Letters from Robert Edmund Antill to his Parents, 1914-1915 -Part 7

(1)
The Cairo Young Men's Christian Association
WITH THE
British and Colonial Forces in Egypt.
H.Coy
14 Batt
March 5th.
1915

Dear Mother & Father,
Well &
how are things goin, they
are pretty warm out here
I can tell you yesterday
we (4th Bde) went for
a twenty mile march
we started at 6 in the
morning & returned at 7 at
night across the sand hills
& desert & after we got
home our company went
on gard at 9 oclock till
7 this morning & at 4
this afternoon we are goin

(2).
out on a night march & will
return at about 3 tomorrow
morning & we have to cary
rations with us which
consits of 2 slices of bread
jam each so you can see
we have plently of work
to do & we always cary
150 rounds of blank
amuation with us for
these scirmishes & a full
pack on back which is not
too bad is it.  We are all
just about fit to go into
action & I dont think it
will be so very long
eather for we are leaving
Egypt before the end of
March I think.  I havent
got thoes p photos yeat

(3.)
so I cant send them but as
soon as I get them I will.
I have sent another £5 along
to you. Theny do it diferent
here to what they do it
in Australia all you
have to y do is to go to
the G.P.O. London that is
dad will have to go as
it is in his name I sent
it & the money will be
there but than again on
ra reading the recipte which
I keep. I see the money will
be sent on to you from
the post office so that
will be alright.  I will
now close hopping one
& all are well at home
I remain
your loving son
Bob.
 

15th Platoon 4th Coy 14th Batt
4th Bigade A.I.F.
Heliopolis - Egypt.
1-4-15
Dear Mother & Father,
Well I have just
returned from the fuernal of our
Machine Gun Sergant, he died 2 days
ago so that makes the third fuernal I
have been to in 5 days they are dying
here a treat I can tell you, the first
death was a private in the M.G. section
the second a private in our company &
m now this sergant, and he was a good chap
too thats more th than I can say about
many of our N.C.O. some of them know
about as much of it as my boot lace
Well the sooner we leave this place
the better for its killing us here
though I myself are in the best of
health & I hope you are the same.
Since the Australian troops landed in Egypt
about 450 have died  7 of them have
fallen down the Pyramiades & smashed
nearly every bone in their bodies, & 

this sand & hot weather is killing them
whole sale & as I have said before the
sooner out of this place & in the firing
line the better I dont want to die in
attempt I want to do something first
what do you say if its only 1 German
I think my wish will be granted for I
think we are leaving next week I think
its pretty right this time you know
we been going so often ff but this time
I think its true for one of our Majiors
told his Coy it, well lets hope it true is.
So soon we Shall round the Dardenals or
in the south of France & then the fun
will start. I recieved your letter a few 
days ago anouncing the arrival of a little
neice & so all the boys in the tent th had
to drink her health & at the finish we nearly
all got shot in the gard tent but I only
said neal nearly & it was near too but still
there is nothing like a little enjoyment
sometimes is there.  I hope Uncle Walter al
right at the front & I wish I was with him
too well I must now close hopping one
& all are l well at home
I remain
Your loving son
Bob.