Letter from 'brother' [Unknown] to his sister "Win", 4 May 1915

PR82/8
Maadi.
Egypt
4^th May 1915
My dearest old Win,
You have been a good old girl to write so
often, and it is a rare treat getting letters from home.
I got quite a budget yesterday. Two from Mum, two from
you, two from Doll and one from Liz. Thanks dear
for the two snapshots of yourself. They are very good.
I have taken a lot lately, but have not had time to
develop them, and don't see much prospects of doing
so, for we are kept very busy; and any day now we
may receive our marching orders.  I saw three train
loads of Lancashire regiments leaving Cairo yesterday
on their way to the Dardanelles. I only wish it had
been us going. There are to be 25,000 troops leave
Egypt for the Dardanelles in the next fortnight,
so we may be amongst that crowd. Our chaplain
- Captain Robertson - received word last night that
this brother Major Robertson had been killed in
action at the Dardanelles. I felt so sorry for him
when he got the news, for he is such a nice
chap. But it is no good now feeling sorry for those
sort of things, for it is what a lot of us must soon

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expect. Each regiment here has an Egyptian Interpreter.
Ours is a young chap called Petros, but we call him
Peter. He talks fairly good English, but gets very
mixed at times. He is very anxious to learn patriotic
songs, so this afternoon I have been giving him a
lesson on Tipperary and Sons of the Seas. He learns the
words fairly quickly, but the airs he has no idea of.
And I cant help laughing at him and then he gets excited
and goes off into Egyptian. However I get on the soft
side of him, & he has another go at it. But if you
could only hear and see him - for he makes awful
faces - you would die laughing. Our wounded chaps
from the Dardanelles are coming into Cairo now in
train loads. I saw one train load came in last night
Some were only slightly wounded, but others were in
an awful state. One poor chap had both arms blown
off. Another one his legs near the knees. Still the
Australian boys have made a name for themselves,
xxx the infantry; and the Light Horse are going to do
the same as soon as Lord Kitchner gives us the word
to go. We are like horses at the barrier before a race
starts; anxiously waiting for the word "go".
I heard a rather funny thing the other night, and it took
my fancy as I think it was original from the chap who
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told it tome; for he is an awfully hard case. He came up
to me and said, "Did you hear about Kitchners dream".
I said no. Well, he said; he dreamt that he went to sleep
for five years and when he woke up the war had
been over about 3 years. He asked someone where the
Australians were and the person said oh, they are still
in Egypt. Well, he said you had better send them home
again."  This was told me before our chaps were sent tothe
Dardanelles; and they were getting tired of being kept
here. Say Win my dear, it will be bosker if that affair
comes off and you come over as a nurse. They may
send a few on to Egypt; and then you may have the
pleasure of nursing me if I get wounded. They will
want every nurse they can possibly get before this
war is over. We have been having much nicer
weather here lately. Have not been having any of
those beastly sand storms. And the nights are
most beautifully cool. I see Ron every day, his
tent is just behind mine. You can tell Rene he
is quite well. My mouth is still in a very bad state.
Tomorrow I am to find out if I can get an advance
on my wages, if they wont give it to me, I don't
Know what to do. You would think they would have
a dentist as well as D^r in the Regiment.

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Egypt is still full of wonders to us. I was in Cairo
the other day. I love to stand and watch the people
and their customs. They facinate me like monkeys used
to do. There are so many different nationalities here
and each one seems to have a different custom.
Well, the other day in Cairo I saw three funerals and
each one was different. The first one must have been
some Pasha - or Lord. There were four nice black horses
covered in black silk, drawing the hearse. Just in front of
the hearse four men had hold of a beautifully
embroidered silk carpet. Each one held a corner, and
as they went along, people in the streets threw coins
into it. The bigger the person - I mean in rank - the
more money goes in. It amounts sometimes to a ₤1000
or more. All this is buried with him or her to pay their
fare to Heaven or the other place. He never gets the
chance to use it though, for I heard these graves
are always looted later on by thieves. The next one
I saw was quite different. The hearse was a big
white one covered with green flowers. It was drawn
by four white horses with most elaborate white rugs on them.
All the mourners walked in front of the hearse, and
after the hearse came scores of empty carriages. I
suppose they were to cart the mourners home again
after the burial.  This funeral had no carpet to catch
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coins to see the departed one on his way. The last and
most interesting one ofthe lot was a native funeral
There was no hearse used. Four men carried what
looked like a sofa, and the corpse was on it.
There were men, women and children following. All
walking behind and making most unearthly noises.
Some singing, some crying, some yelling at the top
of their voices, and all clapping their hands. It was
the funniest funeral I have ever seen. The people of
Egypt are great on colors. It is a wonderful sight togo
down into the native quarter of Cairo. The colors
they wear nearly dazzles you. Some have as many as
eight or nine different colors on them. All the Egyptian
officials wear most gorgeous uniforms. The Sultans
bodyguard, when he goes out for a drive, consists
of about 60 men, all mounted on most beautiful
grey arab ponies. And you should just see their
uniforms. Just one blaze of color. The Sultan's palace
in Cairo - called "Abdin palace -, is a beautiful
building. Ever so much larger than our Government
House. He also has one at Alexandria where he goes
for the Summer months. The eye diseases here in
Egypt are most appaling, especially amongst the
lower class. I think I can truthfully say that every
third person you meet have something wrong with
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their eyes. It is awful to see some of them.  I am enclosing
you three photos. Two of them are of the boss & his
groom & horses & your humble servant. The other
is one of us leaving Port Said &just entering the
Mediterranean Sea. This is rather an historical
photo, for the boat which I have marked with a
cross, is the H.M.S. Ocean which was sunk last
week at the Dardanelles.
6^th April.  Great excitement in camp today. Word has just
come that we will be leaving for the Dardanelles next
week. Address my letters same as usual, for they will be
forwarded on to us, and any of us that are wounded
will come back to Cairo.
Must stop now dearie.   Fond love to all
and a very big share for yourself & dear old Mum,
From
your ever loving old brother
Figs.

P.S. Give one of the Photos to Mum please dear
Tell Ray I have not heard from him yet,
How is May;  give her my love.
This is quite a long letter for me, isnt it.
Figs.

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Miss Hall.
251 Edgecliff Road.

Woollahara