As the men were standing to arms at 4 a.m. 4 or 5 shots rang out in quick succession and in a few minutes men had scuttled in from their bivouacs and manned the trenches. After this however all was quiet. Enquiries located the firing opposite one of No.3’s trenches and apparently one or more [...]
At 4 a.m. orders reached Coy Headquarters to concentrate immediately at El Kubri about 2½ miles further north on the Canal. Orderlies were soon dispatched to the different platoons and at 4.20 the Company had assembled and was marching to the rendez-vous. It was smart work especially on the part of No 1 Platoon who received [...]
4 a.m. found every man in a state of readiness in the trenches peering towards the East to try and discover the long overdue enemy. Daylight dawned and general disappointment quickly vanished with the announcement of rations and breakfast. The men spent the day quietly improving their trenches and constructing shell proof bivouacs. Platoons vied [...]
A quiet night – and daylight found the trenches fully manned and everyone waiting for the enemy which did not arrive. It was a calm bright moonlight night, in great contrast to the rest of the day (27th) which was windy and rainy, quite a typical Wellington day. The men were keenly looking for a [...]
There was no reveille this morning. We were all awakened very early 4 a.m. by heavy firing from the Canal about a mile to our front followed by gun fire. Men in the bivouac stood to arms and a platoon was sent out to get touch with Otago Battalion on our right. The firing continued [...]
A warm cloudy morning. Other regiments moving out ahead of us, judging from noise in their lines.
Tuesday January 26th 1915. At Kubri, 8p.m. We paraded at 6.45 a.m. 240 all ranks including attached, and proceeded to Palais de Kubbeh station about 1½ miles. We entrained at 8 a.m. and train was dispatched at 10.30 for [...]
Day spent in repitching camp and erecting extra tents for the reinforcements. A Platoon from each Company engaged in erecting Australian Regiment’s tents at Heliopolis Aerodrome. About 6 p.m. word came through that the Turks were approaching the canal and we would be making an early move. Great excitement among the men who were delighted [...]
A quiet day. Usual church parade. Very hot in afternoon. Visited Egyptian Museum.
Parades under S.M’s at 8 a.m. Meeting of officers at 8.30 a.m. Address by G.O.C. Capt. Camerons birthday. Leave in afternoon.
A cool cloudy day. Regimental parade 8 am. Men with bad arms about 250 under Major Cunningham. Proceeded out to watch Auckland Infantry and 2 Batteries in attack, Batteries Firing Shell. Platoon work in afternoon. Attended lecture on Egypt in evening, YMCA.