Letters from William George Blaskett to his family, 1915-1916 - Part 7

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
AWM2018.785.4
Difficulty:
3

Page 1 / 10

116 In fertor Egype. 160. 16. My dearest maker I buist you got my cable abright I think Ill send one every 3 or 4 weeks. They charge the cost up against My deferred hay, otherwise couldn't pay for it In case you dont get my last weeks letter I will tell you again what Ill do if I want any money specially
They wand let me cable the words we arranged before I left. The words must be plain English. Code is not allowed. So I will sign the Cable. with Charlies nickname. beginning with M. & containing 5 letters. Savoy I got a letter from dad last week, dated 16.1115. It was down at Ismarlea fone of our sergeants saw it here, wandering around, & brought it up
Hearen only knows where the restarg Lwhen I shall get. hem. I have written twice to the Battn about letters tharcels. but without result. I got a billycan sa box of agaretts to last week amsending you the cards enclosed in them. The billy carr was a beauty, containing, pipe, cigarettes, toback pihe cleaners, I mas pudding tin of pasted meat. I blue & white handkerchiefs & some lanoliue Complexion crcam.. Heaven know
4 my complexion needs some ceam. I dont think Ive ever been so freekled in all my life. Still, the crcams is very nice after shaving. We dont seem to be moving for some time of towise, you never can tell the way things are at present Billcame out of the Hospital last Tuesday looking very fit afte his 3 weeks holiday I think he will bry & get
into he school, next time We are still here if. He is orderly sergeant & I am orderly corporal for a week from today Lucky to get together werent we. All the same its hard graft this orderly business. We are getting plenty of marching now. with full pack too he sentiments expressed on the Cord about the sand & the gun are mine, absolutely
I am writing to Aunt Jane every week; just a few lines. when I wrike to you Freda Gould sery me a Register & a Chrishian common wealk, which I received today. Good of her, ch? Now dear nother. think I will close with lore to you all. Fom your everloing son Bill Bill send his kind regards
1116 Ent was. 16. 1.16 Dear dady Many thanks for your letter received last Tuesday. dated 16.11.18. It was the first I have received from you or in fact from home at all. One of our feelows had to go, to smarlia, & saw his kicking arcund so The parcee brought it up. you speak of is so far a dont suppose, now est. it now, I shall ever see I have written twice about letters, to Co. H. Bas
but so far have received ns reply or letters either Still, I suppose I'll get them sometime, even if its after I get back home again. ersonally, I want mind of how soon I get home We are sleeping in hirts, that make charlies wolshop look like a halace, so you can guess I want mind getting back to sleep in a bed once nore in a waterlight & windlight house The food ising too wonderful either, so much turned fish &c. If mother of offers
me any tinned salmow or sardines, or SPEW, she rouse my fighting pixy From what we can hear We may be statisned in Egypt as a Garnson for some time. Of course it hard to tell what will happen. I still think it want be long before the war is ore. the soons he quicke for my liking. The funny part of the jot is, that in spite of the tucker, & the hard work, for it is hard work I am steadily getting atter
I weigh juston it stone now + my belt is light. This last week we have been on every parade with full pack &c; werefurmned out on alarms twice: been inspected by a general; marched Ironte marches of 15 wiles each. filled in odd moments, with physical exercise, football, trench fighting, &o company in attack, & been on twice on ontpost dirty at night & fwinished Cairo picquet Carmed with ball cartridge, by the way since Friday

116th Inf
Zeitoun
Egypt.
16 1. 16.
My dearest mother/
I trust
you got my cable alright.
I think I’ll send one
every 3 or 4 weeks. They
charge the cost up against
my deferred pay, otherwise
I couldn't pay for it.
In case you
dont get my last weeks’
letter I will tell you again
what I’ll do if I want any
money specially
 

 

2
They wont let me cable
the words we arranged
before I left. The words
must be plain English.
Code is not allowed. So
I will sign the Cable.
with Charlie’s nickname.
beginning with M. & containing
5 letters. Savoy? Savvy?
I got a letter from dad
last week, dated 16.11.15.
It was down at Ismailia
& one of our sergeants
saw it there, wandering
around, & brought it up
 

 

Heaven only knows where
the rest are & when I shall get.
them.
I have written twice to the
Battn about letters & parcels.
but without result.
I got a billycan & a
box of cigarettes &c last week
am sending you the
cards enclosed in them.
The billy can was a beauty,
containing, pipe, cigarettes, tobacco
pipe cleaners, Xmas pudding
tin of potted meat, I blue
& white handkerchiefs &
some lanoline complexion
cream!!! Heaven knows
 

 

4
my complexion needs some
cream. I dont think I've
ever been so freckled in
all my life. Still, the
cream is very nice after
shaving.
We dont seem to be
moving for some time of
course, you never can tell,
the way things are at present.
Bill came out of the
Hospital last Tuesday
looking very fit after his
3 weeks holiday
I think he will try & get
 

 

5
into the school, next time,
if, we are still here
He is orderly sergeant & I
am orderly corporal for a
week from today.
Lucky to get together
weren't we? All the same
its hard graft, this orderly
business.
We are getting plenty of
marching now; with full
pack too. The sentiments
expressed on the Card,
about the sand & the gun
are mine, absolutely.
 

 

6
I am writing to Aunt Jane
every week; just a few lines.
when I wrike to you
Freda Gould sent me a
Register & a Christian
Commonweath, which
I received today. Good
of her, eh?
Now dear mother.
think I will close, with
love to you all.
From your everloving
son
Willy
PS.
Bill sends his kind
regards.
 

 

11/16th Iinf
AAS
16. 1.16
Dear dady
Many thanks for
your letter received last Tuesday.
dated 16.11.15. It was the
first I have received from
you or in fact from home
at all. One of our fellows
had to go, to Ismailia, &
saw this kicking around, so
brought it up. The parcel
you speak of is so far
"non Est". I dont suppose
now, I shall ever see theier it.
I have written twice
about letters. to Co. 16th Battn
 

 

but so far have received
no reply or letters either.
Still, I suppose I'll get them
sometime, even if its after
I get back home again.
Personally, I wont mind
if how soon I get home.
We are sleeping in huts,
that make Charlie's toolshop
look like a palace, so
you can guess I wont
mind getting back to sleep
in a bed once more in
a watertight & windtight
house.
The food isnt too wonderful
either,  So much tinned
fish &c. If mother of  ever offers
 

 

me any tinned salmon
or sardines, or STEW, she
rouse my fighting spirit.
From what we can hear,
We may be stationed in
Egypt as a Garrison for
some time. Of course its
hard to tell what will
happen.
I still think it want be
long before the war is over.
The sooner he quicker for my
liking. The funny part
of the job is, that in spite
of the tucker, & the hard
work, for it is hard work.
I am steadily getting
fatter
 

 

I weigh just over 12 stone
now & my belt is tight.
This last week we have
been on every parade with
full pack &c; we've turned
out on alarms twice: been
inspected by a general; marched
about 3 route marches of
15 miles each, & filled in
odd moments, with physical
exercise, football, trench
fighting, & company in
attack, & been out twice
on outpost duty at night,
& finished Cairo picquet
(armed with ball cartridge, by
the way) since Friday.
 

 
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