N.Z. Inf. Base Depôt
Moascar
Ismailia
2/4/16.
Dear Everybody,
Another Sunday is rapidly drawing to a close, & to us it seems as much like Sunday as a busy Saturday does. McCurdy & I have been in this office all day pushing troop trains off to Suez, they are Indian troops proceeding over seas to another front. The last one for today has just gone, but there are two more in the early morning tomorrow, laving here 3.30 A.M. & 4.30 A.M. This means night work for one of us, McCurdy I think for I did the last night or morning there was any to do. Our last days in Egypt are fast drawing to a close now, we received in this office, this morn the final & detailed orders for the moving out of the N.Z. division. Needless to say everybody is in good form over the idea of getting away from here. This last week it has been awfully hot, & the flies are here in millions, all of which lends zest to the desire to get off. Just how many days it will be before the lot that McCurdy & I go with is due to leave here I can not say, but it certainly will not be many. Sorry I can not be more exact than that. I have said it before, & I am saying it again, but with a good deal more reason than before, that this is probably the last epistle from the land of Pharohs. I believe I will be here at least another week, but by that time I am afraid the facilities for getting letters off will be gone. However I will tell you what I will do I will in all probability try & drop you a line
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the day before we leave Alex. I will not be able to say we are leaving or anything of the sort, but the mere fact of me sending a letter from Alex is the certainty that we are off. The drought in regard to our letters has at last broken, & in fine style too. Going back to our tents for lunch yesterday there were no less than six awaiting me, various dates, from 6th Jan up 16th of Feb. There are quite a number between those dates still to come to hand, but it is fine to get even those. It is the first N.Z. mail we have had for about five weeks. Somehow I think ours do not arrive at your end of the tree as regularly as they ought to. Our papers are coming on better than the letters. In looking through them one day I was very pleased to find the results of the nurses exams, & that Lottie had got through. Congratulations old girl, & I am wondering where you will be stepping to next. About a week ago I received two parcels of socks, one from Rothie & one from Lottie, both very nice & at the time very acceptable. Up to date I have a good supply on hand, & I don’t think you should send any more for some time now. Amongst the letters received I had one from Mr Diack, & he was telling me that Nestie was quite disappointed over Rolly going to the Tec & not to the High. It was the first word I had got as to where he was going, I hope he will get on all right there. I suppose by the time I get back Eileen will be an accomplished Pianist, seeing that they have one of their own.
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Also had a letter from Charl. he seemed to enjoy is time in Queenstown, but is a pity he did not get through Central Otago. Yes! I saw an account in the paper of Mr Doig’s loss, too bad isn’t it. A letter from Jean too & they seem to be in good form, with plenty of work on hand, enclosed was a photo of the two boys & no mistake they do look like fine lads, am looking forward to the day when I can see them in reality. Tomorrow morning there is to be an inspection of the division by General Godley, in all probability the last thing he will to do with the N.Zs & we sincerely hope so. It will not affect McCurdy & I however because we have to go on with our jobs here, & I might say we are not sorry, we had enough Inspections at Zeitoun last year. Have not seen Jack Hamilton since coming down here. Went along to see C.M Smith the other day, he is no longer attached to the Otago Inf. Battn. but is now in the N.Z. machine gun Corps. I only saw him for a little while, & he is just the same old slow coach that he used to be. Unless he can rouse up enough energy to come along & see me within the next day or two I am afraid I will not see him again, for I am very sure I am not going along to see him, & they are moving out in a day or two. Also had a letter from Winnie Allnutt, she has been very fortunate in getting into the bank hasn’t she. They all seem to be in good form. Have not heard from any of
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other Dunedin folk for ages. What an idea for Old man Gillies to get into his head. Some night he will go down there to the shop & will not be able to return in the morning, & that will be the end of him. Tell George & Aunty Wilson that some day they will get another line from me, & that I think it is up to George to send me a PC at least. You can also tell him that Jack Morton is still with the divisional troops & is on the best wicket he has been on since joining the forces. Of Kate I have still heard never a word have no idea where she is, do not think she could have gone to England, or I would have heard of it from the Hoopers, if not from herself. Suppose I will get word of her in due course. It would be great if I should see her in Alex when passing through wouldn’ it. I think I have come to the end of my line for now. Will wind up & go out & see the sights of Ismailia, I don’t think. It is rather a quaint little town, very pretty so far as it goes. It is essentially French & has just been dropped down on the desert, because of the digging of the canal. Au Rêvoir for the present.
Your,
Affect. Brother
E.S.McI.
P.S. Don’t laugh at the paper, but it is the best they can sport in this office.
