by
Ernest Whitaker
Pte E Whitaker No 4682220
1st Battn KOYLI
India
Pte E Whitaker No 4682220
1st Battn KOYLI
NEF Mesopotamia
Pte E Whitaker No 80215
D Cop 13 Platoon
1st KOYLI
White Barracks Quetta
NWF India
Pte E Whitaker No 80215
D Cop 13 Platoon
1st KOYLI
Wellesby Barracks
Rhow India
July 18th 1919
We entrained at Sheffield station 1.30 pm for Liverpool docks got on
the boat after tea the same day and had a night on the ship and we set
sail the next day July 19th it was peace day and we were bound for
India. What a time we had on the boat the first week all sea sick and
felt like throwing ourselves over. Well we’ve passed some big places on
our way. Bay of Biscay it was a rough place that and then came
Gibraltar with the big rock and then Malta some place and then we came
to Ports-Said with big white buildings what a place it looked.
We sailed down the Suez Canal and stopped there for an hour or two. It
was very hot as we got further on and on August 1st we entered the red
sea and [local people] were trying to sell us all sorts of things and
they were diving under the boat for pennies and the 1st of August is
called Minden Day in the KOYLI We had a good time to say we were on
boat. So we sailed through the Gulf of Aden into the Arabian Sea it was
grand and we had a bath on the boat every morning at 6 and we had a
grand voyage all way. I fell down the steps three or 4 times with the
dinners what a time learning to be a sailor. Well we landed in India at
a place called Bombay it was about 7 o'clock at morning so we got off
the boat and helped to unload the things and had a bit of breakfast and
we had finished with the sea for a bit.
On HT Titan
Well we got on the train just off the docks and we were in two days and
we stopped at a place called Rhow. We had about two miles to walk and
came to a place called Wellesley Barracks.
November 25th 1919
Tuesday we left Rhow about 6 o’clock at night and we marched down to
the station we had to stop there all night and then the next day we did
not go we weren’t on a route march till dinner, Had rest all afternoon
had tea and just before we went away we had supper and just after we
went and **** to. We stopped at a place called Rhandwa for an hour or
two then we set off again and the next place was Bombay. So we got out
of the train and had breakfast on the station. After that we had to get
ready for an inspection and after that we were put on the boat in the
Alexandra docks on the SS Barala. It was a mail boat and clean. It took
us 2 days to go to another place called Karachi so we got off and
unloaded again and put it on the train and then we got on and set off
again on our journey. What a time.
We stopped at a place called Quetta it did look a fine place. Well we
got out of the train and had about 4 miles to walk to our place called
White Barracks. Well the same night we had to stand to as the MGC
Magazine [Machine Gun Corps (ammunition store)] had caught fire. We
were up an hour in the middle of the night just as we’d got out of bed
no shoes on we did look fine lads.
Well we had a few weeks there and had to leave. We left Quetta on Sept 1st full pack and arrived at Karachi .
Sept 2nd 1920
We left the train at Karachi and got on another boat bound for
Mesopotamia on the SS Chakdina. We were on there 6 days and had a
rotten time.
Well we disembarked at a place called Basra Sept 8th and got into a
train and stopped at a place called M/Nakina for 10 days then we set
off again Sept 18th for Nasiriyah . It was a rotten place not much
there only sand and most of the boys went down bad. We stopped there 12
days and went again this time it was fighting orders and that was bad
for us.
Oct 1st we marched 9 miles and rested all night up to the knees in sand.
Oct 2nd we marched 10 miles and was on out post duty. I was dead beat that day it was very hot.
Oct 3rd we marched 10 miles and when we put our tents up we fell asleep with being tired and foot sore.
Oct 4th we set off again on the march and went 11 miles this time. I
fell out and they took rifle and arms off me and left me laid in the
sand with my tongue out of my mouth wanting water. I had some in my
bottle so I supped it and it made me want more but I managed to catch
them up and they camped there and I fell again. I thought I was dying.
Oct 5th we set off again and marched 6 miles this time. Was a bit better that day and we were getting closer to the Arabs.
Oct 6th we marched 5 miles and got up to the enemy
. We acted as supports to the Ghurkhas and Sikhs and we captured Kidder and a train which the Arabs and captured and looted.
Oct 7th we went out looting and burning villages outside Kidder and
further out we found the Green fly and all the men on it had been
murdered by the Arabs.
Oct 8th and 9th we were on out post duty at Kidder. It was a rum job out there the Arabs had gone.
Oct 10th marched 8 miles this time and camped in a place could not sleep for sand flies we were walking about all night.
Oct 11th we marched 4 miles, a bit shorter
Oct 13th 1920 we went into action we went about 2/7 miles and when we
were about a thousand yards from Samawah Wood the Arabs opened fire on
us and we extended and advanced to within 500 yards of the Arabs. In 50
yard rushes we had one man killed at my side in our platoon. We were
ordered to stop as the 1/11 Ghurkhas were on our flank and they
advanced through the wood and drove the Arabs out except them what got
killed. They lost heavy and we still kept on for a bit and then stopped
again. Our aeroplanes came over and dropped bombs on their town, a big
place and they all came out of the town A&C boys covered out
retirement until we got back and camped there.
Our losses was 4 killed 17 wounded. Ghurkhas 50 casualties and the Arabs estimated at 2,000 what a war.
Oct 14th My birthday today. We marched into the town of Samawah built
in the old clay houses. We went looting in all the places and got some
prisoners what a sight they were.
Oct 15th stopped in the town and were on out post duty all the time we were there.
Oct 16th we were in the same place.
Oct 17th in the same place.
Oct 18th we marched out of the town and got relieved for the night.
Oct 19th crossed the river and camped there all that night.
Oct 20th we went out reconnoitering [reconnoitering] to Iman Abdullah returned back to camp again.
Oct 21st still in camp rest
Oct 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th still in camp and doing out post duty in turns.
Oct 27th & 28th went out burning villages and we fought a rear
guard action both days and there was heavy rifle fire. Some men killed
and some wounded very badly.
Oct 29th & 30th went out again burning villages. We went about 10 miles from Samawah not much firing this time.
Oct 31st stopped in camp.
Nov 1st to 10th still in camp.
Nov 11th we marched 5 miles to Iman Abdullah and camped again one man
in A coy [?] killed and the Sikhs got in action made a bayonet charge
and took a bridge off the Arabs they had burnt it all down. Our losses
was small this time.
Nov 12th we waded across the river and was covering party to Sikhs
while they were wiring there was a bit of firing going on at the time.
Nov 13th, 14th, 15th 16th we were still in camp.
Nov 17th went out looting villages and then burning them down and came back to camp.
Nov 18th , 19th up to 29th we were still in camp resting for a day or two.
Nov 30th we crossed the river again and the railway and camped again for the night.
Dec 1st marched 3 miles up the railway and stopped at a place called Wawizah .
Dec 2nd & 3rd in the same place.
Dec 4th marched 4 miles to Juttah and camped again.
Dec 5th in camp again.
Dec 6th marched 5 miles to a place called Rumaithia and camped there but it was cold at night but red hot in day time.
Dec 7th, 8th, 9th, & 10th still in camp.
Dec11th we marched 13 miles in full pack and camped there for the
night. Our platoon was on outpost duty and we were dead beat and our
feet was sore big blisters on them.
Dec 12th marched 10 miles to Iman Hamz/ya and met the R B and escort.
Dec 13th camped at Iman Hamz/ya and I was on guard that night not much sleep.
Dec 14th marched another 9 miles what a life.
Dec 15th on the march again for another 9 miles and arrived at a place
called Dwianiyah some old Turkish barracks more like pig sties.
Dec 16th up to 20th we were in Barracks having inspections and P.T. instead of rest.
Dec 21st had us out again on the march for 15 miles in fighting order
this time and when we got there was on guard for the night very cold.
Dec 22nd we fell in at half past 8 and pulled down our tents and packed
the AT carts and set off again this time 6 miles. My feet was sore when
we camped by the side of the river and 25 out of our Coy [?] went
across the river to the village to try and get the rifles off them bus
[?].
Dec 23rd we set off again this time back and we were rear guard and as
we went back all them who did not hand their rifles in to the Arab
Levies [?] we burnt their places down and we camped later on we went 6
miles that time with full pack.
Dec 24th we set off again for Diwanigh 15 miles away this time fighting
order keep changing. We were all tired but had to stick it or get left
and it was Christmas Eve. When we got back did not no what to do with
ourselves. They had got us some dinner and then they sold us a bottle
of beer a man 1 rupees 2***** and then they paid us out at half past 5
we had tea and was still tired after that big march so I supped my beer
and got in bed and was soon fast asleep so that was Christmas Eve not
very nice.
Dec 25th was Christmas Day. Well we had a good breakfast and then after
that a nice big dinner and a bottle of beer a man from the battn and
after that I had 4 more bottles of this asker beer in the afternoon and
was drunk. Got woke up for tea had 4 eggs and half a loaf not bad and
about 7 o’clock we all had a good rum ration and allowed two more
bottles of beer. No shops there so we bought beer with it we were all
having a merry time when our platoon Sagt bought us two bottles of
whiskey in. You ought to have seen us nice lads. I was carried to bed
by my pal so that ended our good Christmas Day.
Dec 26th I was waiting man on guard and glad to as I had a very bad head, And I got no mail for 4 weeks………..
Dec 27th we had to clean up all our things for inspection and the same
day I went and washed two shirts and two pairs of pants and socks.
Dec 28th we were still in Dwanigh
Dec 29th & 30th still in camp and cleaning up a bit
Dec 31st was New Years Eve. I had a bottle of beer and went straight to bed at 9 o’clock did not want much this time
Jan1st New Years Day we could not get any beer so you see I started the New Year in style.
Jan 2nd the CC had us all out for a big inspection.
Jan 3rd we were getting ready for a big show and it rained so hard we did not have it.
Jan 4th we had the show this time and I was in the L gun team. It was a
fine turn out but C Corp beat us. We had two men too many so lost.
Jan 5th still in camp.
Jan 6th went on parade till 11 o’clock and then finished for the day and at seven we had a rum ration.
Jan 7th went on CC parade and went a route march about 6 miles we were
left flank guard. Came back had dinner and after that had rifle
inspection and feet then at 5 o’clock we went on outpost and it rained
all night.
Jan 8th still in camp and was orderly man.
Jan 9th well the two years men left Dwaniyah where the Batt was
stationed and set off on the march again 9 miles full pack camped all
night.
Jan 10th set off again and marched 9 miles to the train what a relief
[?] for us. We went from Iman Hamyah at half past 5 in the afternoon
and the same night we stopped at Rumathah and I was on guard by the
train.
Jan 11th set off again about 8 o’clock and then stopped at Samawah
station. Off again and stopped at Kidder half an hour and then off
again till we came to a big junction and stopped there all night.
Jan 17th we set off again from the junction went a few miles then stopped again for the night.
Jan 18th we went again and stopped at a place called M/Nakina. Got out
of the train and went to the British Base Depot and they gave us some
hot tea and put us in tents and we got our beds down and was ready for
a good sleep.
Jan 14th still at the base.
Jan 15th we had a rifle inspection and finished for the day.
Jan 16th I was on a funeral party at Makina. One of the staff Sgt got
murdered and thrown into the river. We did not get to no who did it.
Jan 17th we had another rifle inspection and in the afternoon we got
paid out 30 rupees and went down to Askar and had a good supper.
Jan 18th still at the base.
Jan 19th we had another days rest and I wrote two letters in the YMCA.
Jan 20th we had another rifle inspection bus.
Jan 21st still at base doing nothing we were waiting for a boat.
Jan 22nd still at the base.
Jan 23rd still at the base.
Jan 24th cleaning up for inspection.
Jan 25th 27th 28th still at base
Jan 28th ready for home. We got up at half past 5had breakfast and
marched off to the docks and got on the boat called SS Barala at 10
o’clock. We set sail at 1 o’clock and sailed down the Tigress into the
Persian Gulf.
Jan 29th still in the gulf.
Jan 30th still in the gulf
Jan 31st still in the gulf. We had a concert on deck very good three ladies present.
Feb 1st out of the gulf into the Arabian Sea it was very rough. I had
breakfast and went on top deck and let it come up again. At 4 o’clock I
went on ship guard.
Feb 2nd it was very calm and getting hot we came off guard at 4 o’clock.
Feb 3rd still on the boat resting.
Feb 4th landed at Bombay about 9 o’clock got off the boat and had to
wait for a train so we had a walk round very nice place Bombay. Came
back got on the train and set off at half past 9.
Jan 6th we stopped at a place called Deolale [?] a big camp. We got beds out of stores and was soon in them.
Feb 6th 7th 8th still in camp.
Feb 9th we set off from Deolale [?] about half past 10 at night and got in Bombay three next morning.
Feb 10th we set sail from Alexandra docks Bombay on the HMS Brandenburg what a boat an old German one.
Feb 22nd arrived at Port Said set off again on the same morning and glad to.
Feb 23rd very rough weather.
Feb24th same
Feb 25th a bit calmer.
Feb 26th we passed Malta
Mar 2nd we passed Gibraltar
Mar 3rd we passed the Bay of Biscay it was very calm and getting very
cold for us as we were getting nearer home we soon felt it.
Mar 4th and 5th getting nearer.
Mar 6th we got to Old England landed at Southampton docks about 12
o’clock in the morning. We got off the boat and stopped there till next
day and then got on the train and went to Farnborough Aldershot into
huto [?]
Mar 8th 9th and 10th up to the 16th we were still in camp.
Mar 16th we left Farnborough about 3 o’clock in the afternoon arrived
London 20 past 4 did not stop long there. Changed trains and left
London 5 o’clock for Sheffield.
So that finished our big journey over the sea and land to good Old Blighty once more.
This concludes the transcription of the main part of the diary.
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