Friday 28 Dec 1894 - 23 Jan 1895
Usual barracks routine.
Thursday 24th January 1895
Got up at 5.30 and on parade at seven. Said goodbye to my old chums and marched off the band playing us down to the canal bridge and then left as we marched on to the Government siding. We then caught the train to Southampton Dock. We embarked on board the Diluara about eleven, dinner at one. Left here about four, passed the Needles and then felt sick. Was feeling bad and got into a hammock and somehow passed through the night.
Friday, 25th January
Got up at seven and was put on standing pumps. Laid down on deck, too bad to do much, turned in below about six and heard the anchor let go outside Queenstown harbour.
Saturday 26th January
Got up at five, we were being towed into the harbour. The town is built on a hill, one road above the other. Arrived in dock about six and there was a lot of Irish hawkers around. About 15 hundred different drafts left here about three to the strains of "Should old acquaintance" from a band on board the Warspite. Did some pumping about five, turned in about six a little better of my sickness.
Sunday, 27th January
Sailing through Bay of Biscay. Felt sea sick through shifts of pumping.
Monday, 28th January
Got up at five, sighted lighthouse off Cape Finnestair on north coast of Spain. Pumping in shifts.
Tuesday 29th January
Passed Cape St Vincent, view of Portugal. Still pumping. Algiers seen on the African side when dark fell.
Monday 30th Jan – 4th February
Usual pumping shifts. Saw the Alexander lighthouse on the horizon on the 4th and then went into Port Said. We all went below because they were coaling.
Tuesday, 5th February
Sailed down Suez Canal. Between pumping, I saw lots of Arabs on both sides of the canal.Saw some native soldiers on camels. Boat kept sticking in the mud.
Wednesday, 6th February
Got up at five, we were at the end of the canal and in the Gulf. Have lost my watch and chain. Saw the wilderness where the Isralites wandered for 30 years.
Thursday, 7th February
More pumping routine. The meat at dinner was "rather queer".
Friday, 8th February
Saw some flying fish. Very hot today.
Saturday, 9th February
Pumping routine. Passed Perin Rock and rocks called Hells Gates, of volcanic eruption.
Saturday, 10th February
Passed Aden today and are now in the Indian Ocean. Pumping again.
Monday 11th February – 15th February
Pumping routine continues. Food quite bad, but we have concerts in the evenings.
Saturday, 16th February
Pumping again, Bombay in sight. Some large gunboats in the harbour. General confusion as we entered – some Arabs trying to get spirits aboard and the river police chasing after them and taking the spirits away. Disembarked and got on a train, six to a compartment. Saw bits of Bombay as the train pulled off – they were grand.
Monday 18th February
Arrive at Dooloia and was marched of to our tents. Natives swarming all over the place. Fell in on parade.
Tuesday 19th February
After barracks routine went for a stroll to the native bazaar.
Wednesday, 20th February
Usual barracks routine. Marched to station at four, left Deoilie and passed through some very good cultivated land. Train stopped at different stations during night.
Thursday 21st February
Arrived at Khandia at 7. Had breakfast and lunch and train started off again.
Friday 22nd February
Arrived at Hoshang at 7. Marched to breakfast and driven then back to station
and train again.The scenery was grand, we went over mountains and over river and dales.
23rd February Friday
Got to camp siding of
Jain and put in tents and usual barracks routine , then to the train
Again.
24th February , stopped at Aligarh.
Monday, 25th February
Arrived Umballa and went to rest in bungalows close to the line.
Tuesday, 26th February, 27th February
Back on train, which stopped at Lahore for one hour then arrived at Rewal Pindi the next day about 1 pm. Met by the band which escorted us to camp.
Friday March 1st
Issued with khaki and with white suites, then usual barracks routine.
Saturday, 2nd March
Issued with more uniform and now helmets.
Sunday 3rd March – 9th March
Usual routine with visits to the bazaar.
Sunday 10th March
Church parade
Monday 11th March – 15th March
Usual barracks routine.
Saturday 16th March
Battalion field day. Usual routine.
Sunday, 17th March
Church parade, then we went for a walk in the city
Monday 18th March – usual barracks drill.
Tuesday, 19th March
Fell in parade in review order with the Gordons, KOSB, Bengal Infantry in line. Behind was the Dragons, mounted battalions royal and field artillery, the Punjab Cavalry We saluted the General and then marched round and back in review order.
Wednesday, 20th March – 24th March
Usual barracks routine.
Monday, 25th March
Physical drill with the band. The Major came round and spoke to some of us. He asked me my age and I said 22, and the Colonel who was with him said I did not look it. The Instructor then punched my arm and said that I wanted some strong work. Yes I said to myself but I want a little more than 8d a day when I do this strong work.
Tuesday, 26th March – 31st March
Usual barracks routine.
Monday 1st April – 6th April
Usual barracks routine.
Sunday, 7th March
Breakfast at 8. News fron the front is that the first and second brigades have forced a pass with 9 killed and 58 casualties, which includes natives.
Monday, 8th and 9th March.
Usual barracks routine.
Wednesday 10th March
Route march (12 miles) around Rawal Pindi. Very hot.
Thursday, 11th March
Extra parade, Adjutant found fault with my trousers, parade again was the order. Then ordered to pack our spare kit which we leave behind. Took our swords to be sharpened. Tacked our active service tickets on our jackets. Received one waterproof sheet and surgical pack for the field. District orders say the reserve brigade (us) are to be mobilized at once and proceed by train to Nowshera and march from there to Horli Murdin.
Friday 12th March
Did my extra parade. Passed alright, only Sergt Major picked me out and asked if I had got my right clothes on – shows what sort of a man he is.
Saturday, 13th – 21st April
Parades inspections school and routine work.
Sunday, 28th April
On pass. Went for a walk in the city gardens, they were pretty.
Monday 39th –May 13th
Manouvres and routine work and school.
Tuesday, 14th – 15th May
Night guard duty.
Thursday 16h May – 25th May
Queens birthday parade. Took part in practices and firing salute.
Sunday 26th May – 1st June
Usual barracks routine.
Sunday 2nd June
Warned for Murray Hills. Packed up the hut.
Monday 3rd June
In evening packed up a lot of stuff out of quartermasters stores and loaded into bullock carts and went down to Church lines and unloaded. Got back at 9.30.
Tiesday 4th June
Packed up everything belonging to the company then marched up across the parade and into Church lines. Turned in there.
Wednesday 5th June
Fell in at 5 pm drawed tents and packed them on bullock transport and our kits. Sslept till 12 then in full service order marched off on to the Murray road under command of Major Northcott. Road very dusty.
Thursday 6th June
Arrived at place called Bracho. Pitched tent and lay down. Struck tents at 9, then marched off again, up and down hills by side of steep ravines.
Friday, 7th June
Got to camp about 8 at place called Treet. Slept again. Marched again at night always going uphill.
Saturday, 8th June
Pitched tents and had breakfast. Marched again at night on the Kashmire road, very narrow and bad, to Gharrial.
Sunday 9th June
Got some native coolies to carry our goods up to the bungalows. Unpacked.
Monday 10th June – 19th June
Usual barracks routine.
Thursday 20th June
Did some prize firing. I made a total of 17 points.
Friday 21st June – 24th June
Barracks routine. Bought a book called Pictorial Album . Did a route march on 24th went for pay at 2 but the Colour Sergt was in a bit of a temper and told us to whistle for it until tomorrow.
Tuesday 25 – 30th June
Usual routine. On a walk on 30th saw some officers wives beisng carried to church in jampans – a kind of cradle carried by 4 natives. Scenery very pretty.
Monday, 1st July
Skirmishing around hills for practice.
Tuesday 2nd July – 12th July.
Usual routine, plenty of gardening at moment. Helping to look after an enteric patient on guard duty.
Saturday 13th – 30th July
Hospital orderly on night duty, coming off at 8 am.
Thursday, August 1st – 11th
Still on hospital orderly duty.
Monday 12th August – 18th August
Usual barracks routine and drill.
Monday 19th August
On parade at six. Went off on a march along the race course and then up to Topia and into new Kashmire road, back to race course then over the other side of the hill. We then had to climb up the Kadds – it was a stiff climb and I was about done up. Got back to barracks at 12.30.
Tuesday, 20th August
Military exercises during morning. Went to a gaff given by the civilians and company. The sketches were very good.
Wednesday 21st August
Did second class certificate exam.
Thursday 22 – 30th August
Usual routine. The 26th was a sports day. Lots of guard duty.
Sunday 1st Sept – 8th September
Usual routine.
Monday 9th September
Marched off by the race course and then on to
Sunny Bank and on to A Tent, over first company ground. It was splendid walking downhill. Pitched tents at 2. On guard at midnight.
Tuesday 10th September
Came on to rain so turned in. We later struck the tents in the wet and packed up and started off. The rain stopped and the heat came on at about 11. I was done up and so were a good few others. The Colonel sent some hospital tongas for us and we came along after 5. My feet were quite raw.
Wednesday 11th – 19th September
Usual routine and route marches.
Friday 21st September
Parade with the "garden party" that is the men who have made bad scores in musketry at various distances.
Saturday, 21st – 30 Sept – 1st October – 31st – 1st Nov – 3rd.
Usual routine, the detachment from the Hills returned on the 3rd November.
Monday 4th November
Field day with other troops from the Pindi garrison. Manoeuvres around the area.
Tuesday, 5th November
Route marching.
Wednesday 6th November – 8th Nov.
More manoeuvres.
Saturday, 9th November –21st
Route marching and outpost duty at a range of hills about a mile from barracks.
22nd November – 30th November
Still on military training
Sunday 1st December – 7th.
Still on military training
Monday 8th December, 9th Dec
Passed out on military training.
Tuesday 10th December
Up on report for leaving camp for breakfast. Got a "ticking off".
11th December – 14th December
Did a course of Indian cooking