reported, and "A" and "B" Companies, who had by now
relieved "C" and "D" in the redoubts, were warned that the attack was
now almost certain. Before dawn on the 4th a bombardment began, but its
entire force fell a mile or two to the south of us upon the Romani
defences; the Turkish plan being to attack there and, if possible, to
turn our right flank. All the morning the artillery fire continued, our
reply being strengthened by the "crack of doom imitations" of a couple
of monitors out at sea to the north of No. 11. Little or no news
filtered through to us, and the redoubt companies spent a hot day in
their trenches, which were but ill suited for permanent occupation,
while the reduction in the water issue, made necessary by the fear of
future difficulties in refilling the storage tanks, started a thirst
which was not appeased for many days. During the night, however, we
heard enough to assure us that things were going well, and early on the
5th we received orders to leave the redoubts to a garrison of the unfit
and to rendezvous in the old camp, prepared for a "mobile."

About midday the Battalion moved off, "A" and "C" Companies having only
just arrived from the redoubts after a wakeful night and a heavy
morning's work, and already thirsty, though no more water could be
issued. A single water bottle, once filled, is but a poor supply for a
long day under the Egyptian sun. Marching over heavy sand in the hot
hours, even when the haversack has replaced the pack, soon produces an
unparalleled drought. Sweat runs into a man's eyes and drips from his
chin. It runs down his arms and trickles from his fingers. It drenches
his shirt and leaves great white streaks on his equipment. And while so
much is running out, the desire to put something in grows and grows. The
temptation to take a mouthful becomes well nigh irresistible, and once
the bottle of sun-heated chlorine-flavoured water is put to the lips, it
is almost impossible to put it down before its precious contents are
gone. Then a man becomes hopeless and there is danger of his falling
out. All honour to those, and they were many, who through age or
sickness, had greater difficulty in keeping up than the rest of us, but
who yet carried on indomitably to the end, or only gave in when they had
reached a stage of complete collapse. How often in such hours have we
felt that if only we could live where one may have an unlimited supply
of water just by turning on a tap, we shou