Letters from Albert Charles Cox to his mother, 1915-1916 - Part 4

2.
have cleared up now.
What O'Brian. It came hardly as a surprise as
you know, but I am not going to congratule him until
he writes me a note, which he has not done so far.
I am sorry Mrs. Tower cannot arrange anything successfully.
Things must be becoming pretty desperate by this.
Leycester was still in hospital a few days ago,
but I did not hear what was wrong. I have written a
note to him to-night, which should give me some
information. I am making enquiries as to Geoff's
whereabouts & hope to see him very shortly, although

a good deal could have happened in five weeks or
more. He is probably somewhere here at present though.
Don't worry dear about the "spirits"; there is plenty of tea
here.
Am pleased to hear "Ah Pooh" is making such a
success of the garden still. Should like to have a few
of the vegetables cooked by Louie at present.
By virtue of my holding two stars in C.M.F. I am
entitled to wear two still, but in the A.I.F. we are
still only 2^nd Lieuts, consequently those who ^only have only
commissions during the war only wear one.
We have been doing some work out in the
desert the last few days, & it is a surprise to me
what interesting things are to be seen there. It is not    

3.
only sand round about here, but the sand is practically
covered with stones & pebbles. There are some of the prettiest
stones I have ever seen; to be found, & the sand ^here & there is the
palest shades of mostly all colours (a little under the surface)
particularly pink, yellow & purple. While doing some
entrenching we struck quite a lot of salt to-day. It
certainly appears as if this county was volcanic once
upon a time for there are small pebbles embedded in ^any number of larger
stones, which could not have got there in any other
manner as far as I can see. There is also any quantity
of petrified wood to be found.
I am enclosing a few more letters photos in this letter
which are a little better than previous ones developed here.
I hope to be sending a couple of Lance Begg's grave to Mrs. Begg
in a few days. It was an experience getting there for the
driver did not know the way. He took me through the
lowest parts of Old Cairo & I can tell you I wished my
shooter was in my pocket. Judging by the interest taken
in me I don't think they had seen an "Engileesee" for
years. I came home a different way.
26^th Dec.
Xmas day is over & all had a pretty good time considering the
circumstances under which they are living. A billycan was issued
to every man, & a lot of amusement was caused by a few nurses'
cans getting mixed up with the soldiers'. I did not get mine & I don't
suppose there will be much chance of it arriving now. The men had 

4.
chicken & roast & plum pudding for dinner, & everyone seemed very
satisfied after it. We had a great dinner as you will see by the
enclosed menu, which bears the signature of each member of the Mess as
well as three nurses who were present. There are a few sore heads
this morning, including mine. Rather an amusing incident cropped up
during the day, concerning myself. After dinner (3.30 p.m.) I had to turn out
the guard & inspect them. Having satisfied myself that I could walk
along a cart track, I saw a chap sitting in his tent & thought it
would be just as well to ask him if I looked "shikkered", which I
no sooner did than I discovered there were two nurses in the tent. I
think I must have looked a bit flushed, for there were great roars;
anyhow the guard turned out & were pulled to pieces a bit.
The bon bons were a great success. I hope you had a good
Xmas dear, & are enjoying yourself. I guess it was not as good as
last year, particularly for yourself. Jarvie, who went to Hobart in the
boat with us, is over here. Shall have to close here dear,
but will write again in a few days. Best of love to Tim & self, &
please remember me to all.
Your loving son
Bert. 

30/12/15
Dearest,
I am going to get my weekly
note to you off my chest before attempting
to answer all the other letters I have
received ^during the last few days. I have
been doing piquet duty this afternoon, (or
at least am waiting for something to do)
so can put in the time at this job.
I was very pleased to hear that you
had my cable, for I thought you would
be wondering what was delaying us,
especially as we heard soon after arriving
that it was reported in the Sydney papers
that we had been sunk in the Indian
Ocean. I received my "billy" from the
Firth's yesterday, & have been freely sampling
the contents, which are proving excellent.
Shall be able to set up a grocer's store
very shortly. To-day is the first occasion 

2.
I have been out of camp for 10 days, so
you can see I have had plenty of work
to do.
There is to be a great sports programme
at the camp on Saturday (New Years Day) &
there is great rivalry training for the champion Co. of
the Battalion. 1^st prize £25, so the it is
nothing to be sneezed at.
I am enclosing a few more photos in
this epistle, three so Mr. Begg, as I think
perhaps it would be better if you were
to give them to him. The particulars of
the grave are as follows:-
Section B, grave no. 173 & ^it is in the
New Cemetry, Old Cairo. The tombstone is
of marble & the photo shows the inscriptions.
They are also marble stones at the foot of
the tombstone. The avenue is the main one
& the grave is just about two yards to the
right of the first tree on the right side of
the photo. I think that is about all I
can give him. 

3.
Received my first letter from Brian yesterday
telling me of his engagement. Luckiest chap
in the whole world. Same old tale. He also
mentioned that he got his commission, so I
expect he will be over here some day.
I shall try & tell you of some of the
novelties to be seen here; but they don't
strike me as so odd now. In the first
place the smell is just as bad in the
native quarters. They have no sanitary
arrangements, with the exception of a
vacant piece of ground here & there on
the side of the road. All their water has
to be drawn from the village pump & I think
they have so pay for it. The women always
get it, & it is wonderful what weights they
can carry on their heads. There is still
the native water cart, which is a goat
skin carried on the back, but the men
do this job. Of course in the more
civilised quarters they have just as up-to-date
methods of doing work as in Australia
if not more so. I must try & get some
4.
photos in the native quarters, but there is
not always the desired amount of light as
you can imagine. If I only had my camera
with me to-day, I could have sent you an
interesting photo, but there may be another
chance, so don't ask questions yet.
I have discovered that Geoff McL. was in
the Blue Sisters Hospital on the 8^th inst., but
have not seen him yet. Shall go out on
Sunday if possible to see if he is there.
Also Hal. was in Montazeh Convalescent Camp
about the end of October recovering from
enteritis, but he has probably shifted by this.
31 Dec.
Had to knock off last night, so will
finish now. I received the letter you
wrote to Melbourne this morning &
enclose the envelope herewith. It took
about eleven weeks to find me. The M.E.F.
probably means Meditteranean Exped. Forces.
Shall have to close now dear, but will
write again early in the New Year,
Best love from your loving son
Bert 

[*during the last couple of weeks
so am not too badly off Cam.
Thompson wishes me to remember
him to you & hopes you are

well. I have discovered that
Geoff is in hospital in Alexandria
so will have to drop him a
line; of course he may be out
by now. Hope Gran. is not
as of old. Good-bye dear for
a few days, with best love
from your affectionate son
Bert.*]

2 Jan. 1915
Dear old Mater,
There does not seem to be anything of interest
to write about this time, but I had better let you know
that I am still alive & kicking. This is the life alright
(at any rate so far as it has gone) & I have only had one
headache since landing, so it agrees with me. I have
had a good many letters since Xmas & am putting in the
day trying to answer them. One came from Brian a
couple of days ago.
The sports came off yesterday & proved a huge
success. My Company came second, but won the "squad
drill with arms" & the N.C.O was congratulated by the Colonel,
so he feels rather important to-day. We had quite a decent
crowd of visitors, having three myself. I asked Mary
Gibson, but she was unable so come. The Officers'
donkey race provided the most fun during the afternoon,
We had to ride round the ring (¼ mile) with a monocle 

2
in our eye & anyone dropping it was to be disqualified. I
think there was only one who really fulfilled the conditions,
& that was not I. My mount ran stiff & ended second
last in the heat; at least he did not get out of a walk.
Some of the others had to be pushed past the post. The
winners time was nearly 5 minutes.
I think I shall be going into the school next week; I
hope so at any rate, for they say we can't go away, without
having done one over here. There won't be much chance to
write letters, so don't be disappointed dear if I have to send
a post-card only.
It is pretty rotten to think that there is so little rain
so far this season, but let us hope you will get some before
this reaches home. We are quite used to the absence of rain
here, but it has been cloudy the last week. Shall have to
leave this letter until a bit later, as there is too much row
going on in the tent
3 Jan.
I did not get another chance yesterday to finish this
but hope to now as they sent me down town with a Co,
on piquet duty again, & of course picked the softest
job for myself. It has been drizzling on & off all day
& I think this year's average of one inch has been
about made up. I am sorry to hear you have
had such a bad cold, but of course it is O.K. now.
Received a fly veil from Aunt Dill a couple of days ago
but no letter. I just about hold the record for letters 

weird letter. I don't quite make it out yet, but
have only read it three times yet so far.
I don't want any rest at present, much less
in a hospital, as she suggests. This work is
about the most interesting I have ever tackled
& am feeling pretty fit with it.
It is wonderful the number of chaps one
strikes in a day. I saw Jack Cosgrove to-day
(1^st Lieutenant), but have not run across Geoff
yet, although I believe he is in Cairo.
I am still waiting for a cable from you
care of Cook's, but I don't suppose you have
anything to cable about of importance.
Shall have to close now dear, but
will write another later if anything comes into
my head. Love to all from
Your loving son
Bert.
1 DRL220
Cairo
8/1/16
Dear Mother,
I am not on piquet this time, but
happen to have this paper in my possession.
I thought I was fortunate a couple of days ago,
for they detailed me to move off, but at the
last minute they decided not so send several of
us, & here I am still. News seems awfully
scarce just at present, but I must not let the
weekly slip by.
Noel M^cShane, who by the way has a
commission, came out to see me yesterday. He
looks pretty well & seems in great spirits. I saw
Barclay Farquhar to-day & he told me Les.
had enteritis, but is getting on well.
Aunt Dill's note came to hand a couple
of days ago, & as you say, it is rather a 

Zeitoun
16/1/16
Dearest,
Have shifted my quarters again, but the same address
will hold good. I am afraid I missed the last mail, but I
am at the school now & have not much spare time. I
got your letter of 11^th Dec. last night, but one on about the 4^th
is still so come along. All the others have reached me so
far. I have quite a pile of letters so answer but they will
have so rip for a while. Am glad to see C.B.Q. is to
the fore, & hope the firm is keeping above the water.
Aunt Dill's letter still appears as weird so am giving it
up. I sent you another cable last night which I trust
reaches you, & that I shall have a reply letting me know
how you are up to date. Am very pleased you are off
to Leura for the holidays. We are kept going pretty strongly
in the school, for one has to get a 75% pass or they want to
know the reason why. Reveillé at 5.30 & shave before going on
parade is pretty stiff, but you soon get used to it. Claude
Jones is here also & in my squad so we see a lot of each
other. You can no doubt imagine we are pretty disappointed