Zeitoun
26/2/1915
1.40. P.M.
Dear Everybody
Observe the day is Friday, the hour is 1.40 P.M. & I have no doubt you will wonder how it is I am able to do some writing. Well it came about in this way; the division is carrying out a scheme, in which we play a part. The scheme is roughly this, the N.Z. Mtd. Brigade left here on Tuesday on a 4 days treck, & today is the day they are returning. Well the rest of the division is going out to intercept their return. The Australian “Light Horse Brigade” which is attached to our Division, formed the advanced guard, & are out on that job at the present moment. The ralley had just sounded as I wrote the word moment in the previous sentence. Well now it is Sat. night the hour is 8.40 A.M., & I will continue this scroll. Our regiment was all ready to move out of camp at a quarter to eight, but had not received the necessary order from Divisional Heal Quarters. We simply hung about camp with all our gear on, ready to move at a moments notice, & it came at a quarter to two. In five minutes we were off to a point about half a mile east of our camp there to await further orders, which turned up after about another hour’s waiting. However when we did move we
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we moved in earnest. The whole thing was very good, a splendid demonstration of the roles of Mtd. troops in battle. We might often do the same thing in an actual engagement, that is, lie in our tents perhaps for a day or two, always ready to move, then go for it for perhaps a couple of days, & then wind up without doing anything. When we were moved, we were moved across the enemy’s front right on to their left flank to be used, for a flank attack, but the rtire sounded before we did or saw anything of the enemy. Well we returned to camp about half past five, & just as tired as if we had done a hard days work. This morn the G.O.C. held his usual confab in a big picture tent that has been put up in the camp, & he expressed himself as being extremely well pleased with the work done. The country we worked over was exactly the same as we would have to work in when we get to France. I might tell you hear that it is quite on the cards that the next letter you get from me will not be written in Egypt. The way things have been shaping this last week it is quite definite that we are in for a shift, but to where, the “Lord only knows,” nor do we expect to know until we are many miles away from here. I can assure you the knowledge that we are in for a shift has put new life into us all, even although we do not know when or where we are going. I suppose by the time this reaches you, the fate of the Dardanelles will be ancient history, at any rate it is very suggestive at the present moment for us. Now this big blot has just occured & it also is very suggestive, & has afforded the other member of the little part that are writing, food for a good laugh at me. I was busy examining a fountain pen & pushed the pump filler in when she bust, & it went
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in my eye & all over the paper, as you can very well see. I received the letters written after New Year describing the doings of the folk both at home & at other parts of the Islands, but the box of cakes has not yet arrived. The Otago Witness dates 30th Dec. & paper 2nd January arrived safely, also N.Z. Herald, & the two little books that gave me all the doings of the horses. No mistake Charl’s, you must have hit the right vein the first day, but got off a little the 2nd. As a matter of fact, this country is not without its sporting side of life. There are quite a number of meetings here, five I think since we arrived, although I have only been to one, & that was today. The racing was vastly different to what we get in N.Z. The first thing that strikes you odd is the horses galloping off in oppossite direction. Then the horses are so very small, & they carry such big weights, none of them are as big as little Gapon, but manage to carry 11st for a mile. The pace is not nearly as good, but they can last for long enough, they are all Arab’s, no races for other breeds at all. Over & above all this the place itself is very picturesque, the grounds are the first grass paddocks I have seen in Egypt, & the buildings though no up-to date are very good. Mr McCurdy & self spent a very good afternoon out there, & returned to camp for tea very well pleased with our outing, but as some of you will say, wiser men. Now I think I had better retire for the night, tomorrow being Sun. & I am to be in camp I will have a chance of scribbling a little more. Here we are just back from church parade, & have a few minutes to spare before going on stable parade. The day is a perfect scorcher, & had it not been for a slight breeze I think some would have fallen out. However it did not last long whether it was that the Parson had nothing to tell us, I do not know
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I was very disappointed Lottie when I heard you had not got through in your medical paper. It must be hard luck having to go through the same old stuff for another 6 months. I suppose you knew the whole thing from A to Z but could not collect your thoughts at the proper moment. However keep on believing & plugging away & you will be free in no time. I wonder how the rest of your crowd go on, I only heard from Kate about the results, have not rcieved a letter from you yet but expect on this mail. The last of the infantry came back from the canal yesterday, they have had a very fair time there, & say they would rather stop there than come back here to drill. However I do not think they have come back to drill, but am pretty well certain it is a calm before a storm. In regard to my extra baggage I have made arrangements with a firm known as Thos. Cook & Sons, for whom W.B. Scandrett of Ingill is an agent. The arrangements are very simple, we fill in two forms giving the number of packages send one to them with the baggage & the other home to you. Then should anything happen to me, all you would have to do would be to present the form you have to W.B. Scandrett, pay the storage & freight on delivery & the articles will turn up all right. On the other hand we can have them forwarded to any place we like to mention, for they have agents all over the world. The storage they charges is 1/6 a month for each package, very reasonable I think. I am sending some more photos with this also the films shope you will send them round as far as they will go & hang on to the films, if they will not be too much limber.
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My word that was a narrow escape the cornation crowd had over the runaway, there would not be much propt lef that morning. Most unfortunate that they should have humped into the gig. I have not seen G. Menzies since he come back from canal but intend to take a run along this evening if I can get time. All the other lads I have seen that were down there are in good form, Morrin, William Templeton & Cummings, all looking as if they had done well on it. I intend to pack my extra baggage tonight. The 1st Division goes before us, it is starting out today & are going to take 12 train for four days to get them all away. I do not think there is much more for me to say, will endeavour to write you just before we leave. Hutton Crawford McIlwrick, & Howie are all in the best of nick. Sgt Kane wishes to be remembered to you Lottie, he is attached to my troop now. Au rêvoir for the fifth or sixth time.
Yours Sincerely
E.S. McIntyre
P.S. I am posting three boxes of Egyptian cigaretts to you Tom; please send one over to Jim, & the other to Charlie. Perhaps you will not like them at first, but hose who smoke them here, say the would never smoke any other if they could them
E.S.
