Wednesday 27th January 1915
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 intermittently for quite an hour. Reveille was timed for 5.30. We had hot tea and Bully beef for breakfast and paraded at 9 a.m. whence we marched to the trenches on the West Bank of the Canal. Our section of the line we found in occupation of the 2nd Battalion 7th Ghurka Rifles. We were delighted to find ourselves in touch with another 7th. They moved about 800 yards up occupying ground to our right. We found some 400 yards of trench all ready prepared along our section of the defence, which merely required a little deepening being built for Ghurkas. We were all immensely taken with the Ghurkas. They are compact little soldiers and one would feel delighted to have a company of them. All is quiet (11pm) along our front so far. A strong post guards the position on the Eastern Bank of the Canal in front of our position. It was the position attacked last night by the enemy and they expect further trouble tonight. Our Regiment has about 4 miles of front. We have 2000 yards. There are strong posts held by Indian troops in our front on enemy’s side of Canal. Being the nearest troops to the post on either side we shall soon know if anything is doing.
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