Letters from Robert James Henderson, 1915 - Part 2

To Mr Jas. Henderson
At Sea
14/9/15
Dear Sir
I am pleased to inform you that
your sons Offc LA & Cpl R.J. are is in the best of health and spirits.
We have had a very pleasant voyage and tho' it is
getting rather hot as we approach its termination,
everyone is looking forward with interest to the new land
we expect to reach in a day or two.

HL Henley
Lieut
O/C 7th Run 13th Brd.

19th Sept. 1915.
Zeituon
Egypt.
Dear Mother.
We have arrived at our
destination for the present at last.
Had a through trip to Suez from Sydney which took 4
weeks less 1 day. In previous correspondence I think
I told you about trip as far as Suez. Hence
there we took the train to Zeitoun about 70 or 80
miles a 6 hour trip. This run was most
interesting right along the Canal for some miles
passed a P & O mail boat & several war
boats from the train these vessels appear to
to being running along the sand. The country
for the first ½ of the journey was practically
nothing else but desert. but later on the
whole country was under cultivation &
irrigation. The principal things grown seemed
to be dates cotton & corn The different
people are most interesting and fascinating
Arabs. Greeks. and all sorts. for the most 
part they seem to be dirty brutes and
they worry. one so much so that you always
carry a stick & use same with some language
if they will not go away. We arrived at
Zeitoun about 7 o clock on Friday night

(2)

marched into camp about ¼ of mile away.
and settled down for the night. There are all
sorts of chaps here have seen plenty of fellows
I know. 2 Patricks Kirkwood. & others Had
a little trouble with the money business Helip los at first
but after a trip to Cairo am quite proficient
now. and what is more do not think I
have been taken in yet which is not bad
for they are the biggest lot of rogues in the
world here. There are plenty of shops etc in
camp. and the boundry is very large Heliopolis
for instance is within bounds. so that there
is plenty of interesting things & places to see.
& plenty of Cafes etc to spend money in. There
are plenty of wounded men in camp so have
had great descriptions of the fighting etc men
coming & going to the front every - day. Every body
here have a terrible set on Kitchener's army at
the front say they are no good at all in fact
the Indians will not fight with them & all say
that had there have been enough Australians
for th in the first landing things would have
been very different there now. Do not know
how long we will be here may go away in a 

(3).

week or so they give you 24 hours notice. We get
very little news here regarding the war and not.
any more reliable than in Australia. Yesterday
had a great day in Cairo in was indeed strange
& fascinating it would indeed be impossible to
describe our wanderings without one was actually
there. We went to all the bad places as well
as the good but managed to keep sober &
not overcome too facinated by the French girls
etc. Went to the best hotels & cafes & had a
good look round some of the buildings are fine
but on the whole it is a dirty place narrow
streets plenty of smells xxx stinks & people of
every nations Hope to have some several visits there
to do museum pyramids etc etc. We did
not visit any of the instructive places yesterday
but were first out for a good time generally.
Sent a cable to father from there but the OC
kindly sent one from Suez so suppose you
got some word that we were well as soon as
it was possible to get same through. The
weather here is very hot in day time but quite
cool at nights We get up at 5 o'clock and drill
from 6 until 9 Breakfast at 9. lecture from 10-45 until

(4)

12 o'clock dinner at 12. then more drill from 5 pm
until 7 pm tea at 7. then free until 10 o'clock.
of course that is if you have no other duties
guard, fatigues etc etc we start work
seriously tomorrow so will let you know
later but from what I can hear discipline
is very strict and rigid. which will probably
hurt for a little. We wear short half trousers
and a shirt boots and putties here which
look very cool but believe the sand on the
bare knees is not too good of course the
whole camp is sand have not yet seen
one green place. Will write soon again
hope you are all well remberances
remembrances & love to all & plenty
for your dear self.
Boby.

9-10-15
SOLDIERS CLUB
CAIRO

Dear Mum.
Do not get very much time
to write in this place plenty of
duty & work and when one is off
there is plenty to do and see
Hana and self are both well
and looking forward to going
to the front next Monday
we were warned this morning
to be ready at any time
now. Shall be glad to get
away from here in lots of
ways although every thing is
most interesting and instructive
but am now keen to see

(2)

action and also some other
parts of this world. Cairo
is indeed a gay, wicked,
a fine city in parts of
course it takes some
time to get into the
way of things and find
out the best cafes' etc
to visit then of course the
difficulty of £. S. D arises.
but on the whole have done
very well. Have the whole
of the day off so will
be sight seeing this afternoon
& well cannot say at present.

what will be doing at night. Received your letter also one
from Lorna a couple of days ago we were very glad to
hear from you and all are well servant question still a
trouble shall have to bring back some of these niggers
or French am to say nothing of the French lasses.
We are just going to have lunch at the St. James
Cafe' a real fine place cost 20 pias tres without drinks
piastres worth 2 ½ one is very apt to treat them as
pennies. Cabs & taxis are one of the few cheap
things to be had in this city so use them quite
a lot of course there are plenty of nice things
silks etc to buy but if one w shall probably be
back here later if I have any luck best Love
to all. Boby.
Just called by a
couple of the lads who
are anxious to get
away.

WITH
H.M. Mediterranean Expeditionary Force
The Australian Branch, British Red Cross Society
AND
The Young Men's Christian Association.
Cairo
17^th Oct.
Sunday.
Dear Mum & Family.
The company are off
to the front tomorrow morning without
fail this time sailing orders are through
I am not going with them but hope
to pick them up later. I shall be
here for at least 3 more weeks having
decided to go through the machine gun
school which starts tomorrow the work
should be interesting and something new
there were about 30 applicants from 
our company and only 3 selected so
that I feel quite hot stuff. Leslie
Henley left this morning saw him off
and wished him all sorts of luck.
You had better address letters the same
as usual although after going through

this school I may or may not join
my company in fact do not know
where, when, or with I whom I shall
get into action with However if I
receive any letters shall forward them
on to Hana & he will do the
same if during the next month at all
events. Have not heard from home
for 2 weeks but still letters may
have been sent on as we were
supposed to have gone away some
time ago. Having afternoon tea at
Groppies one of the hot stuff places
in Cairo yesterday afternoon I met
Major Herring who has charge of the
13^th Battalion he came across and
spoke to me said he was the
only officer who went in with
the original battalion who was
left and out of 1500 men 270
only remained I advised him to take
a ticket in Tatts. also felt a bit sorry.