Training soon began, and everyone seemed full of the idea of making himself “fit.”  Our peace camps and continuous training at home look very puny and small in comparison with the work which now occupied our time.  At manoeuvres the number of troops might be anything up to thirty thousand.  To march in the rear of such a column meant that each of the Ambulances soon swallowed its peck of dirt.  But with it all we were healthy and vigorous.  As an Ambulance we practiced all sorts of movements.  Under supposition that we might have to retreat suddenly, the whole camp would be struck, packed on the waggon and taken down the Suez road, where it was pitched again, ready to receive patients; then tents would be struck and a return made to camp.  Or we would make a start after nightfall and practise the movements without lights; the transport handling the horses in the dark.  Or the different sections would march out independently, and concentrate on a point agreed upon.  It was great practice, but in the end not necessary; for we went, not to France, as we expected, but to Gallipoli, where we had no horses.  However, it taught the men to believe in themselves.  That period of training was great.  Everyone benefited, and by the beginning of April we felt fit for anything.

We were exceedingly well looked after in the way of a standing camp.  Sand of course was everywhere, but when watered it became quite hard, and the quadrangle made a fine drill ground.  Each unit had a mess house in which the men had their meals; there was an abundant supply of water obtained from the Nile, so that shower baths were plentiful.  Canteens were established, and the men were able to supplement their rations.  The Y.M.C.A. erected buildings for the men’s entertainment, which served an excellent purpose in keeping the troops in camp.  Cinematographs showed pictures, and all round the camp dealers established shops, so that there was very little inducement for men to leave at night.  A good deal of our time was occupied in weeding out undesirables from the Brigade.  Thank goodness, I had not to send a man from the Ambulance back for this reason.

Apart from the instructive side of our stay in Egypt, the sojourn was most educational.  We were camped just on the edge of the Land of Goshen; the place where Joseph obtained his wife was only about a mile away from my tent, and the well where the Virgin Mother rested with our Saviour was in close proximity.  The same water wheels are here as are mentioned in the Bible, and one can see the camels and asses brought to water, and the women going to and fro with pitchers on their heads.  Then in the museum in Cairo one could see the mummy of the Pharaoh of Joseph’s time.  All this made the Bible quite the most interesting book to read.