By-the-Sea
26/2/17
Dear Folk
Since writing last our position is changed somewhat although still camped near the sea we are a long way further ahead & not in such a good position as the last one for one thing we are not so handy to the railway & again our canteens have been left behind. On the 22nd we moved out & since have had rather a busy time chasing the enemy etc. on the morning of 23rd we moved out again in the early hours of the morning and after riding about five hours got into touch with the Jacko’s about six o’clock & had a fly for an hour or a little more perhaps just a small affair but it served its purpose. The hardest part of the whole affair was getting there & back to camp again out of the thirty six hours well over twenty four of them were spent in the saddle. That the saddle was beginning to feel the effects goes without saying of course now that we have come into closer contact with the enemy it means a lot more work and longer hours. Our little affair the other day took us a good way into Palestine to a place called Khan Yunus. There is quite a coincidence attached to the affair as on the same date one hundred and eighteen years ago Napoleon & his army fought a battle on the same ground. All the way from here the going is very much better and the country is cultivated to some
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extent, all the time we crossed patches of barley some very fair crops too considering the way they are worked. In all we must have passed hundreds of acres & it causes me to wonder at the patience & perseverence of these dark skinned tillers of the soil, as the methods of tilling are anything but up-to-date. The ox, wooden plough, and hook, seem to be the limit of their acquaintance of implements for agriculture. How they live is a marvel, seems to me they live more like beasts than men. What I have seen of it this side the desert, & as much of Palestine as could be seen, there are thousands of acres which under proper treatment could be made to produce nearly anything. As it was viewed by us on the morning of 23rd just when the sun was rising it presented a pleasing picture. The sun shining on green fields scattered over nice undulating ground dotted here & there with orchards nearly in full bloom, and newly ploughed ground, the colours presented the like of which I have not before seen. However there is nothing so discerning as this country and ones judgement can easily be led astray, what one would take for field of grass in the distance would when reached perhaps prove to be weeds. Any day may see us having another fly at the Turks and nearly every day there will be something to do of a more or less interesting nature. It was a fine wind-up to a big Day yesterday, up at four thirty, moved out at six, & returned
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at six, to find on arrival a mail from N.Z. Yours of 14th Jan Annie the first direct mail I have yet had evidentally because you have got my present address there is still a number of back ones to catch some of the interesting ones too as they will have all the Xmas & New Year doings in them. Also had one from Kate & she says she still has her stripes up, much as she would have preferred it otherwise she will find herself a long way better off. I am pleased to hear Frank Bath is doing as well did not know he was expected home so soon. So you have been having it windy spoiling fruit & cereals, by this time harvest will be coming on and when letter arrives it will be very near Easter hope you all enjoy yourselves. Surely between Hans & the neighbours the district will be able to keep things lively this winter Eh! Cannot find anything more to write must stop and drop this along to the censor don’t think he can find anything to cut out. Hoping all are in the best of health & believe me to be the same. Plenty of work keeps one in better buckle out here.
Your Affect. Brother
Charlie.
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P.S. I have not had your letter explaining who Eric is but guess it is Eric Meier the only one I can think of at present. Kind regards to friends & relatives. Ch.
