unded Turks waiting to be
carried off by the ambulance. It was with some astonishment that they
heard Major Allan shouting to them from above to get back to their
former position, so they struggled up the hill again with a very ill
grace. However, plans had been changed and it transpired that the
Lancashire Fusiliers had arrived and they were to take over our position
while we went back a few yards to bivouac for the night.

It was now much cooler and men felt disposed to eat their very scanty
meal. Those who had water were fortunate. Just as we were settling down
for the night word came through that Katia was to be taken next day, and
that we should move out at four in the morning. The enemy were believed
to be holding the oasis basin fairly strongly. In our extraordinarily
tired condition, brought about by strenuous exertions and lack of
nourishment, we did not view the prospect with too much confidence, but
hoping that a few hours' sleep might refresh us we rolled into the
shallow scoops we had made in the sand, and lay down to a rather chilly
night, our only extra cover being the khaki drill tunic whose weight we
had roundly cursed during the day.

At 3 a.m. we prepared to move. In the dim light the eternally-blessed
water camels could be seen wending their way towards our bivouac. As
before there was abundance of volunteers for this vital fatigue, but
most hearts drooped when it was found that the ration worked out to a
pint per man! Officers and N.C.O's. sadly but vigorously emphasised the
extreme urgency of preserving the water supply. Some resorted to drastic
action and insisted that no man should drink at all without first
obtaining permission of his officer, and on the day's business I am
inclined to think that these officers obtained the best results. The
Brigadier came to tell us we had done magnificently, but he said we
should have a worse day to-day; water was to be had at Katia--when we
got there. The men were also warned that it would probably be of little
use to drop out, in fact it might be extremely dangerous, for the
chances of being picked up were rather slight.

The cheery soul of the British Tommy, however, is proof against all
things, and he started out on this day's trip in the same spirit with
which he tackled all jobs during the war: "It has to be done, so do your
best and put the best face on it." The Fleur de Lys led out the Brigade
and trudged steadily through the soft sand in artillery f