DAVIDSON, George Leslie - Diary part 2

Wed 5th Apr. On duty.
Thur 6th Apr.On duty all day. Cairo in the evening.
Fri 7th Apr. On duty nothing special.
Sat 8th Apr. Met Fred Smith an old Fremantle school mate of mine & a Lieut. in the 28th Battn. He gave me some stirring stories of his experiences at Gallipoli & told me how Sgt Ball & L/Cpl Bateman both of Fremantle were killed. Sgt Ball was killed on the first day the 28th landed. He was sitting on the ground reading a paper when a shell burst about 10 ft behind him, pellets from which perforated his back & he was killed instantly. L/Cpl Bateman lasted until about a fortnight before the evacuation, a shell blew his head clean off & another soldier standing beside him was unhurt. Was told today that Frank Sears of Dalgetys Fremantle had received a commission.
Mon 10th Apr. Afternoon off so Tom Young, Ralph Mole & I went to Cairo & had a look over some of the Mosques. Started at the Citadel & had a guide to show us interesting items. The interior walls were made of alabaster stone which is to a certain extent transparent and has a great effect with light behind it. We also saw Joseph's Well and the courtyard where the Mamilukes were slaughtered. Next Mosque was the Sultan el Hasser Mosque. This was not in use at the time & we were allowed to go to the top of the tower & obtained a magnificent view of Cairo and its surroundings. This temple possesses some valuable doors made of gold, silver and brass. We were informed that it was bombarded by Napoleon during his invasion of Egypt, a cannon ball can still be seen in a hole in one of the walls. The next was El Rafai Coronation Mosque, easily the prettiest of the three and contains some magnificent woodwork of sandalwood inlaid with Ebony, Ivory and Mother of Pearl. The paintings on the ceiling & carpets on the floor are also beautiful. Had tea in Cairo & finished up at the pictures. I weighed myself - 12st 5lbs.
Tue 11th April. Day off & went to the Barrage after dinner. This is 14 miles from Cairo & is a scheme for conserving the water at the delta of the Nile for irrigation purposes. The Barrage Gardens are large & beautiful.
Wed 12th Apr. Saw Pte Percival of WA a friend of mine. Weather deteriorating.
Thur 13th Apr Severe sand storm & visibility poor.
Fri 14th Apr. Pay day 150 piastres - pd1.10.9 our currency.
Sat 15th Apr. On piquet duty.
Sun 16th Apr. Innoculated with anti-para-typhoid vaccine - little effect. Church in the morning and the Zoo in the afternoon. Saw a good collection of African animals also 2 captured pontoons used by the Turks in their attack on the Suez Canal. Saw Fremantle ites Billy Williams, Watty Robinson & Sgt Parry.
Mon 17th Apr. Day off. Afternoon spent visiting native mosques & the native quarters of Cairo with Alec Stewart. Tues 18th Apr. Met Lloyd Allen of WA who was in camp with me at Blackboy - a tent mate. He was sick & in the 3rd AGH Abbassia.
Fri 21st Apr. Guard duty.
Sun 23rd Apr. Off all day. Ralph Mole & I got an early start & went to old Cairo. Inspected 2 old Koptic and 1 Jewish Churches, also the Amar Mosque, reputed to be the oldest in Cairo. Saw the place where the Holy family hid from Herod & were shown the traditional spot where Moses was hidden in the bulrushes when found by Pharoah's daughter. Saw Pharoah's palace and natives making pottery ware. After lunching at Anzac Hostel went to the tombs of the Kalif's & made another visit to the pyramids.
Mon 24th Apr. Easter Monday - saw Billy Truran of F'tle who came to visit his brother Herb. who was having eye trouble.
Tues 25th Apr. Anzac Day. Memorial Service in the morning and sports in the afternoon. My Section 'E' won the tug of war, I was anchor man & my prize a razor strop. Food and soft drinks & tea available all day and a concert at night.
Fri 28th Apr. Rev W. Floyd Shannon joined our Unit today. To Cairo in the evening.
Sat 29th Apr. Paid 150 Piastres.
Sun 30th Apr. Day off. Pm went for a donkey ride to the Kasr el Nil bridge. Saw following West Australians I knew :- Jimmy Thorpe & Sgt Walsh 15/11th
Fri 5th May. Received first mail today, 7 from Aust & 2 from Egypt.
Sun 7th May. Day off. Church in the morning & Cairo in the afternoon. Met Sgts Cecil Commons & Walsh & Pte Jacobs. All from WA in the Gardens.
Mon 8th May. General Duties. Mick Mclean of WA was admitted to No. 3 AGH today.
Fri 12th May. Gen duties. Went to Cairo after tea with Ralph Mole.
Sun 14th May. Gen. duties. Weather very hot 107 in the shade. From 14th to 21st all leave for Australians & New Zealanders stopped so that as many as possible of the missing could be rounded up.
Mon 15th May. Gen. duties. Temp 115 in the shade & 154 in the sun. Hot wind added to the discomforts of the day. Original 3rd AGH members gave a concert which was well attended.
Tues. 16th May. Day off. Weather 112 in the shade.
Wed 17th May. Piquet duty. Temp 110.
Fri 19th May. On sick parade. Had a boil on my neck lanced.
Monday 22nd May. On ward duty. B4 relieving.
Wed 24th May. Gen. duties. After tea went to Heliopolis with Jack Clarke.
Thu 25th May. On coal fatigue. Real hard work.
Fri 26th May. AM Gen duties. PM on Ward Duty H2 indefinitely.
Sat 27th May. Ward duty. Met Pte Pollard from WA.
Sun 28th may. Ward duty. Arthur Baker hospitalised.
Mon 29th May. Ward duty. A small fire broke out just after 8 pm destroying a large tent. No other damage.
Tue 30th May. Ward duty AM. Went to Cairo PM.
Sat 3rd June No.3 AGH reported to be moving to England in about 3 weeks. Alex Stewart & Bentley Taylor from WA taken on strength.
Mon 5th June. Daily routine amended as from today: Reveille 5:30am; First Pde 6:15am; 1/2 hrs drill thence normal duties. W/O O.H. Hookway of Fremantle and Pte L.F. Allen of Claremont taken on strength of 3rd AGH. Temp 105.
Wed 7th June. Ward duty. A. Baker disch from hospital.
Thurs 8th June. Ward duty AM. Afternoon off & went to Heliopolis. Saw Sgt Jack Nugent of Frem. at No. 3 Aux. Hosp. Went to Cairo in the evening. Weight 13st 3 lbs.
sat 10th June. Afternoon off. Went to Cairo & bought silks to send home.
Fri 16th June. Feeling off colour. Temp 101.2.
Sat 17th June. Still not feeling too good.
Sun 18th June. Still not feeling well. Knocked off 10:30AM & rested.
Mon 19th June. On Sick Parade - Nile fever. off duty.
Teus 20th June. Off duty - sick.
Wed 21st June. Feeling better on duty again
Thur 22 June. On duty. Tom Young left on transport duty per SS Port Sydney for Australia.
Sun 25 June. Although not requested or desired, Standing Orders recorded that I with A. Baker, JH Williams of WA & Bill Raymer of Qland were taken on strength of 3rd AGH as from 24th inst.
Sun 2nd July. Had day off. Bob Leivesley & I went to the Barrage & had a quiet & pleasant afternoon. Had tea in Cairo & went to the Esbekia Gdns & listened to a band concert. Sgt Prince & Ptes J. Clark, P. Hird & R. Leivesley of WA were taken on strength of 3rd AGH, I believe about a fortnight ago.
Sun 9 July. Jack Brady & Ralph Mole of WA were taken on strength of 3rd AGH as from yesterday.
Tue. 11th July. My ward H2 closing down & patients transferred to B2. I was transferred there also.
Thur 13th July. Afternoon off. Went to the Abbassia Recreation Ground to watch a cricket match between 3rd AGH & 2nd Stat Hosp. met 2 WA ites Ptes Spargo & Maxwell, the latter an old school mate.
Fri 14th July. Half day off. Saw Billy Sheldrake of F'tle in hospital. He is being invalided to Aust.
Sat 15th July. Paid 150 pt. Met Pte McDonald of the original 16th Battn, formerly a water policeman in F'tle.
Sun 16 July. Half day off. Went to the Cairo Zoo with Jack Clarke. After tea went to St. Andrews Pres. Church & later a song service in the YMCA. Whilst here my camera was stolen.
Mon 17 July. Met E. Langoulant of Frem. in hospital. He was to be repatriated to Australia.
Fri 21st July. Taken off ward duties at 9:30am & instructed to report to AIF Headquarters Cairo for Clerical Duties with seven others namely :- R. Leivesley, - Westmorland, - Raymor, Bentley Taylor, Ralph Mole, - Winscombe & - Northcott. I replaced one who got on the best. We were quartered the Anzac Hostel & were given 203 piastres in tickets to last a week. Hours of duty 9am - 1pm & 2pm to 5:30pm. Got a monthly duty pass which holds good from reveille to 9:30pm.
Sat 22 July. Clerical duties at AIF Cairo. Learned that the remainder of the 14th reinforcements (Medical) who came with me from 'Details' at Zeetoun to the 3rd AGH namely Ptes Reid & Hird were absorbed on strength.
Sun 23 July. Off duty. Went with R. Leivesley & Bentley Taylor for a band concert.
Mon 24 July. On clerical duties at A.I.F. Hd Qtrs Cairo until further notice.
Wed 26 July. After tea watched a splendid concert at the Anzac Hostel.
Thurs 27 July. After tea watched another concert at Anzac Hostel.
Sun 30 July. Off duty all day. Church with R. Leivesley pm and a band concert in the gardens in the evening.
Mon 31 July. Our job at AIF Hd Qtrs. We returned pm to 3rd AGH for gen. duties.
Thurs Aug 3. Coal fatigue.
Fri 4 Aug. Services of intercession in the Chapel re commencement of the 3rd year of the War.
Sat 5 Aug. Night duty in Ward B1.
Sun 6 Aug. do. To Cairo with R. Mole pm & saw a batch of 1000 Turkish prisoners march from the station to Kasr el Nil Barracks. Also a couple of train loads of wounded from the canal consequent on the recent fighting there. No.3 AGH got its share. PM went to Luna Park at Heliopolis.
Mon 7 Aug. Transferred for ward duty from B1 to H1.
Fri 11 Aug. Still on night duty. Went to Cairo pm to the American Cosmograph Pictures. Quite busy owing to fighting on the Canal.
Sat 12 Aug. Saw Ralph Rutherford of F'tle in hospital today. After tea went to the Citadel to take photos.
Wed 16 Aug. Wards H1 and H2 were cleared for return to Australia per H.T. Borda. I returned to Ward D3.
Fri 18 Aug. Recd first dose of Cholera innoculation.
Sat 19 Aug. Taken off ward duties & told to report for Gen. Duties on Monday.
Sun 20 Aug. Off duty. After lunch went with R. Leivesley to Cairo & had a look around old Cairo. Church service pm.
Fri 25 Aug. Gen. duties. Recd another innoculation against Cholera.
Sun 27 Aug. Ward Duties B4 until further notice.
tues 29 Aug. Day off. To Cairo.
Mon 4 Sep. Half day off. Went to Cairo. Rumoured 3rd AGH is leaving for an unknown destination before the end of the month.
Tues 5 Sep. Taken off Ward duty & retd to Gen Duties. All depts are packing up all surplus stock & it seems definite our unit will be leaving Egypt soon.
Fri 8 Sep. Taken off Gen. duties & until further notice will work in the Pathological Dept.
Sun 10 Sep. Half day off. With R. Leivesley went to Pyramids for a spin. All busy packing up ready for the moves.
Tues 12 Sep. Pte C.P. Bird of 14th Reinf admitted to hospital.
Thurs 14 Sep. Half day off. Went into Cairo for some photographic material & a good feed. Alec Stewart admitted to hospital.
Sat 16 Sep.Half day off. Went into Cairo.
Sun 17 Sep. ditto
Mon 18 Sep. C.P. Bird disch. from hospital.
Tues 19 Sep. Had an evening trip to the pyramids with Pte Domaille.
Wed 20 Sep. The 14th AGH arrived from Australia to take over the 3rd AGH.
Thurs 21 Sep. Old staff handing over to new.
Sat 23 Sep. The 14th AGH officially took over from the 3rd at 9am. Being relieved of all duties in the Patho. Dept went to Cairo & had a final look around.
Sun 24 Sep. Reveille 5am Parade 5:45am. Worked shifting hospital gear from the hospital square into rily trucks at the Military siding just outside of the hospital. Our section 'B' remained on duty for the rest of the day. A state of excitement existed & most of the natives were blanketed. We entrained at the Military siding about 9:30pm & the train moved off for Alexandria at 10pm.
Mon 25 Sep. Travelled all night & arrived at Alexandria at dawn, alondside the Hosp. ship Karoda. We loaded our gear & remained on the ship until she sailed at 4:15pm for (? England). The weather in the Mediterranean was rough & most of us (self included) were sea-sick. I struck guard duty & managed to stick it out only with an effort.
Tues 26 Sep. At sea, still on guard duty & feeling crook.
Wed 27 Sep. At sea, weather now fine & I had recovered from my seasickness. Food & accommodation good & all hands were enjoying the trip. My bed was 104 in Ward 2 on the lower deck between No. 2 hatch & the Engine Room immediately under the first class dining saloon. The daily routine was as follows: Reveille 6:30am; Breakfast 7:45am; Parade 8:30am; Dinner 12:30pm; Tea 5pm; Lights out 9:30am
Thurs 28 Sep. Weather fine, had little or nothing to do. A few islands & ships were passed during the day. Those not on any duties were either reading, playing cards or sleeping about the decks. Boat drill at 4;15pm. My boat was No. 7 on the starboard side.
Fri 29 Sep. Weather was a bit rough, some - not me - were sick again. The Hosp Ship staff gave a very nice concert in the evening.
Sat 30 Sep. Weather fine. Vessel due to arrive in Gibralter tomorrow for orders. Still understand destination England. 3rd AGH concert party on the after well deck in the evening.
Sun 1st Oct. The H.S. Karoola with No. 3 AGH staff on board arrived at Gibralter for orders about about 4am & left for Southampton at 9:45am in fine weather. We kept very close to the Spanish coast and several villages and cultivated areas could be seen. Morning service and evening concert on board.
Mon 2 Oct. On fatigue duty.
Wed 4 Oct. In the English channel. In the evening the light of St. Catherines Point came into view & later dropped anchor off Cowes only to shift a little further to off Southampton.
Thur 5 Oct. When I came out on deck I found we were anchored off Netley just outside Southampton. The old Western Australia of 'Happy Jack' WA fame fitted & painted as a Hospital Ship passed us on her way into Southampton. About 7am got under way and followed her & eventually berthed. There were several hospital ships in port including the Aquitania 45000 tons and the Asturias of the Orient Line. The morning was spent transferring luggage etc from ship to train. After dinner we disembarked and entrained for Brighton, Sussex. Our train left Southampton at 4:15pm and arrived at Brighton at 6:30pm. We marched to Kitchener Hospital which we were to take over & after being shown to our temporary quarters & partaking of a little supper, went to bed.
Fri 6 Oct. Through a misunderstanding there was no breakfast prepared for us but we were all able to get some ourselves at the canteen. Managed to get to the beach this morning and also had a look around Brighton.
Sat 7 Oct. Did nothing all day. Went to a picture show in the evening with Percy Hird.
Sun 8 Oct. Church in the morning and a look around Brighton and the Beach pm.
Mon 9 Oct. On night duty on one of the Wards.
Sun 15 Oct. Still on night duty Ward D1. Went to town with Ralph Mole during the afternoon.
Tue 17 Oct. About 70 Reinforcements from Details joined us today.
Sat 21 Oct. Today ascertained that the 70 Reinforcements included several Western Australians among whom was Ted Taylor an old Fremantle school mate of mine & Pte Lockley who was in Camp at Blackboy with me.
Mon 23 Oct. Still have my camera with me, but for security reasons are unable to take any snaps.
Thurs 26 Oct. Still on night duty. Went into town for tea with Bob Leivesley.
Sat 28 Oct. Gordon Doonan came to see me this evening and I handed over to him his watch which I brought from WA for him, he having left it behind. Gordon stayed in our quarters overnight.
Sun 29 Oct. Took Gordon Doonan to se a cousin of his, then saw him off in the 11:30am train for London. Was by then very tired & went straight to bed.
Wed 1 Nov. Still on night duty. Went to town in the afternoon with Bob Leivesley. Col. Newmarch of No. 3 Aust Gen. Hospital assumed command as from today.
Sat 4 Nov. Percy Hird and Frank Pollard of WA were transferred to 'details'.
Mon 6 Nov. Went to the Hippodrome
Tue 7 Nov. Changed from night to day duty on Ward D1. Jack Clarke of WA admitted to hospital.
Thur 16 Nov. No. 8972 Pte J. Clarke of Fremantle WA & who left Fremantle with me in the Maltides died at 1 oclock this morning of Heart Dialation following bronchopneumonia. His remains are being sent to Lancashire where his people live.
Sat 11 Nov. The whole day off. At 8am the body of the late Pte J Clarke was removed to the station and I was chosen as one of the bearers. Fully 100 men marched behind the coffin & paid the last respects to our late comrade. I caught the 8:55am train to London & arrived at Victoria Station just before 11am. This was my first trip to London & wanted to see as much of it as I could. I took a direction from Victoria Stn passed Westminster Abbey, Whitehall & Trafalgar Square. Went through the Strand, had a look at St Pauls Cathedral and along Queen Victoria St., Cornhill and Leadenhall sts. I then got into a tube at Aldgate for Trafalgare Square via Kings Cross & Baker St. Then I went per tube from Trafalgar St to London Bridge via Oxford Circus & the Bank. I had a look at London Bridge, went over the Tower Bridge, and round the Tower of London, caught the tube at Mark Lane for Victoria Palace, caught the 9:15pm train for Brighton and arrived home about 11:15pm. Saw natural snow for the first time today.
Mon 20 Nov. Ward Duty 7am - 5:30pm. Fire piquet 7pm to 10pm. No. 8820 Pte Alec Stewart promoted to Lance Corporal.
Thur 23 Nov. Day Duty. Whist Drive pm at Kempton.
Sat 2 Dec. Convoy with wounded arrived about 11pm & extended my day Duties to about 2am Sunday.
Mon 4 Dec. C.S. Reid (WA) transferred to the Dental Corps & left for Salisbury.
Wed 6 Dec. Half day off. Went to the Hippodrome with Ralph Mole and Bob Leivesley. There met Jack Watson of Frem.
Sun 17 Dec. Night convoy with wounded & I remained on duty until 1:30am Mon.
Wed 20 Dec. Half day off. Went to Rottingdean per foot across the Downs & came in to Brighton per bus. After tea to the Hippodrome.
Fri 22 Dec. Worked late owing to a convoy.
Sun 24 Dec. Late again owing to a convoy.
Mon 25 Dec. Ward duty as usual, but was able to fit in a nice Regimental Xmas Dinner - Soup, Turkey & 4 vegetables, Pudding, fruit, nuts & dates. After tea to Palladium Pictures.
Sat 30 Dec. Half day off. Went to Lewes per Bus, had a look through the ruins of the old Lewes castle. R. Leivesley admitted to hospital with mumnps, the third of our hut in quick succession.
Sun 31 Dec. ordered to report tomorrow for duty with the pay Sergenat. After tea went to the Aquarium.
1917 Mon 1 Jan. On Pay Office staff for temporay duty only.
Thur 4 Jan. Back on ward duty D1
Sun 7 Jan Day duty in Ward D1 then fire piquet in the evening.
Tue 9 Jan. Went to the Hippodrome in the evening.
Thur 11 Jan. Ward duty to 12:30pm thence night duty at 7pm on the same Ward D1.
Fri 12 Jan. Called on Mr & Mrs Tidy 134 London rd Brighton and was given a very warm welcome. They are parents of the Tidy family of F'tle.