Item 01: Sir Charles Rosenthal diary, 25 September 1914-31 December 1918 - Page 77
Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 77]
Sunday 7th March
Capt Waite and Lieut Ellis left camp with me at 7.15AM to visit Sakkara and Memphis, about 3 ½ hours from Camp.
At Sakkara we inspected four tombs. Tomb of Ti, Serapeum or Tomb of the Sacred Bulls, Ptahkotep, and Mera (Mena?). We found them intensely interesting, the carvings on the walls and the effective colouring being particularly good. The book "The Tombs of Sakkara" by A.A. Quibell gives all details so I will not enter them here. After inspecting these tombs we rode on to the ruins of the Ancient City of Memphis. Very little remains to be seen here, but we saw the two Statues of the Rameses (the great and the 2nd) also a good specimen of Sphinx, and the granite ruins of an Ancient Temple, which must have been very fine in its day. We returned to Camp at 6.PM. An officer of Infantry this evening informed me my old 5" Howitzers were on the way from Australia. Just as I write a man passing my tent said something about a sycamore tree, reminding me that today we saw several fine specimens, doubtless the same species as was climbed by our old friend Zaccheus of Bible history.
Two of our officers were today detailed for Landing and Embarkation duties at Alexandria. Expect we shall soon get a move on now.
Monday 8th March
Filthy dusty day, with high wind. One of the worst we have experienced. Such days as this make us wish heartily that we could get away. Posted letters to Nell. Painting of vehicles of Brigade hung up because of dust and sand.
Wrote Gieve Matthews and Seagrave asking them to forward me regular copies of Monthly Naval List, also Army and Navy pattern Webley Scott pistol with case, lanyard etc.
Tuesday 9th March
Received letter from Nell dated Jan 26th, Chris dated Jan 28th and Arthur King dated February 8th
Went into Cairo at 10 AM this morning and returned for lunch. Busy completing Brigade equipment from Ordnance.
Col Hobbs informed me our Artillery Division would probably route March to Alexandria. I strongly supported the scheme.
We are now to wear coloured badges on each arm to distinguish our units. Our Brigade has Artillery Colours, dark blue and scarlet, with a bar of yellow in the centre. Terribly hot and