Letters from George Alexander Hugh Murray to his family, 1915 - Part 1

The Cairo Young Men's Christian Association
WITH THE
New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Zeitoun Camp, Egypt.
Tuesday 2^nd 1915
All at home
I received your three
letters all at once and was
surprised to hear that you had
not received any from me, as     
I wrote one at every port of
call and four since I landed,
so they must be in Melbourne
awaiting censor. I send a number
of Post Cards & a few other
parcels but I had those registered
so I suppose they have gone
through alt alright.
I have not been
too well of late with pains in
the stomach and was doubled
 

up with it for days but they are
gone at last thank goodness
While out skirmishing & running
down a hill I twisted my left
ankle and have been laid up
with it for a while but can
get about alright again
When I got transferred into
the Battalion I had to take
the rank of Corporal; but it
is better than nothing.
I sup hope
by the time you receive this
letter I will be in another
part of the world
The country
around must be very bad now
by the accounts that have
come to hand. I see Les
 

nearly every week but I suppose
he will not be here long
either as the place is getting
very warm only 110^o in winter
what must it be like in mid
summer but I do not want
to be here to test it.
Do you
receive any of the money
that I allotted you.
It is now
ten weeks since I left
Broadmeadows but it does
not seem near like that
length of time
We are well
looked after as regards food.
It is good & plenty of it
 

I will have now to close as
I suppose that this letter will
have to be censored when it
arrives so I will now close
with love from George wishing
you all a Happy Easter time
George
Address:-
Corp G. Murray
"F" Coy
No 5 Platoon
2^nd Exp Force
A.I.Force
Egypt

The Cairo Young Men's Christian Association
WITH THE
New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Zeitoun Camp, Egypt.
Tuesday 2^nd 1915
Dear Bess
I received your ever welcome
letter with those from home &
see by it that you have returned
to the old game. You
will be settled down to it
again by the time you receive
this letter I wish to be in
a different part of the world
I saw Les today. He does
not know when or where
he is going to
Egypt is not
a place to complain about, I have
found it a very interesting
place for you are never done
 

seeing fresh sights & places
We have
plenty of work to do but we have
plenty of leave as well
I wrenched
my ankle by but it is alright
again
I cannot say much as
this letter has to go through
the censorship
So I will now
close wishing you Happy Eastertime
& good health as I am in
at present
from your loving brother
George
 

Address:-
Cop Corp G. Murray
F Coy
2^nd Exp Force
14^th Bat
Egypt
 

The Cairo Young Men's Christian Association
WITH THE
New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Zeitoun Camp, Egypt.
Tuesday 2^nd 1914
Dear Jim
I received your ever welcome
letter the other day & will answer
so It will catch the mail back
I got one from Bess Lena
& Hetta. They all said that
the Mallee is in a dreadful
state owing to the dry weather
but it cannot be any drier than
old Egypt for there has been
no rain for months past.
There are lovely buildings
around the camp & you
wonder at the structure of
some of them. The streets are
not much & in the native
quarters it is simply filthy
 

I hope by the time you receive
this letter that I will be
in another part of the world
doing duty with my ^.303.
I see
Les nearly every week. He does
not know when or where is
he is going but he says it will
not be long
When I was transferred
into the Battalion, I
had to take the rank of Corp.
It was better than nothing
I cannot say much as this
note has to be censored so
I will close wishing you a
Happy Easter Tide
with love
from George
 

Address:-
Corp G.AH Murray
F Coy
No 5 Platoon
14^th Battalion
2^nd Exp. A.I.F.
Egypt