The Seventh Manchesters - S. J. Wilson (leveled readers .TXT) 📗
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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
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