Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), Tuesday 26 March 1918, page 9
________________________________________
An interesting glimpse of Palestine to day is given in a letter from Private R. H. Harrold, of the Australian Camel Field Ambulance, who forwards with it the unit's magazine, "The Cacolet," which is produced by the boys of the force. The editors are Sergeant T. Brennan and Lance-Corporal C. Barrett. Private Harrold says:—"We arrived at Suez on June 20
1916, entrained for a camp in the desert, remained there about six weeks, and were then entrained for Abbasia, to receive instructions about camels. Owing to their great knowledge of animals the Australians' reign in the training camp was only of short duration, and they soon found them selves dumped behind the firing line, where they have carried on ambulance work ever since. Commencing at Khalasa and ending at Jaffa, we boys have been enabled to see and traverse many of the ancient and historical places of the early days, thus helping us to understand more fully the teachings of the Old Testament. What we saw of the villages and their occupants goes to prove that the customs of the early days remain unchanged. One feature of interest is the mode of traveling of the Bedouin, which sad lot falls to the don-key and the camel. It is common to see families of Bedouins moving their goods and chattels by such antiquated methods, and when their camping ground is left little remains to show it was ever occupied. The Bedouin is a real wan-derer, and exists on goats, sheep, oxen, and what corn he receives from his harvest.
Their method of farming is as old fashioned as they are themselves. By some way or other they become possessed of an area of ground. They walk out of their hut or bivouac, harness a camel in a rude way, attach him to a plough, and commence operations. The plough is home-made and has a single shear, which tears a furrow in the earth about two inches by three. So they carry on until their half acre or acre of ground is completed. The corn is hand-sown, and then is trusted to rain and shine. When the corn has ma-tured it is gathered by hand and threshed by sticks. The ploughing is done by the aid of a pair of donkeys or a donkey and an ox. The donkeys in this country are not as big as a St. Bernard dog, and carry anything up to 200 lb. weight. The oxen are small, stunted, miserable-looking animals, about eight hands high. The Australian Camel Fieid Ambulance was formed in Victoria in January, 1916, and is an inter-State unit, in which South Australia was represented by twelve men. But owing to illness, &c., only six men re-main. They are as follow:-Privates A. Polkinghorne, H. West, H. Broad, H. Carey, H. Dalling, and R. H. Harrold. We also have with us Private A. Spencer Taylour. He is commonly known amongst the boys as 'the unofficial chaplain,' and as opportunity offers he is ready to hold a service, which is a source of cheer and blessing to the boys of the unit."