November 23rd - 30th 1914

November 23^rd Monday

Now firing at 400 yards, obtained 14 and snapshooting at figure target. Got 3 hits. Busy all evening letter writing.

November 24^th Tuesday

Application of 5 rounds kneeling at 300 yards, obt 14 points and 15 rounds rapid at 300, obt 32 points in the morning. On the range again in afternoon. 5 rounds at 500. Got 15 points.

November 25^th Wednesday

5 rounds at 600 and got 11 points. Finished our Course. Pass 185 obt 108. 1^st Class Shot. Packing up for detachment.

November 26^th Thursday

H Coy under Capt Arthur went away to guard prisoners at Veradale. Left ½ ‘G’ Coy went to |Melleha and right half went to Selmon Palace. Lost my kit. On guard at Calla Mistra at 5.00pm. To get to our guard, which was a strip of sand on the shore and overlooked by a very steep hill, we had to descend by means of a narrow stairway cut out of the rock, known as the Devils Stairway and made by the Scottish Rifles from a height of 867 ft.

November 27^th Friday

Had to stay behind and look after all Gov. Property till the next guard relieved me at 6.00pm. So read books and wrote letters all day. Saw a Maltese catch on Octopus. Got paid 11/-. When I got back I had a tuck in, then went to sleep in a decent bed and roof overhead.

November 28^th Saturday

Marched to Melleha in the morning and done 2 hours skirmishing. Took over a new guard from Maltese at Ghain Qutusa and lost ourselves in trying to find it. A rough night.

November 29^th Sunday

Back at the Palace at 6.00am and because it’s a fine day I am put on fire piquet. Am not supposed to go out but could not resist the temptation, so went into Melleha.

November 30^th Monday

Went to Melleha again and done some more skirmishing and am on the same guard as before at 5.00pm. Have found a short cut to it now via a farm and the Maltese Artillery Fort Melleha Bay. Felt a bit mischievous on route, so we dropped over a wall and quietly borrowed some lovely grapes, pomegranates and oranges. Caught a wild cat and a snake in evening. Capt Saunders pays us a midnight visit.