Letters from Albert Charles Cox to his mother, 1915-1916 - Part 3

8 Dec. 1915
Dearest,
Received your second letter yesterday & very
pleased to hear that everything is O.K. What O! Grandma.
It is bad luck for you, but it was about the only thing
possible to do I suppose. I saw Claud Jones yesterday
& took delivery of the case of eatables. Thanks very
much dear; the cake has already met with great
approval, but am keeping the rest for a while yet.
We shall be able to have a different course every
day for over a week when we start; which will not     
be in the trenches I think; worst luck.
There does not seem to be any news to write about
this time, for I have not been out of camp during the
last three or four days owing to a scratched knee. My
horse same down with me one night on piquet duty
& of course I with him. The streets are frightfully
slippery especially when wet, & it is really not safe
to go out of a walk. Even the horses in the traps
go down now & again.
We shifted down to Abbassia at the beginning 

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 of this week to a new camp. It was a bit of a bore
after having settled down comfortably in our other quarters,
but everything is pretty right here now. We are closer to
Cairo which is one redeeming feature.
The nights are beginning to get pretty cool now, but
plenty of blankets counteract that. Cairo is pretty dead
this year compared with others, in fact it is practically
run by the military. It seems xxxxx quite like home
here now with such a lot of old faces around, but it would
be great to see some of the girls. I hope you received the
Xmas presents in good order - condition & up to time. I also
hope that you are letting of Mr. McLaughlin, Newsoms etc.
know that I am sending my regards etc now & again, for
it is impossible to write every mail to them all.
10/12/15
Just received cards from Con. & the Keele's. You can't
imagine how great it is to receive letters from home in
this part of the world. There was a bit of fun this
morning on parade. One non-com. had to take charge
of the Co. while we attended a lecture, but when we
came out there was a man waiting to inform us that
the non-com could not take charge, as they had taken
charge of him. Two hours extra pack drill to-morrow
(Saturday) afternoon, & I bet it does not happen again.
I was informed yesterday that there is a cousin out
nursing at the Ghezireh Hospital. Don't know who it is
for she is reported to be exceedingly charming, but will 

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soon find out. Cam Thompson is particularly anxious for
her to come to Mess one night.
Please don't exhibit these letters as a sample of a literary
genius, for I have to write down phrases as they come
into my head old dear. Shall close here as I am
going into town to-night & may catch a mail.
Best love to self, Tim & Eric & others, from
Your loving son
Bert.
P.S. Don't forget love to Gran.
The stamps (surcharged) on this envelope, are
only 3 weeks old up to time of writing, which
may be of use to Tim for his collection 

Heliopolis
14/12/15
Dearest,
Here I am back again at the old address. I am
becoming quite good at packing up & shifting at short
notice now. I got orders at 1.30 pm. to-day that I had
to report at 2 p.m. to attend a week's course at the
[*(bombing)*] "bombing school" here, so had to get a move on, I was
rather pleased in a way as the next infantry school
will not be starting for another three weeks, & I may
just as well get a bit of good training myself in the
meantime. I hope so do a machine gun course as well
if it will not delay matters too much. One is kept
pretty busy in the schools & I am afraid there is not
much time for writing letters, but I think you can
expect at least one a week whatever happens. The worst
part about them is turning out at 5.30, & it happens to be
pretty chilly at that hour.
By jove that box is a great companion & it comes
with me as long as there is anything left in it. It is  

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all I can do to keep it hidden. The beggars got into it on
the boat & eat the figs (or dates) but I think that is all.
This blooming pen of mine seems to run out just when
there is no ink handy to fill it.
With regard to Eric; I certainly think it a much better
plan to go to Mudgee if the position is worth it, for in
every other aspect he will be far better off. Of course his
present firm may not give him permission to leave as they are
making munitions; but that is settled by now.
Please let Lonie know that I received her post-card
today & was very pleased to know that she had thought
of me. Con. is also a brick for having sent me a couple of
cards already, & I am looking forward to more, although
she persists in calling me "Albert."
Cairo is a deadly place for amusements; such as theatres.
There is only one such place, & that is only a second rate
vaudeville affair, although they have a good turn now
& again. I saw some marvellous acrobats on Saturday
night. The theatre itself is quite different to any in Sydney,
& is really what one would call a café chantant. During
the performance coffee & drinks (only soft after 9 p.m.) are served
& no one minds how much you talk. They call it the "Kursaal"
which is named after others in Europe I believe. By the way! the
show does not commence until 9.30.
I bought a new uniform t'other day at an Indian
tailors for 1375 piastres - about £3-17-6, & ^it has turned out very
satisfactorily. He simply takes your measurements & the
suit is ready in two days, which seems rather weird
after the performance to be gone through in Sydney. 

3.
You probably think it quite unnecessary, but one must
have a decent "walking out" garb.
A cricket match is to come off very shortly I
think between the Military & Egypt, which of course
will be a great affair if it eventuates. Kelleway & Bonbour
(not to mention Cox) are the mainstay, so they will be
up against some hot stuff.
I saw a funny sight in front of Shepheard's a few
days ago. One of the native carts had a bit too much
weight in the rear, & suddenly it upended, suspending
the donkey in mid-air. To see the natives, (who soon
collect in huge numbers when anything happens & every
one jabbers like a monkey) trying to release it, while
struggling like blazes, was one of the funniest sights
I have seen for some time, especially when they got
everything free but the collar round its neck. It
started to kick so much that they could not get near
for some time, & you should have heard the row.
Unfortunately I had not my camera with me.
Expect to be sending on a few photos by next mail.
I will be sending you a cable on your birthday to
the office, which I trust is delivered. I think I
mentioned a little while ago that any cables would
be addressed to the office, & asked you to make
arrangements for them to ring you up. 

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I have not been able to see Major Norris yet, but hope
to find him in one day this week.
There are quite a lot of us here together who were
pals at Liverpool, and being very comfortable makes it
very homely; but home is home at all times, although
I should not care to go back without having done my
bit.
It is probably just as well you did not let Jim
go to Liverpool for the reasons you stated; & then
again a Ser-Major has not only drill to attend to,
but administration, which is no little task, & may lead
to a loss to him, especially at that camp, where as you
know, things are not as plain sailing as ders desirable;
that is at least when I was there.
Well dear I am afraid this is about the extent
of my letter this time; except that xxxxxx please
remember me to all, & let any have the news who wish
it. Brian the rotter, has not written a letter to reach me
yet, & I am not going to write him again until he does.
Best of love to yourself, Jim & Eric from
your loving son
Bert.
1DRL 220 

Zeitoun
17/12/15
My dear Mother,
Received another letter from you yesterday
dated 6 Nov. You have not told me how you are feeling
nowadays, but I presume all right. Glad to hear Eric
came to a satisfactory arrangement at Mudgee. He will
be much more comfortable there. I saw Leycester out
at Maedi on Wednesday, but he was a bit off colour
& in the hospital. He has been here about four months
already, but is still with his pals. A new regiment is
being formed, so there may be a chance of them
moving off shortly.
To-morrow will be your birthday, & I ^have sent
you a cable covering that & Christmas, which I trust
reached you in good time. I also put my address c/o Cook's
in case you wished to cable me back at any time. I
think I shall get you to send any money through them if
it happens that I shall need any. The Bank is frightfully
slow even for ordinary transactions.
The "bombing school" is still on, & we are 

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not being so hard worked as anticipated. It is ^a very interesting
branch of the service, & now, one of the most important. It is
a wonder to me that the whole battalion does not receive
instruction instead of such a few. The chaps in the "Infantry
school" are kept pretty busy, but my turn next I suppose.
I don't think I told you before of the number of gum trees
growing here. There are hundreds planted everywhere, & some very
fine ones too, which make a fine avenue.
Informed by Leycester that Mary Gibson is over at No 2
(Ghezireh) Hospital, so I shall have to renew the acquaintance.
Our namesake there whom I have already told you of is not
a cousin, but we have started an acquaintance all the same.
Am keenly awaiting the arrival of your next letter,
for I hope to hear in it that you have received one
from me since arriving. Also I shall be very pleased to
receive your photo as soon as you like, for I have not
one with me.
Shall have so close here for want of news, but
will probably be writing again before the mail closes.
Love to Gran, Jim, Louie & the rest & best love
to yourself from your affectionate son
Bert
P.S. When you are writing to Grandie I wish you would
remember me to him, & tell him that I hope he is O.K. again
I don't know his address as he is such a wanderer. 

24 Dec. 1915
Dearest,
Your letter of 13^th Nov. came along yesterday
with five others, & what joy it was to get them. Topped
the list this mail. One from Jim, Mrs Butler, Nancy,
Mrs Newsom & Phyllis Bath, so they turned out to be quite
a Xmas box. Well! we are still in the same place &
everything is O.K. I am sorry you had not heard from
me up to time of writing, but the cable must have
reached you a few days afterwards. I am at present
waiting for one from you in reply to mine of a few
days ago.
There is to be a great festival here to-morrow &
this chicken is Ord. Officer for the day worst luck, but
a good many of the others will be in as well. They
are having a great time in the Mess to-night, & now
have the band playing outside. I have been pretty
busy since returning from the "school" & have not been
able to write earlier, but hope I have not missed a
mail. It actually rained this afternoon, but seems to