Letters from William George Blaskett to his family, 1915-1916 - Part 10

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

Page 1 / 10

on a mgger hunting expedition I suppose youve heard in Australia how successful the Western Fonter force has been in its rerations against the the largest potion Fedouins. of the A Joured he Baal at a certain place near the ht tha churst the ago o us in the farse are tl same old spot for whee in the we are truly thankful as things arent too good down where theyse gone They are brvonacing in he yu Even A Caky old shed is better har that
Bill HYow Smith ar still together My original lad has been SechonI taken into the reserve Batn so hat there are about 20 S.at her un a to a compeny all toge were at veryy suly Mr Robin is still with us hongs he is not my hator don't think we officer shall eve you W Now hout latst wto waton wee are to sos be to goonson lai for a few monds I en he 9o 5 unrobean Western fron g via the little isle that benon stoneset in the that will Silver Dea be
roher good en what Eheciall Laphento f we should Ave Mates Anglae to I should be very sorry to go alway from lavis now except to go home, as I have made some good friends amongst the Fesby Crian Church cople at t his tlemerd Bill also is in among the scoth heaple there went to Chow pachse on Tarrsday & he organist let We have a go at the organ He says, he will be most have my assistance to pleased II can go. Crachie when eve cant You can bet
taking advantage of the a The organ is a very nice Offes. 2 manual affair, eleckically I think old Modge blown would have been gead at WalingSt organ had times if been wised any but hav I wish son now had hanght hav this boots of nine ore, hese bastly issue go are goo 59 Or I am not able to go to Church today, as we are duty gatalion for he day. I havent parcels yet from received am Its a beastly shame. Ver You.
hhe lads ever get a per of they get letters though parcil sayings their friends have sent If you send any more them. be sure baddress tm in Batt 16 5 full igade Drr Acder a brt even if Cat 4 registe them Anohything as we seent to day here tor afen likely morths wordd mind sending be a few pounds say Fory. Cable it to me or post it as you wish but be very
careful about he address which Should be 3852 pe. We Blasker 6 54 A Mr. Achro Serven of course on are thot 2 Of Money shoued t S some nony you ear allodi wp tee Alloknon is being bard abright. It in know row, dear mother think in close with ondes lose fem four lovng s Vill.
1 bt 11h Rp. 16 Bn 5 apr al ae Feetor reb 1 13 t fer My dear mother, There is nothing much to tell you again this week, things are very much the same as usual here. The weaker late as been much warmer of which is a great improvement We are thet in the same old place. Getting quite used to Caiso now Theres one thing for, that shall remember lay pt. is he splendid treamment have received from he English Leotch people at St. Andsews hurch They don't know how
to do enough for us This morning I went to church was invited out to dinng with some American people who attend It Andrews You can quess I went Had the time of my life Was sorry I had to come back to camp for fill who by the way is very fit. The Ameican gentlemens is a missionary to the Egpptanst They hold services during the week, but attend St Andraws on Sunday. They have a very nice daughte about 20, bornd Muf sed. in Eupt. Frety How businers in S.b? good. I hope. By he way
some of our boys as told I you joined he Pattn sme days ago, & now they have discovered that they cant pay us expa duty pay as our d unit is away. Howevy think we shall be fixed alright again shorply unless we Your he Battalion the teem to be pestters somehow now shouldnt be surprised if we get a more somewhere of other chootle Hope they want reduce us permanently. All the R.CS nt reiforcement oming he Rat are reduced, but I tink be useful. my certificate may
trust you & dear old dad Rodge are well Spose modge is just as checky as ever he bad old blighte Excuse language, but caupt dusn imfore onei language by he way, if you haven't alseady sent it dont bote about sending Money. Think I can manage now I dont get. exra duty you went have to much money, so will do witout Once we lave here shert want any unless we go home which I hope Kaphens wiit must llose with dest love from yout Soldies Sow Vill

2
On a nigger-hunting expedition.
I suppose you've heard in
Australia how successful the
Western Frontier force has been
in its operations against the
Bedouins. The largest portion
of the 11/16th S.A. joined the Battalion
at a certain place near the
canal two days ago, but those
of us in the Reserve are still
in the same old spot, for which
we are truly thankful, as
things aren't too good down
where they've gone. They are
bivouacing in the open. Even
a leaky old shed is better
than that.

 

Bill & Tom Smith & I are
still together, & my original
section of S.A. lads has been
taken into the reserve Battn. so
that there are about 20 S.A's
all together in a W.A. Company,
& we're a very happy family.
Mr Robin is still with us
though he is not my platoon
officer. I dont think we
shall ever form the 16th now.
From latest information we
are to stop here to garrison
Cairo for a few months & then
go to the European Western front
via the "tight little isle",
"that precious stone set in the
silver sea". That will be

 

rather good, eh what? Especially
if we should happen to go
to "Ave Mater Angliae".
I should be very sorry ever to
go away from Cairo now except
to go home, as I have made
some good friends amongst the
people at the Presbyterian Church.
Bill also is in his element
among the Scotch people there.
I went to Choir practice on
Thursday & the organist let
me have a go at the organ.
He says, he will be most
pleased to have my assistance
& I can go & practice whenever
I care to. You can bet, I

 

am taking advantage of the
offer. The organ is a very nice
2 manual affair, electrically
blown. I think old Madge
would have been glad at
times if Watling St. organ had
been worked by anything
but hand power. I wish
now I had brought those
thin boots of mine over; these
beastly issue things are
no good for organ work.
I am not able to go to
church to day as we are duty
Battalion for the day. I haven't
received any parcels yet from
you. Its a beastly shame. Very

 

few of the lads ever get a
parcel, though they get letters
saying their friends have sent
them. If you send any more
be sure to address them in
full. 11th Rfs 16th Batt
4th Brigade
A.I.F.
On Act Serv.
& even if it costs a bit,
register them.
Another thing as we seem
likely to stay here for a few
months would you mind
sending me a few pounds, say
3 or 4. Cable it to me or post it
as you wish but be very

 

careful about the address. which
should be
3232 Cpl. W.G. Blaskett.
11th Rfs. 16th Inf.
A.I.F.
On Active service
Of course, if you are short
of money dont bother, but
I'm rather stiff & should like
some money if you can
afford it. I hope the allotment
is being paid alright. Let me
know. Now, dear mother, I
think I must close with fondest
love from
Your loving son
Will.

 

[*Am
endeavouring
to keep up my
reputation as your
Knight. Bill sends his
kind regards to you all.*]
11th Rfs. 16th Inf.
Zeitoun
13.2.16
My dear mother/
There is nothing
much to tell you again this
week, things are very much the
same as usual here. The weather
has been much warmer of late,
which is a great improvement
We are still in
the same old place. Getting quite
used to Cairo now.
There's one thing I
shall remember Egypt for, & that
is the splendid treatment I
have received from the English
& Scotch people at St. Andrews
church. They dont know how

 

to do enough for us.
This morning I went to Church
& was invited out to dinner with
some American people who
attend St. Andrews. You can
guess I went. Had the time
of my life. Was sorry I had
to come back to camp for
Bill, who by the way is very
fit. The American gentlemen
is a missionary to the Egyptians.
They hold services during the
week, but attend St. Andrew's
on Sunday. They have a very
nice daughter about 20, born
in Egypt. Nuf sed.
How's business in S.A. Pretty
good. I hope. By the way,

 

some of our boys, as I told
you joined the Battn some days
ago, & now they have discovered
that they cant pay us extra
duty pay as our duty
unit is away. However, I
think we shall be fixed up
alright again shortly unless we
join the Battalion.
We seem to be restless
somehow now. Shouldn't be
surprised if we get a move
somewhere or other shortly.
Hope they wont reduce us
permanently. All the NCo's
joining the Battn w/- reinforcements
are reduced, but I think
my certificate may be useful.

 

I trust you & dear old dad
&  Madge are well.
'Spose Madge is just as cheeky
as ever, the bad old blighter.
Excuse language, but Egypt
doesnt improve one's language.
By the way, if you havent already
sent it, dont bother about sending
money. Think I can
manage now. If I dont get
extra duty you wont have
too much money, so will
do without. If Once we leave
here shant want any unless we
go home, which I hope
happens.
Now must close, with
fondest love from your
Soldier Son
Will

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