November 23rd Monday
Now firing at 400 yards, obtained 14 and snapshooting at figure target. Got 3 hits. Busy all evening letter writing.
November 24th 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 25th Wednesday
5 rounds at 600 and got 11 points. Finished our Course. Pass 185 obt 108. 1st Class Shot. Packing up for detachment.
November 26th 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 27th 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 28th 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 29th 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 30th 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.
