Letters from Keith Rourke to his mother, and related correspondence to Mrs Rourke, 1914-1915 - Part 1

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

LETTER CARD.

Mrs. H. Rourke
Angatonga
Musgrave St
Mosman.

Kensington 
Thursday
Dear Mother
Tis rumoured we 
embark tonight or very early 
tomorrow morning so just a
few farewell lines. As far 
as we know now we go to 
Melbourne it is very uncertain.
Was very glad to see Nell
and John they both looked
very well I wish you had been
with them. The sausage
cake and fiver were much
appreciated. Should this not
be a false alarm I trust
to return and find you all
enjoying the best of health.
No news so will say good bye
with love to all
your loving son
Keith  

post card - see original document

POST CARD

Mrs. H. Rourke
Angatonga
Musgrave St
Mosman

Australia
Sydney

Australia

Dear Mother
The first 
opportunity of writing 
since leaving Sydney.
So far the trip has been
A.1. Have to be so 
very careful how I write
that. it is almost impossible
to fill this
little space. Have enjoyed
splendid health so far.
Trusting this note finds
you one and all in the
best of health.
Your loving son
Keith.
[*When replying address thus -
Pte K Rourke
H Co, 2nd Batt.
1st Australian Infantry Bdge.*]

S. S. Suffolk
23"10"14
Dear Mother
just a few lines giving you as
well as I can the account of our trip so
far. Leaving Sydney we encountered fairly
heavy weather until next day when the
sea became as smooth as a millpond.
Most of the crew were sick 1/2 an hour
after leaving the Heads, to date all hands are A.1
There have been two accidents altogether
a broken ankle and a revolver accident
one of the officers orderleys while xxx
cleaning the revolver was careless enough
to leave it loaded.
We have plenty of music aboard and
have concerts and boxing each night,
it is really marvellous how the time
flies.
There is no room aboard for musketry
drill, lectures and physical drill
occupy most of our time. We expect to
reach Albany about Sunday all going
well, where I believe we are to stay 3 or 4 

days to pick up the rest of the transports, there
will be somewhere between 20 and 30 convoys
so with the escort should have the appearance
of a floating city.
With all hands we have about 1400 men aboard
all the troops are supplied with hammocks
which are fearfully uncomfortable the
first night out I slept in mine but have
taken to the floor ever since.
You must excuse the n writing Mater as
we were all enoculated yesterday again,
with the stiff arm and the roll of the
vessel tis rather awkward.
We are being fairly well fed for breakfast
porridge chops, coffee, today being Friday
we had fish, dinner, soup, sometimes mutton
and roast beef, for tea bread plenty
of butter and jam, beer once a day eleven
o'clock most acceptable.
Daresay this will be the last chance of
writing you until we reach our destination
We have plenty of reading material and
games of all descriptions gambling is very
frequent 3d nap is my limit and not
to often there are some very heavy  gam 

though.
We havent sighted land since Tuesday
have seen plenty of sharks and whale.
We have 3 barbers aboard 3 of the troops
one is a Singleton fellow shave 6d
hair cut 9d
Well Mother am afraid I am out out po of
news until tomorrow so will ring off for the
present with love, may strike something
interesting to relate tomorrow.
Saturday. nothing very startling, yesterday
afternoon we went through a storm nothing
very startling. I havent the material for
writing all hands, so you may let
all the folk know that I am A.1
Well am afraid the news is spent so
will close with love to you all
trusting to meet again
your loving son
Keith. 

[*address
Pte Rourke
H company
2nd Battalion
1st Inf Brigade
1st Australian Division
Cairo
Egypt*]

Mena Camp
Pyramids
Cairo
Sunday 14.12.14

Dear Mother
this is the first opportunity
Ive had of writing and will do my
best to let you have what news
there is. Had a glorious trip over
we disembarked at Alexandria
on the 7 and landed in camp on
the Tuesday morning about 3 oclock
in the morning. We trained from
Alexandria to Cairo a distance of
about 100 miles, and were greeted
with a cup of cocoa and bun
which was most acceptable
We came by tram from Cairo
to camp a distance of 10 miles
and had a march of 1/4 of a mile
We had seven prisoners and I happened
to be one of the escort we had
a rough time they were a bad
lot. We are camped only about 

2
a mile from the Pyramids they
are wonderful. I intend to have
a look over them when we are
paid. A member of one of the
Battalions had the bad luck
to fall while climbing one of
them a distance of about 150
feet He is at present in a very
low state, though they have
hopes of his recovery. We have
about 25,000 men in camp
the camp of course is on the
desert where abounds nothing but
sand, it is not worrying me though
as everything is so strange.
I had a trip to the city last
night some of the buildings are
beautiful infact wonderful
there are lots I should like to
have seen but funds would
not allow, I can amuse when
we are paid there will be very
little I won't see.
We have £8.4 to draw which
will be worth in Egyptian
money xx 1,2,00 1,2000 Paistre