State Library of NSW
[Page 41]
24-4-16Mon 24th12 men & 3 officers went to Nazlet-El-Fellaheen for dinner today also the interpreter. Brig.Gen. McKay ordered 2 Btn of troops to start at 5 AM a couple of weeks ago on a 32 mile march with full pack & equipment also 1 blanket & oilsheet they had their water bottle full to see their journey out & had to do it in the day;
A hot day & the fine powdery sand they had to march through was too much for them, 6 dropped dead on the march & over 200 failed to reach their destination & were put in hospital some of these also died. Packs, rifles, & equipment were discarded by nearly all who went through. their feet were swollen & sore & lips also parched & swollen McKay said afterwards that he would not like to go to the front with
[Gen. J. W. McCay, not McKay, was not directly responsible, see Australian Dictionary of Biography]
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