Letters from Captain Walter Morris Felix Gamble to his family, 1915-1916 - Part 8

Sandville 
26-5-16
Dear old Dad
I am still living 
in hopes. "Latrines" are
coming out every five minutes.
"Every one that told it added
something new and everyone
that heard it made enlargements
too so you can guess what 
they are like by now.
The heat has taken a
jerry to itself thank goodness.
it was even too hot for
the flies. They just stood
with their mouths open and
their tongues hanging out
while you killed them.
My oncitis  has left
no ill effects as I have 
done some very nice route
marches lately and 

felt xx as right as fire.
They held a guard
review of all the troops
around the Canal Zone ^ yesterday. It 
was a wonderful sight
first the Light Horse
passed the saluting horse
they looked grand, sitting like
statues on their prancing 
horses with their rifles at 
rest. The Artillery followed
in a cloud of dust. Then 
came the Transport last of
all but not least marched
the Infantry with bayonets
fixed in Columns of Companies

it made a chap feel proud
to be a part that he was 
part of it - although I was
but a number in the line. 

The C.S.M. told me yesterday,
that I had been recommended 
for my third stripe he is
expecting it out any day
now.
You must have your
work cut out to keep
the building going, for
goodness sake take things
easy I don't want to find
you worked to death when
I come back.
Well Dad I must
write to Mum, Mona and
one of the boys. I am as
fit as could be and
ready for some fun.
The same old Wally 

Desert ville
26-5-16
Dear old Mum
For goodness
sake Mum don't think
I am neglecting you,
when the postman comes
with a long face; every 
night I come home to
a Dance or a Tennis
Party or sometimes I 
do a nights studying
and you bring in my
supper at 10-30. I never
grow weary of dreaming
but, when it comes
to writing I procrastinate
one day and the next 

 3
down to the M.G.'s to
give it to him - I
stayed about two hours;
and would have
returned undiscovered,
but my  C.O. Capt Hewitt

had recommended me
for a Commission and
was in a terrible state
because I was not to
be found, and so he
had to withdraw his my 
recommendation. I 
called myself a - ! - ! fool
but I was really sorry
for disappointing the
Capt.
You can rest assured

2
I have not the opportunity
fact is. I will be very
lucky if I get through 
this uninterrupted.
I have not yet broken
myself out of my - don't 
care a damn ways - 
A few days ago I was
promoted to Sargeant
and in spite of the 
fact that everyone was
ordered to stay in the
lines until the weekly
inspection was over, I
as per usual said to
myself "They wont miss
me" and having a 
letter for Ivor, I went 

Mum, that the lesson
has sunk a wee bit
beneth beneath my skin
and I will take a jerry 
to myself in the future.
Have you got all
the boys out of bed
yet? You've had
enough illness to last 
you a year.
I suppose Fred will
be wearing my cast
off's if Dad hasn't
worn them all out.
Well Mum, I am 
coming home to
have a game of tennis
shortely ^ shortly, have a cup
of tea ready.
Your old Wally. 

Desert ville
4^th June 1916
 Dear old Mum
I don't know
when I will be able 
to write again. For
the Mail closes tonight
until _!
You've no idea
how it hurts Mum
to open a letter and
read we have not 
had a letter for ages
I was ever a poor
correspondent  and
try as I do I am 
afraid I will remain 

so.
No news is good news.
I received another
Welcome Nugget the
other day from the 
Mutual it was great

while it lasted but
when ten hungry Sergeants
share in it you can 
guess what happens.
I am feeling simply 
grand nowadays, I
have a good swim
daily, and a sound 
sleep beneath the
Egyptian Sky every night.
We have just about 
finished our work here,

Thank goodness, - and
will be following
the old Battalion
shortly.
Everyone is impatiently
looking forward to
reaching their new sphere
of action, but I am 
afraid that when old Jack
Johnson starts speaking
there will be many

of us will be singing
"It's a longing for you
Egypt."
Sorry, I can't write
any more, I was 
called away on duty
and now mail time
has expired.
I'll write again soon
tell m poor old Mona
the next letter to her
will be the longest
I have ever written,
Tons of love
Wally

Sandville
4^th June 1916
My dear old Mona,

This is not 
my promised letter, but
only a note which
may or may not catch
the mail - good luck
to it anyhow.
Poor old Ivor has
a sore foot and curses
Egypt from morning to
the setting of the Sun and 
I curse all night this
climate is everything but
good for discharging
sores, but thank goodness
it's healing up.
We have heard
nothing of Malcolm
yet, I wonder where
the devil he can
be but I suppose