Collection relating to the service of Fergus Robert Cox, 1915-1917 - Part 6

EGYPT 24.11-16

Moascar

 

My Dear Parents-

  Just a few lines to

let you know I am quite

well. We are having a good

but lazy time, nothing doing

Well conscription did not get a 

look in, would like to see those 

strikers bunged in, If Art is

coming he wants to be sure to

get in the [[LHouse?]] as he would

come to here then, and brothers

in the same country can claim

each other, the older one claims

the younger. I was 23 last month.

It is quite probable he could be 

put in a reinforcement of our own

unit h at home if he made

sufficient inquries, I am doing a.i

and there is nothing to tell

so I will conclude.

  Your Ever Loving Son

    Fergus

 

  Moascar wharf 

salt lake

(2)

I am going to be lazy to use all the cards this time

I have three of them to send you and one to

George, with a letter they would be too

Bulky for the Envelope. This is a snap of

the wharf at the salt lake. Well how are 

you doing with your socks. You will

be first rate at the pearl stitch for the heel

by now. I hope George keeps up the reputation

as somebody [[?]] would like to encounter

the say in for an argument of say ten minutes

I'd soon stop their remarks, can guess its

one of those who consider their bit done with

their tongue, I am more fond of the [[Tucker?]] group

than others now they seem to be scarce by xx

times here oh I am going to make a frame

of a biscuit and paste a photo on it for you

just for the devilment. keep smiling

you said I did not look thin in the

photo. Don't think a full [[faced?]] person

show much difference in the face

It wouldn't do to or I could not tell.

mother what a fine time I am having

really if it was much finer I would

not exist at all of course mum hasn't

to look at it that way.

PR04018
 

1 ) add 2 79/6 8 3/7 8/

2 ) find the difference

of 792/181 4 ) find the sum of 792/888

3 ) find the sum of 

792 / 200 / 54 / and

672

 

279 +

683

  78

5₂0₂0

1,540 sum 

 

 

Diary Notes
From Chermside to Egypt
On Active Service
It was shortly after 2 Oclock
in the morning of Oct 22^nd 1915
when we left Chermside for
Zilmere. All were pleased at
leaving as we had been pre
-pared a couple of times for
departure during the week re
-ceiving word at the last min
-ute, that we were cancelled for
a day or two. Cheering whistl
-ing and singing continued
while we marchel to the train.
The distance was about 3 miles
We left Zilmere at 4 am in a
special train bound for Sydney,
waving and shouting fairwell
continued till all were tired
(1)

or sleeping. The train stopped
at Murphy's Creek for breakfast
about 9 Oclock. While we were
haveing breakfast the down
train pulled into the station
tn it was our Camp Chaplain
Lieut Colonel Garland of Brisbane.
He ran down to the end of the
platform and said good bye
to us, he had to hurry as the
train only stopped a few
minutes, as he left us we
gave him three cheers.
ets soon as breakfast was
over we started off again
The train stopped for a few
minutes at odd Stations
The next principal stop ^was  for
dinner at 1-30 about a mile
from Warwick. It looked like
(2)   PR04018
 

 

a soldiers picnic excurtion to
see how jolly they were & jokeing 
about while haveing dinner.
We again moved off the next
notable stop was at Woolongarra.
at about 5 oclock where we
changed trains and crossed the
border to N.S.W. Owing to quite
a number of the troops being merry
with drink and others sleep
-ing left us to have meals as
we chose from what had been
given us on the way and what
we had previously put in our
haversacks. There were many more
people "to fairwell us" at the NSW
stations than the Queensland one
Evry girl who was on the platform
as the stations where we pulled
up was kissed by crowds of
(3)
 

the lads. They did not wait
to see if the girls would object
but raced to be first. Bedtime
and darkness brought the day's
enjoyments to a close
23^RDOct
The morning broke with fresh
country and scenes, they were
haveing better seasons than
Queenland; many rabbits
were to be seen skipping about.
Some of the towns had steam
trams which we quickly noticed
being used to the electrics. We
arrived at Sydney at 2 bclock
with it misting rain.
A large number of people
witnessed our arrival and
many marched by our side
 

 

to the wharf, some carrying our
kit bags, we were soon on a
ferry and taken out to the
Hawkes Bay Vessel which was
anchored in the harbour. Before
we went aboard the ferry the orders
were given to take all spurs off
The object being to prevent accident
by the sur chipping on the steps.
We were soon allotted our por
-tion and of the ship and given
lunch. A few boats of people Gathered
round to say good bye. At 4-15 our
vessel started off for Melbourne.
We had supper shortly after 5 Oclock,
then got our blankets and ham
-mocks which were heaped up
on one end of the table. The ham
-mocks were hung just above
our meas table; it was funny
 

to be swinging like this after
being used to sleeping on the
ground in a tent. The rocking
of the ship soon put us to sleep
24^thOct.
Evrybody seemed quite fresh
in the morning when we got
up; all the blankets had to
be rolled up in the hammocks
and put in the bins belonging
to each compartment. A lot of
the men branded the one ther
had but were very lucky to get
their own next night. We soon
bound the water a bit rough and
some were seasick. All who could
go below enjoyed their meals, as we
were now splendidly tuckered ^compared to
camp life, somegave it to the starks
later on. 
 

 

25^th Oct.
Arrived Port Melbourne at 3-30 PM
Monday 25th and dropped anchor

{26^th and 27^th}
We stayed there two days for Coaling
There were also some Victorian-

and Tasmanian & Southern troops came
aboard, The N.S.W. troops were
first on the vessel at Sydney
No leave was granted and this was
much against our grain. We
all refused to work if leave was
not permitted, but this did not
succeed and we only read the day
spent idly aboard; a few who were
more determined than others lowered
a life boat and threatened to row
ashore, an officer drew his revolver
and they laughed at him and said
you had better put it away.
 

He soon see that all the troops
aboard were against his showing
it and put it back. After a while
they were persuaded to be quiet,
being convinced that it was
not in power of the officers on boat
to grant leave, We had a piano
brought aboard which was pur-
chased by subscription of the troops.
We were pleased to have it as there
was no Y.M.C.A on board. A
couple of vessels put out passed
us, one horse tranoport and
one troopship A38. ---

28^th
At 4AM on the 20^th we left Port
Melbourne for an unknown des-
tination. We were feeling very
dissapointed at not being let ashore
 

We were now in very rough
waters, the pilot ship came
along side to get the pilot from
our ship and as we watched her
she would almost dimp
disappear, rocking and rolling,
we followed the coast round,
and it was a beautiful sight.
I wished I had my camera with
me to have photoghaphed it and
many views since. The coastal
showers came on and cut our
view off. Quite a number of us
were getting sea-sick, and
prefered to sleep on deck, as did
most of us within the nex
couple of days. How sympathetic
we were towards the sharks
giveing them all the food we has
eaten, and only eating to-
 

satisfy our Biliousness, What
expressions we used, sayings
like, I wont some back Aus-
tralia in a ship, I want a train
or flying machine, This is
my first and last experiences
on water. I myself fail to see
the beautyful of a sea voyage.
It may be better if you call
in at a few ports, but the train
vin as me where ever it is
possible, and not under a first
class passage if I can help it when
on the briney, We were told we
would soon be out of the Great
Australian Bight and in
smooth water, now comforting
the thoughts were. No wonder
Austalia has such a bight
taken out, The waters are
 

by far the roughest there of any
part of our voyage.

29^th, 30^th & 31^st
The most to see these days were
a few shoals of flying fish
and an odd appearance of a
shark.

1^st Nov.
Our last glimpse of Australian
shores was Cape Lewynn on
the first of Nov. The weather now
became hot, it was fairly chilly
the passed week

2^nd - 3^rd Nov.
The next couple of days passed
quietly by, with only the boundless