The Seventh Manchesters, S. J. Wilson [most important books to read TXT] 📗

final destination in column of route. Although not much

over half a mile those last yards seemed interminable, but in course of

time we were all settled in the cool shade of the hod and were

speculating about water; a problem which seemed to be solved by the

arrival of the camels. When it was found that no fantassie was full and

many were empty it required the utmost exertion of a British soldier’s

good temper to prevent him from killing some of the Gyppies who had

accompanied them, for it was obvious that they had been selling water to

men who had dropped out of the column. Then we reflected that these poor

devils needed it badly, so it was hard to apportion the blame. We

wondered, nevertheless, why other camels had been detailed to carry on

an occasion like this, flour, fresh meat (once fresh but now unfit for

consumption) and candles, when they might have been better employed

carrying water! Still, we were thankful to have achieved our task and

although we had lost more than seventy men en route, we were proud to

know that we had arrived the strongest battalion, some having left more

than half their effectives on the desert.

 

The day’s work was complete when the battalion had formed an outpost

line well in front of the wood, and had dug short section trenches.

Through the night desultory rifle fire could be heard in front where the

mounted troops were still in touch with the retiring enemy. Next day a

serious conflict took place between the cavalry and the Turkish

rearguard at Oghratina, and rumours were prevalent that we had to

continue the forward movement. We were not sorry, however, when it was

found that we were to remain in Katia. During the succeeding days

hostile aircraft were very busy, and dropped several bombs in the

vicinity of the wood, the 52nd Division, who were north of us, suffering

more severely than ourselves.

 

Those not on outpost duty took advantage of the rest and made themselves

as comfortable as possible. Stakes sent up by the R.E. were used for

constructing bivouacs, but perhaps the palm trees provided as much

assistance as anything else. Although we had not yet learnt to use the

word “camouflage” we knew its meaning, and whenever we settled down on

the desert we put it into use as a protection against inquisitive

aircraft. At Katia the palm trees gave us all the protection we required

in this way.

 

CHAPTER II.

 

Desert Life.

 

On August 14th the 42nd Division moved back to Romani, a further advance

across the Sinai Desert being deemed inadvisable until the railway and

water pipe, which stopped a few kilometres beyond Romani, had been

pushed further ahead. A system of training was started, but as the men

had not recovered from the fatigue of the Katia operations, and the

weather was very trying, vigorous forms of exercise were given up. A

number of men went to hospital with a weakening form of diarrhoea

almost akin to dysentery, while the medical authorities were in a highly

nervous state about cholera of which a few cases had been reported. It

was presumed that this had been contracted from the Turkish prisoners

and their old camping grounds.

 

The battalion was augmented slightly at this stage by a draft from

England, while 2nd-Lt’s. W. H. Barratt and W. Thorp returned from leave.

Lt. H. C. Franklin, M.C., one-time R.S.M., went into hospital and was

invalided to England, and his place as Adjutant was taken by Capt. J. R.

Creagh, a position he filled admirably for more than two years. Captains

C. Norbury and B. Norbury left the battalion about this time to obtain

appointments in England and France and this entailed a change in Company

Commanders. Captains Tinker and Higham continued to command “A” and “D”

Companies, Lt. H. H. Nidd was given “B” Company, and Captain Chadwick

“C” Company. 2nd-Lt. G. W. Franklin assisted the Adjutant in the Orderly

Room, while 2nd-Lt. F. Grey Burn was employed as “Camel Officer;” new

work brought about by the substitution of camel for wheeled transport.

The bulk of the latter remained at Kantara under 2nd-Lt. M. Norbury,

with Capt. Ward Jones in charge of the Brigade transport; their duties

consisting chiefly in bringing rations, etc., across the canal from the

main station on the E.S.R. and loading them on the trains which ran over

the desert. Wheeled transport could not be employed in the desert

stations as roads had not been constructed.

 

We came to know the camel fairly well during the succeeding months, and

he proved a study, perhaps more interesting than his caretaker, a member

of the Egyptian Camel Corps’ distinctive in his long blue garrabea. When

a company was on duty at a distant outpost the time for the arrival of

the ration camels was also the signal for the ration fatigue to fall in.

Then the string of animals would leisurely wend their way through the

gaps in the barb wire, their noses held high in an aristocratic leer,

each led with a head rope by a blue smocked Gyppie. The Q.M.S. would

appear: “‘Tala Henna, Walad. Barrac Henna’” and so forth. A wonderful

flow of British-Arabic, grinningly comprehended by the natives, always

produces the desired result. The camel gets down in a series of bumps

and not without cautious glances at his head, the men unfasten the

complication of ropes and commence the work of unloading. Somebody

shouts: “Mail up!” and this brings out a number of interested faces from

the entrances to “bivvies.” After the rations have been sorted out, word

quickly goes round, “Six to a loaf again, and no fresh meat to-day,” so

everyone looks gloomily ahead to the prospect of swallowing quantities

of bully beef and biscuits. Other camels have carried up trench and

wiring materials, and when all are off-loaded they get up wearily and

solemnly depart leaving the outpost to its solitary existence. If there

is only one officer he feels his solitude very much, for in spite of the

camaraderie with the men and particularly the senior N.C.O’s. there is a

feeling of restraint due to the requirements of military discipline, and

he misses the value of perfectly free intercourse.[1]

 

[Footnote 1: Quoted from an Officer’s Diary]

 

[Illustration: PLATE III

 

1. Bivouac Shelters on the Desert

 

2. Making the Railway over the Desert

 

3. At El Mazar

 

4. Digging a Well]

 

It soon became apparent that an advance across the desert in the

direction of El Arish was contemplated, and that the speed of such an

advance would depend upon the rate at which the railway and water pipe

line could be constructed. The function of the troops was to protect it

from raiders so that work could proceed in comfort, a duty shared by the

mounted troops and the 52nd and 42nd Divisions. In September, therefore,

the 7th Manchesters left Romani for garrison duty at Negiliat, about

twenty kilos. further east. About this time Capt. Chadwick, who along

with Lt.-Col. Cronshaw, had been decorated with the Serbian Order of the

White Eagle in long delayed recognition of their magnificent work in

Gallipoli, left the battalion to join the R.F.C. in England and France.

Capt. Townson succeeded him in the command of “C” Company.

 

As the health of the desert troops was not good after their long strain

under the tropical sun, a system of rest and holiday cure, suggested by

the medical authorities, was begun. Batches of men and officers were

sent off to Alexandria and encamped at Sidi Bishr, just outside the town

for a week, during which time they were free to do more or less as they

pleased, a concession highly relished by everyone. The sight of

civilisation alone was in itself almost a cure, but the change of the

surroundings, the lack of military duties, the sea bathing, and the

enjoyment of everything that dear old “Alex.” could offer worked

wonders. Further, the hot season was drawing to a close and men began to

feel more normal, so that by the end of October the troops were as fit

as they had ever been in their lives. The 127th Brigade were withdrawn

to Romani whilst this work of recuperation was in progress, and the

beginning of November saw us back again at Negiliat.

 

Meanwhile, the mounted troops, closely supported by the infantry, kept

constant touch with the Turk. When the railhead reached the outpost line

it was necessary to move the enemy by force and to this end engagements

were fought at Bir el Abd, and at El Mazar, both of which resulted in

the Turk withdrawing upon El Arish. His aircraft was always busy, but

the bombing was not often effective. Even the natives in the E.L.C.

(Egyptian Labour Corps) began to grow accustomed to these raids and

steadily resisted their impulse to dash back along the line when a taube

was sighted.

 

The return from hospital of 2nd-Lt. Jimmy Baker and of 2nd-Lt. Joe

Chatterton at this time was greeted with pleasure by the battalion, and

all were interested in the arrival of the new Padre, the Rev. E. C.

Hoskyns. It was not long, however, before he had made himself thoroughly

well-known to every man who wore the Fleur de Lys, and his cheery face

was eagerly welcomed in every “bivvy.” During unbroken service with us

until July, 1918, he maintained a proud record of spontaneous popularity

with all ranks, and especially with his brother officers.

 

On the night of November 3rd the eastern climate displayed a side to its

character not often revealed. During the previous twenty-four hours we

had witnessed extraordinary flashes of lightning, and this was followed

by a distinct coldness and a few showers of rain in the afternoon, a new

experience which caused much amusement amongst the men. In the evening,

however, matters ripened, and after a joyous display of heavenly

pyrotechnics and thunder all round the blackening, heavy sky, we were

subjected to a violent downpour, accompanied by lurid lightning flashes.

Tremendous hailstones came down, smashing through the few remaining

flimsy blanket shelters that were still standing, so that we were left

in our nakedness to bear the full fury of the storm. We felt that God’s

spectacular display on the mountains for Elijah’s benefit had been at

least emulated, but it was the still, small voice that was best

appreciated again, when it remarked that it was a good job the cooks had

just finished making “gunfire” or we should never have had a dixie of

hot tea to cheer us up in our discomfort. Although the men had to stand

all night on sentry in the outposts in their wet things they took it

very good-humouredly.

 

A fortnight later the battalion moved forward again a few kilometres and

constructed new outpost positions at Khirba, covering a cavalry post

some distance to the south. This was necessitated by the fact that the

Turk was still holding Nekhl in the heart of the Sinai, from whence a

raiding party could easily strike north to cut our communications, for

the railway Was now well beyond Bir el Abd. When not actually on the

outpost line we did a good deal of training, and a range having been

constructed, some useful field firing was accomplished. An exciting

football competition resulted in “C” Company defeating the Sergeants’

team and carrying off the battalion championship.

 

A more elaborate forward move commenced about this time, the railway

having reached El Mazar, and when a Brigade of the 53rd Division arrived

to relieve us, we began to gird up our loins and prepare for a stiff

march. We knew, however, that endurance would not be tested as in the

“Katia Stunt” for the weather was so much more favourable. On the