Saturday Jan 30th 15

Battalion assembled at 4 am
at El Kubri Ferry, but returned
to trenches at 6.30 am. We are
now daily improving earthworks &
constructing bomb proof shelters.
All ranks sleep by trenches & fully
dressed. My men have made me page 70 quite a nice dug out & I'm
perfectly comfortable during
this fine weather. Orient liner
“Orsova” & P&O. “Persia” passed
outward bound with large number
of passengers. Very cheering to the
troops who are now intensely
keen. Passing ships are of daily
occurrence. Thursday night a
hydroplane had mishap on the
Northern part of canal & unfortunately
when the French aviator & his companion
(a Ceylon officer) were returning to our
lines they were fired upon and
both killed. Same night a patrol
of ours had brush with Turks and
several casualties on both sides.

News of North Sea fight &
defeat of Germans. “Blucher” sunk.