roximity to Suez, more
probably because it was the largest and most strongly-fortified camp in the
vicinity. Suez itself was attacked many times, as might have been expected,
both on account of its immense oil-tanks and its position as the southern
entrance to the Canal. Curiously enough, Turkish aircraft never troubled us
much at Ayun Musa, though of course there was the usual "wind-up."

As a start we were ordered to convert our eighteen pounders into
anti-aircraft guns. This meant digging pits with a weird kind of platform
in the middle; this was for the reception of the gun-wheels alone. The
trail was thus left free, which enabled the gun to be tilted sufficiently
for high-angle fire. We never did fire at any aircraft from these pits;
they looked very nice, however.

Nor did this finish the business. About this time the word "camouflage"
appeared in the East and curiously enough, synchronising with its arrival,
the mandate went forth that our tents were to be camouflaged. Now the army
is a very wonderful place for teaching one to make bricks without straw,
but if the other materials are lacking----?

Matters were at a deadlock till a bright lad suggested that there might be
a little desert-scrub about if we looked for it. He was quite right; there
was a little, a very little. About one bush to the half-mile was the
average, and usually under a boulder at that. Every morning we rode forth
and scoured the desert for that elusive scrub. As we had, by the process
known in the army as "wangling," acquired sufficient tents and marquees for
a battalion, there was a large quantity to find. Ultimately, after weeks
of searching, we obtained enough, and to stimulate keenness, a prize was
then offered for the best camouflaged tent. The winners' was really a very
beautiful affair, but apparently the honour--or the scrub--was too much for
the tent, for it collapsed during the night.

Shortly after this we had a further insight into the infinite possibilities
of the desert. For a fortnight it had been intolerably hot, and rarely was
the noon temperature below 120 deg. in the shade. No work was done between the
hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., except at midday when the horses were watered
and fed; and we loathed the whistle that summoned us from our tents into
the blinding sunlight to perform this duty, necessary though we knew it to
be. We literally prayed for the night and the cool breeze from the sea. The
Mountain of Deliverance w