Letters from Eric Roland Cotterill to his Mother, 1915 - Part 4

then halted we were ten miles out from nowhere

on the sandy waste with one hill just like

another. Marching by [[?]] compass we

set out as a Turkish army making an attack

on the oil well near Cairo. These were defended

by the [[?]] who have been here over six

months so we were up against it. They had

a grand site for defence, but having spotted

a hill that looked good [[?]]. No8 platoon

set out for it. It was farther than it looked

& only a couple kept up with [[?]] & self.

It was a lovely posi & commanded their

whole line. [[?]] sent a [[?]] to the colonel saying

that ours looked to be the key of the situation

& to reinforce us strongly then the [[umpire?]] [[?]]

with he O.C. of the enemy he asked us what

we had done, & made some very complementary

remarks which made us forget our long gallop.

[[?]] were [[?]] the winners on the day & the

 

 

The Cairo Young Men's Association

with the

British and Colonial Forces in Egypt

Heliopolis

18.8.15

My Dear Mother

The last letter to you was rushed

somewhat so will try & go slow in this

Yesterday we marched out at five in the afternoon

on the usual game. Away out we halted look

up our position & awaited the onslaught In [[?]]

time it came we fought a no [[?]] [[bout?]]

& came back having been out 16 hours

We only have feet inspection & rifle to clean

to-day & then off an another stunt to[[?]]

The last night out was a clinker. The alarm

was at 2 a.m. & all was hurry & bustle.

[[?]] are [[?]] up in the rain & set about

our task. Daybreak found us [[?]] out past

the third old watch tower of Napolean a

distance of about twelve mile the [[?]] about

& fought our way back.

Mother day reville at 5 am move off at 6 am

[[?]] Capt acknowledge we had the weakest 

spot on his line. Before this scrap was over we

sounded the assault & charged but bless we

if to [[?]] didn't hop out of their trenches &

counter charge with fixed bayonets also As

our [[?] are very sharp shot final [[?]]

touch will have to be omitted.

On a previous day we were stocked up against

a squadron of [[?]] & were steadily driving them

back. Seeing that the next position they would

occupy was about a quarter of a mile back

 

 

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