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 haveing a good

but laizy time, nothing doing

Well conscription did not get a 

look in, would like to see those 

strikers bunged in, If Art is

comeing he wants to be sure to

get in the L.Horse 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 propable he would be 

put in a reinforcement of our own

unit hat home if he made

sufficient inquiries, I am doing a.I

and there is nothing to tell

so I will conclude.

Your Ever Loving Son

Fergus
PR04018

postcard - see original document

Frost winter canal
Moascar wharf 

salt lake

(2)

I am going to be laizy to use all P. 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 sock. You will

be first rate at the pearl stitch for the heel

by now. I hope George keeps up the reputation

as somebody [[haidxx?]] would like to encounter

the sayer for an arguiment 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 grower

than others now they seem to be scarce by xx

times here oh I am going to make a fram

of a biscuit and paste a photo on it for you

just for the divelment. 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 haveing

really if it was much finer I would

not exsist at all of course mum hasn't

to look at it that way.

PR04018  

Diary cover - see original document

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

2 ) find the difference

of 792/181/ 4 ) find the sum
of 792/8881
and 941

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 FRIDAY
when we left Chermside for
Zilmere. All were pleased at
leaving as we had been prepared
a couple of times for
departure during the week receiving
word at the last minute,
that we were canc^e^lled for
a day or two. Cheering whistling
and singing continued
while we marched to the train.
The distance was about 3 Miles.
We left Zilmere at 4 a.m. 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 at
about 9 Oclock. While we were
haveing breakfast the down
train pulled into the station;
In 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.
As 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 sleeping"
left us to have meals as
we cho^ose from what had been
given us on the way and what
we had previously put in our
haversacks. There were far many more
people "to fairwell us" at the NSW
Stations than the Queensland one's.
Evry girl who was on the platform
at the stations where we pulled
up was hissed 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
Queensland; many rabbits
were to be seen skipping about.
Some of the towns had steam
trams which we quickly noticed
being used to the electric. We
arrived at Sydney at 2 Oclock
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 accidents
by the spur tripping on the steps.
We were soon allotted our portion
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 hammocks
which were heaped up
on one end of the table. The hammocks
were hung just above
our mess 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 hammock's
and put in the bins belonging
to each compartment. A lot of
the men branded the one they
had but were very lucky to get
their own next night. We soon
found the water a bit rough and
some were sea-sick. All who could
go below enjoyed their meals, as we
were now splendidly tuckered ^compared to
camp life, some gave it to the sharks}
later on. 

25^th Oct.
Arrived Port Melbourne at 3-30 PM
Monday 25^th and dropped anchor.
{26^th and 27^th}
We stayed there two days for Coaling.
There were also some Victorian-

and Tasmanian & South Aus 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 had the days
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 board
to grant leave, We had a piano
brought aboard which was purchased
by subscription of the troop's
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 transport and
one troopship A38. -
28^th
At 7AM on the 28^th we left Port
Melbourne for an unknown destination.
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 dissap
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 photographed it and
many views since. The co^astal
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 next
couple of days. How sympathetic
we were towards the sharks
giveing them all the food we had
eaten, and only eating to - 

satisfy our Biliousness, What
expressions we used, saying's
like, I wont some back to Australia
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
will do 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, how comforting
the thoughts were, No wonder
Australia 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 day's 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