JUNE 1ST  My temp. last night was 103, but I feel much better this morning.  I sent cards to our Liz. and Uncle Frank.

LV Brigade  Remained camped near ruins of Gomorrah.

C Battery  Nothing to record.

JUNE 2ND  Sent cards to Uncle Jack, Mrs. Stevenson and Mrs. Howarth.

LV Brigade  Lieut WJ Long A/55 rejoined from 66th Bde RFA.

C Battery  Nothing to record.

JUNE 3RD  Sent cards to Jack Taylor, Sister Sutherland, Bmbdr Royals and I was paid 15 Rupees (1£).

LV Brigade  2Lieut FJ Cathcart A/55 was shot and killed by mounted Arabs near Lot’s Mound while reconnoitering in front of A/55 guns in position in Sheik Saad defences.

C Battery  Nothing to record.

JUNE 4TH  Last night one of our officers went a little way out of the camp, and today they found him dead, shot by the Arabs, he was absolutely naked, they had a military funeral tonight.

LV Brigade  Nothing to note except inspection of horses by B.G.R.H. 3rd Indian Army Corps.

C Battery   Nothing to record.

JUNE 5TH  Heard rumours of great battle in the North Sea, also that we might be going to Bombay.  I think it too good to be true.

LV Brigade  Nothing to note.

C Battery  Nothing to record.

JUNE 6TH  Heard that the Germans lost 18 warships in North Sea battle, and we lost 14, don't know whether its true or not.

LV Brigade  Improved ration ordered for animals.

C Battery  Nothing to record.

JUNE 7TH  Expected mail today, but none arrived, and we still keep hearing rumours about the Brigade moving.

LV Brigade  Nothing to note.

C Battery  Nothing to record.

 

 

JUNE 8TH  Got papers from Home, also from L., very hot today, one of my pals being sent away to hospital with dysentery.

LV Brigade  Nothing to note.

C Battery  Nothing to record.

JUNE 9TH  Sent letter home, got news about Lord Kitchener going down with the "Hampshire".  Mother's Birthday.

LV Brigade  Nothing to note.

C Battery  Nothing to record.

JUNE 10TH  Sent letter to L, we are getting a lot of sick, above 400 have been sent to hospital since we left Bazrah, this morning we had 92 on the sick parade, and I am doing nothing but dressings from 6 oclock in the morning until 9.

LV Brigade  Nothing to note.

C Battery  Nothing to record.

JUNE 11TH  Today I got a parcel and a letter from home, a letter and paper from L, and a letter from both Joe and Billy.  Sent letter to Joe, card to Pauline and home.

LV Brigade  2Lieut HC Hotblack HQ/55 sent to 39th Field Ambulance with ...   SAA sec/55 turned out at 1am to take ammunition up to Corps.  Returned 8pm.

C Battery  Nothing to record.

JUNE 12TH  Sent letter to Billy, rumours still going strong that the 13th Division are going down the river.

LV Brigade  Nothing to note.

C Battery  Capt OF Herold and 34 other ranks with 4  guns and limbers took up position about 2 miles in rear of camp for outpost duty.

JUNE 13TH  We got the chance today to send our money home through the government, if we had any to send, what bit I had got was not worth the trouble.

LV Brigade  Nothing to note.

C Battery  Nothing to record.

JUNE 14TH  We got orders today to hold ourselves in readiness to go at 36 hours notice, up the line.

LV Brigade  Nothing to note.

C Battery  Nothing to record.

JUNE 15TH  Got 2 letters and papers from home, 1 letter and papers from L. they have got no letters from me for five weeks, sent letter home and one to L.

LV Brigade  2Lieut WD Hill rejoined the Brigade.

C Battery  Nothing to record.

JUNE 16TH  Still in the same camp, nearly all the 13th Division have come down from the front.

LV Brigade  Nothing to note – remained in same camp.  Batteries took duty week in manning Sheik Saad defenes.  

C Battery  Nothing to record.

JUNE 17TH AND 18TH  Nothing striking, Church Service in the evening on the 18th, rumours still going strong, that we shall go away with the 13th Division, we hear that the Russians are doing well.

LV Brigade  Nothing to note – remained in same camp.  Batteries took duty week in manning Sheik Saad defenes.  

C Battery Nothing to record.

JUNE 19TH  Sent Field cards to Aunt Melia and Aunt Sis.

LV Brigade  Nothing to note – remained in same camp.  Batteries took duty week in manning Sheik Saad defences.  

C Battery  Outpost party returned to camp.  No firing done and nothing of importance to record.

JUNE 20TH  Today I drew 30 Rupees £2-10-8, with the intention of sending it home.

LV Brigade  Nothing to note – remained in same camp.  Batteries took duty week in manning Sheik Saad defences.  

C Battery  Nothing to record.

JUNE 21ST  I got a form to fill up today so that I could send my money home, also got letter from L., and papers, also letter from H. Dewhurst and papers from home.

LV Brigade  Nothing to note – remained in same camp.  Batteries took duty week in manning Sheik Saad defences.  

C Battery  Nothing to record.

JUNE 22ND  Sent money home through post, 37½ Rupees £2-10-0. also letter to H. Dewhurst, and cards to W. Wilkinson and home, also letter to L.

LV Brigade  Nothing to note – remained in same camp.  Batteries took duty week in manning Sheik Saad defences.  

C Battery  Nothing to record.

JUNE 23RD  One battery in the next camp to us, Sussex Terriers, leave by boat, to go down the river, I think to Bombay, they leave the guns in the stores, and we take over the harness and tents, in fact, we seem to be a dump for anything, for everyone going down seem to leave us their stuff, so it does not look as if we shall go up, in fact, about half the Brigade are broken down in health, and the mules are also unfit.

LV Brigade  Nothing to note – remained in same camp.  Batteries took duty week in manning Sheik Saad defences.  

C Battery  Nothing to record.

JUNE 24TH  Midsummer Day.  After what I said yesterday, it came as a great surprise, when we got orders this morning to get ready to leave, for the firing line tomorrow night, I believe we are going to the Ess Sinn position, the Bmbdr. in charge of the Medical Tent, was put in hospital this morning, so we have got no N.C.O. in charge of us.

LV Brigade  Nothing to note – remained in same camp.  Batteries took duty week in manning Sheik Saad defences.  

C Battery  Nothing to record.

JUNE 25TH  We are out in the sun all day, packing things up ready to leave at 7 oclock in the evening, we set out walking, and the dust was ankle deep, it was like going through snow, after going about 2 miles, it became dark, so we had to wait for an escort of the Loyal North Lancs. then we marched on, and had not gone far, before we began to get sniped by Arabs, however, on we went, stumbling down trenches in the dark, for only the stars were shining, and the dust floated in the air for miles, all at once the wheel of the Medical Cart smashed all to bits, and we were stranded on the road, myself, one of my pals and the driver, we were choked with dust, and sniping was going on, we stayed here for some time, not knowing what to do, we had no rifle to protect ourselves, but at last a corporal came back with a waggon, and we had to load our stuff from one to the other in the dark, we got all the boxes on, in a fashion, and then we were told to mount on top, for we had to push on to catch the rest, away we went at breakneck pace, and if we went over a ditch we were thrown from one side to the other, and I expected every minute to be thrown under the wheels, how I came out of it, I shall never know, it was like a horrid dream, however, we got to our Brigade about 3 o clock in the morning more dead than alive, and I dropped down under a waggon but had to be up before five to pitch tents and dress the sick.

LV Brigade  The Brigade (then the S.A.A. Section) marched to Arab Village.  Left Sheik Saad 7pm and arrived in camp 4am 26/6

C Battery  Battery left Gomorrah at 7.30pm and marched to Arab Village arrived 2.30am and camped.

JUNE 26TH  Today we are off again on the track, we leave camp about 4-30, just before we set off the doctor puts each of us in a Battery, I am put into D Battery, D Sub, and I am on the water cart, we go straight up to the gun pits, with the guns, and after putting the guns in action, the cart is emptied, and we set off back down to the waggon lines, it went dark and we were roaming about, unable to find the lines, shells were bursting just across the river, and the snipers were out, but towards midnight we found the camp, and I dropped down and went to sleep like a log.

LV Brigade  Left Arab Village at 4.30pm.  Halted to water and feed at Abu Roman.  Head Quarters proceeded to 9th Infantry Brigade Chahela.  A/55 and C/55 relieved D/66 and A/66 in positions at Chahela.  D/55 relieved releived 20th Battery at Abu Roman.  Wagon lines for HQ/55, A/55, C/55, D/55and 2 Sub Sections of Brigade Ammunition Column were established near Abu Roman Mounds.  B/55 with 1 Sub Section Brigade Ammunition Column proceeded to Sinn to be attached to XIV Div and take up new position.

C Battery  Moved off at 4.40pm and marched to Abu Roman where wagon lines were laid out and left under command of 2/LT AN Leeson.  4 guns with limbers and Battery firing under command of Captain OF Herold.  Moved off and joined convoy about 7.30pm and took up position at Chanela relieving A/66 FA13.

JUNE 27TH  I was awakened by gun fire this morning, I had to go about three miles to the river, to fill the water cart, and then take it up to the guns, coming back we had to fill it up again, and at tea-time I had to go up to the guns again, we were without rifles or anything, but we got through alright.

LV Brigade  2Lieuts EW Watkins and JG Grahame-Williams rejoined from 66th Bde RFA.  A/55 and C/55 checked registrations.

C Battery  2/Lt Watkins rejoined Battery from A/66 13Div.

JUNE 28TH  I have not seen the doctor since we were sent to the battery, I have a few sick men, but I can't do anything for I have no stores, not even a bandage, this morning the quartermaster offered to give me a horse to ride, but I did not like the thought of it, for I have never ridden a horse in my life, but he put a rifle and some ammunition on the cart, just as we got up to the guns, the battery was in action, but they got no reply from the Turks, oh, by the way, we are in part of the EssSein position.

LV Brigade  A/55 fired few rounds at Nam Hailet C/55 fired at Turkish working party and a few rounds to keep down snipers.

C Battery  Fired 4 rounds at working party on communications trench running W of Round Fort TC32 17A 35/42 work stopped.  3 rounds registration Village TC32 17D 5/1.  Fired 3 rounds H.E. to bring down snipers.  Dug pit for anti aircraft gun, placed, gun in action.  If this gun is ever used as anti aircraft gun I think the spring would go after first round.  The 18p is not built for that purpose.  

JUNE 29TH  Today I had to march my sick across to a hospital to be attended by an Indian doctor, I felt a bit run down last night, but feel a little better this morning, I am always drinking water, whenever I can get it, yesterday, I even drank out of a bucket full of soapy water, and when I go to fill the water cart, I drink pint after pint out of the river, I know it's not good for me, but I can't resist it, at night we made a big bombardment, all the guns for miles round were in action, and the noise was terrible.

LV Brigade  A/55 verified registration on Round Fort.  C/55 fired at party of Turks at T.C. 38 17/A ¾.  

C Battery  Fired 8 rounds shrapnel TC32 17A ¾.  Working party casualties observed.  

JUNE 30TH  Did very little today, for I feel very unwell.

LV Brigade  2Lieut J Grahame-Williams rejoined B/55 at Sinn.  2Lieut TA Crawford joined D/55 as reinforcement.  A/55 fired 9 rounds at working party near Round Fort.  C/55 fired 19 rounds at snipers in ruins at Beit Aiessa partly demolished ruins and snipers less persistent, also 17 rounds at intervals during the day at working party T.C. 38  17  A 3½/4½.

C Battery  Fired 19 rounds HE into snipers ruins TC32 17D 6/R 5am.  Fired 17 rounds shrapnel at working party TC32 17A 3½/4½ 6 rounds at 7am 6 at 8.15am 3 at 9.30am and 2 at 10am.  Rations have been short.