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.

7 January 1916 - transferred to Tel-el-Kabir

Athol was transferred from Maadi camp to Tel-el-Kabir where he re-joined the 5th Battalion on 7 January 1916.

Service records

The 2nd Brigade unit diary notes that most of their units arrived in Alexandria from Lemnos on 6 January. The following day they were entrained at Alexandria and arrived Tel-el-Kebir. The Brigade transport were already at Tel-el-Kebir when 2nd Brigade arrived. Athol was attached to the transport unit at this stage and, no doubt, would have been keen to be reunited with his mates.

At this stage the 2nd Brigade was made up of 13 officers and 1279 other ranks. The 5th Battalion was comprised of 2 officers and 404 other ranks. Over the next few days many re-inforcements were added to the 2nd Brigade and some much needed supplies. By the 20 January the 5th Battalion had grown to 24  officers and 987 other ranks. However, there were still insufficient tents with some men creating shelters of their own design using sheeting and blankets.

Australian War Memorial reference: P00851.009

Tel-el-Kebir. Men of the 5th Battalion attending a sports carnival. The AWM suggests they are watching a game of AFL. The carnival was held to commemorate Anzac Day. It is worth noting that this tradition still takes place today with one of the biggest games of the

 AFL season being the match held in the MCG on Anzac Day.

This is the type of bell-tent in which the men lived at the Tel-el-Kabir camp.

Australian War Memorial reference: 1916-04-15. 

This image shows the tent of Lieutenant (Lt) Granado Walter Foreman at the base camp of the 5th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Like Athol, Lt Foreman, transferred to the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) in late 1916. Athol transferred in June 1916.
Lt Foreman was killed in action in France on 14 July 1917.

This map shows the location of Tel-el Kebir, not far from Serapeum which was on the Suez Canal.

In 1915 the Turks were advancing towards the Suez which was, of course, vital for the Allies.