Papers relating to the service of Stewart Murray Hansen, 1915 - 1917 - Part 2

 

The “Argus” war correspondent is an old

baseball friend of mine Chas Smith,

also the Y.M.C.A representative 

Mr [[Rankin?]]

I have received up / date 1 letter

2 papers + cable from which

many thanks. The papers are particularly 

acceptable because I can’t hand them

‘round. 

Private Matter

The money you received  -£3
up to 31/12/14 was correct. 6/-

per day 7 days a week .

Any expense for papers , postage pay

out of my fund and use any of

the rest for yourselves after taking 

your £10 and fathers £30 out - debts
 & interest owing.

Enclosing a map of Cairo also for 

Reference.

With best wishes to all

Stewart

2 w letter

The Cairo Young Men’s Christian Association 

WITH THE

British and Colonial Forces in Egypt.

26/2/145

Heliopolis Egypt

Dear All ,

Your mail to hand , several
letters and papers. We are still

getting an interesting and easy

time, plenty of wink and plenty

of leave. I have forwarded several
views on p.c this mail , hope they 

reach you.

A very nasty dust storm has been 

blowing today but fortunately we

have the day off with the idea of

going out all night, on the desert

Yesterday was divisional training 

day but we were general reserves

and did’ not do any fighting until 

late in the afternoon coming home

again about 6pm.

2

 

We have established a Sergeants mess here

and it only costs 1 piastre a day ( 2 ½ d )

extra over and above any rations .

Things have been happening of late,

the Turkish invasion of Egypt seems

to be over for the present as the last

Turkish force that attacked the

canal had 30,000 casualties 

including killed, wounded and

prisoners. The prisoners are at Abbassich
about 2 miles from here.

Kitchener has some other scheme

on hand evidently from rumours
so we hope things will be doing

shortly.

Up to date ( 10 weeks since leaving 

Australia) I have not visited the

doctor except when vaccinated which

affected me internally for nearly a week.

3.

 

There was great joy when the mail

from Victoria arrived, it having gone

astray for some days and ^ there not having

been a mail for three weeks.

I have not been out of Camp

much this week so have not much

news.

I spent Wednesday afternoon with 

Ron Davies at Abbassich but that 

was the only time I was out this 

week.

The place is alright as a curiosity
and at this time of the year so is 

the weather, but it’s getting

awfully hot and the curiosity
is wearing off.

Yours under difficulties ( a dust

storm and a box)

Stewart.

3rd letter

The Cairo Young Men's Christian Association

WITH THE

British and Colonial Forces in Egypt.

Heliopolis. Egypt.   7/3/15

 

Dear All,

The last week has passed very

quickly although I have not left

the camp precincts since 15th of February

Sunday last (28/2/15) I slept all day, the

sun being rather warm and the

wind very light; In the evening I

visited the Y.M.C.A. and wrote

several p.cs. On Monday the

Regiment marched out for the day

trailing along with picks & shovels

open fire trenches was the object,

and the occupation lasted till

early afternoon when we adjourned

to camp.

2

A sing song at the YMCA for an

hour and then bed at 8.30 pm

Tuesday morning we rose at 6am

as usual, the day was booked for

Musketry practices at Abassia

Ranges, 3 miles across the desert.

Being a field day, targets representing

the head and shoulders of men were

used and 14 men under myself

as usual set these up and "marked"

for the rest of the day. Under cover

we had the sensation of bullets

flying all round us, some piercing

the targets, and others burying

themselves in the soft sand.

We arrived home at 6pm feeling

hungry & tired, to find bread, jam

and cold tea left for us by those

who had arrived home before us.

3

A complaint to the Regimental Officer

soon put matters right and we had

an extra hot meal from the Canteen.

Wednesday was divisional day

and therefore not looked forward to

by the loafers. Reveille at 5.30am

Breakfast 6.30am and a 10 mile

march across the sand hills from

8am. The objective was an attack

by the whole division (about 20,000 men)

on a supposed advancing force of

Turks represented by New Zealanders

and coloured flags. After the battle

we found the main Suez road

and marched home arriving there

at 7pm fit for a big meal.

The meal on the field consists of

a slice of bread and jam. We

carry a water bottle but are only

allowed to drink from it when

ordered.

 

4

I must be in splendid condition because

at 6am each morning I am as fresh

as ever, despite heavy preceeding days.

On Thursday we had a slack day

coming home for each meal.

At 5pm I mounted the main

guard with nine men, a corporal

and a bugler (in case of alarm)

and of course was on duty for twenty

four hours continuously with

only a snatched sleep between

the sentry reliefs (every two hours)

Our meals were brought to us and

beyond are prisoner (an incapable)

everything was quiet. Coming off

guard at 5pm on Friday, a good

tea and afterwards bed.

The whole division went out of

camp at 8pm on an all night

tactual scheme while I slept. They

arrived home, very tired and dirty at

5

The Cairo Young Men's Christian Association

WITH THE

British and Colonial Forces in Egypt.

 

9am Saturday. Consequently today

is a "day off" This will probably

be the last "big day's divisional

training we will get before we leave

here. Rumor has it "soon"

I have not been out to Mena camp

of late but possibly will go out

with Sgt. Bugler Hadelstone to

see Major LeMaistre late of Balaclava

Boys Naval Brigade and an old

friend of Gunner Kearns.Mr

Cameron. He is second in command

of 5th Battalion.

A trip has been arranged for, to

take Sergeants and Officers to the

ruins up the mile and to the tombs

of Memphis but they are all the

same to look at, and I have

seen enough to last me a life time

6

The Motor Transport Corps did not

land in Egypt so we presume they

went to France.

We hear that the third contingent

are in the Red Sea so they will be

here in about a week's time.

A few views of Suez are being sent

by the mail so please inform me

if you do not get them.

I have forgotten to tell you that

Jack Hansen of N.S.W is in Camp

with the 7th A.S.C. attached to

our Brigade. He came over to see

me as his people wrote him I was

here. He is a big brawny farmer and

is of course mounted.

Until next mail

Yours Stewart

14 Battalion

4 1.B.  A.I.F.

Sergt Stewart Hanson

 

Aerodome Camp

Heliopolis Egypt

21/3/15

 

Dear All,

Thirteen weeks have passed since last in

Williamstown Church. The weeks work has been easy

and interesting & therefore time passes fairly quickly

but we could very well be nearer our objective

than in Egypt. The Turks have no hope here.

The work last Monday consisted of Battalion Training

we dressed in fighting order with midday meal &

marched through Heliopolis & Zeitoun to our friend

-the sandy waste- lunched and then listened to our

Colonel who had the previous day visited an Officer

just arrived from Australia. We were told that our

regiment had left a stinking trail behind it, wherever

it had been since leaving Australia, that the Officers

were continually drunk and that every place we had

been to stunk with our memory. At first we all

laughed but as he proceeded we began to realise that

the filthy rumors had actually be spread about in

Melbourne and even in Bendigo. Considering that

Colombo was the only port en route that any officer or

troops were ashore and that these happenings were

rumored to have occurred at Aden, Suez. Pt Said, etc.

you can understand why we laughed when we heard

them.