State Library of NSW
[Page 22]
6Im sure I dont know how to adequately describe the great Canal. It is just wonderful from beginning to end from Suez to Port Said. There are lakes here & there but for the most part the great canal is dug right through the desert., and it was a fine sight to see the British men-o-war here & there ready to protect the canal. Our transport filed through & the sailors all lined up & cheered. We cheered back & our band played the new national anthem 'Tipperary'.Most interesting of all however were the troops that lined the canal British, Gurkhas, Punjabis, New Zealanders, Baluchis, Australians, Bengal Lancers, Egyptian Camel Corps etc. They lined up & cheered all the way. We were flag waving all day sending semaphore messages. They tell us that the enemy has invaded Egypt & things were merry. Our ships were barricaded & the guns & the Maxims were mounted ready for action. Bets were wagered all round that we would be under fire before the night was out. I was officer of the watch till midnight but nothing happened. Next day we came to Kantara where the first scrap took
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