This section takes us to mid-September, and includes a cholera quarantine and a fatality.
July 30
I was condoling with myself at being on duty on a Sunday. At 0930 was ordered to pack up and move off to Kantara pls an Oliver Typewriter. Too men newly arrived from England accompanied me. It was a bit of a rush but we got off alright.
The train was at Moascar we passed. At K. there was no tinder to meet us. I phoned through for one and was told it would soon be down., time 11.00. 12.00 no tinder, phoned again. Tinder about somewhere. Went down the line and found it, broken down. The engine had dropped out. Now how to get to camp. Got off packs and typewriter by an artillery cart. Took ??? down line on a trolley ???[strange glyph] to tinder expecting it to be towed in. Went to meet relieving lorry. Returned with it, tracked up kits and soon got back to camp. Lorry indescribably jolly on ??? roads
He uses "tinder" a lot; pretty sure he means tender.
Monday August 7
A week has passed. During it the Turks have attacked and been driven off. At first they had a slight success. Mount Royston[???] which commands our Railway line was held by them for 24 hours. Our aerodrome at ROMANI was shelled all day. it could not last tho'. They were all tired of it and surrendered in batches. By the meantime Lt McLaren had a scrap with an Aviatik. The Aviatik had to pass the de Havilland to get home, so charged it firing as they came. Mac just dodged him and then peppered him from 20 yds. He nose dived, faltered, nose dived and crashed to the earth.
On the 5th 1000 prisoners were brought in. Such a sorry looking lot. A few Germans amongst them looked very dour. The Turks most unfeignedly glad to be captured. They have no particular uniform but all wore a sort of yellow turban. A few had khaki tunics. There was not a pair of boots amongst the whole lot.
In ??? camp there was a good instance of the German spirit. One of our men gave a Turk a tin of bully beef. They were all half starved, so he was soon an object of interest. An officer, apparently German, came up and took it off him for himself. One of the guards immediately told him to restore it. He wouldn't. The guard promptly cuffed [?capped] him with the butt of a rifle and the beef was handed back.
Next he complained of being ill treated! He ought to have been shot.
By Saturday the Turks were well in retreat. We occupied KATI and the neighbourhood. Still the go back.
Here it has made an enormous amount of work. 16 hours a day all the time of actual hard work. No time to write or do anything else. When you have finished you just drop in your bed and sleep.
We have had rather the worst of the airfight. Lt Pullinger was brought down by 2 Aviatiks and a Fokker, in a Bristol. They simply ripped the machine to bits. Tore lump out of his petrol tank and plugged up one cylinder.
Next day Capt Grant Dalton had a similar experience. Both were wounded in two or three places. This seems to be due to defective type of gun mounting.
Thursday Aug 10
A bad day for us. We sent out 4 machines - 3 BEs and a De Havilland. Two of the BEs made forced landings in the desert through engine trouble (petrol pipe - broken control rod). Capt Hursthouse and Lt MacDiarmid[?] had a crash just outside Mahandry Aerodrome. Capt Hursthouse smashed his ankle and Lt MacDiarmid strained his back.
Lt Edwards and Lt Brown in the other BE had an awful time. There were attacked by 2 Aviatik and both badly wounded. (See communique) Nevertheless they got to our lines and landed. Lt Brown was just about able to his report before collapsing. He never recovered but passed away the same evening. He is our first fatal casualty.
Lt Edwards had 7 bullet holes in him. His shoulder was knocked about and his lower jaw completely knocked off - an awful sight to see. The machine was ripped to bits. Their landing was nothing short of marvellous - and if heroic. Not a pilot who has gone up but has proved himself a hero.
An extract from said communique:
Cairo 12th
... while it is impossible to publish any detailed reports oof the work accomplished by our air-craft. it may be stated that for many days in succession our machines hae accomplished a total of about 2000 miles a day, though constantly flying over the enemy's lines at comparatively low altitudes under fire not one of our machines has been lost. Yesterday a very gallant feat was acomplished, one of our machines was hit while over the enemiy's lines, both pilpt and observer being srriously wounded. The nevertheless the task set was accomplished, the machine was brought to land safely within our lines and a valuable report was made.
Sunday the 13th
Mr Edwards had to be burnt[?buried?]. It could not be saved. The war here is over now and we have to get straight.
Major Blackburn leaves us on Tuesday to take over his squadron at Aboouke[?]. I shall try to keep with my flight ?? now.
Thursday Aug 17
There come to the office occasionally translations of Turkish Officers' Diaries which make most interesting reading. One I read today was by a German Acting Lieutenant. Probably a WO temporarily promoted. He is much bucked up by the German accounts of the Jutland Naval Battle. At the same time he is amused at our attempt at bombing El Arish. He rejoices at length over the two machines that were shot down. His tone changes as he leaves El Arish behind and approaches our troops. Every day he remarks on our Aeroplanes - always strafing or bombing. Occasionally casualties are recorded too. Once he refers to the Turks machines - not able to do much. Finally when he found the battle going against them he left his men to be captured and fled!
This remark about our planes is interesting. A German machine will give us 90 miles an hour. The guns are more efficient. Yet they don't seem to do much. They keep high up and avoid conflict unless about 3 to 1. The German Pilot has not the nerve of the English. What he gains in material he loses in himself. Really it is a striking testament to us that we should be thus feared.
Cholera has broken out at Port Said. Our 8 men on leave may have to stay 3 weeks.
August 20
Cholera is among the prisoners here now. Hence all the E bank of the Canal is in quarantine. Our Tender Driver has a special pass to cross the Canal.
August 23
The isolation has almost stopped canteen supplies from coming in. Hence feeding is rather poor.
Sep 10
The quarantine only lasted 10 days. Now we are back to the usual work. I have been made a 1/AM at last too. It is quite time I stuck my name down for a weeks leave and got it.
Behold me now, then, on a dirty grey patch of sand, beneath a bell tent by our Aerodrome at Port Said. We came up yesterday afternoon. An AFC tender met us at the station and took us across to the harbour where the AFC boat transhipped us to the other side. A quarter of an hour's walk by the side of No 31 General Hospital (formerly the Canal Co.s Iron Works) took us to camp. There are two hangers with their attendant workshops, etc. The camp lies behind them, and behind the camp again, half a dozen bell tents and one E.P. constitute the Rest Camp.
We report at the Orderly Room and are shown - not our tents, but the dugout to which we must double if there is a hostile aircraft alarm. The alarm is duly explained, and then our tents are pointed out. We are a camp to ourselves.
The EP tent serves as a Mess Room, and we draw our meals 1/4 an hour after the others at the cookhouse. The six of us occupy two of the tents. It seems too that there is to be physical drill every morning - an army idea of rest. We don't trouble about tea in camp. Our passes are brought and off we go.
Port Said consists of three main streets, a main one and two cross streets - that is, as far as we are concerned. There are many residential streets, and there is the Arat Onarta[?] (out of bounds to troops).
Some dinner and a stroll round the streets is about all we can do. Thus we are in camp at 9.30 and off to sleep. Waking up, today is Sunday. To do physical drill on a Sunday were a very heinous crime. Ergo we lie in.
At 7.15 we proceed to breakfast. The cook looks astounded. He does not know anything about us and has nothing for us. the Orderly sergeant comes up and for ten minutes they settle it between them. Some more bacon is cooked and we adjourn. It takes but a few minutes to clear up.
Franks walks into the washing hut with a telegram. We are to return to Kantara Monday or Tuesday night. The detachment is to proceed to Suez. Anyhow we will make the best use of our time.
For 3d we obtain a towel bathing costume, and hut accommodation at the Union Jack Tea Room, and from about 9.30 to quite noon wallow in the sea. It is quite lovely, for the breakers are of good size. A rather strong undercurrent pulls you along the shore, but otherwise it is ideal.
The afternoon we spend in the club, reading and devouring grapes. The grapes are fine. A late visit to the cinema keeps us up till midnight when we proceed to turn in.
Monday the 11th
If we are going back so soon, hang the drill. We lie in. We arrange to be back at 4 o'clock so that we can return tonight if necessary. Swim all morning as before. Shop all afternoon. Return to camp and find we go tomorrow. After dinner go to the cinema Lake House and once more reach camp at midnight.
Tuesday the 12th
Caught 8.30 tram back and reached Kantara for dinner.
Thursday Sept 14th
We are to move to Suez on Sunday. Packing up the Orderly Room is some job. Since February a multitude of books and papers have accumulated. I am burning all more than 3 months old.
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