Letters from William George Blaskett to his family, 1915-1916 - Part 13










How would these malingerers like that lot.
You hardly hear a complaint from our
chaps, although the food is nothing like
it is in Australia. Yesterday was a typical
day, except that the night marches are very
frequent. A fortnight ago we marched from
Tel-el-Kebir to Serapeum on the canal, a distance
of over 50 miles, in 70 hours, through sand
over our ankles all the way, & carrying
full packs & 120 rds of ammunition. We
did that on bully beef biscuits & water, and
a very large number of men didn't finish. It
took me all my time to keep going I assure
you, old man. I had to keep a pretty stiff
upper lip to stop in the ranks. I wonder
how the mutineers would like that. I
lost several pounds weight in that 3 days,
but, I got there.
There is no doubt it was a wonderful
march. It is the longest march ever done
in Egypt. Also And a record for Australian
troops. Of course 16 miles a day is
nothing on hard roads, but it's a very
different proposition on soft sand.
You might have noticed in the
paper that Pte N E Mead of Lameroo died of
meningitis. He is the second man in the 11/16 Sa.
who has had it The other fellow, Wallace, is now
back in Australia. I think I have been
very lucky indeed to escape sickness
so far. Both Mead & Wallace were clean living,
good fellows, it seems such a pity they
should be taken ill. There is no doubt
though, that being a teetotaller & living a
decent life is the finest way of in fact, the
only way to keep fit in this awful
climate. Bad luck to it, the more I see
of it the worse I like it. Well it isn't for
long now, & I suppose before long we shall
be wanting to be back here,
I see by your extremely interesting
letter that in Mr Woods opinion no smoker
can be a Christian. Tell him I think no
shirker can be a Christian, or, no real
Christian can be a shirker, whichever he
likes. I may be biased, but it seems to
me, that fighting for Right against Might, is
a very practical form of Christianity.
Well, I think, you & Merv Gould, to
whom pleased remember me, are quite capable
independently or jointly of downing any
"Woods" bird, who talks twaddle.
I hope you got the little present I
sent you. If I can get to Cairo, will send
1
A Coy
48th Bn
2.5.16
My dearest Mother,
Just a short
note ^(a la President Wilson) to let you know I sent
your birthday present by
registered post from Cairo
yesterday. I got back at 3.30
am today. I am feeling rather tired; I shouldnt
have gone up but for that
draft, which I might mention
soon disappeared together with
some of my pay when I
started buying up in that
Indian fancy shop.
If I had about £2000
I think I could just about
buy one or two of the things
I admired in one shop where
I bought your boa, which by
2
the way, I hope you will like.
It seemed more brown than
black to me but perhaps it
was the bright light. Anyway
it seems a very nice one
& is good quality. It was
packed with the other things
in a long tin feather case.
I hope you will receive
it safely.
I got a Langtonian today
containing my name as the
Roll of [[Stomary?]]. It also contained
tremendous references to boys
who have been killed in
action, amongst them
[[Sirelt?]], Les Hills & Cyril Gilham.
You will remember ^one of the
Gilhams was serving with killed
in the Boer War, & now this
3
one, who was with the Canadians
has gone over the Great Divide.
It seems very very hard for
poor old Mr Gilham to lose
teo sons like that. Young Jack
Gilham is somewhere in
France. I also received a
letter from Will Cleak.
He wrote xxx such as nice
letter. I hope I shall get
a chance to see them all.
I am pleased to be able
to tell you I have been
promoted to Sergeant. I
believe I mentioned it in
a letter from the YMCA
Cairo, but you might not
get that, so I'm telling you
again. I stayed at the
"Anzac" Hostel" a home
4
for soldiers on leave, and on
Sunday night I slept in a
real square-dinkum bed,
with nice clean sheets & a
nice white pillow. My word
it was good. It is a good
idea this 'Anzac' place; all
if it hadnt have been for
that I couldnt have gone
to Cairo because we cant
get there & back in a day &
Hotels are too expensive
for common or garden Sergeants.
I received your letters dated
28th March, today, & noted
Charlie is going to [[Calton re?]]
I am sure he will have
a glorious time. You
say you expect I shall
do everything for myself
5
when I get back. Dont
worry, I'm going to have
a glorious loaf (not of bread,
though that will be acceptable;
I don't go much on Egyptian
bread). There was only
one fault about your letter,
Mother dear, it was too
short. Please tell me
all the news. Start from
the beginning, as May says.
What may seem trifles
to you in the way of news
are very precious to me.
I hope your health is
better now, and the heat
isn't worrying you too much.
I quite agree with you
that Ethel Wenham is nice
girl. She wrote me a very
6
jolly letter which I received
a few days ago. Have you
heard from Aunt Jane lately.
I had a letter about
3 weeks ago, which I answered
at once. I write to her
fairly regularly now. In
fact you & she are my two
main correspondents. I
pour out all my joys & sorrows
to you two. I know how
you can share them both.
I saw a magazine the other
day containing an article
that appealed to me very
much. It describes the death
of two young Englishmen
(brothers) in German West
Africa. They were the first
to be killed. On their
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tombs are the words: -
"Tell England that we that have
this monument,
That we who lie here died
content"
I think that is magnificent,
dont you?
Now, about parcels. I have
received 2. One containing 2
pr socks & one containing cake,
which by rotten bad luck was
mouldy. The Xmas pudding
has not yet been sighted.
Nor has the birthday parcel.
The letters are coming very
regularly now, thank
goodness.
Now I must close this
fearful long letter with
fondest love to you all,

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