Item 01: James McCall Young diary, 9 November 1917-22 April 1918 - Page 43

[Page 43]

very much prettier but do not whistle like our birds. The natives do all the sanitary work in the camp, there are plenty natives working in the camp, it is rather amusing watching them, they jabber all the time and do very little work and are very slow. 2 PM parade voted on the Conscription Question. 5 PM had tea then wandered round for a while then went to bed.

Friday Dec 14th
awoke early and listened to the sound of the flying machines. Got up at 7 AM. Had breakfast at eight. one of the flying machines came to grief through the engine stopping, smashed the runners, propeller and wheels off besides damaging the engine. 9 AM detailed off to help put up tents. Dismissed at 11.30 AM. supply of food very short in camp owing to the strike in Australia, not able to get meat and flour. what there is here is very dear, bought two tins of pears cost 1/2d per tin. the flying machines go up all morning here. The name of the camp is "Wabour El Maya" it is a rest camp for troops, it covers a very large patch of ground, about 1,000 acres, on side of the railway is the avation & Indian camps and on the other side is the Australian camp. "Artillery, Machine Gunner, Infantry, Engineers, Flying corps and Light horse about four thousand all told. 12 AM was told I was going on leave and after getting ready was disappointed & had to put up tents all afternoon so as to be ready for the men coming off the "nestor" which arrived at 11 AM at Port Tuefik. 5 PM had tea "(bacon)". Afterwards went to the Y.M.C.A. and had a yarn with one of the "Royal Flying Corps", who proved to be a