Palestine
31/7/17
Dear People
It seems to be of no use me waiting for a mail to arrive before writing you again we do not even hear if there is any in Egypt for us at present. About the latest news in this quarter is that he twenty fifth & sixth reinfs. have arrived but as they are at the base & we here all that concerns us is their safe arrival & continue to wonder how many there is amongst them that we are at all acquainted with. I suppose time will tell, in the meantime the war still goes on and is getting very near the end of the third year & still there does not seem much hope of its concluding in the near future. For
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our part we are still getting worked hard early mornings, long rides, & late nights, with a day or two now & again, pushed in, to get a rest and clean up. Things are quite different now to what they were some months ago when we could go out a good many miles without seeing any enemy. Now we are constantly in touch when out of camp only a little way & are either having bombs, shells, or some stray bullets amongst us of course putting an edge on & making us take more care if that is necessary. Speculation as to the enemy celebrating the anniversary of war is brisk because as you know it has been either one side or the other making it warm about this period of the year. Quite frequently now-a-days there is a heavy bombardment at night there is
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no need to mention names but be sure it is not our side that comes of second best on these occasions. They often last long enough for us to listen to them for about half an hour then go to sleep with the noise still going on. Have not had any word from France for a long time not since “the big do” the NZ’s were in over there however I have had some word from Kate but she was still in England but said she was a loose end & expecting marching orders anytime she will find things somewhat different in France to what they are in England. Now as the light is waning & there is nothing to write about I will bring this to a close. Perhaps on next
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occasion we will have pushed a little further on perhaps I will be able to tell you about buying fruit out of the shop with the plate-glass window in Beersheba. Hoping all are in the best of health having wintered well & in good form for the springs. Kind regards to everyone round-about.
Your Affect Brother
Charlie.
