Letters from William George Blaskett to his family, 1915-1916 - Part 6

soon as I knew, I made
enquiries about the 3^rd LH,
& found Arthur & Clarie
Plenty. These are both in
splendid health though
Clarie has been in Hospital
some time. Dick Simes is in
Hospital with dysentery, but
I can't find out where.
It's almost like looking
for a needle in a haystack
trying to find anyone here.
I was lucky to find the
Plenty's so quickly. Last
Sunday I wrote to Aunt Jane,
Aunt Rose, Aunt Lizzie, whose
address I guessed at, Cousin
Emmie, & Mr Sharp. Did I

tell you I sent Mrs Snell
a card? Its the only
real enjoyment one gets
here writing home & receiving
letters. I havent had any
from you yet, but got one
from Serena Coombe today,
& am replying when I
finish this one. Nice of her
to write wasn't it. I dont
know if we shall ever go
to the front. The other chaps
call us the Sultan's bodyguard
because we are the Egyptian
Reserve Battalion, & say we've
got a job for life here. I
shant altogether mind if we
are here till the war is over,
Do you remember a
Major Dyke, I used to tell
you about. He was Chief
Clerk in the Engineer in Chief.
Well I met him in Cairo
yesterday & had a chat with
him. He came over in
charge of the last lot of
troops & is going back in
a fortnights time. It was
good to meet a man from
home. Bill is still in
Hospital, but will be
out shortly. I enclose a
letter I received from him
which might interest you.
By "the old Liar at the Pyramids"
he means a man who told
us our fortunes. Bill was
to have wonderful good luck.

and so was I. Still I always
have good luck. Reward of
virtue I suppose. Neither of us
is to be wounded or hurt in
any way though he said
Tom Smith would be wounded
and sent home.
Jim Gatley is quite alright
Have seen him several times
lately.
Now, dear Mother I
I must draw this wretched
scribble to a close, hoping
soon to be back with you.
Fancy old Modge being
17 yesterday. I hope the war
will be over before he is
old enough to join.
Give Dad & Modge my love
& accept same yourself from
your ever loving son
Willy

[*Dad
talks about 
when he was away 
from home. I could
write a book entitled
"The Young man from Home"
& it would be very pathetic*]
11^th Rfs.
16^th Battn. 
9. 1. 16
My dearest Mother,
Although I have
written to dad today I am
writing to you as well, as I
promised to write you every week.
There is not very
much news to tell. I think I
told dad everything
Jim Gatley told
me last Monday, that Rene Rundle
wrote saying you had been
ill with excema. (I'm hanged
if I can spell it). My spelling
like my writing has gone to the
pack since I  joined the army)
I hope, Mother, you

2
are better now. I suppose
when I get the rest of my
letters & parcel from Ismailia
I shall hear all the news.
If we go on as Reinfs after
all, I suppose we shall all
revertive to the ranks, but I
think my certificate from
the school should get me a
few stripes
By the by have you got any
of my extra duty allotment.
I've drawn 30/- of extra ^duties pay here so
you should by this time have
> got 3 lots £ 11.11.0. that is
to the end of December. If it
isnt at the Bank go to Keswick

3
& ask about it. Its 66 days
to the end of Decr.
5 in Oct
30 in Nov
31 in Dec.
66 at 3/6 p. day. = £11. 11. 0
Make sure you get it.
I saw a most lovely
Japanese umbrella handle the
other day about £3. so if I
come through all right, just
before we return I will cable
you for some money. You
will know if it is from me
because I will sign it with
the Charlie's pet name; You
know what I mean. Starts with
"M". Wont say any more, in

case somebody else reads
this. There are some lovely
indian shops here, with
beautiful feathers & silks.
I hope you got the bag I sent
you, alright.
There are some lovely Japanese
"Kimonos". I think they call
them. You know, dressing
gown things, all birds & flowers
you might like. (People of your age ought to dress well you know) Just let me
know what you would like.
feathers or silks, & I will get
them for you before I come back,
which I hope wont be long.
Now I must close with fondest
love to Dad, the Young Pretender
& your dear self from your
ever loving son
Willy

11^th Rsfs. 16^th Inf.
Zeitoun
9: 1 16
Dear dad,
I received my first letter from home
last night. It was from you, dated 16.11.15. I got
a day off on Monday & went into Cairo to the Aust.
Intermediate Base & made enquiries about my letters
They told me they were probably at
Ismalia where the Battn are now, so I wrote to
the C.O. of the Battn & last night as I told you,
received one letter, from Ismailia.
You can guess I was "some" pleased.
Things are all at sixes and sevens here; you know
I told you some of us were put in the Special
Reserve Battn, well, now they say we are to go back
to our original reinforcements and join the 16^th down
the canal. It is hard to know what to believe, dad,
Anyway, whatever happens, I am sure it will be
all for the best. I started keeping a diary on 1st. Jan.
I think it will be interesting reading when I get
back. It is very cold here now, nearly as cold
as in England, & the huts were built for summer
use and not for winter They are all doors &
windows; you might just as well sleep outside

2
I suppose it will make us pretty hard however,
though most of the lads, including me, have
colds. Another thing, the food is'nt too plentiful
or too good either. We usually get a tin of
sardines each & an oz of butter & ¾ lb bread for
breakfast, the bread having to last all day. I
suppose they can't get anything but tinned stuff
here; though, over in the School of Instruction
we fed splendidly ^& got fresh vegetables, we never see such things here. It was like being home.
Porridge & steak for breakfast, & a splendid
dinner & tea. It was well worth the extra money we had to pay
Yesterday we were marching from 9.20 am to 1.40 pm
with only ¼ hour spell at 12.o.c. It was a forced
march; through sand about 4 miles to the nest along
the banks of the irrigation canal. We must have
done about 15 miles ^with full packs & rifle to carry. I had promised to go & see
Bill at Abbassia Hosp in the afternoon & thats a
3 mile walk each way, so I covered some ground
yesterday. Our CO. of Battn ^Rfs  is ha always backing
us against the 15^th Batt. Reinfs. The other day, we raced
them over a course of 9 miles, all of us with full
pack, & rifle, waterbottle filled, & entrenching tool &c.
We did the course in 2 hours, with one spell of 10
minutes, which was included in the time. The 15^th
were 15 minutes longer. It was a fearful pace, but it's

3
not doing the majority of the men much good. A lot
of them are down with sore feet, & weak ankles &c.
I am feeling very fit so far. Havent had any
trouble with my feet at all. They are quite hard.
The 3 weeks in the school set me up splendidly
I weighed just about 12 Stone on Xmas day.
I suppose I'll lose some weight though, when we
get to Ismailia & start fighting
They seem to think here that the smash up, which
seems imminent on the canal will end the war.
I sincerely hope it will. A soldier's life is just the
thing in a camp like Mitcham, or Exhibition, but
Egypt - nuf sed. They'll never get me to any more wars
if I survive this one. You have to get up too early
to suit me, this cold weather
Now dear old dad, I must close.
With fondest love to all & best wishes
to all my friends, including Mr Butler & the girls,
From your affectionate
Son Willy