The Wonderers Returneth

Like a bad penny turning up again, the 1st Battalion returned to Egypt.
​After five intolerable days at sea, the troopship Ivernia docked at Alexandria on the 31st October allowing the seasick men of the 1st battalion to depart.
It was less than 12 months since the old 1st Battalion had departed from the very same docks that they now returned to on their war to join the fight in the 'Great European War.' However in this time, they had evolved beyond all recognition. The old Battalion was dead. In its place a new Battalion had been born, only to be cut down in their youth. In final desperation, this youthful reborn Battalion was pitched into battle with a determined enemy with none too favourable results. As a result, their Brigade was despatched to a far flung corner of the war.
Their time in Egypt was one of re-aclimitsation to the tropics. There were very few of the old 1st Battalion that had gone out with the Battalion. Its old commander, had been wounded and captured, and the cream of its pre-war officers and NCOs either killed or wounded. Yet in their wake, a new generation emerged that would go onto greater things and long service with the Battalion in the years to come.
In this brief period of calm and tranquility, the quiet and the peace of Egypt was much appreciated following the claustrophobic and testing conditions they had endured on the Western Front. The men bathed and swam and enjoyed their brief respite, despite the serge uniforms they still wore, being unsuitable to their new abode.
Their stay in Egypt was however to be short-lived. Soon they would be moving on.

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