Item 04: Fred Harold Tomlins war diary, 19 December 1915-18 March 1916 - Page 10

[Page 10]

20.12.15
Tue 21st.
This morning was dusty & wintery; water seems very scare here, can get hardly enough to drink & washing is out of the question ; We put the tents up anywhere last night & had to take them down again this morning & put them in a line but just as soon as we had them down it commenced to rain, most of the lads who remained out had a rough time , we erected one tent & crammed into it till it steadied down & then had to put them up in the mud & then dig the mud out with our entrenching tools; We were issued with one blanket to two men last night , & to-day we received another blanket between two men again; Had a muster parade today & was told by Col. Cox that he had just received news that we were to go to our horses as soon as could get transports & I hope it is not long as we