Letters from Eric Roland Cotterill to his Mother, 1915 - Part 5

Read [[?]]

& Rosealle

Heliopolis

7-4-15

 

My Dearest Mother

 

Our last mail in Egypt was a bumper one
 for me as I received ten letters. Two from George, one from you

May, Mabel & Ted,  & Jim [[?]]. The latter is evidently

having a

spell & I was glad to hear from him the home seen heaps of 

photos of him return & the route march of that other lot, & it seems 

that the old town is working up enthusiasm over its blokes.

Every week reinforcements are arriving & being absorbed as required

but the majority will be left on the transport when we land a

sent up to the front as wanted. I have noted [[?]]

particulars
& will look out for him as we are all to scrap together, both

first & second forces.

I had looked forward to receiving letters written

after the

receipt of my first from home, but we will miss it

by a mail

or so.

We have orders that we will move off at, midnight on Thursday

8th inst. for Alexandria embark on the 'Ascot'  sail due north [[?]]

bringing up near 'Gallipoli' (?)  on the Sea of Marmara & march on

Constantinople. Of course anything may happen to after this

but that is the present intention. It is expected

that we will

land on a sandy beach & will meet with opposition. The navy

& aircraft will assist so the first scrap of our reps

will be

modern whatfor. Our officers say the 3rd Bgde which left here

three weeks ago attempted to land but were repelled.

As we are not to be supplied with anything for 8

hours

each man takes his own rations & his ammunition [[?]]

filled up he is lucky so we are to be tried out from the group

3

Time prohibits me of writing of the wonderfully interesting [?]

of this last week, & I cannot dwell on them.  The officers, N.C.O's

fought this [?] battle with ball ammunition.  The [?]

awful & the final assault on the [?] [enemy?] trenches [?]

The N.C.O's. were complimented on the strong & easily [?] the

officers