Moascar
Ismalia
30/11/16
Dear People
As the mail closes early in the morning I must endeavour to send you a few lines although there is nothing whatever to write about. Things are going on smoothly as far as most of us are concerned. All the bustle is in the morning here and to be ready for parade and leave everything in order before going out keeps us from feeling the cold. Had a riding test a few days ago & I think all passed successfully certainly there were a few spills and consequently there was plenty of fun to be had out of it. Our luck has not been so bad as it might have been as our term in isolation is up & having passed through that stage we have returned to the permanent camp, more to our comfort. Outside our own reinforcements here there is nobody that I know this is the same place as all the later reinfs put in their first few weeks but all had left before our arrival. I do not know for certain what L Foster is in but a good many of them went into the camel corps & he may be with them. Otherwise he will be still in the Mtd’s at any rate has joined the Brigade before this. I have forgotten his number or could easily get into
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touch with him. Have been doing a little shooting the last few days & I must say that the test here is a little harder than in NZ so of course such a high standard cannot be obtained although putting up a good average. It is remarkable the differance it makes shooting under different conditions as regards surroundings light etc. I have not yet been out on leave so do not know what sort of a place it is about here have heard many and varied descriptions as to people & surroundings. Since landing have heard nothing about our boat so presume she got safely to her destination with her precious cargo. The boat going in before her & belonging to the same company was sunk as I daresay you will have read about in the papers. A mail arrived from NZ tonight but I was not lucky enough to receive one but as there is still some floating about might happen on one or two before tomorrow night. Some of the boys are receiving letters dated as late as, or I should say as far back as the 9th September, letters that they should have had before leaving NZ. However I am looking for a large bundle when it comes along. Nothing more this time as it take some thinking to get anything at all to write. I am feeling fine & will soon be fit the only thing I desire at present is an egg or two to go along with the bacon. ‘Fact’! Hoping all are in the best of health.
Affect. Your Brother
Charlie
