Letter from Sydney Mahoney to his mother, 20th April 1916

PR 82/8
AUSTRALIAN
WAR MEMORIAL
LIBRARY
20^th April 1916
My dear Mother,
I have been delaying
this letter, waiting for the parcels. so I
could tell you I received them but up
to the present the cases have not arrived.
Of course, they are quite safe but from
what I hear, the Comforts Depot hold
them back until they have sufficient for
a ship load, Syd Franklin gets a parcel
safely every mail, so I think it is better
in the long run to send them in the
ordinary way. I am rather anxious
about my letters for the past six weeks.
We have heard rumors that ^no mail
mail has left Egypt for six weeks,
so if you have not received any, &
get them all in a bunch, you will

2
know the reason. I have had no
letter from you since I wrote you
last, but I got one from Aunt Lena
one from Alex & one from an Engineer
on the Manly boats. The one from
Alex is only a short note with no
address, & he does not say where he
is but he must be back with the
L.H. as that is the address he gives.
In the letter from the engineer, he says
that poor Mr Luker, has been ill for
the last 3 months with an internal
complaint, & is not expected to come
back to work. I don't know what 
has happened to Uncle Charlies
letters. I have only received one.
Aunt Lena tells me that Ron is
sorry that he took to the Navy.
I wonder how long it will be before 

3
he gets used to it. He will have plenty
of time (10 Years). You remember, the
last letter I wrote we were in the
trenches. I had just got under the
blankets that night, when a big sand
storm swept across the desert, it took
all the roofs off our trenches, & begun
to cover us & our gear very quickly, of
course there was no sleep, I put my overcoat
on & dozed standing up all night,
When dawn broke, we could hardly
believe our eyes, the storm was still
raging, but the work of the Engineers
for months past had been swept away.
The miles of trenches had been swept 
over with the sand & left on a level
with the desert. Of course all our
blankets were buried under about
6 feet of sand, it took us about two
hours to dig them out
[*I can tell you we were glad to get relieved
& got back to a big camp again. Fred Macdowalls
crowd are here now. They had to march all*]

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the way from Tel-el-Kebir, - over 50 miles
Fred arrived minus everything but his
hat, boots, & trousers. I can't give you details
but some did not arrive at all.
Mollie seems to be having a good time
at Kogarah, I hope she will get on.
Our drill hours have been changed from
5 hours per day to 7 hours. It is a strain in
this hot weather, but there was not even
a murmur, let alone a riot. By the way
many of the rioters have arrived they are
not getting too good a time. If you could see
me now you would take me for a "xxxxx"
"pommy" as we have re issued with
khaki drill Summer uniforms the same
as the tommies wear, also brass buttons
with the coat of arms. I caught sight
of myself in a mirror yesterday, for the
first time for 3 months, & unless the glass
was telling lies, I have gained a couple

5
of stone, especially about the face.
In your next letter let me know
how things are going at home. Has Jim
written yet? I am waiting for him to let me
know how things are going "down below."
If there is a little longer than usual
between letters you will know that
it is the heat & extra work, it leaves
us like wet rags. I hope you have
sent my photo also your own.
I will close now with love to all the
family, give remember me to Harrys, & Mrs
Brickwell.
I remain
Your loving Son
Syd
xxxxxxx
[*J Parker*]

P.S.
24^th April 1916
Dear Mum
Since writing the enclosed
letter, I have received your photo
the "Sydney Mail," & tin N^o 2.
I don't know where the first one has
xxxx gone, but it is sure to be safe.
I hope to be able to tell you I have
received it by next mail. I was
on guard when I received the tin, &
I can tell you I spent a fine half hour
in its company. Everything was O.K.
especially the cake & lemon cheese, I
will finish the jar tonight.
I think your photo is very good, it is
the best likeness I have seen for a
long time. You are looking very well.
I see by your footnote on the "Mail"
that you have received a letter from
Tel-el-Kebir, & yet the last letter I

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received from you was an answer from
Pinchgut Valley Jan 1^st.. I wonder what
has happened to those in between?
Remember this is only a (P.S.)
so good-bye till next mail.
Syd xxxxx
[*J Parker*]

FIELD POST OFFICE
A.N.B.
MY 4
19
Mrs R.S. Mahoney
"Strathmore"
Forest Road
Arncliffe
NSW
Australia
PASSED
BY
CENSOR
No 3209