Unit War Diary - 22 May 1916 - some difficult characters

Captain R. Dyott replaced Athol as the Officer Commanding the 2nd Camel Company, ICC, on 19 May 1916. It appears that a military unit of this size required a Captain rather than a Lieutenant in command. Athol, a Lieutenant, was only 21 years of age in May 1916.

Capt Dyott wrote a detailed report to the ICC commander on 22 May 1916 and his reports can be found in the Australian War Memorial's unit diary. Soon after arriving, Capt Dyott notes:

'...things are running as smoothly as one could expect under the circumstances. Lieut Adams was doing his best to cope with a difficult situation. There is a certain amount of personal feeling among the officers due to his being, I should imagine, one of the youngest of the section officers, and he is lacking a really efficient sergeant major.'

Reference: Australian War Memorial unit diary:  https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1014812/
Title: AWM4 11/11/1 PART 1 - January - August 1916 at Page: 31.

I was wondering what Capt Dyott meant by 'under the circumstances'. The Unit War Diary, in an entry written by Capt Dyott on 3 June 1916, gives the reader an appreciation:

'I have had several bad cases of disobedience, obscene language and even violence to N.C.Os this week. I have one court martial pending, and have applied for another. At the General's request I have forwarded to him a list of men who cannot be trusted to carry out patrol work without breaking out into ... He has promised me to do his best to have them removed to their units. Our Imperial Corps should not possess such men as these. They do incalculable harm by their treatment of the natives.'

Reference as above at p.51.

Letter - 22 May 1916 - more parcels and off on another patrol

Athol writes home to mother. More parcels arrive and a batch of socks is distributed amongst the men.

Sollum
22-5-16

Dear Mater,

I sent you a P.C. of our Company about 3 days ago. It's not very good. I got back last Wednesday evening. Did about 120 miles and saw nothing. Had a look at several wells and found good water in several. We have a Capt here now*. Malesh.

I'm off on patrol again next Sunday, for another five days.

The weather has been A1 lately though a bit windy. I'm in the water as much as possible and am getting on at diving. Tweedie the Intelligence Officer here is A1 and I'm getting points from him. Henley M.P. was here while I was away and brought the men more gifts. Also I had a bundle of socks from you and gave them out to the men. Also 4 'Australasians' for which many thanks. The mail is going out today, an unexpected one so I'm making this ......, though there is really nothing to tell. 

Love to Puff and Pater,

Yours lovingly,

Athol G Adams

*    The Captain would have been Capt Dyott who was sent to take over command from Athol as Athol was not senior enough (having just turned 21 years of age) nor did he have sufficient rank for this leadership position.

Post cards - 20 May 1916 - photos of the 2nd Camel Company on parade

Athol sends his mother two post cards enclosed in an envelope. They depict the 2nd Camel Company, ICC, in three sections on parade. Athol was the officer commanding the 2nd Camel Company.

Perhaps you can make out a couple of the white 'bell tents' in the background behind the lead camel. There are also a few bushes near the tents - but apart from that Sollum really was a moonscape.

Athol notes 'This shows three sections on Parade'.
He appears on the farthest right as is noted in the postcard's caption.

Athol notes 'Three sections on parade'. However, Athol is not in the photograph.

Unit War Diary entry - 11 May 1916

This is the transcript of the report written to the Commandant Imperial Camel Corps by Athol on 11 May 1916.

Reference attached the patrols now operating from here consist of 1 officer and 1 section consisting of from 20 to 25 rifles. Distance covered from 100 to 120 miles.Patrols leave here about 9am and return on the evening of the 5^th day, the next patrol leaving the following morning. Patrols have instructions to search all country covered for traces and tracks of enemy’s movements both of men and stores. To prevent any caravans passing from E to W from W to E, N to S and S to N. This latter is rendered difficult owing to proximity of Italian border. All arms and munitions are to be taken and brought in. All information possible to be collected requiring caravan routes, locality and depth of wells, the conditions of water or general condition of country to be reported on. Attached herewith rough sketch (not attached).
 Sollum11.5.16 Athol G. Adams LieutOC No2 Company Imperial Camel Corps

Reference: Australian War Memorial: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1014812/

Title:AWM4/11/11/1 PART 1 - January -August 1916 see page 23.

Letter - 9 May 1916

Athol writes home to Mother. More parcels and letters arrive from Melbourne with shirts singlets and socks as well as food, chocolate and tobacco. Still garrisoned in Sollum there is not much to report to his Melbourne relatives and friends so he refers to the events his mother writes about in her letters including the engagement of Athol's brother V. H. Adams. (I do not know the young lady's name).

Sollum
9.5.16

Dear Mater,

Three more letters 41.42.46 and one parcel of clothing with silk shirt, parcel from Webbs with cigarette... and glasses, two tines of food from Fletcher Chester, and one tin of chocolate from Webbs London to thank you for this mail.

The leather watch holder I'm sure I acknowledged months ago. You know you don't want to take too much notice of what the returned heros say about one. A very large percentage of them are plain rotters simply on the make. If you see Jimmy Haig remember me to him. He's a good boy. Also the two Evans boys.

If you see any of the Knights remember me to them and tell them I was sorry to hear about Mrs Falkiner.

I think I have received nearly all the parcels you have sent. I know I have had over 15 tins of food and the two Xmas cases. Only one of perhaps two parcels were opened by the Battalion and I told one of the chaps that he could do so if he would send me anything special such as the presents you put in. That was Paddy Burke of MGS.

I have had all your letters except 43 up to 46, so I'm really very fortunate.

The silk shirts and singlets are A1 especially as the neck is alright now on the singlets.

I've had a pair of 'Pathan' sandals made by the Indian Battery and I'm getting black as the Bedouins.

Private cables are not allowed from here. I've been intending to write to Jim Borrowman but never have done so. Remember me to him.

Please thank Pater for the periscope. I have also received an 'Australasian' and 'Referee' addressed by you. That is the only paper I have had for a long time. If you come over this way cable me so that I can alter the course of my letters.

I have had a couple of letters from Dave and I'm glad that he has got into something at last. 

Thank Miss Joske for the sox. I gave them to a chap in the Camel Transport Corps. Say I'll be quite wealthy if the ... keep on at that rate. How many shares have I got altogether? I think May gave me some.

There has been an awfully good chap here the last 10 days, Capt Stapleton-Cotton, in charge of the Camel Transport Corps. He is a very wealthy man I believe and has an enormous business lightering, stevedoring and trading all over Africa. We have got on A1. He's going away today, worse luck for us, to take a big job on the War Office.

I'm going out for five days tomorrow and expect to do 120 miles, and not see anything more dangerous than a muzzle loading shot gun. That's all the news this time.

Love to Pater and Puff also to the Mrs H Adams presumptive.

Yours lovingly,

Athol