Zeitoun Camp.
7/3/1916.
Dear Everybody.
At last I have struck a breathing space, but by all accounts it is not going to be a very long one. I missed the last mail because it went off about two days earlier than usual. Since writing I have seen and spent four days with Kate. Four very full days they were too. I was out in Cairo on the Sunday & when I arrived home there was a telegram awaiting to the effect that the ship Marama had arrived in Alex. & that she, Kate, would wait a reply from me. First thing on the Monday morn I bolid up to the O.C. Camp & asked for a couple of days leave, he was very gracious & said certainly. I immediately set sail for Cairo & from there sent Kate a wire telling her to wait on the boat until I arrived. Left Cairo by express, leaving at 12 o’clock arriving Alex. 3:15 P.M. It took me from 3:15 P.M. till 5 o’clock to find the ship, she had been alongside the wharf but had pulled out into the harbour again. However I arrived on board all safe, just when Kate was about to give me up for the day. She had already asked permission for me to stay on board for dinner, which I refused, I don’t think! Had a very nice dinner & then took her ashore, but having so much to say we did not get past the lounge of the Majestic Hotel where I was staying.
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We had to return to the ship by 10 P.M. & then I left on the understanding that I would call for her in the morning. Tuesd. we spent the day looking round Alex, & I sent a wire off to Zeitoun Camp applying for 24 hours extra leave. When going in for afternoon tea we met some of the other nurses off the ship & they informed us that the sisters had been granted 48 hours to enable them to visit Cairo. There was a train leaving for Cairo at 6 P.M. & we, thinking that even if I got my extra leave, it would be better spent there made a dash to catch it. However when we arrived at the Hotel the porter met me at the door & told me a dispatch rider had just gone with a telegram for me. In getting hold of the telegram is what made us miss the train, for we did miss it & had to wait to Wed. morn. The telegram was to the effect that leave had been granted me. We went on board the boat straight after tea, I remained for dinner, & ultimately all night. Left the ship at 6 A.M. Thurs. morn & arrived in Cairo 10:30. Kate & Sister Patrick put up at Grand Continental and the others at Shepherds. In the afternoon I took the whole crowd out to the Pyramids, & after dinner went to the Kursual, the only place in Cairo worth going to.
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I returned to camp for the night, intending to meet Kate & Patrick in the morning. However when morning came I did not have enough cheek to ask for another day’s leave, & as McCurdy was going into town I got him to call at the Hotel & arrange a guide for them, to go to the Citadel. He managed to get the best guide in Cairo for them & according to their account they seemed to enjoy themselves all-right. Kate, Patrick, & Sister Smith came out to camp for lunch. In the afternoon I took the three of them through the Mouskey, along to Shepherds Hotel for tea, & then on to their train which left at 6:30. Yesterday I had a note from Kate, & they landed on board all right & not so tired as they expected to be. If they stay in Alexandria for a week or two I think they will take another run down here. Things in general are moving over here just now. We sent off 900 odd men this morn, all going to the artillery engineers or Army Service Corps. The officers that went off with them are going to the new infantry Brigade. We are expecting to be away from here in a day or two. There is only Maj Orbell, McCurdy, Gilmour & myself left here. Orbell is going back to N.Z. Gilmour is going on divisional headquarters staff, &
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McCurdy & myself are rejoining the regiment. Just an hour ago we had orders that all the horses we have here are to be handed over to the Australians. We also heard that the N.Z. Mtd Bde was handing over all their horses to the Australians too. Am not sure how much truth there is in the latter. There is also an order out that there will be no more mail sent out, or allowed to come into Egypt for 6 weeks, after the 9th March. So now if you do not hear from me again for some considerable time you will know what is the cause of it. These restrictions are due to the movements of troops that is to take place shortly. We have nothing definite as to where we are to be shifted to. According to the papers these last day or 2, it will not come as a surprise to any of us if Turkey declares a separate peace. It is quite on the cards, for at time of writing they are getting it pretty hot from the Russian in Asia Minor. Oh! the two parcels you sent off in October, which were to reach me in England for Xmas came to hand a few days ago. Both the cake & the shortbread were in splendid
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condition, & very much appreciated. Rather a long time in catching me up weren’t they. Some old N.Z. mail came along with them also, written about the 6th of December. Just in case I do not get time to drop Mr Diack a line before tomorrow is gone, just tell him about the 6 weeks business, & that he will hear from me again some time. I might tell you that McCurdy & myself are not looking foreward with any amount of pleasure to rejoining the old regiment. Things there are not what they used to be, the present O.C. is a bit of a tag. Well now I am writing this in an awful hurry so just excuse the inconsistencies, if there be any. Whether we go to France or Tim-buck-too next we do not know, & care less. We are little bit afraid that the Mtd. men might be left on the canal all summer. Only surmise of course.
Aurêvoir for the present.
Your,
Affectionate Brother
ES.McI.
