SEPT 1ST  This morning after the first parade at 5 I was put on a job of getting water for the camp until breakfast time, after that came rifle inspection for those with rifles, but not having one I miss this, we see the doctor and are kept in the camp.

LV Brigade  Marched at 2.20am to Dar-Al-Faratisha about 11 miles.  Numerous small bridges over irrigation channels delayed portion of column.  Brigade all in camp by 8.15am.  Advance party left for Amara by steamer with adjutant.

 

SEPT 2ND  We are not badly fed, but are found plenty of work, at night we are all marched to the river for bathing parade.

LV Brigade  Marched at 2.20am to Mikalah about 7 miles.

SEPT 3RD  Today being Sunday, instead of the usual early morning parade, we are again taken to the river, after breakfast the tents were all inspected, we have a Church Service after tea, and it was fine to hear the old hymns again, "Lead Kindly Light", "Jesu Lover of my Soul" and "Abide with Me", my thoughts flew away to the little Church at home, and I wondered if they were singing the same hymns.  After the service, I was given a rifle and ammunition and went on picquet for the night, but I am afraid that I should have been a dummy with the rifle, if anything had happened, just fancy a R.A.M.C. man with arms, but we have got to take things as they come.

LV Brigade  Marched into site of permanent camp two miles up stream from Amara.

SEPT 4TH  Very dusty and a strong wind, I ought to write some letters, but it will only upset them at home if I say that I have been in hospital, and we expect to move down the river at any time.

LV Brigade  Dumped stores arrived in evening.

SEPT 5TH  This morning I was sent with the quartermaster to draw the rations, and he told me that the camp would be nearly the last of the 13th Division to go down, he said about the 25th of the month, so I may be a good while before I join my unit again.

LV Brigade  Captain SC Binns A.V.C. rejoined.

 

SEPT 6TH  I send letters to L and home.  I am warned to go on guard to night outside the camp with rifle and bayonet.  I daresay I could get out of it if I saw the officer, but in return I might get a lot of fatigues, so silence is golden in this case.  After all I escape going on guard, for the corporal tells me I shall not be needed.  I attend a lecture on Mesopotamia given by the Chaplain on the river bank in the moonlight.

LV Brigade  Received 17 reinforcements O.R.B.

 

SEPT 7TH  At the water pumps this morning I came across one of my R.A.M.C. pals out of A Battery, they are the only battery out of the Brigade left up here, and they may go down any day, he asked me if I wanted any money, and lent me two Rupees, with which I bought some biscuits and a tin of syrup.

LV Brigade  Captain AW Harvey R.A.M.C. shot in bed about 1.30am presumably by stray bullet from sentry – died in 39th Field Ambulance same day.  Lieut VK O’Gorman  R.A.M.C. joined from 39th Field Ambulance.  Captain SC Binns was admitted to 39th Field Ambulance sick.

SEPT 8TH  I sell a khaki shirt for 1 Rupee 4 Annas, so I am quite well off again, I suppose it will be a good while before I get paid again, I am expecting to be on the list to see the M.O. for discharge at any time.

 

SEPT 9TH  I saw my chum out of A Battery last night, and he told me that word had come through that our doctor had got shot down at Amara, either by Arabs or one of our sentries.  I should not like to say it was one of our chaps, but I must admit he treated them rather bad.  After being in the camp 7 days we can apply to see the M.O. for discharge, a big list is put up for tonight, but my name not being on the list, I apply to be put on, whether I shall get down the river to the battery or not remains to be seen.

 

SEPT 10TH  I pass the doctor and am marked out, I cant say for certain whether I shall go out tonight, but I expect we shall have to wait for a boat.  Towards tea-time I am warned to "stand by" to go away at any time.

 

SEPT 11TH  We are still waiting for a boat, in the meantime I am doing plenty of work, digging etc.  I send Field card to our Liz for her birthday.

 

SEPT 12TH  Last night we had our first touch of winter, for we were awake all night shivering with cold, it was a great change for it was very warm during the day, and we felt it very much.  Sent cards to Mrs, Stevenson and Bob R.

 

SEPT 13TH  I am unlucky again, 70 of us should have gone down on a boat this morning, but only 40 were sent, and I was one of those left behind.  The weather is very cold at morning and night and we fairly shiver in our shorts.

 

SEPT 14TH  It is so cold this morning that I put on my cloth riding pants, yesterday I came across my pal from Madras in the 41st F.A. and he gave me a jolly good dinner.

LV Brigade  R.S.M. Gothard commissioned as 2nd Lieut

SEPT 15TH  Some more bad luck, those in the camp are being paid tomorrow, but those waiting for the boat get nothing.  The camp is being cleared out and only about 100 remain, and for these plenty of work is being found so it is all work and no pay for me.

 

SEPT 16TH  We are moved all together in a line of tents, that is what's left of us, we have to stand by and watch the others get paid, I expect the work of clearing up the camp will fall to us.

LV Brigade  2Lieut Gothard was posted to Corps Amm Col.

SEPT 17TH  I hear this morning that we ought to have gone down the river yesterday, but the boat did not arrive, the rumour is that we shall go straight down to Bazrah when we move.  I am given a bandolier and rifle and mount guard outside the camp for 3 hours with fixed bayonet.

LV Brigade  2Lieut AI MacLaren B/55 rejoined from hospital.

 

 

SEPT 18TH  We strike four rows of tents in the camp and expect to leave tomorrow.

 

SEPT 19TH  After a great deal of work in clearing all the tents etc and putting them on board a river boat, we ourselves embark for Amara, I suppose.  Anyway we are going the right way for clearing out of this terrible climate.  We sail until dark, and then drop anchor for it is very dangerous on account of sandbanks.

LV Brigade  Lieut AV Beith D/55 rejoined from hospital.

 

SEPT 20TH  We sail at daybreak, yesterday I saw a few places where we camped on the river bank when we marched up.  We expect to reach Amara this morning.  Go ashore about 4 o clock and set to work landing all the stores from the boat.

 

SEPT 21ST  On fatigue all day, putting up tents etc.  I believe my battery is about a quarter of an hours walk from here, so I may go across tomorrow.

LV Brigade  Captain OF Herold B/55 went to Convalescent Camp.  2Lieut WJ Bransden joined the Brigade as reinforcement and posted to C/55.

SEPT 22ND  Very hot today, we are camped two or three miles outside Amara and we could get plenty of eatables at decent price from the canteens if we only had the money.  I go across to the Battery after some letters and find to my disgust that two days before they had sent away 5 parcels and about 20 letters all marked hospital, so I may never see them again.  At night I was on guard.
LV Brigade  25.9  2Lieut AN Leeson C/55 left the Brigade to join `S’ Battery R.H.A.

LV Brigade  27.9 Captain OF Herold C/55 rejoined from Convalescent Camp.  Lieuts JR Patterson  and F Hurcomb joined the Brigade and were posted to C/55.