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[page 32]
1916
The usual fatigues had to be carried out although the weather was oppressively hot and on August 23 three patrols of 2 men each were sent to search the country up to a line from the southern edge of Sabkhet Bard Awil through Hill 110 and Hod Umn Ugea to Bir Abu Gulud. Colonel Meredith returned to the command of the Regiment on August 26 as Brigadier-General Cox had again taken over 1 A.L.H. Brigade. Innoculation was carried on until the horses were finished and the men had been given the third anti-cholera injection. Reinforcements to the number of 13 arrived on August 26. On the 29th Major-General H.G. Chauvel, C.B., C.M.G., commanding the Anzac Division, inspected the Regiment and thanked all ranks for the hard work they had done in the extreme heat. At the end of the month a leave camp was in running order at Port Said and 22 nen were sent down every day. Colonel Meredith was given three months' leave to Australia.
The first half of September was spent in recuperating and training at Romani, and on the 15th the Regiment consisting of 12 officers and 305 other ranks left camp at 1830 and moved to Bir el Abd. That place was left at 0115 next day and we halted and watered at Bir Salmana, proceeding thence to a point on the caravan route 9 miles east of Bir proceeding thence to a point on the caravan route 9 miles east of Bir el Abd, there we arrived at 0800. We left again at 0300 next morning for Bir el Abd; no enemy were seen. On the return journey to Romani, the Regiment was halted and inspected by General Butler, the senior remount officer in Egypt, who praised the endurance of the Australian horses.
Major-General Chauvel again inspected us and told us we were going to Kantara for a well earned rest; on September 28 the Regiment, 14 officers and 268 others, left Romani and arrived at Hill 70 at midday where we took over the camp of the Royal Gloucester Hussars (Yeomanry). One officer and 67 others, having no horses, were left at Romani to clean up the camp and to follow us by train.
We remained at Hill 70 for two days and then proceeded via Hill 40 to the camp site on the west side of the canal at Kantara which was reached on October 2. Lieutenants S.M. Moore and W.M. Edwards with 55 other ranks were sent on leave to Sidi Biser rest camp at Alexandria. Plenty of leave was given and everything done to build up the men after