Letter - 1 December 1915 - settling in a Maadi camp

Athol writes home to Mother. He meets up with some of the other expats and servicemen in the area. He starts French lessons with a group of others from Maadi Camp and says he is picking up some Arabic from the locals working around the Camp. They continue with their gardening efforts and he and the vet acquire pet canaries.

Maadi Camp
Cairo
1-12-15

Dear Mater

No letters so far but I've had two lots of chocolate from Webbs. I suppose I'll get a lot in a bunch very soon. I'm sorry I missed last mail but I had to go before a board re some .... for store just when I had got settle down to write and so I only got one or two away.

I had dinner with the Stewarts again last Saturday week. They are at Heliopolis now but came in to Shepheards. Dr Russell from Lockhart was there, also Norman Dale. Our vet was attached to one of the Light Horse Brigades and was here for some time during the first part of the year and so knows a good many people here. He introduced me to a few and also an Italian family at  ...... which is only about 10 mins in the tram from here. They do not speak English as do some of the others. So my French is getting a bit of a polish. Also 4 or 5 of us have French lessons 6 times a week from a Greek lady who lives just outside the camp. We started right from the beginning as some of them knew no French at all but its good practice for me and when we get on a bit it will be alright. We've had 4 lessons so far and she seems pretty good.

I've also met a very nice Greek family in Cairo but they speak fluent English. I think I told you that we have 'walads' or native boys to do odd jobs and water the gardens around our tents. One of our boys (we have two) speaks good English and the other a little and I'm picking up a bit of Arab.

I'm enclosing a photo (I do not have this in my collection) one of the men took one day when I was registering all the natives employed in our lines. The little one in white with his back to the camera is Suliman Labbeh or 'Jack Jones' and the one behind me is Hassaneen. Jack Jones we call the official interpreter and Hassaneen is the Sergeant Walad. Our lines look A.1 now as we have white stones laid round the tents and along the paths, and maize, barley and various native grasses etc between and round the tents. The Vet has a canary and two gold finches and I had two canaries but one got out last night.

It has been quite cold lately but today is alright. I saw a a paper of October 18 today giving the opening of .... Convalescent Hospital. It seems to have been a fine voluntary effort. I can't think of any news.

My love to Aunt Puff and Pater.

Remember me to all enquiring friends

Yours lovingly

Athol.

Unit Diary update - 26 November - snow

On 26 November the 'silent ruse' commenced. Orders were for no firing, no bomb throwing and no periscope rifles during the evening of 26 November. This was a start of a new pattern of engagement which was designed to set the scene for the withdrawal of allied troops from the Dardanelles.

The 2nd Brigade unit diary records the weather on 26 November in the evening as 'very squally'. Light rain began at about 5pm and as the temperature dropped this turned to sleet and later snow. This weather was very cold for our men. The 5th Battalion were 'well covered' - but essentially still camping, the 8th were in partial dug-outs and the 6th and 7th Battalions were only under waterproof sheets and blankets. Trench boots and capes were not yet issued to the men.

AWM image ref: P00046.040

Gallipoli Peninsular - photograph probably taken during the bad weather of 26-30 November 1915

Around 200 British soldiers froze to death at Suvla Bay during this blizzard. Between 30 November and 8 December, over 15,500 men were evacuated from the Gallipoli peninsular due to illness and medical conditions brought on by the terrible weather. At No 3 Australian General Hospital at Lemnos Island many lost feet and toes due to frostbite and gangrene.

In late November Athol was still stationed in the Maadi camp with the 5th Battalion's transport horses. He was not subjected to these dreadful conditions.

Socks - a winter necessity

Meanwhile, on the home front, women and girls were busying themselves supporting their men on the Gallipoli peninsular and in Egypt. Huge amounts of money were raised at events, all sorts of necessities and comforts were hand-crafted, boxed up and sent to the men at the front.

Like many mothers in Melbourne, Athol's mother, Adah Emily Sherwood, was active with the Anzac Buffet, the Red Cross, and the Quamby Club. See this post: http://notmentionedindispatches.blogspot.com.au/p/the-home-front-adah-emily-sherwood.html. Funds were raised, comforts created, collected and sent by these organisations. Adah organised many of these efforts.

In November 1915 the northern hemisphere winter was approaching and the men needed socks, balaclavas and scarves. Thousands of these articles were knitted in Australia, bundled up, and sent in parcels across the globe.  Many of these parcels contained personalised notes.

In particular the men appreciated socks. Many of these socks were knitted to the pattern set out in this little booklet 'The Grey Sock'.

Image reference: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=10108

This handy little booklet was produced from 1914-1918. It sets out the instructions for knitting socks for soldiers during WW1. This particular copy is held at the Power House museum in Sydney is thought to be from the 1914-15 period.

For the Grey Sock booklet and its full knitting instructions see:

http://ww1.sl.nsw.gov.au/stories/woollen-comforts-home

This is an example of a note included with the socks.

Exhibit at the State Library of NSW

Ref: https://curio.artpro.net.au/exhibit/1167/stories?from_collection=2&page=5

This image shows Sydney ladies bundling together socks to be sent to the front. 125,636 pairs were raised in this particular appeal - the 'War Chest Sock Appeal' in 1917. During the course of the war over a million socks were knitted.

Exhibit at the State Library of NSW

http://guides.sl.nsw.gov.au/content.php?pid=489033&sid=4179071

Image titled "War Chest" Sock Appeal, May 1917 : 1 of 3 photos of workers handling goods by G. A. Hills

By late November the Gallipoli peninsular was getting quite cold - particularly cold for Australians not used to snow, sleet and freezing rain. The average nighttime temperature averages at 8°C and in December that would fall to an evening temperature average of 5°C. The wettest month of the year is December in that part of Turkey with an average of 118mm. 

Athol mentions receiving a large parcel of socks from his mother in this letter:

http://notmentionedindispatches.blogspot.com.au/2015/08/letter-24-august-supplies-from-home-and.html

In this delivery, there were enough socks for the entire 'C' company with left overs for other men in 'F' and 'H' companies and more left over to be raffled. They were greatly appreciated and that was in Summer.

Another sock recipient was Albert B. Facey (1894-1982). Perhaps you have read his book 'A Fortunate Life' which was published when he was 86 years of age. He was born in Melbourne but having moved to Western Australian as a child he joined the 1st AIF in Perth as an infantryman in the 11th Battalion.

This Anzac soldier, a veteran of the Gallipoli campaign, won two literary awards for the book which was subsequently turned into a play and a TV mini-series. It remains a popular book to this day. One charming story tells of AB Facey receiving a Red Cross parcel whilst on the Peninsular. In the parcel was a pair of socks with a note from the young lady who knitted the socks. After the war he met the sock-knitter, Evelyn Mary Gibson, and married her.

Another recently published book collates the collection of WW1 letters sent by Thomas Rutledge to his mother in the village of Bungendore, NSW. It too mentions socks.

It is a book, not only about receiving hand-knitted socks (crafted mainly by his sister), but records his experiences and impressions of life at the front.

I came across this elegant portrait last week. It follows the sock theme.

'The sock knitter' by Grace Cossington Smith (1892-1984)

Oil on canvas painting of the artist's sister 'Madge' knitting socks for soldiers in 1915. 

I don't know if Adah Sherwood knitted any socks herself. I think it is likely that she did. She was skilled at handicrafts. I have her sampler book which I understand was created by her in Germany. The following images are photographs of the cover and the 'knitting' page of the sampler.

The cover of the sampler.

The elegant monogram (AES) and a swathe of ribbon work and on the right the embroidered

name of the school 'Moravian School, Neuried, Rhein, 1881' (Adah was 25 at the time).

If anyone has information about this school (spelling only approx) please let me know.

Detail of the monogram.

The sampler page of various knitting patterns.

If you do knit one of these socks please let me know. I'd like a photo so I can add it to this page.

Post card - 24 November 1915

Athol jots a note on a post card wishing Mother a Happy Christmas. Hopefully it traveled from Cairo to Melbourne in time for the holiday.

The post card is sent from the Maadi Camp. Can you make out the stamps 'L.H. Brigade' and 'British Camp Maadi'?. Athol was stationed at Maadi as he was in charge of the Battalion's transport section which was primarily a job concerning the welfare of the Battalion's horses. None of the these horses were taken to the Gallipoli peninsular. The horses remained in the Maadi camp during 1915. Only mules were used as transports on the steep rocky slopes surrounding Anzac cove.

The post card reads:

Maadi
24-11-15
Xmas Greetings
Best of luck
AGA

Unit Diary update - 14 November 1915 - return to Anzac Cove

Whilst Athol is in Maadi Camp outside Cairo, the Second Brigade Headquarters and the signal section, together with the 5th and 6th Battalions, embarked on board HMT 'Abassia' for Anzac on the morning of 14 November.

Arrangements were made for the other half of the 2nd Brigade (the 7th and 8th Battalions) to follow on 15 November on HMT 'Osmanieh'.

The weather was too trough for the troops to be landed on the Gallipoli peninsular so they stopped at Imbros Island for the nights of 14 November and 15 November. Eventually the 5th and 6th Battalions were put ashore at Anzac in the evening of 16 November but the other half of the Brigade (the 7th and 8th Battalions) were returned to Sarpi Camp due to this patch of rough Autumn weather.

Upon arrival at Anzac, the 5th and 6th Battalions were immediately moved up to the Northern No.1 section of trenches known as 'Slit Spur'. Here they relieved the 10th Battalion. While they were moving back into the Anzac trenches the Brigade lost one of their men killed.

The 7th and 8th Battalions eventually made it across to Anzac on 21 November.

2nd Infantry Brigade - unit diary

Letter - 13 November 1915 - Maadi Camp, Egypt

Athol writes home to Mother. The letter is written in pencil and not easy to decipher. The reverse of the envelope says has the return address as 'Officers Mess, Second Brigade Transport, AIF (Australian Imperial Force).' Athol is transferred to the transport section of the 5th Battalion. He is placed in charge of 63 horses and 46 men. He builds a garden with the vet and tries to learn some Arabic.

Maadi Camp

Egypt

13.11.15

Dear Mater,

I have to thank you for Nos 23-25-26 (24 and 22 are some where between here and Anzac I suppose). No parcels have come to light lately though I suppose they will also turn up, if the chaps up above don't stick to them.

At present I am in charge of the Transport Section of the Battalion - 63 horses and 46 men when we are up to strength. The chap who had the job before was sent to Hospital and as I was the only one of our Battalion (5th Battalion) in Alexandria. I was sent out to Mex where the camp then was, about 9 miles from Alexandria to take over. Mex was an awful place the only advantage being sea bathing. When I had been there about five days we were moved here.

Maadi is about 9 miles from Cairo and is a very pretty little place; a kind of garden village, where nearly all the people are Europeans. The camp itself is very dusty. Our tents are pitched on some land which was under peanuts and if we scratch around we can get as many as we like. The Vet and I have been putting in a garden round the office tent today and if we stay here we will soon have a fine garden. Besides our batmen we have a couple of 'Walads' or boys and I'm picking up Arabic fast.

I went in to see Colonel Ryan the other day and he was out here the other morning to see his nag which is quite close to my lines. He said he had written to you. Last night I had dinner with Mrs Stewart, xxx, Mrs and Mr Carse also two Duffy boys both of whom are in the Artillary. The Stewarts have taken a flat at Heliopolis and are going there today. Bob xxx is also here, xxx. He came out here the other day and I took him for a ride.

The Turkish prisoners are quite close to this camp but a pass from the G.O.C is necessary if you want to see them.

I had a letter from Bill (Athol's eldest brother, Arthur Parker Adams) dated Sept 6. I got letters from several people but mostly fairly old ones.

Kathleen Knox is at Shepheards and is looking A.1.

I'm still as fat as butter and don't seem to be able to get it off. I don't know how long I'm going to be in this job but its a nice easy job and I'm in sole charge and so I am able to do things in my own way.

There are four other officers, one to each of the 7th, 6th, 8th and the Vet and we get on pretty well and when we get settled a bit more we will be very comfy indeed.

Love to Pater and anyone I know,

Yours lovingly

Athol

NOTES

This map shows the positions of the Australian and New Zealand camps in Egypt. Before the Gallipoli campaign started most of the Australians were stationed at the Mena Camp west of Cairo. After returning from the peninsula Athol was sent to hospital in Alexandria, then Mex Camp (only a few miles from Alexandria along the coast). By early November 1915 he was camped at the Australian Light Horse base at Maadi east of Cairo. On this map Maadi is spelt 'Meadi'.

Unit Diary update - 11 November 1915 - Kitchener inspects troops on Lemnos

Lord Kitchener visited Lemnos Island on 11 November. An inspection of the troops was arranged and Generals Birdwood and Maxwell were in attendance. The entire 2nd Brigade was present at this inspection (comprised of Battalions 5,6,7, and 8) as well as a portion of the division's Signal company and a portion of the Division's transport company. The complete 1st and 2nd Field Ambulances were also turned out for this inspection.

2nd Inf. Brigade's unit diary

Remembrance Day 2015

"You, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries wipe away your tears;

your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace."

Kemal Ataturk

"We will remember them...."

Hand knitted poppies by AFCR

10 November 1915 - decision to evacuate Allied troops from Gallipoli

Lord Kitchener in the trenches at Gallipoli

British secretary of war Lord Horatio Herbert Kitchener visits the trenches at Gallipoli, in Turkey [Getty Images]

C.E.W. Bean's official war history notes that Lord Kitchener visited Lemnos and the Dardanelles for four days commencing 10 November 1915. He was sent by the Asquith government to assume responsibility for deciding on either evacuation, or retention of the current stalemate, or to continue further assaults against the Turkish forces and what resources would be required for that campaign to be successful.

General Birdwood's advice to Kitchener was that with an additional three to four divisions the Turks could be overcome. However this number of troops and the added support required were not available. The Royal Navy convinced Kitchener that all naval options had already been pursued. An alternative was to assess whether it would be possible to extend the present stalemate through the winter and thereby hold up the Turkish forces and prevent them from being deployed elsewhere.The possible withdrawal of the troops was also explored and the merits of redeployment in another theatre were discussed.

Kitchener spent 13 and 14 November at Anzac Cove and Suvla where he was warmly greeted by the men. He told them that 'The King asked me to tell you how splendidly he thinks you have done - you have done splendidly, ....' He visited Walker's Ridge, Russell's Top, and looked out over towards The Nek. He surveyed Pope's, Quinn's Post and the Lone Pine area. He became convinced that these trenches and positions could be held against the Turks thereby tying down nearly the whole of the Turkish army.

Eventually Kitchener, together with Birdwood and other senior military staff, de Robeck (Royal Navy) and other senior officials agreed that the troops would be evacuated. It was decided that these troops would be more effectively deployed by defending British interests in Egypt by attacking Turkish communications - probably at Ayas, near Alexandretta which was the sole railway line to Palestine and Baghdad.

A key consideration was how to arrange the removal of 80,000 men, 5,000 horses and 200 guns from the peninsular. Bearing in mind the great losses inflicted on our forces during the landing in particular, further large losses of men and equipment during a withdrawal would have made this already failed mission an even greater catastrophe. In mid-October, in a reply to a Kitchener enquiry, Sir Ian Hamilton, Commander-in-chief of the Gallipoli forces, estimated that the loss of troops during a withdrawal may be as high as 50 per cent.  However, Sir Ian was replaced by General Sir Charles Munro on 16 October. Munro would have relied heavily on the senior staff around him including Birdwood at the time of Kitchener's visit in mid-November. Birdwood made the crucial assessment that the Gallipoli troops could be evacuated with fewer losses than was previously estimated. This made the evacuation option more viable.

So whilst Athol was in the Maadi Camp, in command of the 5th Battalion's transport section, the key decision was made to evacuate from Gallipoli. Athol never returned to the peninsular but remained in Egypt for the remainer of his war service.



Follow this link to the AWM full text of CEW Bean's chapter 'Fate of the Expedition', Vol.2, Chapter 22, 'The Story of ANZAC from 4 May, 1915, to the evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula' (11th edition, 1941)': https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1069535/
(particularly: pp.790-792).

Statistics from: Staniforth Smith, 'Australian Campaigns in the Great War', Macmillan, 1919. Particularly pp.40-41.

3 November 1915 - transferred to Maadi Camp, Cairo

A.G. Adams was transferred from Mex Camp to Maadi Camp on 3 November 1915.

AWM service records.

Note:

Maadi is a south-eastern suburb of Cairo, on the east bank of the Nile river.

This excellent map of the Cairo region shows the location of the Maadi camp.

Map reference: rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au

https://rslvwm.s3.amazonaws.com/I/images/16775/photo/zoom_0_CAIRO_map_-_showing__Heliopolis_-_Mean___Abbassia.jpg

You will note on the bottom left of the map the Pyramids are shown and nearby is Mena where the Australians camped before embarking for Gallipoli. Mena camp was the location of the Infantry and Maadi Camp (on the opposite side of the Nile) was the camp for the Light Horse regiments.