January 2nd
In my bedroom here I find this red ink and nothing else. Packed up and left Havre on the last day of the old year and came up with the Prince de Mahé who also motored me out to lunch with a very nice French family Offroy, about 15 miles from here - a tremendous repast. I have taken rooms for the time being in the Hotel de France, Rue Grand Pont, nice and old fashioned and good, but I do not like hotel life. When I was here as a boy I lived in the Elmering family. Adolphe about 50, Isabelle Marie and Berthe, 3 sisters a little younger. They would now be from 70 to 75 I suppose. I see their name is still in the book, so I am going to call. I expect they have not forgotten me as I wrote to them for at least 12 years. I was sorry to leave the family Hollaender at Havre, but the life was frowsy and I did not like the idea of fleas in my bed, though they do not bite me. I already feel better for the change. Later on I am going to try and get rooms here. I see poor Rome of the 20th has been killed - just married in June. And Rundall of the 4th Gurkhas, has lost his two sons on one day. Daisie has got work in French hospital No. 12, at Havre under Mrs. Gardner and is due out the day after to-morrow, it will be nice to know she is within reach.January 4th
So we really are in the New Year - what a lot old 1914 held for me, and so much happiness. Daisie ought to arrive to-day at Havre and I am glad it is not stormy - still there are always mines and sub-marines to fear and I am anxious.January 7th
Awake last night very anxious about Daisie - however, got a letter to-day to day she is at work in her No. 12. French Mil. Hospital at Havre, so I am happy. Left Hotel and transferred to my new home. (43, Rue d'Ernemont; Mme. Delaporte.)January 8th
Left Gare de Nord for Abbeville 11.55 - arrived 5.30 p.m., very cold. Slept in carriage at Station.January 9th
Talk with Freeland and left in empty Supply train at 8.30 p.m. with Lt. Kendall.January 10th
Arrived Darnétal 9 a.m., thence train home.January 13th
The war is quite at a standstill here and one is tired of waiting for news. I have given up reading the papers. Be patient and some day we will hear something. We have plenty of troops, more than enough for our short line and I suppose Joffre and French are waiting for some particular moment to get on the move again. Meantime I am well paid and forget the war except when I meet a trainload of wounded or see in the papers that I have lost another of my very best and irreplaceable friends. The children had a nice Xmas with Granny and Bunker and their Mother at Green - now the party is broken up - the boys go back to school and we must find some quiet corner for Susanna. Daisie has settled down to her hospital work at Havre and I am happy in my family here with a nice Mlle. Germaine to give me a French lesson every evening. I am improving and hope soon to have quite a decent accent. We read Balzac "La Peau de chagrin."January 16th
Delightful surprise Fernie brought Daisie up from Havre.January 19th
Daisie left by the 7.17 p.m. train which was one hour late and I was rather anxious about her arriving so late in Havre with new people.January 23rd
The family seemed so keen about the theatre that I am taking them both to-morrow to see L'Aigle. The War Office will not give me the number of men I want for my Corps d'Elite, the Train Conducting Officers - I want at least 40 more. The work is hard and after 5 months of it they are going sick one by one. Time bustles along anyway and some day the war will be a thing of the past. The Zeppelins were over England on Thursday and their efforts were quite futile. Trouble with the War Office they cannot understand who on earth T.C.O.'s are nor who on earth I, the O.C. T.C.O. can be. I have been very cross about it, but now I see the War Office are right. I invented the whole thing and my own importance, and step my step have had myself recognised - it now remains to make the War Office understand the importance of myself and my Corps d'Elite. In the first place we were "Interpreters", then we were put on supply trains and called Railway Conductor Officers, I did not like this stupid term and moreover the abbreviation R.C.O. was too much like R.T.O., Railway Transport Officer, so in all correspondence I invented the good term T.C.O. which gradually became known and adopted out here, then I got our badge made T.C.O. which fixed it and then, being in charge of all these officers, I called myself O.C., T.C.O. and there you are, but no wonder the War Office wonder who on earth we are. I think the Director of Railways ought to regularize us by explaining to the W.O. However I am pleased and feel important, I shall feel more so when I get the War Office recognition. Our sphere is humble, but it is something new in Military Organisation in the world's greatest War.January 25th
I hear Kitchener has given an order that all wives are to leave France whether employed or not. Taking a train up the line to see how things are working. I took the busiest train of course. Ramassage B. left Rouen 7.45 p.m. Lt. Col. Carter R.A. and Lt. Col. Stewart R.A. (Ordnance) as passengers. I took the Prince de Mahé's carriage and gave him a rest looking after my office.January 26th
Arrived Serqueux about 11 p.m. nothing doing. Abbeville 4.10 a.m. cold, but fine night and blue sky, had some difficulty getting men off, the train daren't wait long, and they sleep like corpses. Arrived Boulogne 7.30 a.m., snowing hard - I have a heap of officers and men as passengers and 25 trucks of ammunition and supplies. Had to stay all day in Boulogne at the Bassin Loubet, took a long walk out to the very end of the big breakwater, which is right out to sea. I saw the French passenger steamer which the German submarine torpedoed - sunk in harbour, but on sand and quite repairable. Saw the Channel boat leaving and it caused me no extra heart-beats because Daisie is this side of the Channel, and that's all I care about. These trips are very expensive. I have to pay for any food and guests, meanwhile I pay for my food and lodging at Rouen all the time, for Daisie's food and lodging at Havre (she certainly is not extravagant) for Leo at school, Galfrid at Ridley House - then interest on debts, premiums on policies - Thank goodness my pay just now is liberal enough to cover it all. The stores accumulated here at Boulogne, are enormous and if the Germans did push us back we should have to destroy them. Our Naval Victory yesterday sinking of the Blucher, was grand. I expect the Germans will try something tremendous to-morrow, because it is the Kaiser's birthday. it may never snow enough to need them, but I see heaps of steam snow-ploughs and bob-sleighs - foresight.January 27th
Arrived Chocques at 8.30 a.m. After being up all night getting people on and off at Aire, Arques, Berguette, and Lillers. Right in the thick of war again, the Germans are shelling Bethune just alongside and the guns are thundering. We have had to get our wounded out from there and the station is full of woe-begone looking fellows on stretchers. Aeroplanes, our own and the French, buzzing busily over head, Motor cars, ambulance wagons, and Supply Lorries tearing about - quite like old times. The Germans are pushing us hard here and have caught us napping, taking a lot of our trenches, most of which, but not all, we have retaken. Brought up Capt. Pearson, an English American for Maxim-gun officer, 2nd Battn K.R.R. a good fellow - in business - tells us he knows he will be killed, has made up his mind to it, but quite cheery. Also a wounded Black Watch officer, retiring after a bullet in his head - Captain Redie. Went into Bethune - the people have plenty of sang-froid the very café that was shelled was filled with people and the town seemed quite natural bar broken glass in the streets - A beautiful old Church - good stained glass - not old. Left Chocque and reached Boulogne 10.45 p.m.January 28th
A very cold night and a very hard frost - un-heated railway carriages concentrate cold and are really colder than the air outside. Lunch in the town. Left at 5.30 as a passenger to Rouen, Ward taking the trains - 12 nurses in my carriage. Nice nurses, very amiable, had only tea to give them. Arrived Darnétal 8 a.m. Havre 9 a.m.January 30th
Dollie and Bettie arrived Friday night from Havre it was very nice to see them. The Prince de Mahé drove me up in his car to meet them and we drove them to the Hotel de France where I left them. To-day they did some of the Churches in the morning.
It is easy enough to live cheaply in the trenches, but on the Lines of Communication life is very dear and prices rise.February 6th
A most unpleasant morning at the station where I had to put a Naval Commander under arrest for being drunk. He was very much upset and wanted to know what business a soldier had to put him under arrest. I am writing to the W.O. to get a more active job, sent off letter to Daisie first to get her sanction.February 12th
I have been in bed ever since last Monday with a most frightful cold, fever, flue, sore-throat, sort of thing and feel very miserable. I manage to get down to the office every day for one hour from 11 to 12.0 and then I go straight back to bed. I am tremendously soigné by Madame, who brings me grogs every night before she goes to bed, and tisanes all day long. "tisanes des quatres fruits." I went to see Cazalet in hospital on Monday and in chaff drank some of his medicine out of his glass and I can only suppose I swallowed all his microbes as he has every sort of chest complaint and I was bowled over immediately after. Madame wants to paint my back with iodine and put a plaster on my chest, but I have drawn the line at that. She is determined to badigeonner me, a special verb for splashing paint on a wall. Lying miserably in bed, not undressed about 7 p.m. Knock at the door and Henriette enters announcing with huge delight "Madame Dunsterville"!!! Made me jump you may be sure. Of course it was a very great treat. She has two days' leave from the hospital.February 14th
Daisie returned to Havre by the evening train. I am quite fit again, but flabby.February 17th
Cold and rainy. I get the same giddiness that father used to suffer from and it gets worse and worse very rapidly each year. It seems to be something quite apart from one's general health, as I often get it when I feel fittest. Some day I shall tumble on my nose.February 20th
Went up to Abbeville yesterday and returned to-day with Ridpath, I had to see Freeland about a lot of railway matters.February 24th
Cazalet I am sending to Marseilles to get warm as he is always sick up here. I shall miss him very much, he leaves to-day. The number of my officers is increasing. Wrote a final ultimatum to the War Office, telling them to take me out of this soft job, and give me a Brigade up at the front where I ought to be. This is a good job, but a one-armed and one-legged man could do it. Everybody is impatient with the war, but we know we must wait till April or May before our time comes to strike the blow.February 27th
Splendid news. The dream of my life. I am to [be] a General before I am 60. Got a wire yesterday to go to Abbeville and there I got the news that I am to go home to command one of the new Brigades. God give me strength to do my duty, serve my country , and live and die as a Christian gentleman. It will be a blow to my darling wife, but she has been prepared for it and has seen the sword of Damocles hanging over her head.March 2nd
I went to Havre on Saturday evening and returned this evening. Saw Daisie at work in her hospital looking very sweet as a nurse. Primroses all out along the line, so spring has really begun and winter 1914-15 has gone for ever and ever, a troublous winter, but a good one "out of evil cometh forth good" - No news yet about going home, but it is Gen. Maxse who has asked for me and that will be the 53rd, 54th or 55th of the 18th Eastern Division.March 5th
No orders yet. Daisie came up on Wednesday evening and will not return till Sunday evening, a goodbye visit. The War goes well. The new move in the Dardanelles is working very well and it looks as if our fleet would soon get through. This action is forcing the Balkan neutrals to make up their minds. Roumania, Bulgaria, Greece are all wondering what to do, also Italy. Meantime Germany's mad-dog behaviour at Sea is worrying America, Norway, Sweden and Holland, what a splendid war it is!March 6th
Such a squabbling over seniority to-day in my office with a view to succeeding me. First of all Major H.H., the Prince de Mahé came to see me before I was out of bed to point out that he was senior to Fernie. Fernie was a Lieutenant in the King's Dragoon Guards and is now a temporary Major in the Yeomanry - each thinks he is senior to the other, and as I know nothing about territorials, volunteers, militia, yeomanry and Special Reserve I shall have to send it on to the War Office to settle. They both lost their tempers violently and I had to keep the peace. Daisie returns to Havre to-day - Are the Germans still sure of victory? Are the poor things at last convinced of the absolute certainty of their well-merited downfall? I do not think anyone in the world sympathises with them, though in the abstract it is heroic to see one nation fighting against the whole world and the utter destruction of a splendid empire.March 10th
Quite in despair at getting no orders. Weather very cold, but sunshine and spring really is here with flowers beginning and birds singing. We have a French lady staying here, a refugee from Valenciennes, wife of a Banker, who has 69 grandchildren!March 11th
Presented Mlle. Germaine with a watch which delighted her. It is hard to be a school-mistress without a watch. Daisie writes they have fresh wounded in the hospital. War news good to-day, an advance by La Bassée and 1000 prisoners, and 1 Submarine sunk, at sea. I am rather worried at getting no news from the War Office. A long walk with Mlle Germaine, through the Forêt Verte to Houpville and back through Maromme by tram, about 15 kilometres.March 12th
We seem to have done very well at the front at Neuve Chapelle N. of La Basée, a very important move which almost turns the impregnable La Bassée and tends to release Lille which we want very much. [pencilled note in margin: "Failure"] I went over to Sotteville to see some of the trains of German prisoners going through - they seem well fed well clothed and delighted to be prisoners - getting quite warm and springlike, walked with Fernie, strawberries and Veronica out.March 14th
The weather keeps fine and yesterday was sun all day. Things go well at the front though we lose heavily, our advance to North of the La Bassée is very important and helps us to get Lille which we want badly. A family walk in the country round St. Aigran at the rate of 1 mile an hour, very tiring. Mother Delaporte, her son and his wife and their 3 children and 2 nurses and Germaine and myself - such a row of us, we quite obliterated the landscape. Dollie has now gone to work with Daisie in No. 12 French hospital under Mrs. Gardner at Harvre [sic].March 20th
So I am not to get an English Brigade after all - a very great disappointment, but I have so much in life to thank God for and He knows that, I am as happy as ever.The War Office offered me a Brigade, then they had to write to the India Office. Then the India Office woke up. And when people wake up they always say "No" - so did the India Office. So I am to go to India, what as, I do not know. The weather is splendid now but cold. On Thursday I had a trip on the river steamer with Germaine, violets, primroses and daffodils out. On Wednesday Mass for the Allies at the Cathedral. Mass was beautiful though pagan - might have been an old Roman ceremony in the days of Julius Caesar. But the sermon - oh the sermon - an hour of poor political twaddle from a Cardinal and not a word of religion or of anything spiritual just "Down with the Germans". "They must be exterminated - they began the War!" and so on and so on ad nauseam for 1 hour! Ye gods! Never again, thank you.
March 20th
Goodbye to Germaine and Madame Delaporte and goodbye to Rouen. I left by the evening express and left my Barnes behind lamenting - he was a good fellow. Arrived Havre and stayed with Daisie.March 21st
No boat sails to-day so I must stay over till to-morrow which gives Daisie time to pack.March 22nd
Beautiful warm clear night and very smooth crossing leaving 12 midnight with all lights out to avoid sub-marines which are very active round Havre and have sunk a good many ships.March 23rd
Arrived London rain and fog - reported War Office and India Office. We are all to go out in the Moldavia and I am to command the Jhelum Brigade. There is trouble in India. Susanna comes with us, but it is hard luck I can't see more of my two dear sons.March 24th
Bay is in London to get his D.S.O. for the King and Connie is very proud of him - Triss and Lou and Con and Bay all dined with us at the Hotel York.March 26th
I went down to Kidlington and Daisie stopped in London. Saw father's grave which I thought very satisfactory.March 27th
To Bishopsteignton. Daisie from London and I from Oxford, met at Reading. Susanna is delightful darling and really did remember me, and wasn't a bit shy. Fardie looking ill.March 28th
Devonshire looking beautiful, so sad to leave it all in such a hurry. Went to Church in uniform, shall be sorry to get into mufti to-morrow after 7 months uniform.March 29th
Newton Abbott to see Mr. Bayliss about Galfrid. Soldiers looking smart and quite decent officers. Daisie is working herself to death packing, with an awful influenza cold and a bad toe.March 30th
Left Green 3.36 p.m. to Paddington, Galfrid on the same train - nice boy and looking very well. Arrived 4, Ilchester Gardens at 9.0 p.m. Galfrid's box lost. Dora and Bettie here and my dear Leo looking cheerful and nice.March 31st
India Office and shopping and altered my will to leave Daisie freer, cost 13/4 for the codicil, not a large sum.April 3rd
At last! P & O S/S Moldavia, 4 berths first class, comfortable but small. Knightley and Ada, Emily, Vincent, Lou and the 2 boys came to see us off at Liverpool St. 10.25 a.m. rainy and cold. Sad farewells with the 2 boys who are old enough now to understand and who are nice enough to love their father and mother - Not for tips anyway as we gave them nothing.
Susanna is better, we were afraid she might develop measles and she had croup the other night. Very calm but cold. All lights out and all sorts of manoeuvres to baffle the German submarines. We were warned to have all our warm clothing ready at night in case we had to take to the boats. Such a sound restful sleep after all the turmoil.April 4th
Easter Day and no service on board though there is a parson in the 2nd Class. A bit rough to-day and I am feeling quite uncertain.April 5th
Bay of Biscay, cloudy and a big roll on. None of us very well, but manage meals so far.April 6th
Warmer and calmer. Off Lisbon at mid-day.April 7th
Fine and arrived Gibraltar 10 a.m., left at 2 p.m. Went ashore bought cigars and two nice old pomade pots with pictures of the Crimea - will make into mustard pots I paid 10/- for the two. Susanna is well and happy and everybody loves her.April 8th
Off Algiers - fine and hot but cold breeze – ideal weather. Think of them shivering in England, France and Belgium. Everyone plays the same old ship games which bore me. I hope we are beyond reach of the sub-marines now, but there was one on the lookout for us before Gibraltar. Tied on our lifebelts, Susanna's is an enormous one, it would certainly drown her.April 9th
Grey, cloudy and a breeze and very cold. Glad to wear a great-coat all day.April 10th
Malta 9 a.m. Ricasoli barracks where I joined my old regiment, the Royal Sussex, in November 1884, reminded me of old days. We all went ashore, Rose and Susanna D. and myself - such a cold day with howling wind. Saw St. Johns and the Armoury and the Guard Room pictures. Left again at 6.30 p.m. Several men-of-war in from the Dardanelles to repair and refit. The Dublin and the Inflexible, which latter was almost sunk and several French ships with wounds from guns and torpedoes.April 13th
Arrived Port Said at 11 a.m. all our table got off here so we have to make new friends. Stayed all day coaling and left at 9 p.m. Went ashore and did some shopping. Met an old friend, Col. Harding, commanding the 69th, who are here. He took us around in a motor-launch and over the other side to the new Canal works. Thence two ponies for Daisie and me to ride out North to the furthest defences. A small redoubt about 1½ miles away. Poor Daisie riding a fresh pony in a light skirt with lots of leg showing and very uncomfortable. She had to take off her hat and we carried it for her.April 14th
Arrived Suez at noon and straight off for Aden. Weather fine and not too warm. It was interesting going through the canal all lights out and portholes closed on the port side for enemy's snipers. Bridge protected with sandbags. Troops and defences all along. Saw the 56th that is the old 2nd P.I., and passed two French cruisers and one British. The ship is very empty and nice and quiet. Daisie and I enjoy that but other passengers complain that it is dull with no dancing or athletic sports. Susanna keeps well and cheerful with occasional fits of bad temper. She has one nice little boy to play with and seems in no hurry to get to the end of the journey. No particular war news. Where is our new force going to? The Dardanelles or to Bosnia, via Montenegro? Rumours of a naval expedition off Norway. No prospect of the war ending but of course some day it will end. I am certain that we will strike a blow between now and middle of May, that it will be successful and that the war will end in the Autumn. The Turks seem to be still quite serious in their advance on Egypt, but I do not think they can do much in that direction.April 15th
Very hot and sticky with wind aft and a hot night. I am not yet in my cotton clothes. Nothing doing on board, just a peaceful siesta. At Aden I hope we will get news of a naval victory in the North Sea. The old war is very tiresome, but it does good and the longer it lasts the better.April 16th
A little breeze and not quite so hot. Daisie won't let me put on my thin things because to-day is a Friday!April 17th
Breeze turned into quite a strong gale dead ahead - very grateful for it. Susanna was blown down and rolled over and over and quite enjoyed it.April 18th
Entered Aden harbour at 8 a.m. As we flew the wrong signals the outer fort fired a shell at us which passed between the funnels and made a fine splash beside the ship. The Captains hair stood on end. Left in tender to Salsette at 10 a.m. only about 14 of us. Salsette is a fine pretty boat but full of beetles. We have a lovely cabin and they have let Rose come up the 1st Class end, which was very good of them – without payment.April 19th
Indian Ocean calm and not too hot. Not many flying fish to amuse Susanna.April 20th
Our beautiful rest cure will soon come to an end. We cannot tell what awaits us in India. Rose looks very pale and we hope she is not going to get ill. She and Susanna will soon be in the hills at Murree with Miss Key. The weather is wonderful and it is like a yachting trip. We have a huge cabin with big wardrobe and the ship is full of enormous black-beetles. The Captain, Armitage, is a good fellow, and an antarctic hero. I play bridge a good deal for very small points and I am reading philosophy. I am nothing else but a philosopher, and so far, I find nothing new - but of course I am dumb, I could not spout all those strings of bewildering words and sentences.April 21st
Anxious to get to Bombay and get our war news for 5 days in arrears. Surely something must have happened by now.April 22nd
A think this is the first time on a voyage When I II have been genuinely sorry to feel that it is our last day on board.April 23rd
Arrived Bombay 8 a.m. Taj Mahal Hotel.
General Knight commanding and Herdon as Brigade Major.April 24th
Left Colaba 9.30 p.m. Reserved carriage not very hot but dusty.April 26th
Arrived Jhelum 3 p.m. Brigade Major - and fire-works to greet us. A feeling of being home again.
[end of War Diary A. Continue Vol 9. page 122]May 2nd
Left 1.47 a.m. Monday morning special carriage Murree. Susanna has been having fever. She and Rose stay with Miss Key up there and we two return on Thursday by which time I hope punkahs will be up as the mosquitoes are bad and we are dreadfully bitten. It is wonderful how stupid C.O's are - In the 20th we always had mixed guards, half Mahomedan and half Hindu, anyone with a grain of sense would naturally do this. My guard is now furnished by the 25th P.I. who were in China and whose Sikhs are supposed to sympathise with the mutiny that is ready to break out - and the O.C. that noble regiment gives me a pure Sikh Guard! Of course I can say nothing about it as it would look like scares, so there it is and we are quite happy, but it is rather silly, isn't it? Last night as we lay in bed, the Sikh sentry kept stopping just outside the chick and bumping his rifle down with a thud which made Daisie think he was going to shoot, and so he was perhaps, but he didn't. I want a guard to guard me from my guard.May 3rd
Nice to be in Murree again. Daisie, Rose and Susanna staying at Forest Dell with Miss Key, I up at the Club with Gen. Kitson to whose coat-tails I had to cling. Rather expensive bridge at the Club.May 6th
Left Murree by tonga 3 p.m., arrived Jhelum 1 a.m. leaving Rose and Susanna with Miss Key.May 9th
Took the service in the dear little old Church. The Germans have beaten the record in sinking the Lusitania with 2000 people on board, 1500 drowned.May 14th
Settling down so comfortably and poor Daisie has worked so hard and the bungalow and garden begin to look so nice and this evening we get a wire to say I am transferred to command the Peshawar Brigade - so we are a Monday. Sorry to leave old Jhelum, but Peshawar is a better brigade and not so dull.May 17th
It is frightfully hot for the time of year. Left by the mail at 1 o'clock. Arrived Peshawar 9 p.m., went to Dean' s Hotel. So here we are in Peshawar and Generals at last. My phlegmatic and unemotional wife is not in the least impressed with the grandeur of commanding the 1st Brigade in the 1st Division in India.India is indeed a back number and a back-water. Here, in the 10th month of this terrific war the Government still grudges money to the Army. Machine–guns are an old pattern, the N.W.R. line on which we all depend is still single, the railway bridges are all dicky, and in Peshawar there is not one aeroplane or motor-bike.
May 23rd
Weather has cooled down. We came into General Young's bungalow on Thursday night, mosquitos and sand-flies very bad. I bought all Young's furniture and things just as they stood, for £81, including garden etc. There is a beautiful grass tennis-court and two badminton courts.It looks like fighting the Mohmands in June. War news is good and Italy is coming in at last, casualties are fearful.
May 27th
Nights quite cool, days fiercely hot. Yesterday General Campbell. commanding the Division. Colonel Rice G.S.O. I and myself, motored out to Shabkadr and Matta to look round the Mohmand frontier. It was strange to be back in these wild parts after that war in France, all this seems like another planet. I like this command, but rather regret the pay and interest of my railway work and the comfort of Mme. Delaporte' s house and my beloved Germaine's French lessons. The road from Peshawar to Shabkadr in the early morning at this time of the year is very beautiful, especially the beds of lotus.June 1st
The Barbara Mullah has announced his intention of attacking us on Friday, so I have my moveable column ready, it consists of:-1 D.Y.O. Lancers
No. 74 Howitzer Battery R.F.A.
No.8 Mountain Battery
The King's Liverpool Regiment
8th Rajputs
21st Punjabis
72nd Punjabis
No.1 Co. Sappers and Miners.A nice compact little force and ought to be strong enough to take on the whole of the Mohmands. The heat will be our worst enemy. I do not think it will come off as the other Mullahs do not seem to be caring much about it.
June 3rd
The Mohmands are quite uncertain. To-day severe earthquake shock 1.45 p.m. Daisie was out of the house in two two's. I got hold of a locked door. Punkahs swinging and bath water in waves.June 4th (Friday)
Pulled out of bed 3 a.m. by General Campbell. Pabbi raided, 4 Hindus carried off for ransom and some houses burnt. Sent troops out to Bara and on the Kohat road to head off the raiders, not likely to catch them.June 5th
Took Daisie out in Motor car to see the site of battle-ground at Shabkadr and Matta. The country was very beautiful. It is getting hot. I get up about 6 and ride about. Breakfast 10.30. Office till 1.30 no lunch, sleep till 4.0., then tea, bath and out at 6.0.June 11th
Dining with all the regiments is rather hard going on my poor little liver. To-morrow I am again going out to Shabkadr to look at camps with General Campbell. I gave a lecture at the Club to-day on the war which seemed to be a great success, which was gratifying.June 13th
Wore my plumes at Church parade for the first time and felt very shy! My lecture was so successful that two C.O's have asked me to give it to their men, and Crocker, the Risalpur cavalry Brigadier has asked me to lecture at Risalpur.
Peshawar gardens are rather wonderful, here, in the middle of June we have on the dinner table, Asters, verbena, Phlox and Dianthus, rather seedy ones, but quite pretty and homelike. We dine to-night with Sir George Roos-Keppel.June 17th
Lecture to-morrow to the men of the King' s and the Royal Sussex. Then in the evening by train to Risalpur; dine with Crocker and lecture in the open air at 9.45. Next day to return here. I do not like leaving Daisie one night alone with things as they are.June 21st
So we have reached the middle of the year and that wicked old longest day. I was X-rayed to-day to see what was wrong with my heart, but they drew a blank. It was very interesting.June 23rd
Killed a huge scorpion in my bathroom. Shall have to give up bare feet. Gave a Lecture on the War to the Masters and Mahomedan Students at the Islamia College.June 29th
It is really hot now, the bungalow is generally 92º, but we keep fairly fit and cheerful. We miss Susanna very much, but she is well looked after and happy in Murree. I go to Simla on Sunday to lecture on Wednesday. Daisie goes to Murree and I join her there for a few days leave after the lecture. We shall both be glad of some fresh air.July 4th
Fiercely hot and glad to be off. The sand-flies tear us to pieces. Still we get good flowers and have on the table geraniums, sun-flowers, Plumbago, Dianthus, Phlox, Aster, Snapdragon, Pelargonium - the latter 4 just expiring. The frontier seems fairly quiet, but a reverse in the Dardanelles might set India on fire at any moment and we wait anxiously for good news from anywhere and it never comes. The Russians in Galacia are being thoroughly well hammered owing to lack of ammunition. Left at 11. p.m.July 5th
Arrived Pindi 6 a.m. Daisie left for Murree at 9 a.m. in the motor bus and I left for Simla by the 1.30 p.m. train. Met Major Little an old friend of the 26th Punjabis. He had lunch with me on the train as he was on his way to Ferozepore to take over command of the 20th Depôt from Elliott, who has gone to Simla sick. We sat for some hours in the restaurant car and had long interesting talk on religious matters - he is a Roman Catholic, and one has to be tactful to avoid quarrelling. R.C's are so easily aroused to fury.July 6th
Arrived Kalka 6 a.m. Left by motor rail at 7.45. a nice bath at the station. Very absent-minded Left my satchel in the train, braces, tie and tie-pin. Recovered the satchel from a passenger on another train later on. Arrived Simla fine, but so cold in a silk suit. An A.D.C. at the smart liveried Rickshaw in which I drove to Snowdon, the Commander-in-Chief's beautiful residence, just in time for lunch. Sir Beauchamp Duff, very cheery but worried. In the afternoon the Chief drove me all round Simla in his phaeton.I hoped to stay in Simla till the 10th and then at Murree till the 19th, but my leave is cancelled and I have to return to Peshawar immediately after the lecture, because General Campbell is at Cherat and there is no General at all in Peshawar. So I have 4 nights in the train and all this expense for 1 night in the hills and a hundred rupees fee for my lecture.
July 7th
My lecture in the theatre - a nasty hour 3 p.m. Very crowded and distinguished audience with the C.-in-C. and the Lt. Governor - it went very well: Saw so many people I wanted to talk to, but couldn't. Such a rush. Left immediately after lecture and caught train back at 6 p.m.July 8th
Arrived Peshawar 8 p.m. Hot and rather cross at losing my leave, and not to be able to be at Susanna's birthday party.July 11th
Frightfully hot. 120º in the shade yesterday and sandflies biting me to pieces. When I opened my box at Simla in the Commander-in-Chief's house and took a clean shirt out, a scorpion jumped out of it! Glad I didn't put it on with the beast inside it. A fine piece of War news at last. The Boers have captured South West Africa and so one of the side Wars is ended.July 14th
Susanna's birthday bless her! 4 years old. I wish she'd stop getting older. It is cooler now, but we have had a month of record and the honour of a special article in the Pioneer. Very lonely without Daisie.July 15th
Daisie returned by the evening train - rather hot and tired.July 17th
Motor to Shabkadr and rode for 3 hours all round the frontier with the C.O.'s of regiments for instruction. Home by mid-day. Hot unbearably hot.July 2lst
Hot and sticky, but still alive though tortured with prickly heat, sandflies and mosquitos. Saturday night I had to attend the Boxing and give the prizes and make a speech at 1a.m. Such perspiration!August 1st
The heat has been quite awful. Yesterday Maxim 120º, Minimum 88º - Mean 104º - A Record. No rain. Prospects of big famine in addition to this awful war. The war lingers on and no dramatic events relieve the tedium of the daily wires.August 4th
Anniversary of the War, a Grand Intercession Service.August 8th
The heat is quite incredible and God only knows how we white people go on living - or is it worth living? No rains still and condition of crops very serious. We don't want Famine as well as war.August 12th
No rain yet and heat awful. Locusts passed over to-day - what a happy land! War, intrigue, sedition, heat, dust, flies, scorpions, snakes, wasps, hornets, mosquitos, sandflies, drought, famine, cholera, and plague - just a normal list of life's little inconveniences in India. The hornets have big nests in the verandah and the wasps are everywhere.August 19th
Still no rain and the country is quite parched. But the great heat has gone and we are having a beautiful cool spell. The heat will come back again, but will never be as fierce as it was before. The Bunerwals swarmed down on to Rustam two days ago about 4000, but the Guides were waiting for them and I think they must have suffered severely. The Guides only lost 1 Officer and 1 N.C.O. killed and 2 wounded. The Mohmands who are my particular lot, seem quiet just now and the news of the Buner failure will probably put them off.August 25th
Well we're well through the worst of the hot weather now, but still no rain. The Bunerwals seem to have dispersed and the big gathering of Swatis towards the Malakand is breaking up - things look a little quieter. On the table we still have Dianthus and Verbena - wonderful how they last through this heat.August 29th
Early morning got orders to march out the Khyber Moveable column as the Mohmands are really on the move at last. Marched at 6 p.m. Frightful heat, the Kings fell out 50% and the native troops were not much better. Camped at Nagoman on the Cabal River, we just lay down as we were.August 30th
Marched to Subhan Khwar, through Shabkadr and pitched camp. A good site with a well good enough to give us water for 2000 men and 2000 followers.August 31st
Strengthening defences.September 2nd
Enemy began sniping into camp, one or two minutes later.September 3rd
My cavalry patrols fired on and 2 men - wounded.September 4th
Very heavy firing into camp at night. I got a bullet through my pillow, but I was not in bed! 2 men of the King's wounded and a good many mules and horses.September 5th
My first battle as a General. The Brigade did very well. We had about 100 killed and wounded and the enemy lost from 600 to 1000.September 19th
Came in to stay week end with Daisie in hotel here. Afterwards seedy and fever.September 30th
Came in for 2 days, but the Mohmands were threatening and I had to go out.October 2nd
Sent in sick with fever.October 5th
Returned to camp. Bad diarrhoea all the time.October 8th
Another battle with the Mohmands. My lot in the middle on the same ground as before, but I put the Kings in the centre - on the right the 4th Brigade under Christian, the 3rd Brigade on my left under General Woodyatt. Finished and withdrew at 4 p.m. arriving in camp at 5.0. The enemy were very half-hearted and didn't follow up much. I had only 8 casualties and the whole Force only 3 officers wounded and 60 men knocked over. We had an awful lot of artillery, 30 guns, howitzers, field and mountain and it was mostly an artillery show. The Guides had rather a hot time on the left. I asked the third Brigade to advance there to cover my left, but I never asked them to wheel. Woodyatt stupidly wheeled them and that brought their left, the Guides, with their left shoulders up against the enemy's trenches. Battye of the Guides was shot through the groin. but doing well.October 9th
Rode over to Shabkadr to talk over the battle with General Campbell commanding the Division. Spots on my face. To my surprise he said "You must take 15 days leave" - so I readily agreed on sick leave and I do want it.October 10th
Motored into Peshawar in Davies' motor (Davies of the Guides left in command).October 11th
Left Peshawar 11 p.m.October 12th
Arrived Forest Dell, Murree, Miss Keys, where Susanna was born - 11. a.m. such joy to see Susanna, such a dear and looking so well - though thin.October 14th
More rumours of war, the Black Mountain and the Mahsuds this time. Such heavenly peace and rest here with Murree empty, perfect air and lovely cold nights. I may be recalled any minute, but don't mind as these few days have quite set me up.October 24th
We have had a delightful time with a nice clean empty Murree looking quite beautiful - feeling much fitter but far from strong yet, after all that Diarrhoea and fever and my tummy not right yet. Susanna has been a great delight and she and I have had long walks alone over the hills - she gets along very well though she is such a tiny mite. The weather has been glorious and we have all been very happy - much too happy for these horrible times of war.October 17th
Returned to Subhan Khwar camp and took Daisie out with me to look round.October 31st
No signs of the Mohmands, marched all round the Frontier and to-day marched to Camp Tagoman on the I:a river, 11 miles from Peshawar.November 5th
Daisie came out to see the camp and stayed to lunch and tea.November 8th
Came into Peshawar for a few days' change and business and pleasure.November 9th
Wedding Day, 18 years, 18 times as happy as 18 years ago.December 15th
Marched the Brigade in. General Woodyatt with the 3rd Brigade has taken over my camp and I hope we will stay in for at least 6 weeks. The house is looking very nice and smart and homelike. It was getting cold in camp with hard frost every night. Elliott stayed with us from Dec. 4th to Dec. 6th. He seems very ill and is to go home at onceDecember 28th
Christmas Week of rather spurious gaiety (as far as I am concerned) is nearly over. Christmas Day we had a pleasant party and a glass of champagne. The Chattertons, Woodyatt, Bennett, the Tarvers. All well – Rather tired with this old war and one thing and another.