"From Jaded Battalion To Cheeriest Of Troops"

Upon their evacuation form Gallipoli, the 1/5th Battalion were stationed on the island of Mudros in Portiano Rest Camp.
The first task of the Medical Officer was to establish for the Battalion Commander, the strength of the Battalion.
The stasticics were not good, only 22 officers and 308 other ranks were of a class fit for active service. 23 of these men were graded as Class C (fit for light duties), 242 as Class B (suitable for front line service) and 43 who were Class A (untouched by wound or disease). However the figures were slightly biased in that of those 308, 48 were newly arrived, so that perhaps those who were really Class 1 was just 5 men. It was a far cry from the 1007 officers and men who left Liverpool six months before.
The short rations and scarcity of clean drinking water on the peninsular, made such luxuries as fresh vegetables, eggs and oranges, much welcomed on Mudros. Quietness from the constant boom of guns was perhaps the most difficult thing to get to grips with.
But the quietness was short lived. Just three days after arrival on the island, they were off again to Egypt. They were a long way from the fresh, confident Battalion that had embarked less than four months before, whose confidence was seen in the cartoons of one young officer, Lieutenant H.C. Wolton  (above) but like all fighting Battalions, the change was an evolution that would eventually see them achieve victory.

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