Letters from Fred Leslie Biddle to his Family, 1914-1915 - Part 7 of 19

Mena Camp.
7.3.15

Dear Mother,
Another week has gone & still
no more.
We have had a quiet week, especially
after Monday last when we finished up our
shooting with a sort of instructional day for
officers below Bty Commanders.
Since then we have been fitting extra
shields on top of the original ones to give
more protection to the gun numbers.
We are also painting our guns in primary
colors ie. red, blue, & yellow.
These colors are put on in splashes, as
if the painters had gone mad.
Anything of a regular design has to be
avoided, the idea being that the outlines of the
guns & vehicles are broken up, &, as the colors
are the primary colors of light, they rapidly
become invisible.
The barrels of the guns alone are painted
in something of regular order, being done in
rings like a barber's pole
We have had a great reception from the 

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"feet" the last 2 or 3 days.
Yells of "Haircut & shave", Where does the
circus start" &c were to be heard all through
the camp.
We ourselves have already become quite
used to the effect, but if we could suddenly
transport the guns to Melbourne & march
through the streets, many a sober citizen
would wonder if he were really drunk or
not just seeing visions.
I picked up an old Bulletin this week &
one of the first things I saw was a paragraph
about Miss Gleeson's concert & great praise for
Isabel "Beddell" an East Melbourne girl.
No doubt you have seen it but praise
from the Bulletin is worth more than from
any other paper in Australia
There is really nothing fresh to write about
We know the time of departure is near but not
where we are going.
We may go either East or West, but nobody
knows.
Best love to all at home not forgetting
Your own dear self
Your affcte son

Fred
P.S.
By the bye the embargo on sending papers must be
a rumour. Heaps of papers arrive here every mail

7.3.15
Dear Hollis,
Hope you had a happy Birthday
& although rather late wish you "Many
Happy Returns"
I enclose a photo which may interest
You
Left to Right
Lt. Forbes 6^th Bty
Col Johnston.
Genl Bridges (nearly hidden)
Capt Crespin
Genl Birdwood
Major Caddy
Capt Miles (adjt)
Yours
Fred 

Mena Camp.
14. 3. 15

Dear Mother,
Once more the week has gone
round & I sit down to write the weekly
budget.
Your letter of 9^th Feb came to hand also
Father's & Hollis's.
I was glad to see you were interested
in my first letter which arrived about a month
late.
The 3^rd Contingent commenced to arrive
about the beginning of the week, & are still
coming in.
They arrived in a beautiful sand storm
& wondered what sort of a country they had
struck
It was impossible to see 100 yds & dust
was in everything & everywhere.
It blew for 2 days & we all cursed hard
& often this ancient land of the Pharaohs.
We now rise at 4.30 am. & work in the
desert until 10 a.m. in order to avoid the
heat of the day.
We have eased down a good bit in order 

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to "spell" the horses a bit, & let them pick
up a bit of condition.
The work has been very trying on them
& the forage is awful rubbish.
We are still hearing news of an immediate
move, in fact fresh news every day.
None of it proves to be true & we are
getting rather "unbelieving"
In fact I think when the orders do come
we will all rise & shout with one voice "Liar".
In any case the Artillery will probably
be the last to embark.
There is absolutely no news this week
I haven't been out of camp & its just been
a humdrum sort of life.
Sorry to read that there is so much
unemployment in Melbourne. It will make
things very sick
Was glad to learn from Hollis's letter
that I am missed at J.T. & H.R. but as to the
remark that "the dept was going to the devil"
thats W.A. always. It's a little weakness
of his & I used to laugh at him when he
said it.
I suppose by this time your knee
is all right, at any rate I hope so. 

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If Noel has got his "commission," tell him
not to throw bouquets at himself but get to
work. There are enough & to spare of "fancy
officers" in the forces.
Hope Bruce gets his stripe because it
will give him a chance when new batteries
come along to make a name for himself.
Tell him from me that he must himself
never allow any man to argue with him.
It isn't the least importance whether he is
right or wrong & the man who looks for
popularity is the worst infliction a battery
can suffer from.
Well fondest love to Father Hollis,
Isabel, the boys & your own dear self &
kindest regards to Dottie & all friends
Your affcte son
Fred