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[page 83]
1918
J., Military Medal; Lieutenants S.E. Gregory and S.R. Macfarlane, Military Cross; Major F.V. Weir, Distinguished Service Order.
Richon was reached in the early morning of July 25; two batches of reinforcements, 21 and 59 men respectively, reached us and helped to put the men and horses on an equal basis, as many of the men were still sick though not evacuated.
On the 27th Captain Chaplain Donovan left for England. Wine was purchased from the Richon winery and re-sold to the men (under supervision grapes and tomatoes were also purchased from regimental funds, while melons were plentiful. These goods, after a long course of bully beef and no vegetables, were indeed appreciated by us. On July 29 Lieut.-Col. Granville relinquished command of the Brigade and proceeded on leave on the following day. The Port Said rest camp was still in operation and Lieut Goodchild and 44 men were sent there for a spell. On the 31st the Commander in chief, Sir Edmund Allenby, inspected and addressed the men and thanked them for their recent work in the valley.
The beach was only four or five miles from the bivouac area at Richon and squadrons were able to take it in turns to go for a swim. Municipal hot baths in Richon, which had not been destroyed by the enemy were still in running order, and a timetable was arranged to permit the members of each unit to get a hot bath once a week. Beer was bought and issued to the men.
From August 1 a syllabus of training was carried out, commencing with Hotchkiss gun training daily and finishing with small tactical schemes. Septic sores were better and the general health of the men greatly improved but men continued to go to the Field Ambulance at the rate of five or six a day.
On August 5 we drew the following from the Remount Depot at Ludd:- 85 riding, 18 pack and 5 draught horses. The donkeys had not proved a success, being too slow to keep up with the Regiment on long marches. Major T.E.W.W. Irwin's name appeared in the Gazette under the heading of "Mentioned in Despatches". Lieut.-Col. Granville returned from leave on August 8 and 42 all ranks returned from the rest camp, a fresh batch of men under Lieut. Macfarlane being sent to take their place.
Innoculation for T.A.B. and cholera was commenced on August 12; most recognising the value that these preventatives had been during the war,