31st December 1914

"SIR GEORGE REID IN EGYPT: The Australian High Commissioner may be

seen standing in the motor car addressing the First Australian Light Horse - Photo

by Corporal J. E. Pacey" Published in The Queenslander on the 27th February

1915, the above photo was taken at Mena Camp by Billy's older brother,

113 Corporal James Edgar Pacey of the 2nd Light Horse Regiment.

[Courtesy of National Library of Australia - TROVE]

Thursday 31st December

At work on Telephones and signalling. Batteries laying. Sir George Reid addressed troops today. With him came Mr Mackenzie (High Commissioner for N.Z.) and Generals Maxwell & Birdwood. Sir George made a good speech and specially asked all ranks to uphold the good name of Australia. Invited to dance at Continental Hotel but did not accept. Plenty of noise at midnight and bands playing out the old year and ushering in the new.

[Courtesy of State Library of New South Wales - Sir Charles Rosenthal diary]

30th December 1914

The A.I.F. Artillery encampment at Mena, showing gun limbers behind the tent lines.

[Courtesy of National Library of Australia - Trove]

Wednesday 30th December

Battery and Brigade Headquarters at work on Telephone and Signalling. Batteries at Battery drill. Visited Cairo with Capt McLennan to be measured for uniform and cap, also have boots repaired. Returned to camp at 2.15PM.

Sir George Reid to address our Divisional Artillery tomorrow and other units today. Colonel Hobbs delivered lecture in 2nd F.A. Brigade Mess. Full attendance of officers. He referred to pamphlet issued by war Office giving details of war at the front, especially with regard to Artillery. Makes one feel the seriousness of the situation and if prevailing conditions hold on, how few of us will return to Australia. 

[Courtesy of State Library of New South Wales - Sir Charles Rosenthal diary]

29th December 1914

The guns and ammunition limbers of the A.I.F. Field Artillery at Mena Camp,

with the Pyramids in the background.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - H16642]

Tuesday 29th December

Battery and Brigade Headquarters at work on Telephones. All units at battery drill. Went out with O.C to inspect routes to manoeuvre ground. Area proved to be very satisfactory, but roads leading thereto very bad indeed. Interview with Col Hobbs and Brigade Commanders re training areas. Jenkinson paraded before Colonel Hobbs. He agreed to resign. General lecture to all units at 2.30PM regarding conduct of troops in Cairo and behaviour generally. Members of 3rd Inf Bde not implicated. Rumours that howitzer Brigade to be formed.

[Courtesy of State Library of New South Wales - Sir Charles Rosenthal diary]

 

28th December 1914

Lieutenant Claude Erle Jenkinson, who'd caused drama for Col. Rosenthal on

departure from Port Melbourne, & again at Mena Camp.  Jenkinson officially

resigned his Commission with the 3rd Field Artillery on the 4th January 1915,

& re-enlisted 48 hours later back into the A.I.F. as a Private attached to the

2nd Light Horse Regiment.  One year later on the 2nd January 1916, post-Gallipoli,
 he sought discharge from the Light Horse to receive yet another Commission with
the British Royal Field Artillery.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - A03102]

Monday 28th December

Head Quarters at work on Telephone Construction. Several men are expert electricians so we should have no trouble in maintaining our phones in a high state of efficiency. With Capt Waite paraded Mr Jenkinson before Col Hobbs. I had to report against him. Col Hobbs asked him if he was prepared to resign, and he agreed. The matter is now going before General Bridges. He has proved totally unfitted for his job. A good deal of trouble with B.A.C. defaulters. They seem to have a bad lot among them. Have now to arm the guard. Lecture tonight by Major Hughes on "Battery Tactics". Plenty of discussion afterwards.

[Courtesy of State Library of New South Wales - Sir Charles Rosenthal diary]

 

27th December 1914

An aerial view of Cairo, c. 1918.
[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - C02487]

Sunday 27th December

Major Hughes and party again went out shooting. They were the guests of an Englishman who is the manager of a large estate here. They came back with one duck and about a dozen waterfowl, the latter no good for eating. At 4 o’clock we left to visit an old gentleman in Cairo who is a most loyal subject and an influential Egyptian. Major Hughes & Martin, Capt McLennan and Lieut Jopp accompanied me. This man’s wife is a sister to the present Sultan’s wife, and he himself is the son of the late Governor General of the Soudan. Our chief interpreter here (Mr Bayley) has known him for many years and it was he who arranged the visit. On arrival we were shown into a fine hall, filled with most beautiful Oriental furniture and Turkish and Persian Carpets. He and his sons did all in their power to entertain us.

They gave each of us presents, drawing lots to ensure equal division. He gave me several interesting souvenirs and in addition has promised to frame my family photos in wood carved frames. My table will then look quite Oriental. We sat down to a sumptuous dinner of about 15 courses, all exquisitely cooked. The table was set out in faultless British style, but the foods were prepared in Egyptian style. We left at 9PM and were escorted on foot through old Cairo.

He showed us many old historic buildings. The streets are very narrow. I am hoping to get one of my Head Quarters men who is good at water colour work to do me a few sketches. Altogether it was an exceedingly interesting evening.

The house is fairly pretentious, of three floors. The basement is used for the servants, the ground floor for guests, and the upper floor as the family’s private quarters. The women folk do not appear. All servants on first floor are Soudanese Eunuchs. I was placed in the post of honour at the head of the table while the father sat on my left. The sons waited at table, this being an especial way of honouring a guest. They afterwards dined by themselves. The father made a very interesting picture smoking his "hubble bubble’. In fact I had a try but was not very successful. Reached camp at 11PM.

[Courtesy of State Library of New South Wales - Sir Charles Rosenthal diary]