Letters from Norman Griffiths Ellsworth to his Mother, 1914-1915, Part 6 of 27

6th Janu Feb. 
Mena. 
Cairo. Egypt. 
  
Dearest Mother & all at Home 
I suppose that you will be 
somewhat surprised to know that I have just had a  
spell of 5 days in the 1st Australian General Hospital 
at Heliopolis (4 miles the other side of Cairo). Last Sunday 
we had a visit of 2 Egyptian Friends to the Mess & they 
invited us to come into Cairo to tea with them, so with 
Dowsett & Braithwaite, I went with them in their Car & 
as we had not been to Heliopolis before, the chauffeur 
ran us out to there. My eyes felt a trifle sore all 
day, but as this is not unusual on account of the dust, 
I took little notice of it, but by the time we reached 
Heliopolis, my eyes were almost completely closed & large 
quantities of matter was running from there & as they 
were so painful, Braithwaite took me across to the  
Hospital (just opposite) & here I was fortunate to meet Dr 
J.W. Barrett. (Occulist & Aurist) who had just arrived 
with the second contingent & he treated me immediately 
& gave me wonderful relief, but said he would keep 
me for a few days & told Braithwaite to inform our 
commanding officer of the fact. Well I was given 
a lovely hot bath & put to bed with clean sheets Etc 
& there I spent 5 lovely days amid pleasant surroundings.

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This hospital has only just opened that day & I had 
the distinction of being the first patient & didn't the 
nurses treat me well too. My word, Mum, the Australian 
girls are the best after all, they treated me 
tip-top & what do you think, a sister told me that 
she was born in Smeaton, Vic, her name is 
Sister Anderson. Well this place was built as an 
Hotel & cost 2 millions & it was intended to rival 
Monte Carlo, but the Egyptian Govt would not grant 
them a gambling liscence, & they tried to run it as 
a Hotel, but it failed this year, so the British Govt 
snapped it as a hospital. It is a wonderful 
place & beautifully lit up & it costs £70 a night 
for electric lighting. It is the 2nd largest Hotel in 
the world. Well my eyes used to be bathed every 
3 hours with boracic & drops put in & this gave 
me wonderful relief. Dr Barrett is a gentlemen & 
& is so nice & nothing gives him trouble & he can't 
do enough for his patients. He lives in Toorak. 
The nurses also waited on me day & night 
& couldn't do enough for me, & their one object is to 
serve their country. All the chaps at camp, especially 
my subsection, were astonished when they learnt 
next morning that I was in the Hospital, as I

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was on the 4 o'clock parade with them & yet I was 
in the Hospital at 5.30 pm. The pain & inconvenience 
that I suffered was completely compensated for by 
the welcome that the boys gave me when I returned 
to camp completely cured. It was some sort of Opthalmia 
& the Dr  said that I probably contracted it from a 
horse with a cold. We haven't had a "box on" yet with 
the Turks, altho' the Victorian Infantry is down there 
at the Canal doing well, but we hope to be there 
soon. Mabs cigarettes arrived 2 days ago & in good 
condition & the boys send their heartiest thanks & 
good wishes to her for her kindness. How is Rupert. 
That is always on my mind at present, but something 
tells me he is alright now, anyhow, I hope so. 
The whole of the Divisional Artillery had their 
photo taken this morning & it was a fine sight & I'll 
try & send you a Photo if I can. How is every body in 
Melbourne. I hope quite well. Give all kind enquirers  
my best wishes, & my best love to all at Home. 
There is nothing much to tell you, as we are still 
doing the same kind of work, but we hope to get a 
shift soon. Well Mother, dear, I'll close now in 
order to catch the Mail with best love & hoping all 
are well I am your loving son Norman

I think I will be 
successful in getting 
Percy Wells (May Tiltons 
friend) transferred into 
our Battery. 
He is with the 
Ammunition Column

[*Have done this 
in the dark*] 
  
Sunday 14^th Feb 
Cairo Egypt.
  
Dearest Mother & all at Home 
I nearly missed writing 
this week as I have had a slight touch of Influenza 
which has been very prevalent here lately. I was 
permitted to stay in bed for 3 days, by the Dr & I am 
glad to say that I am quite alright again. Braith- 
waite, too, has been down with pain the the stomach 
caused by food poisoning & the Dr had to come down 
& put hot fomentations on his bingy, but he is 
alright again, too. There is not much new news I 
can tell you as it is beginning to get monotonous here 
& we shall be glad to leave for the Front soon 
Last Sunday, we rode out to Sakkara Tombs 
where the Sacred Bulls & other great treasured 
mummies are preserved. The Tombs are about 
¾ of a mile long & every now & then there is a  
big vault of granite carved out for the body 
of a sacred bull & other sacred creatures. 
I cannot find time to describe it to you but I  
will send you a Descriptive Book concerning the 
ancient mysteries of it all. We have an 
extremely busy time of it now & don't get

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much time to ourselves & when you get this, we 
are only too glad to get to bed. There are several 
big pictureshows opened here & together with the  
Boxing Stadium, we are well catered for in sport 
I got no fewer that 8 letters by this last Mail 
as they have all been help up in the Canal, but 
as this scrap is all over now, we expect no more 
trouble in this respect. Was pleased to get a  
letter from Chas also from "Binns" & I am 
sending him some Post Cards. I am pleased to  
know that he is quite well again. Dear Mother, 
it is impossible for me to answer all the kind 
friends letters that I get regularly, so I know 
that you will not mind spreading what little 
news I send to you. There is another Christ Church 
Choir Boy turned up here & he is Albert Charles 
Prosser, he is with the N.S. Wales Infantry & is 
serving under the name of Albert Charles as he 
ran away from home. Les Ilsley is here & 
is with me to night, he is mad to get transferred 
to the Australians. We have just got a 
General of Artillery straight from the Front to 
train the Artillery & to take us with him to the 
front. He lectures to us twice a week

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& he has told us some wonderful adventures 
& says that the British Artillery have made 
a great name for themselves at the Front. 
The fight at the Canal was a half hearted 
affair & the British let the Turks get the 
pontoons on the Canal & as soon as they 
were crowded with Turks, the first shot from 
the H.M.S. Swift sure blew the whole show 
to bits. The Turks kept surrendingering in  
batches of 10 up to 100s . All the Australians 
have been brought back to Mena. The 
second contingent & first batch of re-inforcements 
are here now & getting their baptism of the 
Sahara Dessert. Now, Mum, how is everyone? 
Flos Robbie sent me one last week. Give her 
my love. Tell George I am enjoying myself great. Tell Jack Tilton 
that I don't see him in Egypt yet. Remember me to Miss Taylor. If you have 
time drop a line to Constable Watson for me & 
I'll write to him soon. Good bye for the present
with fondest love to all & yourself I am  
your loving son Norman.

[*Thank Mab for the writing Tablet 
Tell Jack Tilton to come out here.*] 
  
18^th February 1915 
Cairo Egypt. 
  
Dearest Mother & all at Home 
Just a line to let you know 
that I am in the best of health & having an enjoyable 
time, despite the fact we are getting tired of Egypt.
We still have plenty of sights to see yet, but it is 
difficult for us all the get off in suitable time, but on 
Wednesdays, 25% get Leave from 10 am. so this gives us 
a better chance. Yesterday Braithwaite, Conradi, Goodall, 
& myself went on Leave & visited Heliopolis, where I was 
in the Hospital for 5 days, & there we had a good look 
around in the daylight & some fine buildings we saw 
too. We had a good hot bath in Cairo, then a feed 
then took the tram for Heliopolis. It is a street 
railway rather than a tram, & at one time it is 
running through the streets, then it runs into a railway 
yard & runs through stations, & then later on into 
the street again. To day the battery has gone out into 
the Desert for manoevres etc, but I have been left 
in Camp, (being Orderly Sergeant) to take charge of all 
men & horses left in the Lines. Last night we went  
to the "Kinsall" a sort of Opera house show, but 
it was pretty deadly. I am sending you the 
programme to let you see.

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The second contingent which arrived in Egypt 
last week are stationed at Heliopolis & seemed 
to be much better dressed that we are, & I suppose 
that the 3^rd and 4^th lots will be better looked after still. 
The men who volunteer first, generally get treated 
the worst in this kind of business & yet they are supposed 
to be the pick of the bunch. I haven't got any letters from 
the Mint fellows yet altho' I have written several to them, 
so I will discontinue writing to them after this. Constable 
Watson is the only decent chap up there & he often writes 
me long letters & sends me papers, Etc. Of course I will 
write to him as often as I can. I would like, if it is 
possible, Mum, to get a few papers or "Leaders" Etc, as we 
are pretty hard up for reading at times. 
All our fellows are well & send their kind 
regards to all.  I got the packet of stationery which Mab 
sent & it is appreciated very much by all in the Mess. 
Braithwaite dies as usual every night in the bed, 
& it is the work of the world to '"raise him from the dead" 
each morning. Then he starts to swear blind that 
Reveille hasn't gone yet, & he sits up in bed & talks 
of the staff not knowing their business in having 
Reveille so early, & of course all the while he is 
talking like this, time is getting later & if he gets 

Page 3 
on Parade late, Moon reports him & then he gets 
into trouble. I have no difficulty in getting up as the 
"Crier" or Caller up" in the Arab village opposite our 
lines kicks up quite enough noise to wake me. This 
old ruffian is too old to work, so he is appointed to this 
job. There is no clocks among the Arabs, but this old 
"coot" gets up somewhere about 4 a.m. & roams about 
the ally ways setting up a most dismal howl & 
of course it is impossible for any one to get any sleep while 
this old demon is at large. Why on earth the other 
niggers dont throw bricks at him I don't know. 
Moon is still the same old woman with his book, &  
is always in trouble with his men & horses. 
Yardley, Jack Hall, Adams, Conradi, are all the 
fine lot of chaps they were in Broadmeadows. Ralph 
is our Mess orderly now, & washes up our dishes & 
waits on the tables. How is all at home. Give 
them all my love, also Miss Taylor, how is 
Aunt Hannah & all at Winchelsea, give them my 
love & remembrances. Hope George and Charlie & family 
are well. Got a letter from Charl last week, Give 
my love to Rupert, Floss Robbie, & all kind enquirers 
& accept an extra ration for your dear self 
from your loving son Norman 

A small coin inside 
½ a piastre (5 milliemes) worth 2 ¼