The story of the Accrington Pals' time in Egypt is told largely through the battalion's war diary (PRO documents WO95/4590 and WO95/2366).1 The quotations are taken from "The History of Z Company" by Percy Crabtree and Fred Sayer, by kind permission of Gillian Brown & family and Judy Langton. Sid Edwards' postcard and the photograph of Lt. Henry Harrison Mitchell are by kind courtesy of Mike Townend and Towneley Hall Art Gallery & Museum, Burnley. The photographs of 15469 Pte. Harry Proctor (left) and the Lewis Gun teams have been generously donated by Jean Fisico and John Garwood, respectively.

Hurdcott Camp Salisbury	18.12.15	The Battalion marched out of Camp during the night of 18-19.12.15 and entrained at Salisbury.
Devonport	19.12.15	The transport embarked with two officers & 47 other ranks on board T.S.S. Huanchaio, and sailed the same day. The Battalion consisting of 29 Officers (including 1 R.A.M.C. and 1 R.C. Chaplain) and 956 Other Ranks embarked on board the T.S.S. Ionic, and sailed the same day, under escort of 1 Destroyer.
At Sea	20.12.15	Boat stations were told off, and each man provided with a lifebelt. Life belt drill and boat stations were practised daily throughout the voyage. The escort returned to England early in the morning.
Gibraltar	23.12.15
	9.50.p.m.	Arrived Gibraltar & put in for orders. Sent mail off.
	10.45.p.m.	Left Gibraltar under escort of two Destroyers.
Malta	27.12.15
	8.30.a.m.	Arrived at Malta. Mail sent off. Two men sent to Hospital. Ship discharged presents and stores.
Malta	29.12.15
	8.20.a.m.	Left Malta without Escort. W.O. Instructions that all troops to carry or wear lifebelts continuously. Pte Wixted died of Siriasis after a short illness at 7.40pm. Guard of one officer and fifty O.R.s posted fore & aft.
	30.12.15
	6.30.a.m.	Pte Wixted buried at sea.2
	31.12.15
	9.40.a.m.	Ship attacked by hostile submarine Lat 34°11'N. Long.25°11'E. The submarine appeared about 500 feet away on the port side: and fired a torpedo, which missed the stern of the Ionic by 100 feet. On sighting the submarine "boat stations" was sounded, and the troops were all at their stations, with lifebelts on, in three minutes. Three extra guards of officer & 20 O.R. were posted on the port & starboard side of the vessel. The submarine was kept astern and the Ionic proceeded at full steam.

"The last day of 1915 started with another glorious sunrise and land could be seen far distant on the port side. Everything seemed so peaceful that it seemed impossible for mankind to be at war with each other and the very calmness of the surroundings were enough to make one unprepared. The Captain of the "Ionic" was not to be caught in such a state for suddenly the ship canted over to an angle of 45 degrees and at the same time the deck trembled as the vibrations came from the engines jumping to "full speed" and the alarm sounded....Every man jumped to it and dashed to his post. Rifle shots rang out for the attacker's periscope was visible. Two ominous white streaks passed where the heavily loaded troopship had just been and the deadly fish missed her stern. Missed! but only just, one by 15' and one by 30'." (History of Z Company)

	10.40.a.m.	Boat stations dismissed. The submarine was not sighted again.
Alexandria	1.1.16
	12.15.a.m.	Arrived at Alexandria. Presents discharged. Sergeant Bridge to base & 2 men to Hospital.
	4.1.16
	2.50.p.m.	Left Alexandria.
Port Said	5.1.16
	7.a.m.	Arrived at Port Said.
	1.p.m.	The Battalion disembarks and goes under Canvas at No 5 Camp.
	11.1.16	The Brigade H.Q. & the 13th & 14th York & Lancs arrive.
	12.1.16
	5.p.m.	The Divisional Commander lectures to Officers & N.C.O.s of the Battalion.
	15.1.16
	4.45.p.m.	Captain Broadley & 60 other Ranks to the Casino Palace Hotel as Guard of Honour to Admiral.
	16.1.16	Take over Divisional Duties & Fatigues. Sergeant Cassidy & 13 others as guard on a Neutral vessel to Suez.
	18.1.16
	2.10.p.m.	The Division is inspected by Gen Sir A. Murray. Lieut Beaumont & 60 O. Ranks proceed by train to Suez to act as guard on Neutral Ships. Sergeant Monoghan & 13 O.R. as guard on a Neutral vessel to Suez.
	19.1.16	Sergeant Lang & 13 O.R. to Suez, as guard on a neutral ship.
	20.1.16	Brigade H.Q. move to El Ferdan. Colonel Rickman left i/c of remaining two battalions at Port Said. Sergeant Cassidy & Sergeant Monoghan and their respective guards return from Suez.
	21.1.16	Sergeant Lang and guard return by train from Suez. Lt. Col. Rickman accompanied by Major Ross and Lt Bailey proceeded to Tinch to inspect the 'post' there, and returned the same day.

	Click to enlarge photograph
	Above: Postcard of the Suez Canal, sent by 15891 Pte. Sid Edwards and postmarked 22nd January 1916. Note the signature of the censor, Lt. Henry Mitchell. Click to enlarge
	Left: Map of the northern half of the Suez Canal zone

	25.1.16
	8.10.a.m.	The Battalion moves to El Ferdan in a downpour of rain.
	12.20.p.m.	Arrive at El Ferdan and detrain transport near the station. The Battalion and baggage detrained on Canal bank opposite the Ferry.
	11.p.m.	Camp pitched and all men and stores transferred to W. Side by 11.p.m.
El Ferdan	26.1.16	Take over all garrison guards and Picquets. Battalion on fatigue transferring depot stores etc. from East to West [sic.] side of Canal until month end.

"The chief reminder of ancient Egypt was the slavery, for if ever the East Lancs. felt the shackles, it was at El Ferdan. Who will forget the varied fatigues - the hauling of those two massive chains which were the primitive means of propelling the giant punt across the canal, carrying men, horses and stores to the Arabian side where the Turks had been, but were to be no more. Ships came alongside to be unloaded and out of the holds long single files of Lancashire lads brought massive quantities of timber, compressed horse and camel fodder, sacks of dates, raisins, immense quantities of bully beef and biscuits, ammunition and various other stores. N.C.O.'s were posted every 10 yards or so and apart from the fact that they had no whips, the feeling from the Tommies' point of view, was exactly as those of the slaves of old." (History of Z Company)

5.2.16

W and Z companies proceed to Abu Aruk to dig first line of trenches.

"On the 9th February "Z" Company left the Battalion and struck out into the desert for a long dreary march, with full pack, and any extras from under the sand,3 that one cared to carry. The start was at sunrise and by 4 o'clock the Company must have been a mile long. Most of the fellows were exhausted and when the halt was called, everybody flopped down on their tummies, and some were too tired to slip off their packs, for some time. The desert proved to be very hilly and the sand soft and difficult to the tread. Boots sunk ankle deep in many places, especially when on rising ground, and seemed to drag one's sinews until they stretched like elastic bands. Abu Aruk was the spot chosen for the defence works "Z" Coy were to construct. It was on high ground and in the wilderness, away from all civilization." (History of Z Company)

Battalion Lewis gun teams in Egypt. 18048 Pte. Stanley Bewsher is sat on the far right of the front row. Photograph by kind courtesy of John Garwood.

	10.2.16	Headquarters and Y Company proceed to Railhead and take over distribution of Supplies, water and Engineer stores to advanced posts. X company remains at El Ferdan to carry out fatigues.
	13.2.16	2/Lt Beaumont and 45 O.R. return from Suez on completion of duty.
	14.2.16	The remainder of 2/Lt Beaumonts party i.e. 15 O.R. return to El Ferdan on completion of duty on Suez Canal.
		Z Company group with camels. Photograph by kind courtesy of Mike Townend and Towneley Hall Art Gallery & Museum, Burnley.
Abu Aruk	19.2.16
	10.a.m.	W & Z proceed direct to El Ferdan, and encamp on West Side of Canal.

"On the last day there was a funny sight on that strip of desert. A small black cloud appeared, to be followed by a shower of rain. Instantaneously, as if by command, every man was stark naked, standing there, awaiting nature's bath, with his face turned upwards and mouth wide open, hoping that a few drops would cool his parched tongue. On the 19th the trenches were handed over to another division and "Z" Company had a tough march back to El Ferdan." (History of Z Company)

Railhead	19.2.16
	8.a.m.	Headquarters and Y company proceed to El Ferdan, and encamp on West side of Canal, where the Battalion concentrates.
El Ferdan	20.2.16
	7.a.m.	The Battalion marches to Kantara, arriving about 1.p.m. The baggage did not arrive until 9.p.m. when camp was pitched.
El Ferdan	20.2.16	Lt. Mitchell who was acting Water Supply Officer at El Ferdan, sustained an injury on the light Railway between El Ferdan and Railhead.
Kantara	22.2.16
	7.a.m.	The Battalion marches to Hill 108 and takes over the Post there. Lt Mitchell removed from El Ferdan to Port Said and is operated upon. The right leg being amputated.
Port Said	23.2.16	Lt Mitchell dies in hospital at Port Said.
Hill 108	24.2.16	Z Company is sent out to No 2 Post as a detached Company to dig No 1 & 2 front line positions. Lt Palmer & a Platoon of W Company proceeds to the proposed 94 Brigade desert H.Q. to act as guard to the Brigade Headquarters.

"At Hill 108 there was news of an unfortunate light railway accident resulting in the death of Lieut. Mitchell. This cast a gloom over the Company, for he was an officer who had won the hearts of his men by his quiet gentle manner and kindly helpful nature, and he was one whom the "Z" Company could ill afford to lose. He was the Battalion's first officer to die in the service of his country and like those who followed him he gave his all." (History of Z Company)

Port Said	24.2.16	Lt Mitchell is buried in Port Said.4
Hill 108	25.2.16	Lt Ashworth relieves Lt Palmer at Bgde Desert H.Q.
	27.2.16	Z Company & Lt Ashworth and Platoon recalled to Battalion.
Kantara	28.2.16
	3.53.a.m.	Lt Bury and 35 N.C.O.s & men Transport entrain at Kantara.
	7.a.m.	The Battalion marches from Hill 108 to Kantara.
Kantara	2.3.16	Battalion proceeds to Port Said and embarks on board Llandovery Castle. 2/Lt Kohn & 67 O.R. remain at Port Said.
Marseilles	8.3.16	The Battalion arrives at Marseilles and remains on board.

Notes

1. Crown copyright: The National Archives. This document may be copied and downloaded for personal and research use only. You must apply to The National Archives for permission for any other use. [back]
2. 15835 Pte. James Clarence Wixted is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli. [back]
3. Tins of food "liberated" from the unloaded stores were hidden under sand until they could be safely retrieved. [back]
4. Lt. Henry Harrison Mitchell lies buried in Port Said War Memorial Cemetery. [back]

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