alion, with the
exception of some few of the later drafts, entrained and reached Sidi
Bishr next morning, smutty but hopeful.

Sidi Bishr rest camp was unlike anything that the oldest soldier can
remember. It was run with the sole desire of making everybody happy. The
tents were in the desert east of the town, half a mile from the sea. The
men had no duties of any kind. No parades were allowed and there were
special cooks and orderly men attached to each camp. On arrival the camp
staff took the men over from their officers, who were told that they had
no further responsibilities and could go off and enjoy themselves for a
week. Every man was then given a pass into Alexandria, good up to 11
p.m. every night of the week, while for those whose finances could not
stand this strain there were free concerts and cinemas in the camp
itself, and a whole village of enticing restaurants and shops where
fruit, drinks and souvenirs could be obtained. One need hardly say that
the Battalion, keenly appreciating the kindness shown and the confidence
reposed in them, repaid it by exemplary behaviour. There was hardly a
case of drunkenness throughout our stay--no bad record for men who had
been teetotal, through necessity and not through choice, for months--and
were now exposed to the dangers of the vile though seductive liquor sold
in the native bars.

Our holiday came to an end all too soon and we returned to Kantara in
excellent form for whatever might be demanded of us. A draft joined us a
few days after our return with Lieut. Girvan and our Quartermaster,
Lieut. Clark. Plainly the days of sitting on the banks of the Canal and
waiting till Turkey chose to attack us were gone for ever. The whole
force was pushing slowly but surely to the east, and it was high time
for us to help them push.

CHAPTER VII

THE SINAI DESERT--MAHAMDIYA, ROMANI, KATIA.

On the 10th of July, after handing over to the 5th Manchesters, the
Battalion entrained for Mahamdiya. The curse was pronounced against it,
"On thy flat feet shalt thou go--and dust shalt thou eat"; and it did
not entrain again until it left Ludd at the beginning of the journey to
France nearly two years later. The accumulation of stores resulting from
several months comparatively civilised life had to be sorted out, and
all but the barest necessities were left behind--a process which was
constantly being repeated as the advance through the desert continued,
the necessities bec