Letters from Captain Walter Morris Felix Gamble to his family, 1915-1916 - Part 9

he will turn up shortely
like a bad penny. 
How is "18" these days?
Do you and Bill still
weed the garden? Is the 
hammock still there?
(Got to detail a fatigue
party, will continue later)
I received a great
letter from Horace the 
other day, must write
to him next mail, you
have No Idea how I 
enjoy the boys letters.
What's happened to
Fred, I'll screw his
neck if he comes to
welcome me in a rig
like he was wearing in
the photo. box his ears 
for me.
Times up. Goodnight
old Girl X x Wally

a bed companion 1916!
Not bad, is he?  

→  Hand drawn diagram - see original document 
My bed mate
Wally.

"Brinny Villa'
22^nd June 1916
Dear old Dad
As I sit on deck, and look
across the water at the fading Shores
of Egypt. I picture myself plodding
wearily in full marching order,
plodding across the burning sands
under a blazing sun leaving
a track of sweat to mark my way, 
and I cant help thinking what
a blessing it is to be leaving such
a hell.
But, when I recall the great times

Ivor and I have had in Cairo, with
its beautiful cafes, and wonderful
tropical Garden.s - Just imagine us
sitting in Groppi's in the cold shade
of a towering palm, before us dainty
cakes delicious ices, and a glass
of iced coffee are set and Talking 
 through the haze smoke haze of two
Dr Reszke Cigarettes - I find
myself doubting whether France
can fill me with wonder, and

pleasure as Egypt did. for although
I have had some pretty hard
times on the desert, when I 
put them in the scale with the
pleasure I have had, they fade
into nothingness, and so I leave 
Egypt with a feeling akin to regret.

For the last fortnight or so, 
we were camped at Moaskar,
about a mile, from Ismalia, one
of Egypts beauty spots. It is situated
on the shores of a lake and
boasts of its wonderful gardens.
You can walk four miles through
glorious avenues, the top branches
of the trees intertwine, thus
shielding you from the sun.
It was like a paradise,
after weeks of sand and sun,
to march through Ismalia
and hat in hand, and to inhaleng
the scented air. It was glorious.
I forgot I was in marching
order and that I was tired.
Two days before we left
I was lying in my tent, when 

I heard an old familiar
voice inquire for Sgt Gamble, I in
my eagerness to snie see him
again, I trod on the fellows
who were lying between me and
the door, and earned their
curses. My poor pencil cannot
describe my feelings on seeing
old Malcolm again - he is not
what he was, he is thin, and
worn, but his eye is still bright
and he is still Malcolm; we
hunted up Ivor, who by the way
weighs about fourteen stone, and
then proceeded to Ismalia,
where we found a secluded
corner and told each other 
what had happened since we 
separated.
Well Dad, I am going to 
see France soon, and learn their
customs and mannerisms. I will 
probably learn a little about the
Germans also. As soon as I have
been there long enough, I will
tell you my impressions
Wally. 

Somewhere in France
17^th August 1916
Dear old Dad & Mum
I have nothing to do
for about half an hour, so I will
break all previous records, and
write you two successive mail days
I am improving, what?
It bucked one up a treat, when
I received four letters telling me
that you got a bunch of eight letters
and while I was still repairing,
up walked Ivor and Malcolm, they
had had no letters for some time,
so I read them to them, they both
wish to be remembered to you, and
by the way mum Malcolm asked me
did I tell you how much he liked the
tobacco you gave him, as a matter of
fact it was all that was on the boat, and
he thanks you a whole lot for it.
I suppose you will be addressing
my letters to the 15^th A.L.T.M.B. well
please change it ^again and address 

them to 2^nd Lieut Gamble "D" Coy 59^th Battalion
but I hope to be back in the Battery
before long. It's a great unit.
I write this letter to you both, because
the last time I wrote to one, the other
felt neglected, and I will probably 
be able to write separately to you
in a couple of days
Well Dad and dear old Mum
I had better go and do some more 
work.
Tons of love
Wally 

At Sea
June 28^th 1916
My Dear old Mum
I How I neglect
you Mum, but I don't mean
to. I make a resolution every
night that I will write the
next day but they are always
broken by a "Come and have
a game of Bridge Blue"
I wrote a bundle of
letters just before leaving
Moaskar, but lost them
as per usual. They were
all in envelopes, and
addressed, so I have hope
that they will be found
by some Kind person, who
will post them for me.
We are expecting to
see the Shores of France any
hour now. I am glad to 
get end this blooming
drill, drill, drill, it gets

on my nerves. I was never
made for a parade ground
soldier, but when there is
something doing, I never 
grow weary.
How are all the lads
mum? Still as troublesome
I suppose.
If they don't receive any
letters before this reaches
them you, tell them that I spent
a couple of hours writing to
them, but lost the fruits 
of my labor, before I had
time to post them.
I have not seen uncle 
Horace since I met him
on Lemnos. Now have I 
been fortunate enough to
strike little Dr Woolland.
Well Mum, I will write
you a long letter about
France very soon, I am
quite well, your old Wally.