Major E.B. Sheppard's Diary 5th - 12th October 1914

Sulphur baths, golf, tennis and snipe!

5th Oct. Monday

Much to my disgust the Colonel1 suddenly burst a bombshell and told Gurney2 he was to take me off somewhere for a week ! I expostulated but he insisted. It appears he thought I would not go away alone having come back from Alexandria in two days. I am quite right so it is perfectly ridiculous especially as it is most important I should get my English horses fit besides having an awful lot to learn about my job generally. However to cut a long story short we have come out to Helonan which is about 15 miles (or 20) S. of Cairo. It is a great tourist resort in ordinary times in the winter. There are sulphur baths of all description. We did not like the look of our hotel to start with but are fairly comfortable. There are one or two English officials staying in the hotel who seem nice.

Tuesday 6th Oct.

Having nothing else to do we had a sulphur baths and massage. We both have eczema a bit so thought it might do us good. I had a horrible taste of sulphur in my mouth for ever so long. We made arrangements to go shooting the next day, sent for guns also golf clubs.

There are most glorious sunsets and sunrises. You can see the Valley of the Nile and a whole lot of pyramids the other side.

Wed. 7th Oct.

We set off at cockcrow on donkeys to the Nile (two miles) We then got a boat and were put on the most impossible places for duck etc. The only things we ever saw were a few herons. I think they thought they were duck. We soon got tired of this so went home about 9 a.m. and had another sulphur bath etc. In the afternoon we played golf. My first experience on sand courses. Luckily it was a glorious evening and the air lovely. But sand everywhere is not my idea of a nice golf course. I believe it is the best course in Egypt. Received a big mail from for which many thanks to everyone. Joan looks like qualifying for a barmaid !

Thursday 8th Oct.

Gurney2 went to Cairo and brought a ripping lot of papers, though they make one very depressed with the photos of all the good chaps one knows who are lost. I had another bath and in the afternoon played golf with Gurney. Desperate match ! He won on last green. Am dying to get back to work, but Gurney is a stern jailer.

10th Oct Sat.

Still ordered to remain away much to my annoyance. Gurney2 and I started off a t 6 a.m. across the Nile to try and get some snipe. We had first to drive down the Nile then row across taking the train for about twenty minutes. We then got on donkeys and had about ¾hrs. ride. We got into a patch of reeds and saw quite a few but only managed to pick up 1½ couple. losing several. It was very difficult to avoid shooting someone as there was always a swarm of natives looking on. We then went on amongst lovely date palms. These are just ripe and being picked. We never found as good a place as the first. Our guide kept on taking us over the same places. Eventually we had lunch by the bridge over what looked like an enormous lake. I believe at low Nile there is no water but all land. To day there was a ragging torrent. Our bag amounted to four couple. We never shot anything after lunch as the ground was exhausted. When we got back to the Nile our boat was not there much to our annoyance so we had to wait for the ferry which was crowded with the most awful lot of villians not to mention a donkey. We got back at 5.30 p.m. so had a good doing. Gurney’s cold was rather troublesome.

I always said I would never live next to a church again but a mosque is much worse. An infernal fellow stands on the top of the roof just outside my room and calls the faithful to prayer morning noon and night starting at 4.30 a.m. I forgot to say my donkey came head over heels with me to day. I put my servant on him and he got a toss too with both guns. No damage done however.

11th Oct. Sunday

Gurney2 went to Cairo. I had a sulphur bath in morning and in afternoon play lawn tennis at the Club (Helonan)

12th Oct. Monday

Played foresome with Gurney2 against two others. Could not hit a ball and let Gurney down badly. In the afternoon played lawn tennis. very bad at both.

P.S. You might send me out some more clothes. Any thin underclothing, ½ dozen soft fronted white shirts. My blue flannel suit, a pair of black shoes (outsize) ½ dozen white stand up collars, ½ dozen ties black and white (bow and sailor) socks (silk and otherwise) grey flannel jacket and trousers (best).

Notes:

1 Lt/Col Thomas Elliot Harrison D.S.O. (14th June 1862 – 3rd March 1939) Recalled from retired list, Leicestershire Yeomanry, to be Lieutenant-Colonel, Hertfordshire Yeomanry 9th September 1914.  He commanded 1st/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry 1914 – January 1915 in Egypt.  He was transferred to Territorial Force Reserve (Regimental List) 19th January 1915.

2 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.

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