X550/6/156/2

Diary of Leonard Leader Brereton. T J & J Smith's pocket Diary No 27 one day per page. Covered in dark green and embossed in gold Diary 1917. Gilt edges.

1 Jan 1917-16 April 1917

From: 1917 To: 1917

Entries are neatly written; a day per page. Some words are written in Greek. The following is a precis of the contents. A transcript made by the depositor is available for private research, any other use of the diary or the transcript must seek the permission of the depositor. Diary begins with memoranda of 1915-16 starting with being a civil engineer in S Africa, through to arrival at Tunbridge Wells on 23rd December 1916 to join 7th Middlesex Regt. At Tunbridge Wells until 10 January 1917 and comments on having nothing to do and lonliness. Occupations in the town are cinema and the opera house. Debts and money troubles. Reads Compton Mackenzie's Sinister Street. Thinks he must find a girl friend but Tunbridge Wells home of aged and infirm. Would like a friend to talk to intimately. Thoughts on life after the war - a wander's life if not careful would like a civil post in the new places. 11 Jan to the Ceramic at Plymouth. 4 innoculated for cholera; conditions on board. Censoring men's letters. 16 Jan Gibraltar. 17 Jan Catalonia 18-19 North African coast. 20 Jan Malta - sightseeing. Saw Madame Butterfly at the opera house. 25 sail, pays batman, quoits contest. 27 Jan Alexandria. 31 Jan ticked off for sending wire about extension of leave. Gets kit together. Goes to skating rink. 3 Feb Kantara to Romani. Met Yarde, James, Ferguson, New, Keith, Waterton, W E Smith, R L Smith, Mander, Lt Col Brighton. 4 Feb Hucklesby arrives. Life a picnic compared to GSWA. C Coy under James like coming home meeting these fellows again. Comments on railway laid by Royal Engineers. Good to be back at the old life although luxury in comparison. 6 Feb bath in sea. Phoebe engaged to Vic Quarry. 7 Feb Doesn't know what to think about the Bedford news. 8 Feb practice areoplane alarm. What will happen to him after war. 9 Feb Marking to Kirbah. Woodman batman got some chocolate and tinned pineapple. Heavy rain. 12 Feb Salmanah 22nd birthday. Heavy rain in night met Walker of BS shooting 8. Bath. Has tiff with Capt Cronin. 13 Feb On march. Killed snake. 14 Feb Bir El Mazar camp. 15 Feb letter from mother about Bedford school changes and Victor. 17 Feb Shares tent with Waterton and R L Smith. His batman, Woodman, is ex footman of Duke of Bedford. 18 Feb wishes he could help Victor. 19 Feb Desert beautiful in the morning. Contented. 20 Feb strike camp. Hucklesby and W E Smith to Cairo. Gives them film to be developed. 22 Feb on march. Terte[?] bitten by centipeded and taken to hospital. 23 Feb Al Marish shares tent with Waterton and R L Smith. 24-28 Feb arranges and plays rugger match v 157th brigade beaten 23-3. 4 March excavating ruins on hill 16 probably fort. 6 March news of the advance to Rafah. 8 March El Burge photos arrive from Cairo. Made bomb proof shelters. 10, 11 and 12 March sandstorms, tries to make dug out sand proof. 13 March drill tunic and shorts arrive. War rumours. 14 March War rumours doesn't think Turks will give much trouble. 15 March sandstorm. Baghdad occupied by British. Must arrange with Holts to send M a monthly cheque of £1 10s to relieve pressure at home. Hopes they do not decide to leave Bedford. London does not seem like home. Victor has left school only 17. It will be big handicap to him through life. 16 March Heads popping out of dug outs in morning amusing. News of the railway. 17 March Remains of building stones near the sea. 18 March Fears he is overdrawn by £10 if not more. 19 March Moved to outpost position. Brigadier tripped him up over several matters. News of war in France. 20 March On march. Macnoon camel chased Price. Move to Sheikh Zuweiyde at 1700. News from France. 21 March Sheikh Zuweiyde. 22 March investigates buried town. Rumours of advance. 23 March Check to forces beyond Rafah. Shooting at Taubes which is driven out to sea. Camera left with Tim Echelon. Used JW's to take photos of the lake. 24 March Slow tedious march. Rafah. Countryside like Dundee or Southern Transvaal. 25 March Karin Yunis. 26 March Battle of Gaza 3-5 miles away. 27 March Battle of Gaza outpost close to enemy. 28 March In Serat. Withdrew to In Serat due to want of water and provisions. Prisoners. Losses. Shaw and Smythe missing. 29 March. Captured four Bedouins. Shaw returned. Smythe turned up seems to have had an exciting time. Braddell killed. Strength of Turks. 30 March Washing. Digging trenches. Boots giving out. 31 March. Fatigues all day putting up telephone wire. News from France. Railway close behind, tanks. 1 Apr Church parade padre nearly broke down. Has decided to leave diary in sleeping bag if goes forward. 2 Apr Digging roads, beautiful view of Gaza. Being transferred to D Coy as Lewis Gun Officer. Very sorry as C Coy essentially an OB Coy and Sergt Moore and platoon fine fellows. Large mail from Mother V, Eunice, Kathleen, Phoebe and RFMacon. 3 Apr Bombardment commenced. D Coy moved out to protect RE. Turk patrol sent packing by Lewis gun. 4 Apr In camp reads. Getting tired and apprehensive men jumpy. Wearing the Crux Ansata for luck. 5 Apr Working with RE difficult to pick up threads on being tranferred. Sorry to leave No 9 platoon. Hopes diary will reach Mother. Not supposed to keep one so may be stopped. Leave message to mother to pass to Phoebe Auton for her to read. 6 Apr Strife for lack of knowledge of ceremonial. Lt Col Brighton good solider but lacks personal touch. 7 Apr Rest in camp. Wishes best of luck to all and to Mother Victor Ruth & Eunice. 8 Apr Church parade 3 little known hymn tunes result rather a farce. Digging fatigues. C F Buck turned up much as ever. Rumours. 9 Apr Very restful day. Read Mysteries of Fu Manchu a hightly fantastic and peculiar detective novel. America has come in hopes victory will not be long. 10 Apr Trainng all day. Post from Mother, Phoebe, PS Billie & Holts. Victor now on a farm in Norfold and seems to be getting on quite well. Hopes war over before Victor is old enough to join in. 11 Apr Rest in camp. Prisoners in France. Plan for attack. Hopes acquits himself as an English gentleman and that all come through all right. 'I am all ready and at peace with all I hope'. 12 Apr Camp. Good news from France. Washing. Interesting talk with Jamor Darell & Shaw on South Africa. 13 Apr In camp long talk with Yarde on many subjects. Wishes for proof that Christ of divine origin. 14 Apr Shelling. Message to Mother. Good news from france. 15 Apr News of advance - move out at midnight to take up position. 16 Apr Day before the battle! Letters from Mother, Kate and Victor, also Sunday Pictorials. 'A mail at a time like this makes an extraordinary difference. At home they will think this a small affair; it is but with all the horrors of modern war crowded into it. We should be succesful but it will cost many many fine fellows their lives. Our preparations have been 'very thorough and I am very confident in ur CO and Brigadier. Well heres to our success and I hope we all come through safely for the sake of those at home. The scrap will last at least two days. Our Gas and tanks should make a difference, not to mention our artillery. We move out tonight.'

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Brereton, Leonard Leader,
Brereton, Victor,
Elder,
Auton, Pheobe

BEDFORD, Bedford School, 5th (Territorial) Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment, World War One, Tunbridge Wells, Gaza, cinema, literature, MUSIC, debt, opera, Gibraltar, Catalonia, Malta, Alexandria