shots at least had been an O.K. as we afterwards discovered, for it had
destroyed a large part of a Turkish camel convoy. At four in the
afternoon the battalion received orders to move on and occupy another
ridge about one and a half miles in front, and "A" Company immediately
set out, moving round the shoulder of our present hill. "C" Company
dropped down the steep slope and waited in the hod for further
instructions. They found there a batch of wounded Turks waiting to be
carried off by the ambulance. It was with some astonishment that they
heard Major Allan shouting to them from above to get back to their
former position, so they struggled up the hill again with a very ill
grace. However, plans had been changed and it transpired that the
Lancashire Fusiliers had arrived and they were to take over our position
while we went back a few yards to bivouac for the night.

It was now much cooler and men felt disposed to eat their very scanty
meal. Those who had water were fortunate. Just as we were settling down
for the night word came through that Katia was to be taken next day, and
that we should move out at four in the morning. The enemy were believed
to be holding the oasis basin fairly strongly. In our extraordinarily
tired condition, brought about by strenuous exertions and lack of
nourishment, we did not view the prospect with too much confidence, but
hoping that a few hours' sleep might refresh us we rolled into the
shallow scoops we had made in the sand, and lay down to a rather chilly
night, our only extra cover being the khaki drill tunic whose weight we
had roundly cursed during the day.

At 3 a.m. we prepared to move. In the dim light the eternally-blessed
water camels could be seen wending their way towards our bivouac. As
before there was abundance of volunteers for this vital fatigue, but
most hearts drooped when it was found that the ration worked out to a