Item 02: Leslie William Sutherland diary, 1 January-13 December 1916 - Page 72

[Page 72]

18 May, 1916 Thursday

Reveille at 3 am.

Got up & loaded our gear & got our own stuff on, the transport were all ready to move at 3.30 & the head of the column arrived at the bridge a quarter of an hour later, but the bridge wasn't opened until 6 oclock as traffic was heavy at that time 5 past 6 the staff got across & it took the column just on ¾ of an hour to cross, as soon as we finished the recalled Tommy yeomentry crossed en route for Egypt, the motor cycs kept up coms on the march, we arrived at Hill 40 about 7.30 where Div Head Qrs at present is, arrived our destination ½ an hour later, passed numerous camps on the road out arty galore & infantry in thousands, entrenchments are everywhere & the place is in an excellent state for defence, roads are good, water plentiful & heaps of material of all sorts. Opened sig office at 3 pm today & met Jack Braithwaite. Bed 9.10.

19 May, 1916 Friday

Reveille at 5

Got camp straightened up & the Sig office going properly, paid a visit to the Squadron & met old friends, later we went up to the Redoubt which is one of the most complete that I have seen, prisoners are coming in every day & aeroplanes are here in droves & got a rather stiff job for they have so much ground to cover, the enemy is coming down the coast about 3000 strong & we hope to strike him very shortly, the 5th & 6th are out on a raking up stunt today. Downing is out at Romani with a cable section & is supposed to be doing fine work in communications. Motor sand car has got out as far as Gabriel about 40 miles out, the going is exceptionally heavy but the old bus slips over it at 20 mile an hour.

Bed at 10.30