Thomas Whyte Collection - Wallet 1 - Part 14 of 14

Adelaide Y. M. C. A. Army Department
Reply to
No.  Coy.
England.

11

over near Mena House. They all each look
capable of seating as many as Wests.
Ours is called the 'Cenen 'Pyramids Cinema'
the others 'Pathes' & 'Empire'.
There was something in the Register 
description of the wedding that might be misunderstood.
If I remember rightly it conveys the impression
that Miss Honeywill hurried out here & got
married just preparatory to Phill going into
action. He intended to get married in
England before leaving S.A.
A nigger has just brought in a programme
of the pictures which are to start to-night. 

I am enclosing it.  It was to have opened
last Thursday.
I am mounting guard at 5 o'clock.  We stay on till 5pm tomorow so this
letter won't be as long as last week's.
A short & severe form of influenza has
been prevalent lately.  Jose was pretty bad
with it a while ago.  It starts with a
cold & a very high temperature.  This lasts
sometimes a day only, sometimes 2 or three
then it drops to normal & they are out
of hospital in a day or two.  Pneumonia
 

Adelaide Y. M. C. A. Army Department
Reply to 
No.   Coy.
England. 

12

mostly in a very mild form has at
been more common than usual. There
was one death with it in from the 12th
(Tasmania) the other day. There has been
no Typhoid or Smallpox, very diseases
very common in Egypt. I suppose
you have seen Sir Frederic Treves report
on Typhoid at the front. Two hundred
& twelve cases among half a million
It is miraculous. Think of the thousands
that died of it the S. African war. You ought to get Dr
Barkly Boll [[an?]] to do you. It only means a sore arm for
a day. The second dose you dont feel.
I myself am feeling very fit. Except for
a bit of a cold sometime ago. I have never
been the least bit out of sorts.
I finished reading Dr Graves book
on the 'Secrets of the German War Office'
to-day. It is very interesting.  You would
probably like it if you could get hold of it.
He was in Truro, S.A as a doctor some years back,
probably spying. This is the only book I
have read since landing in Egypt. Other
than the papers in the evening there
doesn't seem to be much time.
 

Adelaide Y. M. C. A. Army Department
Reply to
No.  Coy.
England

13

There was a mess up over the photos
I would not take some awfully mounted
caricatures they had ready so they have to
print some decent ones by next week.
Don't bank too much on them as you
probably won't recognise me.
The 3 months I have been away seem
more than 12. I build castles in the air
every day about the reunion. When I get
back I am not going to think of work
for a month & you will have to have
a month's holiday even if it means
the sack. We will go to the hills the beach
& all our old haunts & not visit a soul
for that month. I think it will be worth
all the time we have been parted.
I am so gal glad I have your photo. It is not
getting knocked about much as I keep it
tied up with my writing things, between two
boards. The package fits into my pack nicely
& makes it a good shape without taking much
room. I will have to close now. Goodnight
Darling. I love you dearly & will love you
always.  Your own boy[y?]
Tom. 

Adelaide Y. M. C. A. Army Department
Reply to
No.  Coy.
England. 

2

astounded to hear of the splendid additions
to the glory box It was very kind of
them all. I am sorry mine my Christmas
present could not be fixed up in
time; but there is a hitch somewhere.
Perhaps it has by now, but I won't spoil
it by telling you about it.
couple
I still have a few couple of the first & second
lot of handkerchiefs left. The linen ones you
marked.
When writing to Feo last week & a month ago, I forgot
to say anything about his birthday
which must be passed by now. I can
only be sure of one, the 24th of May. I
never could remember birthdays.
I am sorry that Colombo letter had
not turned up. I think I told you in
that, it was only a minor sore on
my shin. The last Friday night (wh before
leaving Adelaide (I will always remember
that night) when we did that famous
stunt from Belair, I struck it against
a rail on the way to Long Gully station
Being on the shin there was no flesh
to help it heal. It was never troublesome

 

Adelaide Y. M. C. A. Army Department
Reply to
No.  Coy.
England.

3

enough to cause even a limp.
Don't trouble about me keeping anything
back. I will always tell you if anything
is the slightest bit wrong, Mind you
do too.
I am glad to hear you are going out a
bit. It is very kind of Feo.
There is some talk of a fortnightly mail
only from Australia after the arrival
of that last one. Well I can last out
I think, if they are all as nice as the
one received yesterday.
There are all sorts of rumours about
the 3rd Brigade having a turn at
Ishmalich We are supposed to be
moving at the end of the week. Something
definite will be known before this
letter is posted.
This morning the whole of this brigade
had a surprise turnout at 5 o'clock
It does not start to get light until just
before the sun rises at 6 o'clock.
We all had to fall in in full marching
order & were marched just outside
the camp in the half lighted dawn. After
 

Adelaide Y. M. C. A. 
Reply to
No.  Coy.
England.

4

a short halt we were marched back
again. Breakfast was early & we H Coy left
at 8 for the ranges. We only had 10 shots
at 700 yards in collective platoon fire &
10 shots at moving targets at the same
range. The hits on the fixed targets were
4 for the whole platoon which they say
is fair. 500 shots & 4hits. It makes
you think a lot of your chance in the
real thing. In S. Africa it took 700
bullets to hit a man. I was practically
deaf after the first third round + the
sand dust clouded the targets. It is
a peculiar experience lying close together
with an incessant roar of musketry.
There is no noticeable smoke from
the cordite cartridges, but the noise,
when so close, is deafening A dozen
yards away it doesn't sound much
at all. I think it must be the violent
action of the explosive on the air, that
tends to deafen you.
Thursday Nothing move reliable about our moving
Today we had more advanced musketry
Platoons were lined up, doubled 50 yards
 

Adelaide Y. M. C. A. 
Reply to
No.  Coy.
England.

5

in sections + fired 3 rounds per man
at small plates about 300 yds. Each
section of from 8 to 10 men had 8 plates
I think I told you our section contained
all our old Morphettville tent with
Jack Gordon as section commander
We got the 8 targets down with one
shot to spare which brought down
a plate on No 2 section. It was a record
for the company & we are entitled to
shoot off for a prize offered by Col. Wei[[er?]]
for the best section of the battalion.
Being more or less of a fluke & 7 or 8
other sections getting the same result,
I don't think much of our chance.
'Gertie' (Lieut. Hosking) shouted us a
pint of beer all round. I don't think
I told you our section is known
as the 'Jelly bellies'.  Most of the others
being of a slightly different class, are
inclined to resent any differences that
commanding officers may show. It is
only human nature. We get on very
well with them however. I have heard a
rumour to- night that there might be
 

Adelaide Y. M. C. A. Army Department
Reply to
No.  Coy.
England.

6

some mout truth in. The first + second brigade
are to go to Ishmalia & we are to be held
back for reserves, whenever they may want
us. There have been a couple of brushes
with patrols some way the other side of
the canal but the papers are making a
lot out of them. I think the Turks are trying
to cause a diversion so as to keep a large
number of troops an Egypt. It is fairly
easy for small parties to wander about
the desert causing alarms, but the transport
of an army is a different thing.  A hundred
men could keep themselves supplied for a
couple of months with 50 camels but they
haven't the camels for an army.
Friday [underlineWe are gradually getting more advanced
in our work. More fixing to-day & night
manouvres. Last night about 2 we had
a turnout & were all back in bed by in half
an hour. Major Brand told us we would
get 24 hours notice before moving.
Mjr. B4 has gone to Alexandria for 3 or
4 days to superintend the return of
'unfits' from the Division. I don't know
how many will go from the 10th
 

Adelaide Y. M. C. A. Army Department
Reply to
No.  Coy.
England.

8

Fisher's father arrived last night.
He is on his way back to Australia.
I went in to the Grand Continental
Hotel to see him as Fisher could not
get off until this evening. I knew
him immediately. He turns out to be
a great pal of Max Anderson's. We have
often seen him often, on the terrace
going into the Adelaide Club. A tall st
inclined-to-be-stout man with a slight
limp, full faced & cleanshaven, with
a walking stick & gold rimmed spectacles
Frank Fisher, of Fisher & Culross, lawyers
Surely you remember him. He shouted
me a drink & a cigar & made a general
fuss of me. A lady who heard us talking
about the camp came up & asked
me how the best way to get a letter
or telegram to a private in the 5th battalion
her, nephew. As letters sometimes take
2 days + telegrams go astray, when
handled by natives; I said I would
be only to happy to be the bearer.
She turned out to be Lady Nora
Fitzgerald & had come out in the
 

Adelaide Y. M. C. A. Army Department
Reply to
No.  Coy.
England.

11

paid some money owing to me. I was not
in the usual impecunious state.
From 1.30 to 5 was spent in the Museum
with Blackburn. W I had time to take a
glance at everything but there were no
guides or English books to be had.
I haven't the time to describe it. I can
only say it was one of the most enjoyable
afternoons, I have spent. If you are
interested in it. you will be able to find
plenty of descriptions in the Adelaide P.L.
which is rich in Egyptologian works.
They would tell you far more than I could.
I can quite imagine the buildings costing
nearly £200,000.
After dinner we went down the
monski a bazaar between the styles
of Arab & European. There are some
gorgeous things there. I made a few
purchases which I have posted. In one
parcel are a couple of cushion covers not
very well done, but cheap & typical.
The pink & white one has the late Khedive's
monogram in the centre. This is always
used on coins in place of a head
 

Adelaide Y. M. C. A. Army Department
Reply to
No.  Coy.
England

12

The Arabic round the sides is 'Mashalla'
'God always will help you'The peculiar
signs in the corners are ancient Arabic
'Good Luck' signs. The fgreen, pink and
brown one has an Arabic inscription
meaning 'God will save your parents).
Another parcel contains some beaten brass
ash trays etc. The inscriptions are all
ordinary Arabic salutations.
What I prize most of all is in the first
parcel. Genuine Egyptian antiquities
I purchased at the museum. They have
a sale room where their surplus stock
is on sale. The f statuette was found
in a toomb, at Ushabti dating 500 B.C.
The Egyptian name of it is 'Ushabti'
meaning 'answerer' It is one of many
servants placed to wait on the mummy
I won't tell you the cost. It was so infinitis-
imal you wouldn't value it. The same
applies to the little box of wheat found in
a toomb at Dair-el- Bahari. 'The North
Convent) near Lonxor. It was placed there
1500 B.C. The best of it all is I know they
are bothe absolutely genuine.
 

Adelaide Y. M. C. A. Army Department
Reply to
No.  Coy.
England.

13

We had supper at a French restaurant
after a good look round. We passed
by Napoleons house.
To-day was company leave day. Half
a dozen of us spent the afternoon at
the Zoo. It is most beautifully laid out
It will be fully described in a guide book.
The grotto was wonderful and a view of
the whole gardens obtainable from the
top. The most recent additions are a
couple of kangaroos presented by
A.M.C. of the Australians. We dug up a
few more places in Cairo we had
not seen had tea & I came home early
to finish this letter. I am afraid I
won't have time to write to your mother
I am getting to enjoy each trip into
Cairo more than ever. I can't express
my feelings about it. You can't describe
it, you must be there & feel it. I can
understand now why they talk of the
'feel of the East' I would not like to
live in Cairo. It would only be for
a holiday. You don't see any middle
class houses in Egypt. It is all the
 

Adelaide Y. M. C. A. Army Department
Reply to
No.  Coy.
England.

14

French method of 'pensions' or flats
Some of the richer class houses are
magnificent but there is a lot of
similarity of design.
I am enclosing some photos Mrs Robin took
on their honeymoon. She had intended
them for her sister (hence the writing) but
gave them to me. I won have not been able
to get any of the wedding yet but am promised
some in time to next weeks mail.
Mrs Honeywill & Mrs Robin are staying here
until Feb 17th. Well the best news of all
I had my mo. shaved off this morning.
I will get my photo taken on post cards
this week. There goes the 'Last Post' which
is mail closing time so I haven't time
for any more. Goodnight darling.
I am loving you all I can. Ever so much
more than in S.A. Goodnight my little girl

Your ever loving boy
Tom.