Papers relating to the service of Stewart Murray Hansen, 1915 - 1917 - Part 17

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Our stay here is not limited but we will not

be moving for "other scenes" until some time

has elapsed.

Pte Chas Cox is in my company also Pte

Alexander of Transports

"Nuff Sed this mail"

Stewart

O.C. "C" Coy

14^th Bn. A.I.F.

Serapeum
16.4.16

Dear All,

A week of much disgust and dust.

The weekly church parade last Sunday was

under Chaplain - Captain Cope, a man of

much influence and personality and a

worthy successor to the late Chaplain Gillison

Considering our proximity to the wilderness

traversed by the Israelites during their

tour he chose the identical subject mentioned

in last month's church Record just received

Personally forty days is long enough for

one on this jolly desert let alone forty

years.

I have been engaged on a Court of Enquiry

into the fate of missing personnel of the 4^th

Brigade, all last week and have just

returned to take up the reins of government

of my company again. Naturally everything

had not been going on just to my liking

and a good deal of "straff" was indulged

in. Capt Smith, my "second in command"

had been away from the Company

for some time on detached Brigade duties

but his return to duty was demanded

and granted.

One Subaltern is away at School of

Instruction Zietoun and another is

an instructor at a non-commissioned

officers school. The third has now been

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promoted from Company Quarter-Master-Sergeant

and is now permanently attached.

This leaves only one more vacancy which

will be filled within the next week.

My Sergeant-Major - Jacka V.C is shortly

to receive a commission but will most

certainly be attached to another company.

A number of promotions of N.COs

on my recommendations were approved

and the actual strength in men is in

excess of war establishment. The training

is severe during the hours allotted

6am - 8am   9am - 10.30am  4pm - 6pm

Swimming is appreciated after noon.

We run a company fund to provide

edibles over & above the government ration

issue. In this way we are able to

provide eggs for breakfast and puddings

at night - dinner. The result is, more 

efficiency in work, better health and

greater spirit.

Pte Chas. Cox, Pte Hartshorne & Pte Alexander

of Williamstown are attached to me while

Pte Sambell (owner of Yacht "Native") is in

"D" Coy & Bert Jamieson is in "A" Coy.

Charlie Kellet is camped near our

quarters and he came to see me last

Wednesday.

Dust storms have been severe and

continuous this week. Tents, semi-permanent

buildings and stacks of boxes were blown

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in all directions and places were feet deep

in sand. One portion of a railway

line was buried six feet in half an

hour and afterwards it required a 

large fatigue party to dig it clear.

Several sand dunes have shifted their

position on the map.

Albeit our outposts are as happy in

these uncongenial surroundings as they

are in any sphere of operations

A successful raid into Turkish

territory was made by portion of 

9^th ALH under Major Scott, in which

a number of prisoners were taken and

important water works and plant

destroyed. We had one casuality

- Killed. These raids sharpen the

edge of every man's spirit and cause

extra efforts in general work.

Letter dated 6-3-16 duly arrived on

Thursday and another batch is expected

today. Glad photos arrived in good

condition.

Our movements are as uncertain as they

are frequent but an action of some

magnitude in another sphere might be

expected at any time.

April 25^th is to be observed as a holiday

and aquatic sports will be held. We

have cause to remember 1915 especially

April & August

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Received letter from Con. from her School.

Have not seen many boys from Wlmstown

lately owing to scattered nature of the

several camp some being many miles

away in different sections

Am keeping fit but this hot weather

is tiresome and flies are a pest.

Kindly remember me to all enquirers

Yours 

Stewart.

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Cairo 24-4-1916

Dear All,

On leave once more, but

expect this one will be my last

prior to embarkation.

On Thursday last our camp

was inspected by C in C. of

Egyptian Expeditionary Force

of which we, at present, form a 

part. The men were inspected

while at their training and

were all on their metal.

They worked beautifully. I was

Bde Field Officer for the day and

had to report to the G.O.C.

Brigade that everything was clean,

sanitary and the Bns. working

according to program. Such

was the case but he was so

enthusiastic to have his command

in good working order that

he would not be satisfied until 

I had been round several times

before reporting again.

.Anzac Day is to be celebrated

on Tuesday next 25^th inst.

A census of those who were concerned

in the landing shows that in

my Company 1 officer and 39

other ranks only, remain while

2 officers & 50 others in addition