Gallipoli letters of Rupert Major Downes - Part 1

COPY OF LETTERS - 
GALLIPOLI. 
  
15/5/15 - 21/1/16

Mrs Rupert Downes 
282 Punt Road 
South Yarra 

Letters for Lieutenant Colonel 
R.M. Downes from Gallipoli 
with personal parts cut out.

Letter 14    Sat. 15.5.15 
Not censored  On train to Alexandria from 
TO D.M. Downes        H Cairo. 
Here we are off at last to the 
scrap & pretty lucky to get away 
so soon. It has been rather funny 
getting away; first all the wagons 
& horses were to go right across & 
the bearers c̄ with their horses were 
to wait at Alexandria till the 
country was clear enough for 
mounted troops work - Stewart 
was to stay behind. Next when 
all this was fixed up along  
came the order that all 
horses c̄ wagons were to wait 
at Alexandria & Aberdeen to 
stay behind. At midday

to-day when every thing was 
fixed up & all the wagons 
packed, orders came that all 
horses & wagons were to stay at 
Heliopolis so Teddy White has 
been left instead of Aberdeen 
& we are like a lot of mules. 
We have to live in what 
we carry on our backs & I 
carry so much that I could 
not run to save my life. 
I have a haversack packed 
tight, a water bottle filled, wire 
clippers weighing 5lbs compass 
field glasses, revolver, whistle 
bandolier full of revolver 
ammunition ([[lnft?]] use by the by) 
heavy infantry boots full of

studs & steel, a ruck sack on  
our backs weighing about a ton, 
& pul puttees instead of leggings, 
helmet c̄ an emu's plume, 
coat just like the men, but 
no spurs or sword. I feel sure I 
was not cut out to be an 
infantryman & will shortly 
chuck some away if we 
have to keep on moving. 
As well have a blanket &  
water proof sheet rolled & 
carried on the shoulder & 
pockets full of books, pencils etc 
So I did not bring my camera! 
but it may follow at a later 
date. Have only 70 of the 
Corps with me so hope the

others won't be long. Teddie  
(White) & Stewart are very broken 
up at staying, but 3 men got 
"cold feet" & did not turn up  
so they'll go to prison later 
when Teddie catches them. 
DeMan the cook is being sent 
back to Australia for bad 
conduct. We leave this station 
at 11.20, get to Alex. at 5.10a.m 
& then join the Lutzow - a  
German & takes 2043 troops. 
so we wont get any sleep to-night! 
& I expect to be pretty tired as 
have not had too much sleep 
lately & plenty of work in 
the last 3 weeks. I quite liked 
looking after my officers & was

sorry to drop them - there were 
some jolly fine & nice chaps 
among them particularly a 
Major Beckwith who commands 
the Hampshire regiment who 
has been badly cut up & his 
3 seniors killed. Its good to be getting 
away but I fear many of us 
wont come back - I have a great 
confidence that I shall & Jock 
is quite sure he is going to be 
killed. We shall probably land 
under shell fire so our baptism 
is probably not far off - I 
wonder how I shall behave? 
Sent a brass tray to you 
yesterday by post & 2 cigar ash 
trays for Father - also 2 pairs

silk stockings, the best I could get 
by one of my men called Hind 
a very good chap going back 
sick; also negatives. Had tens  
of photos taken of the Brigade 
to-day _ [[the?]] Hughes will have 
some, I expect we had no chance 
of ordering copies. 
Sunday 16.5.15. 
Now waiting at the docks to get 
away & feel so elated at the 
idea of being close to the show 
at last. Are going in the 
[[Non muni's?]] now & Alec White & I 
are in the same cabin wh. 
greatly rejoices me. Are soon going 
to have breakfast on board so will 
be in clover. The Bull Ant will be

ships adjutant so will have to 
fly round a bit I expect. We have  
most of us got to like him now 
for there is no doubt he is a  
soldier even if a liar. He is so 
ugly that he is almost beautiful 
& really has a fascinating smile 
& is good to hear when he  
bellows - at someone else. 
So glad we are going in the 48 trip 
in this boat & not the other 
with the 2nd L.H. all away from  
our own chaps. Had quite a nice 
few hours sleep in the train &  
so feel most fit & am smoking an 
ante breakfast cigar. the 10th 
officers were very drunk in 
the train & disgusted us, except

Percy Rowan who is jolly good at 
his game; one of their Sergts. 
fell off drunk & got his arm 
cut off. Hope I can get this away 
but am not allowed to leave  
the docks & dont go till this pm 
Its dashed cold here after Cairo 
& I suppose will be more so when  
we get another 500 miles N though  
they say not.     Later 
The Brigadier is very fit: I hear 
that we dont leave till to-morrow 
at noon & about 200 returning 
Imperial officers have been dumped 
in this boat now & will have 
to sleep like the men - on the 
floor. White (Col. White) just told  
me that all our last mail was