The Diary of a Royal Engineer Officer for Afghanistan 1879-80

The Diary of a Royal Engineer Officer

Afghanistan 1879-80.

This diary was compiled by Lieut. Alexander Lechmere Mein, R. E., and covers his service in the Afghan War in 1879-80. There were several members of the Mein family on service in Afghanistan at the same time, largely in the Indian Army; indeed General Roberts is said to have quipped at one time that he had seen more Meins than Afghans so far! The diary is very abbreviated in places and may have been meant as a simple aide memoire to serve as a basis for a larger account, but no fuller account is known.

Born in 1854, the son of General George Mein (1817-96), who was one of the famous “Kabul Captives” during the disastrous Retreat from Kabul in 1842, A. L. Mein was commissioned into the R.E. in April 1873 and when the Afghan War broke out was working with the Public Works Dept. in Meerut. In the first phase of the war, he served as an Assistant Field Engineer with the 2nd Division of the Peshawar Valley Field Force and was later engaged in building forts along the lines of communication. Mein returned to Afghanistan, as Assistant Field Engineer with the Khyber Line Force, for the second phase of the war in October 1879, taking part in the Wazir Khugianis Expedition, the Hissarak Expedition in April 1880 and the Lughman Valley Expedition in May 1880. For his services in the war, Mein was Mentioned in Dispatches and received the Afghanistan Medal. The existing diary covers this second phase of his service in Afghanistan.

This diary or journal, which may be missing its earliest pages in September, begins in October 1879 with Mein at Peshawar and covers just about a year, to September 1880. It largely recounts the daily routine of his journeys with convoys and supplies back and forth along the frontier and into Afghanistan and mentions a large number of well-known Afghan locations and military officers. Interestingly, it also refers to escorting the photographer John Burke (c.1843-1900) as he made his journey into Afghanistan which led to the production of his famous Afghan scenes, some of which (from the family collection) are reproduced below.

The Diary

Very slight alterations have occasionally been made to punctuation (or the lack of it!) and capitalisation to aid the flow of the narrative. Spellings are as in original.

28th October [1879 Peshawar: struck tents and commenced loading at 5 a.m. Got last things off at about 6.45.a.m. reached Jumrood [Jamrud] at 11 a.m. from Peshawar.

29th October: Left for Ali Musjid at 7 a.m.; loading took 1¹/₂ hours – All in by 12 noon.

30th October: reached Lundi Khana about 2 p.m.; left stores for reserve at Lundi Kotal – no food from Commissariat.

31st [Oct.] Friday: Halted Lundi Khana – Went to Lundi Kotal & brought down stores for park – got back about 3 p.m. The Hd. Qrs [Head Quarters] S. & Miners [Sappers and Miners] went on today – the 2nd Goorkhas came in and are to escort my Park on.

Nov. 1st Saturday: Marched at 6.30 a.m. for Dakka which [we/was] reached at 10.30 a.m. Dined with Merk.

Nov. 2nd: Marched at 5.30 a.m. to Basawal – reached there 11 a.m.; rear guard in about 2 p.m.

Nov. 3rd: Set off at 6.45 a.m. Barikhab reached 11 a.m. – very hot & dusty – camp a dirty place.

Nov. 4th: Got up at 2.30 a.m. Saw last of mules off at 5.45. Reached Jellalabad about 1.30 p.m. – a long march, 17 miles. Mules in water at end. Valley of Jellalabad not so fine as expected. Breakfasted at S. and Miners men’s Hd. Qrs.

Nov. 5th: Got up at 2 a.m., found a lot of muledrivers struck work, found them after 2 hours, jemadar and 2 drivers left behind to be whipped & dismissed. Awful confusion, the mules having been taken to the Lines. At last got rear guard off about 8.30 a.m. A fearful sandy, trying march – got to Roseabad 2 pm – very hot day. A pretty little fort there so I am told. One lascar disposed of eight men’s kits – put him in Goorkha Guard room.

Nov. 6th: Got all off at 6.45 a.m. about, an easy march of 9 miles to Fort Battye, road more stony. Got in about 10 a.m. Futteabad a pretty place – often level plain but very stony for camp. A servant of Ordnance Serjeant whipped for cutting one of my muledrivers eye open with a stone. Tied up to scaling ladders.

Nov. 7th: Up at 3.30 a.m. Marched off last animal about 6.30 a.m. Road up & down through sand hills, several streams to cross, uphill from Minla Bagh to Sufed Sang, reached there about 10 a.m. Campbell met me – temporarily encamped close to 10 B.L. [Bengal Lancers] & 24th P.I. [Punjab Infantry]. Mess with 10 B.L. Bradshaw of 24th P.I. here.

Nov. 8th: Had a good sleep – took look around camp before breakfast – camp ht. [height] 4300′. Rather bare around cultivation and trees – Rode with [blank] and Bradshaw to a hill about 1500′ above camp – pretty ride.

Nov. 9th. The flying column that went to effect junction with General Macpherson from Cabul returned today – no fighting. Colonel Limond came back too. Loafed about camp getting books etc. shipshape. Trying to have a camping ground allotted me – Shone I met.

Nov. 10th [Monday deleted] to 14th: In camp Chota Haziri [light morning meal] at 7 a.m. Breakfast 9 a.m., tiffin [afternoon tea] at 2 p.m., dinner – 6.30 p.m. Bedfordshire [going to bed!] 9 to 10 p.m. Visited Minla Bagh, cypresses very tall, rode about – heaps of villages around. Camp 2 miles this side of old cantonments.

Nov. 15th: Moved to old cantonments, Gundamuck, next to Hd. Qrs of 5th Sappers and Miners – encamped close to old remains of huts – stayed there till Nov. 19th.

Nov. 19th: Marched to Fort Battye en route to Landi Kotal for more stores. 1 serjeant, 1 naick, 12 lascars, 15 camels, 163 mules. Dined with Willcocks, drank beer and milk punch.

Nov. 20th Thursday: Reached Rozabad – breakfasted with Kensington & dined with him and Waller – a room to sleep in – a small square fort, not at all bad places to live in. Sambhuk [deer] there turned [?] by water.

Nov. 21st Friday: Arrived at Jellalabad, encamped close to and dined with Madras Sappers – Digby there – they were most hospitable – handed over 21 mules, 1 sick camel to transport officer.

Nov. 22nd Saturday: Barikhab our [next deleted] halt today – dined with 3rd B.C. [Bengal Cavalry] and Maud and Lt. Ferguson, who marched put with me.

Nov. 23rd: Basawal reached today – tiffined with Palmer, 3rd B.C.; dined with Yorke – about 8.30 [p.m.] a dust storm began – awful dust all night.

Monday Nov. 24th: Dust storm all day – an awful march to Dakka – putting up with Merk – looked like a dusty native on arrival – a delightful tub and then a hearty lunch.

Tuesday Nov. 25th. Reached Lundi Khana.

Wednesday Nov. 26th – Halted ditto.

Thursday Nov. 27th: Reached [Ali] Musjid.

Friday Nov. 28th: reached Peshawar.

up to 3rd inclusive: halted.

4th Dec.: Marched to Jumrood, dined with Limond etc., 29 Sappers and Miners with me.

5th Dec.: Reached Ali Musjid, sepoy [blank] went to hospital.

6th Dec.: Lundi Khana. Left sepoy in Field Hospital Lundi Kotal, breakfasted at M. S. & M. [Madras Sappers and Miners] – all things in.

7th : Halted Lundi Khana – sick sepoy and muledriver [blank] left in hospital – got a lot of things from Lundi Kotal.

8th: reached Dakka – all well.

9th: reached Basawal – dined with Palmer, 3rd B.C.

10th: reached Barikab – brought 2 dandies and 8 [—] with me – all well.

11th: reached Jellalabad, dust storm began before convoy reached – all well.

12th: dust storm still, changed stores – halted.

13th: reached Rozabad – all well.

14th: reached Fort Batye – cloudy – all well.

15th: reached Gundamuck.

[no entry between 15th – 30th Dec. 1879]

31st Dec.: Took stores to Pezwan – got in at 5 p.m. Sandy hills all along road. Pezwan in a hollow, with pickets on hills round – Stafford, Shaw, Stanton there.

Jany. 1st [1880]: Went to Jugdulluck – saw some of the enemy, about 50 shots fired at long ranges, no damage – sand hills all along to Jugdulluck Kotal – thence in bed of stream to Jugdulluck village. Campbell, Blunt, Gordon at Kotal – Hare and Randolph below. Dined with Douglas and Baker R.A.

2nd: Returned to Pezwan.

3rd: returned to Safed Sang.

8th [sic] Hd. Qrs. S. & Miners off to Roorkee; Mess done away with.

10th: Went with Col. Limond BC to Pezwan – Kensington and Campbell also. 24 seers grass for 6 mules from Commissariat.

11th: reached Jugdulluck. Lunched with Campbell at Kotal. 42 seers [unit of weight] of grass for 6 mules & 20 seers do. for charger from Commissariat.

12th: reached Sei Baba – a river bed, the Tezeen valley. Went with Burton, Burke photographer through Peri Dhavra Pass – very fine gorge, 8′ wide in one place – in 2 photoes – water all through it – then on to road, which led over a Kotal and past Khata Sang down to the Post, which is 5300′.

13th: Went to Lataband – 11¹/₂ miles – first 6 miles a steep ride to Lataband Kotal, 8000′ high over another kotal and down to the Post – a fine view of Cabul from Lataband Kotal – Bala Hissar, Sherpur etc. – Childers and 24th N.I. [Native Infantry] at the Post. Here the Colonel recd. a telegram about Girdi Rus route – so ordered me into Cabul to get the exploder.

14th: reached Bouthkak – found Mayne of the 9th Foot quartered – used his tent – 20 seers grass for ponies & 48 seers for 65 mules; two forts with village close – pulling it down partly.

15th: reached Sherpur. Road from Buthkak crossed a jheel on a causeway also passes Logur River half way – went to Bala Hissar en route about exploder – then on to Sherpur where put up in Park – a nice house – Onslow, Talbot, Moncrieff, Kenney, Brackenbury there – C. Perkins, Calher & Tichell in Genls. Gateway – looked up John and dined with him.

16th [Jan. 1880] Went off in morning to Bala Hissar about exploder. North said he would send it – then looked up Vousden and dined with him. Sherpur a long, straggly position 1¹/₂ miles long – Rode with John after Tiffin by Deh Afghan thro Ruzobback Quarter, thence to Shaul Bazaar, to Bala Hissar, where inspected Residency remains and saw big magazine remains – thence through Chauk out – being Mohammedan Sunday most of the shops shut.

17th: on 15th, 90 seers bhussa [dried grass] for 6 G [Government?] mules for 15th, 16th, 17th – Recd. note from North that the General said that exploder was to be kept. Took Col. Ls letter to C. Perkins. Dined with him & arranged to see the General with him next day at 10 a.m. Snow in day & during night.

18th: Saw General Roberts, who said I was to have exploder – Went to North who said he would send it up. Lunched with S & M & then into city. Dined at Park.

19th: the exploder came. Went into city with Smith and Combe – dined with John.

20th: Went up to Shah-i-Darwaza hill with Kensington – lovely view of Chardeh Valley, city etc. – 1300′ higher than city. Dined with John again. Told to wait for convoy.

21st: Much colder today – went up Bemaru heights to see future Fort Onslow – cloudy again today; dined at Park.

22nd: Went to see 2nd Goorkhas in Upper Bala Hissar – then with Talbot into city – skating – dined with John.

23rd: started and reached Bouthkak at 3 p.m. – grubbing with Holdich.

24th: double marched to Sei Baba – reached there 715 p.m. – moonlight – awfully cold night at Bouthkak.

25th: March next day to Jugk. Kotal; saw and lunched with Stafford at a village; pleasant dinner at Kotal.

26th: Double marched to Sufed Sang – baggage in at 5 p.m. – lunched with 51st on road at Pezwan; dined with — X B.L. [10th Bengal Lancers]

27th: Making accts. [accounts] up and paying men for Decmbr. Began some jumps for a steeplechase course.

[nothing till 4th February]

4th February [1880]: Reached Rozabad – after being kept 2 days waiting by rain and snow – skating at Safed sang – fine day.

5th: came to Jellalabad – met Mayne on road up – pitched in M. S. & M. camp. Dined with 17 B.C. [Bengal Cavalry].

6th: Sorting tools sent up by Ordnance – windy today but not much dust.

7th: Stayed Jellalabad.

8th: Went to Dorunta – Shute and Dorward there – making road over hill into valley to avoid fording river twice.

9th: Went over to Azmatullah Khan’s fort to see Col. Limond – back to Dorunta.

10th: Returned to Jellalabad till …

March 10th: … when reached Rozabad. A very hot sun and warm day – Luke and Kirke came up with me – should have started yesterday, everything packed on mules when found Srjt. L. absent, so had to wait another day.

March 11th 1880 – Reached Safed Sang.

March 23rd – was to prepare a Park for 2nd Div. in Cabul but Colonel L. stopped by telegram – Hills going as C.R.E. instead.

April 3rd: Moved up to Movable Column Camp with gunpowder and explosives – in 31st N.I. [Native Infantry] camp. Slept in Gibb’s tent & dined with 31st. Very cold.

April 4th: Called at 4 a.m. – drawn up ready to move off at 6 a.m. Park left at 6.30. Went to Nimla & then by country road & across country to [blank] – about 12 miles march – encamped on cultivated [crossed out] ploughed up ground with Madras Sappers – close to villages that were friendly or who had paid up fine – object to punish Khugs for attack on Fort Battye. Hardman and self in my tent, no beds.

April 5th: Quiet night. Park ready with column to blow down towers – 1 village tower and 4 towers of forts, all destroyed successfully – made up 4 charges [and lighted – deleted]. Hard work getting mules across the stepped cultivated crops. High rises between the flats and lots of ditches and small irrigation channels – got in about 5 p.m. rather tired.

April 6th: Went off again on same errand of destruction – was looting the first fort and going to set working parties on for preparing mine when an order came that no damage was to be done, as the tribes had paid up. Nice breezy day, lovely under a tree – looted an old pony – useless, so gave it away – Very dusty in camp.

7th April; Marched off at 7 a.m. for Safed Sang – the baggage was halted for 1 hour or so as road bad, which time I used in tiffining with Lamb and Liddell of 4th B. C. [Bengal Cavalry]; reached camp about 1 p.m. The road from Nimla first lay over a barren hill into a ditto valley, then through cultivated country, up a back of a slope towards the snows, with cultivated fields on one side & a stony valley on the other – the Wazir district very pretty – I believe 1 or 2 shots were fired, one enemy killed & 1 wounded; thus ended the Wazir expedition.

April 10th: Marched again into Movable Column Camp for going to Hisarak to punish Ghilzais for raids and murdering Thurlowe of the 51st; in Madras Sappers Camp.

April 11th: rained heavily in early morning so marching put off from 6 to 8 a.m. – formed up on polo ground – went off to Pezwan – by Harvey’s detour round north of 44th hill – a little shower after passing Surkhab river – in camp about 3 p.m. – had my bed this time.

April 12th: One mule for 4 officers – no tents allowed – got off about 8.30 a.m. towards Jugdulluck – left the main road about 4 miles from Pezwan & went country roads south to Maizula Khan’s fort in Hisarak – some slight opposition so the column attacked under cover of mountain guns – not much opposition so baggage advanced soon. Saw nearly all the skirmishing from a hill – very hilly about this part, nothing but hills and vales – the enemy followed us up to camp – General Bright and Arbuthnot in Maizula Khan’s fort with Staff and 8th N.I. [Native Infantry] – the rest in a village & round it about ¹/₂ mile to west of fort. I was told off with Stafford’s Sappers and Miners 6th Co. and we were outside the village under some big plane and walnut trees – found what we thought a nice place for our bhoosa and bedding & began dinner, but were not left long to enjoy it as the enemy opened fire on us and bullets whizzed around & over us till 1.30 a.m. You heard the Mullah and the La, La etc. of the Ghilzais. We were quite exposed except for the trees which gave us a deal of shelter – after being up 3 or 4 times, I had lain down for a doze when suddenly awoke by volleys from our men & 31st on our left – a lovely sight – a dark night & thought the Afghans were going to rush us – two vollies [sic] silenced them – heard one or two shots after – Serjt. of 51st* in picquet house 20 yards off us killed by a bullet – then slept till 5 a.m. or so. [*Sgt. James McCarthy – recorded as killed on 13th April in casualty lists]

April 13th: Instead of going out at 8 a.m., troops kept in camp to throw up a shelter trench round the place – trees cut down and abattis formed – the Colonel wanted one tree about 14′ girth cut down by ring of guncotton – only slabs, so prepared it as best I could but said it would not succeed. The Generals wished to see it – fired successfully, awful noise – tree shook and very nearly came down – charge not enough.

April 14th: Had a good sleep; not much firing. Two storms of wind and rain – my tarpaulin cover kept me dry. Found our trench a fairly good cover – went out and destroyed a mill. At 12 noon a column went out to burn & destroy – I was to have gone but my Colonel said there was too much work to be done in camp, so had to stop – work nil – so was rather vexed – Our column had some skirmishing – burnt some villages & got back about 6 p.m., the Afghans following us as usual – we saw a good deal of the fight from Camp – how the Afghans fire and then bolt down the hill was very plain – little groups detached here and there – Well they enfiladed the trench where Stafford, self and his men were, so confoundedly, that we made some traverses with sandbags – one Sapper got a contused wound in the knee just up to our right front – lots of bullets about and over our heads – Firing continued up to about 10. 30 p.m. – at least the last I heard, as then slept. Dinner in the dark!!

April 15th: Made a traverse to protect us from enfilade – also one close by my den – blew up another mill about ¹/₂ mile from camp – one or two shots at us – at about 5 p.m. a lot of troops went out to a village near us, cut down an orchard and then retired, 30 Goorkhas remaining behind in it so as to catch the Afghans coming in to it – they annoyed us from this direction a great deal – a moonlight tonight [sic] but the Goorkhas had no fun, the wily Afghan smelling a rat.

April 16th: Did not sleep well; before daybreak a rush was supposed to be taking place, so a lot of firing. A quiet night it was – got up at 4.30 a.m. to put the charges with Stafford and his men in Maizula Khan’s fort towers – the baggage went off at 7 a.m. At 9 a.m. the five explosions [sic] were lighted & all successful – one a particularly fine one, sent stones flying a long distance – then rode off for Pezwen by [blank] village, a much shorter way, following the Soorkhab, then turning by [blank] village up a hill, which looks down on Pezwan. Got in my tent about 12 noon. A very hot day – the rearguard of column was followed up by the Afghans, who wounded 6 of our men – cannot understand why we came back so soon!! Dined with Mayne of the 25th K.O.B. [King’s Own Scottish Borderers]; had a go of diarrhoea [sic] in the night.

April 17th: Started for Safed Sang at 7 a.m.; walked my pony all the way – very much tucked up with the diarrhoea – have had a good wash; am clean now again & have had some medicine – feel very sick – stayed at Safed Sang with bad diarrhoea and sore throat when started by doctor’s advice on May 1st for Pezwan – nice breeze but dusty. Breakfasted and dined with Woolcombe 25th K.O.B.

[no entries until -]

May 2nd: Up again at 4.30 a.m.. Started at 6 a.m. with with General Hill for Jug. Kotal, where am stopping – until diarrhoea is over. Shone and Dickson, 25th K.O.B. here, whom I know – also Ross and Hutchinson, 25th, Reid 51st & Oughton, the doctor. Nice and cool – not turned out during the night now. Stayed till 10th [May] when returned to Pezwan. Dined with 25th K.O.B.

11th May: Got in to Safed Sang – cold rain having fallen the day before.

13th May: Joined Junior Mess – Henderson sick.

14th May: Henderson invalided off on 16th. Stayed at Safed Sang until 2nd June when moved up with Field Park into No. 1 Movable Column camp about 6 p.m.

3rd June: Up at 2 a.m. Marched at 4 a.m. Breakfasted with Lydiard of 31st N.I. [Native Infantry] close to Fort Battye, saw Wahab – in at Rozabad at 11.30 a.m. Encamped in new cattle lines outside. Very hot – had breakfast with Digby and Dobson – also dinner – slept in afternoon.

4th June: Reveille at 3 a.m. Marched at 5 a.m. across Surkhab & by foot of hills to Darunta – very bad road for camels – lots of little streams and irrigated swampy ground to cross in the first four miles. Had a sleep under a tree – so delightful. Next halt at a village where was a fine well of water – paradise! Allowed to eat too!! Very hot – heaps of liquid got thro! At least reached camp at 2.30 p.m., 10 miles distance – drank and lay down till near dinner – enjoyed such a tub!

June 5th: Up at 3.30 a.m. Marched 5 a.m. Got into camp at Asmatoolah Khan’s fort at 11.30; baggage in at 5 p.m. Halted under trees 2 miles off at 11.a.m. !! Such nonsense!! Inside fort in a room – mess at same table as 31st N.I. [Native Infantry]. Great fun. Regular hot weather.

June 6th: Halt. Grand day in bed. At 5 p.m. all engineers were taken off by Genl. Arbuthnot to see trial raft for crossing river – 3 miles off – very hot – lots to do in separating baggage – started at 3.30 p.m.; a very hot wind in our faces all way & dusty – encamped on a stony plain, no shade so put a blanket over my table, some stones on top to keep it from being blown away by wind & then lay down in its shade – fine dust all over the place. Had a such a [sic] jolly swim in river with Digby – about 2¹/₂ miles from Asmatoolla’s fort.

June 8th: Hot wind and dust all night – crossing the river began at 430 a.m.. My park to go over after half the column had crossed – current strong – surface vel [velocity] about 5.3 miles an hour. 12 rafts for men and baggage – some horses swam across, then a fordable place was found a long way round for the animals – had breakfast at 9 a.m. under two trees about ¹/₄ mile from embarcation [sic] place – stayed there till called up by Serjt. when out time drew near. Got there about 11 a.m. & crossed over at 1.30. All my animals safely over & collected on other side by 2.30 p.m. – then forded over another branch of river about 2′ 6″ deep & marched to village called [blank] where we encamped under trees just outside village – the sap [sappers?] with me near the mule battery – a tight fit – so pleasant to lie down in the shade out out of dust; got in about 3.45 p.m. Digby not yet over. Dined with Johnson of 51st – all our eatable stores with Digby – little Nessie had her first swim today and enjoyed it thoroughly – the weather too warm for going on [—?] now – you get dried up altho’ you drink buckets of liquid; the [chargle?] lent me by Major R. Thompson R.E. keeps water so cool when the wind blows.

June 9th: remainder of force cross today – a hot wind all night – enjoying at present 10.30 a.m. [words missing?] a day of rest under two trees with a tarpaulin over the top sun well kept off. Have not yet heard list of casualties in crossing river – so glad to get father’s letter of 13th ult. just as stepping into raft yesterday. C. [not otherwise identified] was looking after rafts – no arrangements – order of crossing? – who to take mules over if the drivers could not swim? C. didn’t know – wldn’t give orders for getting the stores, saddles etc. unloaded & ready for putting on rafts. The sun of course very hot but a fine breeze & cooled by the river, so didn’t mind waiting to 2 hrs. before my turn came to get across, as there was no dust. Only one driver drowned in river transit. Had a bathe in river about 6 p.m. – not quite deep enough – a hot wind again tonight.

June 10th: All ready at 6 a.m. for destroying towers – Digby and self with Left Column, Major and Dobson with Right – marched about 2 miles up the valley near the river – then destroyed 4 towers and burnt 3 forts – then turn N [north] for about 2 miles when wheeled to our right & joined Right Col. – we here destroyed one fort and its 3 towers – and then had a march 2 miles back to camp – awfully hot – lots of ditch jumping – country very green here & lots of trees – got back at 6 p.m. quite tired out – enjoyed a tub immensely. The R. Column destroyed 5 towers – one of our towers was done with guncotton and acted splendidly. Picked a lot of melons but no other loot.

June 11th: Woke at 3 a.m. by R [right] ¹ /₂ Co. S. & Miners going back to Asmatoolla Khan’s fort – my park crosses back at 11.30 a.m. Crossed over and then marched straight to Asmatoolla Khan’s fort, which reached about 1 p.m.. Tiffined with the 51st & then slept such a sleep notwithstanding the tremendous heat – the rest of the column came over same day, 20 men or so fired into the last rafts and wounded 3 men & 2 officers (with spent bullets) – the rafts fired volleys in echelon like ship broadsides – got to bed 11 p.m. as kept waiting for orders.

June 12th: Up at 2 a.m. more asleep than awake, started at 4 a.m. for Dorunta to the old camp – glad to say reached it at about 7 a.m. – tents etc pitched by 8 a.m. – had breakfast – then slept – tiffin – sleep – bathe in river and jolly swim – tremendous dinner – then bed. Awfully hot day – thought an 80 lb. tent paradise!

June 13th: Marched at 5 a.m. or began to do so really at 6 a.m. – for Rozabad – felt sick – had to walk more than half way as pony ill and weak with bad cold – halfway had a cup of coffee from 1st Goorkhas – set me up – reached Rozabad 10.30 a.m. – such jolly figs I eat [sic] half way – into fort and had a glass of iced water – had my bed in Dobson’s room where laid & slept till 5.30 p.m. then tub & walk or rather saunter – made a tremendous dinner with Digby – to bed at 10 p.m.

June 14th: Called at 3 a.m.. Marched 4.30 a.m. – reached Fort Battye near 8 a.m. – went to stay with Wahab in the delightful rooms he has built breakfast at 10.30 then in bed which was brought over, till 3.30 p.m., som tiffin – tub at 5 p.m. – delightfully cool sleep.

June 15th: Called at 3 a.m. Off at 4.30 a.m. reached Safed Sang 8 a.m. – delightful breeze and cool all way along the ridge from Nimla.

[gap in account until August 14th – though no pages appear to be missing]

August 14th: Park marched today. Hd Qrs go tomorrow.

August 15th: We went (Hd. Qrs) to Rozabad, breakfasting at Fatehabad – got in about 9 a.m. My baggage late, all in at 12 noon.

August 16th: Started at 5 a.m. by old country road to Jellalabad – pretty ride thro’ lanes and fields, lots of jumps – in about 8 a.m. Breakfasted and dined with Brown – sun very hot – nights cool.

August 17th: Halted – saw Brown and Henry off by raft.

August 18th: Another halt – sad blow Prendergast our mess manager to wait for Sir Donald Stewart.

August 19th: Reached Lachipur 8.20, only juniors went – nice room – met Fenwick of 1st M.N.I. [Madras Native Infantry] – his father in 13th L.I. [Light Infantry] like mine.

August 20th: Reached Basawal – Shaw there – stayed in his room – we all dined at same table – Met Price O.W. [Office of Works] in 33rd {Native Infantry] now. Merk also here.

Aug. 21st: Reached Dakka 7.15 – we put up in Merk’s room – very hot – dusty in evening.

Aug. 22nd: At last got to Lundi Kotal, messing with Jenner, Ferrier & Abbott, Col. S – my tent pitched with theirs

Sept. 7th: Left Lundi Kotal for Ali Musjid started at 5 a.m. – cloudy and shady, got in at 8.30. Stayed in dak [part of postal network] bungalow – went up to park to see Goodwyn, met him as returning for dinner at Deh Burj.

Sept. 8th: left 4.30 a.m. – halted & had chota hazri at Jumrood, left again at 9 a.m. & got into the old bungalow about 12 noon, staying with Jerome. Mess at 17th B.C. [Bengal Cavalry]

Sept. 19th: left as 1.45 p.m. in dak gharry [post carriage] with Richie for Rawal Pindi – put up at Rowbury’s Hotel – reached hotel about 8 a.m. on 20th inst. Left Rawal Pindi Sept. 23rd in evening by dak to Rutzal & thence by train to Meerut which reached Sept. 25th forenoon – found Morar to be my destination.

Sept. 29th: left by 10.20. a.m. train for Agra where stayed the night at Laurie & Staten’s hotel.

Sept. 30th: Left 9 a.m. & reached Morar about 5 p.m. – staying with Major Crowdy R.E.