Service record entry - 6 February 1916 - transfer to Camel Corps

"Seconded for duty with British Camel Corps and appointed to Camel Corps, Serapeum."

Service record

Australian War Memorial ref: P00678.015

According to the AWM caption for this photo, it is thought to show the 'newly formed Australian camel lines of the newly formed Australian Camel Corps'. The camels are tethered to 'lines' of ropes and the saddles are set out behind them.

Unit Diary - 24 January 1916

On 24 January the 5th Battalion was entrained at Tel-el-Kebir at 2am. They were not told of their destination. They took some of their transport unit with them (and Athol would have been in this section of the 5th Battalion).

They arrived at Serapeum at 5am after a 3 hour journey. The first task at the new camp was to mark out tent lines and pitch tents.

It was reported that hostile troops were to the north at Toussoum.

The Battalion was only at Serapeum 5 days as they moved on 29 June to the forward firing line of the 'Canal Zone'.

5th Battalion Unit Diary

The Battle of the Suez Canal

Egypt, 28 January - 4 February 1915

 Map by C E W Bean

Serapeum, where the 5th set up camp in late January, is just north of Suez on this map.