Only 11 days since leaving Esani, yet how much had been crowded into that short period!  As much work had been done every day as was usually done in a week.  It was not the fatigue of the trekking and fighting that “told” so much, but the lack of adequate rest; generally “turning-in” very late at night, and often having to sleep in boots ready to move before daylight the following morning, with nothing but “bully beef,” biscuits, and (a very little) jam to eat.  Sometimes tea was available, but frequently without sugar or milk.  As regards “bully beef,” this may be very sustaining, but it is a fact difficult to believe when having nothing else to eat for weeks on end.  The look of it was enough to make one sick!  Of course, in the circumstances, no other rations were possible, and the Supply Department certainly did wonders to keep units supplied with any kind of food, when they did not know, from one hour to another, where they would be located next, without taking into consideration the distances that had to be covered over roads hardly worthy to be called tracks.

Two days were spent at Hamame, and how glorious they were!  The Squadron rode down “bare-back” to the beach each day (two miles away) and bathed, the horses going into the sea as well.  They were watered from wells just dug by the Field Troop (R.E.).  It is a curious fact that all along this coast one has only to dig down in the sand a few feet, and there an inexhaustible supply of fresh water is to be found.  It only remains to put up canvas troughs and hand pumps, and any number of horses can be watered, as easily as if they were in the best watered country in the world.  It is unfortunate that this is not possible away from the coast.

AT JUNCTION STATION.

At 04.30 on the morning of November 13th, the Brigade moved from its comfortable quarters at Hamame, nearly due east to Beit Affe, and then beyond Summeil, where a line was taken over which had been previously held by another Brigade.  On the way the Turks shelled us heavily.  It is surprising how difficult it is to hit a Brigade on the move, in “Line of Troop Column”; shells often fell right in the centre of a Regiment, yet not actually hitting a troop or doing any damage whatever!  At night we withdrew from the line, marched on to Tel-et-Turmus, north-west, and slept there in a deep wadi.  The next day at 05.30 we were “on the move” again and pushed on to El Tine crossing the railway.  It was evident, from the amount of kit, dead animals, etc., on the road, that “Johnny Turk” had not been dawdling by the way!