5th April 1898
After a long interval, I now resume my pen having been sick and also moving up to the hills. The time has gone by very quick, we have done our field firing, also two or three field days on the sand hills at Umballa. We have had out two drafts from England, also one from the first battalion. We are also packing up the officers furniture for shipmen to England. We packed up our heavy baggage and kits and sent them off by road to Solan on Monday, 14th, under a small escort, and the remainder of us, that is B company with A attached, C ompany with D attached, C company with F attached, H company with G attached, also headquarters, left Umballa railway station on Thursday 17th March at 8 p.m., and arrived at Kalka by 11 pm , we then formed up, piled arms, had some supper, then loaded up our light kits in carts and on camels. We left there at 1 am and arrived at the halfway house at 7 am. We had some breakfast and then went on and arrived at D-amapour camp, a distance of 17 miles by 11 am. Reville at 3 am on the 19th , struck canvass and left there at 6 am. We passed Duckshi and Khassula on the way, arrived at the half way house by 8 am for breakfast. Then we arrived at Solan by 11 am, distance of 11 miles. We went into bungalows, wooden ones. This place is on a sand hill and the paths are steep, hardly any trees whatever. Went on quarter guard on the 25th March, came over ill but stuck it. Relieved at 9 am on 26th. Had to go sick for gymnasium, was rejected, having a rupture, measured for a truss and was detained in hospital, having fever on me. Saw the doctor the next morning and got attending hospital .Am still attending hospital.
April 1st – 14th April
Still attending hospital. Received my truss on 14th.
Friday, 15th April
Attending hospital in morning. Paraded at 2 for Court of enquiry on the cause of my rupture held at Officers Mess, President, Lieut Morris. Members Paley and Creed. Evidence taken by Paley from me and two witnesses which I had to find.
Saturday, 16th April –30 April
Usual routine and parades.
Sunday 1st May 1898
Church parade, service was ready by Major Wilkinson on the square.
Monday, 2nd May – Thursday 12th May
Usual routine, parades, rifle practice.
Friday, 13th May, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th May to June 9th
Usual routine, got sick on 16th, with ague, and was in hospital for some time.
Friday 10th June
Attending hospital at 10 am. Paraded at 6 pm for a march out in cleaned fatigue dress. This march is called the invalids march and we have to go out for one mile. Got back at 7 pm, paid out 8 rupees. A man of D company died and was buried this morning.
Saturday 11th June – 7th July
Usual routine, but attending hospital for medicine and check up daily. Lots of musketry practice, daily invalids march out at evening.
Friday, 8th July
Appointed Acting Corporal on the unpaid list, in Captain Harmans troop, or G company..
Saturday, 9th July
Raining hard, no doctors inspection. Appointed answering orderly corporal, got the sick ration indent.
Sunday, 10th July
Church parade at 10 am, dismissed by 11am.
Monday, 11th July
Still raining hard, no parades.
Tuesday 12th July
Warned for picquet, paraded at 9 am, inspected, then took list of duties down to coffee shop and canteen. Lecture on musketry regulations by Captain Harman. Piquet relief at 6 pm, and posted them on canteen, dismissed at 10 pm.
Wednesday, 13th July
Commanding officers parade at 6 am, rifles only as it was still raining. I was answering orderly corporal from 11 am until 1 pm. Paraded at 5 pm for musketry drill, then dismissed.
Thursday 14th July – 31st July
On orderly corporals duties, usual routine, with musketry practices.
Monday 1st August
Commenced a course of recognisance or military sketching, being taken through by Lieut Napier. Three of us on the course, one full and two acting corporals. Worked out some scales and learnt some problems. Paraded at 5 pm for musketry drill.
Tuesday 2nd August – September 23rd.
Continued course, we were sketching all the roads and cantonments around the camp.
Musketry drill in the afternoons, and studying for our exam.
Friday 23rd September
Took my papers and sketches in to the Orderly room at 10 am and was examined by Lieut Creed, passed all correctly.
Saturday 24th September – 12th October
Mountain warfare exercises daily, plus musketry drill. I obtained a musketry certificate.
Thursday 13th October
Left camp at 5 am and arrived at camp Lalroo, 12 miles away, at 9 am.
Saturday, 15th October
Left camp at 5 am and arrived at Umballa (8 miles) by10 am, went under canvass. All the regiment are under canvass and it is very hot and dusty in the day time. Retired at 9.30 pm.
Sunday, 16th October – Church parade.
Monday, 17th October
Paraded 6.30 am, drill order Sgt Majors Parade, dismissed at 7.45 am.
Tuesday, 18th October – 22nd October
Usual routine, musketry drill quartermasters fatigues.
Saturday 22nd October
On rear guard mounted at 7 am, took charge of prisoners and took one to hospital. Posted relief.
Sunday 23rd October,
Got ready to march off by route march to Rawal Pindi.
Abbreviations used during route march
B = Oak bungalow, P O = post office, R S = railway station, T S = telegraph station S = supplies, W = water supply, C = country, D S = dry season, r = rains, B of B = bridge of boats, F = ferry.
Monday 24th October – 1st March
Paraded at 5.30 am, left at 5.45 am for Mofat, distance being 10 miles. Arrived at camp about 9.45 am, road good but dusty, passed over the river Ghuffer, bridged but dry. A small place with an old Serai in the territory of Puttiala, supplies and water plentiful. Country tolerably cultivated, pass by the civil lines and road to Kalka at 2 and crossed the Ghuffer at 7 miles.
2nd March
Left Mofat at 5.30 am, and arrived at Ughana about 10 20 am, distance 11 miles. A small place with an old Serai in the territory of Pulliala, supplies and water plentiful, country as last stage, pass Rajpura RS at 6 miles from here. A metalled road runs to Puttiala, 15 miles and Russoolpore at 10 miles.
Wednesday, 26th – 3rd March
Left Ughama about 5.30 am and arrived at Bara at 10 am, distance 11 miles. Puttiala is 17 miles SW from Ughana. This is a village in Puttiala territory, supplies and water plentiful, country tolerably well cultivated, road as above, Nullas bridged. Passed Julleree at 5 and Madhopier at 8 miles. The town of Sirhind is just N of the camp. On coffee shop duty from5 pm to 7.30 pm.
Thursday, 27th – 4th March
Left Bara at 5.30 am and arrived at Khuma Serai at 9.30 am, distance 10 miles. Passed Ugwalee at 5 miles. PO, RS, TS. Rifle and feet inspected at 11 am.
Friday 28th 5th March
Left Khuma Serai at 5 am and arrived at Dowraka at 10 am, distance 14 miles, S, W, G and R, as above. Passed road to Roopar at Deheroo at 5 and Juspalon at 10 miles cross a large stream.
Saturday 29th- 6th March
Left Dowraka at 4 am and arrived at Ludhiana at 9.30 am, distance 13 miles, small civil station and old cantonment, S, W, C and R. Passed Sanserv at 4 miles, the Feroyepore road which is 76 miles. Had a camp fire sing song at night.
Sunday, 30th October
Marching order parade at 10.30 am
Monday 31st October, - 7th March
Left Ludhuana at 8 am by ferry train and arrived at Philour about 10 am, distance 9 miles. Passed over the river Sutleja, very swift stream.
Tuesday 1st November - - 8th March
Left Philour at 5.30 and arrived at Plugwara about 10 am. Very old town of Rajah of Kuppourtulla, full of temples. Went for a walk in the evening.
Wednesday 2nd November, 9th March
Left Philguaraat 4 am on baggage guard and arrived at Jullundur at 9.30 am, distance 12 miles. The band of the Devonshires which are stationed here playing us in. A large cantonment and civil station. S, W, L, and R.
Thursday, 3rd November, 10th March
Left Jullundur at 4.30 am passing through the city and arrived at Kurlarpur about 10 am, distance 13 miles. A town and cold cantonment. S, W, C and R. Passed Gurra at 1 mile, Koshyarpur at 3 miles and city of Julllendur at 4 miles. This is a residence of the Sikhs high priest., the palace is walled in on all sides and very high.
Friday, 4th November – 11th March
Left Kurtarpur at 4.30 am for Girana arriving about 9 am, Distance 8 miles.
Saturday 5th November, 12th March
Left Girana at 4 am and arrived at Mehtar about 11 am., distance 15 miles.
Sunday 6th November – stopped here all day.
Monday, 7th November, 13th March
Left Mehtar at 5 am and arrived at Buttala at 10 am, distance 10 miles.
Tuesday 8th November, 14th March
Left Buttala at 4.30 am and arrived at Dehra Nanuk about 11am, distance 16 miles.
Wednesday 9th November, 15th March,
Left Dehra Nanuk about 5 am arriving at Dody about 9 am, distance 6 miles. Ravine and ferry crossed in boats.
Thursday, 10th November, 16th March.
Left Dody at 4.30 am and arrived at Dhumtue about 10 am, distance 14 miles.
Friday, 11th November 17th March
Left Dhumtue at 4.30 am and arrived at Phulora about 11am, distance 13 miles. Crossed the Degh about 5 , passed the old bed of the same stream at 6 and Sainewalee at 10 miles.
Saturday, 12th November, 18th March
Left Plulora at 4.30 am and arrived at Stalkote about 10 am, distance 13 miles. A large cantonment and small civil station. Road metalled and bridged. Pass direct road to Sialkote City at Khukhanwallee at 2 miles, Khoga at 4 miles, Chuka Sada at 6 miles and cross the Aik at 9 miles. The river is bridged on the city road which is 1 mile longer to camp. The Sussex and 11th Huzaars stop her. Handed over orderly corporal. Stayed over on theSunday.
Monday, 14 November, 19th March
Left Sialkote at 4.30 am and arrived at Koolowal about 10 am, distance 10 miles. Camp ground on bank of river Aik.
Tuesday, 15th November, 20th March
Left Koolowal about 6 am for Muhutah, distance 4 miles, arriving about 1 pm, was ferried across the water, then had to walk through two lots of water. River difficult, passing over heavy sand on both banks of the river.
Wednesday, 16th November 21st March
Left Muhulah at 4.30 am and arrived at Giyrat about 11 am, distance 12 miles, Gooraluh at 1 mile, Kabrah at 3 miles, road to Gujrat city at 5 miles. Gujrat is famous for the battle fought on 21st January 1849, between the British and the Sikhs, which ended in the overthrow of the Sikh nation.
Thursday, 17th November 22nd March
Left Gujrat at 5 am for Lalla Moor, arriving about 10 am, distance 9 miles., passed road to Dingee, 19 miles and Chillianwala, 26 miles at 1 mile and Deonah at 6 miles.
Friday 18th November, 23rd March,
Left Lallar Moor about 5.30 am and arrived at Kharian about 10 am, distance 9 miles.
Passed Kariah at 1 mile, Theckureea at 2 miles, Chakalee at 3, Panqun at 5, Thundala at 7 miles, Kharian and road to Dingee at 9 miles.
Saturday, 19th November, 24th March
Left Kharian at 5 am for Jelumhatted at Nourunjalow at 8 am for half way house, getting in camp at 10.30am, distance 13 miles. Passed over Jelum bridge three quarters of a mile long.
The band of the 23rd Punjab Infantry played us in. Stayed there all Sunday.
Monday 21st November, 25th March
Left Jhelum about 4.30 am and arrived at Deena about 11 am, distance 12 miles. Passed Sada at 1 mile, Pooteal at 2 miles and Deena at 10 miles then cross the Nullah which is bridged.
Tuesday 22nd November, 26th March
Left Deena at 4.30 am and arrived at Sukawar about 10 am, distance 14 miles. Passed Rawal at 3 miles, Chukea at 6 miles and crossed the Bakrata Nulla bridge at 8 miles. Shortly after the ascent of the Baaakrata Pass begins, an easy gradient on both sides.
Wednesday, 23rd November, 26th March
Left Sukawar at 4.30 am and arrived at Goojur Khan about 10.30 am, distance, 11 miles.
Thursday, 24th November, 28th March
Left Goojur Khun at 5 am and arrived at Mundra about 9.30 am, distance 9 miles. Buried a young acting corporal from the last draft at 5 pm; he went sick at 2.30 am at the last camp.
Friday 25th November, 29th March
Left Mundra at 5.30 am and arrived at Riwat about 10 am, distance 9 miles. There is an old Sikh fort here in good repair.
Saturday, 26th November 30th March
Left Riwat at 5.30 am and arrived at Rawal Pindi about 11.30 am, distance 11 miles. The Somerset Light Infantry band met us and played us in, we went back to the old barracks and I was glad to get in them. The Non Com of the Somersets gave us Non Coms a meat breakfast which was very good. Squared up and got out stores. This finishes the march.
Sunday, 27th November – 14th December
Usual barracks routine, orderly corporal, musketry practice and drill.
Thursday, 15th December – 27th December
Doing drill on the square On guard on Christmas Day and came off on Monday . The battalion kept this day up instead of Sunday, everything went off very quiet.