Thomas Whyte Collection - Wallet 1 - Part 2 of 14

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were cheap. 
There are all sorts of races there. Somali 
Land niggers, Abbysinians, Turks Arabs Indian  
coolies & the general mixture.  Some of them 
have shaved heads, some curly & we saw 
a couple of ginger haired Arabs.  They were 
both used to being called 'Ginger'. We had 
a good bit of fun bargaining & barracking  
them.  The Coaling is done by Indian 
Coolies from barges, who empty bags 
into the hoppers lowered from the side. 
There were quite a dozen Indian Transports 
in Port on their way back from Europe 
We have passed several today, all empty. 
We are travelling with all lights out 
to-night owing to the suspected presence 
of a couple of Turkish men-of-war in 
the Red Sea. 
Friday Has been very hot to day. We are travelling 
with what little wind there is.  Heard there 
are quite a number of large men-of-war 
about principally from the Mediterranean 
fleet.  We passed several more returning  
troopships during the night. One just before sundown was 
numbered 156.  There have been more to-day

4 
This afternoon the 'Hampshire' dropped back 
& got some meat from the Geelong Before 
she had time to get back into position 
a steamer was noticed steaming across 
towards us.  The cruiser went out & stopped 
her.  She was a Pilgrim boat bound for  
the nearest Port to Mecca with pilgrims  
probably run by Cooks.  What a unique 
firm that is, running Mohammaden pilgrims 
to Mecca. 
I have found out that the capture of that 
other man of war at the time of the duel 
is correct but nothing is to be said about 
it so be careful. 
Saturday. Such excitement.  It was announced 
just before dinner that we were bound 
for Egypt for the Winter. There are all 
sorts of rumours; that it is all of us except 
the Artillery, that it is only the 3rd Brigade 
(Queens., W.A., Tas., & S.A.) etc.  I don't suppose 
we will know until we are actually 
disembarked at Port Said or whever we do. 
I don't know what to think of it. We 
do not know how things are going 
there or what chance there is of a 

5 
holy war.  It seems a sort or disappointment  
after preparing for a look at 
the Old Country, but if we are destined 
for Kitcheners Spring Army it will much 
more comfortable training in Cairo 
than Salisbury Plain.  The climate during 
Dec., Jan., Feb., & March is ideal in the 
former place.  Days like S.A. Autumn 
& nights cold enough for an overcoat 
You will get a lot of information about 
Egypt from 'Whittackers International' an 
annual periodical in the Library.  I 
think it gives the different inhabitants 
& system of army service.  It is  
possible that we will garrison Egypt 
in place of any doubtful Egyptian 
battalions, for of course in case of  
a holy war, Mahommedan would 
hardly fight Mahommedan. 
The troops were generally excited, 
principally because of it being news 
& because of the prospect of a change. 
Except for a brush with Turkish stray 
outposts, I don't think there is much 
chance of fighting in Egypt. However 

6 
you p will probably know a lot more 
than this letter can tell you by the 
time it reaches you. That raises another 
question. I think it just possible that 
we will not be allowed to mention anything 
at Port Said. If so I will have to try & 
scheme to get this letter off. I suppose 
I will get the true soldierly method 
some day & not speculate about 
anything but take everything as it 
comes; but oh this groping in the dark 
Monday Nothing interesting since writing the 
above. This boat is worse than a 
drawing room for gossip. The yarns 
that get about are marvellous. I have 
started one or two lately & they went 
rounded distorted and almost unrecognisable 
We got Serg. Heritage to enrol members 
for a 'Camel Corps' He was inundated 
with applications all knowing everything 
about camels. The chief draw about it was 
that they were to get sergeants pay. 
I was vaccinated today That completes  
the list I think. I must be full of  
anti disease germs.

7 
We should reach Suez to-morrow 
morning early. We entered the Gulf  
of Suez before Tea. Although Pt Said 
is further from Cairo than Suez there 
is no wharf at the latter place so 
we could not disembark. We drew 
out with two of the Shire liners this 
morning & have passed the N.Z. boats 
I don't know why we are pushing on. Some artisans 
from the 'Hampshire' (Who came aboard 
at Aden) assisted by several tradesmen 
among the troops, have repaired the 
rent temporarily by bolting several 
plates over it. I believe our people will 
not get the blame at the enquiry. The 
'Hampshire' & 'Orvieto' heads collected 
evidence at Aden. The rumour is 
that the 'Shropshire' slowed considerably 
without warning. 
A cool head wind sprang up yesterday 
& had made things quite pleasant. It 
is almost to cool to sleep on deck 
to-night. 
The crew which rowed the Colonel & Adj 
around at Aden had their photos

8 
taken with the officer. I believe we 
are to get some each. If I get mine 
in time I will enclose them. 
Since I have had time to think it 
over, I am rather pleased we are going 
to Egypt. Even if we went to England, 
I we would get hardly any leave, & that 
would be more disappointing than 
not going. There is certainly much 
less chance of going to the front from 
Egypt than England. 
Tuesday 9 A.M. Dec.1st The anchor has just dropped off Suez 
Orders have just been received to 
proceed to Alexandria. I do not know 
whether this applies to the whole of 
the fleet or to only part. It may mean 
that we are to be stationed there. 
We are to mount a guard of 150 going 
through the Canal. I suppose that is 
in case of any Turks sniping. I 
believe the Canal is lined with Indian 
troops. 
Wednesday We are nearly through the Canal & should 
reach Pt Said about 1 o'clock. Left Suez 
at 8 last night. It was too dark to see

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much of the town. They would not 
allow any of the bum boats near us, 
when we were at anchor in the bay. 
There is a railway alongside the Canal 
& early this morning we passed an armoured 
train manned by Indian troops. Every 
4 or 5 miles we pass an outpost of Sihks, 
Bengal Lancers Punjabis, Soudanese, or Territorials. 
At the various stations of which we have 
passed ½ a dozen this morning there is an 
guard The Indian troops look quaint in  
their Kahki tunics & bare legs; It was very 
cold last night too. There are great lagoons 
each side of the embankments for most 
of the way. 
Another day will see us at Alexandria. 
I sometimes feel sorry to think of the 
voyage ending then, but I suppose we  
would get very sick of it if we had much 
more. It will be funny dealing with the 
coinage, 10 Millions 1 Piastre = 2½, 100 Piastres 
one Egyptian sovereign. We will have to  
reduce every price to £ s.d. before we can 
value it. 
3 p.m. It was quite stirring arriving at Pt Said

10 
We were about the 20th to enter the Canal 
so there was a harbour full to welcome 
us. We steamed right through two long 
lines of transports & men o war. 
There was a British battleship, the Hampshire, 
3 Frenchmen, a couple of mail steamers 
& several coasters. The cheering was 
tremendous. It has been like that 
ever since, as each boat arrives. The 
N.Z. s have coaled & two of them have just 
moved off so I suppose we shall be going 
soon. 
All sorts of rumours are about dealing with the 
Turks marching a force into Egypt. The It 
seems ridiculous as their lines of communication  
could be effectively cut by a  
mere handful. I don't think we shall  
see any fighting at all. It is even 
doubtful if we shall leave Egypt before 
the war is over unless we are relieved. 
Well I shall wind up if I am to get 
this letter posted. Goodnight little darling 
I love you more than ever. Hope you haven't  
forgotten about Xmas morning. 
Your loving boy 
Tom

Reply to Adelaide Y.M.C.A. Army Department 
Pvte T A Whyte 
No. 47 A Coy. 
10th Infantry Battalion 
3rd Brigade 
1st Australian Division   
Cairo England Egypt                                       
Mena 
Egypt 
Letter No 4.
Wednesday Nov. 9 1914 

My Darling Little Girl, 
If I remember rightly my last letter 
finished with news that I was going to 
Mena with the advance party. We left the 
Ascanius about 7 p.m. & after waiting on 
the wharf got aboard the train with 3 companies 
of the 11th (W.A.) There were 24 of us, 6 from A company 
including Micky Smith & Stokes of our old 
tent, all in charge of Captain Hall of the  
Signallers. There was plenty of room in 
the train & though the carriages were for only 
3rd class, the travelling was fairly comfortable. 
The Egyptian State railways run 3 classes 
the lines are well laid & the guage is the  
European standard of 4 ft 7½ ins. We started  
from the wharf at 9.10 8.10 & arrived at Cairo at 
1.30 am. It was a moonlight misty night; 
which gave the scenery we passed through a 
weird affect. We stopped for a few minutes 
at 3 stations. It was a pity it was night, 
but it did not prevent us guessing if not 
seeing what the country was like