Correspondence relating to Leslie Cecil Maygar, 1915-1918 - Part 3

San Stefano, June 15th 17.
Dear Clolonel/
My most sincere and hearty congratulations 
on your new honour, I was delighted to hear
it and I know thw whole of your Regiment will be
delighted - I hope to be back with you again
before very long, went in for my first swim this
morning. Best of luck.
Yours sincerely.
[*?*]
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Palestine
29/8/17
My dear Edmund
Received your letter of 4^th July
by last mail also two others by former mail
I am glad to know that all is well at Strathearn
I wrote to Nellie some time ago - The glass was from
the ruins of an old Roman Church of the 5^th centuary
this church was excravated by Napoleon, of course
he removed everything of value. We had a months
spell on the Beach near at Marakal near Khanisunus, 
we all enjoyed the sea bathing, at present
we are in support of the front line, in about a
fortnight we will relieve the front line troops for a
month or so. I think it will be some-time before the
big move takes place Gen-Allenby is now in Command
of this front, the right man for the job. Yes I will
write Geo Voye a few lines - I hope your trout come
along alright they ought to do well in Stony Creek.
Geo. Fay is back with us fit & well again he
has his Captaincy now 2^nd in Command of A Sq^dn
I trust Ernest & family are all well & prosperous
send my love & greetings to them please. I am as
usual fit & well- Good bye for the present - With love
to all & best of luck- Yours always the
Same  Les

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Palestine 21/11/17
Dear Mr Maygar
Allow me on behalf of the Officers, 
the Regiment & myself to extend to you and the rest of
your family our deepest sympathy in the very great
loss you have sustained by the loss of your brother
Lieut Col Maygar who died at KAREA ELIMARA Hospital ^ on 1^st inst as the
result of the wounds inflicted by an aeroplane bomb near
Beersheba on 31^st ult;, by his death ^he is not only a very
great loss to the Regiment but also to the Brigade and
the whole of the forces here as he was one of the 
bravest and most capable Officers we had and
whilst he had temporary charge of the Brigade, during 
the absence of General Royston, he was complimented
by the higher commands on the way he handled it,
personally I feel his loss very much as he was my
greatest friend and we have been associated in military
matters for over 17 years. I will now give you a few 
particulars as to how your brother met his death, on 31^st ult
we were in the firing line all day and were relieved 
by the 11^th Regt about 4 oclock in the afternoon, we then
retired to near Desert Corps H'd qrs where we arrived
just about dusk, your brother went to Hdqrs to report &
I took the Regt on some little distance to await him, 
we had dismounted and he had just joined us & was
talking to some of the men in the rear of the Regt when
an enemy aeroplane came up and bombed some
transport in our rear. The Colonel was hit & his horse
 

bolted with him, that was the last I saw of him altho I
sent men out to look for him, a man brought his horse
back and said he was severely wounded & had been taken
to a field ambulance, the Regt. had immediate orders 
to go out to a certain position & I was unable to see
him, we were then attached to another Brigade & were
fighting for two days and a night and when we got back
I inquired at the Beersheba Hospital and was told he
was sent back to Karm, we went back there a couple of 
days later and on arrival there was told he had died.
I was told his arm had been amputated & that 
he was getting on well, in fact a little before his death he
was laughing & joking with the men in the Hospital
when a sudden haemorrhage set in and he died shortly
afterwards, he was buried near the Hospital at Karm
but I regret I was unable to get a photograph of his grave
or do anything to it as we were there only a very short 
time. this is the first opportunity I have had of writing you
as we have been marching & fighting almost constantly since.
I have arranged to have all his personal effects forwarded
onto Cairo to be sent back to Australia, including his
saddle & bridle. I have a purse containing a ring & some
coins, these I will send you registered post at first
opportunity, one of the Y.M.C.A. Officers also has some articles
which he had on his person, these I will get & forward on later, 
I enclose a letter I received from Major General Hodgson G.O.C.
Australian Mounted Division, this will show you in what high
esteem he was held, again extending to your our deepest sympathy
If there are any other particulars
you require please let me know &
I will forward them if possible.
Yours Sincerely
A McG McLaurin, Mjr
1DRL'491
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Palestine
25/5/18
Dear Mr Maygar
I have been trying for some time

to get a photo of your late brothers grave at IMARA.
Palestine and at last I have succeeded and
enclose it herewith and trust it will reach you
safely, there has recently been a good deal of
fighting in there, parts in which this Regt did
well as usual, but at present everything is very
quiet but I cant say for how long, at present we
are camped on the Jordan near Jericho in a very
dusty camp, we are about 1200 feet below sea
level & the weather is very hot but it will be much 
hotter later on as this part is said to be one of the 
hottest places on earth, the Jordan is rather a pretty
river just here, it is very fast flowing & has trees &
undergrowth along the bank, with kind regards
Yours Sincerely
A McG McLaurin. Lt Col.
 

Mar 5
Dear Mrs. Maygar.
Whilst I was in Gippsland last month
Mrs Tuthill and I called on a Mrs Harbeck. who has four
Sons fighting. one killed, & she asked us if we would be able to
hear her Tous letter written during the night of the evacuation of
Anzac. his was the last company to leave as they held
the wireless up to ½ past 2. he says. what do you think
of my Colonel, he is A.1. Colonel, 3 times during this
night he brought me hot coffee which he warmed up
& raisins apples & biscuits. he knows how to look after
his men & they would do anything for him.
His is the last lot to leave the trenches & I am 
actually holding the wireless & cannot leave to get
 

my food. his name is Lieut Colonel
Maygar V.C. Mrs. Tuthill
and I were to remind to
think he belonged to our
district & I told Mrs Harbeck
that his name was on our
church role of honour to her
knew him well, I hope you hear
good news of him. I that he has
had a rest. Believe me
Sincerely Yours
Annie Crowley
Mrs Maygar
Strathearn
Longwood
[*1 DRL*]