Lettercards from John Simpson Kirkpatrick to his Family, 1912-1915 - 2 of 2

MELBOURNE Y.M.C.A 
--------ON---------- 
A C T I V E S E R V I C E 
--------WITH THE------- 
AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE 

30.1.15 
Mena Camp 
Cairo 

Dear Mother Just a line 
to let you know that I am 
still alive and kicking 
also still in Camp at 
Mena I got two letters 
from you on Friday I am 
glad to hear that you and 
Annie are keeping well 
and that Annie has 
got such a fine job 
I suppose that there will 
be no flies on her now 
seeing that she is a 
lady clerk I hope that 
she likes her job for 
it is a nice easy one 
at any rate there is 
no hard work attached 
to it I am sorry to 
hear that the Germans 
have got the People so 
so scared at home 
but I suppose that 
the last sea fight 
will put a bit more 
confidence in them 
for I dont suppose 
that the Germans 
will chance any 
more sea raids after 
getting one of there 
ships sunk at least 
I hope so for the sake 
of the womenfolk and kids at home It would not be so bad if 
they dropped a bomb or two on some 
of those chaps at home that wont volunteer instead of killing a lot of 
helpless women and children but I suppose that the English 
will have there turn soon for they will be sending about a 
million fresh men to the front this year and then the war 
will start in earnest I wish that they would send this contingent 
to France but I suppose that we will have to stop here and fight 
the Turks for they are gradually getting nearer the Egyptian 
border but they will no more be able to reach the canal than 
fly in the air there is nearly two hundred thousand 
troops in Egypt altogether and all of them looking most 
heartly forward for the coming fray and hoping that the 
Turks will hurry up across the desert and show them 
selves for everybody is most heartly sick of camp 
life in the place and I think that everybody would welcome 
the chance of active service for we are getting properly 
fed up with the drill and rout marches for it is the sameness 
of it that sickens the men it is the same day in and day 
out but Now Mother I received you hamper the other day and we had 
the Loaves for tea at our mess table the boys were full of 
praise for your loaves for I told them that you baked 
them yourself and I am sure that they did you credit for 
they were splendid it was only a taste for each man but 
they all enjoyed it Now Mother I made out a form this week 
to Sir George Reid about that two shillings so that he 
will hurry the commonwealth Bank up and then he 
will see that you draw your money every week regular 
Now Mother I will now draw to a close hoping that 
this few lines will find you and Annie well and with love to you and Annie 
I remain 
Your Loving Son 
Jack

MELBOURNE Y.M.C.A. 
-----------ON------------- 
A C T I V E S E R V I C E 
---------WITH THE--------- 
AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE

14.2.16 
Mena Camp 
Cairo 

Dear Mother 
Just a line to let you know that 
I received your letters and papers yesterday 
and one from Annie I am glad to hear that 
you are both keeping well for I am still 
keeping in the best of health I see by the 
papers that you sent me that the Germans 
were making for the Tyne when they got 
caught by our ships they got more than they bargained for I dont think that they will chance 
any more raids on the English coast for if they are going to lose ships like the Bleucher every 
time they make a raid they will soon find out that the game is nor worth the candle There 
was a bit of fighting down the canal last week They let the Turks come right-up to the canal and 
start building a bridge across when the artillary opened fire on them and blew the Turks and 
the bridge to peices and took a lot prisoners there are about 500 Turkish prisoners in Cairo 
It was our Indian troops that were stationed at the place where the Turks tried to cross and 
you can guess that they gave the Turks more than they could do with Now Mother I dont know 
when we will be making a move from here But the second contingent has arrived in Egypt there is 
17 thousand in the second contingent that makes 37 thousand Australian troops in Egypt 
I heard that the first contingent is likely to go to Marselles about the Back end of March But 
you cant believe anything that you hear in this place for you hear such a terrible lot of rumors 
But the sooner they make a move the better we will all like it for this is a dull place and if we went to France we might get a chance to get a run over to England when it 
come our turn for furlough Now Mother I see by you letter yesterday that you had not drawn any money yet but as soon as Sir John M Sir George Reid gets that 
letter which my officer sent him you will be able to get the money through him 
and you will be able to get all that is due to you in a lump sum Now Mother I 
think that I have given you all the news for there is not much to tell you about 
this place so that I will now draw to a close hoping that this will find you and Annie in the best of health as it leaves and with love to you both 
I remain 
Your Loving Son 
Jack

FLINDERS ST, RAILWAY STATION, 
MELBOURNE. 

COLLINS ST, MELBOURNE 
LOOKING EAST 

AUSTRALIAN 
PICTORIAL LETTERETTE 

Miss A Kirkpatrick 
14 Bertram St 
So Shields 
Durham 
England 

ST PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL 
MELBOURNE. 

A RIVER YARRA, MELBOURNE. 

Souvenir of Melbourne

BOTANIC GARDENS & GOVERNMENT HOUSE 
MELBOURNE. 

PRINCES' BRIDGE 
MELBOURNE 

For Correspondence 
Dear Annie 
Just a line to let you 
know that I am still alive and kicking i 
got to Pl from you 
this morning they 
were pretty I saw one one slinging off at the 
insurance bill and it has a good right for what tax has been taken 
off the people so as to give 
them a chance to meet the insurance Bill I expect 
it will be some of the ten thousand a year men 
that will get the benefit 
of that in the long run one 
thing that is sure it 
will not be the working 
people Now Annie I hope 
that you and Mother are keeping well and that 
you are still liking 
your job I hope you 
like this card With 
love to you and Mother 
I remain your loving Brother 
Jack

PARLIAMENT HOUSE, MELBOURNE. 
SWANSTON ST & TOWN HALL, MELBOURNE. 

AUSTRALIAN 
PICTORIAL LETTERETTE 

Miss A Kirkpatrick 
14 Bertram St 
So Shields 
Durham 
England 

FLINDERS ST, MELBOURNE. 
SWANSTON ST, MELBOURNE.  

BOURKE ST & G.P.O. MELBOURNE. 
QUEEN'S MEMORIAL GARDENS, 
MELBOURNE. 

For Correspondence 

BOURKE ST, MELBOURNE. 
LOOKING WEST. 
COLLINS ST, "THE BLOCK", MELBOURNE.