TCD MS 10515 folio 62r
[April 29th 1916]
fields of miserable barley and in every other natural feature exhibiting an utter barrenes. It interested us as one of the positions where the Turks took up their stand last year and entrenched themselves before our army. We came across the floods in bellums and after a battle of an amphibious nature drove them from their stronghold.
We now emcamped close to their old position, beside their deep and workman like trenches which commanded, from a rising ground, the approaches over the desert.
We had a long wait in the sun until the transport arrived. I spent some of the time exploring the Turkish fortifications and the fauna which now inhabit them; all the while beneath the fierce sun and longing for the simplest shelter.