have to go without
whilst a new lot of people are being equipped?"

Training was resumed immediately the Battalion had settled down into its
new camp. The General Staff still, apparently, held the opinion that the
Turk, reinforced by the German, would advance on Egypt. In consequence,
exercises in defence and in desert and night operations were constantly
practised. The Battalion also studied those portions of the textbooks
relating to savage warfare, to movements in echelon of companies, to the
formation of squares to resist hordes of barbarian cavalry, and to
suitable dispositions to counter the effects of artillery fire. During
the dark hours movements on astral and compass bearings were tried and
met with uniform success. Once a route march to an oasis some six miles
to the north-east was attempted, and the hard smooth gravel in the
desert in these parts made the "going" comparatively easy. Usually the
training was carried out on the scene of the battle of 1882 and the
feet, or inquisitive entrenching implement, of the soldier displaced
many relics of that engagement which was sometimes referred to in short
talks given when resting.

On the 22nd and 30th January, the whole Battalion, under Major Davies,
crossed the neighbouring canal and the Wady Tumilat and, in conjunction
with the 27th Battalion, engaged in a tactical exercise in which ball
ammunition was used. The enemy was represented by tiles suitably
arranged in the desert to the south.

Shortly after its arrival at Tel-el-Kebir the Battalion was notified
that volunteers were required for a new unit--the Imperial Camel
Corps--which was to be formed for operations in the desert. A number of
names were given in, and a few days later Lieuts. T. D. Graham, H. R.
Denson, and J. F. Quilty, with a goodly party of men, took train to
Abbasia to report to the I.C.C. Depot. Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant
R. G. Sexty was promoted to fill the vacancy caused by Lieut. Graham's
transfer.

Inquiries in regard to reinforcements revealed that several hundred men,
intended for the 28th, were in Zeitun Camp, where they were being
trained on a system intended to fit them to take their place in the
ranks of the parent unit. Sir Archibald Murray had promised that these
should be sent to join the Battalion. On the 19th January 281 men
arrived. This number included 53 sick and wounded returned to duty.

The 27th January brought the news that Colonel Paton, for his services
d