Letters from James Joseph Augustus Sweeney, 1918-1919 - Part 3

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if seems pretty bad.

Bess wanted to know

if I got any letters from Kogarah

other than from home, tell her that

the Girls and Des Mullarky write

every mail, of course they are

the only people I write too in

Kogarah.

My Colors now are

Pale Blue over white, see Obelisk

below, tell Mum I am glad she

is sending that parcel I have

been on the look out for one,

there is nothing particular I

want you to send except

3 or four tins of Dark Kiwi Boot

Polish it is 2/6 a tin over here

a bit rich on 2/- a day

of course it will be

handy when I am

Hand drawn diagram - see original document

6

going home, to try and

put a bit of color in my

Boots and Leggings which

are now nearly white, so

send it as soon as you get

this letter or xxx it might be

too late, but mind it is Dark Kiwi

You mentioned about Jack

showing will at his trade and I

must compliment him, tell him

I went through a bit of a course

on a few of the diseases of horses

whilst in the Riding School, and it

was very interesting, of course

our Instructor was a bit of

a horse crank, and he spoke like

Dave Keep does in wards which

take about 30 Sec to pronounce, so

we learnt very little when it was

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all over.  You said also that

Gran and Aunt Mary were at

Springwood, xxx I hope they had

a good time.

Well Dad I think I will have

to go to Bed, as it is now about

11 oclock.

Remember me to Gran, Mum Bess

and the rest of the family, and

I hope that this letter will

find you all in good health again

from Your Loving Son

Jim.

17th Nov

14^th. January 1919.

Dear Bess

I received your letter yesterday, dated

17^th November and was pleased to hear all were

well at home.

Well Bess since last I wrote

home, we have been on a long march

from Ricohon to Rafa which is situated

right on the boarders of Egypt and

Palestine and on the Mediterranean Coast.

We have a fine view from here, every

day we see British Mine Sweepers, and

destroyers hard at work, trying to fish out

floating mines. (some job eh.) We have been

told that this is our de-mobilisation

camp, but so far we have not handed

over our horses, which, I understand

are to be given over to the Indians

to be taken to India for Military 

purposes and until this take place

(which should be any moment now) nothing

will be given out as to when we

will be leaving for Australia.

You mentioned in your

letter that there was great

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celebrations over the Signing of Peace,

well all we saw here was a few

xx Star Shells and fellows going mad

generally, but however when the bulk

of the troops reach Sydney, I think

there will be plenty of life for a while

anyhow.

You asked me to collect some

curio's Well Bess I have a few things -

A Turkish Buckle, The turkish Star, (which

is a decoration) and a few other little

things all of which I will bring home

with me.

Well Bess News is scarce

and as I have about 30 letters to write

I think I will draw to an end.

hoping Gran, Mum, Dad, Yourself, and

the rest of the family are well.

Love from 

Jim

My address is

57353 Tpr. J Sweeney

C. Troop,

B. Squadron

1^st A.L.H.

Egypt