Mena Camp
Friday December 11 1914
Leading horses since midnight we
arrived at Mena Camp about 10 am. We
passed the most beautiful market gardens and green fields I ever saw; its
called the Nile Valley. For miles as
flat as a table. The road out to
Pyramids is asphelt with shady trees all the way and tram line on the
side. It was made by Kedive to travel
when going to the Mena House, his country residence and a beautiful place it is
too. One could almost skate on the road
out it is that smooth and when the Kedive used to come out nobody was allowed
to travel on the road. Everything is
upside down here and natives are carting metal with camels to make roads and
there is a steam roller grinding it down.
Things have a busy appearance. We
have to rig our tents up this afternoon and get things a bit square. I am in charge of one bell tent with 7
men. Mates of course we got together as much
as we could.
Mena Village from the nearby pyramids, about ten miles outside
Cairo, where the 1st Australian Division set up camp on arriving
in
Egypt in December 1914.
[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - C01655]
Decr 11 CAIRO
For CAIRO detrained Abuclah Station 2-0am +
marched for Divisional Camp at MENA
Limbers on their way to Mena Camp, on the Cairo to Mena Road.
[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - PS0415]
Friday 11th December
All remaining units at work early excepting
Infantry detail, who refuse duty and were placed in guard room. B.A.C. and
D.A.C. units left by train at 5.40PM. horses went on train
splendidly. Telephoned Cairo for an officer and 20 men to take over Infantry
details. These arrived about 8.30PM. Handed over unit.
Unloading of vehicles proceeded all through the
night till 4 AM. All very tired.
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