Ezbekieh Quarter

Date: 1903, 1916-1927, 1982

By: Gillies, Alexander (Sir), 1891-1982

Reference: ATL-Group-00011

Description: Photograph albums, loose pages, a print, and a newspaper cutting relating to Sir Alexander Gillies. Photographs were taken by various unidentified photographers, mainly 1916-1927. Albums were compiled by Gillies. Two albums and some prints on loose pages relate to his service with the 1st NZEF and the NZYMCA in the Middle East during World War One. They show various events (garden party, sports events, concerts), daily life and facilities at YMCA centres in Cairo, Jerusalem and other unidentified locations around the Middle East. Albums also show soldiers sightseeing (mainly at Giza and in Jerusalem), as well as street scenes and unidentified local people in Cairo, Alexandria, Gaza, and Jerusalem. Album also includes many group and individual portraits of soldiers and YMCA workers, including Gillies. Some images appear in both albums, although prints are only captioned in one album. This includes five prints depicting Gillies with other soldiers at Giza, three prints showing church dignitaries and the Bishop of Jerusalem at his enthronement (1918), and five prints relating to a garden party for 3,000 convalescing soldiers at Ezbekiah Gardens (1917). Third photograph album and remaining prints on loose album pages relate to Gillies work and activities after World War One, circa 1921-1925. This includes a “Medical Tour” throughout continental Europe (1925), a "Summer School for Physical Education" in Italy (1921), and Gillies’ work at the Shropshire Orthopaedic Hospital (circa 1921-1925). Loose print is group portrait of Gillies and two unidentified Albany Street Public School classmates from 1903. Newspaper clipping is a death notice for Gillies from 1982, and briefly outlines his military service. Images of Alexander Gillies were identified by donor. Title supplied by Library Sir Alexander Gillies was born in Ravensbourne, Dunedin, in 1891 and attended Albany Street School. Between March 1916 and October 1919 he served in World War One with the First NZEF (New Zealand Expeditionary Force) and the NZYMCA (New Zealand Young Men's Christian Association). Between 1919 and 1923 Gillies studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh. Through the 1920s he worked at the Shropshire Orthopaedic Hospital in Oswestry, the Royal Southern Hospital in Liverpool (circa 1923-1925), and at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota (1927). Quantity: 3 album(s). 58 b&w original photographic print(s). 2 b&w photo-mechanical print(s). 1 colour photo-mechanical print(s). 1 b&w original photographic print(s) on mount. Physical Description: Three photograph albums, nine loose album pages, one mounted photographic print, and a newspaper clipping. Provenance: Donated by Lady Joan Gillies, second wife of Alexander Gillies, Wellington, 2015 and 2016.

Date: 1914-1915

By: Constance, John Edward, 1894-1915

Reference: MSX-2845

Description: Diary covers the period 20 Aug 1914 to 15 Aug 1915 and provides a detailed day-by-day description of Private Constance's activities. Details joining the Army on 20 Aug 1914, training at Addington and travelling to Wellington for embarkation on 16 Oct 1915. Recorded his vote for the 1914 New Zealand general election. Sailed aboard the `Tahiti' with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion. Comments on shipboard life, sea sickness, rifle exercises, general drills, fatigue duties and tug-of-war competitions between soldiers. Stopovers in Hobart and Albany. General Godfrey and staff tour the transport on 20 Oct 1915 in Albany. Notes sinking of the German Navy light cruiser `SMS Emden' by the Australian light cruiser `HMAS Sydney' in 9 Nov 1915. During stopover on 16 Nov 1915 in Colombo the `Tahiti' takes on board seven prisoners who served aboard the `SMS Emden'. Arrives Aden 25 Nov 1915 then continues onto Suez Canal. Comments on soldiers' disappointment on learning the troops were not continuing onto England but being deployed in Egypt instead. Disembarked 3 Dec 1915 at Alexandria and entrained to Cairo and then Zeitoun Camp. Constance updates daily on military drills, parades, inspections, marches and skirmishing practice in the desert. On leave he visits Cairo and the Pyramids with other soldiers. Marched with the whole of the New Zealand Divisional Brigade through the streets of Cairo. Comments on being paid in shillings and writing letters home. 26 Jan 1915 leaves Zeitoun Camp for the camp at Ismailia. Company relieves troops at El Ferdan to repel a possible Turkish attack on Suez Canal. Comments on number of Turkish prisoners taken on his return to Ismailia, and then back to Zeitoun Camp. On 16 Mar 1915 the troops were inspected by Sir Arthur Henry McMahon, High Commissioner in Egypt. Ten days later Constance notes that his false teeth are broken after chewing tough beef. On Good Friday, 2 Apr 1915 Constance is in Cairo and witnesses the riot in the Ezbekieh Quarter between local Egyptians and Allied troops, comments on the drunks and arrested men. Entrains to Alexandria on 10 Apr 1915 and sails on the transport `Lutzow' with the Canterbury Battalion to the port of Mudros on the Mediterranean island of Lemnos. At anchor in the harbour with daily trips to the island for marching practice, training and leave. 24 Apr 1915 transport heads to the Gallipoli Peninsula lead by the British dreadnought battleship `HMS Queen Elizabeth'. 11.00am on 25 Apr 1915 leaves the `Lutzow' landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula and straight into action. Records fighting up on the firing line. Constance continues to record his daily life of bombardments by the Turkish Army, sniper fire, manning the trenches, and coming off the front line to be relieved and take sleep wherever he could find it. 3 May 1915 writes that the men were being "slaughtered wholesale" and provides a detailed account of the New Zealand soldiers trying to retire from their position in the face of enemy fire. Following weeks settles into a routine of front line activity, fatigue duty at the beach, burying the dead and rest. 19 May 1915 Constance and his section are transported onto the HMS Reindeer and sailed a couple of miles along the coast, they come ashore once more and commence the digging of trenches. Returned to original bivouac on 22 May 1915. Notes the sinking of the `HMS Triumph' on 25 May 1915. 4 Jun 1915 Canterbury Infantry raided from Quinn's Post, next day a sortie against the enemy at German Officers' Trench opposite Courtney's Post. 15 Jun 1915 Constance competes in a bomb throwing competition. Constance's Company travel to Mudros for rest on 15 Jul 1915. Comments on the men being sick "as they had eaten too many luxuries". Returns to Anzac Cove and duty on Walker's Ridge. Involved in the heavy fighting during the first week of Aug 1915. Last entry on 15 Aug 1915 as a party of Constance's Company advances beyond the trench lines to take a fort but are driven back and have to retire. Last page of diary has two quotes from history. Source of title - Provided by Library Relationship complexity - A portrait photograph of Constance has been digitised and is in the Photographic Archive (PAColl-10094) Private Constance left New Zealand with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion in Oct 1914. Trained in Egypt. Fought at Gallipoli, wounded late August 1915, died 2 Sep 1915 in a hospital in Alexandria. Serial Number: 6/1223A. Quantity: 1 volume(s) (68 leaves). Physical Description: Holograph (9 x 14 cm, fawn case) Provenance: Donor is nephew of Constance Processing information: Part of WW100 digitisation project. Digitisation details - 114 digitised images

Date: 23 Jul 1914-8 May 1915

By: Bayne, James, 1887-1915

Reference: MS-Papers-1418

Description: Diary kept by Bayne while serving as a private in the Ruahine Company, Wellington Infantry Battalion, in Egypt and Gallipoli. The first pages comprise a listing of the officers in Malone's Wellington Infantry Battalion and a timeline of significant dates relating to the start of the First World War. Diary begins on 10 Aug 1914 as Bayne enlists at Dannevirke, is sent to Masterton for equipment and then onto the Awapuni Camp for military training. Further training at Trentham Camp then embarks aboard the `Arawa' to Egypt on 16 Oct 1914. Details shipboard life and gives accounts of the stopovers en-route, included a detailed account of the layover in Colombo. Arrives Alexandria 3 Dec 1914 and gives detailed account of the surrounding buildings, foods and local customs. Continues training at Zeitoun Camp until deployment to the Suez Canal on 25 Jan 1915. Returns to camp and describes living conditions, military life and operations. Diary entry for the "Battle of the Wozzer", 2 Apr 1915. Leaves Alexandria on 10 Apr 1914 aboard the transport `Itonus' for Gallipoli. 25 Apr 1915 is transhipped at 10.30pm to `HMS Bulldog' and taken half a mile from the beach before loading into rowing boats for the remainder of the ANZAC landing. Gives detailed narrative of the fighting and lists soldiers injured in the conflict. Comments on the failed attack on Monash Gully 2 May 1915, leaves Anzac Cove to fight at Cape Helles 6 May 1915. Diary ends 8 May 1915 with Bayne's involvement in preparing for the attack on Krithia. Also includes newspaper report of a memorial service held at Manakau for Bayne, and a newspaper cutting photograph of Private Bayne and New Zealanders on their way to Gaba Tepe. The newspaper cutting that accompanies this diary indicates that this diary was found on Bayne's body five months after his death. Source of title - Supplied Private Bayne fought with the Ruahine Company, Wellington Infantry Battalion, in Gallipoli in 1915. Reported missing in action at Cape Helles, 8 May 1915. Later reported killed in action, 4 Sep 1915. Serial No: 10/44. Quantity: 1 volume(s) (55 pages). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Holograph (18 x 11cm, grey card binding), printed matter Processing information: Part of WW100 digitisation project. Digitisation details - 70 digitised images