Letters from Geoffrey Gordon McCrae to his family, July - September 1915 - Part 3

a very charming wife who at once makdes you
feel quite at home. The Vaughans from Cairo
where staying at one of the camps, and through
him and an American named Connor, I was
able to get some tennis; otherwise, I would have
had a fairly miserable time, as the rest of the
community surrounded themselves with a wall
of icy exclusiveness through which one Australian
I know, tried to penetrate, with the result of
a severe frost-bite (or snubbed by snobs.) It was
a most peculiar position up there: we were made
honorary members of their Clubs and when we
visited the place we were absolutely ignored
and treated as if we did not exist, I am
sure if they had been Australians they
would have received us with hospitality.
I like this old ship The Chief Engineer comes
from Melbourne and is very friendly in
consequence. all the other officers are equally
friendly and give me a very bonny time.
Yesterday, five of us took a boat ashore
and spent the whole morning swimming;
and diving off Karavostasi Pier, and got
a whole pillowslip full of lovely big figs
for a "bob". To-morrow will be the anniversary
of the commencement of our training at 

Broadmeadows. _Thus, I will have given
a year of my life to my country and
I trust not in vain. I do hope that
we will finish this "show" before the
winter. I am longing to get home
and get to my own work again. I am
getting horribly old to be an articlled
pupil. Thank heaven, I will now be in
a position to pay off my own premium.
I am afraid Maude's patience will be
exhausted ere I shall be in a position to
ask her to be my partner in this game of
life. This is my cherished ambition, and
I pray God that I may be spared to
realize the happiness that this union
would bring to me. Unless something unforeseen
is to happen I am afraid the question of
finance will be the stumbling block of my
happiness if I come out of this business
with a whole skin. I hope everyone is
well at home. Give my love to them all
Farewell
Much love
from
Geoff

16.8.15

cpd 
1 DRL 427
4/13

[*Cpd. [?]*]
CABLE & TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS
"UNION ALEXANDRIA"
TELEPHONE No 1221.
18th August. 15
UNION CLUB,
ALEXANDRIA,
EGYPT.
Dearest Mother Father & Helen
I have returned here
from Cyprus and am waiting
for a boat for Gallipoli.
I am getting the Kodak to
send you some films I took
in the island : there is one
of me with my Yankee pal, and
another of me sitting on the
cairn on the summit of Mount
Olympus. Mr Vaughan is sending
one he took of me also. Please
have prints taken off for Maude
and charge it up to me.
I am glad you have asked
Mrs McKenna to see you;
her husband was my
dearest friend; poor man, he

man had his leg blown
off and bled to death before
anything could be done for
him. Maude wanted a
negative of one of the photos
he took of me at Sunrise in
the desert she wants to have
it enlarged so you might
ask Mrs McKenna to lend
it her. I am sure we all
are heartily grateful for all
that you splendid women
are doing on our behalf it
makes the burden much
lighter when you know
everyone who can is helping
to bring this g^hastly "show" to
a swift and righteous
termination. I am glad you
liked the photos taken on
Gallipoli I am sorry there
weren't more but I lacked

films. I feel very "bucked up"
that my promotion has
brought such lustre to the
annals of the family. I
am doing my best to be
worthy of the honor despite
the fact that crusty old
imperial Colonels and majors
look askance at the crowns
on my ^youthful shoulder straps -
I am glad Maude & Gwen
are being prepared for
confirmation by Charles -
Dorothy tells me Maude
is quite one of the family
down at Anchorfield and
this will yet be one more
tie. The old saw "Absence
maketh the heart grow
fonder" is all too true
and this tedious exile is
becoming hateful.  "Gott
Strafe Deutschland" I was

stopped in the Rue de Ramleh
yesterday by one McDonald
a journalist friend of
Hugh's, for whom he tenderly
enquired he told me he
had had a letter from his
wife in New York saying
Hugh had paid her a
hurried farewell visit
Well I must [?held] me
to the dining room and
appease my hunger
much love
from
Geoff

1DRL 427

4/13

THE TRENCHES

ANZAC   28/8/15
Dearest Mother Father & Helen
I have arrived back having had a lovely
trip in a beautiful prize ship there were nine
nurses on board so we had a jolly time after
all these months of turmoil.  I just got back
in time to take command of the Battalion
the Colonel has been ill for some time
but would not go away until one of the
senior officers returned. Thus have I had
great responsibility thrust upon my
shoulder but with God's help I hope I
may quit myself creditably. I am
very glad you contradicted Mr Bigss
flattering note on my promotion. By gum
your killing the fatted calf for the
recruits I never received Maudes cable
never reached me. We are at present
occupying a position recently captured
from the Turks it is an absolute masterpiece 

of trench digging it is rather
a warm corner, we get rather heavily
shelled by the Turks 75m gun which
is uncomfortably accurate and does
much damage to our parapets it however
causes but few casualties. We get in
 

good number of bombs which are rather
horrible things, fortunately Abdul is not
a very good thrower. The trenches are
rather well stocked with animals so sleep
is not very easy unless you are dead
tired. I find the less personal property
one has the better as we have no where
to keep things and no means of carrying
much stuff consequently all & now
possess in a change of underclothes
a blanket & waterproof all my other
gear is heaven only knows where
food is very good & plentiful and we
can now obtain extras such as pickles
fruit chocolate etc which enables us to
vary the monotony of our diet. The nights
are becoming very cold and the trenches
are very drafty when there is a
breeze. the day light is fast failing
and as we are not allowed lights
up here I must conclude
Wishing you all good things
Believe me
Your Loving Son
Geoff
 

ON ACTIVE SERVICE

28.8.15

Mrs GG McRae

'Anchorfield'

Calvin Street

Hawthorn

Melbourne

AUSTRALIA

28.8.15  Anzac

Took own command of the

Battn. Col being ill.