Having arrived in Egypt, from the Gallipoli campaign, the Rifles pitched camp in Sidi Bishr, a large camp near to Alexandria.
While the Diary does not log a delousing and cleaning session on arrival in Egypt, Joe Guthrie, Machine Gun Sargent for the Finsbury Rifles, recalls his experiences on arrival in his Oral History recording at the Imperial War Museum:
‘Yes went to the Suez. We gave up Gallipoli and the boat landed at Alexandria where we went into Egypt. We was deloused and we needed it! Very funny, the chap when we got to Alexandria…the RMC Corporal, he was like ‘Come on boys come and have a nice hot bath!’ and we had to take all our clothes off, chuck ‘em down, get rid of them, and then with no clothes on at all then we went up to this bloke and he’d shove a bucket cold carbolic over us and into the next tent you’d put clean clothes on new clothes on that’s the way they did it. Cor blimey it was yes…And that was when we started our Egyptian career. Mena camp, that’s where we went from there.’
Location: SIDI BISHR
Date: 19/12/15
Day spent in re-pitching camp.
Date: 20/12/15
From the 20th of this date Battalion on duty responsible for Brigade fatigues and policing of camp. Parade during morning. Commanding Officer inspection of tents.
Date: 21/12/15 to 27/12/15
From week 20th to this date Battalion engaged on routine parades, fatigues etc. Lt. H. G. Sandercock to hospital with jaundice. 23.12.15 two officers and 79 other ranks rejoined unit from 54th Division Base Details Camp.
Date: 28/12/15
Received detailed orders from BHQ for moving to HOSH ISA on 30th. Camp routine parade as usual.
Date: 29/12/15
Battalion baggage. 17 Bell Tents and one EP Tent dispatched to HOSH ISA with exception of Officers’ valises. 1 N.C.O. (Sergeant) and 12 men rejoined Battalion from 54th Division Base Detail Camp. Routine as before.
Date: 30/12/15
Battalion entrained at SIDI GABER station from HOSA ISA. A, B and C Corps* entrained at 0920 and arrived HOSA ISA at midday. D Corp entrained at 12-20 and arrived at HOSA ISA at 1700. Battalion on duty responsible for protection of Camp during night. Numerous guard piquets provided.
Location: HOSH ISA
Date: 31/12/15
Day spent in re-pitching camp. Day and night uneventful. News received that 5 officers from 3/11th Battalion stationed at Ismalia would join Battalion at once.
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* for a comprehensive description of Battalions and Companies, please explore excellent resource The Long Long Trail, and remember you can use our glossary to demystify any new terms!
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