Item 01: Eric Susman war diary, 1 January 1915-4 April 1916 - Page 96

[Page 96]

Saturday 13 March 1915

Nothing particular to note to-day. Much to the annoyance of everybody, the 13th was ordered to carry out a forced march during the morning, while the other battalions, on account of yesterday's hard day, were permitted to rest in their tents. And a forced march it was; for during the morning, we must have covered at least ten miles, and that over very difficult country. The sandy nature of the ground makes walking very hard; hence everybody is developing most remarkable leg muscles.

One incident of the morning called forth a short address from the Colonel before we dismissed for the afternoon. Our second-in-command had given a certain order, and was hooted for his trouble. So the Colonel, with righteous indignation, complained of a certain lack of discipline in the regiment, especially as we were on the verge of an active service campaign. We were congratulated on last week's work – the most strenuous of the battalion's existence – by the divisional commander and by General Birdwood, but, at the same time, we were reminded how necessary it was to overcome that one serious weakness characteristic of all colonial contingents – a lamentable lack of discipline. "Military discipline is going to win this war, and that only, not brillancy, in skirmishing and shooting," concluded the Colonel.