Letters from Fred Leslie Biddle to his Family, 1914-1915 - Part 5 of 19

Mena Camp.
24. 1.15

Dear Mother
Just a few lines to let you know
how things are going.
I have sent to you this week per parcel
post 1 Opera Cloak for Isabel & a scarf & table centre
for yourself.
These were bought in the "Bazaar" in the
Native quarter from a man who trades with every
visitor of note to the country.
I trust you will like them.
I was not able to see anything specially suitable for
Yourself & intend to look around some other shops
at the first opportunity.
I am afraid it will be difficult to get anything
very choice for you to wear, as everything is of course
very highly colored or gay.
If I cannot get you anything suitable
to wear I will look out some Egyptian Jewellery or
Native brass work of which there are some very fine
examples on sale.
Do not pay duty on any of these things as
we have it definitely that no duty is to be charged on
presents sent from the troops

(2)

We started our elementary shooting this week &
the 2nd Bde has knocked spots off all the others
in every way.
And the 4th Bty has beaten the lot.
Generals Birdwood & Bridges were delighted with
the work of the Brigade especially as the 1st Bde
(N.SW) did not do very well on the previous
day.
After the first battery of our brigade had
shot, Anderson walked across to Col Hobbs & 
said "That puts a better dtaste in your mouth,
doesn't it".
Dowsett our Q.M. says that right through his
service in India he never saw an open position
better occupied than we did it.
We are all very pleased especially as we were
all out to beat the 1st Battery which is composed
of permanent men from the 3 permt batteries in
Australia.
Personally I think we can beat them hands
down every time & it confirms what I have always
said viz - that the militia batteries with 3 mos
training would beat any ordinary regular battery.
Next week we are to work still harder
than before especially doing "night entrenchments"

(3)

Before very long we will be doing combined
manoeuvres I suppose.
We still hear odd tales of the Turkish
invasion none of which I believe.
I hear the "Terrier" batteries have gone to
the Canal but if there were anything serious
sticking out we would have been out of this
long ago.
Had a letter from Aunt Lizzie this
week
She writes cheerily but does not say
how things are going with them.
Also got a letter from Hilary Roche.
If you see him tell him I will write soon
probably next mail
Hope you are gie keeping A1 & not worrying
about me & the reports of Turkish raids.
Although we work hard this is a huge
picnic for the whole 20000 of us
Best love to Father Isabel, Hollis, the boys
& Your own dear self
Your affcte son
Fred

PS.
Have just got Father's letter of 20th but the "Argus"
has not turned up yet.
Hope Isabel was a success at the MCG concert.
& that Sgt. Morgan is now 2nd Lieut.
Fred

Mena Camp.
12-2-15

Dear Mother
Your letter & also Fathers of 12th 2nd
January safely to hand
Very sorry to hear of your accident
on New Year's Day & hope the Knee is now quite
right again.
Its a very nasty spot to get a knock &
the bone is easily bruised.
So you had the same programme again &
I suppose the same old arguments about the
cricket (Who should have been in the team etc)
You evidently had a big party to tea. Where
did you put them all.
Many thanks for their good wishes.
I was very glad to hear news of Mrs Ikin &
am sending both her & Wally postcards congratulating
them.
There is not a great deal of fresh news
here. The trouble at the Canal appears to be
over & the Turks are getting back as fast as they
can.
The 7^th & 8^th Battalions have arrived back
here. They just missed the fun & are not

(2)
at all pleased at their bad luck
We are not likely to leave here for some
weeks yet, but it seems certain we will go
to Europe when the time is ripe for the big
effort.
A French military mission has arrived
here to establish the "liaison" between the French
Army & this
That is to say these French officers are
here to establish a co-ordination between the
staffs the same as they have in France between
the Allies.
Also there are a number of British Officers
appointed to the staff who have been specially
withdrawn from the "front" to take up various
positions.
We have a Brigadier General Cunliffe-Owen
in charge of the whole of the artillery here i.e.
N.Z., Territorial & Australian.
He has just arrived direct from the front
where he commanded a brigade in the great
retreat from Mons & afterwards was appointed
to the command of a brigade of "feet"
He gave us a lecture on the retreat on
Monday night.
It was one of the most amazing and

(3)
interesting lecture I have ever heard.
He started from the entrainment in England.
When they got in their trains in England
not even commanding officers knew where they
were bound for.
When they embarked they did not know what
port they were to disembark at.
But every regiment was treated the same &
there was not a single hitch.
After disembarkation the brigade he commanded
entrained, arrived at their destination at 2 a.m.,
furnished a battery for outposts which fought
that night & they all had a go next day.
They fought for 19 days continuously, travelled
291 miles & averaged less than 3 hours sleep
per day.
On the fourteenth day they were still in
the same clothes that they wore when leaving
Aldershot & were fortunately able to get a long
enough spell for a bath
Pretty hot pipe-opener, eh!
The whole lecture was full of points & am he
had a quaint way of telling his tale which
made us all roar with laughter.
But they had a fearful time, & there is
no doubt the Retreat from Mons surpasses

(4)
anything in history as a feat of arms.
We are to have several more lectures, the
next being "The Aisne".
I cannot attempt to write any account.
The whole thing was in the manner of telling.
But someday I'll give you an imitation
of General Owen, & his quaint way of putting
things.
Father asked what progress the men are
making towards efficiency.
Well I can only say that they are
right up to the mark, & fit to be taken
anywhere & are hard as nails.
It all depends on the officers now & I
think most of them are up to their jobs.
How would you like to do 8 hours per
day, marching in 6 to 60 ft of sand, skirmishing
all day & marching back at top-speed to break
previous records every day.
That's what the "feet" do & we do the
same in our own time.
Well fondest love to all including Your
own dear self.
Your affcte son
Fred