1st December 1914

Port Canal

Tuesday December 1 1914

Came in sight of Suez before revallie this morning and anchored off the Port to get in some water.  A small steamer came along side with a brig full of water and pumped it aboard and the crew on her look a rough looking lot.  They are mostly Turks, Arabs and Italians.  We got a search light riged up on the focksile for going up the canal tonight.  There are a lot of bumboats about here.  Later 6.15 pm we got up steam and passed the Port it is a sight to see and the promenade is a fine sight.  All along the banks are small camps of men and they shout like fiends and wish us good luck as we go past but weather they mean it or not is another thing.  At one camp there was a bag pipe going full blast.  The Orveito that went up ahead was shot at by sharp shooters last night so we have our 18 pounders riged up on deck and a rifle party posted along the deck behind sand bags.  I am on guard.  Have one bird in.

A view of the Suez Canal taken from one of the first Australian

transports to pass through on its way to the port of Alexandria.

Several local vessels manned by Egyptians are in the water.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - C02550]

Dec 1 SUEZ  9am

Arrived entered Canal 7-30 hrs

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - Official unit war diary, 7th Battery]

Troops onboard the A5 Omrah looking out over the H.M.S. Hampshire,

whilst waiting to enter the Suex Canal, December 1914.

[Courtesy of Australian War Memorial - C02550]

Tuesday 1st December

Reached Suez about 8.30 AM. Though very desolate the Country looked very picturesque in the morning Sunlight. Harbour full of ships. Trading boats at once surrounded all ships and I am sure cleaned out all the last week’s pay of men on our ship. Water taken in about 60 tons. Received instructions to disembark at Alexandria and to proceed through canal this evening. Also instructed to have armed guard posted on ship to reply to possible hostile fire from banks of Canal. Accordingly 56 men have been armed and posted to positions. In addition two 18prs have been made ready on deck on suitable bearings of sandbags. If required they will certainly be used. I had a photo taken this afternoon of all military and Ships officers on the ship. I hope they turn out successfully. This afternoon all new Zealand Ships and two men o’ war entered the canal and tonight X Division with a couple of W Division are going through. As I write the "Wiltshire" is ahead of us in the Canal, and the "Argyleshire" and "Shropshire" following – all have their electric search lights. The Pilot of this ship who is a Frenchman has just informed me he has been Piloting on the Canal for 27 years, yet this is the first ship he has ever taken from Suez to Ismailia. He always works from Ismailia to Port Said in Suez, returning to Ismailia by train. Plenty of cheering along the bank from workmen on the Canal. Tomorrow 30 Troop ships are due at Suez from India. We expect to reach Port Said about 11 tomorrow. No chance to post letters today.  

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