Thurs 7th/10/1915,
Dear Everybody,
Mail day is on me again & it just seems like yesterday since I wrote you last. However the days of the last week have been eventful ones, in more ways than one, thus accounting perhaps for the time passing so quickly. The last letter was written from Tayport, this is being written just across the river on the Dundee side, at Broughty Ferry & from the same place as before, namely Johnston’s. It will be the last you will get from me from here, for I am turning my head London-wards on Mond. I intend staying a day or two in Edinburgh on my way down, will not bother going across to Glascow. Am told that it does not present much of great interest
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to the visitor who can only stay a day or two at most. It is purely an industrial town, & as a consequence does not have much time for holiday-makers. Last week Dundee held what they call their annual week end holiday, that is the close on Saturday midday & do not open till Tuesd. morn, & Mr Black of Tayport hired a motorcar for that period & took his son, Mr Johnston & self for a tour of the Western Highlands. We travelled by car in all 330 miles, & what a rare trip it was, it is credited with being the best trip in the whole of Scotland, if it is not, I should very much like to see the one that could beat it. We left Dundee & a quarter to twelve, & travelled west through the highland passes along Lock sides through glens of varying sizes to Oban, a small tourist resort right on the opposite side of Scotland, & a distance of 118 miles from here. We arrived there just at dusk & camped for the night in one of the 40 odd hotels. It is a small place, no
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bigger than Riverton, but is such a beautiful spot that in the summer time it is simply crowded out with tourists. It is the point from which all the trips into Western Highlands are run, & in an ordinary season it is quite a common sight to see the large steam yachts of the American bounders anchored in the bay. The bay is a beautiful spot & could be likened I should say, to our Sounds on the west coast. From Dundee to Oban we passed through Forfashire Perthshire & into Argyllshire. Leaving Oban on the Sunday morn. 11 A.M. we travelled down into Dumbartonshire to Inverary for dinner. From there we ran on to a small town called Hellensburgh about 20 miles north of Glascow right at the mouth of the Clyde, but in what shire I forget. We stayed there over night, & all were unanimous that the days run was the best we had
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seen, & was likely to see for the rest of the run. The distance was 103 miles & right from Oban the scenes were simply perfect, particularly a place call Melfort Pass just a little out of Oban. Then we came to what is known as Glen Crow & I am sure that the whole of Scotland does not possess a finer glen than this. From there we came on to Loch Lomand head & passed along its entire length, passing on our way the bonnie peak of Ben Lomond. It is no wonder that some one broke into song over the beauty of the surroundings for they are rare indeed, & most impressive. Leaving Hellensburgh we had to go back a little, & again skirted round the south end of Loch Lomand, passing on to the old town of Stirling staying there for dinner.
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We arrived rather early for dinner, so we went right on to the field of Bannocburn, & took a photo or two of the party, standing at the foot of the flag pole which has been erected to mark the spot. To stand there & look over the surrounding country, one could hardly realize that so peaceful a scene was the possesson of so much of historical interest. From there we turned our steps towards old Stirling castle & had a good look over the old place, listening all the time to the many varied & coloured stories of the guide who showed us round. He had much to relate, & pointed out the many famous battle fields that surrounded the place, the most historical of all the field of Stirling. The castle is built on a beautiful commanding spot, & looks out over some of the best agriculture country Scotland possesses. After lunch we turned our steps homewards arriving at Tayport about 5. P.M. thus ending our very enjoyable trip, a trip
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that one is not likely to forget for many days to come. Since last week I have managed to get in touch with George Menzies, he is now down at Weymouth the present headquarters of the Aust. & New Zealand forces in Great Britain. He seems to be in good form, but says his knee is still a bit troublesome. Did not say how long he had been there, but he seems to have bee over here for some considerable time. I have not yet managed to get a detailed list of the causalities of the O.M.R. so do not yet know the true state of affairs. however I have heard tht the N.Z. & Aust division is being withdrawn from the Peni & is to be sent back to Egypt to reorganise. Am not in the least surprised, because
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they have been so badly cut up. Do not forget that it is the N.Z. & Aust Division, not the Aust & N.Z. Army Corp. How long it will take I do not know, but it should not be long for, so far as I can make out reinforcements are coming foreward all right. Then there is the force known to us as “Liverpool’s Own” that will give us a big lift up, it ought to be under way before this. However it practically means that we are to spend another month or two in Egypt, an ordeal that I am not looking foreward to with much relish. I can see that it is time I was away from here, it is getting for time to be up & doing. At time of writing we are just
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in receipt of the news of the resignation of the Greek cabinet. A most extraordinary occurance at such a time. Things have come to a pretty pass, & the Balkan affairs present a bonnie kettle of fish, what is going to be the out come, goodness only knows. The Allies at anyrate are not going to be caught napping this time, taking time by the forelock, & have already landed troops at Salonicka. Have not received any mail from any of you this week, got one from Jeanie Gillies, so ought to get one from some of you too. However I must possess my soul in patience I suppose for they will turn up in their own good time. I think I can say Au rêvoir again. You may hear from em from London next week, & you might not, so do not be surprised if there is a break
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I am not quite sure yet where I will be in London, most likely at Hoopers again. I promised to go back there, & will in all probability do so.
Your
Sincere Brother
E.S.McI.
