Letters from William George Blaskett to his family, 1915-1916 - Part 9

11/16^th Inf
A I F 
12. 30 a.m.
25/1/16
In guard tent
Zeitoun
Dear Mother
Dont I have some
luck on blooming guard,
and its raining like fun. I
have to get out every 2 hours
to post fresh sentries in the
blooming rain. Nice job,
I don't think. Its about
1½ miles walk round the
posts of sentries & take at
least 30 minute to post relief
so you can guess the poor
old corporal of the guard
 

2

is enjoying himself. Who
wouldnt be a corporal? The
sergeant's been asleep this
last 2 Hrs, but I'm like the
brook, go on for ever.

You know I told you
about the Presbyterian
church. Well I got down
there about 5 wa last night

& had tea & then went &

had a look at the organ, which

is a nice two manual one.
After I had convinced the
organist that I knew what
I was talking about in the
way of music, he let me
 

3

try the organ. He had the
old 'Village organist' part 1
there, so I played him
the 'Agnus Dei' on page 8!
Rather impressed him, I think
for I put all I knew into it
Anyway, he asked me if

could sing. I admitted the
fact, and so he shoved
me in the choir. Very nice
little choir too. Am going
there as often as I get the
chance. I don't think I
should ever make a good
stay-away-from-Church person
 

4

They have a wonderful
attraction for me. I have
to thank you for that,
Mother Machree. I dont
think I have had a happier
day than yesterday since
leaving Home. What with
getting your letter & then

playing on a real decent
organ I was in the 7th
Heaven. But this guard
is bringing me down to
normal again
You know you're a silly
old lady. You tell me
Harold is expecting to
 

5

come away on a certain
date but you never think to
tell me what he is in.
How do you think I
can find him amongst
the thousands of troops

in Egypt, without knowing
his reinforcement & Battalion.
I am afraid I shant be
smart enough for your 

people when I come back.
Our clothes have lost
their color dreadfully
here. They are an
awful brown color now.
Shant be sorry when I
 

6

go buying ties &c with you
again. I never realised
till a few months ago
what a splendid home
I had. One good thing
this war will do for me it
will make a "homer" of me.
I often think now how
beastly selfish & bad

tempered I was. If I ever

transgress when I come

back, feed me on tinned

fish & sour bread for a
day or two. Its a certain
cure for anyone who
doesnt like his home.
 

7
Bill is on guard in another
place. This guard only
lasts till 6 pm tomorrow,

but we are expecting a lot
of guards & picquets now.
Am going to St Andrew's
church as often as I can
especially as I think we
shall be on garrison here
some time yet, perhaps
till the end of the war.
Its sacrament there next
Sunday. You would be
surprised how nice it is
to speak to some English
women again; after
seeing the awful dirty
natives. I think I shall
enjoy the choir very
much especially if they let
me play the organ a bit
now & again
Now I must close, as it
nearly time for a trip
round inspecting sentries.
Love to all
Will
PS
Hope you got cable alright
I heard it was dispatched
Saturday Its cheaper at 
Week Ends
 W

11 Rfs. 16^th Inf
4^th Brigade
A.I.F.
29. 1. 16
Dear Mother of mine
I'm afraid theres not much to
tell you this morning.  week. Things are very quiet
We had sports yesterday. The 16^th won nearly everything
including the drill competition. You will
remember that I told you in my last letter that
I was corporal of the Main guard and it was raining
well in the morning it hailed which was worse
I managed to catch another cold
but its nearly right again now. Bill had hard
luck. He was in charge of the prisoners in the
detention enclosure, & one escaped during the

night. The others were kicking up a terrible

row all night, & only quietened down in the
early morning. Bill didnt know the man

was gone till about 10.30 when the orderly
officer came round & checked the prisoners

Bill should have called a roll about 8 a.m.
but decided not too as the prisoners were quiet

then & he didnt want them to start again

He was crimed for not
 

reporting the man's escape, but fortunately was
only reprimanded which was as good as being
let off. Fortunately for Bill's case 3 men
escaped the following night when the New Zealanders

were in charge.

One of our sentries got a terrible shock about

2 a.m. He was on guard around a big

square of bags of wheat, when something big

jumped down just in front of him. He

nearly fell dead, but managed to come "on

guard", then he found it was a kangaroo.

We heard afterwards it had escaped from the

Light Horse line.

The latest yarn is that we are going to the
old country & later to the Western front. I
don't know how true it is. We've been going
to the front every day for about 2 months
but we're still here in the same old place
Now mother I must close with fondest love to
your dear self, dear old dad, (the original yarn
teller and that beastly little fellow Rodge,
whom I would like to have 3 rounds with now,
from your ever loving & very hopeful & careful  

son

Will

PS
I'm some good now at washing clothes & sewing buttons
on now. Think I'll run a laundry when I get back
 

Zietoun Egypt
5 2, 16

My dear Mother
I havent received
another letter from you yet,
but have had 3 others this
week, one from Emmie in
answer to one I wrote her,

one from Uncle Wm Carpenter,
and one from Dicky Simes,

who has again gone on active

service. Did I tell you he
had been ill? Well, I wrote

him once or twice, but he only

got my letter just as they were
starting off somewhere or other