Thursday 1st
Went firing the Stokes Gun this morning. Over the hills & far away. It is a very fine gun without a doubt. Rather windy of it at first. Very hot.
Friday 2nd
The course getting slower now. Went & saw the boys playing tennis. They are having the time of there life here. A bit different to cold???
Saturday 3rd
Nothing doing to day. Quite a long week end. Had a stroll round the town & spent a little time in the Rest Room.
Memo
Quite a nutty Church they have got at Blantyre. Built of brick and by natives I should think. It is very rough but the attempt at architectural beauty is quite good and worthy of note.
Sunday 4th
Strolled over to the Sports Ground and watched Blantyre play 4/1st K.A.R. cricket. Blantyre got whacked. In the afternoon went to the anniversary service in Blantyre Church.
Monday 5th
Spent our Bank holiday working. But not too hard. ½ doz chaps left for colours this morning.
Tuesday 6th
Went firing dummy shells this morning. It makes a long morning of it. Getting fed up again. Awfully windy in the night.
Wednesday 7th
Very cold today. Made a futile protest against doing Stokes gun drill with the niggers. They delight in heaping indignity upon indignity on us N.C.O’s
Thursday 8th
Very cold & windy. Had a stroll round the town and spent an hr in the reading room. After dinner toasted myself before a big roaring fire.
Friday 9th
Another route march. Firing live shell again. Saw Jimmie Stocks. Had a game of football after tea.
Saturday 10th
Another weeks work finished. Heard that we stay here for another week. Would sooner be on the road. Played 4 games of billiards at the Mandala.
Memo
Sent home photos of Blantyre Church. Back & Front view. Florrie Back & Avenue View.
Sunday 11th
Still keeps very cold. Spent a very quiet day. Did not even possess the energy to put my Boots on. Chicken for Dinner.
Monday 12th
No work to day. Before lunch had a stroll round Blantyre to get myself warm. Before dinner a little cricket warmed me up.
Tuesday 13th
Start work again & what a monotonous time it is. Football again after tea.
Wednesday 14th
Another holiday so go and have a game of Billiards before lunch.
Thursday 15th
Still another days coldness. Don’t know what to do to kill time. Watched the tennis players after tea.
Friday 16th
I am afraid I am getting old. The war is still going on & also the years are rolling by. A quiet Birthday not even relieved by work. After dinner visited James & watched the billiards.
Saturday 17th
A stroll down to James & a game of Billiards passed the morning. After tea went & saw the football match between Blantyre & 4/1st K.A.R. Result Draw. Bitter cold.
Sunday 18th
After Breakfast strolled over to Limbe. 12 mile there and back. Partook of lunch & dinner at the 4/1st K.A.R. Returned in the moonlight. Were lucky to get a lift in a motor.
Monday 19th
O.C Fatigue party now. Watched 8 Askari dig a big hole. Tried our luck getting money at the detail camp. May be successful.
Tuesday 20th
Everyone has got the wind up. Von Settow the Will of the Wisp is not far away. What excitement in camp several instructors warned to proceed on coloum. Got some money.
Wednesday 21st
Up at 4 AM ready to proceed on coloum. Some stunt. Entrained at 7 AM. Waited at Limbe until 10 AM and got out at Luchenza about noon. Camped about a mile from the station near the foot of the Mlenge mountain. Great excitement prevails.
Thursday 22nd
Continued our march round the foot of the Mlenge Mountain. Passed through the village of that name & through large plantations (coffee). Marched 18 miles. Camped at 2 PM & a bath or swim revived me wonderfully.
Friday 23rd
A 20 mile motor ride in the early morning was much appreciated. Splendid Country. I & Sgt Hosi were warned to start on Safari. So started at 10.30 Feeling rather seedy. Could not reach our destination. So camped out. Did 16 mile.
Saturday 24th
Off again at 4 AM. Arrived at Lupalu about 8 AM & had breakfast. Mid-day halted for tea. Arrived Chipweri 4 P.M. & found the others here. So our rush is finished. 17 miles.
Memo
On Friday we arrived at Kitchemlaa by motor car. Same day started Safari. On the road the Askaris killed a snake. 51 miles
Sunday 25th
Continued our journey in the rain. After 2 hrs march halted for breakfast which we had in the rain. Arrived in camp at 1 P.M. 14 miles.
Monday 26th
It rained all night & nearly all the morning, but still we continued our journey after breakfast. Reached camp at 2.30 P.M. After dinner got orders to pack & push on again. 14 miles
Tuesday 27th
No sleep as we started again at 10 PM. And what a stunt it was. As we neared camp we all got scared at the sight of hugh fires. Wofagozi bolted. Got into camp at 4 A.M. 12 miles
Wednesday 28th
Could get no sleep. 6 P.M. I go on advanced picquet. At 10 PM. Turn myself in to R Guard? As we are moving back to camp in rear. Marched 14 miles & arrived Nantuti 3 A.M. & turned in. nothing doing today so was thankful for a nights rest.
Thursday 29th
Had a good lay in. About 10.30 A.M. we made another start towards Regoni. Arrived at this camp about 3.30 P.M. A bit different doing the journey by day.
Friday 30th
Made a start at 4 A.M. I was Rear Guard. Arrived Regoni 11 A.M. & joined the Batt. Left at 2.30 PM for Luo River where we camped for the night.
Saturday 31st
Still treking. Made a start at 9 AM. & arrived in camp about 5 PM. Marched about 20 miles.
Memo
Marched about 106 miles this week.
Went firing the Stokes Gun this morning. Over the hills & far away. It is a very fine gun without a doubt. Rather windy of it at first. Very hot.
Friday 2nd
The course getting slower now. Went & saw the boys playing tennis. They are having the time of there life here. A bit different to cold???
Saturday 3rd
Nothing doing to day. Quite a long week end. Had a stroll round the town & spent a little time in the Rest Room.
Memo
Quite a nutty Church they have got at Blantyre. Built of brick and by natives I should think. It is very rough but the attempt at architectural beauty is quite good and worthy of note.
Sunday 4th
Strolled over to the Sports Ground and watched Blantyre play 4/1st K.A.R. cricket. Blantyre got whacked. In the afternoon went to the anniversary service in Blantyre Church.
Monday 5th
Spent our Bank holiday working. But not too hard. ½ doz chaps left for colours this morning.
Tuesday 6th
Went firing dummy shells this morning. It makes a long morning of it. Getting fed up again. Awfully windy in the night.
Wednesday 7th
Very cold today. Made a futile protest against doing Stokes gun drill with the niggers. They delight in heaping indignity upon indignity on us N.C.O’s
Thursday 8th
Very cold & windy. Had a stroll round the town and spent an hr in the reading room. After dinner toasted myself before a big roaring fire.
Friday 9th
Another route march. Firing live shell again. Saw Jimmie Stocks. Had a game of football after tea.
Saturday 10th
Another weeks work finished. Heard that we stay here for another week. Would sooner be on the road. Played 4 games of billiards at the Mandala.
Memo
Sent home photos of Blantyre Church. Back & Front view. Florrie Back & Avenue View.
Sunday 11th
Still keeps very cold. Spent a very quiet day. Did not even possess the energy to put my Boots on. Chicken for Dinner.
Monday 12th
No work to day. Before lunch had a stroll round Blantyre to get myself warm. Before dinner a little cricket warmed me up.
Tuesday 13th
Start work again & what a monotonous time it is. Football again after tea.
Wednesday 14th
Another holiday so go and have a game of Billiards before lunch.
Thursday 15th
Still another days coldness. Don’t know what to do to kill time. Watched the tennis players after tea.
Friday 16th
I am afraid I am getting old. The war is still going on & also the years are rolling by. A quiet Birthday not even relieved by work. After dinner visited James & watched the billiards.
Saturday 17th
A stroll down to James & a game of Billiards passed the morning. After tea went & saw the football match between Blantyre & 4/1st K.A.R. Result Draw. Bitter cold.
Sunday 18th
After Breakfast strolled over to Limbe. 12 mile there and back. Partook of lunch & dinner at the 4/1st K.A.R. Returned in the moonlight. Were lucky to get a lift in a motor.
Monday 19th
O.C Fatigue party now. Watched 8 Askari dig a big hole. Tried our luck getting money at the detail camp. May be successful.
Tuesday 20th
Everyone has got the wind up. Von Settow the Will of the Wisp is not far away. What excitement in camp several instructors warned to proceed on coloum. Got some money.
Wednesday 21st
Up at 4 AM ready to proceed on coloum. Some stunt. Entrained at 7 AM. Waited at Limbe until 10 AM and got out at Luchenza about noon. Camped about a mile from the station near the foot of the Mlenge mountain. Great excitement prevails.
Thursday 22nd
Continued our march round the foot of the Mlenge Mountain. Passed through the village of that name & through large plantations (coffee). Marched 18 miles. Camped at 2 PM & a bath or swim revived me wonderfully.
Friday 23rd
A 20 mile motor ride in the early morning was much appreciated. Splendid Country. I & Sgt Hosi were warned to start on Safari. So started at 10.30 Feeling rather seedy. Could not reach our destination. So camped out. Did 16 mile.
Saturday 24th
Off again at 4 AM. Arrived at Lupalu about 8 AM & had breakfast. Mid-day halted for tea. Arrived Chipweri 4 P.M. & found the others here. So our rush is finished. 17 miles.
Memo
On Friday we arrived at Kitchemlaa by motor car. Same day started Safari. On the road the Askaris killed a snake. 51 miles
Sunday 25th
Continued our journey in the rain. After 2 hrs march halted for breakfast which we had in the rain. Arrived in camp at 1 P.M. 14 miles.
Monday 26th
It rained all night & nearly all the morning, but still we continued our journey after breakfast. Reached camp at 2.30 P.M. After dinner got orders to pack & push on again. 14 miles
Tuesday 27th
No sleep as we started again at 10 PM. And what a stunt it was. As we neared camp we all got scared at the sight of hugh fires. Wofagozi bolted. Got into camp at 4 A.M. 12 miles
Wednesday 28th
Could get no sleep. 6 P.M. I go on advanced picquet. At 10 PM. Turn myself in to R Guard? As we are moving back to camp in rear. Marched 14 miles & arrived Nantuti 3 A.M. & turned in. nothing doing today so was thankful for a nights rest.
Thursday 29th
Had a good lay in. About 10.30 A.M. we made another start towards Regoni. Arrived at this camp about 3.30 P.M. A bit different doing the journey by day.
Friday 30th
Made a start at 4 A.M. I was Rear Guard. Arrived Regoni 11 A.M. & joined the Batt. Left at 2.30 PM for Luo River where we camped for the night.
Saturday 31st
Still treking. Made a start at 9 AM. & arrived in camp about 5 PM. Marched about 20 miles.
Memo
Marched about 106 miles this week.
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