es. The following night Cairo had been entered and
the submission of Arabi Pasha and his followers received.

The first necessity, after the arrival of the Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir,
was to complete the refitting of the _personnel_ where it left off at
Lemnos Island. Here began in earnest the system of charging individuals
for losses of Government property. Up to date, these losses had been
attributed to active service conditions and considered almost
inevitable. But now a kit inspection revealed a deficiency of over
L1,000 worth of articles that had been delivered to members of the
Battalion less than a month before. This condition of affairs could only
be set down to carelessness, and as a corrective, those in authority
ruled that the individual must pay. Then followed little debit entries
in the Paybooks. These annoyed the owners, but had the desired effect.

The refitting was spread over many days, the greatest difficulty being
experienced with hats, which were scarce, the requisite numbers not
arriving until many weeks later.

The return to Egypt involved a reversion to conditions regarding
rationing which were far from satisfactory. The 8-1/2d. per diem per man
for groceries and extras was quite inadequate. Prices were higher and
supplies more difficult to obtain. The soldiers could not be fed
properly and grave trouble was threatening although all ranks were loyal
and recognised that the best possible was being done to improve
conditions. Eventually the Corps Commander, paying heed to the strong
representations made, issued orders that the whole matter of supplies
should be taken over by the Australian Army Service Corps and units
provided direct with what was required. An immediate and vast
improvement was the result.

The climate was found now to be very different from that of four months
earlier. It closely resembled September in Western Australia, with
occasional light showers of rain and nights cold enough to make at least
two blankets desirable.

During the afternoon of the 15th January the 1st and 2nd Divisions were
inspected by General Sir Archibald Murray, the Commander-in-Chief in
Egypt. The Brigade was drawn up in a line of battalions in mass and
mustered some 3,000 of all ranks. The General rode along the front of
the Brigade and commented in very favourable terms on the appearance and
steadiness of the Western Australians. In connection with this parade
the Divisional Commander (General Legge ha