Mena Camp
Saturday December 12 1914
We get 20% leave but I didn’t
want any leave just yet as money is a bit scarce at present. We are looking
forward to payday. We give the horses a
bit of exercise they are very weak yet and the men are pretty tired from the
long march, after being on the boat so long.
There is plenty arabs about camp selling tomatoes, oranges, cigarettes mostly;
a dirty looking lot they wear rag dresses.
They all ask a high price first but you can easily get them down at half
the price. The money here is a bit
strange yet and one has to be careful getting change for they would do a man
for his bootlaces.
The 1st Australian Division camp and artillery lines, Mena Camp.
[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - A00429]
12
Began training which was continued to
[From this broken sentence onward, Major Hughes' entries in the Unit's official diary skips from December 12th 1914 until April 5th 1915]
Began training which was continued to
[From this broken sentence onward, Major Hughes' entries in the Unit's official diary skips from December 12th 1914 until April 5th 1915]
About one fifth of the whole encampment at Mena - the 7th Battery and 3rd
Field Artillery Brigade camp is located right rear of centre, marked with an X.
[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - P00117.001]
Saturday 12th December
Left Alexandria at 4 AM. Reaching Cairo at 10.15.
Bitterly cold in train. Stood on platform of carriage from daylight till Cairo
was reached. Most beautiful Delta country, irrigated and every inch cultivated.
Barley, maize, cotton, sugarcane, and vegetables growing luxuriantly. At
intervals we passed Arab villages and occasional grave yards. Houses very
quaint, generally built of mud. Date Palms in abundance. Interesting wheels to
raise water from canal levels to level of ground to be irrigated. Country full
of Arab men, women and children journeying both ways along canal banks, some
riding donkeys, mules, buffaloes and camels. I should love to ride through this
Country on horseback at my leisure. In nearly all the villages we passed
through, many minarets could be seen. On arrival at Cairo we at once detrained,
unloaded vehicles and spent the day assembling parts for final removal of
vehicles to camp.
Arranged for parties to come in from Mena to
assist. Left Mr Ross in charge, and came to camp arriving at 11 PM. Met Mr
Parker who directed me to 3rd Brigade lines. Very tired and slept soundly till
8 AM.
Before coming out I met Tasmanian and W. Australian
Second trains and assisted to detrain their vehicles.
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