Major E.B. Sheppard's Diary, 8th - 15th February 1915

8th Feb. 1915.

We had a most interesting day. After warning us to be ready to move at a moment’s notice when the aeroplanes reported 2 days before that there were about 4,000 Turks 10 miles from Ismailia the move was then cancelled. To-day, however, when the aeroplanes reported they had, or were retiring, we had the order to move over the Canal at or before dawn. It was a rare job getting off in the dark but eventually we all concentrated at the ferry over the Canal, i.e., our Brigade, Herts, Westminster Dragoons and 1 Squadron Duke of Lancasters and the Indian Brigade of 3 Regiments. They formed the Advanced Guard. It was a fine sight as dawn was breaking over the Sinai Peninsula. The row of turbaned Indians with lances. In the distance when we started you could see the Scouts out on the Louzon. We marched first S.E., in view of Canal where some Men of War were ready to support us. After we had gone about 10 miles an aeroplane arrived and dropped a message for us. I believe it dropped a message to say the Turks had retired about 20 miles. After that interest fizzled out. When we halted once a shot was fired and a horse in the next regiment to ours was seen to fall. It appears some man let his rifle off by mistake. Anyhow one of the best horses was lost. I was sent up by Gurney¹ to see the Brigadier who was with the Staff in Advance Guard. When I got there the Brigadier told me to stay there if I liked. So I jumped at it. We found a derelict camp and they took one Turk prisoner, otherwise it was a very bloodless expedition. We visited their different camps and picked up a few interesting things. The best was a fine sword which Bill Cunliffe saw first but a Staff Officer managed to annex. We passed various dead camels and water buffalo which apparently they had used to drag their big guns with. We saw the cart ruts of the latter in the sand. It certainly was a fine performance on their part getting it so far. They must have had a rotten time of it. There was wonderfully little litter left. About the camps which looks as if it was an orderly retreat. On the way out Satan had been an awful nuisance as he got very excited and refused to trot at all. When we got in sight of Ismailia I suggested that as he was so fresh I should go ahead and order dinner for the men. I got leave but when I got just by the ferry over the Canal I got mixed up in defences and had to jump 2 or 3 entrenchments. I arrived back about 5.15 p.m., having started at 4 a.m. The men got in at 6.30. We lost one horse (died), Westminsters 2 and Indians, I hear, 5. Of course we could get no water the whole time. The question now is are the Turks coming on again or is it finished? It will be very annoying if it is as we might just as well have gone out 2 days earlier. They say if we had gone we must have rounded up about 3,000 Turks and possibly a gun as well. As it is, it looks as if we shall probably stay here for a bit. We hear they have filled our stables at Abbassia. I suppose the next thing is they will fill the barracks too. Meanwhile all the men’s kits and our Luggage is there and we are getting very short of everything.

11th Feb.

The Brigade (less 3 troops of D.L.O.Y’s) went North to the Canal about 8 miles away. We took camels to practise watering the horses from the packs. When we got to our halting place at Eb Ferdan (a post on the Canal) we were shown a shell hole at the foot of the Signalling Mast. It was a jolly good shot. Another inch and it would have come down. Several ships passed, one battle ship amongst them. They (the troops on bank) had been sniped the day before and one man had been wounded. The 2 troops of D.L.O.Y.’s and the Indian Cavalry with a few Infantry went out the other side to see if they could find, by digging, anything in the Turks’ old Camps. They discovered a bridge in sections which had been burnt besides a certain amount of other things of no great moment. They also found an account of the whole plan of defence of Canal, which posts were held, &c. They say they use dogs to swim with messages across the Canal. The situation they say is not clear enough yet for them to send us back to Cairo. From them burning the bridge I should say they do not mean to come on again. On the other hand it may only mean they had not the means to get it away.

14th Feb.

“B” Squadron started off for probably 6 days to Kantara. All very envious. The French Mission reviewed Brigade. The Brigadier was sick so Gurney¹ took Brigade and I had Regiment. We only did one or two simple movements. The boss of French party expressed himself very well pleased as I supposed he was bound to do.

15th Feb.

A Capt. Chapman (in 53rd Sikhs) on Younghusband’s Staff offered to take Gurney¹ and another in Launch down Canal to see where they had been fighting. As Gurney had been he suggested I should go, so I took Hugh Wyld^2. We had a very nice morning , saw several dead Turks on the Canal bank. They had collected 14 the day before they told us as the bodies were just beginning to float. We walked round the battlefield and picked up various rounds of ammunition and shell cases. We saw where they had dragged down the pontoons, of which there are 19 (I think) in the harbour. It appears they (the Turks) thought there was no one there but there was a Mountain Battery of the Egyptian Army with a Company of Sikhs, some of which stood behind the Gippys. with fixed bayonets in case they showed signs of bolting. 24 Turks cut W. of Canal but they never lived to tell the tale. It was a great bit of luck the Battery being where it was as I believe orders had been given for them to move. We went for a walk E. of the Canal and came upon a poor devil of a dead Turk about ¼ mile out. It was a gruesome sight. They bagged one German Officer a little lower down the Canal and we lost one from the misuse they say of the white flag. I forgot to say Chapman is a fellow we met one night some years ago who dined with Gurney¹ and went with us to the Theatre. We went back to the 53rd Sikhs Camp and had lunch. We heard there were some Turks at Katia where Reggie Halsey’s³ Squadron has gone, so it looks as if he may have some fun. The gardens here are lovely between the town and lake. Some of the Indians are camped there, which adds to the picturesqueness. There are bathing huts all along the front. I had a bathe there 2 or 3 days ago, but the water is very shallow for a long way, and it is rather near where the Ships coal.

Notes;

¹ Major Samuel Gurney Sheppard, (23rd March 1865 – 21st August 1915), second-in-Command and Edward’s brother.  Served 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry August 1914 – Augusr 1915 (Egypt; Gallipoli – Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel when he replaced Lt/Co Harrison to command 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry 19th January 1915.)   Killed in action 21st August 1915 in attack on Chocolate Hill, Gallipoli.

² Hugh James Wylde (16th April 1880 – 1961), Major to command A Squadron 25th August 1913.  Served 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry 1914 – May 1916 (commanding A Squadron – Egypt; Dardanelles; Wesern Desert)

³ Reginald Halsey (10th August 1873 – 30th May 1927) , Captain. Served Hertfordshire Yeomanry Depot August – September 1914; 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry September 1914 – November 1915 (B Squadron – Egypt; Dardonelles); March – August 1916 (D Squadron – Mesopotania) and April – August 1918 (B Squadron – Egypt/Palestine)