TCD MS 3414 folio 62 recto
[November 1915]
several bullets hit the body & many flew through the wings, it was not until the rearguard consisting of the 48th Pioneers deployed & drove them off that we had any peace. Sir J. Nixon, although I advised him to the contrary insisted on ordering up the aeroplanes to Zuer, there was no ground ready neither were there any details or stores there for them. I explained that an aeroplane could work as well from a base 12 miles away as it could actually at Zuer. No – although Gen Townshend was agreeable to my suggestion – he would order them up. An hour later I saw all the aeroplanes fly over Zuer & fly back- for they had been warned off with the signal “No ground ready”! Lieut Monroe eventually arrived with the repair motor but we could do nothing, & with the splendid help of the 48th Pioneers under Capt Hewitt <Rearguard consisting of a double company of the 48th Pioneers under Capt Hewitt> we pushed the aeroplane into Zuer over the desert and arrived at 11 p.m. with the transport. We had a hard time for a path in many places had to be cut. We were up nearly all night trying to repair the jet, <& although> I made a good job of the tyre, Murray could not repair the jet. We wired for one