Typed copy of letters from Frederick William Rowe to his family, 1914-1915 - Part 3

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But everyone is satisfied here and you hear very few grumble. The
boys all seem to be contented but are very anxious to see the
Fighting. I know myself it is not half bad. The Officers are very
decent and make things as easy as they can for us. I never thought
we would get such good food here as we are getting, if anything it
is better than Broadmeadows and The Australians allow us 6d. per
man per day field allowance. There are 32 on our Sub which means
16/- per day to buy extras so you see we live all right. Of course
this will not be kept on when we get in the Fighting line. So you
see we have nothing to complain against re food.
Last Sunday I went across to see Len Aspinall but he was still
on the Kyarra. But I think he is in the Camp now so I am going
across to see him tomorrow. Stan Lister vas in the Isolation
Hospital for a week with Measles but he is out again he could not
have been too bad as he put on about ½ stone in weight and looks
as fit as a fiddle. All he did there was play football and he
says it was a good holiday.
Mell Mum this is all the News for Present so will close with
Best Love to yourself and Dad and remember me to all the others and
tell Jean that I received her first Post Card yesterday.
Your loving son
Fred
PS Enclosed find few photos which may interest you.
Fred
I cannot say too much as all letters are being censored.
 

Mena
6th Feb 1915
Dear Mother,
Just the usual weekly to let you know how things are going
and a little news if possible. We have had the usual manouvres
each day and go out to the same place every time which is about
three miles south of the Pyramid. We do not mind the drill so
much but when you have to walk along side the guns all the way
out and back again to save the horses as much as possible and
through sand which is above the top of your boots all the time
I can tell you it gets a bit monotonous and makes you pretty tired.
They are going to alter things a little next week and give the
drivers a little walking exercise and mount the gunners in their
places which is a very good idea from the gunners point of view.
We had a bit of a spell on Wednesday last but made up for it at
night leaving camp about 7.30 pm we marched out into the Desert
about five miles arriving at our destination about 9.30. We had
a cup of tea and a short spell then were told off into two reliefs
to dig gun pits the first relief going on about 10.00 and finishing
about 11.45. The second relief of which I was one then went on
and finished the pits and we finished up about 2.00 am. One of the
wagons earlier in the evening had taken out a waterproof sheet and
one blanket for each man and we also had our overcoats so we turned
in after we had finished our shift, there were very few who had any
sleep on account of the cold. I think it was the coldest night I
have ever experienced. I laid in the blanket for about one hour and
then got up and walked about for the rest of the night. There is
one peculiar feature with the climate here which is the days are
lovely and warm but at night it is bitter cold. We do not notice
it so much when we sleep in the tents because there is such a 1ot
in each tent which keeps it very warm but you notice it when you
go out for a Bivouac and there is also a very heavy dew which does
not improve things. The sleeping out does not do any harm and I
know myself I am a lot hardier in health since I left Melbourne and
joined this force which is saying a lot. We are still at Mena as
you can see by this letter it being nine weeks today since we arrived
here and I think we will be here for some time yet. I do not think
there is anyone in the camp who would not enjoy a move to some other
place.
There was a curious sight here last Wednesday in the form of a mass
of large grass hoppers about the size of your middle finger and if
anything a bit longer. They settled on the camp in thousands and
remained there for about two hours then departed as quickly as they

came.
I have been looking all over the camp for Len Aspinall but have not
 

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been able to locate him yet. I have been told that the Tasmanian
A.M.C. which came on the Kyarra are at a place called Meadi which
is about five miles out of Cairo the opposite direction to us. I
will probably go out that way next Sunday and see if I can strike
him, that is if I can get off for the day. Some of the Australian
Artillery had a group photo taken yesterday, it was a great sight to
see them all lined up in their different batteries and ought to be a
splendid photo. I will send you home one if they are obtainable.
Stan Lister and myself wanted some money from Melbourne. He did not
want much neither did I so we thought of a plan to save money. We
both clubbed together and he has sent a telegram home for ten pounds
five of which is for me and I want you to give Mrs. Lister the five
pounds as soon as you can and square the deal.
I am wanting the money to buy a camera, films etc. not being able to
save enough out of my screw and I think a camera is a good investment
in a place like this. Quite a number of the chaps have got them here
and they have some beautiful snaps some of which I have sent home to
you and I will be able to explain Egypt to you better with a few views.
Quite a number of leay visitors visit the camp here and some of them
are very choice, (French of course) and we are always there to show
them round a little and make their visit enjoyable. I think before
we leave Egypt some of us will be licenced guides. We are expecting
some lady friends today they are very Chic and we cause a little
stir sometimes when we show some of these Tabs around the camp some
of the chaps get quite jealous. Well mother I have told you everything
I can for the present so will close trusting you are quite well again
and are quite recovered from your illness. Remember me to Dad, Jean
and the Bovs also Ethel and Fred and tell them I will miss them with
a letter this week and will make up for it next time.
Your loving son
Fred
PS. Tell Florry that I do not understand shorthand.
I have got Cockys Crest in my hat
Fred
Tell Jack I will send him some Cigarette Cards next week.
 

Mena
Feb 13th 1915
Dear Mother
Your welcome letter dated Jan 12 received and I am glad to
hear that you are improving. I suppose by this you are able to
walk about again. Now that you are getting well see that you do not
get a relapse. You tell me to look after myself. I think it is you
that wants to do that. I have just finished a letter to Ethel and
Fred and as there is very little news, I find it hard to scrape up
anything worth writing about. I received a letter from Roy in the
same mail as yours came in, he seemed to have had a good time up
Healesville. I think he deserved a good holiday. They look very
much like my white pants he is wearing. Tell him I will sell them
to him for 10 piastres. It is a very good photo of Roy and I cannot
see his feet but I suppose they are as big as ever.
There are several Malvern Boys with us and they know some of the
chaps in the photo very well. It was a bitter cold night here last
night you could not get to sleep on account of it, but today has
made up for it being what you would call a perfect day. To see the
Pyramids about 8.30 with the sun shining on them and the mist just
lifting over them I tell you it takes a bit of beating.
Today is Saturday there is an inspection this morning and a half
holiday this afternoon to those not on duty. I am one of the unlucky
ones but the job I have got is not too bad so I do not mind. I am
thinking of making a trip to see Heliopolis tomorrow with Stan Lister.
I believe it is a beautiful place and will be able to tell you about
it later. A number of the chaps here have bought helmets they cost
about 5/6 each. I am not going to buy one. If they want us to
wear them which they will do they can supply them themselves. I
haven't money to burn.
The horses that died on the ship on our way here were replaced this
morning. Lummy is going around to see if there are any rough ones
to ride. He has net been able to get a rough ride ever since we
left Broadmeadows and our own horses are so tame that you can do
anything with them.
Sandy McDougall is laid up today with a touch of Influenza. I do
not think he is so bad because whenever you go into the tent he has
always got a smile on his dial.
I went into Cairo the other day and visited the Egyptian Bazaar. It
is a sight worth seeing the street it is in is called the Mousky and
the Bazaar itself is about 2 miles long. The natives sell everything
there that is possible to get. There are some shops there where
they sell the Pure Oriental Perfumes. You can buy the pure essential
oils there and you can whiff these places when you are about a mile
 

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away. In other parts you can see the native women making lace
by hand and beautiful lace it is some of it being very pricey.
In these quarters you see every nationality of people that are in the
worid from the Indian to the Spaniard. I do not think the natives
have lived so well in all their lives as they are now the prices
they ask us for their wares are about 200% above the ordinary
price and of course we are fools to pay them the price they ask.
We had done one good thing here for an Australian Product that
we have opened a market here for Kiwi Boot Polish. One enterprising
firm got some about 4 weeks ago. He sold out in about two days
and since then he has placed a contract with the Kiwi firm. There
is no polish here to touch it.
I have told you all there is at present so will close wishing
yourself and Dad the best of health and best love from
Your loving son
Fred
Remember me to Jean and the Boys and tell Roy I will write to him
next week.

PS

Give my love to Aunt Pop and tell her that she will have to
excuse me not writing to her as all the news is in your letter
which I expect you to tell her.
Fred
 

Mena
Feb 19th
Dear Mother
Another attempt to try and let you know a little news but
I do not think there will be much to interest you as things are
just the same.
Last Sunday all the N.C.O. of the Battery went for a trip to
Sakarra an ancient village about 10 miles from our camp (south
west). It was the best trip I have had since I have been here.
We left camp about 9.30 in the morning and our route was along
the Cairo road for about two miles and then along a large irrigation

canal.
The ride vas very interesting especially when we branched off along
the canal. At present most of the land along these canals are
under cultivation they grow a clover here much like Lucerne and
you see this green stuff on every side. There are several villages
along the route and it is a sight you cannot describe. Their way
of building their homes are very primative. They make the bricks
to build these houses (if you can call them such) out of Mud and
dry them in the Sun. The rooms in the huts are only about 6 feet
high and about 5 feet square they are very shy about letting any one
in their villages and they come around in thousands as soon as you
get anywhere near and as you are likely to get knifed if you are
not too careful we do not make ourselves too familiar.
There are others of the Arabs mostly the Bedouins who live in a
kind of tent. These tents are about 12 feet long and 6 feet wide
and not more than 3 feet high and one side is always open. There
are usually two or three families living in each tent. I have seen
as many as fifteen in each and when they go to sleep they just sit
down on their haunches with their legs crossed underneath them and
cover their heads up with their long robes which they wear. I
cannot describe them to you properly but will tell you all about
them when I return.
Well to go on with the story we also passed several groves of
date palms they looked very well with the sun shining on them.
Some of these groves are very ancient and are up to 80 feet high.
These palms are bare till about three feet from the top and then
there is a clump of vegetation. These palms are not bearing at
present. I do not think it took us as long to reach Sakarra as
it has taken me to write this bit so I will tell you a little
about Sakarra. There are three or four Pyramids here and one of
them (I forget the name) is supposed to be the oldest Pyramid in
Egypt. These Pyramids are nothing to look at after you have seen
the Mena Pyramids. But there is one great sight there and that is
 

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the underground tombs. They extend in every direction hundreds
of yards underground and the work inside is wonderful. All these
passages are straight and all finish at a dead end and do not
connect with each other.
The tombs branch off these passages and vary in sizes from about
40 feet square to 20 feet square and are all about 25 feet high.
The walls of these tombs are decorated with paintings of the
different animals they used to hold sacred also drawings of every
instrument of labor used in those days with the men working them
and they are painted with every color imaginable. These drawings
are thousands of years old and the colors are still there. Inside
these outer tombs are the tombs in which the Sacred Idols of the
people are buried. These are all made of solid granite and the
largest the tomb of the Bull (which is in Cairo Museum), I forget
his name but its some jaw breaker is about 14 feet x 9 feet x 6 feet
and is a foot thick and has all been hollowed out inside so you can
guess its weight. The other tombs have all got the tombs in them
only smaller.
We have had a fairly easy week here this week having only gone out
with the guns twice it is about time they gave us a bit of a spell.
On Tuesday last we took the horses out to exercise in a direction
we had never been before but all we saw was desert so it did not
interest us much. Well Mother, I do not think there is any more to
tell so far so will close wishing you the best of health with best

love
Your loving son
Fred.
PS Remember me to dad, Jean Roy and Jack also Ethel and Fred and
tell them that this letter is for them also and do not forget to
show it to them.
Fred.
 

Mena
Feb 21
Dear Mother
I sent a cable to you yesterday asking you to forward me ten
pounds. I suppose you think I am playing the game pretty high asking
for this amount, but I am not. The reason I cabled for the money was
because I want to buy a camera and a good stock of films also
several other things and I believe we will be moving soon and not
likely to be paid very often when we got to the front so I do not
want to be broke.
We are getting a day off a week now so I have a good chance to see
some of the outer places but cannot do it on the money I am drawing.
Do not think that I am sending for this money just to spend it
on foolery. Stan Lister has also sent another cable for ten pounds
in fact more than three quarters of chaps in the battery have sent
cables home for money.
I am enclosing to you by this letter a couple of photos taken by
one of the boys. I have got a bit of a Mo on but have taken it off
now. I will be sending you about 1 doz. next week.
I have told you all the news in the letter I wrote yesterday so will
close with best love to self and Dad.
Your loving son
Fred
 

Mena
Feb 28th
Dear Mother,
Your welcome letter dated Jan 25th received. I am glad to
hear that you are about again. I suppose by this you have received
wore views of Egypt. I have sent a good few to you also a lot to
Ethel. When we first came here we used to buy post cards fairly
cheap but now have to pay through the nose for them, there has
been such a demand for them. It is the same with everything. When
we came here we could get oranges for 10 for a piastre but can only
get 4 for 1 piastre now, and everything else has gone up in the same
proportion. The money I cabled for has arrived it did not take
long to get here. I thought it would take a week or more that is
why I put urgent on the cable. I received the money on Wednesday
and then went and bought a camera. I am busy now learning how to
take decent photos. It takes photos 4½" x 2½" which is a very
decent size. I have got some films getting developed now, but
will not get them till Tuesday evening. I have forwarded to Ethel
by this mail a silk shawl for baby. It is not a very good one but
I think Ethel will like it, it is not a bad pattern and looks nice.
You mentioned in your letter about the way the Australian soldiers
behaving themselves in Egypt. Mr. Bean must be a very poor
war correspondent if that is all he can write about.
It is a lot of lies from start to finish and he has got himself in
very hot water.
There has been indignation meetings all over the camp. The meetings
have been packed and not a few officers have been in attendance.
The South African Returned Soldiers in camp here have taken the
matter up and they are holding a mass meeting this afternoon. I
believe Colonel Johnston is presiding. I can honestly tell you that
the boys are behaving very well considering and Cairo has not suffered
their hands at all. In fact no matter where you go in Cairo
you will always see that the Australians get a better welcome than
any other troops. I am not kidding you on this subject as you can
get proof of this in the papers published here. There are plenty
of places in Cairo where we have been told this in front of other
troops as vell.
Of course there are a few bad ones in all the troops but the minority
is with the Australian. There has not been one defaulter in our
Battery through playing up in Cairo. I suppose by the time you get
this letter you will know the truth and then you will be able to
judge yourself. There are a few fellows in the Infantry who caused
a bit of fun. They were late leaving Cairo for camp one night
last week and seeing a motor car outside Shepherds Hotel they all
jumped in and one of them drove the car out to the camp. When
 

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they reached the camp they left the car out on the road undamaged.
The car turned out to belong to General Birdwood who is in command
of all the troops in Egypt. Of course there was a bit of a stir
but they could not find out who it was and it is a thing of the
past now.
Another joke was caused by some chaps in the sixth infantry. Their
Officer Commanding told them on parade that all men who were short
of hats were to get them somewhere, he said it did not matter where
they came from as long as they got them. Next morning his own hat
was missing. He had every hat in the Battalion examined but has not
found his yet. There is one chap in the infantry they cannot tame.
He has been confined to barracks most of the time since we left
Broadmeadows. He was on Guard the other night and when the Guard
Rounds came round they found his rifle leaning up against a telegraph
pole and he was inside the tent smoking a cigarette and talking to
a prisoner. The Major in charge said - It is a bit of a cow this
job of yours, the sentry said it is a bit, The Major said do you
know of any of your officers, the sentry said a bit. The Major said
I am a bit of a Major how about a bit of a salute the sentry said
If wait a bit I'll get my rifle and give you a bit of a present.
He is in the military gaol at Abyssia. On the whole the troops are
very orderly here and they have no cause for complaint.
I am enclosing a few photos by this mail. These were taken by one of
the boys and next week I hope to be sending some photos taken by
myself with the camera I have just bought. They will be the same
size as these.
I am sending by this mail a few post cards to Aunt Emma also one
to Lil Ward. I am enclosing in this letter a piece of poetry which
the trumpeter in the battery has written about Capt. Bean.
Well Mother, I have told all the news for the present so must say
Au-revoir

Your loving son
Fred.
Best love to everyone including Ethel and Fred.