 Saturday
Carrying patients on horseback. Squad drill (monotonous game). Lovely day. Heard yarn about the 50 lb shell at Gallipoli. "Afric" bound homewards 4th F. Art. Supply column arrived Reading letters & papers from home. These came in the "Arabia" mail
13 Sunday
Monitors Scarab, Aphis. bound in Suez direction. Kyarra & Medic loaded with troops going Port Said direction "Athos" big Indian P&O. & Osterley homewards
Page 18
February 1916
14 Monday
1st Field Amb arrived & went across Canal. "Corsican" Big steamer bound for Persian Gulf with East Lancs aboard Beautiful Day. Lecture on bones By Captain North. Queer march by Major Williams. Monitors yesterday had 2 guns (like 11 in) one forward & the other aft. Anti-Aircraft gun aft square stern, 3 rudders & bright blue funnels.
15 Tuesday
Dull day and showery. Poor exhibition by officers in morning at marching past etc. Signalling. Lecture on breaks on fractures by Capt. Wooster. A.M.C. comforts distributed. My share was packet of envelopes & tin of pudding from Mrs F. Mann. "Ceramic" bound Gulf with 9th Hants aboard. Cheering intense Will we win, yes Are we downhearted Monster P.&O. from Bombay homewards
16 Wednesday
March up sweet water canal and back with full equipment &, taking whole day. Lecture on Antiseptics & dressing of wounds by Capt. Irvine. Orders of day contain reference to France. Huge NZMR camp behind us. 600 camels crossed bridge. Beautiful Day
Page 19
February 1916
17 Thursday
Glorious morning. Aphis & Scarab returned. Draw only 4 ft of water Scarab is slightly an improvement on the other. 2 Maxim guns & 2 Anti Aircraft. Lecture on First Aid by Capt Donald. First replies to our letters written on Ascanius memorable day & lovely day
18 Friday
Heavy day. Extended order Practising attending wounded under heavy fire. Swim in Canal. Boatload of Pommies for Bombay. "Cornwallis" HMS Port Said way. Trainloads of motor lorries arriving
19 Saturday
Frightfully windy. Sandstorm blowing. Semaphore signalling & carrying wounded. Afternoon off. Turned out beautiful night. Moonlight
30 Sunday
Church Parade. Brig-Gen Tivey [with] cross batons up. Hair cut short. Indian Hosp Ship Suez way. Beautiful moonlight night. Pay day. Tobacco issue
Page 20
February 1916
21 Monday
Lovely morning. Long route march up Sweet Water Canal. Lecture on Fractures. Semaphore Signalling. Infantry leaving from other side in trainloads Playing 500 after tea. Good looking and rather nice boys selling eggs.
22 Tuesday
Bright day Swim before breakfast. Combined order drill all morning. P.&O. mail steamer "Kybir" passed in Suez direction. Lady on railing. Old chap throwing cigarette tins ashore. Clapping & cheering on board as Richards jumped in water with all clothes on [pins] hat & wristlet watch. Lecture on C.M. Rts & Kings Regs. by Capt Donald. Grand sight as huge troopship with Scotch on board passed for the Gulf. Bagpipes playing
23 Wednesday
Coy. Drill in morning Lecture on Scalds Burns etc. by Capt North in afternoon. Big steamer Northland passed homewards (N.Z. Transport). Infantry going mad Moving at daylight tomorrow. We have orders to move tomorrow