Item 01: Leslie William Sutherland diary, 24 September 1914 - 23 September 1915 - Page 195

[Page 195]

21 December 1914
Monday 9 weeks from home

Revielle at 6.
Stables early as the horses have to go out early Break at 9. Boot & saddle 9.30 lead out later & trot for the first time, have a real enjoyable trip for scouts are sent out 7 men & flung out is skirmishing orders. [indecipherable] report heavy firing on left flank, troops advance & take ridge, get back at camp at 10.30 then other detail goes out. Frean pulls his machine down & finds that the big end is vertically loose experts come over from LH & report that machines are entirely unfit for job. Report is to be sent into HQ of same. Chevel then comes over & also is against Healing. During the afternoon we went to the baths in the prison at [indecipherable] it's about the only decent thing they have both hot & cold [indecipherable] it's a three mile walk from here & were mighty glad to get back to camp at 2. Bed at 9.30

22 December 1914
Tuesday

Revielle at 6
Stables under Bert Masters & I the camp ride follows the horses are tip-top & we hears tomorrow that we march through Cairo with the LH & New Zealanders [indecipherable] mounted too. All arrangements made for Xmas dinner & have decided to leave the Boss out of it, but the [indecipherable] are very indignant over [indecipherable]. During afternoon Toby & I explore the catacombs about 9 miles from camp, they are of enormous size & some go in fully 200 yards [indecipherable] under & any height they have huge columns supporting them every few yards on one face Toby found some Roman writing but nothing more. The next one was no different only has a few more bats Toby gets several decent pieces of old [indecipherable] Arrive back at camp at 5.15 then get roused up by Teddy for leaving camp with out permission Bed at 9.