December 7th. Tuesday.
Left Mena Camp and entrained for Mex about 10.30.a.m.
December 8th.Wednesday.
Very busy reorganizing Regiment. Took over horses, pick of Warwick’s, Worcester’s and Gloucester’s.
December 9th. Thursday.
“B” Squadron entrained for Dabaa 11 p.m. Found an enormous accumulation of letters for me.
December 10th. Friday.
Entrained for Dabaa at 11 p.m. First train, 136 all ranks, 153 animals, 10 four-wheeled vehicles. Second train, 33 all ranks, 56 animals, 3 four-wheeled vehicles, came on by 1 a.m. train. Wrote P.D.’O.S.1 No. 3.
December 11th. Saturday.
Arrived Dabaa 6 a.m. Col Stewart I/C Communication gave me breakfast. Just in time to catch “B” Squadron going out on a rounding up expedition under W. de Falbe with Capt. Royle with Arab Squadron, taking transport for 5 days. “A” Sqdn. and Headquarters camped near Coastguard Station ¾ mile N. from Dabaa. Thought I recognised Lt. of Motor Transport, one Snelling in Stock Exchange. Found C. Bury2 suffering from Jaundice in bed. Packed him off to Hospital in Alexandria. Lunched and dined with Coastguard &c., Slept in C. Bury’s room, in sheets and beautiful spring mattress. First time in bed since 3rd. September.
December 12th. Sunday.
T. Pitt arrived with Westminsters and went on to Jameima 7 miles. Burlton3 with gun horses arrived. “A” Sqdn. better than I expected taking into consideration the draft. Bibby left for Matruh in car. Trouble with watering gear at well. Disgraceful how no steps had been taken to put the gear into good working order when they know large forces of mounted men would be moving through. Also found no arrangements had been made for defences of Coastguard Station. Rather anxious about Arab Sqdn. as Col. head of Motor Transport told me he was afraid he was in a tight place as news had come in that instead of 300 Bedouins he had gone to round up it was now put down at 600 to 800. ‘Phoned Col. S. Last thing at night who rather reassured me.
13th. December. Monday.
3 Patrols under Flint,4 Barnett5 and Charington6 went So. to reconnoitre but found nothing worth reporting. Made arrangements for all units to assemble in Coastguard Station in event of attack. Went for a ride nearly as far as Jameima along sea coast. Heard nothing of “B” Squadron.
14th December. Tuesday.
Woken up at 1.10 a.m. by ‘phone, ordering me to send 30 men and 1 officer to Abu Gerab 22 miles. Sent Flint4 who got off at 3 a.m. His orders were to stop convoy proceeding to Matruh. Received orders in afternoon to reconnoitre 5 or 6 miles along road to W. to choose position to hold in order to cover retirement of all parties from Abu Gerab. Went out with Hugh Wyld7 and 6 men choosing position about 7 miles out. H.W.7 and 60 men started at 12 midnight and got into position just as convoy arrived.
15th December. Wednesday.
H.W.7 arrived back with convoy waking me up at 6 a.m. Dennis Bates was of party having come in from Baggush 55 miles with empty transport in 24 hours. Reports having seen Arab Sqdn. who had been stopped rounding up Bedouins and had been ordered to Matruh. Very annoying as it splits up my command again. He tells me some of the men were very beat, which is not to be surprised at as several of them had hardly ridden at all for months.
December 16th. Thursday.
Sent out 3 patrols. The principal one W. under G. Charington6 (10 miles) than S. He reported several wells we did not know of. I had to be very firm with some Australian transport drivers who came to our wells. These had run dry the previous evening. Westminsters came in about 3 p.m. Wells ran dry again just after they arrived. T. Pitt now takes command. Formed post 20 men 1 Officer for Cemetery Post. 30 men slept in compound. Hdgrs. and gun teams were going off by train to Alexandria by sea to Matruh but By. forgot blocks and ropes for wagon trucks so had to put off till to-morrow.
December 17th. Friday.
Wrote P.D.O.S.8 No. 4 . Gun horses &c. left for Alexandria. Could only water horses once. Rode around with Stewart and Pitt to arrange defence. At first they wanted to bring us all inside Dabaa defences. Strongly opposed this. Eventually decided to entrench Cemetery Hill which we had begun and Quarry Hill. This will give us much more room and protect the Wells – our life blood. We are responsible for Western front which is the most likely side to be attacked. 2500 Bedouins now reported about 50 miles away. We were outpost Squadron having to find 20 men and 1 Officer each for Cemetery and Quarry Posts.
December 18th. Saturday.
Men hard at work on Cemetery Post, especially Hugh7 who has taken it in charge. His clothes and gloves torn to ribbons putting up barbed wire entanglements. More water in one well. Had a great haul of case of 3000 eggs washed up by sea. They keep on coming in I imagine from some torpedoed boat. In despair pf getting good groom to ride Satan. None of them seem to be able to get on with him or my other horse.
December 19th. Sunday.
D.L.O.Y’s9 left also Surrey’s for Alexandria. Col. Ferguson Davie arrived to take command of Dabaa. Found I was at Marlborough with him though he is younger than I. Hugh W. working like a black on Cemetery Post with barbed wire entanglements. Received news at 9.30 p.m. Squadron had to go out 20 miles W. to support car going out to try and repair telegraph wire to Matruh which had been cut. Rode out in afternoon to watch some of the men bathing.
Notes:
- Phyllis D’Oyle Sheppard (nee Noble) Edward’s wife.
- Cecil Oliver Haigh Bury (16th November – 26th September 1967.) Appointed 2nd Lieutenant, Hertfordshire Yeomanry 2nd October 1912; Lieutenant 28th November 1916, with seniority 1st June 1916; captain 17th December 1917; resigned retaining rank 14th August 1920. Served 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry August 1914 – February 1919 in Egypt, Dardanelles, Western Desert & Mesopotamia.
- Francis Arthur Burlton (30th March 1884 – 11th January 1941 killed by enemy action on A.R.P. duty) Served 2nd/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry March – October 1915; 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry October 1915 – April 1917 (A Squadron Western Desert; commanding Machine Gun Post – Egypt/Palastine).
- George Gordon Flint (1889 – 1953?) Served 2nd/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry September 1914 – October 1915; 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry October 1915 – Augustl 1916 (A Squadron – Egypt; Western Desert); 3rd/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry/ 6th Reserve Regiment of Cavalry December 1916 – 1918).
- Lieutenant Ralph Francis Barnett (1882 – 1968) Barnett was appointed Lieutenant A Squadron, Hertfordshire Yeomanry, 1st February 1914. Served 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry August 1914 – August 1918 (A Squadron – Egypt, Gallipoli, Temporary Captain 28th August 1915.)
- Guy Nicholas Charrington (17th January 1889 – 16th January 1938.) Served 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry August 1914 – December 1918 (Egypt; Dardanelles; A Squadron – Western Desert; B Squadron – France; Egypt/Palastine.)
- 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)
- Phyllis D’Oyly Sheppard (nee Noble), Edward’s wife
- Duke of Lancaster’s Own Light Yeomanry
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