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[diggerdave]

In the lead up to the 90th anniversary of the landing of the ANZACs at Gallipoli on Sunday 25th April 1915, I shall be posting here extracts from letters and diaries of Hunter Valley diggers and light horsemen who seen active service on the Gallipoli peninsula in 1915.
The first of these extracts are contained in the diary of Trooper Frank Edwards, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, a 22 year old single dairy farmer of Bandon Grove via Dungog, who enlisted on 22nd August 1914.

From the First World War diary of Trooper Frank Edwards, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment.

16 April 1915

Day stableman.


Another extract tomorrow.

[diggerdave]

From the First World War diary of Trooper Frank Edwards, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment.

April 17 1915

Cleaning rifles and saddlery in morning, on picket at night.

April 18 1915

Church in morning, camp in afternoon.



Another extract tomorrow.

 

[Guest]

From the First World War diary of Trooper Frank Edwards, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, written in Ma'adi camp, Egypt.

April 19 1915

Regimental drill.


Another extract tomorrow.
 

[diggerdave]

From the First World War diary of Trooper Frank Edwards, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, written in Ma'adi camp, Egypt.

April 20 1915

Brigade inspection.


Another extract tomorrow.
 

[diggerdave]

From the First World War diary of Trooper Frank Edwards, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, written in Ma'adi camp, Egypt.

21 April 1915

Marched to Maadi, via Cairo.



Another extract tomorrow.
 

[diggerdave]

From the First World War diary of Trooper Frank Edwards, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment:

April 22 1915

March to Helonan and there at night.

April 23 1915

Went to Sekira pyramids and tombs crossing the Nile four times, on picket at night.

April 24 1915

Exercising horses in morning, swimming in sulphur bath in afternoon.            


 

[diggerdave]

From the First World War diary of Trooper Frank Edwards, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, written in Ma'adi camp, Egypt.

26 April 1915

Exercising horses and cleaning up all morning, swimming in afternoon, started for Ma'adi at 7pm arriving at 11.30.



Another extract tomorrow.
 

[diggerdave]

From the First World War diary of Trooper Frank Edwards, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, written in Ma'adi camp, Egypt.

27 April 1915

March back to Heliopolis.



Another extract tomorrow.
 

[diggerdave]

From the First World War diary of Trooper Frank Edwards, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, written in Egypt:

28 April 1915

Regimental training.


Another one tomorrow.
 

[diggerdave]

From the First World War diary of Trooper Frank Edwards, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, written at Ma’adi Camp, Egypt:

1915
29 April Regimental training.

30 April Regimental training.

Another one tomorrow.
 

[diggerdave]

From the First World War diary of Trooper Frank Edwards, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, written at Ma’adi Camp, Egypt:

1915

1 May  

Clean saddlery.

 

[diggerdave]

From the First World War diary of Trooper Frank Edwards, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, written at Ma’adi Camp, Egypt:

1915

2 May

On fatigue in morning and camp.
 

[diggerdave]

From the First World War diary of Trooper Frank Edwards, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, written at Ma’adi Camp, Egypt:

1915

3 May

Regimental training.

[diggerdave]

From the First World War diary of Trooper Frank Edwards, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, written at Ma’adi Camp, Egypt:

1915

4 May

Loading timber in morning at railway station, afternoon off.

[diggerdave]

From the First World War diary of Trooper Frank Edwards, 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment, written at Ma’adi Camp, Egypt:

5 May 1915.

March through streets at Heliopolis in morning, afternoon off, fell in for guard and got waiting guard.