Letters from William George Blaskett to his family, 1915-1916 - Part 8

5

so, altogether you see we
havent too much spare time.
The Big Mohamedan
festival, the birthday of the
prophet is on from the
10^th to 20^th of this month,
& things are pretty lively
here. Today is the day of
the feast, so I suppose
the picquet will have a
lively time.
Bill & I are orderly sergt
& corporal respectively for
a week from today, which
means we cant leave camp
for the week. We couldnt
in any case, 'cause we're
both broke. Things are
 

6
fearfully dear here.
They say they were cheap
till the Australians came
with plenty of money.
Now the "Gypos" make
us pay through the nose
for everything we want.
How would you like
to pay 8 piastres (1 piastre
= 2½^d) for 2ozs tobacco (Capstan)
If you are in Cairo in
the daytime & want dinner
it will cost you at least
16 - 20 piastres to get a
fairly decent clean meal.
A man cant dine in
Cairo too often.
Now, dear old dad,
I think I must close
this mournful epistle
I remain
Your even cheerful
Son
Willy
PS Don't take much
notice of my grumbling.
you know it's a soldiers
privilege,
The man who never
grumble is'nt a true soldier.
Give my kind regards
to Mr Butler & the girls
 

11^th Rfs. 16^th Inf.
4^th Brigade
A.I.F.
On active service
23. -1 -16
My dearest mother
Today is a day of
joy & thanksgiving. I've received my
first letter from you, dated Dec 19^th.
I cant tell you how glad I am.
If you had only known how
awful it is to see other fellows get
letters from home & get none
yourself. I am very sorry indeed
to hear you have been ill, mother
o'mine, but trust you are by this
time quite recovered. I wish I had
been home to help you eat that goose,
especially after living for 2 months on
 

2
tinned fish, or stew made with same, sour
bread & sand. Plenty of the latter.
nevertheless, I'm still going strong,
and keeping fit. Between you & me
& the gatepost (I wouldnt mind if I was
leaning on our old gatepost now) I've
never worked so hard in all my life
as since I left Australia. Hard
work suits me amazingly. I actually
get fat on it. Fancy me getting fat.
I really dont know how many times
my photo has been taken since I came
to Egypt. Don't think I'm getting vain,
but all the lads have cameras & take
snaps, most of which are no good.
I think I shall have a couple
of good phot snaps to send you soon
 

3
One was taken outside our tent at the
school some 3 weeks ago. I have seen
the proof & it isnt bad for a small snap.
I had a "Charlie Chaplin" moustache
at the time, but it was so big, you
can hardly see it, even if you know
its there. I look quite huge.
The other one was taken this morning,
outside Bill's tent. His platoon is in
tents now, but we are still in huts.
I am trying to get a transfer from
No 2 to No 3 platoon, which is
commanded by Mr Robin & which Bill
is in.
The huge smile on my face is due
to the fact that I have just received
your letter.

I heard today that there is a
Presbyterian church in Cairo, so am
 

4
going there tonight. Church is one of
the things I miss most, that & the piano.
I play the piano at the church
parades on Sunday morning. I
asked the chaplain a C of E man, if
I could go to sacrament. He said 
'no' as I wasnt confirmed. He suggested
I should get confirmed. I said, - well
never mind what I said, but I gave
him my candid opinion of a parson
who could infringe rules for once,
in a country where there isnt a
church in every street. He is the only
parson in the camp. There are plenty
of R.C. churches here, owing to the
large number of French & Italian
people residing in Egypt. By the way
my French is coming on some. Its
 

5
most useful, especially for asking
the way etc.
I note your remarks about
breakfast in bed. It might interest you
to know that for the last week, I've been
company orderly Corporal, which means
that I rise at ^from 5.30 to 6. every morning
& go round & rouse the other poor
sufferers, enquire gently if they want
to go on sick parade; if they dont
get out promptly, you just pull
the blankets off them, which of course
makes you extremely popular.
It is, therefore, with rather saddened
feelings I read of breakfast in bed
& such things. I have had to arrange
all meals for about 300 men, who
come in at all sorts of times.
 

6
The men are out on various picquets
& always come in hungry & want
tucker; but Ive been very lucky
& managed to get through with only
the average number of complaints &
grumbles.
I expect to go on Cairo picquet for
a week or so from Tuesday next. It
a lovely job, I can tell you Bill &
I are going to try to get together on
picquet, if possible. I'm not looking
forward to the job. I dont think there
are any jobs slums in the world
so filthy as Cairo's, & we have to
patrol them. Its all for the dear
old land, though. & I suppose its
better than be killed by bombs, or
some awful beastly thing like that.
 

7.
A respirator wouldn't be a bad thing
down on picquet though.
By the by, I haven't received a parcel
from you at all. yet. However, I'm
living in hope, even if I return home
in despair. Perhaps they'll hand me
my discharge & my parcels together.
We all had a pair of socks given
us last week, mine was from
Miss Lillian Uridge
Park Street
Heidelberg
Victoria
They came for through the Red
Cross. I have written to Miss Uridge.
who by her writing, I should imagine
was about 15 or 16, thanking her. The
socks are grey. & fit me splendidly
 

They are beautifully thick & warm.
Could you drop her a line,
mother o'mine, & thank her for her
gift to your soldier boy?
Now. I must close, with fondest
love to you all
From yours ever loving son
Willy