Festive Fridays - Egypt

D/DLI 7/797/2(32) A group of soldiers of the 18th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, captioned ‘Taken at Port Said’, December 1915

In November 1915, the 18^th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, had been preparing for France, expecting to embark on 29 November.  However, this order was changed and on 6 December they found themselves leaving for Egypt, arriving in time for Christmas.  This they spent camped at Port Said.  The following extracts are from the diary of 18/944 Private William Roberts.   The description is of a somewhat sunnier and warmer Christmas than the soldiers in Europe would have experienced and very different to Christmas at home in County Durham.  

Dec 24^th  I went down to the sea with the bathing parade but did not fancy a dip today.  It is Christmas Eve and from nearly every tent can be heard the singing of carols in a quite peaceful way.  I went to bed early, but got up for a drink of wine from a bottle which Jimmy Sandy had brought in. 

D/DLI 2/18/24(168) 18th Battalion soldiers bathing in Egypt, c. 1915

Dec 25^th  Christmas Day
A bright sun shining from a cloudless sky.  This morning I had a bath by means of scraping a hole in the sand and laying my waterproof sheet in it, then filling up with water, I got a good wash.  11:30 am I went to Holy Communion.   Had a swim in the sea this afternoon.  Went into the town at night, the place was very lively as most of the soldiers had some wine.