December 1914 - 1st - 9th

December 1914

December 1^st Tuesday

Life is a bit dull and monotonous here. Am on fatigue all day. Cleaning up the place and washing up Company’s crockery.

December 2^nd Wednesday

Met others from Melleha and then marched to Syabia and open an enfiladed attack on the village and cross roads over hills. Ghain Qutuna again. Got drenched by rough sea.

December 3^rd Thursday

Off guard at 6.00am. Put straight on to fatigues again washing and sweeping up all day. Think of nothing else but fruit, went out and know where to find melons, figs etc, so had to take advantage of it. Winkworth got 28 days prison, asleep on guard.

December 4^th Friday

Marched to Melleha and done a mornings trench digging. Hambarton fell into a quicksand but we managed to get him out safely. Took steaks, onions and potatoes with us and had to cook them ourselves for dinner. Each had to be tested before consumption. Paid 7/- when we got back and then went to Cala Mistra. Guard at 5.00pm. Moonlight night.

December 5^th Saturday

Messing about in general all day, went for a stroll in afternoon down to St Pauls Bay. After retreat Capt Saunders stood a singsong to all in Palace in honour of his Captaincy. Plenty of cigarettes, cigars, eatables, beer and mineral waters to be had. Spent a very jolly evening all together, in fact, went to bed feeling dead beat.

December 6^th Sunday

Lieut Pyfer conducts Church Service, afterwards, Pratt, MacPherson, Ryan and I went to view the Maltese Artillery fortifications at Ghain Qutuna, which command the Melleha Bay. On guard there at 5.00pm.

December 7^th Monday

Left behind to look after tents, had a bathe, went looking for shells and then done a bit of fishing with Maltese, also visited a Cave where the natives live, quite cosy and homely it seems to be. Relieved at 6.00pm. Then went to town.

December 8^th Tuesday

Marched to Melleha at 8.30am and then done nothing but hang about all day. Marched back for dinner at 12. Ghain Qutuna guard again. A monotonous life.

December 9^th Wednesday

Has been an awfully rough and windy night. Feeling dead tired. No rest at all. While on fatigue, 14 of us get orders to pack and join 14 others from Melleha with Sergt Cornwall then proceed to headquarters for orders. Done 4 ½ miles in an hour. Found my lost kitbag.