Photostat copies of letters from Charles Albert Barnes to his mother, 1914-1915 - Part 3

3
Enjoyed myself rather but as usual not
enough girls. This morning a Methody
parson took the service & did rather well
but very slow even more so than our own
Arch deacon. Saw various & sundry
nurses whom I know during the day
Monday 1^st Feby
Young Jackson not too well, sort of "flu"
and as they call it here Nile fever, nothing much
Several of our officers are down to it with
various mild maladies with one exception
he is a pneumonia making slow progress.
Am finding the dust & glare of the desert sand
is telling on my eyes a bit so have invested in
smoked glasses. Think I ought to wear a thick
puggaree green umbrella & a fly whisk &
pose as a tonning bloke.
Tuesday
What's adoin & where are the mails Its about
time I had some more letters.
Today I've been appointed a member of a
General Court Martial to try some poor
beggar of an Officer who is in trouble. Its
a beastly sort of business but quite an

4
experience, one not to be repeated tho I hope
Off out all tonight on outpost.
Wednesday 3^rd
Left camp 7 pm last night & returned at 7
this morning after a horrid cold night digging
trenches &c Had an easy day today &
am going in to town this evening
Thursday
Had one of the Chief Staff Officers of the
Division (Col. Skeen) looking at my buds
at work all day nearly. He was not very
communiative but expressed his surprise
at the way in which they were working. The
men are quite swell headed over it. The
General Court Martial starts tomorrow
& its our Battalion holiday Rotten luck for
me.
Friday 5^th
Have been on the Court all day. Nearly all
four fellow have gone over to see the 16^th
Pope, South & Co
Saturday 6^th
At Court again all day & thank goodness
finished this evening Hope Im never on
another

5
7^th Sunday
Went over to see the other crowd this
afternoon South looks looks ^fairly well He has had
a rotten cold for a long time. Hope its nothing
serious. He is in good form as are all the
others.
Monday
Today we had an hard time doing an
attack practice under the supervision of
Genl Maxwell Generals Bridges & bBirdwood
& heaps of staff Colonels. It was rather a
star turn as we were selected from the
Division to carry it out.
9^th
Some of the Second lot were over today. I
dont think I mentioned they are camped
at Heliopolis on the other side of Cairo &
about 14 miles from here. Their desert I
think is quite as bad as hou ours but they
are a little closer to Town
Wednesday 10^th
Had a lot more visitors to watch our training
today. More night work tonight
11^th

6
Thursday 11^th  Another beastly cold night in
the open last night, got back just in time for
breakfast this morning & having an easy
day
Friday 12^th
The French Mission came out with the
various Generals & we were again selected
to do an exhibition stunt Its very nice
but Gee whiz! its hard work. The men are
very proud & imagine they are just it.
The French officers got wildly excited & made
peculiar noises & remarks, they are a
cunning crowd.
13^th Saturday
When are those mails turning up Its
weird the way they are fixed up
Went for a stroll round to see various
W.A people round the Camp & am going
in tonight.
14^th
Had a good evening at the Kursaal &
Shepheards. Also went for a stroll along
the "Mouski" The native gazaar quarter
Had the "Scotchby" on parade today

7
Monday 15^th
Doing Brigade training this morning
Had a fairly easy time of it too
Mails at last Received all from all
written 16^th & 17^th Jany. Jolly glad to get them
too I do assure you & to hear you are all
bearing up. I spose Kath is quite swell
headed after her First mates ticket
Didnt get a letter from Gwinny naughty
girl. I spose the P/Ally will come along
in a mail or two. Say Mum you ought
to go away for a bit of a spell you know
Pity you couldn't come over here Isnt it?
You seem to be having a lovely Summer this
year while we are having beautiful weather
in the daytime but colder than frostbite
at night. Glad to hear all the news of
Guildford folk
Tuesday.
A long tramp out in the desert today & am
going to be out all night again tonight.
Wednesday 17^th
Out until daylight again, thoroughly
enjoyed I dont think. However it has to be

8
done sometimes as Colonels like you
to carry out their orders sometimes even
if it causes inconvenience Peculiar men
Colonels & Generals not a bit friendly
sometimes.
Had a sleep in till 11 this morning &
paid the men in the afternoon, then
went for a joy ride in a buzz waggon.
18^th Thursday
Jackson aint too well I wonder if he is
thinking of Ern Shickland has been
promoted to be a first Lieutenant I hope
Jackson will be too very soon Brother Bob
seems to have had a slap up wedding what
with swords & uniforms & other bits of fish
I dont think I told you about Johnson one of
our men. Mrs & the Misses (2) Bryant came
over here from W.A. & Johnson who was
engaged to one of them got married. The poor
beggar immediately after goes & gets pneumonia
& is now in a very bad way Bad luck isn't it?
Friday 19^th
Battalion Holiday today but I didnt have
much enjoyment out of it as I was on Camp duty

9
as Brigade Captain of the day. The C.O. was also
on duty with the Brigadier so we've been
chipping one another about the enjoyable time
we're having
Saturday 20^th
There's nothing to write about today except
that we were all vaccinated again. Some of
those who were done about a week ago have
most beautiful arms.
Sunday 21^st
After Church parade this morning we all
had the moving pitcher bloke to photo us
marching past. I understand that the films
are being sent to Australia so you might see
some of us in the show when they are put on
I posted a short note today with a few of
my first efforts with the Kodak, they are not
much class but I hope to improve as I learn the
blessed thing. If you want to you can get
more copies taken from the films but please
Keep the prints which I sent. I had the diary
in my trunk & spose had the key so I hence
it not going forward.
The mails seem to be very much upset just

10
now I spose its because it is because some of
the boats have been taken over.
Monday 22^nd
Out again today on Brigade Manouvres
Yesterday this evening saw South & Co who were over
at our Camp Had a yarn with the old un &
told him the news from your letters. He's a
tinny old thing, is better & I think now will
be all right.
Tuesday 23^rd
Had another march out today. Walked into
the desert 4 or 5 miles & had a billetting stunt.
The billetting area was a lot of small hills & rocks
all flagged out as a village. The men thoroughly
enjoyed it as we had hotels, bars hospitals
homes & barns etc provided in imagination
Got back to camp at 4 & finished for the day
Wednesday 24^th
Another Brigade stunt in the desert but not
very hard. Got another mail, Xmas pudding
W. Mail & times, the letters were all up to end of Jany
& right glad was I to get them, Please thank all
the local inhabitants for their Kind messages
especially Mrs Spurling. She's a wonderful

11
woman is that. Tell Duckie I had her letter
What a storm that must have been at Houghton.
The pudding I am Keeping for a day or two before
cooking as we may be doing some night work.
I hope Uncle Sam & Arthur Ervine had a
good time batching Would like to have called on
them & investigated. I noted with great interest 
Baliss account of happenings down at the
Warren. No account from Gwen though
Squinny I suspect you.
Its great to get your letters I had one from each
of the youngsters as well as from you Mum Madeleine
Olive Mildred & 2 from Kath
I spect the Light Horse will be arriving in
a day or two so will look out for Jim amongst
others when they arrive in.
Thursday 25^th
Went for a route march today to the Zoo
about 6 miles in. By God its a fine place &
the animals are splendid, giraffes lions
hippo & rhinoceruses The lions are quite
tame & let the attendants do anything with
them. They are beautiful gardens no doubt
& much bigger than Perth. They have there

12
two of the pontoons taken from the Turks on
the canal in the fighting at the beginning of this
month.
Friday 26^th
Today I went to the Barrage about 20
miles down & had a very good afternoon
They are wonderful works & we saw the
gates being opened & closed. I took some snaps
which I hope turn out well. There are also some
very fine botanical gardens down there
& a funny little tramline running through
You get on a truck which is pushed by the
local inhabitant going down hill we ran
off the line no serious results, On returning
we went to a local Doctors house & were
regaled with coffee & afternoon tea &c.
He's an Egyptian & both he & his wife are
jolly nice people. Going back to Cairo we
struck another good sort in the shape of a
big land owner He was taking some oranges
back to his home in Cairo which fruit we
sampled at his invitation very good too.
Back in Cairo went to see a Mr & Mrs. Chaker
(French) whom I am acquainted with