Ishmalia
17/11/16
Dear People
You will not be at all surprised to learn that I have landed in Egypt as it was expected all along it would be here that our camp would be. However it is possible that there will be something to do here for a while, other than ourselves there are not many NZ’s about this particular part. The voyage out continued to be a good one & all landed none the worse in fact I think all enjoyed it one may cross many times & not be lucky enough to strike a trip like ours. I never missed a meal the whole and so that I do not think I have lost anything in weight. The trip from Colombo to the next port was a very slow one indeed but not so warm as it was East of Colombo. Have been here a few days now it took just two days less than the six weeks to do the trip. One & all were getting weary of the boat and welcomed the sand as a change, & it is sand I can assure you.
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What we may all be in the near future remains to be seen. As there is now no Otago Regiment we Otago boys have been drafted to the other three districts some going to each of Auckland Wellington & Canterbury. Seven of us Southlanders are together & in the Canterbury Regiment. On our arrival there was a case of measles which of course caused us to be put into isolation where we remain for another fourteen days unless there are further outbreaks. As there are no horses here for us you can understand the work is done on foot and tramping about in the sand is something that will soon get us back to N.Z. form, as at present we are all far from fit. I received your letter of Oct 9th the night I arrived in camp the mail must have caught us up in Australia & come over with us quite a number of us though so on
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the way over. Since then has been two or three deliverys of N.Z. mail but I have not yet received the one that should have been at the wharf for me, expect they will all turn up sooner or later. It was great news you got of Kate and Ernie Ern could not have been long in France after all evidentally they are not going to leave him there. It is funny that nearly everywhere Kate goes she has an unusual experience. So Jules is to be shifting to is he it will not be long now until all the people have change round about F.B. At any rate he will now have plenty of time to talk. Have written Ern to the same address as when I left as I expect he will be returning to the same place. Sunday 19th The days here are very warm here and at night cold but we do not feel the cold so much until the early hours of the morning. No need for as much clothing here as in N.Z. in fact getting about in shorts and shirt. Most of us have stuff to burn but do not yet know what to get rid of, for the present I have plenty to do for six months at any rate. I do not think the they cater for the appetite of the boys from N.Z. on active service I can only get decently filled once a day but I suppose
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one will soon get used to doing on less. It was hard luck for Freddie Weir after making up his mind and then having to wait so long. A young fellow Wilson with us received the news that his brother was killed in France the day after our arrival here he had the word from home so that it must have been some time ago. Also Brown our Cpl had word his brother was wounded while we were in Sydney both these boys are from Waianawa. We may be granted leave to go a week end leave to Cairo sometimes and can obtain leave for Ishmalia every night but will have to get rid of the epidemic germ first. The mail for N.Z. is due to leave here next Sturday so you can imagine there is something doing amongst the boys in the way of writing will be some lies told Eh. The is what we each warn the other not to do, when on
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the writing business. A voice will hail one from the distance and ask him not to tell any lies. Of course if one wants to write a decent letter he will require to draw a good deal from his imagination store it is not a case of what there is to write about but what can be written. This week will be the Otautau Show I suppose so expect some of you will be having a day out. The Winton Race will also be over ere this the-racers I hope are doing well again this year also the Stud horses and everything in connection with the farm and other business in connection with the banking account keeping well ahead. Cannot think of anything more to write about at present remember me to everybody and believe me to be in the best of health as at present I am hoping everyone the same.
Your Affect Brother
Cahrlie
PS Put my address Canterbury Mounted Rifles instead of Otago.
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Our part of the boat was that market in ink & lower deck. You can see the line of portholes running along the ship our deck is just to the rear of the mast but on a lower deck. The mast is on the forecastle of course. Ch.
