Bernard in World War 1 (part 5)

This wonderful photo has Bernard third from the left, riding a camel, with the sphinx in the background.

This is another postcard. This was never sent, the comment on the back says something "in Egypt", but I cannot see what.

A TRIP TO ISMAILIA.

To say "Catch the next train" was one thing; to catch it was another. First I had to wait for the railway warrant was made out. Whi1e I was waiting, the Cycle orderly (whose poor memory had made me miss the train the day before) came up with some mail. Among it was a parcel for me which I had just time to stuff in my kit bag when the warrant was brought out . It was ten o'clock then and the train left at eleven. In the interim I had to go to the Iron foundry and get my kit, and then proceed to Cairo station to catch the train. A tender was handy and soon made short work of all this. At 1045 I was on the station and in five more minutes in the train. At the outset we followed the route by which we had come from Alexandria. After an hour's ride at Benha, the Ismailia line swung off to the right. Up to here the country had been quite fertile, and still continued so. Past Zagazig there was no change either, and it was only when near Tel-e1—Kebir that the desert began. The train was just a jog—trot express such as the M.& G.N. Joint railway used to run from Peterborough to Yarmouth at home. This, however was much more dreary. A little after two it ran into Ismailia station. The coming of this had already been announced by the passing of some aeroplane sheds about two miles lower down the line.

Two of our fellows were on station to meet me, and wondered much why I had not arrived on the previous evening when I was expected. There being no particular hurry, we made for a suitable cafe and had a drink. Then we made a tour of the town. I cannot say that this trip was remarkably edifying. The place was none too clean, and the buildings only seemed to want a slight push to upset the whole lot of them. Leaving town we kept beside a sweet water canal, A couple of sharp turne and we passed a guard over a bridge spanning another canal at right angles to the first one. This was, presumably the entrance to some military area. We continued along a road that bore to the right, crossed the railway, close to a platform and a siding, and continued up a sleeper track to where, in the distance, the sheds could be seen. the right was the Orderly Room to which I repaired, a long single storeyed hut with a thatched roof. Inside it was roomy, but was not well fitted up. Adjacent to it and just beyond was a room for the clerks. Ponting a photographer was In charge and therefore the proud occupant of the room. There did not seem to be much system in the place, so I spent the rest of the day in putting things into some sort of order.

The camp lay round the corner of the aerodrome, and consisted of square E.P. tents , with six men in each. , Water was rather scarce. It had to be carried every day from a tap beyond the railway, in fantasses. Hence there was never any to spare. A small canteen was behind the Mess Room in charge of a Greek, who rejoiced In the familiar appellation of "Jose" . It being so close to Christmas, a meeting was held to decide what should be done on that auspicious day. A colossal feed wag settled on, and an impromptu entertainment relied on to finish the evening.

Anyone know what a fantass is? We have a ancestor from Porto with the name "Jose" and that maybe who he is referencing, but was Jose this side of the family?

Such an affair demanded money, so almost my first job was to try and get a double amount of pay for everyone. Being new to the place this took some time, and it was well on into the evening before I finished. Then the telephone rang. Cairo were talking. I was the subject, and the said subject was to return to Cairo forthwith. Very cheerful.

This sounds like me had to convince someone to pay them all double wages. Can that be right?

Early next morning, I shouldered my kit and went to the station. There was a train at six o'clock, into a second class carriage of which I crawled. The carriages were of an ancient pattern, the outlook dreary, and the motion jolty in the extreme. I blessed the whole Journey. After five hours of it, was met by a tender at Cairo, and proceeded to the aerodrome.

CAIRO AGAIN.

I was much perturbed at this sudden recall, and made inquiries into the cause of it In the Squadron Office they knew little more then 1 did. When the notice of my movement got to the Wing, they promptly cancelled it. Query, what do the Wing want to bother themselves about it for? It was disappointing.

It being Christmas eve, The C .0. gave us all a dinner at a restaurant in Cairo. Though not Christmassy, it was quite good.

The fact that we had to work as usual on Christmas day did not prevent us singing a few carols on our way down. Then too I got a parcel from a from the Secondary School at Redditch which considerably brightened things up. I had returned to the same tent as before, and they all rejoiced in a tin of cigarettes that It contained. As regards work, Boring day was repetition of Christmas Day. Next day was slight change. For some time past I had been troubled with pains in the stomach which began in the early morning and eased off as the day grew warmer. Therefore I went sick and felt considerably worse for it.

On Christmas Day one of our Observers 2/ Lt. Reed, was taken i11 with appendicitis . This morning he died as a result of it. He constitutes our first casualty. He will be buried with full military honours • I am to be one of the firing party. We spent the afternoon in practising. Next morning we continued the practice. The funeral was to be at three In the afternoon. We went to Old Cairo cemetery by tender, and there awaited the coffin. It came up in a motor ambulance . An Australian Band lined up and

The diary stops abruptly; it looks like pages are missing.