e worst enemy was the fly. This fattened and multiplied on the
filth which marked the ground the Turk had occupied, and on the unburied
victims of the battle who tainted to nausea the atmosphere breathed by
the garrisons in the elevated positions. Whatever precautions against
them it was possible to take were adopted, but the scarcity of sheet
iron and timber, and the restricted space, rendered these of little
avail. The water supply was not materially affected, as most of this was
Nile water, properly filtered, and brought to the shore in tank barges
by the Navy. But the flies, in such numbers and with such enterprise as
had never before been witnessed by the most travelled bushman, could
not be kept out of the food. Diarrhoea and dysentery quickly affected
the Australians. Little effective relief was at hand. Castor-oil
alleviated it temporarily, and this was consumed in such quantities
that, one war correspondent has said, it threatened to become the
Australians' national drink! Typhoid, and what was described as
paratyphoid, fevers followed these maladies. Later came jaundice in
epidemic form. In addition, rheumatism, pneumonia, and heavy colds, made
their levy.

[Illustration: SERGEANT C. R. FIELD.
The First N.C.O. to gain a Commission in the Field. Afterwards Captain
and Adjutant of 2nd Machine Gun Battalion. Twice mentioned in Despatches.]

So great were the losses from these causes, that in August the Anzac
Corps was evacuating 500 men a day. Early in October the IX. Corps'
return showed over 700 for one day. Also, about this latter date, in
spite of the presence of comparatively fresh troops, the N.Z. and A
Division was being reduced at the rate of 60 per diem--not more than 15
per cent. of which were battle casualties.

[Illustration: REGIMENTAL QUARTERMASTER-SERGEANT R. G. SEXTY.
Afterwards Captain and Transport Officer. Mentioned in Despatches.]

Nor were the troops in a condition to successfully cope with the inroads
of disease. "Worn out with hardship and incessant shell fire, from which
even when in reserve, they were never free,"[N] ill-sustained by a
monotonous diet of food--in part of doubtful quality, and always short
of sleep and of supplies of water necessary to rest the body and keep it
clean; their vitality and powers of resistance to disease were
considerably reduced, and they fell an easy prey to the virulent and
prolific germs.

The army ration consisted of meat, bread, vegetables, and gro