He disembarked in Alexandria and then went by train to Cairo to the camp at Mena in Egypt where he remained until early April, at which time he returned to Alexandria for embarkation to Lemnos and then to Gallipoli where he landed on 25 April He describes in detail the fighting, the casualties, daily life including the food provided.
He was wounded on 29 June and was taken by Hospital Ship to Lemnos, then to Alexandria and on to Heliopolis Hospital where he arrived on 7 July His diary concludes on 28 July when he forwarded it home to his mother. The diary has been written across double pages, where this occurs the transcript has been attached to the second page]. Ward No. From Oct. To Oct. From Received Nov. Ward E. Denoon W. Letters Rcd. Hood, Cpl. Donkin R. If lost or otherwise found Send to Mrs.
Albany 8 a. Colombo 1. Colombo 7 p. Aden 4 p. Aden 6. Port Said 6 a. Port Said 6 p. Alexandria 8 a. Mena Cairo Rly.
Cairo 5. Alexandria Ours worse than before, now on stone floor under stairway where horse dung drops on us. Settling down now "D" Coy. Muster parade full marching order each day. Mail in. Met Corrigan. Wireless on our boat. Armadale left us. A very noticeable feature of the Aus. Troops is that they are all clean shaven. Still sleeping on deck. General Deloye took it in hand. Von Schwartzkoppen plans of new gun. They were plans of the Ducros gun.
France bluffed Germany, kidded them this was their new gun. In German had evolved its 77 gun same type as the Ducros with faster fire. The secret was well kept. It is preferable to carry on corr. C;s Service Cards. Letters censored by O. The name of place or unit not to be written at head of letter. Ward "D" Coy, 1st Batt. Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces. The greatest bit of fun since we have been in Egypt took place in the notorious Wasser. The trouble started through the Red Caps firing on the crowd.
