Letters from John Wesley Hetherington to his Family, 1914-1915 - Part 4

allright, and barring the heavy work at first I consider we

have been well treated in being sent here instead of going into the cold 
wet camp on Salisbury Plain at Home. Egypt is rather trying in the sudden changes of temperatures but if a man takes care himself and doesn't 
get "for the [[nod?]]" he'll take little hurt. The greatest test is when you leave
camp in a blazing sun as we did yesterday and they have to stay out all
 night. We had two or three men collapsed in the parks this morning.
They are busy weeding out the crook ones from the forces and 
there seems to be a good few .Some of them are unfortunate in 

being really sick, but there are others who deserve to be sent back

in dungarees as the New Zealanders did, they being considered

unfit to wear the uniforms. We had one case in my old company

a chap started from Sydney as lance/Copl. was court martialled on

the ship for insolence to an N.C.O., over a pot of beer, lost his stripe, and

did C.C. confined to cells, since coming here he has again misbehaved

himself, was among the returned ones & the latest we hear is that he

has committed suicide on the way back. He hasn't been married very

long either. There seems to have been a great deal of talk about the

way the men have been conducting themselves according to the

Australian papers & it has even appeared in the London press. Of

course one blames another here, the N.Zealanders blame us, we

blame them or the "Services" and so it goes on. The real offender,

King Booze, no one blames. I think the N.Zealanders are

better behaved than our chaps, and our Light Horse, etc, are

better behaved than the Artillery & Infantry. I shouldn't be

surprized to see them put Cairo "out of bounds" yet, in fact it

was threatened once, for some of our "nuts" pinched the General's

motor-car and took it for a joy ride. General Birdwood gave the Army

a straight-out hint as to the likely consequences of such conduct.

Some of them pinched a tram-car one night and took it as far as

they could on the road to the Camp and left it there.

The fun was on last week, everyone in the camp was broke, it was

the first time we had had a fortnightly pay, and there wasn't

enough money in the camp to buy a paper hat.

Leave passes were going a begging and I had a couple of

good outings. I lent money until I was broke myself, and

you have to be on the job early if you want your money in again.

We are on the tiptoe of expectation as to our next move, the

notification of which we have already received though everyone

is in the dark as to when & whither. Rumours fly about the

camp all day and the operations in the Dardanelles have

added to the prevailing expectancy. Anyway we shall

have to wait & see, for Kitchener has us in hand now I suppose,

and that means we shall get to know NOTHING.

The Australian Govt; are certainly looking after us in the way of

clothing, we had another issue of boots this week. This with a

pair I found makes 4 pair of boots to my credit. Also I have

three grey-back shirts, ½ doz pair of socks, 3 pr puttees, etc,

so you see we're not taking any part in the way of equipment.

Well I'll conclude now, I'm in excellent health and very

comfortable. I shall take care not to endanger my health

like some of the crowd. Should my letters come to a sudden

stop don't be surprized as we may be moved anytime.

Yours with kindest thoughts.

Wesley

[*10*]

Cairo. Sunday

March 14/1915.

Dear Folks at Home./

Here we are still kicking up dust, and old Pharoah's tomb. We 

rather expected being on the move before this weekend, the 3rd Brigde. 
having already departed "somewhere", a fortnight ago. We don't 
worry much where they are what we want to know is - when do

we embark for the same unknown destinations. Our men are itching

to be off, they've had a skin full of Egyptian sand over & over again,

and if you were to enquire their hot pot abomination I should at 

once answer Sand and STEW. We are beginning to find this country

rather dear to live in, now, a piastre used to be of a value equal to

a penny & the boys slung them about freely, but now a piastre

is 2½d and it is pretty closely weighed up too. You don't hear so

much of flash 4/- dinners at the best hotels, it often is fried eggs

& tea at the Soldier's Home now. A few money lenders would do

well in the Camp at present it waits three days to pay day and

money is scarce. I'm financially sound and am able to oblige one

or two friends besides, the only hobby I have is - newspapers. (English)

I got quite a stack of papers this week again from Fred, our postal

corporal is after his scalp to keep plenty of salt water ^in between.

I was sorry to note that Mother isn't quite herself yet, why does

one not go for a holiday. Don't forward any more money on to Joe

until I send word. I meant that allotment to be for you use & not

to be sent Home. There is a good balance lying in there now as it is so

keep what you get you'll be needing it all these times of high prices

I'm thinking. They are busy weeding out the crook over in the

different battalns and filling up with reinforcts. Reinforcts are

arriving almost every day now & they don't trouble long with a man

who plays up, they drop him & send him back to Australia. We have

had to go through another medical test so we ought to be O.K.

I have had quite an easy time of late, as I do not go on parade now,

and I'm keeping my eye open for any better jobs that may be going,

we had had one or two dirty days the last week, heat & sand

storms making life almost a burden. Then the nights put in cold

and we are now allowed two blankets only so we don't suffer from [weight?] of blankets. I get a lot of letters from [[W?]] Oliver & also the [?] [[Team?]] & the League, Joe writes often too, so I must say it has been more

like a pleasure trip so far. There are such a lot - of curios to be bought

in Cairo but we've no where to post them. I may be able to send one or

two small things. Hurray! Another mail just in and two letters from

Fred to hand dated 7/2/15 & 14/2/15 pleased to hear Mother is all

right, but I can't understand you not getting any letters from me.

I haven't missed very often & now I'm writing every week. Anyway

don't worry about me Mother I'm doing allright, stacks of clothes, four

pairs of boots, plenty of tucker, good health, what's there to worry

about? So Balmain is in the soup tureen again. 'Twas ever thus.

I shall certainly look up Cousin John & all the rest of folk if they

will only send us there. I am sending some more photos I get them

from one of the boys. The funeral shown is of an English chap who died

of pneumonia he was a Lance/Corpl in ours and a very nice chap indeed. 
Myall was his name. I shall now have to close as first post has

gone. Don't send anymore money Home just yet, I read you

are still sending it, some of my letter must have gone astray.

With love to you all.

Wes/.

[*11*]

2nd Battn 1st Inftry Brigade

A.I.F. Mena Camp

Cairo

March 21st  1915.

Dear Ones at Home./

Another week over & we are still gazing up at the Pyramids.

We fully expected to have been on the road - Somewhere -

before now. There are all sorts of rumours going round

first we're going tomorrow then we are going to stay

another month, etc, etc, until I've ceased to take notice of

any yarn at all & simply won't believe anything till I'm

actually on the ship again. Anyway I'm not worrying,

Egypt isn't perhaps the best country in the world to

live in but it isn't too bad and it is a picnic ground

compared to the wet trenches in Europe. I have been sent

with the 2nd Reinfcts and sick men left behind with

by the 3rd Brigade who have gone ahead - Somewhere -

There are about 300 odd of them Tasmania &cs: Australian

and I am armourer with them till they rejoin their Brigade

"overseas"- wherever that may be. I'm sure I don't know.

Of course I'm quite close to the 2nd Batt & I've plenty of

comforts, a tent to myself if I wish it. I share in with the Sergeant

Major's tent & we mess together, he is also attached temporarily

from the 2nd, and it is always better for two or three to mess together,

rather than one here & there. We live pretty well too, quaker

oats & boiled eggs for breakfast this morning, boiled leg of

mutton for breakfast another day, curry & stew for dinner,

sardines for tea & goosberry jam & toast. Ye Gods! What

heroes we are to be sure.

But the flies, ugh, they're just beginning to make themselves

felt here & they can bite. The fleas too "Chats" we call them,

are in among the blankets and you would laugh to see a

tent full of men suddenly discover themselves "Chatty" and

have to set to to wash everything. It used to be a favorite

way to get off parade & tents would arrange as to when

they would go "chatty". Parades are easier now & the plague

is not so prevalent. One of the C.O.'s lectured the men on the necessity

of keeping themselves clean, etc, so they caught a few "chats"

and put them in a matchbox afterwards smuggling them

into his blankets. His orderly told the boys all about it

the next day. It appears the C.O. had to send for his orderly

through the night to help him catch the "varmints" & his

blankets were hung out next day. Another C.O. paraded the

men who had lost their felt hats & told them they must get

hats somewhere. Well they got them somewhere, but, unfortunately,

the Colonel lost his & though he had another parade to try

& find it, it remained a mystery yet. - to the Colonel.

Outside my tent a dirty old camel is groaning because he has

to lie down, he will also growl when he has to get up. Our men

don't growl when they have to get down on the marches but you

ought to hear them imitating the camels when they get told to

get up again, it would make Kitchener himself laugh, they

are funny. We had our Battn sports yesterday, they were

supposed to be sports, they developed into a boozing match,

one officer lost a seven guinea camera, he is returning to Australia

I hear. Those who are being sent back as not wanted

are known as the "cold feet" mob, don't make heroes of

them when they do arrive in Sunny New South.

If you could see the men marching now, you wouldn't

think they were the same crowd, the training here has pulled

them together wonderfully & they are really worth seeing now.

My tent is the first at the entrance to the Camp and we

see all who pass in and out. The regiments usually go for

a march about 6am and it is fine to see them go first with

bands & pipes going & most of the men in short pants like

the Ghurkas, they don't march so smart coming back as the

sun has toasted them somewhat before then, but still they

are something like soldiers now. I was in Mena Hospital yesterday,

just as a visitor of course. There are not so many cases of pneumonia

now, mostly legs injured by kicks from horses. The men all

very well looked after and receive every care.

The [?] friend at Burwood when they write we often make

a mistake in the address, ask them to be sure to put 2nd Battln

1^st INFANTRY BRIGADE on. The letters have been going to the 1st Battn.

I see you have been having Egyptian weather in Sydney only

more so. I hope Mother is regaining health again, tell

her to draw some money & go to the Mountains for a week or

10 days. I shall certainly endeavour to visit Cousin John

at Home - when we get there.

Good bye for the present, thanks for papers & letters

received.

With love to you all

Wes.

Our next trip may be the Dardanelles or -SOMEWHERE ELSE

[*12*]

Cairo  March 28/15

Dear Folks at Home/

Letter writing is carried on under some difficulty to

day. We are plagued with a real darn sandstorm, there is sand

whirling round in sheets finding its way into all sorts of nooks

and crannies and more especially into your eyes, nose and mouth.

What the Sunday dinner will be like can only be imagined

and when we do come to have it we'll eat a few pecks of

Egyptian sand in between & mixed up with the courses.

We a have arranged to have a beat up of Geordies near the

Sphinx today on the suggestion of Col. Chaplain Green of the

1st Brigade. He is the Methodist Chaplin & formerly lived at

Scotswood. It is intended to arrange for a photo if possible

but the weather isn't too favourable for it. Photography is all

the go here, groups of all sort are arranged with camels & donkeys

and the photographers are reaping a rich harvest.

I got was included in a group of the officers & Non-coms of my

company last week & am sending you the photo. Glad to

hear Elsie got the cushion covers or whatever they are. I did

not include much with that lot as I heard things didn't

always reach Austral^a, but now that I am assured I

shall try to send something better. There are heaps of nice

things to get cheap but the trouble is packing them and

a black kit bag isn't the place to carry all sorts of furniture in.

I got Elsie's nice card this week, many thanks for same. I am

still with the Sassy and to Aust^a crowd, they are the reinforc^ts

for the 9th, 10th, 11th & 12th Battalion. Ugh! What a day it is.

There are new troops arriving here, some French some English,

and meanwhile the Old Brigade from "down under" wonder

how much longer we have to stay here. I'm not worrying

Egypt will do me till the heat increases. The picture shows do

a roaring biz round the camps, and, by the way, they keep the

men out of the canteens. These pictures are a cross between a music

hall & a cinema, and they put up some real good turns, conjurers,

singers, acrobats etc. These places keep some interest going in

the camps and there isn't such a rush to get to Cairo.

There does not appear to be any prospect of us going Home, and

I think the Australⁿ troops arriving there must be the Motor Transfer

Section. I nearly joined them in Sydney & I wish I had now, as

they haven't near so tough a time as the Inftry have, though we

can't growl much now. In your letters you ask if you can send

me anything & really I can't think of any necessary that I am

lacking in. I could go another year with the clothes I have. What

I do wish is to hear Mother has gone for that long talked of holiday.

It would please me more than a ton of stuff you might send us.

Tell Mother I say she has to "Sushi," & "Giri" (go away, quickly)

Green's articles in the Austⁿ press are quite reliable in their

descriptions of our daily life. The Greeks run this Country, they're

as thick as flies. I am turning lazy with good living and

feel I want some more sand thumping to take the

surplus

weight off. In the tent just now are Davison of Blyth and

the Sergeant Major (formerly of Black Watch) they are planning

how many stations & dairy farms they're going to buy up

after they return. It's a long way to Tipperary though.

I've written two long letters already this weekend and I

find any news to you seeming a bit short.

However I'm including some photos of interest this week,

one of Georgie Reid addressing us, with Sir John Maxwell

near the flag pole. Also one of the 2nd Battalion lines when we

first arrived. You'll see the men on the hillside passing down

boundry stones from hand to hand. The two pyramids are well

in the picture. In the small photos we have a green team at work,

Mena House Hospital, the authorities have tried to clear out of

this place several times, but the sick list is too heavy.

Another shows the "Gippos" grinding corn for the Army Service Corp.

They sit opposite each other & grind by turning the top stone, and

what with the noise of the stone & their weird singing they do make

a row. Another shows a native village in the desert near here, and one

with your humble, the Pioneer sergt, and Best the armourer sergt.

I will write Fred next week. Tell Wally to speak up it wasn't

me in the picture with the medicine ball.

With love to Mother & you all

Yours in great health.

Wes./