South Nottinghamshire Hussars and Machine Gun Corps, 1914-1918

This is a diary written by Alfred in Army Book 136, a lined notepad. It covers the period from his enlistment as a 17 year-old barber in 1914, through years in the Middle East and in the Balkans, and finally covers service in France and the post-Armistice advance into liberated Belgium. Alfred led a charmed life, surviving the sinking of two ships whilst in transit. His simple diary is full of interest.

The diary is shown here unedited except for some added punctuation where necessary to make easier reading. Place name spellings are as Alfred had them. Explanatory notes have been added in places in [square brackets].

Date	Events
31 Dec 1914	Joined the South Nottinghamshire Hussars, and went down to Colwich Park.
28 Jan 1915	Left the second line and joined the first line at Cley-next-the-Sea. [Alfred had been attached to the 2/1st Regiment at first, and now moved to 1/1st]
1 Feb 1915	Went to C Squadron, was billeted at Mrs Lynn's with No 1 Troop. We had a very good time.
9 Apr 1915	Left Cley-next-the-Sea and entrained at Melton Constable for Havenmouth.
10 Apr 1915	Went on board the "Saturnia". [Click here for a website with good pictures of this ship]
12 Apr 1915	Sailed for Egypt.
20 Apr 1915	Arrived at Malta, went ashore for eight hours had a good time sent Mother some Maltese lace.
24 Apr 1915	Arrived at Alexandria.
25 Apr 1915	Our horses arrived.
26 Apr 1915	Marched to Sidi Bishr
2 May 1915	Moved from Sidi Bishr to Abbassia near Cairo for three months cavalry training.
14 Jul 1915	Moved from Abbassia to Kas-el-Nil barracks, Cairo.
10 Aug 1915	I went in hospital with the fever.
14 Aug 1915	Sailed for Gallipoli on the "Haverford". [Here is a history of this ship]
18 Aug 1915	Landed at Suvla.
21 Aug 1915	Advanced across Salt Lake.
21 Oct 1915	The Composite Regiment sailed for Salonika on the "Haverford". [Alfred appears to have been detached from the main body of his regiment, and attached to this composite unit].
27 Oct 1915	Arrived at Salonika.
4 Nov 1915	The regiment sailed from Suvla.
5 Nov 1915	Arrived at Mudros.
18 Nov 1915	Sailed from Salonika on the "Sicilian Prince". [This ship is known to have carried emigrants from Italy to the USA in the early years of the century]
19 Nov 1915	Arrived at Mudros and rejoined the regiment.
27 Nov 1915	Sailed for Egypt on the "Themistocles".
1 Dec 1915	Arrived at Alexandria and went on to Cairo.
2 Dec 1915	Arrived at Mena Camp near Cairo.
15 Jan 1916	Left Mena Camp and went to Sidi Bishr, Alexandria.
17 Jan 1916	I got kicked and went into 17th General Hospital.
A photograph of Alfred taken in a studio in Cairo around this time
2 Feb 1916	Sailed on the "Minneapolis" for Salonika. [Alfred refers here to his Regiment, as the entries make it clear that he remained behind in Egypt for a while].
6 Feb 1916	Arrived at Salonika and went to Akbunan.
10 Feb 1916	I arrived back at the Details, Abbassia.
1 Apr 1916	Left Abbassia and went to Sidi Bishr.
The regiment is inspected
18 Apr 1916	Sailed for Salonika on the "Lake Michigan". [Built by Swan, Hunter in 1901, this ship of the Canadian Pacific Line gave much sterling service as an uncomfortable troop transport in the Great War. From 1903 it was emoployed on England-Canada routes. It was damaged by a mine in 1916 and finally sunk by a U-Boat in 1918].
22 Apr 1916	Arrived at Salonika.
24 Apr 1916	Joined the regiment at Sermenli.
Dates illegible	Moved to Kukush; Guenenyl; Lahana; Orljak; Bukhova.
19 Jun 1916	Went in hospital with malaria.
29 Jul 1916	Sailed for Malta on the "Dover Castle". [Details can be seen here]
2 Aug 1916	Arrived at Malta.
12 Sep 1916	Sailed for Salonika on the "Tunisian". [Details can be seen here]
15 Sep 1916	Arrived at Salonika.
A train of pack mules in Salonika, September 1916
17 Sep 1916	Arrived at Gueneyl.
24 Sep 1916	Went to Salonika to fetch pack mules.
13 Sep 1916	Moved to Likhavan.
15 Sep 1916	Marched to Lahana.
17 Sep 1916	Marched to Kilo 64.5
4 Oct 1916	Joined the 7th Mounted Brigade HQ, and went on the Transport.
17 April 1917	Went to Captain Holden, to be his servant.
19 Apr 1917	Went to GHQ at Salonika.
26 Apr 1917	Moved to Guvesne.
7 May 1917	Moved to Ganis.
9 May 1917	Moved to Guvesne.
16 May 1917	Moved to Kapacia, joined our Brigade.
7 June 1917	Marched to Lahana.
8 June 1917	Marched to Guvesne.
9 June 1917	Marched to Lembert.
23 June 1917	Sailed for Egypt on "Cestrian".
24 June 1917	We got torpedoed at 9.30am, 10 miles south of Mudros. Taken to Mudros on the "Ribble".
The "Cestrian" goes down. This photograph is believed to have been taken by Alfred.	He recollected later that many troops who went down with the Cestrian were injured in the water by the thrashing of horses hoofs.
1 July 1917	Left Mudros and sailed for Egypt on the "Aragon". [Picture here]
3 July 1917	Arrived at Alexandria.
4 July 1917	Arrived at Ferry Post, Ismailia [a position on the Suez Canal]
Unloading the rations, somewhere in Egypt.
Horse ferry across the Suez Canal.
12 Aug 1917	Started march through Palestine. Marched to Ferdan 9 miles.
13 Aug 1917	Marched to Kantara 15 miles.
15 Aug 1917	Marched to Perlusium 13.75 miles.
16 Aug 1917	Marched to Romania 11.75 miles.
17 Aug 1917	Marched to Khirba 14.75 miles.
18 Aug 1917	Marched to Abd 7.25 miles.
19 Aug 1917	Marched to Tilul 15.75 miles.
20 Aug 1917	Marched to Mazar 8 miles.
21 Aug 1917	Marched to Maadan 11 miles.
22 Aug 1917	Marched to Bardawil 7 miles.
23 Aug 1917	Marched to El Arish 7 miles.
25 Aug 1917	Marched to El Burj 11.25 miles.
26 Aug 1917	Marched to Sheik Aowaid 9 miles.
27 Aug 1917	Marched to Rafa 9.75 miles.
29 Aug 1917	Marched to Fukhari 6.75 miles.
18 Sep 1917	Marched to Gamble.
3 Oct 1917	Moved to Fukhari.
10 Oct 1917	Rejoined the regiment.
31 Oct 1917	Capture of Beersheba.
1 Nov 1917	Moved on towards the Telkhowelfe.
2 Nov 1917	Attacked Telkhowelfe, north east of Beersheba.
3 Nov 1917	Returned to Beersheba at night.
4 Nov 1917	Moved to Karm.
5 Nov 1917	Moved to Coy-il-Basah.
6 Nov 1917	Moved to Wadi, north west of Beersheba
7 Nov 1917	Capture of Tel el Sherik.
8 Nov 1917	Attack on Turkish flank guard, west of railway at Negela.
9 Nov 1917	In reserve camp near Julis.
10 Nov 1917	Moved to Hamame.
12 Nov 1917	Dug wells at seaside.
13 Nov 1917	Moved to Tel-el-Tukhus.
14 Nov 1917	Capture of railway junction north of Keyayl.
15 Nov 1917	The regiment turned out and galloped after the Turks, but were held up.
16 Nov 1917	Out all day, returned to junction at night.
17 Nov 1917	Moved to Klibab.
18 Nov 1917	Moved to Deiran to rest.
19 Nov 1917	Had orders to move at 2am took over observation of line Nalin Budros. Stopped three days.
23 Nov 1917	Moved to Zemulkak.
24 Nov 1917	First days rest.
25 Nov 1917	Moved to Ayuh Kara, there all day.
27 Nov 1917	Moved to Zemuhan, turned out at night and marched to Benuret Tanta.
28 Nov 1917	Attacked on left flank by Turks fighting hard all day horses badly shelled.
29 Nov 1917	Still holding line left of Yeomanry Division. Relieved at night by ALH [Australian Light Horse].
30 Nov 1917	Moved back to Berit Sira.
1 Dec 1918	Moved to El Burj, moved up in support of the Australians.
2 Dec 1918	Moved back into reserve near --- Akair.
14 Dec 1918	Moved to Esdud.
2 Jan 1918	Moved to Medjel.
3 Jan 1918	Moved to Gaza.
4 Jan 1918	Moved to Belah.
22 Feb 1918	Moved to Gaza.
30 Mar 1918	South Notts Hussars [became] dismounted. We entrained at Belha and went down to Kantara. Entrained the next night for Sidi Bishr, Alexandria. [The South Notts Hussars had been formed into B Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps, along with the similarly dismounted Warwickshire Yeomanry]
24 May 1918	Embarked on the "Leasowe Castle". [Details here, including details of the loss of the ship whilst Alfred was on board]
26 May 1918	Sailed for Marseilles.
27 May 1918	Torpedoed at 12.30 mid night.
28 May 1918	Picked up at 11.30pm by the "Ladybird", arrived at Alexandria 5.30, went to Sidi Bishr.
17 June 1918	Embarked on the "Caledonia".
18 June 1918	Sailed for Taranto.
21 June 1918	Arrivad at Taranto, disembarked in the afternoon and marched up to teh rest camp for the night.
22 June 1918	Left Taranto. Principal stations and junctions through Italy and France: Brindisi, Foggia, Anconia, Fayenya, Bollagne, Milan, Voghera, Gebnova, Savona, Monte Carlo, Monaco, Eye, Cannes, Nice, Tonton, Le Teil, Mirneas, Mar-Sailes, Peyraud, Givors Canal, Lyon Vaise, St Germuine and Mount, De-or, La Clayette Bandemont, patay-le-Monial, Matsherbes, Junisy, Pontoise, Gisors Enebt, Gournay Ferriers, Etaples.
29 June 1918	Arrived Etaples. Had an air raid at night.
30 June 1918	Very nice weather, had another air raid.
1 July 1918	Lovely day had another air raid.
3 July 1918	Moved our camp into a wood, it was a very pleasant camp.
8 July 1918	I was transferred to B[attalion] HQ to be a scout.
10 July 1918	Had very heavy rain all night.
13 July 1918	Col. Calvert arrived back and all the boys were very pleased.
14 July 1918	Orderly Room runner.
16 July 1918	Went down to load 700,000 rounds of ammunition at Etaples.
17 July 1918	I went home on leave [his first since 1915]
18 July 1918	Sailed for Folkestone at 4.30 arrived 6 o'clock. Got in the train for London, got to Victoria at 9.15, Could not get a train until 2.30 in the morning so I had a walk in the town. Started from Marylebopne at 2.30 arrived at Notts five o'clock on 19 July. All were in bed but were soon up when I arrived.
20 July 1918	Went down to Wem for a day or so.
24 July 1918	Returned back to Notts.
26 July 1918	Met Nellie Bentley.
30 Jul 1918	Went to Melton Mowbray for the day.
31 July 1918	Norah went to her husband's home.
1 Aug 1918	I left home for London 3.30
2 Aug 1918	Left Victoria 8.45 for Folkestone.
3 Aug 1918	Left Folkestone for Boulogne at 11.30.
4 Aug 1918	Left Boulogne at 9.30 for Etaples.
5 Aug 1918	Had to go in front of the CO for being a day late.
7 Aug 1918	Started our scout course.
9 Aug 1918	Went out on a scheme.
10 Aug 1918	Very good news from the front. [Fourth Army had smashed through enemy in front of Amiens]
11 August 1918	Went on Church Parade.
12 Aug 1918	Out map reading all day.
13 Aug 1918	George came to see me.
14 Aug 1918	Had another air raid last night.
15 Aug 1918	Went outsketching.
16 Aug 1918	Sketching again.
17 Aug 1918	Very busy haircutting.
21 Aug 1918	Went out on a Battalion route march.
22 Aug 1918	Very hot busy getting ready to go up the line.
25 Aug 1918	Left camp at 11.15 and entrained at Etaples for Amiens passed Abbeville at 1.30, Arrived at Amiens at 6 o'clock. Left Amiens at 7.30 and marched to Pont Noyelles, raining all the time. 15 kilo's.
26 Aug 1918	Left Pont Noyelles at 11.15 it was very warm went through Warloy at 3 o'clock. 11 kilo's.
27 Aug 1918	Lovely morning, big bombardment all night.
28 Aug 1918	Very wet morning, had a lot of apples.
2 Sep 1918	Went out firing went back to C Company.
4 Sep 1918	Left Warloy at 12.30 passed through Albert on to Trones Wood arrived at 9 o'clock, 25 kilo's.
5 Sep 1918	Left Trones Wood at 11 o'clock, marched to Treicourt[Etricourt?], went through Combles. 10 kilo's.
6 Sep 1918	Marched back to HQ Combles with sore feet.
7 Sep 1918	Had another air raid. Captain Holden arrived back.
8 Sep 1918	Had another air raid.
9 Sep 1918	Left Combles at 9.30 arrived Nurlu at 2 o'clock.
10 Sep 1918	We got shelled very bad, also another air raid.
11 Sep 1918	Very heavy bombardment all night.
12 Sep 1918	Had another air raid, fetched one down.
13 Sep 1918	Shelled us very heavy, blew up one of our huts.
14 Sep 1918	Had another air raid, shelled us very heavy.
15 Sep 1918	Fetched another plane down.
16 Sep 1918	Very heavy fighting had another air raid and shelled us again.
17 Sep 1918	Got my parcel from Mother today. Had another air raid.
18 Sep 1918	C Company came out of the line, had a very rough time.
19 Sep 1918	Got shelled very heavy again.
20 Sep 1918	Very wet day.
21 Sep 1918	Very nice day. Six of A Company got killed. C Company came down the line.
22 Sep 1918	We took Epehy.
23 Sep 1918	Shelled us again.
24 Sep 1918	Shelled us again on and off all day. Saw some big air battles.
25 Sep 1918	All he Companies came out of the line.
26 Sep 1918	Left Nurlu at 5.15 and marched to Bernes.
27 Sep 1918	Terrific bombardment.
28 Sep 1918	Had another air raid.
29 Sep 1918	Sent an advanced BHQ very heavy bombardment.
31 Sep 1918	BHQ came back.
1 Oct 1918	The Companies came down the line last night, had to move to Moislains. 15 kilo's.
2 Oct 1918	Left Moislains at 1.30 and marched to St Emilie. 15 kilo's.
3 Oct 1918	Left St Emilie at 3 o'clock, went up just behind the Hindenburg Line. All the Companies went up the line. We got shelled very heavy all night.
4 Oct 1918	Had to move a little farther up into the trenches..
5 Oct 1918	Shelled us very heavy. Our line advanced again.
7 Oct 1918	Left the Hindenburg Line and moved to Bellicourt. Wet all night, had to sleep in an open trench all night, marched about 8 miles.
8 Oct 1918	Nice morning, we put up a very heavy barrage. We had to move to Ponjoy, got bombed very heavy all night.
9 Oct 1918	Had to move to Premont, about 10 miles.
10 Oct 1918	Had to move again to Maretz.
11 Oct 1918	Our Battalion went in the line again.
12 Oct 1918	Moved back to Premont.
16 Oct 1918	Our Battalion went in the line again.
19 Oct 1918	Very heavy bombardment all night.
20 Oct 1918	Our BHQ arrived back.
22 Oct 1918	Our Battalion went in the line again.
23 Oct 1918	Big bombardment all day.
25 Oct 1918	Moved to Le Cateau, 12 miles.
26 Oct 1918	Sent eight pounds home.
27 Oct 1918	Cakes went on leave. Got shelled very heavy, had to move to another billet.
29 Oct 1918	Shelled us all night.
1 Nov 1918	Found a rabbit in the garden.
2 Nov 1918	We got bombed and shelled.
3 Nov 1918	Our Battalion went up the line again.
4 Nov 1918	Left Le Cateau and marched to Pommereuil.
5 Nov 1918	Had to move again to Landrecies.
7 Nov 1918	Had to move to Noyelles.
8 Nov 1918	Had to move again to Domperries.
10 Nov 1918	Moved to Avesnes.
11 Nov 1918	Moved to La Fontain. Hostilities ceased.
13 Nov 1918	Moved to Sivry.
19 Nov 1918	Moved to Four Beeches.
20 Nov 1918	Moved to Jamiolle.
24 Nov 1918	Moved to Rosel. 15 kilo's.
14 Dec 1918	Moved to Dinant. 17 kilo's.
15 Dec 1918	Moved to Ciney. 16 kilo's
19 Dec 1918	Moved to Haversin, 10 kilo's.
22 Dec 1918	Received my Xmas parcel.

This wonderful diary and the photographs were kindly supplied for use on the website by Ev and Darrell Patrick, of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Alfred was Darrell's father. He worked as a barber, continuing in that trade after emigrating to Canada in 1924. Alfred finally passed away in 1984.