The Road to Chunuk Bair » Zeitoun

Friday 26th February 1915

lynley — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:00:11 +0000

An early start was made with packing up. As cooking utensils were required at 7.30 a.m. breakfast also had to be an early affair. The Company moved off at a quarter to nine arriving at Campimento Station about nine oclock. After a wait of 2 hours we entrained about 11 oclock. The other companies Ruahine and Hawkes Bay getting away at 9.30. We arrived at Helmieh Platform at 5.30 and were soon marching back to our old quarters at Zeitoun. Our tents were ready when we reached Camp and our reinforcements helped us with our baggage. The transport of the Australian Infantry Brigade came down to the station and soon shifted our kits and baggage into camp for us.

Thursday 25th February 1915

lynley — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:00:05 +0000

Company Parade 7.15 a.m. Proceed to Range for Field firing. Carried out 4 practices by Platoons. So far No. 3 appear to have done best. Our orders came out about midday for our move tomorrow. It was a frightfully hot day. Our tents were packed up ready to go this morning so we had no shelter at midday while tonight we bivouac. It is glorious moonlight. We are all keen to see the reinforcements at Zeitoun and no doubt they are keen to see us. The night passed quietly.

Wednesday 24th February 1915

lynley — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:00:21 +0000

Company parade 7.15 a.m. March to Campimento and Company training. The opportunity was taken of practising the field firing practices to be carried out tomorrow. The afternoon was a half holiday devoted to bathing. In the evening all officers dined at Company Headquarters. The dinner was a great credit to the cooks and batmen who took a keen interest in the success of the function. The chief item was a “Queen pudding” which every one enjoyed hugely. We received definite word today that we are to leave tomorrow for our old camp at Zeitoun.

Monday 8th February 1915

lynley — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:00:44 +0000

The day passed quietly in ordinary routine. The men’s Kit Bags arrived from Zeitoun and also a New Zealand mail which we were all very pleased to get. We heard that the aeroplane went out forty miles and reported that they could find no traces of the Turks. We are all wondering what this signifies. Since arriving at the Canal we are under very strict censorship regulations so it may be some time before this portion of the Diary reaches Regtl. Headquarters at Wanganui. It is rather a pity it should have to be kept until it is stale. We got rid of three of our prisoners by sending them to Cairo, the escort came down especially from Cairo to fetch them.