Introduction

My grandfather, James Shaw, was mobilised during the Great War, World War I, to serve in the Royal Artillery on 29th February 1916. Towards the end of his training as a Telephonist (signaller), when he had been selected for the East Africa draft, he started making brief entries in a pocket diary. The diary had to do double duty as, not having a replacement, he had to re-use it the following year.

The following is a transcription of the contents, now fading marks in pencil, giving a partial record of his time in Africa. It is a record of interesting things that happened to him, important events such as letters from home and the occasional tragedy.

To give some sense of the passing of time the span of his war, from the date of declaration of war to his date of discharge is shown thus:

(Representing the whole of his war, August 1914 - February 1919)

For a given month the elapsed proportion of his war is shown thus:

(Example a quarter of the way through the war)

and the elapsed proportion of his wartime service thus:

(Example half-way through his service)

The Diary - June 1916 to November 1917

June 1916

23 June 1916
Finish signalling exam. Sending on buzzer and flags. Weather very wet in forenoon. Parade 1:45 p.m. to battery. Chosen for East African draft,. Pack and stores kit bag and bedding at Browndown¹. Parade 4:20 march to Brockhurst². Measured for men's rigout. Get pass and pay and march to Brockhurst station. Leave at 7:16 p.m. Leave London 11:15 p.m.

Saturday, 24 June 1916
Arrive Coatbridge³ 8:30 a.m. Wire Aggie⁴ and Barbara⁵. Went to Draffan⁶ with Mother, Andrew⁷ and Mary with 2:15 p.m. train. Return 8:30. Met Aggie and Ettie⁸ with coats for us. A. and E. go into C. to look for A. and M. , find them at M’s gate.

Sunday, 25 June 1916
Go to Glenboig church⁹ with A, E and Father. Ramoan¹⁰ for dinner and tea. Go to New Monkland with A. and E. meet old friends on way. Service of song very good. Return to Ramoan for camera. Home to Auchairn¹¹ about 11:15 p.m.

Monday, 26 June - Sunday, 2 July 1916
[No entries]

July 1916

Monday, 3 July 1916
Rose 5 a.m. Blankets in store 6 a.m. Parade 7 a.m. March to Brockhurst. Breakfast and medical inspection. Supplied with riding pants, spurs, bandolier, new boots, helmet and two suits drab khaki. 50 rounds ammunition. Leave Brockhurst at 1:17 p.m. Allowed 6 minutes for refreshments. Arrive Turnchapel Station¹² at 9 p.m. met by ASC¹³ lorry. Put in charge of baggage. Arrive Fort Staddon¹⁴ about 10 p.m. Supplied straw bedding. Tents on ramparts. Get bed at about 11 p.m.

Tuesday, 4 July 1916
Parade before Lt. Baker and show kit. Break off for the day.

Wednesday, 5 July 1916
Parade roll call 6:30 a.m. Parade 9 a.m. Swedish drill¹⁵ and saluting. Dismiss 11 a.m. Concert at 2:15.

Thursday, 6 July 1916
Parade 6:30 a.m. Roll call 9 a.m. Fatigue in cookhouse. 2 p.m. same job. 6:15 and 8:15 fire piquet. Parade and break off. Pay at 2 p.m.

Friday, 7 July 1916
Parade 6:30 & roll call parade 9:45 route march. Return about 11:15 afternoon. Football match 20 minutes each side. Lose 2-1. Hot job.

Saturday, 8 July 1916
Clean tent boards and ground. Finish for day. Go to Plymouth in afternoon.

Sunday, 9 July 1916
Church parade and finish for day.

Monday, 10 July 1916
Roll call 6:30 a.m. Parade 9 a.m. Drill to 11 a.m, Cook house 2 p.m.

Tuesday, 11 July 1916
Cook house all day.

Wednesday, 12 July 1916
Cook house from 5:30 a.m. till 9 p.m.

Thursday, 13 July 1916
Cookhouse from 6:30 a.m to 9 p.m.

Friday, 14 July 1916
Left Fort Staddon at 9:30 a.m. Embarked on SS Suffolk¹⁶ at Devonport at 11 a.m. Sent postcards to Mother, Aggie, Bab. and Agnes. Pay of £1-12s. Letter from Aggie and piece of bride's cake.

Saturday, 15 July 1916
Sailed at 5:45 weather fine and sea calm. Accompanied by two destroyers which left off at 7 p.m. French coast sighted afternoon of Sunday 16th.

Sunday, 16 July 1916
Church parade at 11 a.m. Break of for the day. Some sailing boats sighted on port side. Weather very warm and sea calm.

Monday, 17 July 1916
Parade 11 a.m. Instructed in wearing of lifebelts in case of fire. Weather very warm and sea calm.

Tuesday, 18 July 1916
Foggy weather. Physical drill off. Two shots fired from gun in stern of boat. Steam-ship sighted about 11 a.m. Fire drill at 3 p.m. Weather fine, sea running high.

Wednesday, 19 July 1916
Physical drill 9:05 a.m. Corp. in charge knows very little about it. Parade 11 a.m. some chaps told off for dirty buttons and badges. Concert at night. Very good. Weather very good. Sea slight swell and choppy. Report that letters will be taken off by mail boat tomorrow.

Thursday, 20 July 1916
Physical drill 9:45 a.m. Officer in charge, enjoyed it and kept hard at it all the same. Parade at 11 a.m. Two vessels sighted, port side teatime, starboard about 7:45. Lights out at 8:30.

Friday, 21 July 1916
Physical drill 8:15. Very good. Fire alarm at 4:30 p.m. Weather fair till 11 a.m. showery and bright all day after. Finished reading “Edge o’ Beyond”¹⁷. Nose begins to give trouble.

Saturday, 22 July 1916
Wakened at 5:15 with inrush of water through porthole. Sea rather rough. Weather bright. Physical drill, Bomb.[ardier] in charge. Nose rather sore.

Sunday, 23 July 1916
Church parade 9:30 a.m. Weather bright and sea very calm. Sharks sighted starboard side early afternoon. Flying fish both sides all day. “Themis”¹⁸, Amsterdam passed at 4:30 p.m. Nose very sore. No socks to be worn after today. Letters to Mother and Aggie handed in.

Monday, 24 July 1916
Porpoises sighted along the starboard at 7 a.m. also flying fish. Nose burnt and is much easier. Weather very bright and warm sea fairly calm. One swallow seen. Land sighted ahead about 8 o’clock  a.m. Arrive Dakar¹⁹ about 11 a.m. Guns and ammunition taken ashore²⁰. Natives dive for money, sell postcards and cigarettes. Officers go ashore. Leave Dakar about 4:30 p.m. Sea becomes rough, strong winds blowing. Dakar appeared to be a very nice place. Letters go ashore.

Tuesday 25th of July 1916
Sea still rough and windy weather.

Wednesday, 26 July 1916
Weather dull and cloudy. Physical drill and parade off on account of heavy rain. Wet nearly all day, very heavy at night. Sports begin in afternoon. Deck quoits. RGA man puts two rings on.

Friday, 28 July 1916
Weather fine and warm. Sports continue, cock fighting, apple bobbing²² and swinging the monkey²³. Fire parade about 4:30 p.m. Concert at 7 p.m. Father Neptune²⁴ comes aboard and about 8 p.m. and makes his declaration and inspects the ship.

Saturday, 29 July 1916
Weather fine and warm finish reading “Council of Justice”²⁵. Parade at 11 a.m. Deck quoits, stocking and rattlers, swinging the monkey. Parade at 2 p.m. Father Neptune inspect units and chooses some to be cleaned then the fun begins.

Sunday, 30 July 1916
Weather fine but strong under-swell on sea. Short service at 9:30 a.m. break off for the day. Finish reading “Only a Girl’s Story”.

Monday, 31 July 1916
Weather fair, strong wind and stormy sea. Tug-of-war ASC versus RGA. One wet and one dry deck so RGA lose. Fatigue duty for canteen stores. Sports afternoon, bolster bar²⁶ above bath. Eye begins to give trouble.

August 1916

Tuesday, 1 August 1916
Weather wet in forenoon. Fatigue duty on canteen stores. Fair weather in afternoon. Sports continue, wheelbarrow race²⁷, cockfighting and bolster bar. Suffer from sore eye.

Wednesday, 2 August 1916
Weather fair, sea rough. Fatigue duty for canteen stores. Semi-final and final of tug of war. APC²⁸ v RE²⁹, ASC v AOC³⁰. ASC win easily. Winning team treated to beer by officers. Eye is very sore. Boat “Ophir”³¹, Amsterdam passes about 3 p.m.

Thursday, 3 August 1916
Parade at 6 a.m. for deck swabbing. Weather fine, sea rather rough. Concert at night carried on mostly by RE “band”.

Friday, 4 August 1916
Parade at 6 a.m. for deck swabbing. Dress parade at 11 a.m. medical inspection 2:30 p.m. Continuation of sports. Concert and play “Humming Birds” at 7:15p.m.

Saturday, 5 August 1916
Parade at 6 a.m. deck swabbing. Weather fine and sea calm. Albatross seen at 10 a.m.

Sunday, 6 August 1916
Parade at 9:30 a.m. Short C.E. service.

Monday, 7 August 1916
Weather fine. Parade at 11 a.m.

Tuesday, 8 August 1916
Weather fine. Parade at 11 a.m. Arrive at Cape Town³² and go ashore. Two men fall in water as boat leaves.

Wednesday, 9 August 1916
Parade at 11 a.m. Weather fine.

Thursday, 10 August 1916
Parade 11 a.m. Pay of 10/- ³³ each. Enquiries made about civil occupation.

Friday, 11 August 1916
Weather fine. Parade at 11 a.m. Sailing boat preceded by steamship pass in afternoon going west. Steamship keeps pace with SS Suffolk for a while in afternoon, Shoals of porpoises seen during day. Letters for Aggie and Mother handed in.

Saturday, 12 August 1916
Disembark from SS Suffolk and embark on Comrie Castle³⁴. Durban³⁵ people throw oranges and cigarettes to troops and are very kind.
[footnote] Mrs. Robb³⁶, 61 South Ridge, Durban.

Sunday, 13 August 1916
Weather fine. Parade at 11 a.m. No church service.

Monday, 14 August 1916
Weather fine. Parade at 9 a.m and 11 a.m.

Tuesday, 15 August 1916
Weather fine. Parade at 11 a.m. Distribution of tobacco and oranges given by Women’s Patriotic League, Durban, Natal³⁷. Two bags tob[acco] and 15 oranges.

Wednesday, 16 August 1916
Weather very warm. Parade at 11 a.m. Concert at night. Excellent. LNL³⁸ L[ance] Corp. renders “The Rosary”³⁹ and “Down The Vale”⁴⁰ to perfection on cornet.

Thursday, 17 August 2016
Weather very warm, sea very calm. Land in sight on port side all day. Parade at 11 a.m. Concert at night, very good except RE band. ASC private renders “The Rosary” very sweetly on piano.

Friday, 18 August 2016
Weather fine, nice breeze.

Saturday, 19 August 2016
Arrive off Kilindini⁴¹ Concert at night. Officers have a good time some can scarcely stand. Weather fine and warm. Nigger’s lanterns⁴² on water.

Sunday, 20 August 1916
Lay off Kilindini. Expect to get ashore but are disappointed. Weather fine and warm. Some of officers leave the boat.

Monday, 21 August 1916
Rise 5 a.m. Hand in hammocks. Leave Comrie Castle at 9:50 a.m. go ashore at Kilindini. Send for blankets, mosquito nets and groundsheets under McNaughton and have a row with him. Horse swims ashore from boat. Leave Kalindini at 1:40 p.m. and arrive at Voi⁴³ at 11 p.m. and stay there in train all night.

Tuesday, 22 August 1916
Leave Voi station at 5 a.m. Pass two train wrecks. Had tea and wash 25 miles from Voi. Graveyard⁴⁴ with some LNL men in it. Weather very fair. Arrive at Maktau⁴⁵.

Wednesday, 23 August 1916
Rise at 6 a.m. Parade 9 a.m. OC’s⁴⁶ inspection. Route march⁴⁷ about 6 miles. Weather very warm.

Thursday, 24 August 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Parade 7 a.m. physical drill (farce). 9 o’clock OC’s inspection. 9:30 Squad drill. Rotten. Have ramble in woods and catch caterpillar. Littlejohn swallows 25 cent piece which is the last coin he possessed at the time. Letter from Barbara⁴⁸, answer with postcard.

Friday, 25 August 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Kit inspection 9 a.m. Fatigue⁴⁹, carrying wood in forenoon. Ramble in afternoon. Capture large spider. Warned for going up line⁵⁰ at night. T. Robinson takes ill.

Saturday, 26 August 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 7 a.m. Walk up mountainside and return again. Pack kit ready for moving and hang on all day afternoon.

Sunday, 27 August 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Parade for church at 10:45 a.m. but dismissed. Attend service at 6:15 p.m. Carry water after meals. Weather fine, strong winds.

Monday, 28 August 1916
Rise 6 a.m. OC’s inspection 9 a.m. Physical drill 7 a.m. Route march 9:30 a.m. Play cricket in afternoon and make 3 runs. Weather very warm.

Tuesday, 29 August 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 7 a.m. Squad drill 9:30 – 11 a.m. Weather fine.

Wednesday, 30 August 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 7 a.m. OC’s inspection. Route march 9:45. Very wet all day.

Thursday, 31 August 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 7 a.m. OC’s inspection 9 a.m. Squad drill 9:40-11. Fatigue, shifting kits to store 3 p.m.

September 1916

Friday, 1 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 6:30 OC’s inspection 9. Route march 9:45 Medical inspection for vaccination 4 p.m.

Saturday, 2 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 6:30 Kit inspection 9:45 Some wanted for up line. Weather fine.

Sunday, 3 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Church parade 10:45. Weather fine.

Monday, 4 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. OC’s inspection 9 a.m. Rifle drill 9:30 – 11 a.m. Weather fine.

Tuesday, 5 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Route march 9:30 Weather very warm Dar-es-Salaam occupied by our troops without opposition on 4/9/16.

Wednesday, 6 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 6:30 Squad drill.

Thursday, 7 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 6:30. OC’s inspection 9 a.m. Kit inspection 9:30 Warned to go up line.

Friday, 8 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 6:30. OC’s inspection 9 a.m. Route march 9:30. Letter to Mother.

Saturday, 9 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Rumour that paymaster is coming.

Sunday, 10 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Church parade 9:45 Text “Be ye strong and of good courage”⁵¹.

Monday, 11 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 6:30 OC’s parade 9. Rifle drill 9:30 to 11 a.m. Defaulters have route march at 2 p.m. Letter despatched to Aggie⁵².

Tuesday, 12 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 6:30 OC’s parade 9 a.m. Route march 9:30-11 a.m.

Wednesday, 13 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 6:30. No water for washing. OC’s inspection. New officer.

Thursday, 14 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 6:30 OC’s inspection 9. Kit inspection 10 a.m.

Friday, 15 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 6:30. OC’s inspection 9. Route march 9:30-11.

Saturday, 16 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 6:30 a.m. OC’s inspection 9. Pay books handed in.

Sunday, 17 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Church parade 9:45 a.m. Text “Straightway”⁵³.

Monday, 18 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 6:30-7:20 a.m. Arms drill 9:30-10. Let out in afternoon to look for rhino. Leave at 1:40 return 7:15. Unsuccessful.

Tuesday, 19 September 1916
Tuesday, 19 September 1916 Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 6:30-7:30. Disappointed in pay.

Wednesday, 20 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 6:30-7:30. Cochrane⁵⁴ and Robinson T. caught out with rifle and put in guard room.

Thursday, 21 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 6:20-7:30 OC’s parade 9. Pay of 30 Rupees. Very hot during the night.

Friday, 22 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 6:30 to 7:40 Arms drill 9:20-11.

Saturday, 23 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 6:30-7:30. OC’s parade with rifles and bandoliers 9 o’clock. Route march 9:30 to 10:30.

Sunday, 24 September 1916 through Thursday, 28 September 1916
[No entries – in transit?]

Friday, 29 September 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Physical drill 6:30 OC’s inspection 9.

Saturday, 30 September 1916
Arrive Korogwe⁵⁵ 12 noon. March to Calcutta Bty. Camp⁵⁶. Heated with riding breeches. Sleep under gun.

October 1916

Sunday, 1 October 1916
Rise 6:30. Parade for signalling 10:30-12 afternoon 4-5. Some fun between Wright and Mac over semaphore. Medical inspection. Some washed out with rain.

Monday, 2 October 1916
Mealymeal⁵⁷ for breakfast. Signalling 10:30 a.m.-12 afternoon 4:30-6:20. Joe and Ally send semaphore.

Tuesday, 3 October 1916
Breakfast of mealymeal and coffee at 6:30 a.m. Leave for Korogwe starting at 8:20 with pack mule and boy. Leave Korogwe at 6:30 p.m. Arrive at Tanga⁵⁸ about 12 mid-night. Quartered in Hotel Deutscher Kaiser.

Wednesday, 4 October 1916
Go on fatigue at docks unloading guns, ammo etc. till 7:45. Breakfast at 9. Clear for the day and spend it looking round.

Thursday, 5 October 1916
Signalling from 6:30-7:30. Send abb. Joe and Scottie send and Ally and I receive. No other parade today.

Friday, 6 October 1916
Signalling till 7:30. Ally and I send, Joe and Scottie receive abb. Free for the day.

Saturday, 7 October 1916
Battery drills. Act as no. 4⁵⁹ till 7:30 a.m. Free for the day. Rain driving drill.

Sunday, 8 October 1916
Bathing parade at 7 a.m. Go for run on a truck with Joe Singleton and have a very exciting time. Go to see the native dances at night and have a great time.

Monday, 9 October 1916
Signalling to 7:30. Scottie and I to Joe and Eddy. Signalling 10 to 11:30. Finish up for day. Have a sore head all day.

Tuesday, 10 October 1916
Rise 6 a Go on guard at harbour from 9:30 a.m. Not feeling well at all. Guards 8 to 10 p.m. and 2 to 4 a.m. Wednesday guns go aboard SS Montrose⁶⁰ at 10 a.m.

Wednesday, 11 October 1916
Come off guard at 9:30 a.m. and march back to hotel. Firework display at night.

Thursday, 12 October 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Signalling practice 6:30 and 4 p.m.

Friday, 13 October 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Fatigues till 10:30. Return to hotel at 11 a.m. and relieve Hoskins at harbour at 11:30. Also on board SS Montrose at 12 noon. Leave Tanga at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday, 14 October 1916
Arrive Dar-es-Salaam⁶¹ in early morning and leave same day.

Sunday, 15 October 1916
Arrive Zanzibar⁶² and leave at midnight. Ford⁶³ and another fall overboard and Milligan down the hold.

Monday, 16 October 1916
Arrive off Kilwa Kisiwani⁶⁴. Begin unloading materials.

Tuesday, 17 October 1916
Still more fatigues removing stuff from hold.

Wednesday, 18 October 1916
Still removing more stuff from hold.

Thursday, 19 October 1916
More stuff removed from hold including four guns.

Friday, 20 October 1916
Disembark and camp at Kilwa Kisiwani.

Saturday, 21 October 1916
Rise 5 a.m. Move out at 6:30 and travel about 10 miles. Have bath in small stream about ½ mile from camp.

Sunday, 22 October 1916
Rise 5. Move out 6:30 a.m. Arrive at Kilwa Kivinje⁶⁵. Ride good. Part of way on Sgt. Gibson’s mule. Fix up bivouac and am very comfortable. Macnaughton loses nail of left big toe.

Monday, 23 October 1916
Rise 6. Signalling practice 6:30 and lie up for day. Bathing parade at 4 p.m. Very bad beach and water very low.

Tuesday, 24 October 1916
Rise 6. Signalling practice 6:30, 10 and 4 p.m. Put on CRA⁶⁶ line instead of Mcnaughton. Heavy rain during night. Take Sgt. Gibson’s mule to bathe.

Wednesday, 25 October 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Battery practice 6:30 Go on FOO⁶⁷ line with mule. Officer shows diagram for range finding. Finish in time to clear rain. Out with Ally and Joe till 12 with helio⁶⁸. Wanted for guard but released. Harold gets fright with scorpion spider⁶⁹.

Thursday, 26 October 1916
Rise 6 a.m. Signalling practice 6:20, 10 and 4 p.m.

Friday, 27 October 1916
Battery drill order at 6:30. Bathing at 4 p.m.

Saturday, 28 October 1916
Battery drill order at 6:30 Bathing parade at 4 p.m.

Sunday, 29 October 1916
Nothing doing all day.

Monday, 30 October 1916
Loading wagons with kit etc. at 6:20. Signalling practice cypher at 4 p.m.

Tuesday, 31 October 1916
Battery drill order at 6:30 a.m. Armstrong is ill and I take his place on BL⁷⁰ with Spalding⁷¹. Letters to Aggie and Mother despatched.

November 1916

Wednesday, 1 November 1916
Battery drill order at 6:30. Supported cypher at 4 p.m.

Thursday, 2 November 1916
Battery drill order at 6:30 Sending and receiving abbs. At 4 p.m.

Friday, 3 November 1916
Battery drill order Hoskins attends 6:30 a.m. parade but is too ill to go out at 4. Wright becomes Sgt.

Saturday, 4 November 1916
Battery drill order. Reeves⁷² takes ill on parade and Hoskins is too ill to turn out.

Sunday, 5 November 1916
Right-half battery leaves Kilwa Kivinje in very hot sunny weather for Nangurukuru⁷³ and arrive about 2:30. Stay till next day. Fill box of mangos.

Monday, 6 November 1916
Leave Nangurukuru at 3 p.m. Arrive at next camp at 8:30. Do guard.

Tuesday, 7 November 1916
Leave at 6 a.m. and tramp all day till 2:15 p.m. with biscuit and tea at 1:15 Arrive at Mitole⁷⁴ at 2:15 Sergeant Gibson feeling ill.

Wednesday, 8 November 1916
Leave Mitole at 3 a.m. and arrive at Njinjo⁷⁵ at 9  a.m. Lion crossed our path. Guns taken inside and men sleep beside trenches.

Thursday, 9 November 1916
Leave Njingo at 9:30 a.m. and arrive at Tchemera Hill⁷⁶ about 10:30. Pitch bivouac.

Friday, 10 November 1916
Begin digging gun pits. Do one hour piquet last night.

Saturday, 11 November 1916
Continue digging gun pits.

Sunday, 12 November 1916 - Wednesday, 15 November 1916
[no entries]

Thursday, 16 November 1916
Do piquet at night.

Friday, 17 November 1916
[no entry]

Saturday, 18 November 1916
Begin building banda⁷⁷.

Sunday, 19 November 1916
[no entry]

Monday, 20 November 1916
Supervising coolies⁷⁸ cutting trees two miles from camp.

Tuesday, 21 November 1916
[no entry]

Wednesday, 22 November 1916
Do piquet at night. Get word of Ford’s death on Nov. 20^th Park and May get word about commissions.

Thursday, 23 November 1916
Very heavy rain.

Friday, 24 November 1916 - Sunday, 26 November 1916
[no entries]

Monday, 27 November 1916
Do piquet at night. Chaplain joins us.

Tuesday, 28 November 1916
Leave Tchemera Hill for Mitole at 3 p.m. but stop about 3 miles from it beside water for the night.

Wednesday, 29 November 1916
Move on to Mitole at 7:30 a.m. Arrive about 9 a.m. Put up bivouac.

Thursday, 30 November 1916
Prepare bivouac for marching.

December 1916

Friday, 1 December 1916
Very wet in morning. Prisoner (German) caught three men and NCO act as guard.

Saturday, 2 December 1916
Thatch bivouac. Do camp guard at night. Sgt. Gibson goes off to Kiliwa [Kinije] with prisoner.

Sunday, 3 December 1916 1916
Chaplain distributes papers, cigarettes, note paper, games and books and candles.

Monday, 4 December 1916
In morning ride out on Maj. Browning’s pony to look for five lost mules. Raise a buck in the tall grass. Signalling practice at 3 p.m. Letters despatched to Mother and Aggie.

Tuesday, 5 December 1916
Flag drill, - semaphore and Morse – at 6 a.m. Test in sending semaphore. Go out and back by 3:30. Mend wire cut by officer’s orders. Sgt. Gibson returns from Kiliwa.

Wednesday, 6 December 1916
Dig holes for men’s banda. Go out with signalling gear without Sgt., who had to have something to say when we came in.

Thursday, 7 December 1916
Go out with waggon in morning to bring in bamboo for banda. Maj. Kinloch takes over post command and Maj. Browning leaves with mountain battery in afternoon. Battery has half holiday. Do guard at night.

Friday, 8 December 1916
Being on guard the previous night do nothing in forenoon. Do a little on the director⁷⁹ in the afternoon.

Saturday, 9 December 1916
Clean gun and ammunition train in the morning for inspection. Leave Mitole at 3 p.m. and march to Tchemera Hill arriving at 9 p.m. Rain during night.

Sunday, 10 December 1916
Take over mess orderly for week. Rain during forenoon. Move up the hill in afternoon to old camp. Church service in evening. V.B.R.

Monday, 11 December 1916
German prisoner brought in. Leave Tchemera Hill at 4:30 a.m. and march back to Mitole arrive at 9:30. Heavy rain during night causing us to seek shelter old banda. Lt. Young and Gnr. White join us on way from Tchemera. Letters to Mother and Aggie despatched.

Tuesday, 12 December 1916
Rain during day. Bomb⁸⁰. Ward and three men join us.

Wednesday, 13 December 1916
Very heavy rain during day. Scottie takes to fever, very ill during night. Motor transport stuck because of bad roads.

Thursday, 14 December 1916
Nice bright morning.

Friday, 15 December 1916 - Saturday, 16 December 1916
[no entry]

Sunday, 17 December 1916 1916
Whitmill⁸¹ takes over mess orderly. 2/3rds. Rations for week issued.

Monday, 18 December 1916 - Wednesday, 20 December 1916
[no entry]

Thursday, 21 December 1916
Receive letters from Aggie and Jim Arthur

Friday, 22 December 1916
Do guard at night

Saturday, 23 December 1916
Do grazing⁸² guard in forenoon. Half-holiday in afternoon.

Sunday, 24 December 1916
Attend CE⁸³ service.

Monday, 25 December 1916
Holiday all day. Get 100 cigarettes from Lt. Young. Concert at night.

Tuesday, 26 December 1916
Write to Aggie and Mother.

Wednesday, 27 December 1916
Do guard at night

Thursday, 28 December 1916
[no entry]

Friday, 29 December 1916
Do grazing guard in forenoon.

Saturday, 30 December 1916
[no entry]

Sunday, 31 December 1916
Go out with Sgt. Gibson shooting. See a buck. Officers seem to have a good time at night.

January 1917

Monday, 1 January 1917
Receive letters from Aggie. Holiday all day. Papers from Aggie

Tuesday, 2 January 1917

Wednesday, 3 January 1917
Parade from 6:30 to 8:30. Flag and buzzer practice.

Thursday, 4 January 1917 - Friday, 5 January 1917
[no entries]

Saturday, 6 January 1917
Received word of promotion⁸⁴ and do guard. No games at night.

Sunday, 7 January 1917
Leave Mitole with bullock transport in afternoon and march to Tschemara Hill arrive at 7:30. Leave at 10 and march till early next morning. Leave Harry Ingham sick at Tschemara.

Monday, 8 January 1917
March on in afternoon and camp in very long grass. Brown falls off cart and gets hurt.

Tuesday, 9 January 1917

Move on to Namatiwa⁸⁵ arriving late at night. 52 miles from Mitole.

Wednesday, 10 January 1917
Go out with scouting party at 3 a.m. returning to camp about 9 a.m.

Thursday, 11 January 1917
Leave Namatiwa and march towards Ngarambi⁸⁶. Fired on by Germans. Return to camp at Ngarambi at night.

Friday, 12 January 1917 Being battery orderly am supervising boys cutting grass when camp is fired upon. Gun is brought into position and fires 16 rounds. One black boy hit. After quietness is established it is found to be the Pathans⁸⁷ who have fired on the camp. They lost one man killed and another wounded. Major von Boemken⁸⁸ brought in as prisoner.

Saturday, 13 January 1917
Camp is again fired on but no one is hit and gun doesn’t fire.

Sunday, 14 January 1917
Camp fired into and Alex Spalding⁸⁹ is killed instantly from shot wound in head. He was laying wire⁹⁰ to front line. He was buried in the afternoon.

Monday, 15 January 1917
All is quiet. German prisoner brought in wounded three places in the legs. John Marsden comes in and brings letters. I get 19 and thirty two come for Alex Spalding. I look through them for valuables and then burn them.

Tuesday, 16 January 1917

Leave camp with Pathans at 3:30 p.m. and march for 2½ hours. Camp in bush for night. Gun follows later. Rations for two days consists of 2½ chapattis. No fires allowed so we drink water. Sgt. Gibson leaves for Nairobi at 6.a.m. Letters despatched to Mother and Aggie.

Wednesday, 17 January 1917
Move on at 2 a.m. and bump into enemy about 10:30 a.m. Move again and have another scrap about 2:30  p.m. Capt. Thomson hit in the leg. We return to camp at N.J.⁹¹ at 11:45 p.m.

Thursday, 18 January 1917
Dan Wyart arrives in camp with McNaughton and McConkey.

Friday, 19 January 1917 [no entry]

Saturday, 20 January 1917
Leave camp with Pathans in afternoon and march out with gun. Camp in bush for night.

Sunday, 21 January 1917
Move on at 5:20 and bump into enemy about six miles from Mawa. Very heavy rain so get wet to skins. Return back to Ngarambi there at night!

Monday, 22 January 1917
Reid and Sable arrive in camp.

Tuesday, 23 January 1917

Leave camp at 3:30 and march for seven miles towards Kitambe. Stuck at deep drift and camp there for that night.

Wednesday, 24 January 1917
Move at 6 a.m. without any Pathans and after a hard days work making roads passable arrive at Kitambe about seven p.m. Padre meets us there and each man gets three packets of [unclear] cigs. Heavy rain at night. Receive papers from Aggie.

Thursday, 25 January 1917
Resting all day. Write some letters to Barbara, Agnes and John Murray.

Friday, 26 January 1917 Nothing doing all day except moving shells to sled.

Saturday, 27 January 1917
Same as yesterday, removing [unclear].

Sunday, 28 January 1917
Maunders and Knight arrive in camp. Receive two letters from Mother and one letter and three bundles of papers from Aggie.

Monday, 29 January 1917
Make preparations for removing camp further down hill.

Tuesday, 30 January 1917
Continue work on new camp. Gasper and Handlon leave for Zanzibar to bring others. McConkey goes to hospital.

Wednesday, 31 January 1917
Guard from 9 a.m. to 9a.m. next day on ammunition stores.

February 1917

Thursday, 1 February 1917 - Saturday 17 February
[no entries]

Sunday, 18 February 1917
Leave Kitambe at 6 a.m. and arrive at Mission about 5:30 p.m. Corp. Golding goes sick so I take over charge. Roads very bad. Niggers have to pull guns up heavy hills.

Monday, 19 February 1917
Leave Mission at 9:30 a.m. and have to leave the battery on account of fever and proceed to Kabata⁹².

Tuesday, 20 February 1917
Lay all day in banda with fever.

Wednesday, 21 February 1917
Scottie, Hessay, Knight, Walker, Alexander and I go into hospital with fevers and dysentery respectively. Battery moves on towards Namakata⁹³.

Thursday, 22 February 1917
In hospital

Friday, 23 February 1917
In hospital

Saturday, 24 February 1917
In hospital

Sunday, 25 February 1917
In hospital

Monday, 26 February 1917
Discharged hospital and pack up in readiness to move next day. Hessay and Alexander left behind.

Tuesday, 27 February 1917
Leave Kabata and march to Nama Kata and camp for the night. Roads are very bad.

Wednesday, 28 February 1917
Leave Nama Kata and arrive Moboro⁹⁴ and join the battery about midday in heavy rain. Have a very cold welcome.

March 1917

Thursday, 1 March 1917
Still in Moboro. Hessay arrives about midday. Rumour that will be here for another six days.

Friday, 2 March 1917
Load two guns on a small lighters after dismantling.

Saturday, 3 March 1917
Carry signalling and other gear down to the riverside ready for loading. Load limbers and stores on lighter in afternoon.

Sunday, 4 March 1917
Leave Moboro and march about 8 miles and board lighters. Lie there until afternoon and are towed down river and arrive aboard “Mafia”⁹⁵, London, just before dark. Stay there all night. Very wet during night.

Monday, 5 March 1917
“Mafia” leaves after midday. Fair weather.

Tuesday, 6 March 1917
Still on “Mafia” arriving in Dar-es-Salaam about dark.

Wednesday, 7 March 1917
Unload limbers, guns and other stores from “Mafia” into lighter and come ashore and march to camp and don’t feel too braw. No room in tents so sleep outside. Take over duties of battery orderly for week. Receive letters and papers from Mother, Joe, Agnes and Aggie and Mr Plenderleith⁹⁶ and Mrs McAndrew⁹⁷.

Thursday, 8 March 1917
Fair all day but very heavy rain with thunder and lightning during night. Have to rush into a tent.

Friday, 9 March 1917
Erect another tent and sleep there during the night.

Saturday, 10 March 1917
Guns and other gear cleaned ready to go into ordnance. Indian gifts sorted out. Gifts distributed in afternoon.

Sunday, 11 March 1917
Have to lie down with fever in the afternoon.

Monday, 12 March 1917
Still laid up with fever.

Tuesday, 13 March 1917
Fever still, but a little better.

Wednesday, 14 March 1917
Still improving.

Thursday, 15 March 1917
Nearly all right again.

Friday, 16 March 1917 - Sunday, 18 March 1917
[no entries]

Monday, 19 March 1917
Letter from Aggie dated 13/12/16

Tuesday, 20 March 1917
Letter from Agnes dated 21/1/17

Wednesday, 21 March 1917
Letter from Mother 18/1/17. Letter from Aggie 17/1/17 and 2 bundles papers.

Thursday, 22 March 1917 - Saturday, 24 March 1917
[no entries]

Sunday, 25 March 1917
Letters to Mother, Agnes, Joe, Aggie and Mrs McAndrews.

Monday, 26 March 1917
Orders that all RA men attached to 8^th Field Battery⁹⁸ will join the 134^th (Cornwall) Howitzer Battery tomorrow at 2 p.m.

Tuesday, 27 March 1917
Pack up kit in forenoon join 134th battery at 2 p.m. and immediately set to work to take down and pack officers mess tent. Proceed to station. Train leaves about 10.

Wednesday, 28 March 1917
Arrive Ngerengere at 4:30 a.m. and stay all day and night. Rails washed away by rain.

Thursday, 29 March 1917
Move on, passing Kisegese and arrive at Morogoro⁹⁹ just at dusk. Tramp to camp. Roads awful.

Friday, 30 March 1917
Report sick and have to walk down town to see doctor. Paper marked Mex¹⁰⁰, 1 day, duty.

Saturday, 31 March 1917
Go on parade but get leave to fall out. Do no more this day.

April 1917

Sunday, 1 April 1917
Lie up all day. Go on 24 hour house guard at 6:30. Letters from Mother dated [blank] Papers from Aggie.

Monday, 2 April 1917
Come off guard at 6:30 p.m. Heavy rain during night.

Tuesday, 3 April 1917
No parade on account of rain.

Wednesday, 4 April 1917 - Monday, 9 April
[no entries]

Tuesday, 10 April 1917
Go into hospital at Morogoro, feeling very sick.

Wednesday, 11 April 1917
Not feeling much better and eat practically nothing all day.

Thursday, 12 April 1917
Feel a little better and shift into a ward beside more patients. A little cluster here.

Friday, 13 April 1917
Still improving but not very braw. Sister says, “You must eat”.

Saturday, 14 April 1917
A little better.

Sunday, 15 April 1917
Still improving but slowly.

Monday, 16 April 1917 - Tuesday, 17 April 1917
[no entries]

Wednesday, 18 April 1917
Leave Morogoro hospital at 4 p.m. and join hospital train for Dar-es-Salaam. Transfer paper marked ‘Has had a very severe attack of Malaria. Now wasting rapidly’.

Thursday, 19 April 1917
Arrive in Dar-es-Salaam and am put in Ward 8.

Friday, 20 April 1917
Doctor examines me and loses his temper because his pencil breaks.

Saturday, 21 April 1917
Another man takes my bed and I go out to the verandah. Have bad pain in chest on account of rain.

Sunday, 22 April 1917
Being close to the church can hear organ play at all the various services.

Monday, 23 April 1917
Make out some diet sheets for Sister. Getting on fairly well. Have visit of clergy man at tea tent.

Tuesday, 24 April 1917
[no entry]

Wednesday, 25 April 1917
Letters from Aggie, Ettie and Barbara.

Thursday, 26 April 1917 - Monday, 7 May 1917
[no entries]

May 1917

Tuesday, 8 May 1917
Letters from Agnes and Aggie.

Wednesday, 9 May 1917 - Monday, 14 May 1917
[no entries]

Tuesday, 15 May 1917
Parade at 11 a.m. and hand in papers.

Wednesday, 16 May 1917
Leave hospital and go into Detail Camp Dar-es-Salaam.

Thursday, 17 May 1917
Attend as pall-bearer of RE Private¹⁰¹ in afternoon.

Friday, 18 May 1917
Nothing to do all day.

Saturday, 19 May 1917
Go on piquet duty outside detail camp.

Sunday, 20 May 1917 - Sunday, 27 May 1917
[no entries]

Monday, 28 May 1917
Come off piquet . Take over hospital guard from Carey.

Tuesday, 29 May 1917 - Sunday, 10 June 1917
[no entries]

June 1917

Monday, 11 June 1917
Letter to Mother.

Tuesday, 12 June 1917
Tyrell leaves for Rodesia[Rhodesia?]

Wednesday, 13 June 1917
[no entry]

Thursday, 14 June 1917
Dickman goes into hospital.

Friday, 15 June 1917
[no entry]

Saturday, 16 June 1917
Five letters from Aggie dated 20^th & 27^th Feb., 4^th March, 17^th & 24^th Apr. One letter from Mother dated 4^th May, ditto Mrs McA, 12^th Ap., ditto J. Arthur, 15^th Ap.

Sunday, 17 June 1917
Two letters from Aggie dated 13^th & 27^th March.

Monday, 18 June 1917
Feeling sick and have to take to bed with ague.

Tuesday, 19 June 1917
Still feeling unwell. Another attack of ague.

Wednesday, 20 June 1917
Still feeling sick.

Thursday, 21 June 1917
Go into 2nd SAG Hospital with Malaria.

Friday, 22 June 1917
Confined to bed with malaria. Temp 100º a.m. 104º pm.

Saturday, 23 June 1917
Temp drops to 97.2º Letters from Mother dated March 19^th Copy of Tom’s letter enclosed. Hills and Jones go to Morogoro.

Sunday, 24 June 1917
Temp 97.6º

Monday, 25 June 1917
Still in hospital.

Tuesday, 26 June 1917
Hospital

Wednesday, 27 June 1917
Hospital

Thursday, 28 June 1917
Hospital

Friday, 29 June 1917
Hospital

Saturday, 30 June 1917
Hospital

Sunday, 1 July 1917
Hospital

July 1917

Monday, 2 July 1917
Discharged from hospital. See Reg. Reid.

Tuesday, 3 July 1917
Rebuilding cookhouse.

Wednesday, 4 July 1917
Working on cookhouse.

Thursday, 5 July 1917
Leave Dar-es-Salaam for Morogoro.

Friday, 6 July 1917
Arrive Morogoro.

Saturday, 7 July 1917
Route march.

Sunday, 8 July 1917
Nothing doing.

Monday, 9 July 1917 - Thursday, 19 July 1917
[no entries]

Friday, 20 July 1917
Vaccination

Saturday, 21 July 1917
Football Arty - RFC, 0 – 2.

Sunday, 22 July 1917
Letter to Aggie.

Monday, 23 July 1917
Letter to Mother

Tuesday, 24 July 1917 - Tuesday, 31 July 1917
[no entries]

August 1917

Wednesday, 1 August 1917 - Thursday, 18 October 1917
[no dates amended, no entries]

October 1917

Friday, 19 October 1917
Leave Morogoro at 9:30 a.m. for Dar-es-Salaam and arrive the same night.

Saturday, 20 October 1917
DSM detail camp¹⁰².

Sunday, 21 October 1917
DSM detail camp

Monday, 22 October 1917
DSM detail camp

Tuesday, 23 October 1917
DSM detail camp

Wednesday, 24 October 1917
DSM detail camp

Thursday, 25 October 1917
DSM detail camp

Friday, 26 October 1917
DSM detail camp

Saturday, 27 October 1917
Go on board “Hymettus”¹⁰³ for Kilwa

Sunday, 28 October 1917
Arrive Kilwa Kisiwani and motor to Kilwa Kivinje. Camp at Red Hill near old camp of last year.

Monday, 29 October 1917
Detail camp Red Hill

Tuesday, 30 October 1917
Detail camp Red Hill

Wednesday, 31 October 1917
Leave Kilwa Kivinje and travel to Mitandi Wala to join Hull Battery instead of Kilwa Battery

November 1917

Thursday, 1 November 1917
Continue on tractor to Nanganache and then by autocar to Lewale. Meet Andrew Porter who was coachman and chauffeur to Laird Rankin¹⁰⁴

Friday, 2 November 1917
Continue on AP’s autocar to Nahungo¹⁰⁵

Saturday, 3 November 1917
Still in Nahungo and see A. P. again

Sunday, 4 November 1917
Still in Nahungo

Monday, 5 November 1917
Still in Nahungo and see AP on his way to Minera Mission

Tuesday, 6 November 1917
Leave Nahungo and proceed to Minera Mission. Pass AP on road.

Wednesday, 7 November 1917
Leave Minera and proceed to Ruangwa¹⁰⁶ and see Bdr. Spender. Leave and proceed to Ngaga¹⁰⁷, walking the last 5 miles and join the Hull Battery.

Thursday, 8 November 1917
Go on in FWD¹⁰⁸ lorry. No fighting.

Friday, 9 November 1917
Go on again. Doing Piquet by the way.

Saturday, 10 November 1917
Proceed in FWD no scrap. Join Kilwa Battery at night in Nanga Massai¹⁰⁹.

Sunday, 11 November 1917
Go out as escort to FO Party. Some scrapping guns fire six rounds and Hull Battery ten rounds. Don’t see effect of shells, being short of wire. Return to camp at night. Guns have moved up about one mile.

Monday, 12 November 1917
Infantry scrapping in distance. Do guard at night. Wire is broken between battery and Hill 6 and Joe Armstrong comes back to repair it and is lost for a time in the bush.

Tuesday, 13 November 1917
Infantry scrapping throughout day. Hull battery go forward a little and with one gun about 5:30 p.m. and fire two rounds.

Wednesday, 14 November 1917
Still in Nanga Massai. [This is the last entry in the diary.]

Epilogue

Presumably my grandfather continued to serve with his unit during the last few weeks of 1917 but it is most likely that he again suffered from sickness that was serious to have him removed from theatre.

January 1918

The discharge papers record that James Shaw was admitted to No.2 General Hospital, Maitland, Cape Town, South Africa on Thursday, 3^rd January 1918, suffering from Malaria. He is recorded as having served one year, five months in East Africa. The medical officer, Capt. Hopkins authorises the transfer to England for convalescence.

He is repatriated on A72 “Beltana”¹¹⁰ but falls ill on board with malaria from Sunday, 17^th February through Tuesday, 19 February 1918. On arrival in the UK he is admitted to Bermondsey Military Hospital, London from Thursday, 21 March 1918 through Saturday, 24 May 1918. During this time his temperature reaches 102º on 24^th and 26^th March and his spleen is described as being 'slightly tender'. Official policy is now not to return malaria sufferers to 'theatres of war where malaria is prevalent'. He is discharged from hospital with downgraded medical status.