Please note: Care has been taken to transcribe these entries without alteration to preserve the original language of Herbert Vincent Reynolds.

‘The routine* here is very similar from day to day, first parade of a morning is before breakfast when we fall in on the parade ground, then have a short march up the sand hill towards the pyramids, at the top of which we have quarter hours physical drill and then return for breakfast. The next parade takes up most of the morning, these vary slightly from route marches to lectures etc. as do the afternoon parades. Today was spent on Mena Flat, tent Pitching etc.’

*Routine is a big part of any soldier’s life.  Structure and routine are essential for men about to enter into a sometimes chaotic situation. If the routine is built in it becomes second nature.