Aotea
Port Said
20/8/17
Dear People
I daresay when you see the head-line you will wonder what I am doing in P.S. As there is a branch of our Convalescent home up here now patients after having so long in Heliopolis come up here for a further spell where it is a complete change from the ruling conditions in and around Cairo. That is as regards atmospherical conditions. Here it is much cooler in fact for a couple of days I felt it just on the cold side due I suppose to there having been some rain here & there was a cold breeze coming off a fairly heavy sea & the home is just on the waters edge about a minute will take us into the sea. As for P.S. one can see all there is to see in about a couple of days but it is the change & swimming etc that are beneficial so that you will agree is the main item. Quite unlike
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the rest of the places I have so far seen in Egypt it is clean here but in the course of the day out one meets representatives of all nations (I have not seen any Germans) but that is only to be expected situated as it is right at the entrance of one of the highways of the world. From where the line from Cairo joins the Suez Port Said line all the way here there is nothing of any interest from the junction as far as Hantarah there is just desert with the canal alongside the railway then from that on there is a huge shallow lake on one side & on the other the canal & beyond that the endless desert (ends at Rafa). Reminds me of being between “the Devil & the Deep Sea”. From nine in the morning until eight in the evening we are permitted to be absent from the home but as there is nothing to attract ones attention for that period the greater part of our time is spent at home other than a stroll out for exercise or swimming as one desires.
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Today four of us went out to the Armenian Refugees camp which is not a great distance away & put in quite an interesting afternoon. The people both old and young (as long as the young ones are capable) are all engaged on various works, some making clothing for our troops others fancy goods some cakes etc for the canteens up the desert & here abouts the remainder on the work inside the camp. There are a few men amongst them they having responded to the call to the colours. All the cloth etc is woven on the premises & it is wonderful how they turn out the fabric for all their requirements at this late date one would expect that the old hand looms etc would have been discarded but not so. In the fancy goods section they have some beautiful things such as table centres, cushion covers, lace, & woollen mats everything made on the place (other than the wool & cotton). I got some pieces you can compare them with yours & I feel sure that none of you would feel like turning out the same work for about ten shillings. In
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every respect these people seem to be of a saving nature not even the little chips of wood are wasted they make such things as spoons forks etc out of them even from the bones of he meat they get these articles are made the comb I am sending is made from one of the above bones. Judging from the women & the few men about they appear to be a strong & healthy race, in every case they appear to be sturdy rather than weedy as is the case with a great many of the people in Asia & central Europe. On the whole I think today is quite one of the most interesting I have spent here. The rest camp for men from up the line is just alongside here & at present there are quite a few I know down on leave ten days being the period allowed them, Ned Condon, Woodley, & I believe Kirkpatrick is here also I have not met him yet but am going to look him up tomorrow. This is only my third day here & I only discovered this afternoon that he was down or bet your life I would have seen him ere this.
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I was rather unlucky coming away from Cairo before I got the money. I received all safely yesterday. As it happened I was going round to make enquiries last Saturday afternoon, but was informed that the Bank was is closed every afternoon, when it was too late to go down in the morning. Then it was a holiday Monday so I could not get it before I left for here at eleven o’clock. On arrival here I went to the branch and after making enquiries I found that by send a telegram I could have it transferred so that I did and yesterday afternoon it came to hand all safe and sound. Before leaving Aotea all the parcels I have had word of per letter have come to hand including cake posted 18/5/17 which I am keeping until I get to the Base where it will go well, after the change in the fare from what we get here. Also had another letter from Kate written after that rather thrilling experience they had with their hospital not long ago. By jove it is
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hard luck to think our nursing & medical staff have to put up with that sort of thing. It is not very comforting to think that our women folk are exposed to the strain that they must be under when in these advanced positions. I also had one by the same mail from Miss Hooper with copies of those from Charters & Prior. The last I had from home was from you Mary dated 1/7/17 but tonight I received one of yours Jessie 26/3/17 addressed to O.M.R. & you should see the markings on it twice it has been in England and around nearly every place here where there are any N.Z. until at last it has caught me. I think I will send the cover just to let you see where it has been & how forwarded to different places. I am posting from here a parcel which I hope you will get in due course. The bead work is done by the Turkish prisoners of war in Cairo the rest that I got today and a badge of one of the Scottish Rifles. By the way I meant
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to tell you I came in contact with a young fellow from Glasgow coming down to Hospital & after going over to see him the night before I left he asked me if I ever met a chap the name of Harry Hamilton in N.Z. & after his description his doings etc. After coming to NZ I am certain it is him that married Charlotte Sutherland & it appears that this fellow is his nephew. Is it not strange the places one will meet ones relations. If you ever see anything of Harry & have the opportunity of showing him this badge please do so & tell him I got it from his nephew in Egypt. Incidentally I may say that he writes songs & promised to compile one on N.Z. for me so far it has not come along. One of his songs is entitled There’s a Misty Land called Blighty I don’t know if you have heard it in N.Z. but it is a very pretty little song & well worthy of the composer.
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The P.C. enclosed is of the Barage I wrote about last time of writing from it you will get some idea of the construction & will see for your selves that a great deal of work was required to build it on such a river. Also some fifteen photos of some parts of or scenes in Cairo & the desert. Now as the night is wearing on I think I had better call a halt, in fact my store is exhausted. We don’t hear much about the war but we know it still promises to go on for some time yet. I am expecting to be back to duty in a few days & am feeling in good form again. Hoping this finds all in the best of health & spirits.
Your Affect Brother
Charlie.
