Letters from Geoffrey Gordon McCrae to his family, 1916 - Part 4

The description of the voyage from Sydney was
gorgeous and awakened memories of my old
trips round the coast. I don't think mother need
have been in such a hurry to get rid of the
photo of me & sister Sue who happens to be years my
senior. If I remember correctly I think I sent one
to Maude. I received the parcels from the Mashobra
An Australian touch is given to this place by
the tall little gum saplings which wave about
outside my window a thrush is perched on one
at present singing for all he is worth. On
my glass topped table is a bowl of huge Czar
violets, and a ten of Gallard's Butter Scotch so
things are going very well. I have no more
news except that I am living in hopes of
being released from bed in a few days
I am your loving son & brother
Geoff.
Hand drawn diagram - see original document
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[*Please

send this back
as it is a copy of Maude
& I have no letter*]
CHOUBRA
2. 3. 1916
I have changed my residence and come to this place which
was originally an Austrian Hospital. It is built on the
most up-to-date lines and is much better than the make-shift
place at Gezireh, which by the way has been closed
down. This, is an infections diseases Hospital and
all the Medicos, Sisters, and Orderlies wear long white
robes while in the Wards I share a room with
another fellow, a Vet: named Grant, he is a most
lugubrious sort of person, and doesnt seem to get
any joy out of life.. A regular "Iudkins" gone
silly. The Sisters and I are always chaffing him,
and trying to shake him up. Here, they believe in
the feeding-up doctrine and it suits me infinitely
better than that of starvation. The few days I have
been under the new treatment have worked marvels
for me. We are catered for by the Grand Continental
Hotel; so, everything is of the best. I seem to be
eating all day and hope to be able to get up in a
few days. This place is surrounded with gum-trees
bright emerald irrigated fields, and the main line to
Alexandria and Suez is a few hundred yards distant
from my window. I can see all the crack - express-
-trains dashing into Cairo at seventy miles an hour.
It makes a welcome break in the monotony. I am under
a lady-doctor here, Captain Bennett of the New Zealand
Army Medical Corps. She is very nice & I believe, gets awfully
good results. No more news...([shorthand]) Geoff: [shorthand]

2/3/16
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CHOUBRA
5.3.1916
Dearest Mother Father & Helen
Here beginneth the ninth week of
bed and I have to keep shifting about to find
a place less sore to lie on. I have suffered from
another outburst ofrom Jean Kelly. Mother sent
her a "beautiful picture for Christmas of which
I was evidently the clever artist and which will
immediately be popped into a frame etc etc" I
shall be afraid to return home although
that is very unlikely now as they have
ceased to send typhoid and enterics
back to Australia. You ask if I am a mason
turn up the triangular flap of the apron and
read the inscription thereon. Nearly every
officer of the original 7th was one and I
found it an open sesame on the Peuinsular
If one were to keep all the precepts of Masonry
he would be a perfect man, unselfish, liberal,
and charitable. The 'Pampseen' is upon us
and we are going through a most enervating
period of hot moist winds and dust. Outside
my window on the edge of a sugar cane patch
under the shade of a date palm is seated a

picturesque group of fellahin clad in blue
robes with the scarlet tarbooches swathed in
white cloth they are drinking coffee from tiny
cups which one of their number has brought out
from the neighbouring house. Behind them stretch
the wheat crops in solid masses of green. The
undertaker's assistant is cheerful and bright as usual
he never can decide what he wants for his meals
and ^its always "What do you advise sister" and then
through the argument which always inevitably ensues he
always says sister after every second or third
word until I want to scream. There ain't
no more news and you must be terribly bored
with this uninteresteng screed but it can't be
helped cause I've fallen on evil days
and am very bored myself therefore can't
help some of it infecting my letters however
spite of all I still remain
Your loving son & brother
Geoff. 

CHOUBRA
6.3. 1915^6
Dearest father
I forwarding you by this mail a
copy of the "Tatler" an English paper. On 393 page
you will find an excellent photo of Kitchen
inspecting the Officers of 2nd Inf Bde at Sarpi
also of Kitchener being received on board the
HMS "Laforey" by Commander Edwardes who
by the way is no relation to Laurie Edwardes
of the Challenger who was Dorothy's friend
should be paper not arrive you could buy a
Copy in Melbouune "THE TATLER" 29.12.1915.
Vol. LVIII. No 757. I am to be allowed out of
bed to day thank God from whom all
blessings flow. So you can imagine I am
feeling a bit bucked up. Hope you are all
keeping hale & hearty
much love
from your affectionate son
Geoff 

CHOUBPA
9.3.1916.
Dearest Mother Father & Helen
Many thanks for your letters I
feel stirred by the patriotic sentiments by
which mater was induced to invest her
legacy in the War Loan and her endeavours
to persuade others to do likewise. actions
like unto these hearten us considerably it is
something to know that folks at home are doing
their utmost to help us along. I am very
grateful to father for the sketch of my room
which fills me with vivid recollections I see
Thins are exactly as I left them I am glad
to hear Hawthorn has improveded its communications
by the linking up of Muir Street.
to Victoria Bridge. I have not seen young
McKnight as I was away ill before the 13th
Reinforcements were absorbed by the Battalion
I am exceeding grateful to Helen for her
description of my Ladie fayre on the
occasion of her visit to collect the watch
She certainly appears to have been charming

I must have a credit according to my
calculations of £197.8.10 at the pay office
I have only drawn £20 in pay since last
July, so I am becoming quite wealthy
and it seems only fair to me that you
should take back the insurance fees which
you have so generously paid on my
behalf. I am scribbling this off as I hear
there is not to be a mail to Australia after
tomorrows for six weeks of course this
is only rumour but you never know
when rumours are correct so I am taking
no risks. You will no doubt be glad to
hear that I am sitting up in a deck
chair at my window where I can
overlook the fields & railway I enclose
a sketch of the view. I had my first
appreciable walk to day with the aid of
Sister Hammond it covered about forty
yards but I was pretty decrepid. The
muscles of my legs, especially the calves,
have dwindled away almost to nothing
Silvia Weyal was here the other day and
brought a huge bunchs of enormous and 

PWRoberts
8/3/16

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sweet scented stocks. As I write an orderly
has just brought me you books Meinself und
Gott, Aunt Sarah and the callender for which
many thanks the callender will be specially
useful as you loose all count of days I have
just reckoned it up this is the 62nd day of
my illness. The niggers outside are chewing sugar
cane for all they are worth Capt Bennet has
lent me her field glasses so as I can watch
the trains carrying troops mine are locked up
in my box at the Pack Stores. The flame tree
outside is beginning to burst into its firey
magnificence and through its branches I can see
the gracefully curved spars of the Feluccas lying
in the Ismailieh Canal. There is nothing more
to tell you so will conclude with much love
from your
lovng Son & Brother
Geoff.
[*8.3.15.*]
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