Letters from Wilfred Emmott Addison to his Mother, 1915 - Part 2

Heliopolis
13^th August 1915.
Dear Mother,
Hearing that the 5^th Brigade is to leave for
the Front on the 17^th, I managed to get my discharge from
Helouan & here I am again back with the Battalion.
Still a bit weak, but otherwise "fit". I only want a bit
of exercise. I didn't like the idea of being left. We are
apparently going to relieve the 1^st Division, this is only
guesswork. Now about the Comforts Fund. (I got your
N^o 2 letter & the other one with the Pater's & 2 from him
& the 3 weeklies. I was pleased to hear from you all.
It will be almost impossible to get anything in the nature
of comforts across to us in the firing line. The difficulty
is from Alexandria to the Front. I may be able to arrange an
agent at Alexandria to hold the stuff for us. I'll let you
know later as soon as I find out. I have been away, you see,
& have not been able to do anything. But the Red Cross
& the Transport & the Base people seize everything they
can lay their hands on & distribute it amongst the whole
lot. They don't recognize any separate unit. However I'll
do what I can & let you know, just don't send anything
else till you hear from us again. The reinforcements may
be your best way, if you can rely on them & they might be able
to work the box across with them if the officers can be got
round. Of course all the Australians will benefit but not
the 18^th Battalion exclusively as things are at present. 

Don't overwork or worry yourself unnecessarily about the
Fund, the Transport xx arrangements here, at present, are
hard to get at & understand. Get more money in if
you can for the time being.
Well by the time you receive this I will xx have, most
likely, received my baptism of fire. I won't cable
as you will only worry & probably ^you will see by the paper,
when we are in action, almost as soon. Now don't worry
about me, I'll be home ^again before long I have an idea
& will see you all again soon. I will try & buy
a few curios to send you before we sail just in [[remembers?]]
of Egypt. Tell me when you receive them. Now I must
end now, the next latter will probably be from the
Front, possibly Gallipoli. With the best of love
to you all, from your loving son
Wilfred
p.s. I am enclosing a few photos, which may
interest you. I wrote to Uncle George. Hope you get
all my letters alright, tell me. Also your money (10/- a day)
every fortnight. I like being back, they all seem pleased to see
me. My platoon is out shooting, so won't see them till tomorrow,
except an odd man or two. Thank you for the T & C's & Mail, we
do appreciate anything in the way of Australian papers. they're a
treat. Am so pleased to hear that Pater is back at work &
Glen's [[?]] again has at last got into Waterloo. I have a lot
to tell them both & for which we can't write so well. W. 

At Sea, 9 p.m.
SS Saturnia
Wed 18/8/15
Dear Old Mother, Am writing from the hospital.
We will land tomorrow somewhere on the Peninsular
Anzac I think. This trip is rather exciting, we
never know when a submarine will appear. The
boat has been zig-zagging all day. All the
men are happy at the thought of landing at
the Front to-morrow. I took ^Holy Communion to-day.
Our 18th Battlⁿ is in first class order & ought to do
well & bravely. I expect you will hear we have
reached the firing line long before you receive
this letter. Our battalion is the only battln which has
taken all its officers from Egypt. Most of the other
come in short, owing to illness. Clunies-Ross
[[?]] to go back & then Col. [[?]] & Goddard.
The Mediterranean is a beautiful sea so calm &
still. We passed numbers of islands all day
to-day. Just a line before thinking if  I will think of you
& pray for you all to-night. I must end now to
catch mail with fondest love to you all
From your loving son
Wilfred 

Don't send too many things for me as I
will probably never see them. Things have
a marvellous way of disappearing
unless you nail them down & sit on
them