Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Alan Fraser Fry letters and miscellaneous papers, 1914-1917
MLMSS 1159 / vol. 3

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Saturday, 8th August 1914.
The "Tambo" left the Federal Wharf about 2.30 p.m. on this date. We anchored down in the Bay for a while, as we did not have all the papers aboard, and finally cleared Sydney Heads at 4.30. It was smooth outside, with a fair wind astern, and this continued all the way up the New South Wales Coast. We sighted Cape Moreton on Monday evening. As we passed the Richmond River, Mt Warning was very clear, and I was wishing I could have dropped in and had a word with Edgar.

The weather continued fine all the way up the Queensland Coast, and we passed through Whitsunday Passage about Mid-day on Thursday. It is very pretty steaming through here, the ship passing quite close to a number of the Islands, of which there are hundreds. Every other time I had been through the Passage had been at night-time, consequently I had not had a chance to see really how narrow and pretty it was.

We continued steaming Northward till abreast of Townsville, where we cut East a little way, and anchored just inside the Barrier Reef on Thursday night. It was blowing very hard, and we wondered if the anchors would hold, or if we would have to clear out and steam about till the morning. We only passed three steamers all the way up the Australian Coast, which was rather singular, as a rule the shipping being rather thick comparatively.

We have about 14 passengers on board – no ladies – and we manage to knock out a little bit of fun, though owing to the limited

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deck space, we cannot do all we would like to. I have a little work to keep my mind occupied, so the day does not drag for me.

We have plenty of cockroaches on board here – caught three before turning into my bunk on Thursday night. The grub is not too bad just now, though this is too early in the trip to pass any comments, as what one says at first, and at the end of the voyage are two very different things.

Sunday, 16th August.
Cleared the Reef on Friday morning, and ran into rough weather immediately. I immediately lost all interest in the trip till Sunday night, during those three days devouring 2 biscuits, ½ Glass of water and 1 cup of Soup. I began to feel very weak, and thin, but by that time I was getting used to it, and from then on I have not felt the least queer at any time.

The "Tambo" certainly could roll and pitch, and as we were only drawing about 2 feet freeboard the decks were under water practically the whole way from the Reef to the Solomon Islands. The poor sheep had a bad time, and we lost about 14 out of 56.

Wednesday, 19th August.
Woke up this morning by the shout of "Land Oh?" We have been crawling along at about 6 ½ knots since Sunday. The weather has been much the same all along since leaving the Barrier, sunny and warm, with a heavy beam sea. I have quite got over the seasickness, and can keep a good dinner down now – though it is still pretty hard work, owing to the presence of dead rats in the Saloon. The Steward discovered three on Monday, and I daresay there are some more stowed away in some of the corners. The smell is something awful, and I think it was that as much as

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rolling of the ship, that kept me off my food. I could not bear to go down into the Saloon at all. I slept on deck, and only used my cabin to dress in. Most of the others on board did not feel the smell so much – the Officers being used to it, and the passengers, mostly tough old planters from the Islands, it had no effect on.

The land sighted is Guadalcanar, the most Easterly Island of any size in the Solomons. We should arrive at Tulagi our first Port of call tonight about 7 p.m. Gee ??? it will be nice to see and be on shore again, after 12 days going without a break. After leaving the Barrier on Friday 14th, we have not seen either land or ship till today. All on board are just wondering if we shall find the Germans in possession of the Islands. Really it is just as probable as not. However we shall know very shortly now. The general opinion on board is that the "Induna" another of the Company’s boats up in the Marshall Islands (German) is captured, though of course no one knows for certain – that is what we are going up to find out. I know one thing, and that is, if we see any German men-of-war, the "Tambo" can hardly show them a clean pair of heels (7 knots in decent weather).

We have the Catholic Bishop of Melanesia on board. He is a funny old boy. and sleeps all day and night in a deck chair. I was very surprised to meet an old Fort Street boy on board. – Gilbert Murray. He is Overseer on a plantation up in the Solomons, where he has been for about 2 years, and says he thinks he will be started on his own inside 3 more years. His brother is doing Medicine up at the Sydney University.

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Saturday, 22nd August.
Anchored off Tulagi about 7 p.m. on Wednesday, and the Doctor came off and passed us. The whole white population then came aboard, and we had to tell them all the news of the war. They had heard there was a war but had not received any official confirmation, or heard any details. Things began to get quite lively aboard the ole "Tambo", and I was introduced to all the celebrities here, such as the Manager for B.P.’s here, the Doctor, Postmaster, etc. We did not turn till about midnight that night, and had to be up at 6 in the morning, as we were moving ship to Makambo – an Island owned by Burns Philp, and on which is their Store, situated about ½ mile from Tulagi. This is a very pretty little island, though none that I have seen here can compare with Samarai, and other parts of New Guinea.

We were going on to Gizo and Faisi in the Western Division, but owing to the risk of capture – these places being near German Territory, we have decided to land all cargo at Makambo. I am disappointed at this, because the Western Islands are supposed to be very pretty indeed – beautiful snow white beaches with plenty of cocoanuts right down to within a few yards of the water. However perhaps I shall see the other part in the "Mindini" sometime.

Thursday was a very busy day, discharging the cargo, and I got pretty burnt, out in the sun all day tallying cargo. There is no Wharf here, all the cargo being lightered into boats and towed ashore by the ship’s launch, where the niggers unload them, and carry the goods to B.P.’s Store. It is pretty slow work, and one

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has to drive the natives continually or they would never get it done.

As is usual when a steamer arrives in Port, all the crowd from the shore came aboard on Thursday night, and we had some music from an old banjo which we had on board, and it was very funny to see two big, brawny, sunburnt, planters suddenly grab one another round the waist, and have a waltz or tango round the deck. They do not get much fun up here, and when the steamers come in there are practically no restrictions put on them at all. Most of the time they were drinking England’s health, and to the downfall of Germany in the war. Got to bed at last about 12 o’clock, and turned out at 5.30 in the morning to commence work. Had a turn at everything today. Tallying cargo on the Wharf, acting Wharf-Labourer down the Hold making up slings, and driving the niggers, and as the 1st Mate was unwell, had to run No.1 Hold all the afternoon. Got very burnt again today, and just round the neck where my singlet rubs it is getting a bit sore. Things were a bit quieter on Friday night, and I managed to roll in about 11, though still there was such a row that sleep was out of the question till some time later. Started graft again at 6 in the morning, and went like mad all day to get the cargo out, so that we could sail that day, as otherwise it meant wasting Sunday in Port, and we were in a hurry to get on and find out about the "Induna", and give them the news up in the Gilberts.

All the passengers left the ship today, and Murray made me

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quite envious, telling me all about his little Schooner, and trading station away amongst the niggers. Shouldn’t be at all surprised if I lobbed up there myself one of these times.

Worked right up to 10 p.m. on Saturday night, and got under way about 10.30. I am surprised that it has not been hotter up here, as it is further North than Papua, and I have not found it nearly as hot as when I was up there, about this time last year. The nights are lovely just now, and I always sleep out on the deck, with just a sheet to keep the cockroaches etc. off me.

Monday, 24th August.
Rolled out just in time for breakfast, yesterday, feeling a bit tired after the strenuous work at Makambo. Sighted Malaita about 8 a.m. on Sunday. This is the Island where the natives are cannibals still and very wild, and the Government will not allow any vessel to call there unless it has at least three white men on board. Have had a beam sea all day, and the "Tambo" is rolling a good deal now, as she is much lighter since leaving the Solomons. Things are very quiet aboard now the passengers have all departed. It seems much more than 16 days, since I left Sydney, but there is not much to do on board, and the time seems to pass very slowly.

Have not sighted any German vessels yet, though we have, ever since leaving Sydney, been steaming with all lights out at night. We half expected to see the Germans at Tulagi when we got there, and were quite relieved to see the Union Jack flying from the Commissioner’s flag-staff. Still if the War is still on, we have

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plenty of time to get captured yet.

I slept in the Smoke-Room on Sunday night, and caught two rats. I was half asleep and felt something running over my chest. I made a grab at it and found it to be a large rat – which I promptly chucked overboard. I was half off to sleep again, when I felt something nestling down beside my hand. I immediately punched it, and as it gave a squeak, I concluded it was a rat too, so got hold of him and threw him out the Port. I reckon its pretty hot when they come and lie down beside you.

We ought to reach Ocean Island about Wednesday night sometime, and I suppose we shall only stay there a few hours, just to land some cargo, and then push on to the Gilbert Islands.

There seems something very mysterious about this trip. The Captain is very close as to where we are going, and to what way we are coming home. I have heard rumours that we shall call at Fiji and the New Hebrides on the way back, but I daresay will find out all in good time. The "Tambo" is not altogether what one would call the latest thing in ship-building. There is very little deck space, and they have put sheep on the little there is, so it is hard to find anywhere to pass the day, except in the cabins, but they are very hot, and as I mentioned before, the rats pretty well have command of these and the Saloon.

August 26th, Wednesday.
About the only thing to notice, is the similarity of the days. All day yesterday and today, the sea has been like glass with no swell at all. You can quite understand

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how it was the Pacific Ocean got its name, if the early navigators first saw it as we have had the last two days. You would hardly believe that right out here in mid-ocean it could be so smooth. There is not a breath of wind, which makes it rather warm, and singlets and trousers are the order of the day. We are very nearly on the Equator now, and should reach Ocean Island some time tonight. It will be quite nice to get on land again, not having seen any since leaving the Solomons last Saturday.

We have had a lovely moon the last few nights, and it is lovely to get on deck at night. The Captain, Berry – the other Supercargo, and myself generally get together after tea, and yarn till about 9 o’clock and then turn in.

I cannot grumble at being overworked here. It is not nearly as busy as on the "Matunga", though of course there are two to do it here as against one on the other ship.

The Saloon does not smell quite so much now, I daresay the Steward has found all the other rats, and I am able to take my nourishment in full. Set a trap last night, and looked at it four different times, and each time it had a rat in it. I reckon a couple of cats would put in a good time here.

Thursday, 27th August.
Was up at 5 this morning, thinking we must be very near Ocean Island, but did not arrive till about 2 p.m. Only stopped a couple of hours to put ashore a few tons of cargo and the mails, and then away again.

It is a beautiful spot here, with plenty of cocoanut palms etc. They have a cricket oval, and if we had arrived there on a

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Saturday afternoon, I daresay we would have arranged a match the "Moresby" against the Island, as they play every Saturday.

Went ashore with Berry in the Doctor’s boat, towed by 6 big natives. The ship anchored about ½ mile from the shore, and we got toosed about a bit landing in the surf. The Island is composed almost wholly of Phosphates, and the Pacific Phosphate Company have extensive works here, and the place is interspersed with little railways. We got on a trolley and were pushed by natives about ½ mile to the Post Office and Resident Commissioner’s Office. It was a very pretty little trip, the undergrowth in some places coming right up to the rails. They had (not) had any news of the war here, above knowing that there were rumours of war, and as at Tulagi, we were besieged on every side by the white population eager for news.

The natives here are fine big men, some of the biggest I have ever seen. A number of them are prisoners from Fiji, and they work in the phosphate works and on the railways.

The name Ocean Island seems to suit this place very well. We left the Solomon Islands on Saturday, and after going for 5 days without seeing any land at all or even a ship, this little Island looms up on the horizon as if from nowhere.

We have not had it very hot so far, although we are almost on the Equator here. Tonight I will have passed into the Northern Hemisphere for the first time. Two things that strike me

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up here are the beautiful sun rises and sut sets. I couldn’t describe them if I tried. One often reads in books about the wonderful affects of a tropical sun-set, but that doesn’t half convey to you what it is really like – you have to see them for yourself.

We have a run of something over 300 miles now to the Gilbert Islands, where we should arrive on Saturday next.

Sunday, 30th August.
Left Ocean Island about 6 p.m. on Thursday last, and arrived at Butaritari (Gilbert Is.) at 7 on Saturday morning. We had been steaming for about 2 hours along the shore of some low lying Islands before we entered a break in the Reef which led into the Lagoon. The peculiar part of these Islands are that they are so very low lying. None of them being above 10 feet at the most, and no mountains whatever.

We anchored some 1 ½ miles from the shore. As usual the cargo is discharged into Surf boats, and towed ashore by the ship’s launch. It is a very bad harbour here, and even the launch could not get within about 50 yards of the shore. The natives wade out and carry the good s ashore on their shoulders. I went ashore here and as soon as the launch stopped, the niggers jumped out, and stood by the side of the launch. I was beginning to wonder how I was going to get ashore dry, when one of the niggers motioned me to get on his back. You get on the niggers shoulders, and wind your legs round his body so as to get a good grip, at the same time gripping his woolly hair with your hands. It felt a bit shaky at first, but after doing it 4 or 5 times, one felt perfectly

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safe. Ten stone is a fairn weight to carry 50 or 60 yards on your shoulders without a break, especially over a very rough coral bottom, but when I saw Berry get aboard one of the niggers, I fairly gasped. He weighs about 14 stone, but the native did not seem to find him any heavier than I was.

This little place is much the same as all the Island villages. The white houses of the Europeans, surrounded with cocoanut palms, and the squat grass house of the natives, while all the paths are snow white – being made of coral or shells, and are scrupulously clean, no leaves or branches lying about, this being part of the natives’ duties in return for being fed.

I got a pleasant surprise here when I found that the Manager of Burns Philp & Co. was a Mr. Gauld, whom I knew in the Sydney Office. He has been here about 5 months, and lives with his wife in a very pretty little bungalow overlooking the beach.

We left Butaritari about 5.30 on Saturday afternoon, and cleared the reef some ½ hour later.

The sea has been fairly calm until today, then, without any warning the wind sprang up to a gale, and it rained in torrents. I don’t ever remember seeing such heavy rain. You could not see the ship’s length ahead, and in a very few minutes the sea was a mass of foam. It lasted about 2 hours, and then the wind died down, as quickly as it had risen, though it is still raining and a good sea running. This is a miserable ship when it is raining. There is not a dry spot on the deck anywhere, and we have to stay down in our cabins till it is over, which may be not till a couple of days.

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Thursday, 3rd September.
After the storm on Sunday last, we steamed in a general northerly direction with nothing to note, till Tuesday morning. About 5 a.m. we hove to just off the Reef at Moloelab, one of the Marshall Islands. (German) Berry and myself went ashore in the dingy, and had quite a lively time landing in the surf. A big wave would lift the boat high in the air, and below you could see the reef, with only about 1 foot of water covering it. You expect any moment to be thrown down on to this sharp and jagged coral, and the boat smashed to pieces, but instead you just shoot along on top of the wave, and land in shallow water high up on the Reef. The coral on most of these Reefs is very sharp and pointed, and you can get a very nasty cut from it – besides which the cut takes a very long time to heal, the coral having a certain amount of poison in it. The natives walk about on the reefs barefoot, and very seldom get a scratch at all – that will give you some idea of how tough their feet are.

After landing we had to walk about 1 ½ miles to a trader’s (Tom Ashley) place, our object being to see if he had heard anything about the "Induna", as she calls there on her voyage round the Marshalls. A nigger led the way through the bush, which is very dense here – in fact you could easily get lost as there are no high places where you could climb up to see anything.

Ashley was very surprised to see us, and more so when we told him that there was a War on – he had not heard anything about it at all. We stopped at his place for ki-ki, and as he had

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no tidings of the "Induna" we returned to the ship and left Moloelab about 5 that afternoon.

We steamed S.W. from there and came up to Jaluit – the main island in the Marshall Islands – about 9 p.m. on Wednesday.

We did not eneter the Harbour as this is German Territory, but hove to about 1½ miles down the coast. Berry and the two niggers we had on board went ashore to find out about the "Induna", and had a very exciting time. After they had got the information they wanted and were putting off to the ship again, they were capsized in the Surf, and the dingy filled up. They dragged her ashore and emptied her and tried again, with the same result – they were thrown out on to the Reef again, and had to beach the boat and empty her. They were impeded a good deal by the darkness too, but managed to get safely out the next time.

The "Induna" was in Jaluit Harbour, and had been for two weeks, the Germans having captured and kept her there. Berry had to be very careful not to be seen, as it was very probable they would have detained him too had they caught him, and also would have known that another steamer was about somewhere. There were 3 other steamers held up in Jaluit, and a German cruiser was lying in the Harbour. Before leaving the ship, Berry had given me full instructions as to how to act should he be captured, and I think the only thing that saved us was, that we were then, as we had been ever since leaving Sydney, sailing with all lights out. Had there been any lights showing at all, we must have been seen by

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someone on the shore. It was a close shave and we were not sorry when Berry came aboard again and we steamed away about 2 a.m. on Thursday morning for Butaritari.

We are now making our way back to the Gilberts, and should arrive in Butaritari about noon tomorrow (Friday). There is not much work to do on board just now, and I have pretty well finished all the reading matter in the ship, so I suppose the only thing to do is to sleep all the time, but even that gets monotonous.

Sunday, 6th September.
Arrived at ‘Tari at noon on Friday, and were surprised to see the "Moresby" at anchor in the Harbour. She had heard of the War, also that the "Tambo" was cruising about, and had come up to Butaritari for instructions, with the result that she was sent direct to Sydney, while the "Tambo" was to do a bit of trading round the Group before she came on to Sydney. The Supercargo from the "Moresby" changed over to the "Tambo", and I had the luck to get his place, so now I expect I shall get to Sydney a full month earlier than I had hoped to.

We tied up alongside the "Moresby" when we entered Butaritari. It was quite nice to see another ship – we had only seen about 4 since leaving Sydney. As soon as we were safely moored the "Moresby" crowd swarmed aboard to hear the latest about the War. They had heard there was a war, but that was all.

We left Butaritari about 5 p.m. yesterday afternoon (Saturday). I said good-bye to Berry. I was sorry to leave the "Tambo" in one way, we had got on very well together there, but I was not going to

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lose the chance of coming to Sydney. I daresay we shall arrive about the 20th September – all going well.

The "Moresby" is a good deal bigger than the "Tambo" (1300 tons as against 450 tons), but she is very light, and can jump about in a wonderful manner. I know nearly all the Officers and Engineers aboard, so should have a pretty good trip down. Captain MacLeod is Master, and a nicer man you couldn’t meet, worse luck we are losing him at Tarawa (where we shouldaarrive today) and take on Captain Handley – he having been a long time up here, and is due for a trip to Sydney.

Wednesday, 9th September.
We arrived at Tarawa about 12 noon on Sunday, 6th September. There was nothing doing that afternoon, so I went ashore and had a roam round. It is very much the same as the other places we have seen – white paths with palms on either side and meeting overhead, making it nice and cool. Some of the Native Police here are very big men, and the prisoners scamper round doing what they are told, half scared out of their lives.

We met the Schooner "Polenia" here. This is one of B.P.’s boats, and does some of the Inter-island trade, transhipping the copra she collects into one of the steamers, wherever she happens to meet them. She came alongside the "Moresby" at 6 on Monday morning, and we started loading the balance of our trade cargo into her, not having had time in Butaritari to tranship all to the "Tambo".

We sailed from Tarawa at noon on Monday for Ocean Island, where we arrived, after a very smooth passage, about 8 p.m. on

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Tuesday night. As we were anxious to get away from here as soon as possible – that night is possible, I went ashore straight away to see the Commissioner (Mr. Elliot), and see if he would grant me a Clearance and Bill of Health. Had rather a merry time landing too. We had hove to about 1 mile from the shore, and I got 5 niggers from aboard the ship to row me ashore. There was a big surf running, and I was wondering how we were going to get through the passage in the Reef. It is only about 20 feet wide and on either side is the sharp jagged coral on which the breakers were smashing with a roar. However the Native at the steering oar said he "savvied" the passage alright, so I told him to go right ahead and make for the Government Wharf inside the Reef. We were just about opposite the passage where we were to enter, when a voice hailed us from the Phosphate Company’s Wharf – which extends just out past the Reef – and said the passage was very dangerous just then as it was low tide, and that we had better land at the Co’s wharf. We back-watered just in time to save us from shooting through the passage, and rowed for the other Wharf, where a rope was let down – the Wharf being about 20 feet above the level of the water, on account of the low tide – and I clambered up, giving the niggers orders to wait in the boat till I came back.

I then went up to the Commissioner’s house. He was just ready to turn in. I explained to him that it was important that we should get away that night if at all possible, and after a lot of arguing he consented. I then went round to the Acting Medical Officer (Mr Grimble) who had turned in, and hauled him out of bed

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and down to the Office – about a mile away – to give me the Bill of Health and Clearance, on the way waking up Mr. Methven, in Charge of the Native Police at Ocean Island, and told him to send a boat’s crew off to the "Moresby" to get some cargo and passengers we had aboard. I thought they would have been annoyed at being dragged out of bed at that hour – it was about 10.30 p.m. by this time – but they were not. Things get so slow there, that they are all glad of any little thing that turns up to vary the monotony.

Anyway I got fixed up O.K. and back to the ship safely, and we sailed at 2 a.m. that morning for Sydney direct. So far we have had decent weather, but I suppose we can hardly expect it to last like this all the way down. We are carving it out at about 8 knots now, which should get us into Sydney about Sunday 20th September.

Sunday, 13th. September.
Have been drifting about now for 3 days – helpless. The engines suddenly stopped about 9 a.m. on Friday, owing to some defect, and the 3 Engineers worked till 4 that afternoon, when they thought they had fixed up the trouble. We got under way again, and continued on our course till about 8 that night, when – Bang? – Finish??? the engines stopped again, and we have been drifting at the rate of 3 miles an hour for nearly 3 days. That is about 200 miles. It is just as well we are right away from any islands or reefs, or we may have got into trouble. We drifted in a Westerley direction, and if the engines had not been fixed up, in 3 days more we would have been blown on to the Solomon Islands. There has been a big sea running all the time, and it is very monotonous wallowing about broadside on to the waves – and the old "Moresby" is noted for

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her rolling too. We are right out of the track on any steamers, so that there was not much chance of being sighted and picked up. The 3 Engineers have been working for almost 3 days withoutna break, except for meals, and look pretty done up today. We are now going very slowly, about 5 knots, and are all half-expecting to hear the sound that says the engines have broken down again. I don’t suppose we shall get into Sydney now till about Thursday 24th inst – that is if all goes well from now on.

Wednesday, 16th September.
The engines have kept going alright, though at a reduced speed – we are doing about 6 knots an hour now. There is nothing of interest to note. Have had fair weather all the time, though several days have been wet and windy. I have finished all my work, and am finding it hard to fill in time. One gets very tired of sleeping all day and night. The 2nd and 3rd Officers, the 3rd Engineer and myself generally have a game of cards every night for an hour or so, though even that is getting monotonous.

Tuesday, 22nd September.
Here we are on the New South Wales Coast at last. We sighted Mount Warning on Monday morning last, at the same time running into a stiff southerly gale with high seas. The "Moresby" is in very light trim, and could not make much headway against the gale. We have been doing about 3 to 4 knots all day yesterday and today, and are hoping the wind and sea will die down soon, and let us get on to Sydney. At this rate of going it will be some time next week when we get in. We are keeping a long way out from the Coast, in case anything should happen to the engines I suppose, and consequently we cannot signal any of the Coast stations

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and let them know we are on the Coast. We tried to signal Cape Byron last night to get any news of the War – you cannot imagine how anxious we are to hear something – but we were too far out, and they evidently could not see our light, as they did not answer at all. We had a merry two or three minutes yesterday afternoon. The steering gear jammed, and we immediately drifted broadside on to the seas. I heard a crash all round me, and found that everything loose in the cabin had skidded across the room, even the drawers in my chest of drawers flew out and landed on the floor upsetting all the contents, and by judging by the sounds outside, all the other chests of drawers in the ship had done the same. This kept on for several minutes, me making frantic grabs at all I could lay hands on, the rest diving backwards and forwards across the room with every roll of the ship. At last they fixed up the steering gear, and her head was brought round to the wind. We are thinking how lucky we are that the engines are running all right now, it would’nt be too pleasant drifting for 3 days in this sea. We hope to get in about Friday sometime now.

Thursday, 24th September.
We have done better than we expected. The wind and sea went down fairly quickly, and we straight-way jumped up to about 7 ½ knots, with the result that we were off the Heads about 4 a.m. on Wednesday night, entering about 7 this morning. It was good to see Sydney Harbour again, and most of us I think, are glad to have escaped meeting any German warships. All we want to know now is – how the war has been getting on since 8th August, when the "Tambo" left Sydney.

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Burns, Philp & Company, Ltd
Island Line of Steamers

S.S. "Moresby" Voy.102.
At Sea, 18th Sept. ‘14

The Manager,
Island Department,
Messrs Burns Philp & Co. Ltd.,
Sydney.

Dear Sir,

The "Moresby" left Butaritari at 5 p.m. on Saturday 5th September and made for Tarawa, where we arrived 1p.m. on the following day.

The Schooner "Polenia" was there when we arrived, and came alongside at 6 a.m. on Monday, to take over some trade which we did not have time to put aboard the "Tambo" at Butaritari.

Captain MacLeod transferred to the "Polenia", Captain Handley bringing to Sydney the "Moresby".

We had 8 Passengers for Tarawa, vis: Mr Workman, Mr. Fowler, who was relieving the Engineer of the "Polenia", a Chinaman and 5 Natives. I collected from Mr Workman £ 6 – being ;pound 1 for his own passage and £ 5 for the passages of the Natives. The Chinaman was also charged £ 1.

I have to state that as there is no Ticket Book aboard the "Moresby", no tickets have been issued for these passengers.

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I might mention here that Mr Workman, Deputy Commissioner, who has been round on the "Moresby" collected Tax Copra, told me that he was delighted with the attention he had received on board, that Captain MacLeod and the Officers could not have been more obliging, and helped him very materially with his work.

We finished working at Tarawa about 10.30 a.m. on Monday, received the mails and sailed at noon for Ocean Island.

We embarked 22 Native passengers at Tarawa for Ocean Island passage money at £ 1 being collected at the latter Port.

Arrived at Ocean Island at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, 8th. and as I was very anxious to get away with as little delay as possible, I went ashore to see the Resident Commissioner, to ask him if he would grant me a Clearance and Bill of Health to enable the steamer to sail that night. This he very considerately did, saying, that as he was despatching a steamer – the "AFRICAN TRANSPORT", the next day for Sydney, he would not hold us up waiting for the mail, but would send it by the other vessel.

Mr. Elliott did everything in his power, both in the "Tampo's" case and the "Moresby’s", to expediate our departure from Ocean Island, realising these were not ordinary voyages, and that it was of the utmost importance that we should be delayed as little as possible.

We landed the mail here, also the natives we had on board from Tarawa, and after procuring the Clearance and Bill of Health

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we sailed at 1 a.m. on Wednesday 9th September for Sydney direct.

Trusting that what I have done will meet with your approval,

I am,

Yours obediently,

Supercargo.

[Page 23]

S.S. ‘Morinda’
Off Townsville
31st Oct. 1914

Dear Father,

Here I am on my way south again. Have had a lovely trip, and found the work much easier than when I was up this way before.

Thank you for the paper cuttings. They came aboard at Cairns, with Hazel’s letter. I was awfully glad to get them, as also were the other Officers & Engineers on board – they were going the whole round.

Wish Dene Many Happy Returns of the 11th Oct. I don’t believe I did, when I wrote home on the upward journey. He must have got a nice lot of presents.

Has Mother gone away yet? Hazel said she was going soon, though I would have thought she would have gone long ago. It was very sad about Baby Barker – it was the

[Page 26]

only child wasn’t it?

It is getting very warm up North now, and you notice the difference at once when you leave New Guinea. I am almost shivering tonight, and we are only down as far as Townsville.

Have not sighted any Germans this trip. We had a German passenger for Sydney from Papua, but on arrival at Cairns the Customs Officer & a policeman came on board and asked for me. I was beginning to wonder what I had done. However they only wanted to know if we had any Germans on board. I pointed this chap out, and the straight-away took him to the lock up, no doubt to question him as to his business. We only stayed in Cairns a few hours, so he missed the boat. They don’t love the Germans up this way I can tell you.

We called in at Cooktown this time before Cairns, but I did not get a chance to go ashore. I was ashore last

[Page 27]

time. I was up here in the "Matunga", and saw the exact spot where Capt. Cook beached the "Endeavour" when she had that big hole in her from running on the reef. It is a queer old town. There is not much doing now in the way of business, though the 7 or 8 pubs of which the town boasts, all seem to be making a "do" of it, and there must only be a couple of hundred people altogether. It’s a very thirsty climate though to live in.

We should get in about Friday next, unless we are instructed at Brisbane to call in at Newcastle for coal on our way South, in which case it will be about Sunday.

Well, its pretty late, so I think I shall turn in for a while.

Trusting you and the family are all O.K.

Alan

Thank Hazel for her letter – I’m sorry to hear Olly has not been too good.

[Page 28]

"Morinda" 7.

5th November 1914.

The Manager,
Island Department,
Messrs Burns Philp & Co. Ltd.,
Sydney.

Dear Sir,

Following on Mr Kennedy’s report.

The Woodlark Island cargo was finished at 9 a.m. on Saturday the 24th October, and the "Morinda" sailed at noon, arriving at Samarai at 6 on Sunday morning. The tide not being suitable the ship did not go alongside the Wharf till about 9 a.m.

After sending the mail ashore, I went and saw Mr. Aumuller, and showed him your radio message re the price of copra. He told me he had a little, but was going to keep it at Samarai till the "Marsina" same along, to see if a better price was offering. I then went and interviewed Mr. Faris of Messrs Whitten Bros. He had about 26 tons of Copra in Samarai, but I could not induce him to sell any to the steamer – he has consigned it to Sydney, by this vessel.

Mr. Clunn of Messrs Clunn & Sons likewise would not sell any to me, thinking he would be able to get a better price in Sydney, but has shipped some 10 Tons as cargo.

[Page 29]

With reference to the Radio-gram re the collection by Samarai Branch and Nelsson & Shedden Woodlark Island of 25% on all Brisbane and Cairns freights. – I did not get this message till after our departure from Samarai, and consequently could not inform Mr. Aumuller of it until our return from Woodlarks.

I understand that Mr Kennedy has written you fully telling you how satisfactorily the cargo was discharged at Woodlark Island. Most of the Timber was floated to Boi-Boi, to be transported to the sight of the Wireless Station as required. The "Annie" – which we towed up from Samarai with us – took all the cement in her holds thus protecting it from the weather. We were fortunate in not having any rain to hamper the discharge of the big cargo, otherwise we might have found it difficult to have got away on the Saturday.

We missed the "Matunga" at Samarai, she having sailed on the Saturday previous to our arriving there, also the "Misima" which we saw steaming away as we came abreast of the Island.

Twenty-one tons of Coal were dumped on the Wharf at Samarai for the "Misima" before we went to Woodlark Island, and another forty-nine tons on our return, making in all 70 Tons,

[Page 30]

receipts for which I have enclosed under separate cover.

The "Wakefield" which was at Samarai when we arrived from Port Moresby, came alongside on the 19th October, and we delivered to her, Six tons Coal and 2000 gallons fresh water, obtaining triplicate receipts for same. I handed one to Port Moresby Branch, the others being handed in to Head Office.

We landed at Samarai a little Overcarried Cargo, which we were unable to put out before, and loaded some 37 Tons Copra, 1 Box Gold consigned to the Bank of New South Wales, and 1 Box Pearl Blisters for Mrs Arbouin C/- of your goodselves – Value £ 25. Shipping Receipt for the latter has been posted to you by Samarai Branch.

We finished loading the Copra at 12.20 p.m. on Monday 26th Oct, and sailed for Port Moresby at 12.30, arriving there at noon next day.

The "Morinda" berthed alongside the Government Wharf on arrival, and started loading Timber, this being a sample shipment, shipped by and consigned to The Papua Company, and consisting of some 32000 Super.feet. We also took in 46 Bales Sisal Hemp (20 tons) and 110 Bags Mauritius Beans. (These bags were not in good condition, there being a lot of holes in them

[Page 31]

as if rats had eaten through) Loading at Port Moresby was carried on under difficulties, there being only about 12 boys available, the 20 we took on board at first, being left at Woodlark Island to facilitate the discharge of the "Marsina".

I went up and saw Mr Greenwood, and he had about 5 Tons of Copra which I bought at the price telegraphed to me. I also saw Whitten Bros. but they had none on hand at all, either to sell or to ship. Messrs C.R. Baldwin had a small lot of 5 tons which they have shipped to Sydney, and this and B.P’s Copra was not taken on board till our return from Yule Island.

We left Moresby at midnight on the 27th Oct, arriving at Yule Island at 7 a.m. next day. A. Gabriel came on board, and I bought 3 Bags Copra from him. The tally of cargo here turned out 2 Cases Kerosene short.

Sister Patricius was a passenger from Yule Island. I was informed that the usual proceeding therevwas to issue a ticket for people of the Mission who travelled by our steamers, and the Mission would be debited by Head Office for the amount of the passage. Acting on this, I issued a ticket to Sister Patricius, stating on it that the cost would be debited to the Catholic Mission.

[Page 32]

We left Yule Island at 11 a.m. and got back to Port Moresby at 6.30 p.m. on the 28th October, and, after taking in the Copra and passengers sailed at 11 p.m. for Cooktown.

Arrived off Cooktown at 3 p.m. Friday 30th. and landed 5 passengers, there being no cargo for that Port.

From here I sent the usual wire to Head Office, giving particulars of cargo and passengers, and regret that the Chief Engineer could not give me the bunker requirements in time to be included in that wire. However I sent same from Cairns the following day. The Captain said he had received no order for shipments of coal by the next trip of the "Morinda". I also sent wires to Cairns and Brisbane Branches giving them particulars of cargo for their respective Ports.

We got to Cairns at daylight on the 31st Oct, and started discharging at 9 a.m. having about 11 Tons to put out here. Sailed at 10 the same morning for Brisbane, and after passing the Doctor berthed at Pinkenba at 7 p.m. on the 3rd inst.

Only having a few packages for discharge at Pinkenba, we wereable to sail at 8.15 for Newcastle. I gave Mr. Hufschmid the particulars that you asked for in your wire, and he was to wire you and McIlwraith McEacharn & Co with reference to overland

[Page 33]

passengers. We reached Newcastle at 9.30 a.m. on Thursday 5th inst, and after passing the Doctor proceeded to No. 7 Crane to load our Coal. This we expect to be finished about 6 a.m. tomorrow (Friday), and should thus arrive in Sydney early tomorrow afternoon.

As you will see, we are several days ahead of the time-table set down for us on our departure from Sydney, but knowing how anxious you were that we shaould be back at the earliest date possible, I think I can safely say that no efforts on either the Officers’ or Engineers’ parts were spared to ensure this quick return.

Yours obediently,

Purser.

[Page 34]

The Salvation Army
Divisional Headquarters
73 Goulburn St.,
Sydney

W. Bramwell Booth – General
James Hay – Commissioner

Military Camp,
Liverpool., N.S.W.

21st Decbr. 1914

Dear Mother,

Arrived this morning, and went right up and saw the Doctor. He passed me, though he tested my heart for a long time, and asked me if I had had any illness. I told him I had measles, mumps etc, but did not mention the diphtheria, because I thought he might have chucked me out. It is pretty miserable here in the rain, it has not stopped once all day, and the whole place is a mud-hole.

I’m afraid there is not much chance of my getting Christmas at home, as they have stopped all leave on account of a number of lads who get leave and do not turn up again. But you can be sure I will work it, if it is at all possible.

I saw Bob Newton this afternoon. He has joined, but will not be in camp till tomorrow morning. There is a pretty rough crowd here, but one hardly expects to find otherwise under the circumstances. There are 17 in our tent, which is supposed to hold 10, so you can imagine how cramped we are – and everything is wet & slushy. Don’t you think providing stationery etc. is a good idea?, but the nibs are awful.

With Love to you all
Alan.

[Page 35]

Commonwealth of Australia
Postmaster-General’s Department, New South Wales
Telegram
Office Date Stamp – Lindfield N.S.W. 11 Feb 15

Mrs Fry Northcote Rd Lindfield Leaving noon today on Seangbee love to all Alan 1040

Wire from Alan Wm St. P.O.
11 Feb. 1915

[Page 36]

[Envelope]
Mrs A. Fry
‘Dene Gully’
Lindfield
N.S. Line
Sydney

dated 13.2.15

Written on it:
From Alan & Thompson, Brisbane, 13 Feb. 1915

[Page 37]

[Verso of envelope]

[Page 38]

Dear Mrs F
We are having an OK trip & Alan & I are OK. Am looking after Alan heaps. Although we have any amount of influence we are unable to get leave to go ashore in the evenings.
Kindest regard to all,
Sincerely Yrs
R Thompson PS Please tell Dene I will write from Colombo
RT

Brisbane Saturday 13th

Dear Mother

I just heard that we are going direct to England. It is pretty correct I think too. That will be O.K. won’t it? I do not know if you will get this, if the Censor sees it you won’t, but I am relying on "INFLUENCE" again.

You had better address all letters to Vic Barracks & they will forward them on to me. Are leaving here tonight for Colombo I think, so should have plenty of time to write during that time.

Must cease now to get this away. Much love to all
Alan

[Page 39]

From Alan
Brisbane 13 Feb. 1915

13.2.15
Needed for Insurance

A.I.F.
Passed Censor 48

Mrs A Fry
Northcote Road
Lindfield
N.S.Line
Sydney
N.S. Wales
Australia

On active Service
No stamps available

[Page 40]
[Envelope]

[Page 41]

S.S. -
B -
Saturday

Dear Mother,

Arrived here this morning after a fair trip up. It was pretty rough when we left Sydney, but the wind changed round to the South & we had a following sea which was a lot better. Most of the lads were sick, and the ship was in an awful state. It was very funny to see some of the lads, who, it didn’t matter what you threatened them with in camp, would not stop making a row, all subdued, lying anywhere, in the scuppers amongst the slush & dirt, or on the deck, in fact anywhere where they could find a place to lie.

Middleton is on the same boat as we, and I was very surprised when I saw Eric Greenwell walk on board. Nearly all my pals got together, and mess at the same table. We are all housed down below in the ‘tween decks, and it is very crowded and stuffy even now, I don’t know what it will be like when we get to the tropics. I’m lucky in as much

[Page 42]

as I do not mind the heat. At night we all sleep in hammocks, slung from hooks in the roof, each man having about 16 to 18 ins of space. The place is simply crowded, all the hammocks touching each other, and when one moves or rocks we all do. Have to be in bed & lights out at 9.30, and up at 6 am, so we get plenty of sleep.

They are feeding us like kings. Plenty of everything, & well cooked. We can even pick & choose. For dinner yesterday we had, fish, roast mutton & potatoes, pickles, bread & jam and BUTTER, tea and stew. Isn’t that pretty good? We all sit down at tables which is an advance on Liverpool. I don’t think anyone on board is sorry that we have left that place – not now any way, yesterday when they were all sick it may have been different.

We do not have any drill on board, it is far too crowded, and all day there is nothing to do but lie on deck & read or smoke or sleep. I guess we will all be as fat as pigs when we lob in Egypt. Have some 6 or 7 weeks to go yet.

[Page 43]

Things are very easy now, but I daresay when we are settled down properly, there will be little jobs found or made for us just to prevent us from getting too homesick.

We had a rather quiet farewell from Sydney. The crowd were not allowed on the wharf at all. Arthur was down there to see me off, and I had a yarn with him before we went on board. We passed few ferry boats on the way down from Woolloomooloo Bay, but they all cock-a-doodle-dooed on their whistles, and the cheers from the troops must have been heard miles away.

Tommy is with me, and was not sick either, so both of us have been particularly happy. Bob Newton is on the other boat worse luck so I do not suppose I shall see him till we disembark again.

Will you remind Dene to send those photos of mine out to the people I told him. Tell all the family to write as often as they can & address them to the Victoria Barracks. They will then be forwarded on to me, and I reckon I will be very glad to

[Page 44]

get them. I would also like the cutting from the paper of the departure of the 2nd Reins.

I do not think I told you before Mother, but should anything happen to prevent me coming home again, that Insurance money is yours
in full to do just as you like. Now don’t think from this that I am feeling down-hearted. I’m not. To tell you the truth I have a feeling that in a year or so I shall be back in Sydney again, and with a big smile up too. I really believe we shall be back inside 12 months.

I do not know if the Censor will cut any of this out, but I believe we have to be careful what we write; any how none of us on board really know when & where we are going – it is all only surmise on our part. I daresay you know more in Sydney.

It’s breakfast now, so Good bye and with tons of Love to you all.

Alan

Has Mr Newton been over to see you yet. You must explain to some people down there how it was I could not see them before I went. There were too many to do in the time.

Good-bye Mother. I do not know when I will get the next chance to post a letter. Perhaps somewhere up the Q. Coast. Does Rollo miss me? Give him a kiss.

[Page 45]

S.S.Seang Bee"
Ashore near Thursday Island
Thursday 18th Feb 1915

Dear Father,

I wrote to Mother last night, but am afraid that owing to the strict Censorship it was not very interesting. However tonight I am going to tell you a lot of things that I daresay will not be known by everyone in Sydney. I am able to do this owing to "INFLUENCE" again.

Well we got to Brisbane, or rather Pinkenba early Saturday morning 13 Feb. There were a fair number of people there, and on the whole we had a great time there. I wrote home, & threw the letter over the side to a lady who promised to post it for me – did you get that one? It was to Mother if I remember rightly.

In the afternoon we took some 350 Queensland troops on board, making a total of about 1100 – so you can imagine how

[Page 46]

crowded on board. We left Pinkenba at 5.30 that afternoon 13 Feb Sat, and had a lovely trip down the River, passing numerous pleasure boats & yachts, all of which dropped in for a deafening & prolonged cheer. Once outside some of the boys turned green again, though the sea had moderated a lot since the day before. The following day 14 Feb Sun. was calm, and we had a Church Parade. Since then it has been like a Harbour cruise. Perfect weather and a lovely blue smooth sea.

All went well till Wednesday Tuesday night. I was on Guard that night down below. About 4.30 a.m. there was a peculiar rasping & scraping sound. It woke all the lads up and with one accord they stampeded for the steps up to the deck. However the scraping sound only lasted some 6 or 7 seconds and then all was quiet again. It was as close a shave to being on the reef as could have been. A lot of the lads thought it was the anchor being dropped, but I knew what it was. Just before she struck

[Page 47]

I felt the whole boat vibrate & quiver and knew there was something wrong. The cause of this shiver was the helm being put hard over, and the propeller forcing the water against the rudder causes the boat to vibrate more than usual. I had often felt it in the "Morinda" & "Matunga" when they were turning sharply – so the striking of the reef was not altogether a surprise. However we proceeded on our way, and the boat was only leaking very slightly, the pumps being able to keep the water under easily. As you can gather from this though, it was a very narrow shave.

Last night (Wednesday 17 Feb) I was sleeping on a roof out on the deck. Had been asleep a good while when a severe bump awoke me. I jumped up & looked over the side, and though the boat had stopped I could not see anything of a reef. In the morning however, there it was – high & dry right in front of us, and the nose of the "Seang Bee" almost out of the

[Page 48]

water. The engines were kept going astern almost continually from 4 am, when she struck, but no appreciable difference was noticeable. At daybreak the wireless was set going and Thursday Island was called up. T.I. is about 80 miles away. The "Seang Choon" the other transport was ahead of us and did not know our plight. T.I. got her by wireless & told her to come to our assistance. She arrived about 10 a.m. this morning (Thursday.) She got a cable aboard and with our engines going full speed astern, she commenced to go ahead. The hawser became taut and – snapped. Another was taken aboard and a strain was put on it steadily, while all the troops on this ship rushed from one side to the other trying to get her to move just the smallest bit. However it was no good, and though we kept this up under a fierce sun till about 2 pm, when it was full tide, the boat had not moved an inch. The other transport then went full

[Page 49]

speed ahead, as a final effort I suppose, and again the hawser broke. That was the finish. Nothing more could be done then as the tide was falling fast.

The next idea was to lighten our ship, so the "heads" struck on the idea of throwing coal overboard from the hatches forr’ard. There are 5 Companies on board & each are taking a spell of 1 hour. Ours comes on in about 20 minutes. We are all stripped, the order of the day being, some wearing a worried look, others an round indication disc round their necks, others from swimming costumes to dungaree trousers. It looks very funny, I can tell you, and everyone is happy. There has not been the slightest panic or anything like that, the sea is perfectly calm, and the other transport is just about 100 yards off, so there is no cause for any of you to worry. Any one you see who has sons or relatives on board, you can assure them we are all O.K, and as happy as larks.

[Page 50]

This is too long a letter to write to every-one, so you can shew this to all who you think may like to read it, besides I may not be able to get another one through.

How we could manage to strike reefs on two consecutive nights, of course I am not in a position to say, but it seems very funny to me, that with a pilot on board, who should know every inch of the Coast, and a well chartered & well lighted coast too, that such a thing should happen. But some of us have our suspicions though of course it would not do to speak out too much in this case.

We must be very hard & fast, & I very much doubt if we will be any the better off when we do float away from the reef. I suppose we were at about 8 or 9 knots when we struck, and these reefs are very hard, so I would not be surprised if we had a good bit hole in us. It is quite on the books that if

[Page 51]

we do slide off, the Pilot will have to beach her again to prevent her from sinking. There is some 7 or 8 feet of water below now in the holds. From the foc’sle you can plainly see the bottom, there appears only about 7 feet of water there and the coral & fungus us clearly visable.

Well Father, I have to do my coal lumping now, so I will stop & will not end this, perhaps I shall have to a chance to write more later.

You might show this to Arthur Wynne & Capt. Newton, amongst others, I think it would interest them, & tell Mother not to be alarmed, I guess I will crawl out alright as usual.

4 am Friday

Have done our shift of coat lumping – in fact 2 shifts since I left off. Started at 8 pm & went like mad till 9 pm, and again from 2 am till 3 am. It was hardly worth while going to bed for the few hours

[Page 52]

so I sat up & talked with Eric Greenwell who was on duty in the Hospital all night. It was filthy down the hold, and we could not see 10 feet on account of the fine dust, and to breathe was a work of art – I reckon I am quite black inside, and was outside from head to foot, till I had a shower. Nearly everyone has their hair cut right off, and we look just like a crowd of niggers.

It is a very antiquated way of handling coal too. There is a ladder from the bottom of the hold to the top, and perched on it are the soldiers close up to each other. The coat is shovelled into small baskets, holding about 2 shovel fulls each, and then started on its way up the ladder. There is another string of lads across the deck to the side of the ship, and as the baskets reach the top it is taken & passed across the ship to be emptied over the side. The baskets are then passed back a different way. A continual stream of these baskets is kept going and it is jolly hard work I can

[Page 53]

tell you, getting the basket at your feet & passing it over your head to the lad above you. The worst of it is, you can hardly notice the difference in the hold, when the hour is up, I should estimate we shift about 4 to 5 tons and hour. There are some 250 tons there, so it is going to be a long job. During the whole time work is going on, the boys are singing songs, hymns & otherwise, & really the hour passes very quickly. I never thought a human being could perspire so much. It was in our eyes, ears, mouth, & running in streams off me – Gee!! it was crook.

Some of the men are grumbling a bit at the way things have been hashed up. The reason being I suppose, that they are anxious to get to the front & are chaffing at the delay. Others talk openly of deserting the first chance they get – they’re funking it, I reckon, but on the whole the crowd are taking things as a matter of course & doing all possible

[Page 54]

to help things along. Excuse me writing on both sides of the paper, but it is scarce and we have to be economical. There is no ink at all.

There are of course numerous rumours going about as to what is going to happen to us. Tomorrow morning they are going to make a final effort to get off; failing, I suppose we shall have to wait for tugs to be sent up. I did hear that the other Transport, which has the 3rd Reins on board will go to Egypt as the 2nd Reins & we will be taken either to Brisbane or T.I. to await another transport. However I daresay by the time you receive this, you will know just exactly what has happened to us. But it is very hard, that we should get away & then be delayed like this. The blooming war may be over by the time we reach there. When the news comes out in the Sydney papers, would you please cut them our & post on to me. I would like to hear what excuses, etc, are given.

Well, I do not know if you will get this or not, but I trust you will. Hoping all the family & yourself are well & tell Mother not to worry about me.

Your loving Son,
Alan.

[Page 55]

[Envelope]
Thursday Island Queensland
22 Fe.15
A.I.F.
Passed Censor

On Active
No.1340

From Alan
Thursday Island
22.2.15.

Mrs A Fry
Northcote Road
Lindfield.
N.S. Line
Sydney
N.S. Wales

[Page 56]

[Envelope]

[Page 57]

No Place
No Time
No Date

Dearest Mother,

I’m afraid this is going to be a rather funny letter. We are not allowed to say where we have been, where we are going, or any vessels, etc, we have seen. However for all that I am O.K. and having a really good time. Still getting good food and not much work, and I daresay it will take some little time to get us into condition when we do land.

We have had perfect weather the last 4 days, the sea just like Sydney Harbour, and nice & warm :- in fact it is getting a bit too warm for some of the lads. It is very warm sleeping in the ‘tween decks, and a lot of the men take their hammocks & sling them on deck anywhere they can find room. Some have them hanging from the rigging, from the derricks & all sorts of queer places.

Razors, tooth-brushes & other small items have been issued now, so our kit is about complete. A number of the men are growing moustaches, and as I have about 4 days growth on, I think I shall have a

[Page 58]

try too. I guess you would all get a surprise if I was to land back with one on.

Tommy is in good condition. Had a rise the other day to Orderley Room Sergeant. That is he has 3 stripes up, and does all the clerical work on the boat, so I do not see quite as much of him as I used to. Did I tell you Eric Greenwell is on this boat too? He is quite near me, and I see him every day.

We have a canteen on board (Dry) and it does a roaring trade. It is not run for a profit exactly, and some of the things they keep are very cheap. Capstan Cigarettes 8d for 50 & Three Castles 1/3 for 50. Dene will tell you how cheap that is. There is no beer aboard for the men at all, and I daresay a lot of them are feeling better than they ever have before.

It is just lovely steaming up here. We are quite close to land, and are passing small islands & reefs all day. Every one has got over their seasickness & are all as happy as can be. We have no piano

[Page 59]

on board, but a violin, mouth-organs and concertinas provide the music. There are plenty of scraps as usual, but that is only to be expected I suppose amongst so many.

Well, Mother, there is not much I can tell you more, as it will probably be cut out; but you can rest assured that I am quite well, & likely to remain so.

Have not heard any news of the War for some time now, & will look forward to some cuttings or "Mails" when I disembark.

With Love to all the family, & remind Dene about the photos, also about my white clothes with Mr. Newton on the Federal Wharf.

Your loving Son,
Alan

Any letters that may come for me, readdress them to me C/- Victoria Barracks – Sydney.

[Page 60]

S.S. "Seang Bee"
Wednesday 3/3/15
Indian Ocean.

Dear Mother,

I am not sure exactly where I got up to in my last letter to Father, but I think it was about the Friday on the Reef.

Well we continued to shift coal all Friday & Friday night, and by this time we had put a good deal over the side & you could see the mound above the water. It was high tide about 10 am on the Saturday & then a final attempt was to be made to tow us off. What would have happened if we had not come off I cannot say, but I daresay we would have been transhipped into a the other Transport. However there was no need of this for about 10.30 am, with our engines going astern, we floated gently off. You should have heard the cheering from both boats. The lads were just about full of shifting coal, & most of us were anxious to get on to business. The roar must have been heard miles away. We then

[Page 61]

made for Thursday Island, about 60 miles away & arrived there at 3 pm that afternoon. A survey was held, but of course it was not made public. There is no doubt we were very lucky to have escaped so easily, & if a storm had sprung up while on the Reef, I might have had another tale to tell – that is if I could have told any at all??!

General leave was granted on Sunday after Church Parade (10 am) & we all went shore to see the "town". There is nothing very striking about it, & is not nearly as pretty as many of the other island villages I have had the luck to see. About 8 of us dined at the "Grand Hotel", and what a feed. It cost us 5/- each for dinner, but we would not have minded if it had been 25/-, not that we are not being fed pretty well on board, but it was good to get on to dry land again. Leave was up at 6pm and at 6am on Monday we sailed.

Since then we have been stearing a general westerly course for Colombo, & should get there on Sunday or Monday next.

[Page 62]

All letters have to be in by 8 am tomorrow morning if they are to be posted at Colombo, so I will not be able to write again till we reach Aden & perhaps Suez. Tommy, Eric & myself are all in the best of condition, & have been ever since we left Sydney. Both the boys desire to be remembered to you all. Eric has been pretty busy lately, as the Hospital is about full of patients with colds, influenza, etc, but so far I have escaped even the slightest cough.

The food is not as good as when we left, being more tinned meats than fresh, but if we never get worse than this we will be alright.

I wonder if Dene thought anything about those photos & negatives & white suits? Did I tell you, that if we have the luck (& both of us have started very well) to come through this little lot, Eric & myself are going to get our discharge in England & have a small holiday in the shape of a bicycle tour – as Eric says, "amongst the quaint old

[Page 63]

English villages when the primroses are blooming & the birds twittering brightly" – now don’t you think that sounds inviting? I wonder if it will come off? We won’t have to have too many more shipwrecks though.

I have to write all my letters in pencil, as there is no ink available, so tell Hazel she need not pass any remarks at all, either about the grammar or writing. I will write to her from the next port. Really I have so many people to write to, that I find it hard work getting through them all. As a reward, I hope to get a nice little pile on arrival in Egypt (we are calling there, you know, en route to Berlin). I am longing to hear how you all are & what social gatherings etc have been going on. Tell Hazel she is not to be married till I come back, providing it is not more than 2 years hence – I won’t give my permission under 2 years.

I do not think I told you

[Page 64]

that we visited the Hospital at T.I., and were shown over by a very nice little nurse. Quite pretty & about 24 years old. As you know I have a partiality for nurses, so we really enjoyed our little visit. Got some afternoon tea into the bargain.

We have been having fairly rough weather lately, but the little sea experience I have had has stood by me, & I can always go below & get a good dinner down – and keep it there. Tommy also is a good sailor & has not been sick yet. I only wish we had Mills with us. He is a really decent fellow. I have told him to go up & see you sometime. Have you seen him yet?

It’s near "lights out" now Mother dear, so I will end this off, and hope you are all well, & do not worry about me. I am coming through this little lot alright, you see.

Good bye, & with lots of love to you & the family –

Your son
Alan.

[Page 65]

3.3.15

S.S. Seang Bee"
Saturday 3/3/15
Bet. Colombo & Aden

Dear Mother,

Since writing last we have called in at Colombo & by the sheerest good luck, I managed to get ashore there. For the last week or so before reaching Colombo, we had the most perfect weather you could imagine. The sea & wind died down, & with a smooth sea & clear sunny days not too hot, we really put in a very good time. The piano we bought at Thursday Island is just the thing, & there is plenty of music every night.

We arrived at Colombo just at dusk on Monday night 8th Feb and there are no wharves here, so both transports lay out near the breakwater. Scores of natives came round in boats straight away & though they were not allowed on board, many of them scaled up ropes on to the deck & started bargaining with the soldiers. No leave was granted that night of course, and we just had to be contented at looking at the lights of the City. You

[Page 66]

could not possibly imagine how we all longed to be off the boat, even if only for an hour. It was more than a fortnight since we had left Thursday Island, and everyone was just about full up of the inactive life on board. Of course we have a little drill & exercises, but that is not like a real good walk around. Next day everybody was sure general leave would be allowed, but no!! An order was read out saying anyone trying to get ashore would be severely dealt with. However Tommy told me not to worry, he would fix me alright, and though I waited all day, there was nothing doing, & I really thought for once that the "INFLUENCE", which has stood us in such good stead up to now, had left us in the lurch. However next morning about 6.30, Tommy sent down for me & said could I be ready to go ashore in 15 minutes. You bet I could, & getting my uniform on we went down the gangway & were rowed ashore by a couple of natives. The natives here are the

[Page 67]

biggest thieves & rogues you could possibly imagine. They wanted 2/- a head for rowing us ashore, & we being new to the town they thought they would get it. Tommy however gave them 1/- for both of us, which was more than their legal fare, & we both turned a deaf ear to their row on finding we were not such mugs as we looked.

We had a whole day before us, and after doing a little business that had to be done in connection with the ship, we started to see the city. I sent Hazel or Dene, I forget which, a pc. from the Post Office there. After walking about for about an hour, I whistled a "rickshaw" boy & hopped in, Tommy doing the same. Everything was new to us, so we told the boy to do the whole town. We went out to the Cinnamon Gardens, about 3 miles out from the town. It was a lovely drive, through the native quarter of Colombo. The streets here are very narrow & dirty, and just a mass of small shops. There do not appear to be any private native houses

[Page 68]

they all appear to be barbers, or grocers or fruiterers. The Gardens were more than beautiful, & as we rode through the shady paths, as smooth as asphalt, we could hardly believe that we were really going to the War. The "rickshaw" boys seem tireless. They are small slim men, & can keep up a fast trot for hours at a time. We hardly stopped once in an hour & a half, and we’re not the lightest weights in the world. Both boys could speak a smattering of English & as they ran, they would point out the different buildings & points of interest. I would have loved to have had a photo of Tommy & myself riding along like a couple of "dooks", lying well back and a huge cigar – one of Uncle Walker’s – in our mouths. We were real gentlemen for once, though one soon forgets it when he comes back on board here. The trip is getting very monotonous now, and we will all be glad when it is over. I got rid of my cold & now Tommy has one. But I am getting away from the

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shore trip. We got back to Town in time for lunch & strolled into the G.O.H. (Grand Oriental Hotel). This is the Hotel of Colombo, & a most beautiful place. Better than any Hotel in Sydney, I think. The Dining Room is a very large room & one almost feels lost in it. We had a glorious feed (cost no object) & then went to the Lounge Room of course for a smoke. In the afternoon, another ride we had. It is a curious sensation being pulled along by a black. They go at a good pace and often I thought I was going to be run down by a motor car or cart, but they are most skilful in evading vehicles & pedestrians. The natives here are the worst beggars I have ever seen. They run for miles along side the rickshaw asking for money, saying, "Master, Master, we very poor man, you give me 1 cent" (6 cents make a penny) & you absolutely can’t send them away. But if you are soft hearted enough to give them one, in no time you will have half Colombo

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following you, and till we dropped to it, we found it very embarrassing having some few score of urchins & grown men too chasing you wherever you went.

We finished our ride about 4.30 & went to the "Pagoda" a large refreshment house in the main street, for a cup of tea. And such a cup!!! I have never tasted nicer tea anywhere, and coming after the tack we are used to on board it was delicious. I bought Hazel a small bracelet & posted it to her before we left, I would like to hear if she got it when you write again. It will do for her birthday. She might give Dorothy the silk scarf & Wilga the necklace, just a small remembrances of my visit to Colombo.

I got back on board about 6 pm, & many were the envious glances cast at me by the other lads who had to stay on board during the whole 2 days & nights we were in port. We sailed about 12 that night for Suez & should get there in about 10 days. We are now 2 days out

[Page 71]

from Colombo & are having a perfectly smooth sea & fine sunny weather, not hot at all. In fact I have been surprised the last fortnight, how cool it has been.

How is Dene getting on with the Matric.? Of course when you get this, he will have had the exam, and I sincerely hope, passed, in which case congratulate him for me. Has that little money matter of his turned out all correct? If not tell him to go up to Victoria Barracks, they will fix him up there. We only get 1/- a day on board ship, but of course get paid the rest on arrival at destination. The reason of this is that a lot of the men only gamble it away when they get it, and the Heads think it will be safer with them till we land. I think it is a good idea too. I know I would only spend mine at the Canteen if I was paid it all.

The rumour is that we are going to Marseilles & not Egypt, but time only will tell that. Myself I think Egypt will be our Headquarters for some time.

Are you keeping well? You really ought to have that well-earned holiday you promised yourself months ago. It would be good experience for Hazel. How are Rollo & Wilga. I guess Rollo will not know me when I return. I have grown a moustache, will get a photo of it in Egypt. It looks dead funny. With tons of Love to you all. Alan.

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P.S.
Mother would you find out "Fat" Penfold’s address & send it to me. There is no saying where we shall get to later on & if we go to England I would like to go and see him. Also any other people’s addresses you know of. How about the Hendersons & Frasers?. Do you know their addresses? There is no need to give me Sir George Reids’. I am sure to be able to find him, & of course will go and have a yarn with him. Good-bye & I will write again soon. I daresay we will have landed long before you get this – I hope so anyhow.

Love to all,
Alan.

[Page 73]

H.T, "Seang Bee" A48
Near Colombo
5.3.15

Dear Mrs Fry

A line to let you know that Alan & myself are in the best of health & spirits. We are today crossing the line & preparations are going ahead for the reception of King Neptune. The sea today is just like glass & the weather beautiful. We expect to arrive at Colombo about Monday & expect to stay there for at least 50 hours. I am of course going ashore although NO leave is to be granted & am arranging for Alan to go with me. "INFLUENCE" again. – We are running a magazine on board & I am acting in the capacity of Editor. I am having it printed in Colombo & Alan is sure to send you a copy which you will find very amusing. Kindest regards to all

Sincerely Yrs.
R Thompson

[Page 74]

[Envelope]
On Active Service
No Stamps Available

A.I.F.
PASSED CENSOR 48

Mrs A Fry
"Denegully"
Northcote Road
Lindfield
North Shore Line
Sydney
N.S.W.
Australia

From Pt. Thompson
Colombo 5 March, 1915

[Page 75]

Aerodrome Camp
Heliopolis
About 4 miles from Cairo
Wednesday 7/4/15

Dear Father,

I received your letter written early in March, yesterday, and was more than glad to get it. You cannot imagine how we all look forward to mail day here, which only occurs once a fortnight.

I’m glad you were all interested in that one of mine written on the Reef, and why I did not mention anything about publishing it, was because I did not think it would be allowed to be put in print. But so many things have happened since then, that all that seems a very long time ago. We have been in Egypt about a fortnight now, and I reckon I have had the stiffest luck of any soldier here – but more of that later.

I think when I last wrote fully we were on board the "Seang Bee" nearing Suez. The trip up the Red Sea was, contrary to expectations, quite the coldest we had experienced since leaving Sydney. I had always thought it was supposed to be very steamy & hot. The nights were really cold & we had to use our blankets the first time for a good while. Well, on arrival at Suez,

[Page 76]

we were informed that we could not go through the Canal, as it was too dangerous, the Turks being pretty close and intermittently making rushes to try & cross, though they seemed only half-hearted about it. The result was that we entrained at Suez & came on to Cairo that way. The Railway runs right along the canal almost all the way to Ismaila, where we branch off to Cairo, & though it was night when we went through, we could see plainly (it was moonlight) the Indians & New Zealanders entrenched on both sides of the Canal. It seemed to me a funny thing that some 2300 soldiers should make that journey as we did, through hostile country, without even one round of ammunition. Why, had half a dozen Turks managed to reach the line, they could have held up our train & given us a torrid time, & we could have done nothing in return. However they didn’t, & I suppose we can consider ourselves lucky. It may seem funny me commenting on the arrangements made by the Authorities, but it is just as things strike me & most likely would strike hundreds of others. Well we travelled all that night, and it was bitterly cold, besides, us we being so cramped up that sleep was out of the question, and arrived at Cairo early next morning (5 am). We then marched out to Abbasseih Camp, some 2 miles

[Page 77]

from Cairo. When we got there, the "Heads" had not expected us so soon & had not made any arrangements for us, with the result that we had to spend all that day till 4 pm, lying on the hot sand in the blazing sun without any food, after which we turned to and pitched our tents. Next day no rations were forth-coming, and most of the lads had to go without anything or very little. But of course things bettered themselves as time went on. We started straight away to get into condition & had some solid marches over the sand. And very hard it is too, walking on the soft sand, more especially as we were fresh from a long sea voyage. One day we marched some 7 or 8 miles out on to a big hill and in the distance saw the Pyramids, where the big Camp (Mena) is situated.

And now comes the hardest part of the lot. I had not been in Egypt 5 days, when I had to go into the Hospital, and am still here. I caught a bit of a cold just prior to leaving the boat, but, as can be well understood, I never took much notice of it, thinking I would shake it off in a day or two, only to find it got worse as time went on, till one morning, after having spent an almost sleepless night, I thought I had better see the Doctor & see if he could give me something for it. Imagine my surprise when he ordered me into the

[Page 78]

Hospital straight away. I had only influenza, but on account of the very hot days & cold nights, they have to be very careful of colds & that sort of thing, as they very quickly turn into pneumonia. But you need not be alarmed in the slightest, I’ll be OK again soon now. Have been here some 9 or 10 days & am getting on fine. But there is something much worse than influenza troubling me. My company had only been at Abbasseih about 1 week when they were ordered to join the 13th Batt, whom of course they are Reinforcing, at Heliopolis, that is right next to me here, & some of my pals often come in to see me. They had not been here 6 days when the 13th Batt together with nearly all the Infantry here received notice for ??? – we don’t know where but are almost sure it is the Dardenelles. Our O.C. told our boys that they are almost sure to be under fire inside 5 or 6 days. There are some 40,000 French troops at Alexandria, & they are also going over with the Aust & NZ. Men. We hear that an army of 100,000 Turks are waiting for us, so there should be "somethin’ doin’". Our army is expected to be landed, under fire from our warships on the Dardenelles & most probably will engage the Turks at once, & if all goes well, we’ll start marching on

[Page 79]

Constantinople. All my pals that I came over with are going, though they are Reinforcements, as it is expected that we shall sustain pretty heavy loses at first & of course the gaps must be filled up.
And here am I, lying on the broad of my back out of it all. Gee!!! its hard – dashed hard. I would give anything I possessed to get away with the boys, and last night I got up & dressed myself & went & saw the Doctor to ask him if I couldn’t get out of the Hospital & go along with them. But it was no good, he wouldn’t let me go. I would have cleared out, but I knew it was no use. I would only have been sent back. Well I did not sleep at all last night, and am not ashamed to admit that I shed a good few tears. Aren’t I unlucky? Just the time when a man ought to be well & in the pink of condition, ready for anything, he goes down to it & is only a drag instead of being of some use. The worst of it is, it may be the last fighting the Australians may see, as it seems probable that their work will be to watch Turkey & see that all is right round this way, & perhaps never get to the front at all. I cannot tell you how I would love to be in the march into Constantinople. Our boys are leaving tonight at 12 o’clock for Alexandria, & I daresay, we’ll go right on then to the Dardenelles. Of course a lot of this

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is only conjecture & rumour, but the main points are right. It is quite on the books that they shall be camped at Alexandria some weeks in which case I shall perhaps get a chance to join up with them again. I only trust it is so, though its a poor chance.

Tommy is not going. He has had a shift in the orderly Room at Headquarters, amongst the "nobs" and I do not see very much of him now.

Your letter was very interesting and I’m glad you showed it to Capts. Newton & Cuthbert. I knew Capt. Cuthbert would like to read it. I am not altogether surprised at Olly thinking of going. I knew that before I left Australia. Perhaps I shall run across him somewhere if he does come over this way. Re that little matter of Denes’ money – don’t mention that. - Its only what 99% of chaps would have done in the same circumstances. I only hope Dene has passed his exams & gone to the Varsity, where a bob or two now & again may come in useful to him. Don’t forget to let me know if he passes. I reckon Bruce is a sport to devote so much time & trouble to giving Dene a hand. – I think he is doing a lot more for Dene than I ever did. But – finis??

Am enclosing a little poem I happened on,

[Page 81]

I thought it was very fine, perhaps you have seen it.

The cuttings were more than welcome, and all the lads round about me have had a great old time as well as myself, reading them.

I have noted your few remarks
about Cairo, but don’t be troubled, Father. I don’t not profess to have one hundredth the knowledge, you & many others have, but as you know, I have knocked round a fair bit, during the last few years, and are fully aware of the snares awaiting one, if he is not very careful & level-headed, & though I do not pretend to be perfect, you can be assured I shall always try my very best to do the manly thing. – I can’t say more.

I have been a very long time over this letter, & if it does read a bit disjointed, remember that I am not quite myself today, & cannot help thinking of my not being in with the boys when they strike "trouble", probably in a few days.

I have not had a letter from Mother or Dene or Hazel yet. Ask them to write, you cannot imagine how we look forward to mail day here. Its almost the only bright spot in this awful place.

Give my very best Love to all the family & don’t worry. I’ll be alright soon now

Your loving Son
Alan

[Page 82]

[Envelope Franking: Sydney N.S.W.1915]

Private Alan F. Fry
No. 1340 A.I.E.F.
2nd Reinforcements
13th Battalion
Egypt

[Additional markings]

UNKNOWN
4TH AUST. INF.
POST OFFICE

Unknown 13th Batt.

Unknown 15th Batt

Unknown 14th Batt

15TH Battalion

[Page 83]

Don’t know where the letter went. This was all I received.

[Page 84]

Melbourne.

Camp. Langwarrin
Tuesday 25/5/15

Dear Mother,

I guess this will be a surprise for you – but it is just as big a surprise to me. I never thought when I left Australia I would be back so soon. I hope you have not been worrying too much at not having heard from me for so long, because I am O.K. I hope to be home to see you before long. But to begin at the beginning.

I think last time I wrote I was in the Hospital at Heliopolis. I told you I had influenza but I had worse than that. I had been in Hospital about a week & had pretty well recovered from my cold, when I got very feverish and malaria broke out. I had a pretty rotten time for a week or two, but got over it alright as you can see.

Altogether I was 5 weeks in the Hospital and when I came out I was pretty weak & thin. Of course I was not made to drill or do any work and just loafed about convalescing. I had only been out a few days, when one afternoon an Officer came up & told me I was going to Australia the next

[Page 85]

day. You cannot imagine how surprised I was at that. The Doctor called me in a little later and told me that I was being sent to Australia for the sea trip. As he thought the change would do me the world of good – I was pretty poor looking at that time – and if I was right when I arrived I should be able to come right back again to Egypt. Another reason he said was because my Company had left Egypt for the Dardenelles, and I could not join them for some time, so I might just as well get away from Egypt for a time, as the Summer was coming on and would perhaps do me no good. I would not come at first, but the Doctor pursuaded me in the end, by saying I was certain to come back. That decided me and here I am. The month on the boat did me the world of good. Had no work or duties at all and was fed like a King, with the result that I was landed in Melb. yesterday as fit as a fiddle. About 200 came out on the boat, comprising undesirables, Medically unfit and convalescents. Nearly all the convalescents were right on landing and we have been sent to here (Langwarrin) to do some Guard. The German prisoners are camped here, and we do sentry round the Compound all day and night. Two hours on and

[Page 86]

six off are our hours, so we are not hardly done by. It is cold here & coming after Egypt we notice it a bit, but it should do us the world of good. The Camp is about 30 miles from Melbourne and about 2 miles from the sea, being pretty high, so you can see it is a very healthy place.

I do not know when I will get a chance to come home, but am going to inquire in a couple of days if I can can get a week or two off to go home. There are some troops leaving on Saturday for Egypt. It is quite possible we shall be sent back with them, though I do hope I get a chance to come home even for a day.

I left Egypt so suddenly that I did not get a chance to see Bob Newton or Tommy, but saw them a day or two previously and both of them were as right as rain. Tell Mrs Newton that next time you see her – Bob was very fit and disappointed that he did not go to the Dardenelles. We did not hear till we landed in Melbourne that our boys had been fighting, and were all sorry to hear of the casualties. I knew quite a lot of the men who were wounded or shot dead, and I suppose you have seen that the 13th batt have been hit very hard. The Corporal of my

[Page 87]

Section, Capt. Baker, was wounded and another lad named Birmingham was killed. Its rather hard on me being here & reading about all this, when I ought to be there with them, but I daresay there is plenty to be done yet, and I hope I won’t be long here before getting away again.

How is everyone at home? You can write to me here, and I am dying to hear something from home. I am going to write to Tom Bochine now I think he will get a surprise when he hears from me too.

Goodbye now, Mother, and don’t forget I am quite well, so don’t you worry at all. I may be home any day or it may be a week or so before I can get leave.

With Love to you all
Alan

[Page 88]

Langwarrin Camp.
Monday 31/5/15

Dear Mother,

I was very glad to get your letter today, and hear you were all well. It seems months since I have heard from anyone, and really it is about 7 weeks since I have had a letter.

It surprised me to hear of Dene’s joining but I’m glad he has done so because I think anyone who can possibly join should do so now, its no time to be hanging back. And Uncle Jim is going too. My word I would like to be in his regiment; I’ll bet he is a very popular Officer with the men. I saw in the Bulletin of Cairns getting his commission.

I am still doing Guard here, but hear that something is going to be done about us, at the end of the week, so perhaps
I may be home for Sunday dinner. We are being fed very well here and though it is cold, I am getting very fit, and quite ready to go back to the front and do
my little bit this time – and I’ll take good care I don’t get any more influenza.

I had a letter from Helen today also. Was so glad to get it, as I have not had a word

[Page 89]

from any of them till now. When is she going home? Tell her to stay till I come home now, as she has been down so long, a few days will make no difference.

I have not seen or heard from Tom Bochine yet, though I wrote to him a few days ago, I suppose he has been rushed with work. It is too far from here to rush into Melb for an hour or two like we could at Liverpool.

I want to suggest something to you and get you to talk it over with Dene. With reference to that 2/- a day I left him. Has he been drawing it regularly? Well, as he has joined up himself now, and will be getting his 5/- a day, I don’t suppose he will want the other also and I was going to suggest that it should be put in the Savings Bank. You have my Bank Book at home, it is in the chest of drawers I think, and though I would like to give it to one of the others, one cannot blind oneself to the fact that when this was is over, it may not be too easy to obtain billets and to have a few pounds behind one would be a great asset. This is just a suggestion, and if Dene has made other arrangements about it, they had better stand – in any case you use

[Page 90]

your own discretion about it.

It is a pity I am just a bit too late for the Silver Wedding – Helen said you looked quite young – "as young as Hazel or I" were her words, but better luck next time. I may be there for the Golden wedding.

Well, Mother, there is not much news to tell you now – I’ll talk plenty when I get home – which I hope will be this week sometime.

With Love to all the family – and Helen if she is still at Dene Gully

Your loving son.
Alan.

PS I do not want to upset any arrangements Dene may have made re that little matter, but thought I would mention it in case Dene did not know what to do with all his money. Does he know when he is going away? I’m afraid this is rather a scrawl, but it is cold here and my hand is nearly numb. My word it gives us some ‘hurry up" in the mornings when we roll out for our wash & breakfast not to mention doing sentry all hours of the night.

[Page 91]

[Printed letter head: Melbourne Young Men’s Christian Association
R. O. Clack 130 Flinders St.
General Secretary Melbourne
On Active Service with the Troops]

Broadmeadow Camp
Melbourne
3rd June 1915

Dear Mother,
I have left Langwarrin, and as you will see have been sent to here. On Wednesday we had word to pack up & go to Melbourne Barracks and I thought it was to get some pay & leave, but no such luck. We were all bundled out to Broadmeadows Camp and I am as far off leave as ever. I do not know when we are going away, but it is rumoured that the 6th Reins 7th Battalion (to which I am attached in the meantime) are leaving about the 20th of the month – surely I will be able to get home before then. Next time you write address it to the 6th of the 7th, as of course they do not know me as the 2nd Reins of the 13th Batt here.

I think Dene wrote to me the other day, but addressed to Langwarrin, & so I did not know where we were going from there I told a lad there to send it on home to "Dene Gully". If it comes back would you please send it on to me here? By the way, Mother I have not had any pay since landing in Melbourne (thanks to the Red Tape which rules the roost here) so if you have a couple of bob you do

[Page 92]

not know what to do with, you might send it along. The crowd that I am with were paid today, but our names were not on the roll & we got nill.

I am absolutely OK now and you would never know I had had such a crook few weeks. Although it is very cold in the nights, it seems to agree with me alright. We all rolled out at 4.45 am this morning and went down to Williamstown, about 15 miles away shooting. It was a very scratch breakfast we had, a bit (one slice) of bread & jam & ½ pannikin of tea for dinner, and 1 slice of jam & tea for tea. Yesterday we got very little as we were travelling most of the time to Langwarrin, and I hear now that we are going to Williamstown again tomorrow, so you see they mean to get us in good condition again as quick as possible. I’ll soon lose all the condition I had at this rate.

A couple of days ago I had a very nice letter from Helen. Has she gone home yet? I’m afraid I cannot write to her just now, but will do so in the course of a few days. In the meantime I would like to get another from her. You can tell her it won’t bore me – not even all the "just fancy’s".

Our boys still seem to be falling quickly at the

[Page 93]

Dardenelles, don’t they? I daresay we shall go straight there, & not land at Egypt at all, or any how only for a few days to get all equipment etc in order. Does Dene know when he will be leaving? I dropped into Tom’s Office yesterday to see him, and he fairly gasped when he saw me. We had a bit of a yarn but I had scaled away from the Barracks to see him so I could not stop long.

It has been decided to move this camp to Seymour, some 50 miles further away, on account of the complaints made against it by the public. They have just had about 2 weeks rain here & the place is worse than a pig sty, but I suppose you have read about it in the papers. Still you had better address my letters to Broadmeadows & they will forward them on to Seymour if we have left.

Well, Mother, write by return post if you can, as I am tired of cadging smokes and if I have asked too many questions tell Hazel to answer some of them. By the way I did not even know she had undergone an operation, but am very very glad to hear she is right again.

With lots of Love to you all
Your Son
Alan

If you know what boat Uncle Jim is leaving by, let me know, & any way tell me what crowd he is with.

[Page 94]

[Envelope]
Alan’s Railway Tickets
Melbourne to Broadmeadows 4 June 1915
Return Half = Wodonga to Seymour 9 June 1915

[Page 95]
[Envelope]

[Page 96]

[Printed letter head: Methodist Soldiers’ Tent
Military Camp, Liverpool,
Resident Chaplain: Rev. E. M. Boyer]

Thursday 8/9/1915

Dear Mother,

Arrived out here O.K. about 4 pm today and am attached to 9th Rein 2nd Batt, under Noel. I do not know if I shall be able to get the week end off yet but am going to have a yarn with him tonight.

It is fearfully dusty out here, nearly as bad as Egypt. Am amongst rather a decent lot of fellows and should get on pretty well. Do not know exactly when we shall get away, but I do not think on Monday – probably Wednesday.

Got the camera today, and it a beauty, with any luck I should be able to get some photos worth having. Saw Niven also today and had a talk with him. I will say Good day now as I am going to see Noel about the week end.

Love to all

Alan

[Page 97]

[Leave pass]

[Page 98]

[Printed letter head: Australian Imperial Forces
Headquarters
Liverpool
September 11th 191
Also attached an official stamped pass]
O.C. 9th Reins.
2nd Battalion.
Leave for Lieut N.M. Cuthbert and Corporal A Fry.

Two passes enclosed as above for Lieut N.M. Cuthbert and Corporal A. Fry, who are to proceed to Lindfield this after- in order that a presentation may be made to them.
Lieut Colonel,
A.A.G.
A.I.F. Camp.

[Page 99]

T.S.S. "Argyllshire"
Nearing Albany.
At Sea.
5th Oct 1915

Dear Father,

There is a rumour that a mail will be going ashore in a day or two, so here’s just a few lines saying how I am getting on.

We have just come through a lovely storm lasting 3 days, much to the discomfort of the troops, the majority of whom have been very sick & miserable, though I am glad to say it has not affected me in any way. It was here that Dene struck it so rough & if he had it worse than we have, I can readily sympathise with him.

Till today I have seen nothing of Noel, but he asked me down to his cabin tonight and we had a good old yarn. I have struck it lucky again, or so I think. A typist was wanted in that "Holy of Holies" – the Orderly Room – a few days ago, so I dropped in for it, even though my typing has not improved during the last 12 months. The machine is a very old Smith Premier like yours, and it took some time for me to get the hang of it, but I can push her along alright now. It’s fine being here. Right up on the main deck all day, very little work to do, and amongst real decent fellows all the time.

The food we are getting is pretty good, though not as palatable as on the old "Seang Bee", and lately there has been more than enough for those who are not sick.

Tell Ollie I was sorry not to have seen him just before leaving, but he will understand what a rush I had I’m sure.

P.S. Has my allotment been coming along regularly. It should be £1/-1/- a week instead of 14/- now, and Ma will square up for anything I owe you.

[Page 100]

All the censoring is done in the Orderly Room, though I don’t think I am well enough in yet to get everything I want to write through. However there is no harm in trying. No places, dates or destination are to be mentioned, but I’ll risk the Censor. As I suppose you will have guessed we did not call at Melbourne, nor Adelaide, and are now nearing Albany, where we call
. We struck the storm on rounding Gabo Island and it has kept on right up till now, though I expected it a good deal worse coming across the Bight. I’m afraid none of us shall get ashore at Albany, as probably we shall only be there an hour or two, but if any one does go ashore – naturally the Orderly Room Staff, have preference !!? – as in Thompson’s case on the "Bec". Before long I hope to be sleeping in a comfortable berth in a cabin. Two of the lads here have a cabin to themselves, and another fellow & yours truly are getting on the scent, and are going to see what can be done. If theres a spare cabin we shall have it, if not – well we’re no worse off. As it is we sleep in the Orderly Room, just 2 of us, and that is better than in the Troop Deck, amongst 150. Our deck was flooded in the gale. The Company in the nose of the boat were washed out, by having their booby hatch carried away by one of the seas we shipped, and there was some 3 feet of water in the lower deck where the were camped.

Will write again soon. Address any letters that may come to me at the address left behind, and tell Mother to send some socks with a packet or two of smokes in them occasionally.

With Love to you all

Alan.

[Page 101]

[Telegram : postmarked Lindfield N.S.W. 9.06.05]

Commonwealth of Australia.
Postmaster-General’s Department, New South Wales.
Telegram

This message has been received subject to the Post and Telegraph Act and Regulations. All complaints to be addressed in writing to the Deputy Postmaster-General.
Station from, No. of words, check, and time lodged. Remarks
Albany W.A. 14 1/ 9
Mrs Fry
Lindfield N.S.W.

Quite well Noel well too best love to all

Alan
2 37

[Page 102]

"Argyllshire"
Indian Ocean
23rd Oct. ’15.

Dearest Mother,

We are getting very near the end of our journey. Crossed the Line a few days ago, and should be off Aden next Tuesday. Then we have 4 days run up the Red Sea, and shall probably disembark, and take the train to Suez. on Saturday, a week from now.

It has been a glorious trip ever since leaving Albany. The sea has been perfectly calm, and the boat just seems to glide along. She is a lovely steamer, and the largest I have ever been on, for a trip. In Hazel’s letter I told all about my luck in getting a de cabin to doss in, and as far as I am concerned, I may be a Saloon passenger, except for the tucker, and that hardly comes up to Saloon standard, though personally I have no complaints to make. We get plenty of fresh meat & vegetables & soup besides prunes & figs, rice & plum pudding. Of course there are always some growlers everywhere, and we have some here, but I think they are a long way in the minority.

[Page 103]

Our Social side is not being neglected either. We have Concerts about 4 times a week & passes the time very pleasantly. Of course these Concerts are not exactly like the Melba Concerts at Her Majestys or the Town Hall. Oh! dear no !! No evening dress or elaborate bows. The lads just jump on to the platform in dungarees and singlet (generally pretty dirty too) and if they sing a good song, get cheered, otherwise - counted out. Very often the accompanist does not know the song that is to be sung, but the music is a very minor detail, and the singer just faces the audience (a pretty critical one too) and gets it off his chest as best he can, and in many cases better than if he had the piano to accompany him, as a lot of these boys have hardly seen a piano before, leave alone sung to one. The Officers generally preside at these evenings to lend tone to the affair I suppose, and though there is a good deal of banter and "slinging off’ goes on, I think everyone enjoys themselves.

Our one complaint is - lack of

[Page 104]

War News. We are longing to know how the position is generally, and in Gallipoli in particular. A lot of rumours go around the ship, supposed to have come from the Wireless Operator, but of course we do not place too much reliance on them. The latest is that Bulgaria has gone in with the A Germany & Roumania has fully mobilised her forces preparatory to joining the Allies. We do not know how true this is, but myself I think it quite possible, in fact probable that such is the case. If it is so, our boys at Gallipoli are going to have a hard time of it for a while, but – the bigger the odds, the better the glory – and I guess none of us will shirk it. I only hope we do not stay long in Egypt – I am more anxious than ever now to get over "there", and try again to do my little bit, and also to see Bob Newton, and many other friends that are over there. I wonder how Bob is. He has been there a good while now hasn’t he? Tell Mrs Newton next time you see her, I shall look him up as soon as I go over, and will have him as cheerful as a "two year old" before long, that is if he

[Page 105]

is not already in that happy frame of mind, and somehow I don’t think trench work is guaranteed to keep the "blues" away exactly.

We are having it very hot now, and we have to be careful about sun-stroke, as we have not much hair on our heads. The heat does not trouble me, I prefer it to the cold, and am wondering how I will get on over at Gallipoli, where we are certain to have it very cold & wet. However I guess if the others can stand it, I can. That’s the way I look at it.

If Dene is due out in Sydney again at the end of November, he should be leaving just about the time we arrive there, and I am going to have a good try to see him, if the Hospital Ship is at Suez or Alexandria, before I leave for the Front.

There are a few little things you might do when you are sending a parcel to me. Put some cigarette papers (1d a packet) a cake of soap and some tobacco or cigarettes in it. You could put them in the middle of a pair of socks, they would not take up much room would they? Are you getting the allotment

[Page 106]

regularly now? Of course you knew I altered it from 2/- a day to 3/-, didn’t you? They may even be making the mistake of paying the two lots, though I think they are too fly for that. Should I get wounded and sent to Hospital, I may have the luck to get to England, so don’t be surprised if you should get a cable saying to send me a "couple of bob". I would like to go there, as I have an open invitation to Tommy’s place, it would be a good idea to go there when I’m convalescent. Golly! I would like to see his cheerful dial again.

Well, Mother dear, I’d better turn off at the meter hadn’t I, and I shall probably send you a cable just before leaving for the "fun" though of course if I’m broke (& quite likely too) I won’t be able to, but in my case don’t you worry about me one bit, I’ll be O.K. and remember – KEEP SMILING
.

With Love to all the family, - and OTHERS (Hazel will do that part!)

Your loving son

Allan

[Page 107]

Transport. "Argyllshire",
Nearing Aden
25th October 1915 (Monday)

Dear Father,

It is now 5.30 p.m. on the above-mentioned date, and a most remarkable thing has happened. Here we are, going along, on our way to Gallipoli, and have just passed a Hospital Ship, evidently bound for Australia with wounded soldiers on board. Isn’t it a wonderful that we should meet her, away out here in the middle of the Ocean, considering we have not seen a steamer of any description since the one we passed about Gabo Island on the New South Wales border. As far as we could tell, it was the "Kanowna", and as you can imagine some very queer feelings and sensations came over us as we looked at those boys on their was home, (and she passed so close you could recognise faces) who had done their little bit towards helping the Empire on to Victory, while we are on out way to do the same. We gave them such cheers as you have never heard before, and they answered us, though to be sure, they never made such a noise as we did. Poor chaps, I suppose many of them were not capable of making much noise. They were all dressed in pyjamas and looked nice and cool.

Dene was supposed to have been out of Sydney again about the end of November, and I was wondering if he was on board, though there were so many I did not have a chance of picking him out, besides both ships going in the opposite directions, they did not take long to pass out of range. Any how he would have no idea that I was on board here, and even if he knew, there was less chance of picking me out amongst 1700 than there was of my seeing him.

[Page 108]

I wrote a long letter to Mother a day or two ago, and told just about all the news there is to tell, so I’m afraid there is not much for me to say in this. As a matter of fact I just sat down to tell you about the passing of the Hospital Ship whilst it was fresh in my memory, and the only thing I am sorry for, is that I did not have my camera handy to take a photo of her. I was down at mess at mess at the time, and hearing a lot of cheering up on deck, I rushed up with scores of others, and then she was right abeam of us, and if I had gone down for my camera I would have missed her altogether. It was a good chance missed, but I guess I shall find plenty of interesting things to take before I am through.

One thing I don’t think I told Mother about, and that was the Church Parades on board. It is compulsory to attend these Parades, and I can tell you, it is a very impressive ceremony indeed. Imagine close on 1000 men singing "Onward Christian Soldiers", or "For Those in Peril on the Deep," its just fine, and somehow sounds different on a boat. The ceremony is held on the open deck, under a canvas awning, and a Church of England minister takes the Service. He preaches a jolly fine Sermon, and everyone listens right to the end, he is one of the best I have heard.

Well, Father, I don’t suppose I shall have much chance to write very long letters in the future, and I daresay I wont be in a position to Censor them myself either, but you can be sure I shall drop a line as often as I can to let you all know how I am getting on, and you can rest assured I shall not shirk anything that happens to come along my way. My only wish is, don’t worry, and KEEP SMILING, the rest must be left in His hands. Your Son, Alan

[Page 109]

Wednesday. [27th Oct]
The mail closed last Sunday night, but of course I can put letters in right up till the mail goes ashore at Suez, so I thought I would keep your letter open and add a few words as we go up the Red Sea, thus making the letter complete right up till we disembark.

Well we entered the Red Sea yesterday morning, passing quite close to the island of Perim, though we did not see Aden at all. It was stifling everywhere. The wind was right astern and not blowing very hard, so of course the rate the ship was going did not create even a draught. It was the same all this morning too, and I thought we were in for a roasting few days, but tonight the wind has veered right round, and on deck it is beautifully cool.

We passed the ancient city of Mecca yesterday afternoon, fairly close, and had a good look at it through Noel’s glasses. This place is the port of Mecca, which is inland, and was once a very flourishing town, but now there are very few people there, and it is fast going to ruins.

[Page 110]

Many of the lads on board fully expected to find the Red Sea, a blood red colour, and now I think they think it is a bit of a frost, because it is blue, the same as anywhere else. Some of their ideas of geography are very vague, and one man was willing to bet me we were a long way past England. I am enclosing a little paragraph or two made up by one of the Officers, and it is rather clever, though some of the names are rather far-fetched. It includes almost every one of the Officers names, and the Nurses & Doctors. I thought the "Ketallack" tite was very good. The other typewritten page, is one of Kipling’s poems, most likely you have heard it. One of the Sergt-Majors on board is a lover of Kipling, and he recites it very well, besides many others.

This will do for the time being, and I shall finish just before we arrive in Suez.

Friday 6 pm [29 Oct/15]
I’m afraid I must end this now. The mail bags are being sealed up, preparatory to going ashore at Suez, where we will arrive about 7 am in the morning. As you can imagine everything is in a bustle now, and all the boys are in great spirits. Will write the first chance I get after landing.
Good-bye for the present, and give my Love to all at home.
Your Son
Alan

I might add we are not sure of going off at Suez, we may go right to Lemnos, but no one knows for certain.

[Page 111]

Tommy
By Rudyard Kipling.

I went into a public ‘ouse to get a pint of beer,
The publican, he up and sez, - "We serve no "red-coats" ‘ere."
The girls behind the bar they laughed and giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again – and to myself, sez I:-
Its Tommy this, and Tommy that – and "Tommy go away",
But its "Thank you Mr Atkins", when the band begins to play.
The band begins to play me boys, the band begins to play,
Then its "Thank you Mr Atkins", - when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre, as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but ‘and’t none for me.
They sent me to the gallery, or round the music ‘alls,
But when it comes to fightin’ – Lord they’ll shove me in the stalls.
For its Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ "Tommy wait outside",
But its special train for Atkins, when the "troopers" on the tide.
The troopship’s on the tide me boys, the troopship’s on the tide.
Oh. its special train for "Atkins" when the troopers on the tide.

Yes, makin’ mock o’ uniforms, that guard you while you sleep,
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an’ their starvation cheap.
An’ hustlin’ drunken soldiers, when they’re goin’ large a bit,
Is five times better business, than paradin’ in full kit.
Then its Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ Tommy ‘ow’s yer soul,
But its "thin red line of ‘eroes", when the drums begin to roll:
The drums begin to roll me boys, the drums begin to roll,
Oh! Its "thin red line of ‘eroes" when the drums begin to roll

We weren’t no "thin red ‘eroes", nor we aren’t no blackguards too,
But single men in barracks, most remarkable like you!
An’ if sometimes our conduct isn’t all your fancy paints,-
Why, single men in barracks don’t grow from plaster saints.
While its Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ "Tommy fall be’ind",
But its "Please to walk in front, Sir", - when theres trouble in the wind.
There’s trouble in the wind me boys, theres trouble in the wind.
Then its "Please to walk in fron, Sir", when theres trouble in the wind.

You talk of better food for us, an’ schools, an’ fires an’ all,
We’ll wait for entry rations, - if you’ll only treat us rational.
Don’t mess about the cook-room, slops, but prove it to our face,-
The "Widow’s" uniform is not the soldier man’s disgrace.
For its Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ "chuck ‘im out the brute",
But its "Savious of ‘is Country", when the guns begin to shoot.
For its Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please,
But Tommy aint no bloomin’ fool, - you bet that Tommy sees!

[Page 112]

(1). An island sighted by "Sir William Prior" :-
(2). Captain Purchas, A. M. C. suggests :-
It is called "Billy" Goat Island. But as Bill has "Prior" right to it, perhaps we had better "Purchas" (e) it. Seeing a man "Weedon" in the garden, he thinks he will take the ship ashore and "Docker". He also thinks we shall "Gitsham" shells with our "Hand"(s) on the shore. The Island they say is covered with "Wells" made of "Stone". Between us and the Island we sighted Mother Carey’s "Chicken", "And-‘er-son", that is the reason why we "Weigall" so, because we can see someone "Brune" beer. "Johns-son"" has taken "Paddy" the bull-dog ashore to "Sewell" him on to the "Wally"-by. Sone ducklings being sighted, they were immediately persued by "Campling" into a cave, whereis one large FAT "Retallack"-tight, which we will catch and "Stewart".

We saw a girl on the Island, but as we got ashore we saw "horizon" us, so "O’Halloran", and fell into a "(B)lake", and got a "Goldstein" on his shirt collar. The Doctor was called and he said I am a "Scot-(to)-hellier", and the Chief Mate said Great "Evans" in this "Farqu(h)ar-ter" of the world who would have thought to have seen "Jacks’-son" eating "Edwards" Dessicated Soup, it is enough to make a fellow "Cut(h)-bert" altogether. Had he said, don’t eat the soup, but a-"Varcoe"-d cream, we would not have minded the small "Gibbins".
The whole affair was most "Harris"-ing. Nothing was doing to windward, but they thought it would "Dooley"-ward.

[Page 113]

Suez 3rd Oc
Dear Mother,
These are a few p. cs. I bought today while ashore in Suez. The Karoola is lying some 2 miles out in the bay, and I could not get off to see if Dene was aboard. Probably he is. However I met the Sergeant in Headquarters here who is in charge of the Pay Dept. & he is going out to her tomorrow and kindly took a note to Dene for me. I guess he will be surprised to know I am in the same Port as he is. It is a coincidence meeting here isn’t it? I thought he may have been on board the Hosp. Ship we passed before reaching Aden but I don’t think so. I have remained behind here till tomorrow morning with the Colonel & adjutant to help them with a lot of work 7am going up to Cairo tomorrow with them. All the rest of the Troops went today.

Excuse the scratch, but it’s a crook pen, and I am writing hastily. Have just come back from a day in Suez – was very lucky to get up to see the Town at all.

Love to all Allan

[Page 114]

On Active Service

Mrs A Fry
Dene Gully
Lindfield
North Shore Line
Sydney
Australia

From Alan

Suez. 31st Oct 1915

[Stamp] Passed by Censor

[Stamp] On Active Service
"A" Coy [indecipherable]
31.10.15

[Page 115]

5th Novbr. 1915

[The Young Men’s Christian Association with H. M. Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in Egypt.]

From Zietoun Camp. Cairo
No. 1340 Coy. 10R Batt. 13th
Brigade 4B Divisn A.T.F.

Dear Mother and all at Home,

This is the life!! Have arrived here at last and settled down to real strenuous work. We left the "Argyllshire" on 31st Oct and took the train to Cairo, arriving here about 1pm that day. It was bad luck missing Dene at Suez. I believe he called down to the boat to see me, and I had only been gone a few hours.

The life here is just the same as when I was here before, except that we live in huts instead of tents. Not iron huts, but very thin boards, and they are nice and cool. We did not wait to get our land legs, but started right away to get the fat off, and have been worked like niggers all the time. Long marches every day, and trench digging are the general routine, and my word it is hard work digging trenches with those little tools we have. As fast as you dig the hole fills up again with loose sand, and it is not very long before we have a good perspiration up. The dust is very irritating and makes all the work unpleasant, and when the wind blows you can’t see 30 yards. However I’m not growling. Have never felt better in my life, and am fairly jumping out of my skin. When we come in every afternoon after our work a rush for

[Page 116]

the showers and they are always nice and cold. After a good hard rub down we all feel as fit as fiddles, and could go over the days work again right away. Leave is granted to all every night till 10 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Tomorrow (Sunday) I am going out to the Pyramids – am not going to miss them this time. I went out to Ghozireh Hospital to see Nurse Woods a few days ago but she has gone to a Hospital in England – Needless to say I was very disappointed. Today I met a lad back from the Front who was in the 2nd Reins and knew Bob Newton well. He left Gallipoli only in October and he said Bob was quite O.K. and had not been scratched up till then. Mrs Newton might like to know that.

Our O.C. told us today we would be going across very soon now, probably inside 2 weeks, and we are all longing for the time to pass. Have taken some photos, and will post the films home before I leave for the Front. The food is A.1. here and we can buy about 10 large tomatoes & onions for 1 piastre (2½?) as we make a very tasty dinner out of it.

How is everyone at home? I have had no letters yet, and am just longing to hear a bit of news. I will write again before I leave and probably will send you a cable as soon as I know definitely. Good-bye for a short time, and write as often as you can.

Love to you all.

Alan

Enclosed is a little hanky for Rollo.

[Page 117]

[Envelope]
Y.M.C.A., Sydney, N>S>W>
Field Service Department
On Active Service
Passed by Censor No. 8
A.I.F.

[Official Cable stamps]
Western Australia
Perth W.A.
12 Oct 15 3.10 PM

From Alan
Transport At Sea
12 Oct 1915

Mrs A. Fry
Dene Gully
Northcote Rd
Lindfield
New South Wales

[Page 118]

[Official cable stamp]

Western Australia
Perth W.A.
12 Oct 15 3.10 PM

[Page 119]

[Letterhead]

Young Men’s Christian Association of Sydney N.S.W.
(Incorporated)
Field Service Department

On Active Service with the Commonwealth Military Forces.

Address On board Transport
At Sea

Tell me in your letter if you are getting the money OK. It should be £1/1/- a week now I altered the amount.

Dearest Mother,

We have got away alright, and for the benefit of the Censor, we are going to "-"had him, he thought I was going to put Gallipoli. I’m afraid I am not going to be on such a good wicket as last time, as regards writing so far, but leave it to me, I haven’t had much of a chance to look around yet. We did not leave the Harbour till 4 pm on Thursday, and I saw Father on the way down to the Wharf, but no one else I knew. I never saw such a crowd to see any boat off there were far more than at the "Orsova", and all the time we were in the stream, scores of rowing boats & launches came round and made it quite gay. It has been a lovely trip so far, quite smooth and warm & no one has been sick. The tucker is fine, and if we keep on going as we are now, it will take about 3 months hard work to get the fat off us, when we arrive on the other side. It is rumoured we are not calling anywhere, but going right into action.

[Page 120]

but I would not place too much confidence in that, there are such a lot of rumours to about, that it is always best to wait and see. I have not had a chance to see Noel yet, I daresay he is far too busy getting things straightened out for a few days, to look me up. The sea-air seems to like me, because my cold has gone, and I am feeling in the pink, so don’t worry about that, and I am going to look after myself more carefully this time too – I want to get there sure this time. This is a lovely large boat though not as roomy as the old "Bee", and the troop decks are very warm and close. I have met several fellows on board I know, old Fort St. lads in the A.M.C. and there are some decent lads in our mess, so I can see us having a real pleasant trip over. This may go ashore at Melbourne, though we do not know if we are calling yet.

Remember me to any enquirers, and with lots of love to you all

Alan

Remember to KEEP SMILING
I guess I shall pull through this as I generally manage to.

[Page 121]

[Y.M.C.A. Certificate]

with H.M. Forces in Egypt
Stationed at Zeitoun Camp. Cairo
16th Novbr 1915

[Page 122]

Dear Father,

Talk about "Egypt’s sandy plains". There here alright, and all of us are just about tired of them. There is no getting away from them, even for a day, and I for one will not be sorry when the order comes to move on. I will give you the outline of one of our day’s work here. Reveille at 5.30 am, and everyone has to be on parade at 6.30. We fall in on our battalion parade grounds, & then march out on to the desert for about a mile, and indulge in physical exercises & marching, returning to Camp about 8.15. This is the best parade of the day, because the mornings are quite crisp, though not at all unpleasantly cold. Breakfast at 8.30, consisting of 3 eggs each, salmon, bread & golden syrup, & tomatoes if you like to buy them. The next parade is at 9.30, and the work on this

[Page 123]

parade varies. Sometimes it is a route march, or trench digging or bayonet fighting. It gets very warm by 10 am, and the dust & flies make it rather hard work. We return to Camp again about 12.30 or 1pm (Just according to what kind of a mood the Officer is in), and then comes dinner. Stew & bread are the items on the menu & sometimes tinned fish.
We have a bit of a spree after dinner, and do not fall in again till 2.15. Then comes the same old thing – out on to the desert – and we may have skirmishing or out post duty or company drill, returning again at 4.15. A wild rush is then made for the showers, and they are always nice & cool, even on the hottest of days. After a good rub down, most of us feel real good & fit for anything. Myself I have not had due "off" day since I have been here, and am

[Page 124]

absolutely in the pink. Tea is at 5 pm and tinned fish, bread & jam, and sometimes preserved fruits (tinned) are brought to light. After that we are free, & can go to Heliopolis or Cairo or write letters, in fact anything we like. All have to be in by 9.45 and lights out at 10 pm. By this you can see we are kept going pretty well during the day, and it does not take long to get into condition. I haven’t an ounce of fat on now, & have only been here 3 weeks, so by the time we have been here 6 weeks, we should be fit to leave for the Front. We have not heard anything definite about going, but it is rumoured that we will not go till 27th December, though I sincerely hope we are gone long before that.

Some of the work is very interesting, and I think most of us are finding out

[Page 125]

now, really how little we do know about soldiering as it is today. For instance we have been shown, and practised, the proper way to advance under shrapnel fire so as to have as few casualties as possible; again it is an art too – and also we have practised the final stage of an assault – the charge. This latter movement is wildly exciting, and we all get worked up. The whole Company, about 150 strong is lined out, each man being about 4 or 5 paces apart, and another Company in the same formation is backing us up some 300 or 400 yards in the rear. We advance by rushes of 30 yards towards the imaginary enemies trenches, with fixed bayonets, and when about 150 yards from our goal the Company behind rush up & reinforce us, we

[Page 126]
of course, being supposed to have lost some men in the short rushes. When this rear Company have joined us, we rest for a few minutes to get our wind again, and on the order being given everyone springs up, and with ear-splitting roars the whole lot make a final wild charge of about 150 yards, to the supposed trenches. We are all told to roar & shout for all we are worth, and you can be sure some 300 or 400 lads worked up to a pitch of excitement make a good row. Golly, no wonder the Turks run, it must be an awful feeling to be in front of a mob like that, and see them, all with fixed bayonets & roaring & shouting enough to wake the dead, bearing down upon you like a cyclone stopping at nothing; caring for nothing; intent only on one thing – to destroy.

[Page 127]

Well, so much for that, though I’m afraid I can not give you much of an idea of how it looks & what it feels like – you have to be in it for that.

We had a night march last night. These come along about once a week, and we have our full packs on. Last night we left Camp & marched through Heliopolis & Abbassia & back via Palais de Koubbeh & Zeitoun Station, about 7 or 8 miles altogether. They are good, these marches, because it is nice & cool, and the flies do not trouble us nearly so much as in the day time.

Well, Father this will do for the time being, and if you think anyone else would care to read it, just pass it on.
Much Love to all the family
Your son
Alan

I have not had any letters from home yet, though I got 3 from "other people" last Monday. A mail is due tomorrow. I may have better luck then.

[Page 128]

Zeitoun Camp
Cairo.
2nd Decbr 1915.

Dear Mother,

Here we are in December. The time seems to have passed very quickly since I left Sydney, just on two months ago. We still do not know when we will be on the move, and it almost looks as if we shall stay her till after the Winter – 3 months in Egypt is not a very pleasant thing to contemplate, though probably we shall be more comfortable than in the cold wind on the Peninsular. It has got very cold here now at night, though the days are lovely. "Reveille" at 5.30 am hurts muchly, and we all shiver till about 9 am, by which time the sun has warmed things a bit.

I am enclosing some photos that I have taken since leaving Sydney, and details are written on the back. Scores of the lads want sets of them all, and I have had hundreds printed. The negatives I will send later on, and anyone who likes may have the loan of them to get some prints. Probably Una may like to have some of them.

Had a mail from Australia a few days ago but there was no letter from you or Father. Hazel & Dorothy wrote and I was more than pleased to hear some news of you all. Wasn’t it sad about Mrs Hanson? Lyn told me about it in one

[Page 129]

of her letters. I never thought that when I was up saying good-bye to her, that it would be really "good-bye". It made me quite sad, because they had all given me such a good time when I was home, and I was looking forward to seeing her again. Dorothy’s letter was very funny. At the end of it, 3 others had a say as well "love from".

I’ve done it! Simply couldn’t help it, it was so easy. Gone and got a couple of stripes, and am now Pay Corporal of the 10th of 13th. There is plenty of work attached to it, and one has to have all their wits about them when dealing with the money matters. It is all in piastres (81/2d), and reckoning up the amounts in English & Egyptian cause a good deal of worry. However the pay is 10/- a day instead of 6/- and no more tramping in the sand any more, quite counterbalance the extra work that has to be done.

Have no time to write more just now, and will only send some of the photos as they are fairly bulky, the others I shall send next mail.

Tell Rollo to write a letter to me, and I am looking forward to getting one from you. Tell Dene to write and tell me all about his trip. Lots of Love to you all –

Alan

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Mrs A. Fry
Lindfield
Sydney
Australia

Dear Mother

Arrived 31st Oct and have had the day ashore in Suez.
Karoola is here but could not get out to see if Dene was aboard. Hard luck.
Love to all. Alan

[Card ]

Christmas 1915

[Boomerang with: I go out to return.]

A.I.F. Gift Store
Savoy Hotel
Cairo.

[Page 133]

[Page 131-132 cards]

Don’t take too much notice of the verse. There’s not much assortment here. "Love & Peace" just now, sound rather ironical don’t they?

1915-1916
Love to all
From
Alan

[Page 134 blank page, 135-136 cards]

[Page 137]

Every one of the Troops here received a little tin about 6 inches by 4" by 3", containing cigars, cigarettes matches etc from the Aust. Comforts Fund. This card was in it. Keep it for me as a little memento.

"Who lives if England dies?
Who dies if England lives?"
Kipling

The Nile Mission Press, 37 Sharia Manakh, Cairo

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Grand Hotel Bonnard Adresse Telegraphique Hotel Bonnard
Alexandrie Telephone 295
(Egypte)

Christmas Day
Alexandrie, le 25-12-1915

Dear Mother

Here I am in Alexandria, at the Hotel Bonnard. How did I get here? – Trust me!! It is Christmas Day, and raining. I never thought I would have a wet Christmas in Egypt.

Am still quite well, and having a good time, but the main thing is – I’m happy. (If it wasn’t for the cronk pens they give a man to write with here.)

Arrived in Alexandria last night, and will tell you how it is I am here in another letter, as my pal is waiting for me now to go for a drive. This place is not so big as Cairo, but much cleaner, & ones sees more English people about.
We went to the theatre last night. It starts pretty late here, about 11.30 or 12, & the result was we arrived back at the Hotel at 2.15 am this morning. Didn’t roll out til 9 & then had a good breakfast. – golly, this is the life. "Who wouldn’t join the Army". Honestly the boys who won’t join out in Australia, don’t know what they’re missing. Of course there is hard work sometimes, but then you enjoy the time you get off all the more.

No time to write more just now, and any way I’m almost crazy trying to write with this nib, so Gook by & I’ll write more in a gay or two. Love to you all. Alan

[Page 139]

25.12.15

from Alan
Alexandria: Xmas Day

[Page 140]

Zeitoun Camp
29.12.15
(Just recovering from the Xmas Festivities)

Dear Father,

Received your letter with copy of Dene’s enclosed on Xmas Day and you couldn’t have sent me a better present. Dene seems to have had a very interesting time, and was very lucky in meeting [indecipherable] & learning about Uncle Jim. While on this subject I shall tell you something that may interest you all as well as Grandma & Aunt Rose.

I was at the Intermediate Base in Cairo about a week ago, I met a lad named Norman Kemp. He was on one of B.P.’s boats up in New Guinea (Supercargo) and I have not seen him since my last voyage there, and it was a wonderful thing to run across him here. I did not even know he had enlisted. He was in the 19th Battln, and could not speak too highly of Uncle Jim. I did not let him to know that he was my Uncle till I was saying good bye, so he was not just blarneying". "Was just like a father

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to us" were his exact words. There was not a man – private or Officer who did not respect him, and many went to him for advice. I believe all his men were very cut up on hearing the news, but the only thing that consoled them was that he never lingered. I asked him a favour if he would write to Mother and tell her the story in detail, as I knew you had not heard very much, and Kemp was in a position to know Uncle Jim pretty intimately – being in the Orderly Room.

Christmas is over, and we had a boska time, though you can be sure our thoughts were many thousands of miles from here, most of the time. I suppose you are wondering how that letter from Alexandria came about, and if I was on the move at last. No such luck though. I was on extended leave. A certain number of men of unblemished character only
were given leave from 12 noon Friday 24th till 12 mid. – 26th Decbr. Of course
I came under this heading. Sergt White of the 11/13 and myself decided to take a trip to Alexandria.

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and forthwith caught the 4pm train from Cairo, arriving at Alex at 8 the same night. Neither of us had ever been there before & did not know our way about, but managed about 10 pm to find a decent Hotel where we bowled in, as if we had been used to fine Hotels all our lives. And it’s wonderful what a bit of swank & bluff will do. In no time we were fixed up A1 & had managers & flunkeys running after us, thinking no doubt we were going to stay a month or two. I think it took the boss down a bit when we asked for a good room for the night. After fixing that up, we went to the Theatre which starts about 11.30 pm, so we did not get our worth out of the bed, did we? As we were pretty tired in the morning we rolled out at 9.30, only to find it raining heavily. Fancy a wet Xmas in Egypt. It was hard luck alright, as we both had cameras, & intended taking a lot of photos that morning. As it was I could only take one. However after a fine breakfast at 10am; we went for a stroll

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round in the wet, & got soaked, but we had to see a bit of the place before we came back to Cairo. Alexandria is not as big a place as Cairo, but much cleaner, and more Europeanised, and instead of Australian soldiers in the streets you see nearly all "Tommies" & a good number of Frenchmen.

Had to leave by the 12 noon train on Christmas Day, as I was due at a Dinner at Shoubra Hospital at 6.30 sounds alright, doesn’t it? – and it was
alright, as you can see by the enclosed Menu. Lance Corporal Smith of our Company has a sister nursing out at the Hospital, and I have been out several times with him. When it was decided to have a Dinner on Xmas night, each nurse was allowed to invite a friend. Of course Sister Smith invited her brother, so I suppose you wonder how I got there? Well I met a number of nurses during my visits there, and one of them asked me so nicely if I would come on Xmas Day, that really I didn’t have the heart to refuse.

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The Major in charge of the Hospital is an Imperial man. And suggested that no one under the rank of Lieut, should be present. The Sisters however, who are all Australian told him straight that they ‘thought just as much of the "little privates", as they did of the Officers" in Australia, and if only Officers were to be invited they could all be left out of the affair. The result was that N.C.O.’s & "little privates" were both there, - yours truly amongst them. I thought that perhaps as I had been away from that sort of thing for so long, that I might feel a bit our of place. No hope of that though – for weren’t they nearly all Australians. We had a lovely time, all of us, despite the fact that I was placed right next to the Major. I met an old Fort Street boy there – Pines – whom I had not seen since leaving School, and had some good old yarns together.

On Christmas Day all the Troops were presented with a billy of gifts and a tin of cigars, cigarettes, post cards etc, which cam from the various Comfort Funds in Australia. The billies contained a very nice assortment of

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things. Pack of cards, cigarettes, tobacco towel & face cloth, sweets, plum pudding, matches writing paper & pencil, and in nearly all cases a very nice letter from the person who presented it. If only the people in Australia could have seen the boys when they were opening their parcels, I’m sure it would have made their hearts good glad. Golly! They were just like little children, and as each new article came to light, each man wanted all the others to stop unpacking their own billy, to come and look at what he had. Myself I was very lucky I have the parcel Mother sent me, one from Una, and also the two from the Comforts Fund. The letters are coming pretty regularly too; I don’t know if you are receiving mine or not though I have sent several little souvenirs too. Enclosed with this are some more photos, which I have taken. A short description is written on the backs. Would you get a small Album or book and keep them for me, as I wouldn’t have them lost for anything. Will be sending the negatives home later on, & anyone who cares may have the loan of them. The menu we had at Shoubra Hospital Xmas Dinner is also enclosed. I would like that kept.

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I heard a good description of a camel the other day. "The camel is a four footed quadruped, which eats dirt and spits bricks – hence the Pyramids" One of our Corporals is a "Keystone" too. Was drilling some of the men a few days ago, and was so pleased with the way they drilled, that he told them they were "just like a bit of mechanicism"

I have seen quite a number of Lindfield boys over here. Allan Gordon, Os. Mutton, Les Wynne, "Polly" Burton, Jim Coy Les is in the 11/B and camped right alongside me. The way I met Jim boy was very funny. Was down the Pay Office obtaining some £ 700 to pay the men, and who should hand it to me but Jim. He has had some marvellous escapes from death while at the Front, and no due expected him to pull through. He looks pretty well now, though he is not as bulky as when he left Australia. Last Sunday week I went out with him for a stroll round, and had some real good games of billiards at the British Recreation Club’s Rooms.

A number of papers came from

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you a few days ago, and were very acceptable to me as well as numbers of the other boys. Papers are always in demand, even if the news is a bit old.

We have cards here which we can send to the Base to make enquiries about any of our friends. I enquired about Newton a few days ago, and am enclosing the answer. This is the latest news that can be obtained, so perhaps Capt Newton may like to see it. Would you mind posting it on to him? A lad here from the Front, said he thought Bob, was promoted to Sergt. Major, but I do not know the strength of that. Anyhow it seems he was on duty on the beach – a very dangerous place indeed – with 150 men working under him on fatigue work, so he is very lucky to be still going strong.

I wonder how the people in Australia are taking the evacuation of the Dardenelles. It seems a great pity that so many of the boys fell there, all to no purpose as far a capturing the place goes, but all here seem to think it was the only thing to do under the circumstances. I was talking

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to a man who has only been back a day or two, and he said we could never have stood the cold. He was there whilst it was snowing & raining, and he says it was almost unbearable. The Ghurkas suffered terribly, and could not get their boots on, on account of the frost bite & swollen feet. Many were drowned in the trenches. They filled up (the trenches) and the men were too weak to crawl away. The Turks suffered also, quite as bad as our men or nearly so. I have just heard something a few minutes ago, which may mean we will be on the move very shortly now, though I am not certain, so if you do not hear from me for some time, you will understand the reason. I will probably send a wire as soon as we move off. With reference to what you wrote, about my cabling you in case of "emergency" (I suppose you know what "emergency" stands for in this case) I will do as you said, though I will have to be very hard up indeed before I will trouble you. I’m sure I will be able to get on without that, although as you say it would be a pity to be in England or elsewhere & not be able to see the place.

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I have no idea where we shall go to now, when we do go; probably you will be able to form a better idea than we can here, because we hear practically nothing of the War not nearly as much as in the Australian papers. Why, the "Bulletin" of about Novbr 4th had a cartoon of the Evacuation of Gallipoli, and we did not know here till the middle of December. That’s only one instance.

Well, Father, I’ll have to start and get things squared up ready to have at a moments notice now, so I’ll finish this, though I think probably it will be a few days before we break Camp and may even only move to another site then.

Hoping you all had a tip top time at Christmas & New Year – I suppose having Dene home made a difference – and that you are not worrying about me, because I’m O.K. and probably will be for some time to come.

With heaps of Love to you all, and tell the girls to write more regularly to me.

Your son. – Alan

[Page 150]

From No 1340
Cpl A F Fry
10th Reins 13th Batt
Zeitoun

Zeitoun Camp
Cairo
7.1.16

My Dear Mother

I’m very disappointed indeed. Here was I expecting to be on the move at last, away from this blooming place, only to be told that only the 9th Reins are leaving as yet, and the 10th are to remain here, goodness only knows for how long. We have here now the 9th 10th & 11th Reins of the 13th Battalion. The 9th & 10th have been here well over two months now & the 11th not quite a month, so there was some excuse for them not going, but the 9th & 10th were looking forward to going together, and orders came out last night that the 9th are moving out tomorrow morning and nothing was said about the poor old 10th. Somehow though I don’t think we shall be here very long, and I sincerely hope we’re not. About 1 week of Cairo is enough for me, & for most of us, after that we’re not only willing, but we want to get away from the place. Another reason I wanted to get moving as much was, because the 4th Brigade, comprising the 13th 14,15 & 16 Battalions, which have come back to Egypt & are camped at Ismalia on the Suez Canal

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Bob Newton will be down there, and also what is left (?) of the 2nd Reins – the Company I first left Sydney with. I’m just longing to see them and hear all about their experiences over at Gallipoli. I have met several old 2nd Reins men so far out here at the Camp, but none of them were special pals of mine. A lad from the 3rd Reins told me that he thought Bob was wounded just before leaving, but was not certain. I hope not. It would be very hard luck to have been there all the while & then get "dominoed" right at the end of the piece. I don’t think it is correct though, because I wrote to the Base a little time ago, and sent their reply on to Father to show Capt Newton. You had better not say anything about Bob being injured, as it is probably incorrect, and will only worry them.

I see Jim Cay pretty often, as my job takes me down to the Pay Office frequently. Yesterday I saw him, and he told me Reg was out at Maadi Camp, some 12 miles from here. We have been trying to find out where both Harold & Reg are for some time, but this is the first news we have had. I am going to try & get out to see him in a day or two, because I think he will be leaving for the Canal very soon too. Jim said he was looking very well, though he has had a

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pretty hard time. That kick he got played up with his health for some time, and between ourselves – he was a bit "dotty" for a long time, but Jim says he seems to have quite recovered now. Les Wynne is quite OK, I see him often. He is in one of the photos I am sending home. In one of the Sunday Times, Father sent me, I noticed a picture of the 13th Batt Comforts Fund store in Sydney. On the cases you could plainly see the address – 13th Batt etc; As you will see by some of the photos of the Orderly Room I am sending you, one of the boxes stand out very prominently & you can see the print printing on it. I cut out the picture from the Times & am going to send it, along with one of my photos to the Committee in Sydney, it may interest them.

I think I told you in one of my previous letters that it was getting
cold here. Well it is
cold now. The last few days have been awful. A strong wind blowing the sand everywhere, and bitterly cold. It was just as well the boys left Gallipoli, because I’m sure its raining and snowing over there, and I pity the Tommies who are still hanging on to the Cape Helles portion.

We hear rumours of a big attack on the Canal very soon & certainly they are gathering

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a tremendous number of Australians & N. Zealanders there, but we have heard the same tale so many times, that it does not cause much comment here, even though after all, the Canal is only about 100 miles from here, and if the Turks did get across, it would shake things up here in Cairo. Anyhow I hope they do try & get across, it will end our killing inactivity in this rotten place. Excuse this being written in pencil, & the writing, but I’m nearly frozen with the cold wind blowing, & I can’t get very warm sitting here. Tell father the paper he sends me come very regularly, and its lovely getting them. I picked out 7 from one mail this morning and Mr Hand our OC. (who is back from Hospital now) wondered if we kept a paper shop. But Mother, I never get any letters from you. I have only had one all these months, from you, and am beginning to think you must be ill and can’t write. Dorothy is a real sport, and writes very often, & lovely letters too, they being generally of rather a humorous turn & they quite liven me up. I am so glad to hear the Bon is home again, although how sad it all is. I had a p.c. from Joan just before Xmas too. Phillippa seems to still send fond & loving messages to me, though don’t be alarmed Mother, they don’t come direct. Golly!! Its funny isn’t it? I wonder if she will be waiting out at

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the Heads in a launch to welcome me home. A certain other person writes very
regularly to me in fact has ever since I left Sydney last February, and I can tell you I appreciate it very much indeed. If you only knew what letters mean here, why I think you would be always writing, every spare minute you had.

Several of the photos I am sending out were not taken by me, but Sergt White of the 11th Reinfs has a camera like mine & we generally go out together when we are going to take photos – that’s why I appear in so many, perhaps you gave been thinking I gave my camera to some one and ask them to take a photo of me each time. I think I told you I received the parcel OK It was alright too, - made all the difference in our Xmas here. I got it altogether, so did not do too badly. I’m glad to hear that Olly is well again, and hope to see him over here one of these days. Has he heard anything about coming away? I wondering what Dene is doing too. I do hope he has not joined the Infantry. Anything but that for him. Dene Cliff’s engagement was a bit of a knockout too – it will give you some idea of how things go on, once I leave. I can see, the sooner I come back the better. Why Hazel tried to do the same thing while I was away, & would have only I came home unexpectedly, otherwise I would not have been there when the deed was done.

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In one of the Sydney Mails I have, there is a full page photo of some lasses collecting on Allies Day, and I’m sure one of them is Olive Major. Did you notice it? – And very nice too!!

I am going to start paying the men now Mother, its Pay day, so I will have to close, and do write pretty often. Fathers letters are more than interesting, & he seems to get such a lot of news into them. It does not matter if you have no news to tell me – the fact that it is a letter from home is quite sufficient and I’m sure all the boys here will benefit as well as me, because when I get a letter I’m in a good temper for a couple of days, and if I don’t get one for some time I’m roaring on them all day – I haven’t had one for a week now, that’s why I started off grumbling in this letter I suppose, but don’t take any notice of that, - I’m alright, it’s the one privilege we have here – to grumble. All Australians are the same. They grumbled when at Liverpool & wanted to get away. On the boat they grumbled & wanted to get off, here they are grumbling & want to go to the Canal, & I know we shall not be there long when we will grumble & want to go to France or somewhere else. I do know that we area all grumbling because we did not see Gallipoli & the boys there grumbled & wanted to get away, but as I say that’s the Australian privilege – to grumble and then do it – a well disciplined army, like the British, they

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do it and then grumble, that’s the difference. But as anyone will tell you, that has had anything to do with the Australians, their grumble is part & parcel of them, and it really counts for me.

I really must stop now, & hope you will look after the photos for me. How is Billy? I hear very little about him, the dear of a kid. I wonder if he still remembers me?

With love to you all

Your (grumbling) son

Alan

[Page 157]

7.1.16

From Alan
Zeitoun Camp
7 Jan 1916

[Page 158]

[A.I.F letterhead From:- No. 1340 Pl A. F. Fry 10th Reinfs 13th Battalion 4th Brigade]

Zeitoun Camp
11.2.16
If Dene is still in Sydney tell him to write to me, and I will have not had a line from Olly.

Dearest Mother,

Have just received your letter dated 22.11.15. Don’t know where it has been, but I should have had it long ago, considering I have had letters dated 26 Decbr. Still, it was very welcome, so I’ll excuse the postman.

I had a funny letter about a week ago, and am enclosing it for you to see. That is all I got, the letter must have been lost somewhere. But it will serve to show that the Postal authorities do try to find you. Father told me about the one you received back from Egypt too with the money enclosed. My luck was dead out, wasn’t it? Never mind, I am not short of money over here. As you know I am drawing Corporal’s pay i.e. 4/- a day over and above the 2/- I allowed myself, that

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makes 6/- a day. We get paid every 10 days, but it is marvellous how the money goes here. The piastre is like our penny, and very few things are less than a piastre, whereas the value of a piastre is 2 ½ d.

A week or two ago, I sent a lot of negatives home by a friend of mine, and in the ten were some of the coins used over here. The very small copper ones are ¼ millimes, and it takes 10 millimes to make a piastre, so they are only used by the natives. Did you receive the negs. OK? I did not want to send them through the post, as they may have gone astray, and I don’t want to lose them for anything. I have taken some more, and will enclose some prints with this, the negs, I will send along later. I got a very unique photo a week or so ago. There was a riot mutiny out at the camel

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Corps at Matarich, about 1 mile from our Camp here. The alarm was sounded in Camp, and inside 45 minutes there were thousands of troops lined up with full equipment, twenty four hours rations, and 50 rounds of ball cartridges. Pretty quick work, eh? Well, we were ordered to proceed to the Camel Camp. The niggers in charge of the Camels were all on strike for higher wages or something of the sort, and had left the Camels to look after themselves, with the result that they began to stray away, all over the place. To give you some idea of the size of the Camp, there are about 12,000 Camels there. We were ordered to fix bayonets and extend all around the Camp, and then drove all the natives at the point of the bayonet into a large compound. There people are very excitable, and it takes very little to cause a riot. They were very sullen when

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cooped up in this Compound, and we expected them to make a break for it at any time. But evidently the sight of our boys with fixed bayonets and loaded rifles decided them to remain quiet. Certainly if they had made a move, they would have been shot down, as we had our orders to that effect, and most of us have been here so long, that we were dying for a scrap of any kind. The Officers in charge of the Camp then came along, and their decision was, that the ring leaders were to be flogged. Some 300 were picked out, and the flogging party, (specially kept for this work as it is frequently needed when dealing with the natives) were brought out. The men to be flogged were then brought out, and one sat on his head, one on each arm, and on each leg to keep them down. They were flogged with a "jambok", a long strip of hide, about 1 ½ inched thick where it is held in the hand, and tapers down

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to a very lash. I am not going to attempt to describe what followed. It was too awful, and many of the boys could not stand looking at it. Most of us had to though, as we were on guard right in the Compound. Suffice to say that they each received 25 lashes, and each one brought blood. Of course I absolutely had to take a photo of it, but am afraid I will not be able to send it through the post for some time, and perhaps you may not like to see it at all, though it is a bad photo, and does not show nearly how revolting it was. It seems to be my luck to be on hand when there’s any flogging going on, doesn’t it? Anyhow, all is quiet again now, as the Camel Corps has moved down to the Canal. But you have no idea how close it was to a big rising. It was only the prompt way it was dealt with, and the stern way, that prevented it spreading, because there is a good deal of feeling amongst the natives

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all over Egypt, but as they are such a mixed race – Turks, Arabs, Greeks, etc, it is not to be wondered at.

I had a lovely long letter from Father a few days ago telling me all that was happening at home, and about Dene’s home-coming. It must have been very funny down on the Wharf, when he started to bustle the "John Hop". I suppose dear old Bill was scared out of his wits. And Dene has joined the Infantry! I thought he would have seen enough of that branch of the Service to have kept away. Of course I’m alright. But not everyone can land just where they want to, like I have managed to do. Still if he gets his commission, as I understand he is trying to do, that will make a big difference. Did I tell you I saw Reg a week or two ago, and had a good old yarn with him. He looks pretty good now, though has had a pretty bad time altogether. Met Fraser Harvey in Cairo about

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10 days ago, and again yesterday. He is camped over at Abbassia, and has Joined the Camel Corps. Likes it very much too. He looks remarkably well, though seems to be such a boy to be over here. Jim Coy, the Gowings, and about 6 other boys from Lindfield are all camped nearby, and I often see some of them. We are thinking of having our photos taken altogether, though I am afraid we shall not be able to get several of the Lindfield boys, as they have gone down to Tel-el-kabir. About a week ago we had orders to move off, but only about 100 out of 150 were wanted, and sure enough I was told to stay behind, as I knew the run of things here, as far as pay & Orderly Room work was concerned. However I don’t mind that so much, because things are pretty bad down at Ismalia & Tel-el-Kabir, and it is only during the last 10 days or so, that
[Have also seen Nelson Smith. Has been to England & Malta in fact has seen quite a lot of the World. I am going to try & work in a trip to England out of this too. Saw Douglas Rae (Lieut) driving along in a carriage yesterday, but did not have a chance to speak to him.]

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the boys have had tents to sleep in. Before that they used to sleep in dug-outs in the sand with a waterproof spread over the top to keep the dew out a bit. It was bitterly cold, and they only had 2 blankets each, and the diet was not guaranteed to make you fat. Bully-beef & biscuits day after day & sometimes a stew – made of the bully beef & a few spuds or onions. All the same I don’t think it will be long before we are down there; I am expecting it to come out in Orders every night. There does not seem much prospect of a fight down there, so I don’t know where we will end up.

On hearing of Dene’s engagement, I sent a cable to you. Did you ever receive it? Yours came to hand O.K. & Mr Hand our O.C. happened to be here when it came. He told me to clear out first thing on 28th Jan and he didn’t want to see me till next day.

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Said I could have the day off to celebrate my becoming a "man". I wonder where the next 28th January will be spent. Not in this place I hope. I have been getting heaps of papers sent to me. Father cuts out the interesting parts, which saves a lot of weight. Lyn Hanson has also sent me a lot of papers, & Sydney Mails. We learn more of the War in one Australian paper, than in a weeks Egyptian papers. They evidently are allowed to publish very little War news. I will post one to you one of these days & you see what they are like.

Has Olly gone into Camp? I wish he was here to have a go at my teeth. They are pretty bad just now, and I will have to go and get them done in Cairo somewhere very soon, while I have some money. I had two stopped here in Camp, but they were done very unsatisfactorily. The big back one that I had pulled out was

[Page 167]

alright, I never even felt it leave the gum. It had two broken roots too. The way the dentist stopped mine was this. Put the "brrr-rr" on for about 20 seconds & then took a piece of amalgam & bumped it in the hole he had made. After smoothing it off for about 5 seconds he passed me out, and the next day – I passed the stopping out, in fact it fell out. Well that is how long he took to do it – just about as long a you take to read it. You can see that’s no good. Even if the stopping did stay in, you would probably have a sore mouth in a few months. Golly!! It’s a terrible War, isn’t it?!

Have only had the one parcel from you, & one form Dorothy – and its almost impossible to get English or Virginian cigarettes here now. Have sold out, and we can only buy the "stinkerino" Gyppo fags – they’re up to putty.

Well, Mother dear, I’ll say

Good morning (sounds funny doesn’t it?) but its long past midnight now, but I don’t get much chance during the day to write. Too many interruptions. Don’t worry about me, I’m keeping fine, as usual. Heaps of L. to you all – Alan.

[Page 168]

11.2.16
From Alan
Zeitoun Camp
11 Feb 1916

[Page 169]

[A.I.F letterhead From:- No. 1340 Pl A. F. Fry 10th Reinfs 13th Battalion 4th Brigade]
Zeitoun Camp.
20.2.16

My Dear Father,

I’m afraid there is not much news since I last wrote. Things are very slow here, and I will be very glad when we get a move on. You too, must be getting tired of reading this address. However probably it will be the last time I’ll have to put it and I’m almost sure we are going down to join the Battalion at Ismalia in a week or so. Where to from there, I have no idea at all.

Still no letters from Australia. Ours are all going down the Canal, where most of the 10th Reinforcements are now, and though they should be sorted out & returned here as soon as possible, we have had none so far. I daresay when we do go down there I’ll get a big load all at once.

[Page 170]

I have been wanting to hear very much too, to see what Dene is doing. The last I heard was that Dene had transferred from the A.M.C. & was going into an Officers School to try and get a Commission. Wish him good luck for me, though if he does get through, it will probably be a long time before he gets away, if things are like when Nivin & Noel went through. I have not seen anything of Noel since we arrived in Egypt, though I went over to where he was camped several times. I think he has gone down to the Canal by this time. I caught a glimpse of Nivin one day about a month ago in Cairo, but did not have a chance to speak to him, and I have not seen him since.

Les Wynne is still here,

[Page 171]

Keeping well, but longing to get somewhere, where there is something "doing" The "Majah" seems to be going strong, I suppose he will be on his way soon now.

Several of the boys and myself had a little outing last Sunday. We saw the place where Moses was found in the bulrushes, on the bank of the Nile by that illustrious lady that I used to be told about in my youth, at the Killara Church. There’s not much to see now, and all the bulrushes have gone, but the fact that Moses had been there sometime in his career makes it more or less interesting. I never thought a year or so ago, that I would ever see the place where the Virgin Mary rested during her flight from Palestine to Egypt, or those wonderful and ancient monuments of old Egyptian days – the Pyramids and

[Page 172]
Sphinx. Its all very interesting, but one wants to be pretty well up in Scripture to be able to get the most benefit out of all these places of history.

I am enclosing some more photos with this letter, and the 3 of the natives being chastised at Matarich, you can use your own discretion who you show them to, though it will be very old news by the time you receive them, so I don’t think it will matter in the slightest who sees them.

I have not seen anything of Colonel Anderson yet, though he is probably over here by this time. Have been expecting to hear of Olly’s arrival anytime too.

That letter of yours enclosing copy of one of Dene’s, was very interesting. He certainly seems

[Page 173]

to have had a good time, and has the knack of describing his adventures in a rather humorous way. I only hope I can manage to rake in a trip to England before I return to Australia again.

As for the war news, we hear nix, practically, though the Russians seem to be having it all their own way as far as the Turks are concerned. I wish they would let some of the thousands & thousands of us, who are here doing nothing, have a cut at someone. I don’t mind who it is – as long as we get away from this inactivity. Who knows! perhaps we shall get it sooner that we expect now. There must be something very big going to happen shortly, with all the men that they have here and in England, just standing by. However time will tell. Hoping your are all OK. – Cheero!

Your son

Alan

[Page 174]

From Alan

Zeitoun amp
Cairo
25.2.16
My dear Mother,

What a day I had yesterday! As you know, nearly all the 10/13 went down to Ismalia some time ago, and consequently all our mail used to go down there first, before we saw anything of it. It should have been sorted and returned right away,

[Page 175]

but as is usual with things in the Army, matters of this sort filter through very slowly. As a matter of fact, we have been over a month without any letters of any kind, and yesterday I persuaded Mr Hand to send 2 men down to Ismalia to find where our letters etc, were. They came back with 2 chaff bags full – could hardly carry them. My share was

[Page 176]

26 letters!! Can you imagine getting 26 all at once? I didn’t know where to start. However I sorted them out in dates, and spent all the morning reading them. Goodness only knows, how long it will take to answer them all. There were 3 from Father, only one
from you Mother, and 3 from Dorothy, & a very interesting one from Dene. I have been waiting anxiously to get one from Dene, & he was a sport to write such a lone one. Incidentally of course, there were numbers of letters from several other people. Gee! what a time I had reading them all. Mr Hand received

[Page 177]

28, so beat me by two. He came and sat in my boudoir on the bed, and spent all the morning reading his. Parades were never mentioned that morning, so you can see what an important day, mail day is. Had a very nice one from Mrs Blacket

[Page 178]

too. Was all about Bill. What a time the dear old Kid must have had at Christmas!

I’m glad you received the scarf safely, though probably I am a poor judge of that sort of thing. I only wish you were here to see some of the silk and fancy work. Its glorious.

I’m glad Dene is having a go at the Officers’ School, though

[Page 179]
I’m afraid he will be a long time getting away with a Commission. There is an arrangement now, that says only ½ the required Officers for the A.I.F. are to come from Australia, the other half are made here from men who have been over to the front, so you will see that in future it will be harder & will take more time to get away with a Com. from Australia.

We have heard nothing very definite yet, as to where we are going, but it is practically certain we will be leaving for Tel-el-Kebir or Ismalia about 3rd March. A small par. Came out in "Battalion Orders" last night, that was rather significant though. It stated that in future

[Page 180]

no troops leaving here to join their Battalions will take their black Kit bags. In fact will go down there in what they call "fighting order" i.e. Web equipment, with 1 change of under clothing razor, socks, etc in pack. Now if we were going to be any time training, we would most certainly have our Kit bags with

[Page 181]

us, because we cannot carry very much with us in our packs. The great coat, which has to go in there takes up nearly all the room. This is the best piece of news we have had yet, and we are all very jubilant accordingly. Rumours as to our destination are very numerous, and an Officer told me personally, that nearly all troops will be away from Egypt (Australians that is)

[Page 182]

by 1st April at the latest. There seems to be no fear of the Turks on the Canal now. The Russians are fully occupying all their time & General Townshend is advancing to join up with the Russians. It will take the Turks all their time to cope with these Armies without weakening themselves by making an attempt on the Canal. The general impression here is that France will ultimately be out destination, and that the final thrust will be made there. England has such enormous quantities of ammunition & men now that she can supply the other Allies as well as herself, and by the Summer time (so it is rumoured) there will be well over 6 million men in France & Flanders

[Page 183]

with unlimited munitions, and then the big
advance will be made.

Of course I, or anybody else cannot vouch for this, but as it appears to be a general impression amongst Officers as well as men I thought I would tell you about it. Anyhow, I daresay, our fate will be decided. It’ll do me too!

[Page 184]

25.2.16

You say Dene has put on a stone since being away. Well, Mother, I really think I have put on more than that, though I daresay a good deal of it will disappear when I get out on the desert again. But I am feeling absolutely fine myself, and have am not in the least afraid I will not be able to stand the hard work that must come soon now.

Yes, Mother I got

[Page 185]

the Xmas tin OK. I think I told you in a previous letter, but the Birthday one has not come to light yet. Had a pair of socks from Dorothy, a pair of mittens from Lily Flecknoe (& they were just fine during the cold weather, when I had a good deal of writing to do, and about Xmas time I also got a lovely billy from Una. That is all that has come along so far, and I think you are all sports to send them. Its just fine to hear you name called out, and a parcel or letters are handed to you. I am sending a couple of photos of the boys gathered round receiving their mail.

Must stop now, if I want to get the rest of those 26 letters answered before we move off, we may not have much opportunity to write them. What oh, this for writing paper. Pretty isn’t it?

Hope you are all keeping well, I will write again soon & tell you what is happening.

Heaps of Love to all

Alan

[Page 186]

From No 1340
Sgt A.F. Fry
10th Reins.
13the Battalion

3.3.16
Zeitoun Camp

Dear Mother,

Have no time to write a letter now. We are moving out to Ismalia early tomorrow morning, and I am up to my eyes in work, but I did not want to take these photos & negatives away with me, so will post them tonight with this note. I know it’s an awful scrawl, but you must excuse it this time. I am quite O.K. and am looking forward to some hard work when we join the Battalion to get into condition again.

Good bye Mother, for the present, and I will write from Ismalia as soon as I get the chance.

Love to all the family

Your son

Alan

[Page 187]

Serapeum
Suez Canal
9-4-16

Dear Mother

I am afraid this will not be much of a letter, but I think I have a chance of getting it home per special messenger, and as the lad who is returning is leaving Camp in an hour or so, I will not be able to write much.

Well, here we are, a couple of miles on the Asiatic side of the Canal, not very far from Ismalia. A very interesting place – no picture shows or anything like that, and fearfully dusty. Every fresh camp we go to seems to be worse than the previous one for dust, heat and flies, though probably

[Page 188]

that is because the Summer is coming on. The only redeeming feature about this place is the swimming in the Canal. It is a fair walk down from here, but we don’t mind that, its worth it about 120 yards wide, just a nice distance to swim, and we often have races across. There is to be a competition in a few days – a relay race of 6 aside, each one to swim once across. I am in "B’ Coy’s team, & have a very good chance of bringing it off.

There is very strict Censorship of letters here, and we are not supposed to say much, but I wrote a long letter to Dorothy a week or so ago, and as it will probably be posted in Sydney, I don’t suppose anything

[Page 189]

will be cut out. As we are in what is called the War Zone, I don’t think we are allowed to take photos down here, but I enclosed some in Dorothy’s letter, and will put some more in this one. It is a problem now, how to get them developed as there is no photographers place here, but so far I have been very lucky & have got them all done. – (More "influence"
)

We really do not know when or where we are going, but it is rumoured that a number of Aust. Troops have landed in France. Certainly a lot have left Egypt for somewhere. Again, they are supposed to have landed at Alexandretta & had a scrap – 150 casualties, but we know nothing for sure. Anyhow, we must move soon unless we are to be here for

[Page 190]

Garrison purposes only. That’s no good to us though – we’ll die by little pieces at that game. We may possibly get to Saloncia, but my opinion is we are for Asia Minor, where we will strike northwards and have a go at the Turks line of communication, so as to prevent reinfs & supplies going down Bagdad way. Then join up with British & Russians and advance westward through Asia Minor to -? Let us hope we’ll get there
this time.

Well, Mother, I must close now, and I am in perfect health, never better. The heat seems to agree with me O.K. Had a letter from Father yesterday dated 21st Febry, that is the latest so far. Getting numerous papers too. Am really in need of nothing at all. Plenty of clothes

[Page 191]

and so far plenty of "smokes" as well as pipes & tobacco, but am afraid there will be a shortage in the near future, as it is very hard to get any at this out-of-the-way- place.

Perhaps you might post a "balgriggan" singlet, now and again, they are not too warm, & we don’t want thick things here. With reference to my Insurance and that bill Mr Younger was so generous to send in (by the way my teeth did not last 3 months, even though he was supposed to fix every one up thoroughly) you pay Father for those, if he fixed them up for me, out of the allotment. Are you getting it regularly now? Don’t forget to have a "blow-out" on it sometimes, because if you don’t, I probably will when I get home. Seem pretty optimistic don’t I? Good-bye now Mother and don’t leave off writing to me, though I daresay we won’t get them so regularly once we move off.

Heaps of Love to you all and – KEEP SMILING

Your son

Alan

[Page 192]

The Canal
24.4.16
My Dear Mother,
Your letters are coming more regularly now, and I received another one that was written early in March. In none of the letters from home have you mentioned if you got any of the films that I have sent at various times, and they are more important than the photos really. I knew one lad that went home some months ago now, and I gave him a little box of negatives and several Egyptian coins, which he said he would post when he arrived at Sydney. Did you ever get any of those? There must have been close on 100 altogether. I have also posted them in letters several times, and as my letters are very seldom censored

[Page 193]

they should have reached you OK. I have not been taking many lately, because it is a bit hard to get them developed down here, and again there is not much to take down here. By the time I have taken several of the Canal & the boys swimming, and the 13th Battln lines, there is nothing very interesting left to take. I am enclosing several with this letter, though they were not taken by me. I was sorry I did not get one of the Prince of Wales when he was at Tel-el-Kebir, but I arrived on the scene just as he was passing and did not have the camera out ready. The Prince got a good reception, but there was no wild excitement excitement or anything like that. The general opinion was that he was "not a bad looking little cove",

[Page 194]

and the thing that struck one lad next to me most was the horse he was riding, for he turned round to me and said "Cripes! Cobber that’s some neddy, "Walsee’s " riding isn’t it?" Royalty evidently didn’t trouble him much, and though some people may think it rather disrespectful, it was not meant in that way at all, as anyone who knows Australians, will know. It doesn’t matter a fig to most of them, if it is Royalty or anyone else inspecting them; they are not going to run mad with joy & make a great fuss just because someone rides through the Camp on a horse. It was the first time that I can remember having seen any of the Royal family, and the Prince of Wales looked very young indeed to be taking an active

[Page 195]

part in the War. He is attached to General Murray’s Staff here, and has been having a look around all the Camps. At present he is up somewhere at Khartoun, but I believe he will be down at Serapeum in a little while to see the Camps here.

The latest rumour is that we are going to move earlier than we had hoped – probably about the 6th or 7th May. That’s only about a fortnight from now, and I do hope it is correct, though we have been "had" so many times, that we do not place too much reliance on rumours. Somehow I think this one is pretty right though. If it is, by the time you get this, I daresay we shall be many miles away from Egypt, as everything points to our going to the Continent.

[Page 196]

By the way Mother, you had better send me a couple of addresses along, in case I manage to get to England – and I’ll have a good try, you may be sure. Send Harrison’s address, and Aunt Edie sent me several in a letter I received from her a few days ago. I hope to see Thompson if I do get there, and also Bob Newton.

Had a letter from Bob yesterday. He was just beginning 6 weeks furlough, and did not anticipate being able to go to the firing line again for 6 months, so should be able to manage a trip to Australia in that time. I guess Mrs Newton will be pleased if he does. Enteric fever was the trouble, and I believe it leaves you very weak for some time afterwards.

I got a great surprise today

[Page 197]

when someone put their head inside the tent and asked for Alan Fry. It was Coleridge Harvey. He came over with the 14th Reins 13th Batt. He is camped about 9 or 10 miles out on the desert from here, and the Battln generally marches in once or twice a week for a swim. He was pretty brown, but was awfully thin, and doesn’t look strong at all. I think I told you I had seen Fraser while we were at Zeitoun, didn’t I. Myself, I have put on a lot of weight and am perfectly well – fair dinkum!! The swimming every day is good, and we have all got very brown indeed.

Tomorrow is the 1st Anniversary of the landing at Anzac, and we have arranged a Swimming

[Page 198]

Carnival, as per enclosed Programme. Keep it as a memento. All the boys that were at Anzac are allowed to wear a red ribbon, and those who were in the landing, a blue ribbon as well – and to think I won’t be able to wear any? Its dead stiff luck isn’t it? We have had a very quiet Easter, in fact it has been no different to any other day. Work just the same, and no hot cross buns.

I am sorry to say I have relinquished my three stripes, and am just a plain private again. Not that I have done anything wrong you know, but all Reinfs N.C.O.’s, revert to the ranks again when they join their Battalion. Still I will have a try again, and perhaps will be able to rake in a couple one of these days. Dene ought not to

[Page 199]

come away with Reinfs, unless he gets a Commission, much better wait for one of the drafts of the new 50000 and come away with a Battalion – he will still hold his rank over here then. Of course Com. Officers do not revert, and I hope he gets his star after Duntroon.

It seems funny, Dene, who has really done practically no infantry work at all, going for a Commission, whereas I have been in something of a Military nature, since I was about 14, - cadets or Compulsory Training or Citizen Forces, and it is almost 18 months in the A.I.E.F. now – and still a Private. Anyhow I only hope he gets his all right, just to show that we are not all "mugs", and I suppose a man can do his bit just as well as a

[Page 200]

private as anything else.

Papers are still arriving very regularly from Father, and the one I look for as much as any, is the "Gossip" column from the Stock & Station" Journal. Some of them are delightful to read, and it certainly is a style all of its won. Ask Father to cut it out, and sent it regularly, I look forward to them very much now.

How is Bill getting on with the dancing? Is he still as fond as ever? And Hazel has found a voice! Golly! I’ll hardly know home when I get back again. Have not heard from Harold or Reg since, perhaps they have left Egypt by now, I know a large number of Australians have left, and are reported to be in France. What a terrific

[Page 201]

battle Verdun is, some of the accounts of the fighting there are very vivid. If we are all flopped down in that place, I’m afraid its "good-bye Private Fry", though a man may be lucky enough to only get wounded. It’s a wonderful thing, considering the hundreds of thousands of men in the War, how few are killed outright. By far the majority are only wounded, and are able to go back and try to get the fellow that did the damage. But don’t you worry Mother, the German hasn’t enlisted yet, that is going to get me. I heard confidentially that he was under age, and his Ma won’t let him join for another two years, and by that time it will be all over, and I’ll be having a singles with Dene down on the Court. It is getting rather late now Mother and as I appear to be wandering a bit I had better turn in. Will write soon and tell you how I am getting on. Love to All the family – Alan

[Page 202]

Serapeum
3.5.16
Dear Mother,

I wrote your letter this morning, but had not closed it, thinking some more photos may have come along for me – I get them posted down from Cairo now – but none have come so far. I think I said in this letter that "something" must happen soon. Well, it very probably will, much sooner than I expected when I wrote that, but I am afraid I cannot tell you about it now. One thing is, we haven’t far to go to the seat of the trouble, will hardly have to "go" at all in fact. Don’t be alarmed – it

[Page 203]

may be a false alarm, but I don’t think so.

Just received a letter from Father (27/3/16) and am sorry you have not received the negatives that I sent per "special messenger". Perhaps they will have turned up by now.

No time to write more now Mother, but I reckon 12000 Australians are equal to 16000 Turks any time – especially if its not a place like Gallipoli we have to take.

Am in good "nick" – and there is an undercurrent of excitement running all through the Camp just now. Everyone is wondering, expecting, and pretending to be perfectly calm, when all the time they can hardly keep still – itching to be on the move. That accounts for this waiting probably. Much love from Alan.

[Page 204]

I can’t make out what Ron’s letter to you is doing in my letter from Father, so am sending it back with this. Of course its very nice to see Ron’s writing again, but I don’t think there is much of interest in the letter for me. Dorothy’s letter

[Page 205]

thank Father for sending it along – the boys here were very amused.

The photo of Charley Kaler – our Coy. Sergt – Major is enclosed. Keep it safe. He is absolutely one of the whitest I know, and I would like to keep it till I come back again.

More love to all

Alan

[Page 206]

The Canal
3.5.16

My dear Mother,

Your letters are coming to hand now & I have received quite a number lately. The last letters from Home were 20th March, though I have received one (not from home!) dated 27th March, so there could not be very much wrong with the mails.

There is practically no news to tell you. We are still at Serapeum and things go on in the same old [indecipherable] & [indecipherable] way. It is getting very hot now indeed with frequent dust storms nearly every day in fact, so the sooner we are out of here the better. Surely they cannot keep us here, doing nothing, much longer. We heard a few days ago, about General Townshend capitulating in

[Page 207]

Mesopotamia, but only the bare facts so far. We thought at one time that that was where we were going, but I think there is no doubt now that France is our destination ultimately. We are moving next Sunday to Moaskar about 1 mile from Ismalia, and about 12 from here, so we have a nice little march to look forward to, all across loose heavy sand too, with full packs & probably 120 rounds of ammunition. The rumour is that we are only going there to be finally fitted up with all necessaries, as I don’t think it will be long now before we are on the sea again.

We had a big day yesterday. The whole of the 2nd A & NZAC were inspected by General Godley, and it was a great sight to see all the Battalions

[Page 208]

as well as Transports, Machine Gun Sections, A.M.C. etc. all lined up on Parade. Once they start these big inspections, it is a sure sign that something is in the wind, so perhaps when next time I write we may be away from Egypt – away from Serapeum anyhow.

Swimming is still in the boom down at the canal, and on Anzac Day we had a big Carnival. The Prince of Wales was flitting about in a launch, and it must have been a wonderful sight to see both banks of the Canal lined with thousands & thousands of troops. When he first came on the scene, the band played the National Anthem, and every soldier stood to attention, and they then gave three cheers. I took

[Page 209]

several photos, and am enclosing some with this, though all of them are not developed yet. It was a sight I will never forget. To the east of the Canal, as far as the eye could see was the desert, with clusters of tents here and there denoting the various Battalions & Divisions. At our feet lay the Canal, wonderfully green, and little motor launches flitting about, both banks black with troups, and then on the other side of the Canal, just the plain dusty desert again for miles. Probably there never has been so many men or so much life concentrated at the one point on the Canal before, and probably there never shall be again – unless the Turks run amok or come over this way, and I don’t think there is much fear of that. They would get a very warm

[Page 210]

reception if they did.

Had a long letter from Helen yesterday. It was the first I had received from the Dubbo folk, though I have written several times to them. She did not say anything about the engagement, though she did mention having a trip to Sydney to see some soldiers off – brothers of a girl chum of hers from Bathurst. So putting two & two together - ?

I am enclosing a program of the Carnival on 25th April, also some pc. which I would like you to put away for me, as I would like to keep them, and there is a big chance of losing things over here. Did you get any of my negatives yet? Somehow I don’t think they will last too long, - not washed enough, so perhaps you had

[Page 211]

better get a set printed from them, before they begin to go. The best way to deep the prints could be in a little album I think, as handling too much will very soon spoil them.

Well, Mother its not often I am stuck for news, but I really have nothing to tell you just now. Am quite well, and feeling ready for anything that happens along. Have written often to Joan & Dulcie & received a long letter from Aunt Soph, a few weeks ago. Coleridge dropped in to see me lately, he is in the 45th Battalion. Remember me to any enquirers & tell Bill I hope he is always a good boy & never gives you any trouble. Many Happy Returns of 17th June for Hazel, & you can get her something nice for me.

Heaps of Love to all the family,

Your loving son

Alan.

[Page 212]

From No 1340
Cpl A. F. Fry
B Company
13th Battalion
A.I.F.

Serapeum
Suez Canal
26.5.16

My dear Mother,

This is only going to be a very short note, I’m afraid, but really there is nothing to write to you about. It is very seldom I am stuck for something to write about, but things have been going on in the same old monotonous way for weeks now, and never a break. Still it is not for much longer. We have been told definitely now, that we are leaving soon, probably in two or three days, and you can guess of course, where we are bound for. Well, I am in the best of nick – and have had a long stretch of inactivity and a more or less easy time for many months now, so am quite ready to go "into it", in fact will relish the idea. There is no mistake, I have been very lucky as far as health is concerned, because I have

[Page 213]

really not had one sick day ever since leaving Sydney this time. Of course I have had several slight colds & headaches, but have never once been bad enough to report to the Doctor, - and there are comparatively few who can say that. Barring the once I saw the dentist and had a tooth drawn, I have never had to parade before the Doctor for 8 months.

I am enclosing a set of photos with this letter, and I want you to be very careful of them. They are a bonza set, quite the best I have seen, and show the nature of Gallipoli splendidly. Cost a few bob too, by the way. If Father has any time to spare he might like to put them in an album, and enclosed is a list saying what they are. The interesting part is that they were taken by a member of the 4th Brigade, and my Battalion were therefore stationed near where all

[Page 214]

these pictures were taken.

Sad to relate, I am afraid I shall have to get rid of my camera before leaving here. We have strict orders that no one is to have a camera in his possession, under any circumstances. This was also told to the men before leaving for Gallipoli, and yet we know that hundreds had cameras there, but I am afraid the order is going to be enforced this time. Many of the boys have sold or posted them home, but I am undecided as to what I shall do yet. It seems a pity, that after having it for eight months, with me everywhere, that I should have to part with it. Probably I shall post it to Mr Harrison or "Tommy", and ask them to mind it for me till I get to England, if I am that lucky.

I wrote a letter to Dorothy a few days ago, so probably she will have told you what a

[Page 215]

surprise I got on receiving news of Hazel’s marriage. Well, I never thought I would miss that event, and am more disappointed than you can imagine. Hazel says, "never mind, perhaps you will be home for a more important event" Means my own perhaps! What!! –

I had a screamingly funny letter from Wilga a few days ago, and I want you to keep it till I get back. – I wouldn’t like to lose that one, it’s a real beauty, and of course we cannot carry too much around with us. Don’t let Wilga know you have it – she mightn’t like me showing her letters about. Also one from Ron to you that I have meant to send ages ago, but forget each time. I came in one from Father about a month ago, and I don’t follow why I should have received it?

Heaps of Love to all the family, & I’ll write again soon & tell you "what’s doin’.

Your son

Alan.

[Page 216]

You might send a couple of English addresses if you happen to know any. I may get there, and it would be nice to know someone.

[Page 217]

"B" Coy
13th Battalion
4th Brigade

Tel-el-Kebir
Egypt

Envelope 29 May 1916

Mother dear,

At last we have "joined the Battalion"! – and it was almost like coming home. Have met quite a number of the old 2nd Reinfs boys, though I am sorry to say that many that came over with me in the old "Seang Bee" are not to be seen here now. Some have returned to Australia – not much good as far as Active Service is concerned any more, some are still in Hospital in Egypt or England, but by far the majority of them are lying dead over on Gallipoli. I have heard over & over again how many of them died, from the ones that have returned, and you don’t know how much I feel not having been over

[Page 218]

there with them. My platoon Sergeant – Darcy Irvine, and two other 2nd Reinfs Sergts, came down the same day & on the same train as me, they having just returned from England, where they were sent, after being wounded on the Peninsular. Golly! I was pleased to see them, when we boarded the train at Zeitoun, and we yarned all the way down. They saw Thompson in England, and he was not too well at all. The strenuous work at Gallipoli had evidently left its mark. I almost expected to see Bob Newton, but he has not come back from England, and perhaps he will go right on to Australia, as he seems to have been pretty run down.

[Page 219]

This is a tremendous camp, by far the largest I have ever seen. There are no huts here, all tents, and we are not nearly as comfortable as we were at Zeitoun, but of course I never expected that. Still, I cannot grumble – as there are only 2 other lads, the Q.M.Sgt. and C.SM in the tent with me, and we have wickerwork beds to sleep on, whereas in the other tents, there is no room for such luxuries as that. It seems to me to be such a waste of time & money to have all these highly paid soldiers in Camp here doing practically nothing as far as useful work is concerned because any work we may be doing now we have done over & over

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so many times, that all are heartily sick of it. And it certainly goes against the grain of most of us to be idle and inactive here when there is so much doing in other parts. However we can only wait – perhaps we shall be "into it" very soon now, though exactly when & where, we have no idea. Many are the rumours that float about as to our destination, but we have given up paying any attention to these long ago.

I received a very pleasant surprise yesterday, when Harold walked into my tent and woke me up from my afternoon nap. He was looking splendid, and

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very brown indeed. For some time past, his Company had been camped down near the Canal, but moved up here a day or two ago. He told me he had a very good chance of getting his Commission very shortly, but I was hardly expecting him to come down to see me this morning on his way to Cairo, saying it was fixed up, & that he was going in to get uniforms etc. I congratulated him heartily – I was jolly glad to hear that his brains had been appreciated at last. I am trying to get leave to go to Cairo on Monday and have arranged to meet him, when we will have a real good old yarn over a good "spread". Reg is in Camp near Cairo, and

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Harold is going to get him to come along also, so we should have a merry little party.

Everyone here feels that big things are going to happen very shortly, though the news we get in the papers is very meagre. But the Turks seem just about to a bubble, and this awful battle of Verdun (by far the worst of the War, and that is saying something) must be a very big drain on the Germans reserves. I’ll make a guess, - now you remember it & see how far wrong I will be. I reckon we shall be home in Australia again, by June twelve months. I don’t think much before.

The days here are fearfully hot now, and the heat seems to be reflected back

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from the desert tenfold. But I would much rather have it like this than cold like at Zeitoun a month or so ago. The nights turn pretty cool, and we have to be very careful not to catch cold. Already several of the boys are sniffing & have watery eyes, and something worse sets in so quickly unless you are very careful.

So long for the present Mother dear and I expect to receive a big mail in a day or two now. I am, honestly, quite well so you need have no fear in that direction.

Heaps of Love to all the family and yourself as well.

Alan

I don’t know how much of this will be censored or if I have put any thing I should not have, but I am afraid I will no be as lucky as I have been in respect to censoring.

[Page 224]

29.5.16

From Alan
Tel-el-Kebir
29 May 1916

[Page 225]

[Postcard]

On Active Service.
At Sea 4/6/16

Mrs A. Fry,
"Dene Gully",
Lindfield
North Shore Line
Sydney.
Australia

Dear Mother,

Only a short note to tell you I am well, and as you will see, am having a bit of a sea trip again. Of course I am not allowed to

[Page 226]

tell you where we are going, but I daresay you can guess. Having a lovely trip, quite calm and nice and cool after all the hot months on the desert in Egypt. I don’t think any tears are shed on account of leaving Egypt, and I for one was jolly glad to be going away. We have to wear our life belts all day long wherever we go, in case we should hit a "tin fish" but I don’t think there is much fear of that. We are on a fine large boat, and have fairly comfortable quarters. Tell Hazel to write to me soon, with heaps of love to you all.

Alan

[Page 227]

Somewhere in France
12.6.16

Dearest Mother,

We are here at last, though have not had our fling yet. That’s coming very
soon though. We have had a most interesting and varied trip since we left Egypt, and even though it was a bit monotonous sometimes, I wouldn’t have missed it for worlds. Were lucky enough to have a very smooth & uneventful voyage in the Mediterranean Sea and never even sighted a "tin fish" though of course we always had plenty of guards on the lookout and all sorts of precautions were taken in case one was sighted. Everywhere we went on board we had to wear our life belts, even at meals, and very cumbersome & uncomfortable they were. But it was for our own good and though everyone growled – naturally! – at having to cart these things about – we all wore them continually.

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Were about 5 days on the transport and the tucker was very light indeed but it was not a long enough trip to cause much dissatisfaction. Landed at Marseilles and everyone was very curious indeed to see what France was like. I can’t attempt to describe here all we saw on that trip – we were 3 days & nights on the railway journey – but coming on top of the months in Egypt, it was glorious for hundred of miles we passed through nothing but beautifully green country, intensely cultivated, and it did our eyesight good. The first day we saw nothing hardly but grape vines, and can now understand why such a lot of wine comes from this country. It was spring of course, & there had been plenty of rain, so the whole country was wonderfully green, and every square inch of soil seemed to be utilised. The people gave us a great welcome – as Dene says "The old slouch hat is in the boom" – and could not do enough for us whenever we stopped as we had

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to do frequently, in order to boil the dixies & make tea, as well as issue out rations. One thing we noticed more than anything was the entire absence of men, both in the towns & country. Women are doing nearly everything here now, and it was a funny sight to see old dames & young Madamoiselles dressed in trousers & shirts, driving the plough or gathering the harvest. They went almost mad with excitement as the train passed along, throwing kisses to the boys (they were all caught too & returned with interest) & if we stopped, bringing lovely strawberries & cakes along to us. You would see some old dame bending down picking weeds from amongst the vines, and when the train came along, her whole face would change, and she would wave her arms & cheer for all she was worth. There is no doubt, how hard these poor people have been struck, and nearly every woman is dressed in black, having lost someone near & dear up in the trenches. Well, I could go

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on for weeks telling you about that trip, but we have not much time for letter writing now – not like Egypt – so I will have to get on. Well the days passed alright in the train, but the nights were horrible. We were not
in 1st class cars, & it was pretty cool towards morning, and none of us could get much sleep on account of being so crowded. By the time the last day was done we were all just about played out & were beginning to wonder where we were bound for. Many suggested Berlin direct – but we’re not there yet. Fairly comfortable quarters we are in, billetted of course, on a pretty little old farm, right in the country. To look around no one would ever think there was a War on at all, but at night time when the sky is lit up with star-shells and you can hardly sleep for the continual boom! boom!! Of the guns, and even sometimes we can hear the machine guns, you begin to realise then that "there’s somethin’ doin’" Oh yes! We are that close – only about

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5 or 6 miles from the firing line in some places, and we expect to get there very soon now, after we have got our land legs again. But don’t worry Mother we are all fit as can be, and plenty of warm clothes, and it won’t be our faults if we don’t give a good account of ourselves.

Its lovely getting fresh home made butter & bread again, also milk & vegetables, and the people round about can’t do enough for us. Another lad & myself are doing alright! Made friends with the family, and get asked in to dinner or tea, and its almost like home. The old lady buzzes about & though we don’t know much French, and she only knows a little English – we do OK. Oh! Trust me!!

Its such a change here from the sand. It has rained every day & mud is everywhere, but we don’t mind – it’s a pleasure to go out in it, and so far we have been allowed

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a pretty free hand, as far as wandering about goes. I am not supposed to say where I am of course, but did you ever hear of a place pronounced something like "eeper". Will you have a look on the map & you will see just about where we are.

I know this is an awful scrawl but ink is unobtainable and we have not much time to sit down & write long neat letters. They’ll probably be a lot worse than this soon too. It is impossible to write nearly so many now, so you can pass the news on to anyone who cares to hear it.

No letters from Australia for a long time now and I’m longing to hear how Hazel is getting on & if Dene has left yet, in fact about you all – it seems ages since I last heard.

Goodbye for the present Mother dear, & if you like you can post a small
parcel of cigarettes or socks now & again, they will be very useful.

Heaps & heaps of love to you all & I will write again soon before we go to the trenches.

Your son

Alan

[Page 233]

On another Farm
Hill in France
30/6/16

My Dear Father,

We have moved a step closer since I last wrote, and a beggar of a march it was. Had to carry everything we owned on our back, as well as two gas helmets, an iron shrapnel & 150 rounds of ammunition a fair load altogether to bring 10 miles or so.

Well our Battalion went into the trenches last night, but I did not go with them. Some f4 or 5 days ago, I was told to report with 8 men to the Brigade Transport for duty, and thought it was just for a bit of guard work or something like that. On arriving here I found we were attached as brakesmen to the Transport permanently & to the guards & fatigues when necessary. At present I have been appointed Provost Corporal

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and have 12 men under me, whose duty it is to fatigue the Transport lines day & night & see no one interferes with the horses or timbers. It’s an easy job alright & pretty safe, but none of my pals are here with me – they are out in the trenches now so I am trying to get transferred back to the Battalion again. So far there have only been a few casualties Lieut Wells – late 10/13 – was wounded last night not very seriously though and Lieut Mc [indecipherable], my platoon Commander was wounded also last night. He comes from Bathurst way I think. Perhaps Olly may have come across some of his relations. Was one of the ‘whitest’ too. A lad I had in the Orderly Room as batman at Tel-el-Kebir & Serapeum was shot through the chest, two days ago, but will pull round alright.

Well a big mail came along a few days ago, and I have

[Page 235]

heard all about the famous wedding. Golly it must have been good, and it only made me wish more than ever, that I had been there. Anyhow, I’m glad I was not forgotten, altogether. Dorothy gave me a bonza account of it, tell her it was a lovely letter and I enjoyed it very much. I haven’t the time to write to all of you separately, but next time I will write to her. Dear old Bill must have been very funny – I guess he does
like weddings. I expected a letter from Mrs Watson too, but probably she has been too busy getting things in order to write much, I do not know their address, so if I write before having it, I shall sent them home & you can forward it on to her. From all accounts she must have looked tres chic (I am learning French here!) everyone that has written to me says that, and the two bridesmaids too.

Had a long letter from

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Dene by the same mail, and am so glad he did as well at Duntroon and, I hope he gets gazetted & comes over this way soon – before I stop one – though it’s a funny thing but none of us ever think of the possibility of that, it’s the last thing that enters our noddles. I have not actually been under fire so far, so cannot tell how it feels, and I don’t think anyone knows exactly how they will take it before experiencing it , many turn out just the opposite to what you would expect, but at the present time, I don’t feel any different than if I was going out to play a tennis match. Don’t think, somehow, I shall suffer from the nerves much, and anyway, I can only say I will do my best. With the high explosive shells & gas & machine guns that are here in such quantities, it means neck or nothing; there’s no half hearted business about it. The only thing is that mere man has very little say in it, if it was meant to know, we would all be

[Page 237]

much more pleased, but one very seldom gets a shot out of his rifle & if you do look over the parapet you see nothing but barbed wire entanglements & a parapet of the enemy several hundred yards along, but bever a man - unless in a charge of course.

Two parcels came along The Sentimental Bloke & a parcel of socks etc. The book is lovely & everyone in the tent has read it again & again. Thank Mother for sending it to me, - there’s no doubt about it being true Australian is there? Had a letter from "Tommy" yesterday. Is still in England, and has a job in the Headquarters Staff. Dene was asking me his address so I will enclose it with this. Says he is writing to Helga, because in a letter from her, she said his last letter was "scrummy". A certain amount of leave is granted to England, and perhaps some day I will be able to get a run across and see him.

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I have received lots of papers from you from time to time, & appreciate them very much indeed. It’s a good idea to just cut out the interesting parts & leave out the ads – saves a lot of weight. Read all about Anzac Day, but it was a shame it was marred by so much bickering & letter writing, as to how to celebrate it – and not always in the politest of words either.

Glad you liked the photos, and only wish I had the camera here now. Could get some of the "dinkum" pictures, but no hope in life! Did you ever get that tin of negatives & coins I sent home? I think I can get the address of the lad who took them, so if I do I will send it along & you can drop him a note, enquiring. I don’t think he’d pinch them, but he may have lost the address.

So long for the present, and don’t worry. I’m OK. & feeling good. Heaps of love to you all.

Your Son Alan

My address just the same as before.

[Page 239]

Tommy’s address:-
Red Court Hotel
19 Bedford Place
Russel Square
London W 6

Tell Wilga to drop him a line. He would like to get it. Dene wants his address too.

[Page 240]

[Postcard]

[Page 241]

[Postcard]

[Page 242]

These are just a few things I wanted to keep till I come home again, and I could not keep them myself very well – we are travelling very light. We have moved since I wrote the p.c. and are very near the line now. Expect to go in any time. Saw Niven marching through the village yesterday – just came out of trenches. Looked very well though tired. They had a hard time while they were in. Going back of & now

Love from Alan.

[Page 243]

Can hear the guns very plainly from here.

There is lots doing in the Somme district, where we are now.

28.7.16

[Page 244]

[Form communication card]

NOTHING is to be written on this side except the date and signature of the sender. Sentences not required may be erased. If anything else is added the post card will be destroyed.

I am quite well. Hope you all are.

I have been admitted to hospital
sick}and I am going on well.
{wounded}and hope to be discharged soon.

I am being sent down to the base.
I have received your {letter dated " Telegram " parcel " March

Letter follows at first opportunity.

I have received no letter from you {lately { for a long time.

Signature only. A.F. Fry
Date 5-7-16

[Page 245]

[Envelope front]

Mrs A. Fry
Northcote Road
Lindfield
N.S. Line,
Sydney.
Australia

[Envelope rear]

[Page 246]

[Form communication card]

NOTHING is to be written on this side except the date and signature of the sender. Sentences not required may be erased. If anything else is added the post card will be destroyed.

I am quite well. Hope you all are.

I have been admitted to hospital
{sick}and I am going on well.
{wounded} and hope to be discharged soon.

I am being sent down to the base.
I have received your letter dated "27/5/16 Telegram " parcel " April 1916

Letter follows at first opportunity.

I have received no letter from you {lately { for a long time.

Signature only. Alan Fry
Date 21-7-16

[Page 247]

[Envelope front]

Mrs A. Fry
"Dene Gully"
Northcote Road
Lindfield
North Shore Line
Sydney.
Australia

[Page 248]

[Cablegram]

Eastern 575 London 10 29th
Fry 2 p.m. E.F.M
Lindfield Sydney
In France Well
Love to all
Fry 8.56

[Page 249]

[Form communication card]

NOTHING is to be written on this side except the date and signature of the sender. Sentences not required may be erased. If anything else is added the post card will be destroyed.

I am quite well. Hope you all are.

I have been admitted to hospital
{sick}and I am going on well.
{wounded} and hope to be discharged soon.

I am being sent down to the base.
I have received your letter dated "29/6/16 Telegram " parcel "

Letter follows at first opportunity.

I have received no letter from you { lately { for a long time.

Signature only. A. F. Fry
Date 4th August 1916

[Page 250]

[Envelope front]

Mrs A. Fry
"Dene Gully"
Northcote Road
Lindfield
Sydney.
Australia

[Page 251]

[Envelope front]

Mrs A. Fry
Northcote Road
Lindfield
Sydney
Australia

[added: Alan’s last letter dated 9th August, 1916]

[Page 252]

[Envelope rear - franked]

[Page 253]

"Bully Beef Villa"
Hard Biscuit Road
Dug-Out Alley
9th Aug 1916

Dear Father,

It is some time since I last wrote, but things have been "doing", the last few weeks and I have been unable to settle down to correspondence. They are still "doing" – very much so, - but I was told a mail was leaving here today, so I wanted to get a note home, to let you know I am still existing, and in good spirits. We are right there now, and doing our little bit towards the "big push" and what a "push" it is. No one , not even the War Correspondents can describe the things that are going on here. One has to see & hear them to realise what goes to constitute a war. At present we are camped in dug outs & trenches in a gully some 2 miles from the front line of trenches, ready to go up at a moments notice if needed, and are continually under shell & shrapnel fire. I never knew that

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there were so many guns in the world, till I came here. The place is absolutely bristling with them. all sizes & shapes, and it is an appallingly wonderful sight to see these all suddenly belch forth hundreds of pounds weight of hard steel and lead, carrying death to scores of Fritz some 3,4,5 or more miles away. They shriek overhead, just like a terrific storm whistling through the rigging of a ship, though that doesn’t nearly describe what it is like here. No one can describe it. Just now we are in reserve, but will be taking our turn up in the trenches tonight or tomorrow most likely, after which, those that are left will go back to some rest Camp to reorganise again, as the Casualties are necessarily heavy. But Fritz is on the move & we can’t let up for a day even, or he will burrow down into the ground like a rabbit, and he takes a lot of digging out then. I have seen lots of prisoners being marched down from the front line,

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and I only wish it was a man to man fight instead of this awful Artillery. We would have nothing to fear then. Of course its no use denying there are some big lumps of men in the German trenches, but such a large number are weedy & undersized, and look quite done up. Our Artillery is supreme now, and has it all over the Germans. All day & night they pump shells into their trenches, till its wonderful that there is any living thing left. As our Sergt Major of the Huns who were captured yesterday said – "You English don’t know what a bombardment is", meaning of course that our guns give them ever so much more than they give us, and I think its right too. – I wouldn’t like to change Artillerys anyhow.

We have been here about 3 days now, and I have had a couple of lucky escapes. Last night I was in the dugout just going ot turn in when a piece of a shell blew in, and nearly blew me out. It was a spent piece however – didn’t hurt much. Hit me on the big toe, and didn’t I talk!!

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Much to the amusement of some of the boys round about. Its OK to day though a little bruised. If I don’t get worse than that I’ll be alright! I saw Niven a week or so ago. His Batt had been in the trenches, & had a rather rough passage, and as they marched through the village where we were billotted they looked about fagged. I spotted Niven, & waltzed across to him, and had a yarn for a while. He looked tired but was otherwise quite well. We all look tired here, on account of the broken sleep we get, while in the front line, you may go 4 or 5 days and not have any sleep at all. Coleridge Harvey is in the trenches now, and was O.K. last night. Harvey heard nothing of Reg or Harold. Les Wynne is well also. Well Father the guns here are making an awful row and the vibration is annoying, so I’ll end off for the present. Tell Mother not to worry, as I’m first class, and somehow I have a feeling that I won’t be knocked have had it all along, and have been lucky so far. Hope to hear of Dene soon, has he left I wonder?

With Love to you all

Your son Alan

[Page 257]

S.S. M. Hospital
B. E. F.
14.8.16

[Rec’d Mon 9 Oct 1916]

Dear Mrs Fry

I am very sorry indeed to have to tell you of the death of your son 1340 L. Cpl Fry 13 Bat. Australian Imperial Forces who died here this morning from the result of Abdominal wounds.

He was brought in here very badly wounded and in a very collapsed condition but though the Surgeon and sisters did all they possibly could for him he never improved and died at 6.45 a.m. this morning.
He will be buried in the Village Cemetry of Warloy by the chaplin

With deepest sympathy

T. M. Whyte
Sister

[Page 258]

[Envelope front]

On Active Service
Mrs A. Fry
Dene Gully
Northcote Road
Lindfield
Sydney
Australia

[added]
From Launcelot Harrison
Shiekh Saad
Mesopotamia
Dated 28 January 1917

L Harrison
Central Laboratory Staff

[Page 259]

[envelope rear franked]

[Page 260]

Central Laboratories
Sheilh Saad, 28-1-1917.

Dear Mrs Fry,

I have only just heard about poor Allan. I have difficulty in thinking of him as gone for always, he seemed as much the embodiment of youth and life. I am afraid I can say nothing that is likely to help you in your sorrow. He is swallowed up as so many glad youths have been swallowed, and it is hard to see the sense of it all. And yet, while the world is what it is, these things are inevitable, and your consolation can only be that you have borne sons who went, and not skulking hounds who stayed at home. I have been very sad for Australia, and bitter about the worms who batter on a world’s agon6y. God knows I hate war and all to do with it, but I had rather be killed here tomorrow than return to Australia if I must for it be ashamed.

Putting all cant aside, you have more cause for pride than sorrow. But even pride cannot ease the smart of sorrow, and words are so hopelessly futile. I can only say that you have all my sympathy, you and Mr Fry, and all his brothers and sisters – but most of all you, who cannot give as gladly as he gave.

[Page 261]

Yours very sincerely
Launcelot Harrison

Leiut. L. Harrison
Central Laboratory Staff,
c/o D.M.S.
M.E.F.
Mesopotamia

[Page 262]

[2 sided card]
Christmas, 1915

[Page 263]

[Christmas, 1915 – Christmas Dinner menu]

[Page 264]
[Blank page]

[Page 265]

[printed poem]

To a false Patriot
(By Sir Owen Seaman, in London "Punch"

He came, obedient to the call;
He might have shirked like half his mates,
Who, while their comrades fight and fall,
Still go to swell the football gates.

And you, a patriot in your prime,
You waved a flag above his head,
And hoped he’d have a high old time,
And slapped him on the back and said:

"You’ll show ‘em what we British are!
Give us your hand, old pal, to shake:"
And took him round from bar to bar-
And made him drunk – for England’s sake.

That’s how you helped him. Yesterday,
Clear-eyed and earnest, keen and hard,
He held himself the soldier’s way –
And now they got him under guard.

That doesn’t hurt you; you’re all right;
Your easy conscience takes no blame;
But he, poor boy, with morning’s light,
He eats his heart out, sick with shame.

What’s that to you? You understand
Nothing of all his bitter pain;
You have no regiment to brand;
You have no uniform to stain.

No vow of service to abuse,
No pledge to King and country due;
But he had something dear to lose,
And he has lost it – thanks to you.

[Transcriber’s notes:
Page 5 – Guadalanar – is Guadalcanal
Page 103 – Port of Mecca – now Mocha]

[Transcribed by Donna Gallacher for the State Library of New South Wales]