4 July 1916: "the monotony is killing"

In this desolate hole there is nothing to write about and our work consists of the same old thing day in, and day out (ie patrolling observing and so on). Sometimes we might run across a few camels and Turks or Bedouins. The monotony is killing and it beats me how the boys stand the conditions they work under.
The camp at Dueidar is situated in an Oasis, but it is only a small one and 600 men and 600 horses (approximately speaking) take up a lot of room. Consequently we have to eat and sleep with the horses. The stench from the horse lines is at times unbearable.
I thought and hoped that things were taking a turn for the better and that it would not be my painful necessity to write anything other than praise about the military in general. I fully intended to drop this summary and go on only with the diary but when todays orders were read indignation swelled to bursting point and I ask myself this question. Can a man who is being treated as a criminal fight as well as a man who knows he is respected?
I’m too annoyed to write on the subject so I finish up with another reminder that we have to ride third class with the stinking arabs and that the best hotels everywhere are reserved for Officers, while we have to go to the second rate hotels. Just think of it, and we are volunteer army!
Bah, it makes me sick and somebody will suffer for it when I get back.
​J. A. Graham

"Soldiers sitting and standing with horses, closeup" J. A. Graham

"Soldiers with their horses" J. A. Graham