Letters from Keith Rourke to his mother, and related correspondence to Mrs Rourke, 1914-1915 - Part 2

3
They have a splendid tram service
in Cairo all native labour, motors -
had hansoms all driven by natives
it seemed at first so strange
you hardly see a white person
Some of the warehouses are
beautiful mostly all French.
The Nile which we cross on the
way to Cairo is a picture.
The farms are the finest Ive
ever seen.
Fruit are in abundance like
wine vegetable and all wonderfully
cheap. They produce
much better cabbage, potatoes,
cauliflowers, tomatoes, onions
and lucerne than we see in
Australia. We are to hoist the
Union Jack in Cairo on
the 21 fst of this month after
that we been expect something
doing.
I have been several small
skirmishes handy already
but nothing to speak of.
Our washing is done by

4
contract, at the rate of 2 piastres
a week about 9^d in English money
The New Zealanders have been
carrying on very badly one of
them had his head almost
severed while in Alexandria
for pulling a veil off one of
the Arab women. The veil
is really a kind of mask have
not seen it closely enough to
describe however suffice to say
the tis the greater insult one
can offer to interfere in any
way with this head gear.
I had dinner in a French Cafe
and while at dinner two New-
Zealanders walked in, and the
waiters a very coy little French
girl remarked New Zealanders
not at all nice, Australian
boys real (nice).
The natives are really awfully
funny, all our necessaries are
brought from the train terminus
with donkey teams tis wonderful
the loads the poor wretches are 

5

made to carry.
We are on Napoleons camping
ground, and also Lord Kitcheners
little patch.
The weather here is more beautiful
than the Australian Spring.
Well Mother am afraid I am cut
out of news so will close with
love to you all and trust
this note will find you all
enjoying the perfect health I
am ^enjoying at
time of writing, trusting
to see you all again
your loving son
Keith
Have had no Australian mail
except one post card from the
Waddells.
you might forward this
note along for me as tis too
great an undertaking to write
to all bands.
We are expecting an Australian
mail tomorrow or Tuesday
I shall now drop Alan a few lines.

2
nuts, dates, cakes and soft
drinks, the Colonel as you
know in a total abstainer
more than we can say for some
of our officers. For the new
year we received a tin of
chocolate each the gift
of Frys Ltd, and a very
useful pocket knife from
Sir G. Reid. Am rather
tired of tramping every day
through the heavy sand of
the Sahara so am working
a transfer to the light horse
in which I hope I shall be
not successful. They are
altogether a different class
of men. There are 5 or 10
fellows I know in the same
section I am trying to get.
PR04311
 Mena Camp
Cairo
3^..1^..15
Dear Mother
Many thanks
for cable of compliments of
the season, and I wish you
one and all best of luck
for the New year. I wrote
you some weeks ago wishing
you the compliments of the
season which you should
have received has it not
gone astray.
We had a merrier Xmas
and New year than was
expected although we had
only Xmas day off. Plenty

3
Young Stewart Buchanan whose Mother was one of the
Gowrie Whites. He was second Lieutenant in the Infantry
but handed them in rather than take on the Infantry.
Am going tomorrow before Major Scobie for his influence
At present we are under very strict discipline an not the
least surprised infact expected an earlier change as some
of the mob were making it very hot. We get very little
news of how things are in Germany not as must infact
as we did in Australia Cairo boasts of two papers
both of which are on a par with the Singleton Argus.
I shall post you a copy. Doing the grand in Cairo
Xmas eve I fell in with W. Melrose Secretary to the
American Ambassador in Cairo who was in Company
with several of the Ceylon tea planters we dined at
Sheppards Hotel "the hotel" which is out of bounds
for privates. The Ceylon boys are only 227 strong
they are sons of wealthy tea planters and are of course
looked upon as a very select crowd which of course they
are, they have been attached to the New Zealanders. 

annexation of Egypt.
Well Mother am afraid
my news is exhausted
so will close with love
to you all wishing all
once again a prosperous
and Happy New year
your loving son
Keith
At present am feeling the
fittest of the fit and hope
you can all say the same
Am enclosing an ounce or
two of the Sahara sand.
 4
Am surprised at not hearing
from Alan, perhaps be
has not been getting my
letters trust he is getting
along alright. Am afraid
you people at home are
in for nearly as rough a
time as we are, can see
nothing but taxation after
taxation to keep we
mob going. Should like
to have been with you
when news of the fate
of the Emden reached
you, should we come
out of this business
we shall have a [[bar]]
for that, and a Medallion
from the Sultan for the 

Postcard - see original 

Sunday 24
20 ^.. 1 ^.. 15
Dear Mother
Just a card letting you
know I am A.1. except for slight
cold, have been off parade several days
with it but think I will be fit again
Monday. From the preparations being made
I think our stay here will not be much
longer we are all anxious to see
something new. Had a line from
Dorrie, and still a few days ago
they both wrote in good form. Trust
you are all well and that I will
have some news of you all Wednesday
Nothing worth relating has happened
since writing last. am posting some
photos this mail. Trusting this note finds
you all enjoying the best of health
Your loving son
Keith
PRO4311

Mena Camp
Cairo Egypt
14"3"15
My dear Mother
Tommies letter of the 2"15
to hand yesterday and right glad I was
to hear from you and to know you were all
O.K. According to reports you are having
rather a bad time with the heat and dry
weather. The climate here is not too pleasant
Just now, tis getting very warm, and
the dust storms are beginning to rage.
Tis rumoured we are leaving here shortly
we are all looking forward to a move we
have played at toys long enough. By the
same mail I received a letter from
Mabel, they are having a great time at
Terrigal. Have had several letters from
Dorrie one while whe was at Augatonga
she thorougly enjoyed her stay with
you. Cant make out why I have not
heard from Alan. I sent you along the
chocolate Box Fry and Sons present with
some views and sundry other things which
you should have by the time this reaches 

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you. I made an attempt this afternoon
to get to the tops of Cheops Pyramid
but when about ½ way up I grew too
giddy and was escorted to the bottom
by two natives, I felt a mug, it was too
far too jump and much too far to fall.
Am having my photo taken today tis only the
fourth attempt and should it not be successful
this time will give up. Young Gloster of Maitland
is the photographer, perhaps you would
know his people his Father was in the
Lands Office I think in Maitland he
married a Clift I think. Well Mother there
is really no news so will close with love to
all
Your loving son
Keith.
Trust this note finds you all in as good
health as it leaves me.