Photostat copies of letters from Charles Albert Barnes to his mother, 1914-1915 - Part 2

Adelaide Y.M.C.A. Army Department

Reply to

No...........Coy.

England.

11

having a lonely life quite apart from her

illness I hope She's better again. Yes, I'm taking

every care of myself Mum. I hope you are too
the great thing is not to worry too much Its a

bad scheme. You ought to go for a bit of a change

yourself. How about coming over here? King says

Gordon has plenty of work in hand, thats fine

in such bad times I hope Tom is having a good

harvest. No Babs I did not gorge a treat at Xmas
as you suggest In fact I ate very little. Our

Padre is very well thank you. Of course you know

"Cyril" Kalgoorlie went on to England. I wish
 he were here in place of the poor old thing from

Tasmania.

No business today apart of the usual

Wednesday 13^th

Had another go at the letters today & wrote

up yesterdays spasm, Am going in this

afternoon.

Thursday 14^th

Had a good evening Dinner at Shepheards

& then visited the Kursaal & other places of

much interest. Had to get back fairly early

as today we had to tramp the desert a good

deal.

Adelaide Y.M.C.A. Army Department

Reply to

No...........Coy.

England.

12

Friday 15^th

Got another batch of letters. Yours of 22^nd Nov.

& another undated. Mildred 22^nd Gwen &

Babs same date & 30^th ^& 3rd Dec King & the Kiddies Dec 1^st

These had all been to England & were very

acceptable as they filled in the gap. Tell Duckie

to write again. I also had a letter from Aunt

Dora which I will try & answer next week

The chimney fire spasm next door must have

been quite an "episode". Its good to get news

of you all again.

Today arrived Col White Major Barber

Capts Haynes & Stacy & millions of nurses       

from W.A. per Kyarra. I understand they

are going to land here but they were only up

from Cairo on Alexandria on leave They

were pretty fed up of Blackboy Hill. J.M.G.

Stewart is also on the boat.

Hope Jack enjoyed his camp. He ought to send

a line about it. So old Pussy is Mayor What

an air of dignity he & William will lend to any

proceedings. By the way just mention to the

Billingses that I was making tearful

enquires will you?

I spose next week I ought to start getting

Adelaide Y.M.C.A. Army Department

Reply to

No...........Coy.

England.
13
regular letters There are still some in
England or elsewhere but they'll turn up in
due course.
Saturday 16^th
Went for a good long ride today & in the
afternoon did the Hospital Its a nuisance
these birds getting ill as you have to make a
practice of going round to see them otherwise
they are not a bit friendly & they all seem to be
sent to the Field Hospitals where there are no
nurses only men Shame Isnt it?
Sunday 17^th
After Church Parade we had another March
Past. This time past Genl Birdwood who
has the whole of the Australian & N.Z. troops
under him. Am very glad to say our Battalion
was complemented on its performance by the
Pea not nut of the Position.
Give my love to all the Swaniles Uncle Sam
& Co Aunty May &c J Strick & Jackson send
their kindest regards they are both very fit
Tell their people please with my regards.
Best love to you all from Charlie
Dont worry Ma

Adelaide Y.M.C.A. Army Department

Reply to

No...........Coy.

England.
14
Just because its not 13
How do you like their paper. Hope W.
is in my thoughts Babs give her my love also
to Specs. Isn't Ron coming out?
CB.

Mena Camp
17^th Jany 1915
My dear Mother
Sent off another swag of stuff to you this
evening The mail closed at 10 p.m. & I was just
in time so will turn in.
Monday 18^th
Had a walk round the Camp to look up some
of the new arrivals but found they haven't arrived
yet, This evening went to a Lecture. do this
pretty often these days.

Tuesday
Got some more letters at least one, from Uncle
Jack addressed to me in England & sent on
He seems to be well but did not mention any
of the invalids in his letter It was more to try
& locate me as he threatens to write more
when he heres of my whereabouts. Tonight
at dinner we had our Brigadier (Col MacLagan),
Col Hobbs; & three other Colonels Quite
a swell turn out & our cooks did it proud.
20^th
Been out shooting all day Nearly lost
going out this morning It was dense fog

2
& we had to march out about four miles into the
desert, lovely fun I assure you
Thursday 21^st
This evening more home letters Yours 28^th ^Dec Olive
22^nd Nov & 27^th Dec & Babs 27^th also one from Mr Puicy
Please thank him when you see him Eric is still
not strong & I understand is now going to a
Convalescent Home to pick up. Just the thing & all
that he needs to be as well as ever. Olives first letter
had one from Patsy too so she must be thanked please
Its good to hear you were all well I hope Gordon has
quite recovered Spose he is down at the Warren
Hope the beggar writes one of these days. Thank you
for the programme of the Kings Park Service It seems
to have been a bigger thing than usual.
Friday 22^nd
Have been out nearly all day at the Range
Tonight we had ladies to dinner. Three of The four nurses
who were on Ascanius & Capt & Mrs Spencer Smith
He is Provost Marshall Egypt & his wife is a
very bonny woman They all seemed to enjoy
themselves We had to go through sundry
tricks for their amusement; Singing (collective &
individual) Card tricks &c (Reilly) & put the

3
Kangaroo through his paces Altogether a
weird sort of programme At least you would
have thought so when some of the songs were
being rendered
Saturday
Short day today Am going in this afternoon
Nuthin on hand.
Sunday 24^th
New Parson at Church this morning a
Scotchby whom Mrs Halliday would I
think appreciate. He has some of the
idiosyncrocies peculiar to the Kirk xxx
Last night was in Town Went to the Tailor
where is one of the prettiest girls I've ever seen
"Anne bill." & admired her from afar off.
Had dinner at Shepheards & after went to
the Continental where there was a Dance.
Not too bad either Heaps of fine folk there
but not enough girls, nearly all officers wifes
& much outnumbered. Dorothy Hobbs there
looking just the thing too The eldest son
Mervyn has come out from England & is
enlisting in the W.A. Battery.
This afternoon went up to Hospital. We

4
have to go round occasionally to see how the
men are.
Hope this week to hear from you again I
spect now that mails will come regularly.
Mustnd Must not forget to tell you about
the "Spinxes" They are peculiar things both
land & water.
Remember me to all enquiring friends
I wonder when they'll send us on.

This will reach you about Olives Birthday.
also Madeleines Please give them both my
love & Happy Returns They'd better send
a small piece of the cake & a full ap of
the Birthday Parties. Patsy by the way
seems to have had a slap up one.
Please thank Waterhall folk for their
message & give them my regards.
Am again to leave you now for the
time being.
With my love to all & hoping everything
is all O.K. Your affec Son
Charlie

Mena
24-1-15.
My dear Mother & all
Posted short epistle for you to-day
Nothing more to talk about.
Monday
Theres nothing urgent to report again today
Would like a lot more letters from you
26^th
Heard that the 2^nd are getting near. Wish
they would hurry up.
27^th
The local inhabitant is a curious bird. Some
of them act as news boys & having learned a
few spicy expressions proceed to entertain
us with them. To hear them first thing in the
morning is just the thing The language I'm afraid
would not be appreciated by you but I would
dearly love to be hear when the tourists come
again, their eyes might be opened
Thursday 28^th
Went to a Lecture last night It was an instructive
show by a bloke from the front but he made the
show very interesting. We are wondering when

2
earth they will send us on We think we are quite
fit now but I spose they dont want us there too
early
Friday 29^th
We have had another iniquitous sort of day
tramp tramp tramp over what appeared to be
hundreds of miles of desert One thing we are
sort of used to it now. Think Id better go
in to Cairo tomorrow evening & have a spree
Worst of it is its so beastly late when one gets
home having no trains to come out by. Heard
that the 2^nd are now arriving Some of them
seen in Town this afternoon but the W.As
have not landed yet.
Saturday
Short day today & bathing parade Did
I mention the swimming bath at Mena Home
Hotel, its about 20 x 50 yds & varying depth
up to 10 ft The men are tremendously pleased
when bathing day comes round Going in
to Cairo directly.
Sunday 31^st
Was in last night & went to Continental to a
small dance with a lot of the "heads"