Item 05: Fred Harold Tomlins war diary, 19 March-15 August 1916 - Page 50

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[Page 50]

7-5-16
Sun 7th
4,800 natives are now working working for the Military Authorities building a road & railway through the desert to the Oasis, also erecting a telephone line, the men working on the telephone line receive 4 Piastres per day & the others get 5 that is the only payments they receive & have to keep themselves in tucker so they are not overpaid;

Abdul Moolah wanted a reference so I gave him one today. Lieut Mills who has been Q.M. is now in charge of A Troop is hardly right in the head, he is a Reinforcement Officer & has not yet been to the front; Yesterday he lined the men up after stables & gave them a lecture & said when at the front it is quite safe to stand for 3 minutes in one position shooting at the enemy's trench after 3 minutes it is time to get below the parapet as it is then dangerous; he also said always shut the right eye & sight

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