Letters and postcards of Errol Cappie Nepean Devlin, 1914-1916 - Part 3

On active service      No stamps available
Carte Postale
Poste Egyptienne
5^th INF.BDE. 
30-JUL-15
FIELD P.O.
Mrs S. W. Devlin
"Cyntra"
Osbourne Rd.,
Manly

N. S. Wales
Australia
1 DRL
241

L^t. Fitzpatrick Copl
fso O.C. "D" Co., 18th Batt. 8.7.15
We are camped at Heliopolis
which means the city of the
sun. At one time this was the
capital of Egypt. Where we
drill was one time the
ancient city of On, mentioned
in the bible & there are
plenty of relics here. There
is a big museum in Cairo
where they sell relics of
these old places. Don't
forget the papers & M.Ds.
Love to all
Errol
The Cairo Postcard Trust, Cairo. 

Sgt. Short is dead
Our battalion has suffered more than any lot that has landed here.
It was wholesale slaughter. Poor Westcott was killed in the
change. Stewart saw him die. Creighton was wounded. This has
been an swful week for everyone of us and remainder of the Batt,
are completely knocked up, but are liable to be called out again 
at any minute. While I write this that shell burst all around and
we do not know who is the next to go out. There is a constant
stream of wounded to the beach. Poor chaps have to be carried from
the firing line 2 miles to dressing station, and very often they
get shot on the way down. The slaughter is so terrible here that
fellows try to get shot, so as to be out of it all. Some go crazy
It is the shrapnel and machine guns that play havoc with our men.
We are up against great odds.

Love to all
from Errol.
30/8/15
Please forward: Mrs Devlin, "Cyntra", Osborne Road;
Manly, Australia

Monday 30th August Sole Survivors 13 Platoon
1286 T. Tomlinson
1310 Frank Wilson
1236 J.H. Preston
1166 C.C. Devlin
1418 A. Hollings
1397 A.E. Dowell
Pte J.R. Clarke
We landed at the Dardanelles 10 days ago and now have only 82 men
left out of 270 D Coy.

We went into action almost as soon as we arrived and our battalion
was practically wiped clean out officers and all. Major McPherson
was one of the first to get killed. Poor old Noble is among the
missing. I was the last to see him. I think he was wounded. I
don't think he got off the field. Our dead are still out there
unburied, but we will be able to get at them soon. George Stewart
got off lucky with a wound in the arm, Dempsey also. The Major
fell on - Titchen and put his leg out. Sgt. Short got away with a
wound in the shoulder. Charlie Hayden and McGeachie both killed.
Our officer Robinson was out of his mind and has been sent away.
No wonder men go mad. 

1/ 
Firing Line
Dardanelles
Thursday 2^nd Sept.

Dear Mother
Just a line to let you know
that we are having an awful time here.
This last fortnight has been a perfect
hell on earth. I suppose by this time
you have heard all about the 18^th's
terrible ordeal. Just picture it.
We can only muster 280 out of
1300 men. In my platoon (13)
there are only 3 left out of 50. We
only have 5 officers left in
the battalion. God only knows
how we escaped death. It
would be impossible for me to
describe the scene of Sunday 22-8-15,
when we lost 600 men in a few
hours. All my mates went down to
it that day. I thought at first 

2/
that Sgt. Short got away with a 
wound in the shoulder, but found
his body yesterday. I made a 
nice cross for his grave, with a 
suitable inscription on it. I also
made one for our Major Lane,
who was in New Guinea with us.
He did some grand work here &
he was at great loss to us. They are
lucky who get buried now as our 
dead are lying in hundreds and
it means more loss of life to
try & put them under the ground.
Of Course there are plenty of Turks
lying about as well. Sometimes
earth is thrown over the bodies to
keep the flies off. Dead bodies
on top of the trenches weeks old
and flies feed on them & then
come on our food. The  stench
is something awful 

3/
Our Major Macpherson was one of
the first to get killed. George
Stewart saw Westcatt killed.
The Ghurkas buried him. I think
I was the last to see Noble.
He was badly wounded then
& was trying to get away
when he was killed. Charlie
Hayden was killed outright. Titchen
had his leg broken when Major
Mac fell on him. The Turks take
no notice of our red cross.
They do not appear to bother about
their own wounded. Very often
we attend to their wounded.
I have been detailed as
a regimental stretcher bearer
since our last charge and I
see some frightful things.

4/
Stewart, Creichton and Dempsey
were lucky to get away from
here with slight wounds. Frank
McMahon was more seriously
wounded, and I don't think he
will come back again. They
are lucky who get away from
here wounded. Was in the trenches
yesterday when a man named
Buckley was killed & four
others wounded by a shell.
I thought at first it was
Alec Buckley but it was
S. Buckley of Sydney. Two
of our officers went dotty on
our fatal Sunday & small
wonder too. It is quite
common for men to go mad
here. The strain on their
nerves is so severe 

5/
A lot of the chaps have gone
away broken down mentally
and physically. I have stood
the strain so far but I
think a spell would do me
no harm. The remains of the
18^th may be sent away to
a quieter spot for a spell
as it is impossible to get a
sleep here with shot & shell
going all the time. This is
the hottest corner where
we are operating at present &
we will not be sorry to leave
it. I hope this letter reaches
you safely & finds you all well
I remain
Your loving son
Errol

Somewhere  in France
3^rd May 1916
Dear Dada,
Just a line to let
you know I am still quite
well & hope you are all
the same. I have recieved
several letters from you
lately dated 27-2-16 & 8^th
& 11^th March, also one from
Arlene dated 11^th March.
The parcel of sweets which
you sent in March has not
yet arrived, although I
should get it any day now.
I recieved the parcel of
socks from "Ganmain"
quite safely, with boomerang
mascot in note-book.
The mascot has already
brought me luck. It was
bad luck losing my mate
George Stewart, who was
wounded on the 13^th & died
on 17^th April. He was a
great favorite, & we all
miss him very much. I had
special leave to visit
his grave at Balleul &
we are putting up a
nice headstone. 

2/
The old hands who stuck
to the battalion right
through, are now getting
a weeks leave for England.
There are not many of us
in the 18^th & my turn
comes very soon. We are
only 12 hours from London.
I hope you recieved the
autographed photo of
the "Escania" which I sent
from Marseilles, also a
Souvenir silk p/card
We are having a better
time here that we had
on Gallipoli. We are
living in houses a good
deal of the time, & there
is always plenty to eat.
We can always buy coffee,
bread & butter, eggs,
beer, champagne & wine.
The best champagne at 5/-
per bottle. Has Douglass
been to see you yet
Noble is A.I. & we now
have Harry Titchen who
came back last week
after an absence of
8 months. He looks
very well. 

3/
I sent you a cable
yesterday to let you
know I was quite
well. This is the
second one since leaving
home. We get a hot
bath & a change of 
clothes over here every
week, & we do enjoy
it. The country
looks lovely over here
now, with all the
flowers in bloom. Of
course all the ruins
do not make it look
any better. I am
enclosing some
flowers which I
collected on a 
battlefield near Ypres.
We have no end of
excitement over here
every day, & we see
some great sights.
We have had a real
good look at France.
We are now all
homesick & long to 
be home again.
Hope to be home
for Xmas.

4/
There are plenty of 
hares over here & there
is some sport. Buckley &
Riddington both well.
Creichton & Breedon are with
me. I sent you home, piece
of lace in cardboard box
which was worn by
Turkish female sniper. Glad
to hear you recieved cushion
covers safely. Glad to hear
Mother & Arlene were
having a well-earned rest
up at Fairfield. Am glad
that Lance is getting the
chance to see something.
Can quite understand how
disappointed he was at
not getting through. If
he only knew what we
go through, perhaps he would
not be so anxious. Must
now close this letter as we
are about to go to the
trenches. Hoping you are
all O.K. With love to all
I remain
your affect. son
Errol