MacNamara diary, 19 August 1916-29 May 1919 / John Patrick MacNamara - Page 45
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[Page 45]
Tis now deserted but the miles of huts are still standing.
The Zeitoun School of Instruction is one of the biggest of its kind in the Empire. Some of its various branches are M. Gun training; N.C.O. course; Cadet course for officers; Cavalry school; Artillery & Signalling school; & Stokes Gun. This latter is a very portable French mortar which can fire up to 30 shots a minute with extreme accuracy up to 500 yds. In appearance it is just like a piece of drain pipe stuck on a bed or foundation & can be elevated as required.
The total strength of the schools was something like 2,000, one fifth or more of which were signallers.
The tucker is not nearly as good as at Moascar & leaves plenty of room for improvement.
We are quartered in huts made of light timber & boarded roofs not meant to keep the rain out. Each hut holds about 40-50 men.