Letters from Geoffrey Gordon McCrae to his family, 1916 - Part 1

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
RCDIG0001269
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

HMT EMPKESS OF BRITAIN. 4.1.1916 Dearest Mother Father & Releu We are on our way back to Cgypt and I amr Thankful to get away from the cold wet and mud of Leinos where we have been since the evacuation of Anzac. Our Battalion had the houor to be one of the last to leave the latter place & ane not permitted to give details of that great operation, which I think has not its parated in history. I have been very unfortunate as regards my personal efects. Onr baxage was sent away from Angac before us and wine was amongst a lot that was looted by the Gueek sailors on the transport who went through our bays took what they wanted and pitched the remainder over board. how in this move from Lemoros I was detailed as Embackation Officee for the Division My suties kept me at the per. all day for two days. The Battalion weret away on the first day so of course my tent was left lonely and unquarded When I went back to it in the evening of the first day I found my blankets and my pack gone In my pack was my deary I have kept
since the begunnin of things, all my letters I was written to you since early in December at which time they stopped our outward mail. also Twenty five of our Battalion Christmas Cards already in addressed envelopes. All my shaving and Forlet gear a change of undurclotting and some curios. I have made every endeavour To Trace the above but have now given up the lst as gone for ever. When I came to this ship I was the last to come on board and noone had thought of getting me a caben I however fell on my feet and got a state room to myself it was reseived for Gent Godley but he went by another boat. I will have to get a completely new outfet when I get to Egyst but alas nothing will replace my deary I haven the heart to commence a new one, I may be able to get some more caids puntell if so I will said them along as soon as possible I do not feel in the mood for much writing So will close with Much love from feof 120
HMT FAYDPESSOF ORITAIN 4.1. 1916 Dearest Helsie I must thank you very much for your many letters from Sidney dey October. You will see by maters latter that the answers to them have met a sad fate. I managed to procure a few of the Buttalion Chustmas cards today and hape they will go throug alright. We had the coloner back with us for a couple of weeks just before leavin Gattipold he however had the misfortune to aprain his ankle the day previous to the evacuation and had to be sent away, I was on Observation work again but this time I had a lovely safe station well behind the firny line but in a very commanding position and over losking the whole of the left of the Tuckest position and the country beyond from Gaba Tepe to Kuthia and Achie Balle across to Khalid Bahr Kanges. The station was a young fortuen, overhead cover steel looktioles and said bap galoce I had two of the finest telescopes so mens actions 3or of
2 miles away were easily discenable, I had six observees under me who worked in shipts, and every man and beasts moement in sight was roted sine, position on nah etc. At night L used to compile a daily report from These notes and make any necessary sketches and send theire on to te One morning early we discoverd an evemy gunfury at a destroyee from a new sition the artillery were notified and in the afternoon there was very little left of the gun or its implacement. The day of evacuation was maiked by a two lonis bombenducnt by a new 14th pa the Tuiles had been sometime getting into position the put in 28 of these high explasine sheels which did little damage beyond making huge craters in the ground 15x8 You could bear there coming some twenty seconds before they but and their if you happened to be looting in the right direction you could actually see the shell and then up would go a solid column of earth which would be droppiy about hundreds of yards away for
1I would tnty seconds. One by yus just canu came now ald bly aids. Do you can guess, te received this luxue for a send of and never got a casualty Of the evacuation I cannot say more. Chusuas and new year passed very quetly there we no inbosale feeds we were living in a very hand to month fashion for we wre expecting to be mcoved each day. Taat a bilty can felled with very excellent tay from Mrs a Cusi and a puddins from some lades on Backees Road I caut mant her again gaver I have fogotten her name Chustias we night was a treal on my neies they all blew off to the Hospital for supper t wai 10 go so I walked accoss with them and came back by myself. prest as I got back to camp the moon broke through the clouds and turned the still waters of the harbour into a sheet of gried silver upon which the hundreds of silent anchried transports looked lot a vast flock of sleeping water foive Over the water came the distant notes of causls being ma by the Tommies and
pr pd Apet i Mr. pd. MO. A 1 0 e g e pel 1el ye. 14t wc 2l 90 p a
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GHEEIPEH DAIACE 14.1. 1916. Dearest Mother father & Relen I received you letter of bt hove for which many thanks 3 GS Wayjon loods of mail arrived as I was leaving for the clearing Hospital I got my bos to get as many letters as he could before the train left for carso I am living in hopes they will since send the rest on. I have been here the 10th with influenza, nothing serious, my temperature is a bit erratic and hans about the hundreds at nights and descends very near the nonnal mark aniny the day I certainly don't feel very ill now but I fet awful before I came in. We arrived from Limnos last Friday and were put in trains at Wex at 10.30 that night and we were travelling until 6 next morning at which time we arrived at Tel el Kebir our new camping ground on the histore batthefuld whose trenches and bleached bones still bear evidence of the fight. Keith & kay's Battery has gone down there. I hear so I will look hem uer when I return. I am sorry you have not been geting my letters regularly but Passure you the fault does not be with me but the possal people. I am glad to hear
is so full of blooms I wish I was back to look after it, mais alas, I suppose my term of excile will not cease until Walkiam theows in the sponge. I am being very will looked after here I am in a room with a ceiliny some 35ft in height and floor space of about 20530 it is decorated with gilded beeding & numeious gold swas as a friese. On the walls ane huge murors in massive gilded frames hudeously ornate in ilaborate design. From the centre has a chandlier composed of gilded flying cupide soutt werk. This room I expect was the scene of many a festive gathering of Torists before the was turned the Worlds pleasure palaces in the chambers of pain. There is indeed very little to write about I have no visitors except one old give a hsmillar whom I met at Cypies came in this morning and left an English literary magazine with me much love to att your eo 1801 1ENO
No. 2 General Hospital CEEIREHY 18,1 1916 For well sid & stout Untd were al tired out For its my birthday I don't think 1 for the last eight days I have been living on bustea jelly & custard and its getting fairly monotonous. We have a great Doctor to look after us Col Guidan he never does anything unnccessary he was at the bleanry Haspitel at aurac from staet to finst When he comes round and a your chart and ous you an dong all right he walls on a says nothing. The other day another medico was admitted as a patient a thorough fadist and as finclly as theyre made. When he is not mvening be is crtising a the runnng of the hospital as attempting to preseube for the patients in the ward; but most of the sisters shut tru up and tell him if he has any suffestions to make, as to our treatment bid better tell Gordon. This same blighter insistr on having the windows & door shet and also he possesses a wife & an oee edside morning afterwos who

HMT EMPRESS OF BRITAIN

4.1.1916

Dearest Mother Father & Helen

We are on our way back to Egypt and I 

am Thankful to get away from the cold wet and

mud of Lemnos where we have been since the

evacuation of Anzac.  One Battalion had the honor

to be one of the last to leave the latter place. I

am not permitted to give details of that great

operation, which I think has not its parallel

in history.  I have been very unfortunate as

regards my personal effects.  Our baggage was

sent away from Anzac before us and mine

was amongst a lot that was looted the

Greek sails on the transport who went

through our bags took what they wanted

and pitched the remainder over board.

How in this move from Lemnos I was detached

as Embarkation Office for the Division

My duties kept me at the pace all day for

two days. The Battalion went away on the

first day so of course my tent was left

lonely and unguarded. 

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