A windy hot and disagreeable day. Dust rising every where and the atmosphere in a tightly laced tent choking. Single skinned tents are no good in this country in the summer time. The sun strikes through so fiercely as to compel the wearing of a hat even in the tent on the sunny side. There [...]
Left Aden about 8 a.m. A calm day. Coast visible on all sides. An interesting days sail. It became known here that orders were awaiting us at Suez and our ship and the Orvieto pushed on ahead of the rest of the convoy.
A grey cold morning. Reveille was scarcely needed to rouse the men as it being generally known that we were to sail at daybreak everybody was anxious to see the last of N.Z. About 6.30 the Minotaur followed by the Abouki pushed out into the stream and the Maunganui leading the transports followed. Round Seatoun [...]
Orders received from Headquarters for final embarkation. In the morning General Leave was granted. Two fresh men, Fisher and Davison, reported to fill vacancies caused by Brookes going home and Shiel becoming medically unfit. At 3 p.m. all transports save the Maunganui pulled out into the stream – a great crowd assembling to see them [...]
We proceeded to Trentham by the 9 a.m. train and had a most instructive day on the Range. The mounted troops on Board were ordered to be disembarked and to proceed to various camps first thing next week. The other transports still remain in the stream and we thanked the Gods that we were on [...]
This day was spent in settling the men into their quarters, making arrangements for running messes, and generally in routine work. Leave was granted. In the afternoon a Brigade parade was held at Newtown Park, when the Premier and other prominent men said farewell to the troops. It was a most impressive scene. The proceedings [...]
Reveille 4 a.m. A cold sharp morning but in view of our departure everything and everbody[sic] was soon on the move. Breakfast was soon over, luggage packed and away to the station and the spare time was devoted to cleaning camp, which was left as spic and span as it had always been kept. Our [...]