Letters from Irving Russell Flett to his Family, 1915-1916 - Part 6
P.S.
Remember me to Mrs
L & Hilda. Hope they ar
keeping & well; also to Mr
Sinclair; I have not written
to him for about a month,
but will endeavour to send
him a letter today. IRF
Turkey in Asia
18th Febryary 1916
Dear Mother and Father,
Since last writing I have not
read any letters from home, but we are expecting
20 bags of mail by camel fro the battakuib today,
& I am sure tp collect something unless my luck
is unusually out. I am posting you a few more
photos of the peninsula, & trust the ones I sent
last male have reached you safely, as they
will be interesting to have, & are the best I have
seen of our section of "Lone Pione" & surrou dings.
I was just thinking what a cump. I was not to
have taken a camera with me, as I would now
have quite a decent set to show, but I doubt if
they would have been as good as these. I am
enclosing two sets, one lot being for Incle Tas, [[to be]]
has had the first lot the same as you have
received
We are still in the same place
doing outpost work on the desert, and considering
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the fact that we are in the desert, are not
having too bad a time. The outpost work, while
being very important, seeing that the sleeping
camp depends on ua, ia cwet interesting & I like
the night part of it specially well, as you
have to visit the sentry groups & at teacherys
to find your way about by the stars, as, of course
we dare not strike any matches to look at our
compasses, in case any of the enemy's patrols
may be abaout. Our fellows are very keen, &
we all like this open work much better than
being stuck in trenches all the time, although
we ar busy diffing trenches so as to strengthen
our position if the Turks or Bedoins do attack
us, of which I am very doubtful, as they have to
cross several hundreds of miles of desert, & after
doing that I don't think they will have much heart
for fight. If they do attack I fancy they will
get rather a warm reception as we are in a
good position on a big hill, of which there are
hundreds about, & with the aid of our powerful
3
glasses, can see the surrounding country for miles
round, bendes which our aeroplanes go out for
miles, but never see a soul.
We are employed during the day
when off outpost duty, by doing marches with
full packs up just to get us fit, also trench
digging, it is good exercise, & I always join in
I had four hours of it the other daym & felt much
better for it. I just left off hee to attend
church parade now it is over so I will
continue. We have rather a fine choir of about
40 voices & withe the band the music is very
good. Scotty & Buck are both in the choir. Our
Padre preaches a very good sermon & can hold
the attention of all the fellows.
On Friday last we decided
to fomr a sports club for the men so as to
help to fill in their Wednesday half holiday
& Sunday afternoons. I have been elected
the representatice of icer for "A" Coy & my
platoon sergeant to represent there as well,
4
I was to have gone into Cairo to purchase the
different mateial the battalion is purchasing
the stuff out of its own finds, so there will be
no call on the men, but something cropped up &
prevented my, so I missed two or three days spell
in Cairo which would have been a nice break -
nothing like living at Ahepheard's hotel for a few
days at the rate of about 25/- per day, the tucker
is such a change, also see it is a treat to get
between sheets & sleep in till 9 o'clock. We are
going to get 12 footballs, 12 fencing sticks &
basket, Boxing Gloves 8 sets, Horizontal Bar
Parallel Bars, 65 Cocortinas four dozen
mouth-organs & random games such as dominos, Ludo
Chess, Draughts, Cribbage, & reading matter
as you will see we are catering for the various
tasks of the men, & doing our best to make up
to them what they have left. I don't know if there
is a other battalion that has a Colonel who looks
after the welfare of all as our man does. He is
thought the world of by all & it is the easiest
5
matter in the world to get on well with him,
although he is very particualr to have everything
done well & will not stand officer or man who
doesn't do his job.
Well for the present. I think
I will have to close as the camel leaves with the
mail at 12 noon & I want to get all my letters
off. How are things at Brightonm at the
church & school & other associations. I suppose
the females are more in the majority than ever,
but that will chage one of these days. How is
Auntie keeping. I hope she is able to get ∧about away
alright. Has Wally got the bike yet or is he
waiting a while; he should have it now & be
taking advantage of the good weather.
I write to Aunties this mail & to Uncle Tas last
mail, or you can let them fead this hurried mail
I remain
Your loving son
Irving
Hec is get quite well & I don't know whether I told you,
he has a job assisting "C" Coy quarter master so if he looks
out should catch a stripe or two out of it. IRF
23rd Feb 1916
Dear Mother & Father
Your two welcome letters of the
6th & 16th January to hand last Friday & as I am having
a half holdiay today have settled down to do a bit of
answering letters, this being my usual job on half holidays
You say that a cable ocasioanally would ease your minds, We;;
I sent two cables, but in Walter's letter it appears you had not, up
till then received either, but in a letter received from the office
they say they Mr Mac received one I sent him on the same day
as yours, so no doubt you have now now recd your one.
I can quite believe that the people could
talk of nothing else but the evacuation being so successful
it is rightly called the biggest bluff in military history "We
all thought as soon as K of K paid in a visit about six weeks
before the evacuation that there would be something doing,
either over the parapet & at 'em or clear out; only for Kitchener's
visit I suppose we would still have been there getting pelted
day after day; I'll bet he tunes somebody up about it. We
can trace his marvellous hand all through the perfect evacuation
arrangements. There is no doubt about him being the greatest
military expert of [[then]] or any other age. I only wish we
Australians were directly under his supervision.
I had a letter from Mr Sinclair in which he
told me that the church was full in the Intersession day, & that
attendances had bever been better than they are at present, he
2
appears to be very elated about the 6am business being [[?]]
up, & says the generosity of the Brighton people knows no bounds,
so it does not look like as if he is going to [[?]] for a while
yet; I am of opinion that it would for rather a disastrous day
for Brighton Presbys if he did; as he is a good all round
man and a sport. You say you hope we had a good time
at Xmas. You can bet your life we had never had better.
As far as we were concerned there was no war on. One thing
about the most of the Australians is that the thought of Americans
never interferes with their enjoyment of today, or their spirits
I described all about our doings at Lemnos at Xmas & New
Year. so will not repeat. I had a letter from Geo Usher
last mail, he is at the training camp at [[?]] & was
in the reingorcement for our brigade, but they have never been
absorbed for a new division that is being formed.
Whoever told you about our getting holidays
must have dreamed it, as we have been at it solid since leaving
Australia. Australians don't get holidays; the only holiday
they weill get is when they rturn, but still I don't think we
need holidays as much as the Englishman, as on fellows are
certainly more heavily, can stand twice as much exertion, & are
of much better physique. We got the name of being a fairly
wild crowd at anytime, & a bit more solid when on leave,
that is some of us, so perhaps this account for them closing down
on us, but when our chaps are called on to do the job they are
more than all there. Heaven help the Tasks or any other
enemy that has to meet them. I suppose you may think this is
a bit of skite, but it isn't I know our fellows, & although
3
they are not parade groomed soldiers, or experts at saluting
& such ceremonial duties they are fighters, which appears to
me to be nearly as important as being pretty.
Hec has not quite as much time for
writing as I have, but still he is not badly off & should
be able to write once a fortnight. Anyhow if you hear from
one of us regularly it will convey just as much to you as
receiving letters from both of us. Hec, like myself is in the
best of health, you know he has a job with C Company. 2 In S
which exempts him from all parades & picquet duties, so he
is lucky in that respect. We both received [[?]] of chocolate
by last mail. but cannot recognise the writing in the
wrapper, but suppose they are from home, the chocolate is
great & we don;t care how much of it we gt. Sorry to hear
that Mrs L& Hilda are so poorly. It is just as well you call
in occasionally & try to get them [[?]] for a [[?]] to the [[?]]
with you. I wrote to Hidal last week. Remember ne kndly
to them both. There is no fresh news to tell you as we are
at the same place, doing the same work. The ford &
water is excellent both for the men & officers A lot of
gift stuff has been arriving on the way of tinned fruit, tinned
milk, sweets, tobacco, cigarettes & pipes easch man gets 2½
lbs of tinned fruit, as that [[?]] too bad & they are all well
satisfied. Well I will now have to wind yp with love to Aunties & all at Thurso. I wrote to Wally & Auntie this week
as they should see their letter the same time as you get yours, also
to Uncle Tas & hope you are all well.
[[As always your]] loving son Irving
Canal Lone
- 2.16
Rest is no interest
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his spirits up on he does. Remembers me to both of them when next
you call. Arch still seems to be as affectionate as ever
by what you say; pity either he or his brother don't have a
bit of a change is their sport such as trench digging or
beetle squashing in the desert, still I suppose they know
their business best. In case I am not back for the Jubilee
celebrations you can give a couple of guineas for me out of
my pay, as I suppose I would be giving something if I were
there. Pleased to hear that Wally had a good time at
Emerald; its jolly licky that he has a place so handy where
he can spend a few weekends. Bob & Will will be
pleased now that thier commissions have gone through; it has
been rather a long job. Now I suppose it will not be long before
they get away. Recruiting does seem pretty sick & they will
have to go pretty hard [[?]] get the fifty thousand. I think
they are over doing it & are getting needlessly excited. I'm
pretty sure we could diddle the gentle German now if
we desired to do so, but evidently Kitchener & his French
cobbers (as the Australian would say) are waiting till they
think fit. The Russians are just about giving Turkey
the chopper fair in the neck & I don't think it will be
long before it's a case of "mishi" Turkey for good.
Remember me to Mr Irish, & tell him I will
buy the shop out when I get back but will expect a "backsheesh"
icecream. I am please to hear that Mrs L & Hilda are
Miascar 17th/3/16
Dear Mother & Father
I received you letter of
the 7th Feb also Walter's letter of same date
but refret that I have not time to answer
them fully. I sent a cable to you on the 15th
just saying that Hec & myself were quite well
& that I would be writing soon. We have now
been withdrawn from the [[Pine]] where the attack
was expected by the Turks, as there is nothing
doing there, the ememy evidently thinking
that they have quite enough to do to face
the Russians, who have been giving them a
pretty rough time. there we are at present
we are having a fairly easy time & the climate is
not too bad. Of course it is desert but we are
just about a mile out of the town of Ismalia,
which is a very pretty place having beautiful trees
& avenues. The gardens are first class & wonderfully
green. It is right on the canal & we are just
about a mile from the salt lakes where we have
had several several very enjoyable swims, & this
afternoon we are going to have a thousand
yards race, & my platoon is looking forward to
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the sport.
The cause of the hurry of this
letter is that the mail closes in about half
an hour, which is more of a concession than we
expected as we were told we would have no
chance of writing, as mail was not being sent, but
we just got a few word that we would have time
to scribble a few lines this afternoon so this merelyt
serves to let you know that Hec & myself
are both top hole - have never been better in
our lives. O saw Norman Sander & Rus Lucas
the other night, they are both looking
splendid. Rus has cultivated a bush on the
upper lip & looks just it. Norm Sands is very
big & has put on a lot of weight. they both look
as if military life has been very kind to them.
If you do not get any letters for
four or five weeks don't worry about it, as we
are going to make a move for another part
of the globe I am thankful to say, as none of
us are the least bit anxious to spend another
summer in Egypt & the weatger us biw gettubg
pretty warm. I will write or telegraph at
first opportunity to let you know how we are
Rest of no interest
On board at Malta
27th March, 1916
Dear Mother & Father
I suppose by this time you will be wondering
what is the matter with me, & where I am I wrote you last from
Ismalia the day before we were leaving for Alexandria for embarkation.
After about a ten day's stay at Ismalia we left for Alexandria
at about 11pm on Saturdau moght 18th inst, arriving there, the
next morning at 10a.m., this meant an all night ride in railway
trucks; & as it rained a good deal of the way the journey was not
too pleasant, but one gets used to little things like that.
On arriving at Alex. we found that the ship we were to have
gone on was overcrowded, so this meant having to go into camp
at that town, where we had to remain till a ship could be
arranged for. We were all very glad that our ship was crowded
out by other troops, as this gave us a couple of days to see round
Alexandria, which is a min very fine place being much cleaner
in every respect than Cairo, & the people having considerably
better morals & seeming altogether a superior class to their Cairo
brethern. We were in camp there with Tommie & the swank of the
officers was really the funniest thing imaginable. Oh they do
think they are just it. We had a good old fly round there
& saw most there was to see, but shortage of cash put the damper
on both officers & men; the men, who will never be in a tight
corner without finding some way out of it, were paying their way
about by paying tram fares etc in bully beef. One man I
know left camp without a stiver in his pocket; all he had was
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