5.30, Sunday evening
Zeitoun
17/1/1915
Dear Everybody
Just a note to let you know how we are, & what we are doing & have been doing during the last week. I am going to post this with some views of Egypt, & a little book explaining the surroundings of the “Virgin’s Tree.” I also have a dozen post cards of the paintings on the walls of the new church, shown on the little book. They were very good, but unfortunately I have lost the run of them, so you will just have to be satisfied with the book. I have not seen anything much of the historical parts yet, & unless we get a little more time than we have had, will not see much of them. We have had three day Regimental training & it is pretty solid work, long hours etc. Last night Howie Stewart & self, went into Cairo last night, & had a very interesting time. We had the first real English mal we have had since we left the boat. We made members of the Cairo Turf Club, & it was here we had the dinner. It was quite a treat to get something like an English dish again
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& for the moderate price of 3/- each. I know you will think that an awful price but is very cheap for Cairo, the averag price being 5/-. We are expecting the reinforcements to arrive here in a few days, but do not know the exact date. Should not be surprised if important changes are made in the various commands when they do arrive. we are all beginning to fume over our delay here & thinking that we are for sometime to come. Some days we get a report that livens us up a bit & makes us believe we are off in a week or two, then we get another that leads us to think we are here for keeps. Just recently we went right down to zero, over a statement Kitchener made in answer to a questions of Lord Curozn’s in the House of Lords. It was to the effect that the Colonial troops were not to go to the front yet as they were not sufficiently trained. On the other hand we had a statement from General Birdwood to the effect that we would have to work hard during the next course of training as we had not much longer to train in. This of course gives us new life, but we are between the devil & the deep sea to know which to believe. Some days we get reports to the effect that we will not leave here until we have settled Turkey, but on the other hand if we are going to be kept here until Turkey gets to the canal we might be here for a month or two. Well the weather this last few days has been very cold, fine, but a cold wind blowing from the south. Quite a common occurance at this time of year, we are told. I will have to dry up again now. Au rêvoir for the present. E.S. McI.
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Received your last letter all right Annie, also one from Lottie Kate & Jeanie. Have not heard from Orepuki since I arrived here. I was very much surprised to see the results of the elections. Thought the government would have gone back flying. E.S. McI.
At the last minute I have not got time to send the books & views so will send them next week. E.S.
