Item 01: Leslie William Sutherland diary, 24 September 1914 - 23 September 1915 - Page 15

[Page 15]

1 January 1915
Friday
Reveille at 6.

Stables as usual, a fine way to commence the new Year. We are then informed of a review by Georgie Reid. We marched out at 9.30 & went down to Tura (5 miles) before we turned so as to let the 1st Reg L.H to get in front. The Sig [indecipherable] as usual was last. Georgie took the Salute at Maadi station afterwards. The men were loaded at 4 Q dismounted to be addressed by his lordship. He was very short and sweet and impressed upon us the greatness of the job that is in front of us. After lunch [indecipherable] went for a trip to Hebron we got there after a hard ride on the Big [indecipherable] & then we located all the streets and found many of the beautiful buildings I have seen on postcards, after this we went over the mountains on the bikes coming down I struck a stone and the timing slipped we retimed 4 times got home at 5.30.

2 January 1915
Saturday

Reveille at 6
Stables this morning was a trifle irksome for the nags soon kick like 'ell as Capt of the Picquet I had charge of feed it has been cut once again and now only consists of [indecipherable] barley or bran not enough to feed a goat on. [indecipherable] had the ride and Bill he was there also we had a fair dinkum go Charlie Cox was an easy first when I returned last I was greeted by Corp [indecipherable] accompany me over to the HQ of 3 Reg re the assault case but it was remanded till the morning. Jack knives were issued today & the Sig troop got their bearings, this afternoon was filled in by cooking. Bert as usual is Chef dumplins, fried again, onions etc they go well, Harold and I go for a stroll up the street after which all indulge in letter writing, horses are kicking like fun again (no feed) Bed at 9.15 pm.