The Road to Chunuk Bair » W H Cunningham

Sunday 1st August 1915

lynley — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 00:00:21 +0000

At 9 am. the Coy takes over sub-posts 4.5.6 at Quinn’s Post from 17^th Ruahine Coy.

The 24 hours passed very quietly.

Major Cunningham returned to Duty.

Thursday 15th July 1915

lynley — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:00:10 +0000

At 9 am. the Coy was relieved by the 17^th Ruahine Coy and moved to Rest Gully for 24 hours.

Major Cunningham W. O/C Battalion was sent to Sick Hospital.

Wednesday 2nd June 1915

lynley — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:19 +0000

Courtney’s Post.

Major Cunningham takes temporary command of Wgton Infy Battn.

Capt. A. J. Cross takes temporary command of Company at 4 p.m. 2/6/15.

Company in bivouac as supports for 48 hours after 48 hours tour of duty in fire trench.

Night passes quietly without incident.

Personnel

Capt. A. J. Cross, Cmdg.

Lieut R D Hardie

Lieut W.P. Aldridge

165 other ranks

NC 1 K Nov 93

1W Dec 55

55 sick 38

25 = 63

Tuesday 1st June 1915

lynley — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:27 +0000

Place: Courtneys.

Remarks: arrive midday. HB. & Rua. & H.Q.

Remarks on facing page: Major Cunningham takes over command.

Regimental Diary of the Wellington Regiment

Gillian Tasker — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 23:00:46 +0000

The Company Diary of the 7th Wellington West Coast Company written by Major William Cunningham ends on Sunday 11th April 1915. The Company Diary resumes again on 2nd June 1915, this time compiled by other officers of the Wellington West Coast Company including Lieutenant Hugh McKinnon.

To cover the intervening period entries from the Regimental Diary of the Wellington Regiment will be used. The Regimental Diary covers the period from 8th August 1914 to 23rd September 1916, though there are days on which no entries have been made in the diary.

Saturday 27th February 1915

lynley — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:00:59 +0000

The morning was spent in cleaning up Camp and rearranging Company Lines. The reinforcements were inspected and proved a fair lot of men. In the afternoon there was general leave, everyone making a straight line for Cairo. In the evening the Company officers had a dinner party at Shepherd’s. Those present being Major Cunningham, Lieuts Cross, Bryan, Turnbull, Menteath and Hardie. Capt Cameron owing to his being on duty was unable to attend. We were all glad to meet Hardie on our arrival back from the Canal, and the men of the reinforcements were pleased at being absorbed into the Company, as they were today. They will thus have a chance, some of them, of getting into the first draft at war strength.

Saturday 20th February 1915

lynley — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:00:16 +0000

The day opened disastrously. The O.C. visited the outpost groups between 4.30 and 6am and caught several groups not standing to arms. A crop of severe punishments followed. It is very noticeable how many men on duty are continually asking for concession to their own personal comfort and convenience, the inevitable result being that the men get slack on their duty and serious breaches occur. Captain Cameron left today on urgent private business in Cairo. A Camel Corps with a backing of other troops is proceeding out today to see if they can discover anything of the whereabouts and intentions of the Turks. Absolutely nothing has been seen or heard of them for three weeks. Life on the Canal is getting somewhat monotonous. Nothing but digging and drill.

Friday 22nd January 1915

lynley — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:00:47 +0000

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.

Thursday 24th December 1914

lynley — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:00:05 +0000

Christmas eve. Battalion parade as usual though company training in orders. Lecture by Brigadier. Orders changed. A good days work. Officers dinner Shepherds 8 p.m. Present Majors Cunningham, Young, Capts. Cook, Hume, Cameron, Acton (1^st Batn. Royal Irish), Gledhill (2^nd Battalion ditto), Lieuts. Turnbull, Menteath, Baddeley. A pleasant evening and great cordiality between ourselves and officers of the allied Regiment.

Friday 4th December 1914

lynley — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:00:59 +0000

Fatigues finished cargo. 10.45. Orders received to entrain by 11.45. Great rush but entraining carried out. Departure postponed till 2p.m. Return to ship for lunch. Train left 2.15. 1 Coy Aust. & Engineers also Ruahine Coy. Major Cunningham in charge of train. Arrived Cairo at 8p.m. Changed trains. Great confusion of baggage owing to misinstruction given to R.T.O. All baggage got aboard by piling in carriages through windows &c.

Left Cairo 9p.m. and landed Helmieh siding at 10p.m. Go.C present when train arrived. Moved off for Camp about 10.30. No transport men carry kits taken from pile. Arrived camp 11p.m. Found Battalion area Bivouac. Kits safely sorted under friendly camp. Night cold. Men Cheerful. Rations plentiful. Showing wisdom of having issued two days supplies to the men. Ruahine had trouble owing to their rations being in bulk and being with the heavy baggage. No transport obtainable. We are camped on the edge of the desert.