It is difficult to spend ones time in serious thought

TCD MS 10515 folio 6v

TCD MS 10515 folio 6v

[Feb 23rd 1916] Gallipoli; all its original officers were either killed or wounded and the remnants of the men with lately joined drafts and new officers were now returning. We presumed that we, who as yet has seen no service, would relieve this war-worn unit, and take its place as a regiment on duty overseas. We concluded that the arrival of the 1st Battalion would be the signal for our departure. We enjoy ourselves as much as possible. Natural History has been shelved for the present. It is difficult to spend ones time in serious thought and the collection of information on the workings of Nature when one knows that in a few weeks one may be facing Turkish bullets. For Kut is still unrelieved and we expect to be in the Tigris force in the great effort