Photostat copies of letters from Charles Albert Barnes to his mother, 1914-1915 - Part 1

 

Mena Camp

Christmas Day

My Dear Mother

Posted off up to to-day. Had a grand

surprise in the shape of letters from Home. Got 5

Two from you 1^st & 9^th Nov. 1 from Madeleine ^Olive & Kath

They have all been to England I spose. However I

hope from now on they will write regularly. Its jolly good 

to hear from you at least that you were then all well

tho it was only a few days after we had left.

Well I've had a funny Christmas. So far as food is

concerned we didnt do badly except for the sand with

which everything is served up. We had Church Parade

of course. All the old hymns & the fellows sang like

one thing. We had all the W.A. Officers for miles around

in to see us & had quite a good time. Was in Cairo

yesterday and had a yarn with Mr & Mrs Hobbs. The

latter has quite made  good out here & Im jolly glad

to be able to go in & see them sometimes.

Last night all the officers of the Brigade (over 100)

called on us & we had heaps of singing &c. everybody

was cheerful or tried to be so & we drank to those

at home to finish up. Strickland, Jackson & I

sent a joint cable we sent it to Mrs S. as we thought

she could probably send it round easier.

Strick & Jackson are talking like ginger about

their letters from home & I chip in here & there with

 

 

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a few cryptic remarks concerning the weather

& other things.

The men fared pretty well considering. We got them a

few extra things for dinner & gave them a drink with

which they drank our health in a vociferous manner,
Young Eric Piercy is still on the sick list. He gets about
the camp but Im afraid it will be some time before
he is able to do much hard work.
After Church Parade we marched passed the
Brigadier who in a few well chosen words wished
us all the usual compliments.
Think I'll turn in now. I spose you were all
together today & probably wondering what I was doing.
Saturday 26^th
No work today only cleaning up rifles & the
lines. Visited a few of the other Battalion Messes
just to chew them up. I wonder if Gordon or Jack
went to the Races. I spose the Derby was run today
Sunday 27^th
Today we are told the from the 1^st January the 
Regiment is to be reorganised into 4 Companies
double the size of the present 8. It will be a fine
thing for the Captains who get the command
I hope I do but they wont tell us yet. The subalterns
will benefit by it very much too tho it would mean

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any more pray We had Church again
today. The Parson is with the 12^th( Tasmanian)
He is an Arch Deacon & a very earnestl man tho
terribly slow & deliberate. I'm on Inlying Piquet

tonight & nothing much to do except sleep in our

clothes & be ready to turn at a moments notice.

Monday 28^th

One day is much the same as the next. Theres

nothing much to tell. Brockman & I went for a

stroll around this afternoon & later on I went up to

Mena House to see the nurses. (Oh on Xmas evening

I went up there had a bit of music from some of

the nurses It was jolly good.

Tuesday 29^th

Went into town this afternoon & saw some of the

mosques They are jolly good & the Korans &c.

are quite a few years old.

Wednesday 30^th

Nothin doin again. Am wondering where

you had all been or are going during the

holidays. I expect the girls will be off to the

Warren if they are able & I hope to  hear that you

have been for a bit of a change.

Hope Muriel & Tom are having a good season

Wonder what sort of weather you are having.

 

 

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We are having it simply grand Its as cold as

can be at night & warm sunny days just like

our Spring  only more so.

Thursday 31^st

Have been drilling about 8 miles out in the

desert today & had a lot to do I think I told you

before we go out of camp every day at 8.00 & take our

lunch for where we only have ½ hour & then were

back at camp at about 3 o'clock Everything points

to a late night tonight I spect it will be with you

too. Would like to pop in & see what you are all up to

New Years Day

As I expected it was fairly late At midnight

there was a most unearthly din All the fellows

singing  beating drums tins &c We didn't

get much sleep Some of them had their tents let

down on them & cursed fairly heatedly

We all wished everybody the best of luck in

 the New Year particularly those at home Its 

been rather an unusual sort of New Years Day

Conditions very similar in some ways to the one

I had in SA, but more work than on that day

Am glad to say I have been given one of the

double Companies about which I told you the

other day  Am now a mounted bloke & have

 

 

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about 250 men to look after Its quite a

crowd to handle & the new drill will require

a lot of learning I am very glad to be able to

have a horse again I dont know when we will

get them but in the meantime Im going to use

one of the horses allocated to me to carry ammunition

He is a jolly good hack or rather will be as hes

very young & has not been broken in properly yet

however he will do very well to go on with.

Capt Everetts Old Company has been transferred

to me & he has gone to Brockman as his Second

in Command I have as my Second Reilly

who I am glad to say has been promoted & is

now a Captain Bates you will know him He

is rather a peculiar old stick that I think we

will get on together very well Major Denton &

Captain Leane have the other 2 Companies Croly 

is 2^nd to Denton & Captain Annear to Leane.

Saturday 2^nd

Am having xx a job re organising the Company

& fixing up details &c Strick & Jackson each

have a Platoon & are very proud of themselves

There are 4 Platoons in each Coy under Lieutenants

Am going in to Cairo this evening

 

 

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Sunday 3^rd

Did not go in last night all as we had

to work instead Today I went round to some

of the Field Hospitals to see some of the fellows of

my Company who are laid up. Had another

march past after Church this morning.

Spurge & JB Mills came round & had a yarn

Wonder when another mail  will come along Hope

its soon

Monday

Having a good time trying to educate the

horse He is a beauty but as silly as a mule at

present Wish I had my own saddle out here

5^th

Went in yesterday & made a few purchases

inspected a few more of the sights Saw the

Hobbs family.

Wednesday 6^th

Got a fine batch of letters (5) Mother 14^th Dec

Meg 7^th & 15^th  Peg 13^th & Babs 14^th Glad of

course to hear all well & to hear the news I also

had a card from South written from Broad

Meadows I spose he is on the way over now

Sorry [[Schnierfieldl]] was not so well again He had

better come over to Egypt for a trip it could set

 

 

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him up finely as nothing else You mention 

Jack in Camp Whats it all about not coming

Is he? Madeleine said he was going home 

next day I spose the other letters which have

gone on will tell me more about it I hope the

girls had good time down at the Warren Of

course they would ask them to send my good

wishes down there when they write Hope to

hear from Gordon soon that he is O.K again

Am not mentioning war news in this as you

hear more about it than we do. Of course there

were great rejoicings here when the news 

of Falkland Island business came through

I wish the big fleet would come out & have a go

Have given your messages to Strick & Jackson

who were mighty pleased that you had been to

all their people Say Babs would like to 

have seen you & Hope at the Jackson wedding

Spose you made Village ijiotts of yourselves

as usual & in future please remember your should

not use good paper for writing private letters

Its stealing Now Miss Squinny its time I

had a letter from you Perhaps youve

written before but anyhow keep it up

I hope you enjoyed your trip down in the train

 

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when you went to the Warren.
Meg & the youngsters seemed to be in good form
when the old girl wrote Am afraid I wont be
able to write much to her or the others away from
home but I know they will understand & will
see the general one to you I told the Color
Sergt about Toby & he waas very pleased to

think she remembered him He is now my

Sergt Major.
Oh Peg Tell Patsy to look after herself Was
She did well at school apparently She ought
to make some of them sit up a bit when it
comes to smartness. Have not heard from
Mildred yet but spect she has written
The Sunday Times arrived So old Happy
Jack got in again with a majority of two Things
will be middling. Judging from the papers
business & trade seems to be bad in W.A. I spose
the bad season is responsible  to a great extent
Thursday 7^th
Had another go through the letters today
I think I am about the best off in the Mess for letters
Nothing special today. Jackson was very
interested to hear Kaths remarks concerning
the wedding. I spose the brothers will be over

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here shortly.
Friday
Hear there has been  a little scrapping over near
the canal I dont think the proposed invasion
will eventuate Hope it does tho as i think we would
be sent over to the Canal to try & stop them.
Went up to Mena Hospita; to see patients & incidentally
to have a yarn with some of the nurses. Nothing to
write about
9^th
Went in today to see a tailor & am trying to
get a good Kodak Hope I'm able to. Saw
Dorothy Hobbs & went to the Continental to tea.
Sunday 10^th
After Church this morning the whole Battalion
was marched up to the Pyramid (old Chiops)
& we had a photo took or at least several of
them. Will send one along if they are any
good. This afternoon we had several nurses
in to tea. It was a bit rough as we have given
the man who was running our mess the sack &
are running it ourselves to see if we can do
any better However we had some good tea
for a change & Australian butter which is
a treat after the local stuff which might be

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anything from margarine to axle grease.
Oh Mum Will some of one go & see the Sergt
Major's wife just to show I am takin' a interest.
Her address is Mrs J Mahon Adderley St
Claremont Tell her that her husband is
quite well & is quite a father to the young fellows
in the Company.
Monday 11^th
Had to go out a long way today & got back
fairly late pretty well tired. Hope to get some more
letters tomorrow.
Tuesday 12^th
Got yours of Madeleines of 21^st Dec & Kaths of
Washing Day Have not heard from jack
about the transfer i spose its the Power of
Attorney not quite in order but the letter no
doubt will come along directly.
It was thoughtful of old Makeham to go up
Will look out for him as soon as we hear of
their arrival. Thats bad news from England
I hope by now better news has come through
Of course it was right to put in something
for Aunty Gussie. I would like very much
to be able to see them & do something to help if
I could. Poor old souls. Mildred must be