Papers of Athol Cluny McPherson - Part 5

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
AWM2022.6.412
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

Miss J.S. M. Cherson Clyne Mir Horshaus Victoria Austialia
Mena aar Cpynt Dec 13th My Dearest Mother As they say a mail closes for Austialia tomavrow FI am on guard today, I think it is a good Chauce so write home, I sent a short note in last night to be possed in linrs, but as it never had a star on it donbt if it would go. This is a very inteesting place so be, we are camped right clongside the Pyranedo, some of them say it is on the ground tthat etapation camped before the Cattle of the Eramedo. A guide that showed us over the Rycomeds told ao that crapalion that the wore of the Sphnex We had our Photos taken by the optain with The geat tronid toit, it to a bryee thote & Ielnud one home ao soon as we get paid to get some stamps we have been short of money nearly ever since we can from Austearia, they dont seem so hav enough more to pay us, they have only paid uo 3of sice we left australia, & they arent going to pay anybody more than two liob a day, but I think that is rather a good shereg, as most of these fellows line for drink alon the consequence is they get drunk i town & stop the ceane of the lot through not turning i to tiere. Lost Sunday night about sugty of us from &Cay were taken in to ceare por howe arcqt, to bring back drunks efc, we got one allow & he was handed over so two of us to lork
2 yoe, we each had hald of one op his hands & be started to pucl to rey + get away, he got his hand free from the ather fellowd tined so deal me out with a me, I gave his hand a wrench & sent him on his back got my knew on his chest & hand on his throat & took a swist out of him, he called me all of the names under the sen, we got him in a frere to he go looled down. Cicro is a serrilly duty peace they are nearly all yellow people, but there are some bonger houses & there are Botanical Gardins which I hope to see when off every fourth aig night in the week from about fine until about clemen at night & there is an ebesive train from here to cearo, it was built in the first place so the Rynameds, + now it is consued on so here, they are making hard misal roans all through the camp, its marnillious how quiet ly they have laid everyshing out here, water aid on so the camp & they are building one onseace side of uo for a local They expect this well be a very supply large cang, there is some talk of them having over 1000 troop out tire beore it no fashed ar dont injein so be
here for maue than a month or so, the gavt cere only waiting to see what Turkey will do when they Rrocance this a British Possession on Ahe 21st of this month, it will be a great day in leare, but a doubt if t Coy will be there as they are duty coy on that dave, they furnish guard Ese The Authoritees sim to think there may be a local rising when once it is proclaied a Desish Poscersion, but I doubt if it will be the care, as the guide that showed as oner the Rycamids told us that lufore the Bridish we loshing Thin t em arrigating the yet three crops, so they should have a good opinion of the Britich. When we wce to the Egramido, the guide showed no through she tomb b Rameses 11t, it is a cave senving away in thrrough the hill &there are images cared aut on the side, there are parts that they wont let you go over, that is the reason, why we have a guide, therre are about eight Ryrounds alrogett, but ther ar four are a fair distance from here, you can see them in the distance but of comse this in the maian wel the great one, We are camped right on the edge of the Lahvia direct + had a march
over it yesterday, it is very heavy said & not very eary walking. There are be lot of Secretarial comped here, they are very small fellows, presa must le a bit short of men when they have to fall back on such weids, but they are a five lot of fellows to talk too the Fench are the logs that always give as a greet reception, we passed a few of their warskipes in Port said & they did give us a say. I only hope we are sent out to France as soon as the wenter is over, it will be ratten of we go back without faing a that, + it would be alright if we wele reat so sevee Laks Egypreares here, they dive thei junt like the blacks in Australiae. We can ley orange at about 8ha dozen & they are aranged neal beautys, thy have a great supply of thew here & pester the lige out up you so bey where ever you go to bey thev It takes the cake to rew the Rido they have be Charge of Canell little rets that oncy look about fine or sir= years old but well argin the point y you Want to shyt them off the road, it is all lamels & donkeys here with a far few
I havent seen ared hardes that are bonzers. Harold Smith yet, I went down to the 8th cau last night, but only saw But Lwindells & Fill Arnott I hope to go down in a day ar two to bee all The reason why you on the Horshau lor never got a letter from me the same sie as the others from Albary was, that the 8th gotin on the Saturday & we got in onth monday, they caught a mail on the baturde I werote every chance Agon, except last in + then Dniver knew autil it was an. Iereos from Took at clort Laid, the day the Egynt arrived we were in fost said so we got she mail alright, but the others were sent on to England. I know if I don't get a letter from home by a maie that it is sent or you arent likely to miss a mail & yf you werent able to write, you would ree that some. lody else wrose. We get a pyer here every mariing deat it has no news in it escaps the lables. This place is exailly as things are described in the Biblle, Camels loaded with sugar came D donly ridden by men with spirts on & Turbans t tore of their houses are just like as
they were ds ant they seem to be made of meed & stones with a thanch roof & fows lay all over them, I think egge an faly cheap here. We are going to Clmbr Ap to the top of the great Ryraund, pleuty of fellows clemb to the top, it is marvellione however it was built some of the stones must bee well over a son weight & they it is 1000 feet from the bottom to the tiny it s to be covered over with alabastor bet it was are taken offy a good part of the smalley one is covered with it now nearly all of the ground round thei is es to i a nt wiched con work af cares, there reusto teund graves, there is also are old Church. Im going to tey to get hold ap some old Egyntian coms the guide that showed as round said he could get some, all af the fellows here try to sell cous but they are trurlys. The rile is a great river & there is a grand suspepsion bridge over it, I never oder anything wre in in Australia. This is a graad place to see at this sim of the year, the day is a little inclined to be warm but the night are pan right
Ive just core off the reliet of the first guard I have been strying all I know to get a tang but so far without uccess. The y MC A are autting up a big shanty here like they had in Broadmeadowo, so I will be Landy to write in as they have plenty of tables in it. This place that we are cauped is all sand & the Egyptions, knock about by the hundred, with camels & donkene too carty stones for roads, they make slovely ones as hard & smooth as a board. I sent a lefter jstena tnad out it wont go without a stamp, I have half a dozin unstration stains but they are no good I hope you got the litters that I wrose from closk Laid, I sent you a letter & Father an account of the trep, I took out of my dearey. I will bunt Roy M Lian, up when I go down to the 8th In glad to hear took & Alle are doing so well with their fower I hope they make a fartune but of them. well mother Dear I have just about come to the end of my letter so will close. Please till gook Ill vry + write to her
be the next mail, I want to get hold of Another Rad, this one got so knocked about on board, as it had to be put in my let bay & I gave a lot oy it away to other fellows. Please Remember me wey kindly to the Bevs Grays Rennisons, D Millars Iall inquiring friends, I hope you thill have Mrs Gall with you, I knock about a lot with Roth Burrchaell here, theseem a very nice fellow, he is only a couple of Goodye with Dears of Secr love to ale at home & hoping all a well + that you have a prosperous NNew year kind Regards to miss tenkins Flove to marcon I remain alway ye lovin fon Ahal PS. Please address letters the same as we may shept any time

Miss J.S. McPherson
"Clyne Millou"
Horshaus
Victoria
Austialia
 

 

Back of Envelope / see original document
 

 

Mecca

Ciaro
Egypt Dec 13.TH 14

My Dearest Mother
As they say a mail closes for Australia
tomorrow & I am on guard today, I think it is a good       
chance to write home, I sent a short note in last night
to be posted in Ciaro, but as it never had a stamp on it
doubt if it would go. This is a very interesting place
to be, we are camped right alongside the Pyramids, some

of them sat is is on the ground that Napoleon camped before
the battle of the Pyramids. A guide that show us over
the Pyramids told us that Napoleon shot the nose off the
Sphinx. We had our photo taken by the Sphinx with
the great Pyramid in it, it is a bonzer photo & I;ll sent
one home as soon as we get paid & get some stamps
we have been short of money nearly ever since we came
from Australia, they dont seem to hae enough money
to pay us, they have only paid us 30/- since we left
Australia, and they arent going to pay anybody more than
two bob a day, but I think that is is rather a good
thing, as most of these fellows live for drink alone
the consequence is they get drunk in town & stop
the leave of the lot through not turning up on
time. Last Sunday night about twenty of us
from C Coy were taken in to Ciaro for town
picquet, to bring back drunks etd, we got one
fellow & he was handed over to two of us to look

 

2
after, we each had hold of one of his hands
& he started to pull to try & get away, he
got his hand free from the other fellow &
tried to deal me out with xx me, I gave

 

 

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