We were to sail on the morning of the 22nd, and soon after dawn orders
arrived--to disembark! Sadly we left our palace and walked back to Santi
Camp--now hateful to look upon, as we realised that within a few days we
should be back once more in the mud, rain, cold and snow of Flanders.
The reason for the sudden change, for taking half the Division to Egypt
for a fortnight only, was never told us, but probably it was owing to
the successful evacuation of the Dardanelles. Had this been a failure,
had we been compelled to surrender large numbers to save the rest, the
Turks would have been free to attack Egypt, which had at that time a
small garrison only. As it was the Division from Gallipoli went to
Egypt, and we were not wanted.

On the 27th Pte. Gregory, who died as the result of a tram accident, was
given a full military funeral, and the following day at 4.30 a.m. we
left Marseilles for the North.




CHAPTER VI.

THE VIMY RIDGE.

6th Feb., 1916. 9th May, 1916.


Our return train journey was uneventful until we reached Paris, where a
German air raid started just as we arrived, and the train was compelled
to stop. We had a beautiful view, and, as the French depended more on
their own planes than on anti-aircraft guns, it was well worth watching.