Papers relating to the service of Stewart Murray Hansen, 1915 - 1917 - Part 14

"Al Hayat"
Helouan
9-1-16
Dear All,
Yet another week of convalescence. It happened
in this wise. The Senior Medical Officer of this Hospital
declared me "not yet fit for duty", I declared myself
"fit for duty" last Friday. Colonel Ryan and Lieut. Colonel.
Maudsley came today on a visit of inspection of convalescent
Officers and met me in my bedchamber. On the
first mentioned "Medics discovering that I Landed on April 25^th
he started chatting about events of that memorable day
and when the second mentioned Medics ascertaining
that I had existed there seven months he commenced to
question and cross question me and finally subjected me
to a thorough overhaul in his efforts to discover the secret
of continued good health on Gallipoli. Between them all
they apparently forgot the object of their visit until I
reminded them that I did not want to be a boarder however
nice Helouan was. They debated at some length until
a decision was reached that I was a triumph of clean
living and a leather stomach. "Another week won't do
you any harm" was there parting words of (dis-)comfort.
So I am a Government boarder still. The cable just sent
you is therefore a week too soon with the news it contained. 

2
News of the week.
Monday Jan 3^rd Weather beautiful in early morning but
rain commenced before mid-day. Decided to -"do"-Cairo
with the Sister who nursed my feet while they were
frost-bitten. Tea at "Groppy's Ltd" and afterwards did
my shopping escorted by afore mentioned Sister. Drove
to No 2 Australian General Hospital before making for
Bab-el-Lauk Station en-route for home. Billiards before bed
Tuesday Jan 4^th. Wet and slushy. Drainage of rain water
is not provided for anywhere about Cairo or Northern Egypt.
hence "slush". Visited Giza camp - Overseas Base of A.I.F. -
and had lunch with friends. Post haste to Continental
Hotel to see our Brigade Major who had just arrived
from headquarters of our Brigade. Ascertained their
whereabouts and requested him to demand my return
to duty. Request refused meantime. Having received
no letters for six weeks Fred Grassick - of Pay Corps - loaned
me a couple of letters from Bill Philip. Fred is my
present source of news from Australia generally during the
period of absence of my own letters. Expect at least
60 in a day or two. Home from dinner and bed.
Wednesday Jan 5^th Cold wind - for Egypt - and stayed
at Helouan all day. My room mate - only two in
a room - left and another arrived (Lt Smallhouse of
Melbourne). Sister X (name?) failed me so
wrote a letter for spite. Awfully upsplitting you know.

Played billiards after dinner.  

3
Thursday Jan 6^th  Weather finer so strolled round Helouan
- awfully fascinating, the smells and squalor, you know.
Sister Y (Don't worry, another this time) presented me with
photos taken on roof of Al Hayat previously and I enjoyed
a few - quite a few in fact - minutes conversation.
In afternoon I had two visitors - some stunt - Captain
and Mrs Loughran of Daylesford. He was originally
our Regimental Medical Officer and takes a kindly
interest in me - so does his wife apparentely. - Invited
them to dinner also Capt Henly - a medico of Melbourne -
and Sister Z ('still' another). They left at 10.30 pm.
Friday Jan 7^th Nothing doing during morning but two
Sisters W & X of Ghezireh Hospital visited me and
stayed for afternoon Tea - (The young devil - Mother
stop that swearing). Saw them to the train and crawled
home.
Saturday Jan 8^th Simply had to visit Cairo to get my
watch from repairers also to return letters loaned by
Fred Grassick. Informed that Bert Jamieson and
Duncan McLean were camped at Zeitoun but rain
prevented any search for them that day.
Sunday Jan 9^th - Today -. Beautiful cool and sunny day
indulged in two hours walk after medico's inspection
- previously mentioned - My kit bag duly arrives
from store where it has safely reposed for eight months. Only
half the contents missing so feel satisfied. 

4
Have decided to visit Ismailia tomorrow if I can get
a day's leave.
As it is time for my dose of malt extract I must
desist from further literary efforts. I hope you have
noticed that I believe in "Safety in numbers".
Ta,Ta, here comes Matron.
Stewart. 

"Al Hayat"
Helouan Egypt
16-1-16
[*The anticipated
promotion is naturally
held up during absence
from my unit. Perhaps after
all I will lose it. S*]
Dear All
A life of inactivity is most unsuitable to my
frame of mind yet I am compelled to endure yet another
week of indolence. Despite the picturesque and comfortable
surroundings the place is getting on my nerves and my temper
suffers in consequence. I spent last Monday in travelling
to Ismailia on Suez Canal and visiting my unit.
They were pleased to see me and quite thought I had
returned to duty. I here received 39 letters, a sugar
bag of papers and a parcel and straightway devoured
the news. I paid a visit to General Monash and asked
him if he would apply for my return to duty but
unfortunately until the Medical authorities discharge
me he can do no good so here I have to remain in
the meantime. Terribly upsplitting when I know myself
to be absolutely well. My present weight is 12 stone 1½ lbs
only 10½lbs below my weight on leaving Australia in 1914.
Returning to Cairo the same night the train was two
hours late so I have to find a bed in the Continental
Hotel - a difficult job at present - However I met
an Officer I know and we bunked together in his
room.  

2
Getting up in time for late breakfast I then proceeded
to Bulac avenue bridge to pick up a picnic party
from Helouan Convalescent Hospital on the way to the
Barrage. This was my second visit but this time
Mr Draper the Government Horticulturist constituted
himself our guide and we spent a delightful
afternoon being shown round his private gardens
and thro' his model home. Each room is built
& furnished in styles of different countries both
Eastern & Western. Arriving in Cairo via river
hill I proceeded to Heliopolis to have dinner with
Capt. and Mrs Loughran of Daylesford and finally
arrived at Helouan at 2 am. On Wednesday instead
of staying behind and recouperating I had arranged
a small dinner with Fred Grassick, Bert Jamieson
and Duncan McLean but the two latter failed
to put in an appearance so after dinner Fred and
I rode out to No 1 Aust. General Hospital at
Heliopolis and found Len Linklater in bed with
rheumatics but quite happy and getting on well.
As the pictures do not start until 9.30 pm we
returned in time and finally caught the 11.45 pm
train arriving home at 1 am.
Cpl Harry Morris of 1^st Division Staff came into Hospital
today but is quite recovered having played tennis
today

3
To make up for late hours Thursday found me at
Helouan all day which were spent in answering letters
Col Ryan visited us again but I got no satisfaction.
On Friday I decided to have my photo taken and
afterwards saw H.M. The Sultan of Egypt with brilliantly
adorned body-guard, driving along the main avenue
During my wanderings this day I ran across Bob Hare
Bandmaster of 2^nd Inf Bde band. He put up
the record of seeing out the whole campaign and
still going strong. In the evening of Saturday an
English countess and concert party entertained the
men for a couple of hours. All the Artists were
professional three from England and an Australian
Baritone.
To day being Sunday I have taken things quietly
and spent most of the day answering those 39 letters
truly a hand-paining job.
The weather is wonderful although called Winter.
A Victorian Spring day perhaps equals it but otherwise
no climate in the world outclasses it.
Tomorrow I intend to spend another day at Ismailia
with Major Young our late Quartermaster who is
returning to Australia on the 20^th inst by R.M.S.
Mongolia. Perhaps more letters will be waiting me.
Au Revoir this week
Stewart.
There is no necessity for this to be published wait until I return
to duty for news of work S.

Moascar Camp
Ismailia
28-1-16
Dear All
Once more, after nine months, we tramp the desert sand
near the precincts of Suez Canal, training and manoeuvring
awaiting such time as the Tusso-German army decides to
attack Egypt. The sand is softer and the going much harder
than previously but the few weeks rest necessitated by my
sojourn in Hospital has fitted me out for any contingencies of
this kind. Although a little soft, I have completely regained
normal strength and weight and my wind is excellent.
The G.O.C. Brigade gave me a passport stating that my
services were urgently required and on presenting this
to the proper authorities I was discharged to duty
immediately although the Medical people were a bit
doubtful. However, here we are again, but under slightfully
slightly different circumstances. As you mention absence
from one's unit interferes with promotion, consequently
the Adjutants position did not come my way but is in
more capable hands which is - during these times of
complete reorganisation - better for all concerned.
My position now is Second in command of "D" Coy but this is not
necessarily a promotion although it may mean one later on. 

2
My first job on return was the construction of a miniature
rifle range in the desert for field firing practice. This
occupied two days supervision and in between times I
exercised myself on a horse. Thus I was able to visit
the 30^th Bn 8^th Infantry Brigade at Ferry Post in Suez Canal
some distance away and there saw Geoff & Ken Gladstones
Sgt Barly, & Clancie Lonsdale, all of whom were in excellent
spirits and anxious to know what one's feelings were under
fire. This I was unable to describe to them as the length of
time spent under fire changes one's feelings proportionately,
until you take things as a matter of course. Geoff Gladstones
looked me up today and informed me that Sgt Ray Hampton
and Cpl Ron Towler both of 22^nd Bn were camped quite
close to his Battalion.
Every body is hard at training similar to that done before
going to Gallipoli and it would appear as if twelve solid
months have been wasted but if Anzac had not
eventuated Egypt would have been attacked via
Suez Canal and other more serious consequences would
have occurred. Despite the weather which is vile - rain
storms - dust storms - and wind storms - everyone is happy
and doing well although few of the original members
of the Battalion are with us. We start off afresh and
are doing our best to begin again with the same high
standard of efficiency as previously was the case twelve
months ago.

3
We have just returned from a great day in the desert. Bn
tactical exercise as follows occupied our attention
A force of the enemy were supposed to have crossed the
Canal north of Suez and were marching Nthward
on Ismailia. The X Brigade and a Squadron of
Light Horse were detailed to intercept the enemy at
Abyia drain, drive them off and hold them at
bay until reinforcements arrived from Port Said.
Moving out in formation to minimise destruction
by artillery fire we proceeded on our journey
and by 10 am had successfully crossed the channel
screened by the Light Horse. Here we discerned the
enemy at a distance of 1200 yds entrenched on a
commanding ridge which it was decided to attack
and hold. This operation accomplished by short section
rushes after coming within effective rifle fire range
was completed at 12 noon when reinforcements in the
shape of lunch arrived so an adjournment was made
until 2 pm when the enemy counterattacked and
we were forced to retire. Two companies were hold off
to fight a rear guard action while the main body
retired on to the banks of the channel. Doubling back
on to successfully prepared ridges in small parties
the operation was concluded satisfactorily at 4 pm
whereupon we formed up and marched gaily home.
Having been no service, the day's training has special