APRIL 1ST  Raining very hard, thunder & lightning last night, the town is very dirty, the hospital is built of mud huts, during the night a lot of firing was done by the sentries round the camp.  Well, here we are again, simply swamped out, we should have moved to-morrow but we have had so much rain we have just got orders we are to stay here.  I went to the town this afternoon and I was caught in a thunderstorm and got wet to the skin, I changed but got wet again, with getting the water out of the tent, it was about 9 ins deep, and it is still coming in as I write, we have got a candle so we can stand in the water all night and wait for the storm to finish.

LV Brigade  Camped at Amara.

C Battery  In Camp.  Thunder and rain storm.  Tents and horse lines flooded.

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APRIL 2ND  We do not feel any the worse for our ducking, the ground is up to the knees in mud.  I have been across the river and bought a large tin of Apricots for 1 Rupee 4 Anna and I have these for tea also a packet of biscuits for 12 Anna's, rather an expensive meal, but a tasty meal is very scarce.

LV Brigade  Camped at Amara.  Heavy thunderstorm on night of 2nd.

C Battery  In camp.  Horses and guns removed to another part of camp.  Sgt Shakoney admitted to hospital.

APRIL 3RD  I am sent across to the hospital in the town with a R.A.M.C. Sergeant to look at the water arrangements, with a view to mending our own water which is very bad and causing a lot of sickness, but I can't see much chance of mending it.

LV Brigade  Camped at Amara.

C Battery  In camp.  Nothing to record.

APRIL 4TH  Expect to leave here in the morning, sent cards to Uncle Frank, Aunt Amelia, Aunt Sis, Home & L.

LV brigade  The 16th Ecelon of which Lieut Col Peck commanded and which comprised the 55th Bde RFA was ordered to march but heavy rain during the night made the road impossible.

C Battery  In camp.  Nothing to record.

APRIL 5TH  On the tramp once more, this morning we got on the Ambulance waggon but were ordered off by a sergeant so we had to walk all the way, after we had gone about a mile we came to a marsh and we had to walk through the mud and water up to our knees for about half a mile, nearly half the transport got stuck, the column is between 5 and 6 miles long and all the way along we came across overturned waggons, three men got hurt by being thrown from horses, it is simply impossible to describe the roads.

LV Brigade  Marched to Fodaiyin about 12 miles.  Directly after leaving camp a very heavy piece of swampy ground was encountered.  Afterwards road was better but never more than a wheel track across the country.  At Ruhuma bad piece of swamp was encountered and the approach to camp was very boggy and difficult.  The Echelon started from Amara at 8.20am.  The head arrived at camp about 2pm and the rear about 7pm.  Mule transport carts which had stuck were arriving until a much later hour.

C Battery  Left Amara 8.47am and proceeded by road to Fodaiyin Ruins arrived 4.45pm.

APRIL 6TH  The same old tale, terrible roads to walk, had to attend man with broken leg, got to camp just before a terrible storm broke, had to sleep just as we were last night on account of our waggon with the beds on getting stuck, I expect it will be the same to-night, we are getting two biscuits a day and a drink of tea, no doubt about this being active service.

LV Brigade  Marched to Kalat Sultan, about 11 miles.  Road began well but soon swampy ground was met with.  At Nahr Aled road improved for about a mile but then became an absolute bog.  Head of Echelon arrived in camp about 2pm.  Batteries and Amm Col came in vehicle by vehicle as they are extricated from the bog.  Some wagons were left in swamp all night and Transport camped about 2½ miles in rear.  During evening heavy thunderstorm flooded camp and Tigris overflowed in one place.

C Battery  Left camp at 9.20am but owing to ground had to make temporary camp at 3pm.  Rain storm.  Horse lines flooded.

APRIL 7TH  Our beds got behind again so we got very little sleep last night, two of our chaps did not get in untill afternoon after being out with the ambulance waggons all night, when the waggons came in I went for my bed and overcoat and found that some one had been kind enough to "win" them so I shall have to make the best of a bad job and sleep just as I am.

LV Brigade  The Echelon remained in camp at Kalat Sultan.  The morning was spent bringing in the wagons left out overnight using 10 horse teams.  A new road round the swamp entailing a detour of some 6 miles was reconnoitred and rendered practicable for the Transport.  Transport commenced to arrive about 3.15pm and was all in by 5pm.

C Battery  In camp.  Horses removed to another part of camp.

APRIL 8TH  I am riding on the box of the ambulance waggon and expect every minute to be thrown off, already we have been stuck in the mud twice and had to get four more mules to pull us out, I was nearly the last in camp being stuck about a mile away in a stream with the water above the stirrups, when I got in I kept my eyes open and bit by bit I came across my bed so now I am alright again, we heard yesterday that our troops were doing pretty well up here.

LV Brigade  Marched to 2 miles n of Wailshiyah about 6 miles.  Going was very bad all the way and after 4 miles was an absolute swamp.  A dry space for camp was found about 12 noon and all vehicles were in by 5pm.  Double teams had to be used and vehicles had to be dug out of swamp and manhandled.

C Battery  Left temporary camp at 8.09am arrived at camp 3 miles north of Wailsh Yah at 1.20pm.

APRIL 9TH  To-day am going up by a ration boat with 3 patients on, I am on night duty to-night & shall sleep on the boat.  I have just mentioned sleeping but I was doomed to disappointment for being only a native boat it let the water in when it began to rain hard, & I was up all night.

LV Brigade  Marched to Ali Als Sharqi about 10 miles.  A fairly good road was found out of camp by making a detour then going excellent for about 2 miles.  About 3 miles from camp a heavy bog was struck which lasted for 1 mile becoming loose towards the end.  Double teams had to be used to bring many guns and wagons through.  After leaving the bog good going.  Head arrived in camp at 10.45am.  Last wagon about 7.45pm.  During the night a very heavy thunderstorm.

C Battery  Left camp at 8.05am arrived at temporary camp 12.50am.

APRIL 10TH  The weather being bad this morning we had to stay in the same camp, it was very cold and dirty under the feet.

LV Brigade  Rain recommenced in morning and a short reconnaissance proved road, which was quite dry the day before, to be impassable.  Remained at Ali Als Sharqi.

C Battery  Left camp at 8.19am arrived at Ali Ash Sharri 2.30pm.

APRIL 11TH  We set off to walk this morning intending to march a good way, we plodded on until about 1 o'clock when the advance guards came back and said it was impossible to get any further on account of the bad roads, it is just beginning to pour down again so that will not mend things, we bank up the earth inside the canvas and settle down to a good nights "kip".

LV Brigade  Left Ali Als Sharqi at 8.15am and halted for mid-day halt opposite Shafir.  The going was soft and bad at first after rain but improved later.  Marched again at 2.30pm but a mile from halt it was found impossible to proceed.  Water was knee deep over soft mud.  Returned to halting place and camped.  All in by 3.30pm.  Heavy rain during night.

C Battery  Left camp at 8.15am arrived at temporary camp opposite Shafi at 1pm unable to proceed owing to bad ground through heavy rains.

APRIL 12TH  Still in the same camp, we are getting short of rations so the boats go up the river for rations to the base, the weather is still unsettled & another thunderstorm is just raging, this afternoon we got hail stones just like peas.

LV Brigade  Day spent on reconnaissance for possible road and one found by circling in all directions and carrying out certain improvements.  5 ration boats sent up to Ali Al Gharbi under Lieut for supplies and 50% gun ammunition sent in them to lighten wagons through swamp.

C Battery  In camp.  Nothing to record.

APRIL 13TH  We walked again to-day, the country was terrible, in places the water was waist deep but we struggled through, we are getting close to the firing line for to-day we could hear the guns faintly, we look like having some more rain to-night & we must sleep out in the open.  I have not mentioned it before, but our doctor is very eccentric and I should say he is the most disliked man in the brigade, I am convinced he knows very little and I should not like to be sick under his care.
LV Brigade  Left opposite Shafir at 7.30am and head arrived opposite Filiafilah about 11.30am.  There halt was made to 1.30pm when march recontinued to Hussain Creek which was crossed and all were in camp by 7.30pm.  Rain during night.

C Battery  Left camp at 8.10am arrived at Hasaim Creek at 3.15pm.

APRIL 14TH  We set out this morning in the pouring rain, the ground was covered with grass waist high, and the water was knee deep nearly all the way.  I was very soon wet through, but we got on ahead, and came to the place for the camp.  We had not been here long before we got word that it was impossible for the batteries to get any farther, so we had to walk back about 3 miles.  Today we have one chipatie and some tea, and we all feel like drowned rats.  We shall have no beds tonight, so I am getting quite used to roughing it.

LV Brigade  Left Hussain Creek at 8am.  Cavalry arrived Ali Al Gharbi 11.00ambut returned two miles down stream where camp was laid out.  The whole Echelon was badly bogged about three miles back and only A/55 B/55 D/55 and HQ/55 arrived in camp.  Rain during day and all night.

C Battery  Left camp at 8.19am but after about a hours march found roads in flood.  Had great difficulty in getting horses and guns along.  Battery got broken up and had to make temporary halt for the night.

APRIL 15TH  Only a few got in yesterday being stuck in a bog all night, we were laid in the open without blankets, we have got no tea or grub and if we had we can get no firewood to cook it with, rations are very short all round up here, we put our money together and one of our chaps went to the town and bought some flour and jam, so we were up last night making chipaties, we get issued with raw rations so we have to search for wood and cook our own meals.

LV Brigade  Rain during morning but dry later.  Whole day spent in extricating vehicles from bog, teams of 12 and 14 horses being used with vehicles.  By night C/55 & BAC/69 and about 50% mule transport arrived in camp.  Supplies very scarce.  Men on ⅔ rations from today.  Horses 6lb of bad grain, no other forage.

C Battery  Battery joined up and proceeded to camp opposite Ali El Garbi.  No casualties.

APRIL 16TH  While I am waiting for the dixie to boil, I think of the eggs and bacon I might have had at home.

LV Brigade  Remainder of Echelon arrived in camp.

C Battery  In camp.  Nothing to record.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ali El Ghabri

APRIL 17TH  Two of my pals only get in with the ambulance waggons this morning, after being stuck in the bog for two days without food, it is very hot today, we buy some flour and make our own chipaties, and cook all our own food, I am getting quite a good hand at cooking.  I hear we may be stopped here a good while.

LV Brigade  Remained in camp, nothing to record.  ⅔ rations continued and forage finished.  Lieut GB Manders and Lieuts RJT Wingfield, WT Hill and AI Maclaren sent to front in response to wire BGRA/13 Div.

C Battery  In camp.  Nothing to record.

APRIL 18TH  I just find out that I was mistaken about it being Easter, so that just shows how we get lost in the days, for one is so very much like another, today was boiling hot and we heard that we have captured 2000 Turks and some guns, we also expect a mail to- morrow, and I am looking forward to receiving a letter.

LV Brigade  Remained in camp, nothing to record.  ⅔ rations continued and forage finished.  Lieut GB Manders and Lieuts RJT Wingfield, WT Hill and AI Maclaren sent to front in response to wire BGRA/13 Div.

C Battery  In camp.  Nothing to record.

APRIL 19TH  We have received no mail today, it was boiling hot, and I have the skin off my arms, after tea the wind sprung up and blew the tents about.

LV Brigade  50 sacks of grain for whole column only forage obtainable.

C Battery  In camp.  Nothing to record.

APRIL 20TH  I was cook, today, this afternoon I did some baking for tea, I also bought some salmon, and a small tin of butter.  (What a luxury).

LV Brigade  No forage obtainable.

C Battery  In camp.  Nothing to record.

APRIL 21ST  Good Friday.  What a contrast to last year, I did some more baking, in fact with buying our own food, we are living pretty well towards the rest of the chaps, who are only getting 3 biscuits a day, and they say we are the best fed army in the world.

LV Brigade  No forage issue.

C Battery  In camp.  Nothing to record.

APRIL 22ND  Very hot today, men being brought in, overcome by the heat, sent letter to L.

LV Brigade  Half issue of grain and 2lbs of hay per horse.

C Battery  In camp.  Nothing to record.

APRIL 23RD  Easter Sunday.  I miss Easter Communion, however we have a very good breakfast, bacon and eggs from our store, with running about for the doctor? we have not time to cook our dinner, so we have it at tea time.  The doctor put one of my pals under arrest for not having some boiling water ready.  Taking things all round, we don't get on at all well, with the doctor.

LV Brigade  Half issue of grain and 2lbs of hay per horse.  2Lieuts CG Day, WJ Long, J Graham-Williams and EW Watkins left to reinforce 66th Brigade RFA.

C Battery  In camp.  Lt. G. Hornung admitted to hospital.  2Lt EW Watkins left Battery to join ^^th Brigade.  No.94437 Gunner Hawkins W accompanied Mr Hornung as servant.  No.19889 Gunner Williams T left as servant to Mr Watkins.  

APRIL 24TH  Was unwell today, got excused duty, stomach out of order, got 10 letters and a parcel, 4 from home, four from Padiham, 1 from Miss R, and 1 from Uncle Frank.  Sent letter home.

LV Brigade  No forage obtainable.  Men put on full rations.  

C Battery  In camp.  Nothing to record.

APRIL 25TH  Feel fit again today, sent letter to Aunt Sis, and cards to Bob, R, Gig and Miss Harris.

LV Brigade  Half issue of grain.  No hay.

C Battery  In camp.  Nothing to record.

APRIL 26TH  Went by boat about 4 miles up the river to get stores for the doctor, name of place Ali-al-Gabi.

LV Brigade  Half issue of grain.  No hay.  Sent off 48 Cavalry umounts from Echelon.

C Battery  In camp.  Nothing to record.

APRIL 27TH  Got 4 letters today, 3 from home, and 1 from L., besides 7 papers and a fine parcel, the letters had been all over the place, sent letter to Aunt Amelia.

LV Brigade  Full issue of forage on new scale.  Heard of death of Lieut GW Manders from wounds received in action with 66th Battery 22/4/16.

C Battery  In camp.  Nothing to record.

APRIL 28TH  Sent man to hospital yesterday, got news today that he was dead, with cholera, so this afternoon we were all inoculated.

LV Brigade  Heard of death of 2Lieut RJT Wingfield killed in action with 28th Battery on 27/4/16.

C Battery  In camp.  No.96595 Driver Reeves JG joined 13th Div HQS.

 

APRIL 29TH  Went up to town again, came back on transport which takes some of the Indians on board, got registered letter 5/- which I sent back home, also sent letter to our Liz.

LV Brigade  Nothing to notice.

C Battery  In camp.  Nothing to record.

APRIL 30TH  A man in our Brigade shot himself this afternoon, I helped to sew him up in a blanket and he was buried within an hour, this is the second case we have had of shooting during the last few days, the other night a chap was brought in shot by a sentry through the arm and leg, he did not hear him shout.

LV Brigade  Nothing to notice.

C Battery  In camp.  Nothing to record.