Ismailia
1.4.16
Dear May,
I was rather surprised to hear that Columbs have left W’side. You will find it sort of lonely without them. What are the new men like? I believe that the Moffitts have left the station too. George was telling me about it last night but he has heard nothing from his people about it yet. I am glad you got my first batch of photos alright & hope the later ones have reached you safely too. The ones Mother left with Jack H, must have had a good look round Gore as I have had several requests lately for copies. The p.cs of you & Rodie & Ruth have not come yet but I suppose they will reach me in due course. Most of the men are getting their parcels fairly well now but most of the goods sent to arrive about Xmas time have never arrived. We are still here and have no idea when we will shift.
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We have kit inspection pretty well every day & are all ready to push off when the word comes. Today we are to be inoculated again – the fifth time since enlisting, so we ought to be pretty well immune now. The weather has been getting dreadfully warm lately & we will be glad to get out it. There is no shade to be got except in the tent & it is just like a hot house. As we are in the 1st Brigade with the old hands we don’t do much drill – about 3 hours in the morning but the other brigades are doing fairly solid training. So far I have only had one glimpse of the Prince of Wales but will probably be inspected by him before we leave. Those who have seen him reckon he is a rather poor specimen of a soldier. I don’t think I told you that I have seen a good many mirages on the desert. In fact I have seen pretty well every climatic condition from
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a mirage to a desert storm. Mirages are quite common on hot days, they just look like a lovely blue lake away out near the horizon. Of course they never come close as you have to be looking almost parallel with the ground before you can see it. Often I have been lying down & half the desert seemed to be water & when I stood up to have a good look at it it was gone but as soon as I lay down again the water came back. I have seen a lake between the camp & us & all the tents reflected in it. I would like to get a photo of it but it is too far away to get with my camera. The dust storms are not nearly so pleasant; although they don’t last long as a rule, they are most disagreeable. I have seen the dust just like a heavy fog & so thick that we couldn’t see the head of the column 30 or 40 yds away. We have seen all we want to here & a little bit more & none of us will be sorry to leave. As I have a big mail to answer I must stop now. With love to All. From Len
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April 4th
Have waited till today for the final mail to close so you can expect a rather longer interval between this & the next letter. Am also sending some of the negatives referred to in my recent letter. They are all taken here or in Ismailia township or down at the Canal. I have kept a few of the best to get prints off. Had a big review yesterday – all the big guns including the Prince were there. It was a great sight but I had no chance of getting a snap of it. Will write again & soon as we settle. Bon Jour just now
Love from
Len
