December 19th to Christmas Eve 1914

December 19^th Saturday

Off guard at 9.30am. Paid 7/- and waited for dinner. Directly afterwards all of us crossed the harbour by ferry, all happy as sand boys up to any devilry. Went round the bay and bought various little odds and ends. Finished the evening in the wine shops.

December 20^th Sunday

On guard as usual, know my beat like a book, also regular passers by. Prisoners have a singsong, supposed to be Kaiser’s b’day and did not pack up till 2.00am.

December 21^st Monday

Off duty at 9.30am, as there was nothing to do all day, Gael and I went down to the docks and looked over some of the warships being repaired there.

December 22^nd Tuesday

Usual guard again, Maltese are building us stone guard rooms, to replaced the damaged tents. Raining cats and dogs, but we managed to keep a bit dry.

December 23^rd Wednesday

Off at 9.30am. Small mail in, I got a parcel from home and a few letters, also another parcel from Mrs Causton.

December 24^th Thursday

Christmas Eve. On No 5 Guard this time. In the middle of English quarter a Scots woman gives us some jugs of cocoa to warm us up. Germans have another night of revelling. Their hard lot does not seem to trouble them. The natives stay up all night and march all round the town, singing accompanied by banjos and violins.

December 15th - 18th 1914

December 15^th Tuesday

Off guard at 9.00am. Had a rifle inspection 1 hour later. Could do as we pleased for the rest of the day. So made a tour of the town and shops.

December 16^th Wednesday

Same guard as before. Nearly all 3^rd Batt men are Prisoners baggage guard. 200 cartloads came in. Sure sign that the Navy is still knocking about. Rained hard during the night and got drenched to the skin. We are worse off than the prisoners who have better food and beds.

December 17^th Thursday

85 Prisoners, Germans, Turks and Austrians brought in, but majority are Germans off a liner. Have got the Commander and some of the crew of the ‘Exden(tbc)’ here. Unlucky again, not relieved till 6.00pm.

December 18^th Friday

On at the usual guard at 9.00am. Am quite used to my post on gate now. The English people here lend us newspapers. A characteristic Eastern evening, myriads of stars, lovely and cool.

December 10th - 14th 1914

December 10^th Thursday

All of us were attached to ‘C’ Coy. Marched to Vendala, under Capt Ving Bariles in 4 hours. Just missed a guard that night. C Coy Colour Seraf breaks his leg. We relieved ‘H’ Company and will do guard on alternate days with the 3^rd Batt. Established myself in No 1 Room St Pauls Bastion with Buglers Jul and Reullier. First time we have ever been in barracks.

December 11^th Friday

20 of us under Lieut Lang escorted 26 German and Austrian Prisoners from compound to a French warship and handed them over to the Froggies. Maltese hiss and spit at prisoners.

Changed our quarters to St Johns Bastion. Settled down with L/Cpl Bruce and Pte Galé. Proper beds to sleep in. Mattress, pillow, 2 sheets and 3 blankets. Have got 2 rooms to ourselves.

Racks, lockers, table forms, lamps and fireplaces in fact everything necessary.

December 12^th Saturday

Mounted guard at 9.00am and relieved 3^rd Batt men from No 4 Exterior Sentry group. Life sentry. Don’t think there is any chance of escape for Prisoners. Orders are ‘shoot on sight’.

December 13^th Sunday

More Prisoners came in, so were unfortunate and did not get relieved till 2.00pm. Washed and changed and then went out to enjoy ourselves in Gospicun. Plenty of English people.

December 14^th Monday

On No 6 guard this time, which is on the other side of Compound and much better. All of enclosure borders the town so we slip off to shops when nobody is about. Made friends with English folk. Prefer this place at any time.

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.

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.

November 16th - 22nd 1914

November 16^th Monday

We commence our Course of Instruction. Application firing of 5 rounds at 300 yards. Done rotten. 14 out of 20. Raining cats and dogs. Rest of day marking at the butts.

November 17^th Tuesday

Fired 7 rounds rapid in 45 secs at 300 yards, 19 out of 28. Am on butt duty every day now. Markers have to fire first in the morning. Have to keep our nuts low.

November 18^th Wednesday

Raining like the devil, but have to fire just the same, 5 rounds application at 300 yards. Got wet through while firing and only managed 9 points.

November 19^th Thursday

Snap shooting at Silhouette Figure at 300 yards with 4 secs exposure. Got 3 hits. Finished of Instructional Course. Not so well this time. Got 56 out of 88.

November 20^th Friday

Duff men tried again. Am behinds the butts all day and had a fairly easy time, especially under Capt M.F.P. Paid 7/-. Spent the evening in Recreation Room.

November 21^st Saturday

Started our Standard Test and were told that those passing 1^st Class would get 3d a day extra. Grouping of 5 rounds at 100 yards, 8-inch group, 20 out of 25.

November 22^nd Sunday

Served out with new drill suits. Church parade is washed out, but we have a ceremonial parade in memory of Lord Roberts. Got a big mail in. Plenty of letters for me. Rather lucky this time.

November 9th - 15th 1914

November 9^th Monday

Started our Qualification Test. Had to do Harmonization of Sights at 1200 yards, 25 yards range. Very easy test. All correct.

November 10^th Tuesday

Grouping of 3 shots at 25 yards. Got a 1 inch group. Not at all bad.

November 11th Wednesday

Grouping of 5 rounds at 100 yards. Got an 8 inch group. 20 pints, possible 25.

November 12^th Thursday

Fired 5 rounds on application at 200 yards off, 17 out of 20 points. Am doing very well up to the present.

November 13^th Friday

Sharp shooting 5 rounds at 200 yards off. 16 out of 20. Paid 7. -. Firing is a bit of a strain so spent evening in Camp.

November 14^th Saturday

Rapid Firing at 200 yards, 8 rounds in 45 secs. Obtained 22 points out of 32. Total 75 out of 87. Passed Qualification Test.

November 15^th Sunday

Church Service in Mess at 11.00am. Our Harvest Festival Parson from Garrison Church, The service has the Hymns ‘We plough the fields and scatter, The Sower went forth sowing and now thank we all our God’. Collection from Red X. Collected over £11.00.