N.Z. Base Depôt
Moascar
Ismailia 26/3/16.
Dear Everybody,
A mail closes today, the rumour re no mail for six weeks, being like all other rumours. Since writing you last the Base camp has been shifted down here right on the canal, along with the rest of the N.Z. division, the whole holding itself in readiness to embark in a few days; to where I think you already know. We, I mean all those of us who were encamped at Ghezih Cairo arrived down here on the 24th. On the 25th McCurdy & I received orders to report to the railway transport officer, for duty as assistant transport officers. The work for the time being is very light, but in the course of a few days, when the division begins to move out, we will have more than enough to do, both day & night. As a matter of fact we will be pushing out 6 trains a night, & this will last for anything like 8 or 10 days. However we do not mind, it is good to have something to do again, & we are now assured that we are going forward with the division to – although we are the last unit but one to leave. It is really wonderful how quickly thing take shape on this game. When we were down here before, about a fortnight ago, everybody seemed to be standing on their heads, & there was chaos from one end of the division to the other. Now however everything is settled, organization is complete & all is running smoothly. Since writing last I have heard not a word of, or from Kate, where they are I havn’t the foggiest notion. An N.Z. mail I have not
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received for some considerable time. Papers I have had, but no letters. There is a mail in now so perhaps I will get a heap before the day is out. There is no use in your changing the address, because I can not give you a better one at present. I can only notify the postal authorities of any change in my whereabouts. In one of the papers we got the other day I read the results of the nurses exams, & was right pleased to see that Lottie had got through. I also noticed that a McIntyre had gained a “senior free place” into the Southland High School, came to the conclusion it was Rolly. I wonder if he got his Scolarship as well? Even if he did not manage that, he did very well to get the other, & I must congratulate him on that. We have come to the conclusion that we have said good bye to Cairo for the last time this time. It is only a matter of time now when the N.Z. troops will be out of Egypt. I will send you a cable when we reach our new clime, & field of operations, the place I presume we will not be allowed to mention, but you will at least know what part of the world we are in, & about what time we arrived there. McCurdy & I really enjoyed our stay in Cairo this time. Quite a pleasant change to be there & have nothing to do. For a grand finish we made up a party of six, 3 sisters Capt Grenfell, McCurdy & self, went out to Sakharah & back to Cairo by the Ghezih Pyramids. It was simply a glorious day, having rained very hard during the night, settling the dust & quite a pleasant breeze sprung up, making it pleasantly cool. It is wonderful
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the way the weather changes here. A week ago we were saying how very pleasant it was, but now we are commencing to complain of the heat & the flies, & the sooner we get off the better. Well now I suppose you will be wondering why I am writing on this paper, it is not because I havn’t got plenty of my own, but because I was sitting in the office with nothing doing, & promptly decided it was my chance to get a letter off. The last time I wrote I asked you to let Mr Diack know what was going on, but I afterwards found time to drop him a note. This time I will not be able to manage it, for we are going to be busy this afternoon. Have not seen Cecil Smith yet, he is just alongside us here, am going along the first opportunity I get. Met Garfield Stewart yesterday first time since I saw him on the Penni about the middle of June. Time is running on & McCurdy is waiting for me to go to lunch with him. Oh! I did not manage to get my transfer through so am still where I was before so far as that appointment is concerned. Have not been near the O.M.R squadron since coming down this time, but we have been told they are anything but a happy family. When next you hear from me, I may still be in Egypt, & I very likely will be in _____
Au Rêvoir for the present
Your
Affectionate Brother
E.S.McI.
