In the evening “D.”  Company had to find a firing party to shoot three Indians, two N.C.Os. and one sepoy, for cowardice in the face of the enemy.  I’m thankful that North and not I was detailed for the job.  I think there is nothing more horrible in all war than these executions.  Luckily they are rare.  The men, however, didn’t mind at all.  I talked to the corporal about it afterwards—­a particularly nice and youthful one, one of my draft—­and remarked that it was a nasty job for him to have to do. to which he replied gaily, “Well, sir, I ‘ad a bit o’ rust in my barrel wanted shootin’ out, so it came in handy like.”  T.A. is a wonderful and attractive creature.

13th, Thursday. Moved at 7 a.m., carrying food and water for two days.  The enemy had been located on the E. Canal, about eight miles from D., and our people were going to attack them.  The idea was to hold them in front with a small force, while a much bigger force got round their left flank (the Canal is on the left bank of the river).  Our brigade was to support the frontal containing force.

We marched about four miles and then halted about 9 a.m.  There was a strong and cold S.E. wind blowing, which prevented our hearing any firing, and we could see very little shelling.  Our air plane first reported that a certain fort, which stood about a mile in advance of the enemy’s left flank, was strongly held; but we seem to have shelled them out of that pretty easily, for about 2 p.m. it reported again that the enemy had left his trenches on the Canal.

About 3.30 p.m. we advanced, and reached the aforesaid fort a little before sunset.  Here we heard various alarming and depressing reports, the facts underlying which, as far as I can make out at present, were these.  The Turks, seeing their left flank being turned, quitted their position and engaged the outflanking force, leaving only about 500 out of their 9,000 to hold the canal.  Our outflanking force, finding itself heavily engaged, sent and asked the frontal force to advance, to relieve the pressure.  The frontal force, hearing at the same time that the Turks had quitted their Canal trenches, advanced too rashly and were surprised and heavily punished by the remnant left along the Canal, losing half their force and being obliged to retire.  So when they met us they naturally gave us the impression that there was a large force still holding the Canal, which we should have to tackle in the morning.

We dug ourselves in about 2,000 yards from the Canal.  It was very cold and windy, and we had not even a blanket, though I had luckily brought both my greatcoat and Burberry.  There was a small mud hut just behind our trench, littered with Turkish rags.  The signallers made a fire inside, and two stray Sikhs had rolled themselves up in a corner.  It was not an inviting spot, but it was a choice between dirt and cold, and I had no hesitation in choosing dirt.  So after a chill dinner, at which I drank neat lime-juice and