Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

David Conroy letter to his mother, 3-6 December 1914
MLMSS 7314/Item 1

[Transcriber’s notes: - David Conroy's letter is addressed to his Mother in Nottingham, England and covers his training and the journey from Sydney, departing 20 October aboard the Euripidies, and arrival in Cairo, 6th December 1914. He was killed in action on Gallipoli, 23 July 1915]

[Page 1]
T.S.S. Euripides,
Alexandria,
Egypt.
Dec 3rd /14

My dear Mother,
I expect this letter will come as a surprise to you when you first read it, but, I hope that when you have got over the surprise you will not only approve of my action but will also forgive me for not having informed you right away. Now to come to the point. I am a member of the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force that has been raised to assist England. I joined it in Sydney somewhere towards the latter end of August 26th or 28th.

My reasons for not letting you know at once that I had joined are as follows, No 1. I was not absolutely certain that I would remain a member of the A.I.E.F. for they (the officers) were always picking out all the fellows who did not seem to be up to much & either discharging them or else putting them in the 2nd contingent. As I had no previous training I stood as good a chance as anyone of being rejected. Well as it happens I was not passed out. Reason No 2. Is that when I first joined we were told that after we had ahdf a little training in Australia we should be sent to England to complete out training & then sent to the front. This was all the information we had given to us until a few fdays ago, when, whilst we

[Page 2]
were on our way through the Red Sea we were calmly & politely informed by the Brigadier that all previous arrangements had been cancelled & that were going to Egypt to relieve the regulars in order to enable them to be sent to the Front. From the above you will see that I had two good reasons for not at once informing you of my joining. In the first place had I been rejected well that would have been the end if it & in the second place I though I would be better able to explain things in person than by letter, as however we are not going to England it is impossible for me to see you in person (for the present at all events) that being the case I must do the best I can by letter.

I don’t mind admitting that not only myself but all hands are extremely disappointed at being sent to Egypt for that means we shall see nothing at all of actual warfare but instead will have to take the place of the Regulars & garrison Egypt. Had we been informed in the first place that we were not going to the Front I doubt whether they would have got a tenth of the men they wanted. Speaking for myself I know that I would never have turned in my billet & spent about 18 or 20/- in train fares etc. had I known that we would not be sent to the front. However I reckon "it is of no use crying over spilt milk" & the only thing one can do is to take it all in good part & hope that we shall either be relieved by another Force

[Page 3]
& sent to the Front or else be given the opportunity of having a smack at the Turks. Now I will endeavour to give you a brief account of things from the day I determined to join up to to day. About a fortnight or so previous to my enlisting there were a lot of rumors going around the camp I was then in, to the effect that the Australian Govt. had decided to raise an Expeditionary Forse to assist England & was asking for volunteers. That evening we happened to have a few newspapers brought in from town & in one of them I saw the Govt. notice asking men to Volunteer & asking men who could not come down to Sydney in person to write to Sydney giving all particulars with regard to age, height, occupation etc.

Well I decided I would write down & on the following morning did so. About 9 or 10 days later I received a reply telling me I had been selected to undergo a medical examination with regard to fitness, & requesting me to attend at the Victoria Barracks, Paddington, Sydney, at my earliest opportunity & and there report myself to a certain Colonel Antill (the recruiting officer). Upon receiving the reply I took it to the foremen (or as he is called in Australia "Ganger") showed it to him & asked him to arrange for me to receive whatever money was due to me a soon as possible. He told me that there were about 6 or 7 others of his gang going down to Sydney to enlist & said thet I would be able to draw my pay early the next morning. At the time I was working on one of the Govt railway duplication & all I had to do was to go down to the head

[Lieut. Colonel John Macquarie Antill went on to command at Gallipoli]

[Page 4]
I had to fill in a form giving various particulars, then I was taken in front of the recruiting officer who after he had had a good look at me, had a look at the form I had filled in asked me wether I was afraid of roughing it etc. & when I said no told me to take my form (upon which he had written something, I could not make out what) & step over to a big drill hall on the other side of the Barrack square & get examined by the doctors. When I got in front of the doctors I had to strip naked & then was examined. First of all I had my eyes examined & when I had passed that I was examined by another doctor who sounded my lungs, punched me in the chest, had a look at my teeth, told me to hop & jump about a bit & then passed me.

After I had dressed & received a form signed by the doctors etc saying I was ‘fit’ I went down to the Artillery Camp & saw the officer in command. I showed him my papers & told him I wished to join as a driver. He asked me what experience I had had, I told him. Ah’well said he I’ll give you a trial anyway & then took me down to the riding ground. Now the Military way of driving is entirely different to the ordinary way of driving. In the army you ride one horse & drive the other (you will doubtless have seen guns being drawn about so will understand my meaning). Well upon arrival at the ground I found the horses waiting & instantly got on one & endeavoured to show my ability as a combined rider & driver. Well the result of the test was not in my

[Page 5]
Saved by stroke of Pen

favor & the officer told me that although I was not too bad I was a long way from being good & as in this case they wanted only 1st class men he was afraid I would not do. I thanked him told him I was sorry I could not pass & asked him if he could tell me where the Infantry were camped after he had told me I went & had dinner & then went over to the Infantry whose recruiting station was at the Randwick Racecourse (the course was at that time being used as a training ground).

Here I presented my papers again & had to fill in an attestation form. I was then taken to the Kensington Racecourse (which was also being used as a training ground) & there once more examined by a doctor who examined me to to see wether I was strong enough to undergo marches etc. he (the doctor) was very keen on strike>examining testing the lungs & chest & out of the 12 fellows who were there for examination five failed to pass. However I passed all right & after being allotted to a Battalion & Company was told that if I liked I could go into camp right away or else go ‘home’ for that day & return again in the morning. I decided I would return again in the morning & so after I had taken the oath of allegiance I took a tram back to Sydney & had a look round it again. I called on the few friends I have there & generally had a decent time. At

[Page 6]
about 7.30 P.M. I decided I would engage a bed for the night & accordingly did so & at about 11 o’clock I was in it & slept like a top until about 7 oclock the next morning. After I had had a bath & breakfast swapped lies with the fellow who sat opposite me at the table & then went to the Camp. Upon arrival at the camp I was put in the charge of one of the instructors & given my first lessons on military subjects. From then onwards we were kept pretty busy being taught how to drill, march, use the rifle, & generally make ourselves usefull. We moved our camp three or four times after I had joined.

When we had been in camp for some little time we were issued with our uniforms & taken upon route marches, night & day attacks etc. Our first marches were only short ones but after a while we did 18 & 20 miles on each march. In addition to marches we also did gaurd & sentry work, picket duty, & rifle practice. Well to cut a long story a little short we managed to have a pretty busy time of it. (taking things on the whole until the 19th of Oct. which was the day we embarked. The ship we are on lay out in the middle of the harbor & we taken out to the ship on ferry steamers. We left Sydney next morning for Albany & arrived there on the 26th Oct. At Albany we were joined by the remainder of the Australian transports, also the New Zealand transports & our naval escort. Albany was the last Australian port we called at. We left there on

[Page 7]
Nov. 1st All told there were about forty ships that left Albany that day composed of as follows 37 transports carrying troops, horses, stores etc. & three battleships. One battleship is an English ship named the Minator, one an Australian ship named the Sydney (the same ship that sunk the Emden) & one a Japanese boat named the Abouki. From Albany we went to Colombo (a port in an island named Ceylon which is near India) one day when we were about half way between Albany and Colombo we saw the Japanese boat turn to her left & steam away for all she was worth. About an hour later we heard that the Sydney was in action with the Emden & had been so for some hours & a little later we heard that the Emden had been sunk. Soon after we had received this news we saw the Japanese boat returning to her former position on our right. The band then played God Save the King & we all got half a days holiday. [Emden was sunk on 17 Nov. 1914]

We arrived at Colombo on the 15th of Nov & left on the 17th. Whilst we were in Colombo we got stores etc aboard & some of the other ships got coal. After leaving Colombo we proceeded to Aden & there got further stores we arrived at Aden on the 25th of Nov & left on the 26th . From Aden we went to Suez & arrived there on Dec 1st. We waited there for some hours & then were allowed to go through the canal to Port Said. We reached Port Said on Nov 2nd [Dec] & after staying for about 12 hours

[Page 8]
In train on way to Cairo. Dec 5th/14
(I had to leave my letter unfinished for the time being as I was not well enough to continue writing the day before yesterday as I am however entirely recovered I will now continue I will tell you what was the matter with me a little lower down)
I was saying that we stayed at Port Said for 12 hours, well during that time we took coal aboard & then left for Alexandria. We arrived there at about 8 oclock on Wednesday morning (Dec 3rd) & commenced to make final preparations for leaving the ship.

Now before I go any further I’ll give you a brief description of the life we led aboard the ship. We rose at 6a.m. & after rolling our hammocks up (all the privates & non coms. slept in hammocks) & stowing them in the hammock bins, made our way to the wash houses. Here after waiting for about 20 or 30 minutes a man if he was lucky enough managed to get a bath or a wash. The reason one had to wait is that there was not sufficient washing accommodation for all hands (that however as you will be able to understand directly was only a minor evil & one that did not bother us to any great extent) After we had we used to spend the time that was left us before breakfast in cleaning our rifles and bayonets. At about 7-45 or 8-0 oclock we had breakfast and after breakfast were free to do as we pleased untill 8-45. At 8-45 we fell in & were giving instruction in semaphore & rifle drill untill 10-45 when we were dismissed & had the remainder of the day to ourselves. That was all the work we did as a rule. The only exceptions were when it was our turn for gaurd or fatigue [indecipherable] turn for gaurd came once a week & then we had to do four

[Page 9]
on & 8 hours off. That is we did 8 hours on duty. You will be able to see that as far as work goes we were a long way from being overworked. At 12-0 oclock we had dinner & at 5-0 oclock tea. At 6-0 P.M. we drew our hammocks once more & by 9-0 P.M. when "Lights Out" was sounded all hands were in their hammocks.
Now just afew lines with regard to our food. The food we got was real good food spoilt in the cooking. The bread (for the main part of the voyage) was sour & doughy & absolutely unfit to be eaten. It was as a result of the food that I came to be ill. On the day we arrived at Port Said we were given rabbit for dinner & by about tea time that day two thirds of the men were sick with either ptomaine poisoning or verdigrease poisoning. Personally I think it was the latter.

Well I myself felt nothing wrong until about two oclock the next morning when I woke up feeling as though I wanted to vomit. I lay still for a few moments & then as I still felt the same I got out of my hammock & made my way on deck here I began to vomit & continued to do so on & off for about three hours. By then I felt a lot better & went down below again. At about seven oclock the same morning I began to feel ‘queer’ again & so went along to the doctor & got him to examine me. He gave me some medicine & some mustard & water with the result that in about five minutes time I was sick once more. After that I felt as right as rain & went about my usual affairs. I did not feel ill again untill yesterday afternoon when I was taken very bad indeed. It happened as follows about two oclock yesterday afternoon our company & several others companies left the ship & got into the train in order to

[Page 10]
That was to take us to Cairo. About two hours previous to going on the train we had dinner & I think that that knocked me over. Anyway soon after I began to feel a bit ‘queer’ but took no notice of it thinking it was merely the after effects of the sickness I had had. After I had taken my seat in the train I began to feel a lot worse & decided to ask permission from my company officer to go back on board & see the doctor. Well I obtained permission & in two or three minutes was on board once more (the train comes right alongside of the ship at Alexandria) I had no sooner got on board that I collapsed. When the doctor came to see me & found what was the matter he gave me some whitish looking medicine which enabled me to sit up a little then he gave me another medicine which made me vomit. After that medicine had ceased to take effect he gave me some mustard & water & made me vomit once more. When the mustard & water ceased to take effect I was given another dose similar to the first dose & then put into bed & had a hot water bottle placed on my stomach. Soon after that I fell asleep & did not wake up untill ‘Reveille’ sounded that is 6-0 oclock this morning feeling A1. I then got up & washed myself & went & saw the doctor. After he had once more examined me & asked me how I felt he gave me an opening medicine & told me that I need not be afraid of becoming sick again as all the poison had gone out from my system. As I said before there were about two thirds of the men taken sick with poisoning but out of that lot there are only two or three that are sick with it known. They are still on the ship under the supervision of the Army Medical Corps. After I had

[Page 11]
Seen the doctor I went & had some breakfast & then reported myself to the Adjutant. He told me to report to the Captain of F. Company & attach myself to him untill such time as I could get in touch with my own Company once more (that will be soon after we get to Cairo). I accordingly went & reported to the Captain of F. Coy. & as a result am now on my way to Cairo as a temporary member of his Coy. We left Alexandria at about 9-0 oclock & have been travelling for about two hours the scenery is not up to much (at least not so far). All one can see are native villages (built out of mud) at every few miles & continual strings of donkeys & camels, also a lot of cultivation ground surrounded by ditches full of water. We crossed over a river some while back by means of what seemed a

I will now give you a few more items that happened in Australia & which I forgot to mention at first. After we had been in camp for some time we were inoculated against enteric, cholera, dysentery, etc. The way the deed was done was as follows – the doctor half filled a small needle pointed syringe with some sort of serum & after running the needle under the skin of the arm for about an inch injected the stuff into the arm. There was no pain to be felt until a couple of hours later when there was a dull throbing pain that lasted for about a day. The first time I was done I was done on my right arm & then a week later on my left. I obtained leave on ‘Rosh-a-Shonu’ & ‘Yom Kippur’ & went to Shool I also fasted on Yom Kippur. Whilst in Shool on Yom Kippur I made the acquaintance of an old gentleman

[Page 12]
who asked me where I was going to after the service. I told him that I intended going back to camp (I was in uniform at the time) he then asked me wether I would care to spend the evening at his house & break my fast there. I told him that I would be only too pleased to accept his invitation & accordingly I sat down to a real Yiddish meal (& didn’t I enjoy it – raaather. I should Shay sho).
I sent a letter to Aunty soon after we left Australia asking her to tell you I had joined etc & also to tell you I was in the Transports. My reason for asking her to tell you that was because I did not want you about me being in any danger. As it happened I am in the Infantry but never-the-less you need not worry about me getting hurt or shot as I do of becoming a multi-millionaire within the next few minutes. As I think I have already said we are going out here merely to relieve the regulars & act as a garrison in their place.

I had intended to make arrangements when we got to England for 30/- a week to be left you out of my pay but as we are not going to England I will make all the necessary arrangements here. I had also hoped that when we got to England I would have about £10 to draw but but owing to there being no going to England for us I shall not have so much to draw as the trip has been cut some three weeks shorter by our landing here. However as soon as we are once more in camp I will try & draw what is due to me & send it you.

[Page 13]
When we got to Alexandria I found a letter waiting for me It had been readdressed from the Sydney G.P.O. It was written on the 16 Sept. & in it you ask me wether I would care to go to Louis Dreyfus & Co (next time I am in Sydney) & try & get on there. Well as it happens I had a letter from Phillip to the same effect but as it happens at the present I am unable to take advantage of his suggestion. When all the present trouble in Europe is over & if I should decide to return to Australia again (I am thinking very seriously of going to the Argentine or Peru, or Mexico or Venezula or some South American country) I will if I am given the opportunity to obtain a billet there give the subject my most ernest consideration for the present however I must shelve it. That is about all there is to answer in that letter.

Well now I really must commence to bring this letter to a close. I expect Joe thinks I ought to have done that long ago. Tell Dolly I have a lot of Post Cards for her & will send them sometime next week. I am also sending a few Australian trinkets. One for you, one for Dolly, one for Aunty one for Sam one for Joe, Dad. Also a pack of Pictorial playing cards for the house. Give my best & kindest regards to Aunty, Katy, Fanny Phillip, Mrs Gough & sons Mr & Mrs Holmes the [indecipherable] & all Aunty’s Chevirlite [?] also Mr & Mrs Gray & Mr & Mrs Frost, Mr & MrsElston, Mrs Bedison & everyone else. Hoping that this will find you in the very best of health as it leaves
[Louis Dreyfus & Co. is an international commodities trading company]

[Page 14]
me. I remain – No I don’t not just yet I have a favour to ask of you first. I want you to find out the Hebrew names for Ella (a girls name) & Alfred (a boys name). I’ll tell how I come to want to know them the night before we embarked I dodged out of camp (it was impossible to get leave so as we could get out of camp fairly easy – we got -) & took a stroll round the town. Whilst waiting for the car to take me back a young man whom I had seen in Shool came along with the intention of catching a car. We recognised one another & commenced talking after a few minutes conversation the car he wanted came along & he invited me to come home with him & be introduced to his wife & have a chat before I returned to camp.

It appeared he had just left his camp (he is a member of the Legion of Frontiersmen) & was on his way home when he met me. Well I accepted his invitation went home with him was introduced to his wife a real pleasant young woman & just before we sat down to supper I made the acquaintance of their two little kiddies. Bonny little kiddies they are too. Well as we sat talking the subject gradually came round from the War to

[Page 15]
everyday topics & in time to names. My hostess then asked me if I could tell her the Hebrew names for Ella & Alfred as the Jewish authorities here seemed to be unable to make up their minds as to what the Hebrew equivalent is, That I told her I did not know but that when (when) I got to England I would do my best to find out & send her (my hostess) a letter telling her the result. Now as I cannot see to the matter in person I want you to do me the favor of finding out what the Hebrew names are & post me the result. Hoping you will be able to do me the favor & once more trusting this will find you in the best of health as it leaves me.
I remain
Your Loving Son
Dave.

P.S In camp
6 mile from Cairo
Dec 6th /14
We arrived at Cairo at about 2-0 oclock & soon after we got out of the train were given a ½ pint of cocoa, a small bread roll & a piece of cheese per man. (It went down good too I don’t mind admitting). Then I & several others were detailed off to go with the stores that were being placed on trams. On the way down we passed several curious & interest sights. We saw cultivation lands being prepared for

[Transcribed by Peter Mayo, Colin Smith for the State Library of New South Wales]