hod and were
speculating about water; a problem which seemed to be solved by the
arrival of the camels. When it was found that no fantassie was full and
many were empty it required the utmost exertion of a British soldier's
good temper to prevent him from killing some of the Gyppies who had
accompanied them, for it was obvious that they had been selling water to
men who had dropped out of the column. Then we reflected that these poor
devils needed it badly, so it was hard to apportion the blame. We
wondered, nevertheless, why other camels had been detailed to carry on
an occasion like this, flour, fresh meat (once fresh but now unfit for
consumption) and candles, when they might have been better employed
carrying water! Still, we were thankful to have achieved our task and
although we had lost more than seventy men en route, we were proud to
know that we had arrived the strongest battalion, some having left more
than half their effectives on the desert.

The day's work was complete when the battalion had formed an outpost
line well in front of the wood, and had dug short section trenches.
Through the night desultory rifle fire could be heard in front where the
mounted troops were still in touch with the retiring enemy. Next day a
serious conflict took place between the cavalry and the Turkish
rearguard at Oghratina, and rumours were prevalent that we had to
continue the forward movement. We were not sorry, however, when it was
found that we were to remain in Katia. During the succeeding days
hostile aircraft were very busy, and dropped several bombs in the
vicinity of the wood, the 52nd Division, who were north of us, suffering
more severely than ourselves.

Those not on outpost duty took advantage of the rest and made themselves
as comfortable as possible. Stakes sent up by the R.E. were used for
constructing bivouacs, but perhaps the palm trees provided as much
assistance as anything else. Although we had not yet learnt to use the
word "camouflage" we knew its meaning, and whenever we settled down on
the desert we put it into use as a protection against inquisitive
aircraft. At Katia the palm trees gave us all the protection we required
in this way.

CHAPTER II.

Desert Life.

On August 14th the 42nd Division moved back to Romani, a further advance
across the Sinai Desert being deemed inadvisable until the railway and
water pipe, which stopped a few kilometres beyond Romani, had been
pushed further ahe