Diary of Cyril Strahan Parry - Part 9

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25^th Dec. Saturday. Xmas Day
Got up about 11a.m. & had breakfast

in my room. We had a light

lunch & during the afternoon

"Wick" Capt. Leahy & I went out to

the Zoological Gardens at Giza.

8pm. Xmas Dinner at York House

everything that was good. Turkey

& plenty of plum Puddings "Wick"

also had one from Home. The old

customs of putting brandy on the

Plum Duff & applying a match was

the order of affairs, I have never

had a Xmas dinner so late in

my life, the corresponding time in 

Australia was 4 a.m. on Boxing Day.

After dinner we had music &

games & the usual Mistletoe (as a

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matter of fact the only Mistletoe

available in this country was a daffodil)

Mr. Humphries & I dressed up in

Armour & later he dressed up as a

Chinaman,  Dare Fisher & Geo Emery

& their wives were there in addition

to Capt Leahy. Capt Whitfield &

all the members of York House. Capt

Whitfield (from Launceston) told

me he had seen Uncle Fred & Alf

he told me where to find them so

next day the 26^th Dec. Boxing Day.

I went out to Maadi & dug

them out. I had a fair walk

to get to the Camp. Here I met Major

D.P. Young who returned to Australia

some time ago, but was only there

10 days when he was sent away

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again in Charge of a Remount Unit.

He told me exactly where the No. 1

Remount Unit was & to see Sergt.

Wilkinson. I happen to know Sergt

Wilkinson fairly well as he was in

the A. S. C in Tasmania, I got him to

find Fred & Alf for me & When Uncle

Alf saw me he was so pleased he 

couldn't speak for a few moments.

He thought he was being called out

to do some odd job or other when

Sgt. Wilkinson called him up, but I

soon put that idea out of his head.

He said, come round to my tent & I will

introduce you to some of the "Boys"

but the "Boys" were all as old or

older than himself. Mr Knucky from

Zeehan was among them, he has a

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son in the 5^th Inf.. Fred put in an

appearance very soon after & we had a 

long yarn together. S. Segt. Hearn was

with me & he also found a cousin out

there. I was able to tell them roughly

the whereabouts of both Len & Roy

w^hich pleased them both. I took out for

them a big piece of the Maters Xmas

Cake. I saw their officer ^Capt. Boyes and

managed to get a days leave for

them & brought them into Cairo &

showed them round a bit &

introduced them into York House

so in future they will be able to go

there xx & make it a sort of Home

We got in just in time for lunch.

After lunch I took their photographs

& later we went out to Heliopolis
 

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for the afternoon & had dinner again
at York House that evening. I saw
them on to their train for Meadi a
bit before ten that same evening.
Monday 27^th December 1915.
Got up at 12 noon & during the
afternoon I was at the office squaring
up a few things that had accumulated
during my absence.
Caught the 6.30 pm train for Alex.
28^th Dec. Tuesday
At work again in Alexandria.
29^th Dec. 1916. Wednesday.
Today I received a telephone
message from Colonel Fair to close up
the office in Alexandria & Transfer
same to Cairo. so have now to
pack up all the office & clear out
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expect to get away tomorrow night.
In order to avoid having too much
Baggage I am packing most of the
stuff into Parcels & sending them
through the Military Post addressed to
myself in Cairo. I have also have
"Bill" Collins' baggage here & also a
lot belonging to his Batman. "Studley"
so will have to shift all that too as
well as my own Baggage. The room
I have for an office I am going to
hand over to the N.Z. Pay Office as
they want an extra room for their
Field Cashiers who are returning
from Gallipoli. Most of the Australian
troops in Alex. have already gone to
Cairo & the few that are left will not
be long here. I believe the N.Z. Pay
 

152
Office is going to move also in about
a month's time. Whether I am going
to remain in Cairo permanently or, not
yet remains to be proved. But as
a Branch is to be Established at
Tel-el-Khebia I have got hopes of
going down there as the 1^st & 2^nd
Divisions are going there, while the
Aust. & N.Z. Div. is going to Ismailia
& the Light Horse & Artillery are to go to
Cairo. Great numbers of Australians
are arriving from Mudros & I see a
great many of their officers at the office
when they call in for a little
well earned "needful."
31^st Dec. 1915.
Left for Cairo at 4 pm per Express
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arrived in Cairo at 7 pm.
1^st January 1916. Saturday.
New Years Day ______
2^nd Jan 1916. Sunday.
Went out to Meadi on Sunday morning
and saw. Fred & Alf.
3^rd Jan - 16^th Jan 1916.
In Cairo. See Fred & Alf occasionally
when they get leave.
17^th Jan. 1916. Monday.
Up at 5.45 am. Leave Cairo at 7 a.m. for
Tel-el-Kebier about Court Martials.
Get to the Camp about 9.15 am. & started
Biz. This is a very big camp containing
2 complete Divisions of Australians.
& is about 3 miles long. The Field
Cashier have 2 tents & a staff of 5 all
told. During the morning I went
 

154
along the lines of 12^th & 26^th Inf.
but missed Len & Roy as they were
out of camp. Had lunch with
Forrest & Walsh. Left Tel-el Kebir that
night & returned to Cairo.
18^th January Tuesday
Up at 5.45 am again this morning
& off to Tel-el-Kebir on more Business
There is very little in the way of
accommodation down there & men
are sleeping on the ground in the
open as, we used to do at Mena.
The messing arrangements are also
very poor so I had a feed with the
Boys again, took my coat off, so to
all intents & purposes was a
Sergeant again. Got back to Cairo
that night.
155
19^th January - 22^nd Jan. 1916
In Cairo.
23^rd Jan Sunday
At Meadi Camp to see Fred & Alf
took down the camera & also a
Big Cake I got from Home it was a
Bit late & the tin had had a very
rough handling but the cake was
untouched. We had it for afternoon
tea in tent. Fred was out so Alf
put some away for him.
24^th January 1916. Monday.
At Helouan Convalescent Hospital.
26^th January 1916. Wednesday.
Fred came in at 1 pm. & had lunch
with me & promised to come back at
5pm when I knocked off. During
the afternoon Len Briggs came in to
see me, he is up from the Canal on duty
 

156
so I took him along when I went to
see Fred. (This was the first time they
had met in Egypt.) Len had 3 pals
with him so I took them all along
to have tea, (six Tasmanians)
I saw Fred off at 9 p.m. & Len went to the
Giza Camp at 9.30 p.m.
27^th Jan. 1916. Thursday
Len expected to be at Meadi today
with his Pater, but I don't
know whether he got there or not.
Capt. H.N. Boyle left Cairo today
for Australia by the Hospital Ship
"Kanowna" & I gave him to take
back a large case of curios to
leave with Uncle Will till I return.
Capt. Boyles Brother is in the
Corps & he went as far as Suez
157
with him & my case. A.M. Tricky to
get the Box away as I have been
waiting 6 months for an opportunity.
31^st January 1916
Took the afternoon off & went to the
Pyramids with Uncle Alf. (Corpl. Briggs
now) on the way back we had the
luck to run over a cow & a Buffalo &
just missed a camel as well, the
tram was broken up a bit so had
to walk 3 or 4 miles to another Tram
line & got home after 8 p.m.
1^st February 1916.
Received a letter from Sgt. McKenzie
today enclosing 2 photographs of athols
Grave they were taken by Br
Brownell (9^th Bty) on the afternoon of
the 19^th Dec, the last day of the
 

158
Evacuation, the cross had only been
put up two days previously & I learn
that it was made by the Engineers
& the Sergt. who made it refused
money in payment so all the boys
gave him their days ^issue of Rum & so
paid him that way.  The grave is in
"Victoria" Gully at the foot of
"Browne's" Dip & the ornaments are
Fuze covers. Previous to this there
was a much more simple cross made of
Biscuit box tied with wire &
the name written with indeliable
pencil. I believe Lt. Pybus took
a picture of this.
2^nd Feby 1916
Br. Brownell came in this
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afternoon & gave me the
negative of Athol's grave. I was able
to thank him as far as possible
at any rate.
Tel-el.Kebir.
Jan 25^th 1916.
Dear Mr Parry.
You will find enclosed
two photos of your dear brothers
grave which is situated in
"Victoria" Gully at the foot of
"Browns" Dip. It is a good clear
photo as you will admit, for
which I am indebted to Bomdr
Brownell, of our Battery.
The photo was taken on the
afternoon of the 19^th December.
 

160
the last day of the evacuation.
The cross was put up two days
previously. The cross on the
grave & the border is made up
of fuze covers and looks very
nice. I am also forwarding
several copies to your Parents
at Deloraine. Will you kindly
let me know if you receive
them. Yours Sincerely
W. McKenzie.
161
Athol's Grave in "Victoria Gully
at the foot of "Browns Dip."
Photographed by
Bomdr Brownell (9^th Battery)
 

162
[*Personal &
Unofficial. *]
Zahria Camp Near Alexandria
Saturday 05 June 1915.
Dear Mr. Parry.
Your note & Acquittance Pay Roll
received last night. Thanks.
The enquiries about your brother - Yes - Athol is a personal friend 
of mine, has been since he joined the Battery in Launceston
Tas, 2 or 3 years ago. About a fortnight ago I heard a rumour
that he had been very seriously wounded or perhaps killed,
but although I have enquired from several of our men who
have come back from Gabo Tepe lately, & at Base Record Office
& several Hospitals, I could not hear any news at all of
163
him. I think I would have heard if anything had happened.
Have quite ceased to believe any rumours now for I have
heard of quite a dozen cases of fellows being killed & since
seen the same men walking about as well as I, so if you
take my advice you won't worry about this for a while..
not till you hear something official. I think the best
plan would be for you to drop a note to Lieut. Hall,
Aust. Record Office, Metropole Hotel, Alexandria & you
could & see Battery Sergt. Major Light (of 9^th Battery)
who is wounded in No. 1 Ward No. 2 General Hospital,
Gezirah. He was sent away wounded a week or so
after your brother was said to be hit, but had not
 

164
heard anything about it when he left. If I can get any news
of him I will drop you a line, & should you get
any word, would be obliged if you'd let me know. Should
he bee in any Hospital in Alexandria I'll go at once & see
whether I can fix anything up for him. At the same time
I personally don't believe he's been hit at all & have quite
ceased to take any notice of rumours. We have had
no word at all from the Gunners who went ashore at
Gaba Tepe about 6 weeks ago, until last night when
some men came in from there & reported that the 9^th Battery
were doing good work & they did not hear of xxxx
165
them having anybody killed. In the meantime don't worry
too much, for you will probably find Athol is perfectly
well. Will let you know immediately if I hear anything
Yours F'fully
R.S. Gee. Capt.
A. Bombarder Brown F. H.
wounded, in pavilion ward.
Lunar Park. Hospital.
Heliopolis, may be able to give
you some news if you call
on him.