Arrive at Alexandria and on to Abbassia Camp

(My notes up to this point must have been re-written from another notebook into my 1916 diary, which presumably reached me about 17th Jan.)

21.1.16  Reached Alexandria 10 am.  Fatigues unloading ship in afternoon.  Left ship at midnight.Train sitting in harbour.

22.1.16  Left Alexandria in train 12.15 a.m.  Reached Abbassia Stn., Cairo 6 am.  Put in bamboo huts in Abbassia camp (Polygon Camp),80men per hut.

23.1.16 (Sun)  Church parade 10 am.  On hut guard 6 pm. to watch that no rifles or bayonets were stolen by natives.  Skeleton order at night; bu[XXXX] and bayonet during day.  Two hours on and four hours off.  It has been unusually hot during the day, but cold at night.  Usually one shower every day; heavy, but soon past.

24.1.16  On guard till 6 pm.  Went into Heliopolis for a walk; connected with Cairo by tramway.  Houses modern and large.Town built last 10 years.

25.1.16  On fatigue putting up marquee forenoon, and another in afternoon. Went into Cairo in evening with H. Cowan; 7 milliemes in tram (2nd class).

26.1.16  Changed huts in forenoon.Went to Soldiers' home in evening.  Received parcel from Galston; a diary from Miss Rogers (a teacher at Galston School); letters from home and Harelaw.  Our blankets were all disinfected to remove vermin.

27.1.16  I was on fatigue carrying mails.  I got parcels from home, Castleview, Cogries, Redlands, and Largs; letter from home  (2), Miss Neil, Aunt Peggy, M.Lindsay; books from Miss Patrick.  Sweets from M. Harvie; Xmas card from M. Harvie.

28.1.16  Physical drill 7 to 7.30 am.  Parade 10 am.,when Col. Young gave a speech.  Received letter  from home (10th Jan.); also "British Weely" and "People's Friend" (Jan. 3rd).

29.1.16  Pitched marquee in morning; Coy, drill in forenoon; at Pyramid in afternoon; was inside pyramid, and saw Queen's and King's Chambers.  In Cairo in evening.

30.1.16 (Sun)  On fatigues all day, first 9 am. to 1 pm. at A.S.C.Stores, Abbassia; then 2 to 5 pm. carrying gifts and stores from Divnl. dump to stores; 3 newspapers and one letter received "Punch" from Largs, letter from home.  Rain showers seem to have passed.  Weather now very hot during day.  New draft arrived - 38 men, nearly all second line men - (2/4th R.S.).

31.1.16  Usual drill in forenoon; went into Heliopolis in afternoon.  Parcels from the Cottage (Mrs Clark), and Mrs Smith (Nether Newton).  Letters from J.M.S.Mair and Harelaw.