[Note: pages of original letter were filmed out of order]
[Page 52]
just fairly rolls off you.
I am wondering whether I will be able to ware frannel pyjamas in Egypt; they say it is pretty cool there at night so they may be not too hot but if they are I can buy some cool’uns I suppose, silk ones perhaps. I wash the pair I have with me every time I go on piquet as then they have two days to dry as we cant take our clothes off when on duty. The five pairs of socks I have with me ought to last a good while as we don’t wear any on board; in fact we only wear shoes when working with the horses.
Full dress parade here consists of identification disc and a short pair of pants, so you see we are not extravigant on clothes.
Soon after we left Fremantle Bartrim developed mumps and he has been in isolation ever since. Poor kid: he finds it very slow and is rather home sick I think.
There is no doubt that this is the life for a chap alright, we get a fair amount of work but only short hours, go to bed about 8 PM and eat our heads off on good tucker. They all laugh at me, say they would rather keep me a week than a fortnight even on a months allowance of tucker.
I have seen an awful lot of flying fish the last day or two; they are jumping all round the boat.

[Page 53]
May 21st

Next Sunday

We have to post our letters during this week in order that they may be censored before we land. We have had a marvellous trip have hardly seen a white horse since leaving Australia, it is hard luck having a straight run through like this as I would like to have seen Colombo. I had my air pillow pinched the other night; fell out of my hammock while I was asleep and some body must have picked it up; however I did not worry much as it was badly punctured and was driving me to drink having to blow it up two or three times a night and I hope it drives the chap who has got it clean out of his mind. I will try and buy another one if I can as they are very nice.

I opened your letter the Sunday after we left Fremantle and I was pleased with it.
You said you were going to mark some passages in my Bible but I suppose you did not have time. I marked a few when on piquet the other night but if you sent me a list I could mark off the ones you liked then.
My house–wife is still greatly admired by anyone who sees it and I have had to use it a good deal lately as two of my frannels “bust" up the side, rotton things are too small for me but I mended them up in great style.

[Page 54]
I suppose by the time you get this it will be mid-winter and the boys will be home and Father down at the sheep sales.
Don’t suppose another letter will reach you in time for your birthday so Mother dear I must wish you many happy returns and hope that the next one we will all be at home and have a really big bon fire.
I wonder will Aunt Katie be up with you for the holidays?
I wont be able to write to the boys this time. Did you get my telegram and letters from Fremantle?
As soon as I can I will send you a cable when we get to Egypt but don’t suppose I will be able to till we get into camp.
Will you send me the dates of the birthdays of some of the girls; they would think it awfully sweet of me to remember their birthdays right over here, but I have really forgotten them all now; only you must not tell them of course.

Tuesday 23rd
There are a lot of returned chaps on board here and they say that when we get over the other side we will be asked how many islanlds there are in the world and if we dont get the answer right we will

[Page 55]
be fairly mobbed.
The answer I “one"
What is it? “Australia"!!
Some of them say two Australia & Tasmania.
But that wont be taken unless there are some Tasmanians around.
We have been a very happy family on board but it will be nice to get on land again and see a bit more of the world.
They have never had service on board since we left; which I think is a pity. but it however we will be able to have church parade again pretty soon now.
My word you appreciate the home Sundays when you get away like this; you will hear real old bushies here say that; whom you would never think had had a home for years.
I have managed to escape the mumps so far and am feeling jolly fit on the whole but for a few bru bumps which I have received through rolling out of my hammock two nights running. It is a most horrible shock to land wop on the floor when you are sound asleep especially when the hammock is hung from the roof.
Think I will sleep on the floor in future; it is safer when a person is such a wriggler like me.
Kind regards to Dick & Miss Stirling. Love to Boys. If we don’t get any worse time than we have had on board the “Awful troop ships" this is going to be a picnic. Must stop now. Good bye Mother dear. fro Your loving son Rob.

[Page 56]
[Front of envelope]
Mrs H.C. Wilson
Wyaldra Park
Mudgee

[Page 57]
No 2480 Tpr. R. Wilson
17th Reinforcements 1st Reg A.L.H.
Interm. Base Depot
Egypt

At Sea
18th May 1916

My dear Father
It will be some time before I can post this but I am going to start this now as there are some things I want to say which I might forget later on.
Soon after we left Australia Bartrim got the mumps, which made 2 men from our table of 6 men but so far we others have escaped them. About my pay – it is not much I know but why not use it on home? It is all in the family and I would much rather the money was helping to carry on instead of lying idily in the bank.
I was asking a returned chap about the hospitals in Egypt; he says that although you cant draw your pay till you get out, you can send a cable home at any time which will be charged against you so you a person need not worry about if he gets sick.
over

[Page 58]
Do you remember that I told you that a person under 21 could not make a will? Well most of the chaps on board seem to think a soldier can. How would it be to ask Mr. Meares?
We are having a lovely trip and I am getting like Baby Bliss. I heard a good recipe the other day for a man who cant grow a moustache: it is put treacle on your lip, and then let the mosquitoes settle there, when there is a good mob of them you give them a fright & they fly away and leave their legs behind.
They say it makes quite a fine moustache so I am thinking of trying it.
We have a very bad tempered horse here that is always bighting at the crew when they pass; they call him “Shylock" because they say he is always after his pound of flesh.
I went all through the stoke hold and engine room the other evening and it was awfully interesting. The propeller shaft is about is about 40 yards long and as thick as your body so you can imagine what it weighs, and yet there it is spinning round night and day with out a tremour: it must be marvelously
laid.
One thing that struck me was the refrigerator with frost thick all over it standing in the engine room, which has a temperature of about 180 degrees.
There are four boilers, each with four fires, and the steam pressure has to be kept the same in all of them so it takes some stokeing.
We left Fremantle on a beautiful real Australian morning and steamed out to the tune of “Hearts of Oak" on a cornet from one of the boats in the harbour.
It is wonderful how you find chaps on board

[Page 59]
here that you have heard of before.
For instance there is one of the Bartons from Wellington here, a trooper in the 6th, he is a returned man having done 19 weeks in Gallipoli and then got enteric.
Then Rostron knows Miss Miller & also the Crossings; his people have Uliwah Coonamble, near Wingadee.
There is also a man named Keer who lived on Oakey Creek and knows Dick White.
His father and old McAllister worked their passage out from England on the same boat he says.
Of course there are some awful wasters here but there are tons of good men to make up for them.
I must go to bed now.

Sunday 21st
It is still as calm as ever and has been raining most of the day; we have really had a wonderful calm trip.
Wonder how the rams are getting on; I suppose by the time you get this they will be at the sales.
I wish you many happy returns of your birthday and I hope the rams bring a record price. I will be awfully anxious to hear about it. When are you going to get the car?

[Page 60]
I wonder if you are having a good winter. The wheat and lucerne ought to be looking jolly well now if you are.
They are starting in to clip all the horses here; have two machines going every day but the horses are very tough as they have been washed with salt water.
Must stop now.

I am
your affectionate loving son
Rob.

PS. Sunday 28th May

I posted Mothers letter card early in the week; thinking it had to go but kept this back in case it had not and found the mail did not close till today. We are getting very near our destination now and this afternoon we had a full dress parade to see we all had our uniforms and were paid 35/- and issued with our pay books: 35/- is at the rate of 1/- per day since we left: we get the other 35/- at the first pay on land.
In the back of the pay book there is a form for making a will so I might just as well fill that in and it ought to do.
We passed very close to Cape Guadafui and I took some photos though I dont know whether they will be any good. There was not even a ripple on the sea there and it was teaming with fish.

[Page 61]
I saw two sharks, a sword fish, two turtles and tons of porpoises and little fish.
We passed two dhows but too far away to see them properly; but with glasses we were able to see two native villages pretty clearly on shore.
We have had a head wind all the way up here through the Red sea; which has kept it beautifully cool.
We passed Aden in the night but we could just make out Mocha in the distance on the Arabian cost next day. The war news has been coming through pretty regularly on the wireless the last few days What a fearfull fight they are having at Verdun; we all thought that would have been over long ago but everybody is very pleased at the King giving consent to the conscription bill.
We were told last night in an off
over

[Page 62]
hand way that when we get to shore; if they dont want reinforcements for the Light Horse they might stick us into anything else.
I jolly well hope they wont and I am going to stick to the L.H. as long as I can; but I thought I had better let you know so that I could wire if I am transfered; but if we are not shifted right at the start I expect we will be left alone.
Here comes tea so must stop.
Keer developed mumps yesterday: It is grand how I seem to get on without them.
Goodbye
Your loving son
Rob.

I will have £10 when we land and so am well off for money: I spent a good bit at the Canteen buying tinned fruit etc as we did not get too many vegetables: however the canteen has sold out all its stock now so am saving money every day and the first pay ashore will be a pretty big one with the extra 35/-.
In Egypt we get an extra 6d per day food allowance to be spent at the canteen on anything we like

[Page 63]
[Front of envelope]
On Active Service
A.I.F.
Passed by Censor

Mrs H.C.Wilson
Wyaldra Park
Mudgee
New South Wales
Australia

[Page 64]
1st Reg ALH.

2nd June 1916

My Dear Mother
Here we are safely in camp on dry land again!
There seems to be great trouble about sending letters to Australia but to night at tea it was given out that if we had letters written by 8 o’clock they might have a chance of getting away tomorrow.
I wrote to you just before we got to land and I hope you received it; I am trying to send you a cable and I think it ought to get through tomorrow.
It is a week-end one and you should get it about Tuesday 6th June; they charge 10d a word I think but we

[Page 65]
dont have to pay any cash as it is charged up against our deferred pay.
Have just heard that we can say where we are.
Well we are at Tel-el kebir near the old battlefield and my address is
No 2480
Tpr Wilson
1st L.H. Training Regt
Intermediate Base
Egypt
At present we are the contact camp on account of the mumps on board: Rostron got them the other day; only very slightly; but of course was sent to hospital.
It is very hot here in the day time but jolly cold at night and a person needs all the nap he can get

[Page 66]
but it seems a healthy place and I am feeling very fit.
We only drill in the very early morning, and when we start work properly, in in the evening as well. The flies are rather bad but nothing like what I have seen them up at Nyngan. I will try and write you a decent letter next time whenever that is, but must let this go now.
The niggers are very interresting, and a person could write a book on them but they are crawling wretches and will cheat you out of everything you have got. Please ask Mrs. Nicholl to send me Olivers address. We have not received any letters from home yet

[Page 67]
Love to Father and the boys.
Robert.C. Wilson

Mrs H.C. Wilson
Wyaldra Park
Mudgee
N.S.W.
Australia

[Page 69]
Address No. 2480 Tpr. Wilson
1st training Regt.
Aust L.H.
Interm Base Depot
Egypt

Tel-el-Kebir
4th June 1916
Sunday morning

My dear Hal & Fred
I posted a short note to Mother and sent a cable on Friday night which I hope you have received; I am a bit nervous about the cable as I am not certain whether I put the right address on it; however if the notice does not come soon saying it has gone I will try and send another one at the week end.
Isolation camp is not a very exciting place to be stuck in for three weeks, especially as there is no leave at all and as so far no canteen to buy anything at: but I wish you boys were here to come for walks with me over the old battle field as it is awfully interresting out there.
You can find all sorts of old relics out there, such as cartridge cases and bullets etc, and the trenches and gun mounds are still there; they must have been a terrible size when they were made as although the sand has drifted into them a lot they are still pretty deep.
This is funny country around here; not quite what I expected it to be, it is desert all right but it is all long rolling sand hills, only the sand has a certain amount of clay with it and has set down pretty hard and is covered with round water worn stones just like the hills at the back of Barham.

[Page 70]
[Pages out of order]
We arrived at Suez at about 5 AM on Tuesday anchored in the harbour for a little while and then came up alongside the wharf where we saw some Egyptians for the first time.
There was quite a mob of them there; all most dirty looking wretches and they would scramble in the dust for halfpennies if we threw them ashore to them; they seemed to be working under niggers gangers who carried good heavy whips and used to belt them like anything if they caught them loafing.
We did pretty well disembarking the horses, we had to lead them up a race from the lower deck to the top; then down another one on to the wharf and then accross and into the trucks and it just took us an hour and three quaters to do the whole 360 of them.
We were put on the train about six in the evening and started off for this place; and arrived at two in the morning.
The trains here are rather funny; there are no signals on the line except near big towns; so they go along whistling all the time and they keep stopping to let other trains pass them: our engine cleared out and left us once coming up here, I think it must have gone on to tell another train we were coming.
I have had rather bad luck the last day or two
Over

[Page 71]
as I have had my knife broken and my fountain pen pinched.
I only laid my pen down on the table for a minute while I looked away but when I turned round again it had gone. I think I know who took it but of course cant do anything except watch him.
Will you send me the “Swan" over please. I can easily get another knife but a pen costs about 80 piastres and, when one P. is worth 2 1/2, it is a lot of money.

We do very little work here as it is so hot, the principle thing is a route march in the early morning and then we lie down most of the day: One thing about this climate is you can always sleep at night; as soon as the sun goes down it comes up quite cold and you will see the guards in the middle of the night wearing overcoats. There is a photographic shop here and I have been able to buy films and have given them two films to develop but have not got them back yet.
The flies are pretty bad here but as the chaps say there some good as they help to stop the glare. We saw the Mount Sini Peninsular coming up through the Red Sea and My word! it is a rough place, all barren mountains running up to sharp points. I would not like to have to climb them. It is the sort of country the Government wo like to get hold of in Tasmania Australia to settle returned soldiers on; so the chaps say here.
We have lovely cool mess sheds here made of a sort of cane stuff. I am writing in one now but the flies are bad in here and the dust is blowing so it is rather hard work and I think I will go off and go to sleep in my tent till dinner time.
We are able to buy cucumbers & tomatoes from the niggers so have plenty of fresh vegetables.

[Page 72]
I wrote to Aunt Katie from the boat; hope she got it.
We get a paper here every morning “The Egyptian Times" but there is absolutely no news in it. I will send you a copy later on if I get a chance.
I am not going to spend any money on post cards or souvenirs of Egypt; the photos I take are more interesting I think don’t you?
Please give my regards to Mr Radcliff & Florrie Love to Aunt Katie.
What sort of time did you have at midwinter?
Cold I suppose I wish I was!
I am your loving brother
Robert C Wilson

[Page 73]
No 3 Hospital
Abbassia
Near Cairo
7th June 1916.

My dear Mother
After all said and done I have gone and got mumps, and am up here in hospital, which is a jolly side nicer place than in the contact camp out in the desert at Tel el Kebir. I started to get them last Sunday; was sent to hospital in camp on Monday and came up here to day.
Yesterday in camp I received twelve letters and My Word! I was pleased.
Two were from you, one from Aunt Katie, and the rest from Telarah, none

[Page 74]
from Father or the others you spoke about.
The ones I got were all addressed to Australian Ports bar two, one from you and one from Kath.
I wrote to you last Friday and to the Boys on Sunday and I now find this will go by the same mail; so am putting number 3 on top of it.
I hope my letter to the boys did not sound very dumpy; I am afraid it did because when I wrote it, it was terribly hot, the flies were very bad, we had a dust storm, and I was getting mumpy.
I will try and send you a cable this week end just to let you know I’m here.
We got news of our naval

[Page 75]
victory on Sunday.
I wonder if it is the beginning of the end; they always said it would it would be when the fleet came out.
Fred Rostron is here in the same ward with me; so I have got a mate and they do look after you well.
Fancy a good bed to sleep on and butter & eggs and jelly for tea.
Please ask the boys to send me another print of yours and Fathers photos; those I had are stuck together and spoilt.
I will answer all your letters next mail; Jack Dawson has a father at Toorawenah via Gilgandra but he is an uneducated man.
I sent Father Rostron’s address, he has a mother I know they are getle folk.

[Page 76]
My address is still
1ST Training Regt ALH
Interm. Base Depot
Eygpt
I cant help thinking of all our chaps in camp with me here with pink pyjama pants on too.
I have never had such a swell trip in a train as I had this morning in the Red Cresent Hospital train; it is beautifully easy, you have a bed to lie on and an orderly brings you any cool drinks you like to order.
I am looking forward to getting Father’s letters with the news of home.
Love to Father
Your loving son
Rob.

[Page 77]
[Front of envelope]
On Active Service
18 Ju 16

Mrs. H.G. Wilson
Wyaldra Park
Mudgee
New South Wales
Australia

Passed by Censor No. 3164

[Page 78]
Address No 2480 Tpr R.C. Wilson
1st Training Rgt. ALH
Intermediate Base Depot
Egypt

16rth June 1916

My dear Aunt Fan
Thank you for your letter which I received just before I left Sydney.
I have Robin’s address in my note book and will write to him just to see where he is but I don’t think there is much chance of us meeting unless I have to go into the Artillery and then we might.
At present I am in the mumps hospital at Abbassia, all the rest of our chaps are camped out in the desert at Tel el Kebir in isolation so I am lucky.
Yesterday five of us and a sister went for a motor drive all round Cairo and had a grand time.
I think I am being sent down to Alexandria for a change of air before going back and as there are two or three of our chaps its good fun.
It is very hot in the day time here but this hospital is very cool; it was the Egyptian Artillery Barracks before the war.
I was very lucky about my mail; got some from home only a week after landing here but dont suppose I will get any more till I get back to the Regiment.
Please give my love to Uncle John and Majorie
Your loving nephew
Robert C. Wilson

[Page 79]
No 4 Auxiliary Hospital
Abbasia.
18th June 1916

My dear Father.
I wrote to Mother when I first came in here and there is not much news since then.
The mumps have all gone now and I am to be sent on in a day or two to the convolescent camp at Ras-el-din on the sea coast near Alexandria for a change of air before going back to duty.
I have not received any letter from you yet but it may be waiting down at camp for me; I got letter No 1 from Mother and also the one she sent to Melbourne to me.
On the 10th I sent a cable home saying “Slight mumps hospital Cairo". I was afraid they might report me as being in hospital and not say what was the matter with me and give you a fright. Hope you got the cable.
The other afternoon the Red Cross sent up a car and took five of us for an hours drive: we went all round and saw the sights of Cairo and saw the Nile and the Kasr-el-nil bridge over it.
All the roads and streets are asphalted and perfectly level and My Word! you do spin over them. There seem to be an awful lot of Fords and Studebakers about here; all the motor ambulances down at

[Page 80]
Tel-el-Kebir are Fords; they have low gear engines I think but it is fairly wonderful to see the places they go; through heavy sand and up banks - nothing seems to worry them.
One of the nurses here is Sister Skinner from Tassy, she knows Barbara well and a lot of my Devonport relations. I went to church to day in one of the mess sheds here; it is the first time since we all went together at Cremorne on Easter Sunday.
Did not Kitchener’s death come as a big shock to every body. I wonder how Lloyd George will be able to fill his place.
There is absolutely no leave granted from these hospitals and it seems rather hard to get with in 16 miles of the Pyramids and then not be able to see them; still I must not grumble when all the other chaps have only seen the desert and I have got to Cairo and am going on to Alexandria.
The only way we can get out is to go in the Red Cross car with a sister in charge of us; but it is good fun going round, but it only lasts for an hour. There are some jolly fine buildings round here, some of them are very pretty and all seem to have big domes on them. The Palais Hotel, Heliopolis is just a little way from here; it is supposed to be the second largest hotel in the world and it looks a grand place. Of course it is a hospital now.

[Page 81]
One great thing about this place is that there are hot and cold showers and My Word! they are great after only taps down at the camp – at Ras-el-din there are sea baths, a tennis court and all sorts of things, they say, so it must be a pretty good place.
Monday 19th June
Had great luck today. Got on soft side of Sister Skinner and she went and saw the Matron and the O.C. and all the boss cockies and the result is we are all off to see the Pyramids. I got six of us to sling in and we are getting a car and a sister coming with us and we have got leave from 2.30 till 6.30.
My Word it is great. It will only cost us about 6/- each which is not much.
I ought to get some great photos.
Wonder how the rams are: I am just aching to know how things are looking at home.
It is most awfully against rules for us to go and Sister nearly got eaten for asking but she got it for a’ that.
Must go and tog now.
Love to Mother. I will write to her soon.
I am
Your loving son
Robert C. Wilson

[Page 82]
[Front of envelope]
0n active service

21 Ju 16

H.C.Wilson Esq.,
Wyaldra Park
Mudgee
N.S.W.
Australia

Passed by Censor No. 3104

[Page 82]
No. 4 Aux. Hospital
Abbassia
20th June, 1916

My dear Mother
I only wrote to Father yesterday but I must write and tell you of our trip to the Pyramids while it is still fresh in my mind.
It is all thanks to Sister Skinner that we were able to go as there is not supposed to be any leave from infectious hospitals but somehow she managed to get it for herself and six of us and so off we went.
We left at 2.30 got a tram and went up to Heliopolis and there got another tram back to Cairo.
They are electric trams just likes our Sydney ones and they go along quietly ringing a bell in the towns but when they get out a bit they get onto a sort of railway line fenced both sides, and forget they are trams and turn into trains and go like the devil and get a whistle like an engine instead of the bell. In Cairo we managed to get a beautiful easy car and they agreed to take the 7 of us for 130 Piastres which was pretty cheap I thought. We crossed the Nile on the Kasr-el-nile bridge and then got onto the most beautiful road I have ever seen in my life.
It is about 12 miles out and the whole way the road is asphalted and level enough to play billiards on and there are beautiful trees each side which form a complete archway over the road the whole way; in the middle of the day I don’t think one bit of sun could shine on the road anywhere.
There is a canal all the way out along the side of the road and so of course there are fields all the way.
They are just carting their hay in now and it did look like the
over

[Page 84]
real thing to see mobs of sheep and goats together and donkeys and camels feeding on the stubble with their sheppards watching them to keep them off the potatoes & lucerne. There are no fences anywhere. In one paddock, or rather patch; you cant call ‘em paddocks I thought the sheaves looked awfully regular and then I saw a reaper & binder standing in the middle of it. By jove it was funny but it did not look so out of place because I am sure it was made about Moses’s time and left out in the weather ever since. I’d love to see them working it. I’ll bet they have a camel and a buffalo with a donkey in the lead and a man to drive each one.
They have a curious way of threshing here – They stick all their hay round in a big ring on some hard ground and then drive round on the inside edge of the circle with an affair like a one way disc, only they are plain rings, not discs, with two buffalos in it.
This threshes it all out and there is a man working behind with a broom sweeping it all into the middle into a heap and then at the finish they have it in a heap ready for winnowing – but I have not seen them doing that yet.
Soon after leaving Cairo you can see the Pyramids on ahead and you feel quite disappointed because they look quite small and only about a mile away, but you go on and on in the car, and it is really over 10 miles and the Pyramids get bigger & bigger until you get up to them and they are a terrible size. We arrived at Mena House which is the foot of the rise the Pyramids are on. Here we got out of the car, had cool drinks and then go donkeys and camels and rode up the hill.
Sister got a donkey with a side saddle and myself & another chap got a camel as they hold two. The donkeys were 3 Pt and the Camels 5 Pts each but I was frightened a donkey would let my legs drag. Before going up a nigger made me buy a coin from him which he said was an old Roman one found in the excivations; it was old and battered looking and a good fake so I thought it was worth the ½ Piastre. I’ll send it home when I get a chance.
Well we rode up past the big Pyramid and down to the Sphinx where we all got off and went into the Temple of the Sphinx, which is a few yards over to the right of the Sphinx and is not really the Temple of the Sphinx as they have found a temple in the Sphinx itself but it is always known as the Temple

[Page 85]
of the Sphinx. That’s 40 Sphinxs in one sentence but I cant help it. You go down a pretty steep slope and come to a sort of court yard with great granite pillars and tremendously thick walls. It must have been a pretty high affair when it was built but of course it has all been excivated and the tops of it walls only just come above the level of the ground now.
The stones in the walls are a tremendous size, and there is no mortor between them; the biggest stone is 16 ft x 8 ft x 8 ft of solid granite and is a good height up in the wall too. In one corner there is a big stone cut this shape [drawing of an upside down L]. I suppose they made it to hold the corner together. The floor is all alabaster. There are vaults opening off this courtyard where they found the mummies and in there if you hold a candle to the edge of the alabaster you can see the light shining right through the stone.

The guide lit some coloured matches which had a very weird effect and you could see bats hanging from the roof.
Out in the courtyard again the guide showed us a space let into the wall high up and facing the East where the priests used to get up to talk to the people.
Up on top again the guide showed us a wall which he said was built by the Romans. I never knew the Romans did anything there but it certainly looked like their work as it was well made of small bricks.
I took a photo of the pillars down in the courtyard of the temple and then got up on top and took one from there of the Sphinx.
over

[Page 86]
Down in the gully further over to the right of the Sphinx are the tombs of the kings all big vaults they say but I had not time to go over. We never had time for anything hardly but we saw a lot: you could put in a week out there and take hundreds of photos.
The sphinx is rather a hideous looking monster with its nose knocked which they say was done by Napoleon firing a shot at it with a cannon. Is that true do you know?
We then mounted our various hack;, rode round the Sphinx and then up to the big Pyramid: Going up the two of us on our Camel gave the other chaps a race. I was sitting in front and as I only had one bit of rope to do all the steering with it was rather exciting; however the camel seemed to know where to go so we both worked our heels like anything and yelled “Higgery" (Hurry up! They hardly pronounce the H) and we got a real good toot out of him bu and beat the others badly.
When we got up we decided to have a look inside the Pyramid but we only had about 15 minutes to do it in. When we got there we were fairly mobbed by guides as each person has to have one to go in and they do rook you. Mine told me his name was McKenzie and when he started he said “Proceed McDuff": and He was a very dirty looking nigger and he said I could pay him what I liked but he managed to screw 8 Pts out of me before he finished and told me a doleful tale about his large family etc.

[Page 87]
You have to climb up a little way to get to the opening which is only a small hole and then you go in a long way through a narrow passage and you have to double right up.
After a bit you get to a wall which is very high and narrow, the guide lit some magnesium wire to show me (and made me pay 2 1/2 Pts.) then we started to climb up a narrow passage of polished marble, as slippery as glass, you have got to hold the guide’s hand and you feel you want to wash yours for a week afterwards.
When you get near the end of the passage you it gets bigger and you can see where mummies we taken out of the walls and then you go through a narrow passage again to the Kings chamber. His name is up on the wall just before you go into the passage.
The kings chamber is right in the centre of the Pyramid and is a tremendously high and big place, the guide lit some more magnesium to show me (another 2 ½ P).
The ventilation is the wonderful thing – the air is quite fresh in there and there is a passage for it to come it on the other side from where we came. The guide explained to me how it worked but I could not understand him.
In the middle there is a big stone vault where the king’s mummie was. There are tremendous big granite stones in the walls of this chamber; there is no mortor between them and one tremendous stone runs right along one wall and they say weighs 40 tons.
over

P.S.
Will you send my sub for the Fortian.
You are supposed to pay in advance & I think I owe for last year but it is only 1/6 a year. I would like to have it sent to me just to see the list of chaps who have come. Mr Yarnold sent me his paper before I left. I suppose I ought to subscribe to it, that’s 1/- a year I think.
I expect that he would like my name for the list too.
The boys & Aunt Katie might like to hear about the Pyramids & I could not write another account so you can send them this if you like.

[Page 88]
We never had time to get to the Queen’s chamber and I was rather glad because it was jolly hard work climbing on the slippery marble with your head below your knees just after a week in bed with mumps. However before we got out I had to give my guide another 3 piastres for showing me round and then as soon as we got out a man grabbed me and washed my hands with a drain of water and got ½ Pt from me. We then all rode back down to the car and had to tip about 40 niggers for holding the donkeys & getting in the way generally. The most agonising thing about a camel is that when he sits down to let you off. You know they have pretty long legs and when they suddenly go down on their knees it is like trying to sit on the side of a wall and wretches always stop and argue before they lower away behind and you have to sit there and hang on for all you are worth.
We had a lovely spin back in to Cairo in the evening and. We kept passing shepards taking their flocks of sheep and goats together home and saw the nigger kids riding their buffalo cows home.
We took about half an hour to run into town; we stopped at Groppies got some sandwidges and cakes and I had an ice cream soda (a beauty} and then we came on out here to Abbassia.
I could have taken an awful lot of photos but I only had time for seven. I wanted to rush round and see everything myself and had not time to go changing films.
I am sending you 20 views of Cairo: they are rather good. I got the Dr to pass them here and then I did them up pretty securely. I hope they don’t want to censor them again as they will take a bit of undoing and they might stop them from going through rather than undo them; however I’ll chance it and hope you get them.
Next day 21st
Sister has got a whole day off on Friday and was going to try and get us leave and take us to the Citadel and the zoo but I’m afraid we have to go down to “Grannie", as they call Ras-el-din, for our change of air tomorrow morning, so they put the cap on it.
However I am jolly lucky to have seen the Pyramid.
I heard yesterday that there are a lot of letters waiting for me at the camp so I wont be sorry to get back now.
I have managed to get a green envelope to put this in it will save the Drs a bit of hard work as this letter is so long. When you write please do tell me my mistake as I want to learn how to write a good letter. I do hope you are having a good winter at home. Must stop. Love to father. Good bye Mother. Ar’nt I a lucky boy to see all these things. Wish you and Father could have a trip round!
I am your loving son Rob.

[Page 89]
[Front of envelope]
Mrs. H.C. Wilson
Wyaldra Park
Mudgee
N.S.W.
Australia

[Page 90]
[Front of envelope]
23 Ju 16

Mrs. H.C. Wilson

Wyaldra Park
Mudgee
N.S.W.
Australia

[Page 91]
[Back of envelope]
14th and 21st May

[Page 93]
[A ticket for The Cairo Electric Railways and Heliopolis Oases Cy
No. K8 31444]

[Page 94]
[A ticket for The Cairo Electric Railways and Heliopolis Oases Cy
No. K8 31446]

[Page 95]
Monday 24th

I recieved 4 more letters today: mostly old ones. One from Mr Nicholle of 21st May and one from Miss Wright asking me to go to a concert at Menangle. We are under marching orders today and expect to be sent on to the regiment any day now so have not much time to write to people as we are going night and day getting ready –

Will you write to Miss Wright & thank her for ticket.
Also thank Dick for his – was going to answer it but have not time. He asked for a photo of the boat; get the boys to give him on please.
You will be able to address the letters 1st Reg. 1st Brigade now I expect but I will write and tell you for certain as soon as I get there as you never know where you will be sent till you get there. I will meet Ronald McDonald when I get to the Rgt.
Must stop now – Stella sent me some prunes in her parcel & they were nice; they are good thing to send as they don’t make you thirsty.
Good bye Mother & Father
I am
Your loving son
Rob.
Patrol work ought to be much more interesting than training in camp.
We are all looking forward to going.

[Note: Pages out of order]

[Page 96]
No wonder you lost your breath when father told you he had got a car – it fairly knocked me all of a heap when I read it but my word I am glad!
The Telegram to Fremantle came with the letters. We only stayed there 24 hours so Mrs. Warner not sending it on did not make much difference. I have not much time for writing now so will give you a list of the people I got letters from and will you please tell them and I will write as I can. I got one from Dick & one from Florrie and two from Mrs Nicholls the Dr. Please tell Mrs Nicholl that I do like getting her letter very much and will write to her as soon as I can – 4 letters from the boys written at home in Easter Holidays. I will write to Mr Wilson tomorrow. It was very good for Mr. Wilson to write to Mr. Trelawny – of course I have not been able to see him yet but I think if I should get mumps again I would be able to see him this time.
I am glad that Alan has got Gaida and hope he likes her. I dont think there is anything that I want that you could post me as you see by the time a reply comes to this we might have got out to the Regt. and of course you cant take keep much clothing with you there. I would like an air pillow as they are jolly nice to sleep on, cant buy them this side and a things they all wish for is a piece of cheese; wonder if you could send a small piece some times it would have to be soldered up in a tin I think.
Any little edibles are always greatly appreciated here they make a change you know.

[Page 97]
Bill Graham is over here now: came in the 16th Reinfs. but Jack Dawson also Bartrim has gone out to the desert on infantry work; was sent out while I was away. I did not miss anything while I was away as the chaps spent the whole of the time in Isolation and we all came back here to “details" at the same time.
We have all got horses allotted to us (will send you a photo of mine) and will get plenty of work; but it is not very hard.
Revallie goes at 4 AM and from then till 8 o’clock we have mounted training and feeding & watering horses, 10 to 12 we attend to horses & then from 4.30 till dark we get more training – so you can see most of the work is in the cool.
It is very hot in the middle of the day but the nights are generally pretty cold.
We have to ride about a mile and a half to the canal to water the horses and they have to go three times a day so it takes a good time.
On getting back to the camp from Ras-el-tin who should I meet straight off but Charlie Rayment and Ted Elliot from Nyngan and then to get back with all the other chaps was great luck I thought.
I meet Jack Glennie also, of course he is in the regt. but has been in hospital and was then sent here; he took my horse to water for me one time, but we did not know each other then however in the
over

[Page 98]
evening he got a Guardian addressed to Glennie so I recognised him then – he told me that his brother Reg was in England – he left Sydney after I did. Colin Sams wrote to me the other day, he seems very happy especially as he has a canteen had just been opened in his regt. He says he saw he is sometime near my regt. so I may have a chance of seeing him Leycester.
There are chaps here who have got mail as late as the 10th June so I am expecting to get more any day now.
In your letter Mother you said Miss. Stirling sends her and no more; I cant sleep for wondering what it was she sent so please let me know. Fred Rostron is going on to England for a trip I think.
Hope you got all the things I sent home please write and tell me straight out whether you like them or not.
Sergt Frazer is here; he is a friend of Cousin Jocelyn and I met him at Liverpool also Sergt Kay (Doug’s chum) an awfully nice chap and he is being awfully nice to me being a relation of Dougs. Of course Doug is in England.
This training is jolly interresting now with the horses and I never felt better in my life but of course we are all looking forward to getting over to the canal.
P.S. Please thank Aunt Katie for her letters

[Page 99]
Ras-el-tin
Alexandria

26th June, 1916

My dear Father,
I intended to write this yesterday on your birthday but what between sleeping and waking I never had time.
I came down here on Thursday and was put in mumps isolation and since then have been having a pretty good time; we get splendid tucker, have nothing to do and get leave from 2 till 7 every afternoon, and as Rostron is here and another nice chap named Nelson, a 3rd year Sydney W Medical student, we have a pretty good time going about together.
The journey down from Cairo to Alexandria is a fair eye opener: you leave at 9.30 and dont get to Alexandria till after 1 PM and during the whole of that time you are passing through country like the flats just before you come into Mudgee only those flats are poor compared to some of this.
Alexandria is a fair sized city and pretty clean too only the streets are terribly narrow; in some places the houses are built out about four stories up and you could jolly nearly jump across from one side to another.

[Page 100]
I have got the films that I took out at the Pyramids developed, and they have come out rather well so I am sending you a some copies of them in this letter and will send the films to the boys in a few days after I have got some more prints off them as Rostron wants to sent some home. There are two films which I took on the voyage over waiting for me down at Tel el Kebir and there are three films of Alexandria which are to be finished for me this afternoon.
I have some good fun here getting photos sometimes; the other afternoon Rostron and I were walking along the Alexandrian “Sussex Street" and I took a photo of a building there; a nigger policeman saw me and immediately rushed up and wanted me to take him so I took Rostron & him standing together and then he wanted me to give him his photo straight away.
It took over half an hour and about six interpriters to make him understand that it had to be developed first but we promised to give him one in three days and My word! he was pleased.
We have been to two very interesting places lately; they are the Mex and Nouzha gardens; at Mex we saw The Armenian Refugee camps and the salt lakes and the Nouzha gardens are the most lovely I have ever seen: I got some beautiful photos there, one of a zebra and some of the ponds and fountain ought to be jolly good.

[Page 101]
When I was down at Tel-el-Kebir I thought I would have to send that money I brought back home but I’m jolly glad I did not now, as there is tons to spend it on here.
I have bought a khaki drill coat to wear here; when we get back to Tel-el-Kebir we will be issued with summer suits but I know I will never get a coat to fit me as I am not a regulation size and I wanted to have something nice in case I ever get any leave up to Cairo. The coat I have got is a very good one and fits well; it cost 75 Pt which I thought was pretty cheap. I met Lin Alworth yesterday; he has had slight Enterric and is here convalescent. Max & Charlie are both in the A.S.C.
My word! I will be glad to get my mail back at camp I have not had any letters at all from you yet and I dont know how anything is going on at home. I hope you are having a decent winter.
I am sending you 14 photos; please let me know if any of them are censored.
This afternoon we are going out to have a look at the museam, they say it is not much of a one but we want to have a look at everything.
I wanted to send mother home something for a present but I cant see anything she would like: she would not wear a silk scarf and jewellery is not much. Views of Egypt seem to me to be the only thing. Good bye Father
I am your loving son
Rob.

[Page 102]
[Front of envelope]
On active Service
H.C. Wilson
Wyaldra Park
Mudgee
New South Wales
Australia

Passed by Censor

[Page 103]
[Back of envelope]
26th June

[Page 104]
Ras-el-tin
1st July
My dear Mother
Have just heard that there is an Australian mail going in a few minutes. I sent you a registered parcel yesterday; when you receive it open it & fumigate it well before touching it.
The table cloth is for you, the links for Father and the studs for Aunt Katie & the boys if you think they can be devided.
I am afraid that the things are not much but I could not see anything more useful so sent these along. If the set of studs should not be broken give them to one boy & I’ll send the others something else later on.
I have 24 views of lovely Alexandria; will send them next mail: will send the films to the boys. Hope you got the other photos I sent.
Am having a jolly good time here. Will write to you next week. Hope you get the parcel & like the things. There is nothing to pay on it – it goes duty free.
Love to Father & the boys. Suppose they are home now on holidays.
Don’t forget to fumigate the parcel. The cloth is hand worked & guaranteed to wash.
Your loving son
Rob.

Page 105]
[Front of envelope]
3 Jy 16
Mrs H.C. Wilson
Wyaldra Park
Mudgee
N.S.W.
Australia

Passed by Censor

Page 106]
[Back of envelope]
5th July

Page 107]
Ras-el-tin
Alexandria

5th July 1916

My dear Mother
Many happy returns of to day; and may your shadow never grow less. I’ll bet that it is as cold as anything at home today and you will have a big fire to night and here it is hot with just a pyjama coat on.
I wrote to you last Saturday to tell you I had sent a registered parcel home - I hope you get it and I do hope you will like the things; it is awfully hard to choose things on your own and there are no decent things in any of the shops it seems to me.
What ever you do please wash and fumigate everything before you use them; if you saw some of the niggers over here you would understand how necessary it is. The table cloth is guaranteed to wash. They have some most beautiful silks in the shops here & I was looking at a scarf, a really beautiful one that I thought would suit you but was not certain whether it was meant to wear round your waist or your head (did not think that it would suit you round your waist but it was a lovely one for your head) however I asked the nigger and he immediately put it on to show me. The dirty wretch, and he had had small pox very badly too, any how that cured me – I would

[Page 108]
not have sent it home if he had given it to me; there were also some nice silk blouse fronts with silk to make the rest of the blouse but I wont send anything that you would ware, it is not good enough.
Am sending you another packet of cards; they are not very good ones but they show to some extent the dryness of the country and the spelling on the back is worthy of me.
This is a grand place here; the tucker is the best I’ve ever seen in the army and we get apples, chocolates and cigarettes issued to us.
Yesterday afternoon we went for a swim round in the bay and then Rostron & I went up to Alexandria had afternoon tea and went to a picture show and drove home in a garry so you see we do things brown.
In the evening one of the Dr’s gave us a lecture on Ancient Egypt: it was most interresting and made we wish I studied up Egypt more before I left.
Coming to a town like this has let me get in a stock of “comforts" which I know will be good on the desert. They are a pair of canvas shoes, small bottle iodine, vasselene, some mosquito nets etc. and I’m going to get a compass. The other day Rostron & I went out to the Ruins of the Roman church at Pompey’s pillar .
The photographs will show you what it is like, the guide took us down an underground

Page 109]
passage cut out of sand stone and showed us the the family tombs of the Romans; we could not understand how they worked it as the tombs were only pidgeon holes cut in the side of the passage however after a lot of trouble the guide explained to us that they were cremated and only the jars of their ashes were put here.
I am very lucky having such nice chaps as Rostron & Nelson to go about with and also Tim Alworth is here so I am well off for mates.
You ought to have got my letters from Port Suez by this; I hope to get a great mail when I get back to camp again.
That letter you wrote to me to Egypt (no. 1) had half a page on the back of it with nothing on it; please don’t let that occur again!!
We are issued with a green envelope here every week and they are not censored by officers who know us, however there is nothing in your letters that I mind them seeing and so unless I write and extra long letter to you or have any private business to tell I’ll keep the green envelopes for writting to the girls! Hey?
Will you send me a list of people who got my photos please, I am rather interrested about it. Did Kitty get hers? I guess poor Olives is right out of it – hope nobody cuts me out while I am away. Love to Father. Wonder whether he is in Sydney now? Good bye Mother dear
Your loving son
Rob.

[Page 110]
Ras-el-tin
Alexandria

12th July 1916

My dear Aunt Katie
Will you please tell the boys that on the 10th July I sent I sent them a registered packet containing some photos, films coins & stones - the coins are (1) An old Roman coin (most likely made in Germany) (2) copper ½ malime fairly rare (3) malime (4) 2 milemes - The stones I picked up in the old trenches at Tel-el-Kebir and thought that Hal might like them to add to his collection.
I suppose you have seen all the photos and views I have sent home: they will give you a better idea of the places I have seen than any description of mine would.
Yesterday I went to the museam and spent an afternoon there amongst the mummies and old stones and inscriptions etc. but I cant say it interrested me very greatly as all none of the speciments had names to them, only numbers and a catalogue cost 11 pts and was in French at that.

Page 111]
Rostron & I made two futile attempts to go to the museum but failed each time because we drove and I only succeeded by walking there.
You see the principal place in Alexandria is the square and when ever a nigger driver cant understand where you want to go he just takes you straight to the square.
Well Rostron & I took a garry here and asked the driver if he knew where the museum was; he said yes and off we went to land a little later at the square; we got an interpreter there but he did not seem to understand much; however we went off again and this time arrived at Pompey’s Pillar; which finished us for one day.
Next day we took a tram which we knew went some where near it; the guard knew all about it and was going to tell us where to get out but took us right out to Nouzha; so we caught a tram back and another guard knew all about it and kept telling us it was a bit further on till we got right back to the Square, so that finished us again. The third time I walked and just trusted to luck and got there with out any trouble. I often spend my afternoons now on sea wall talking to the kids and it is wonderful the information you can get from them. The camera & a few cigarretts ‘backseesh" will bring dozens of them round. Expect to leave here in a couple of days.
Your loving nephew
Rob.

Page 112]
Ras-el-tin
Alexandria 15th July 1916

My dear Father,
I have not received any letters from you yet so it is a bit hard to know what to write about; I think I will be going back on Monday and I will be glad to get there and get my mail.
Is not the war news good the last few days, if it goes on like this I will miss the war altogether which would be pretty rotton after coming all this way.
The paper here had a report of the Sydney ram sales and said the highest price was 50 gins. I suppose they meant 500; any way I sent you a copy just to let you see it.
I got a “Telegraph" here with a photograph of the High School, Mudgee, it in it; I saw them building that at Show time and was wondering what it was; it is funny to find out about it over this side of the world – I also saw that Crossings & Cox had sold some of Patta Bucca at £14 per acre.
There is a chap here 6 ft. 6 in. high who is a pretty "big" wheat grower in the Rivererena and I have been learning all I could from him about wheat growing: his brother is working the place for him while he is away and has got 800 acres in this year.

[Page 113]
The other day I took a photograph of a policeman and he was so pleased when I gave him a print that he took Rostron and me over the Police Station and Court House and there was a court being held at the time it was very interresting.

16th Sunday
Yesterday I posted you another registered parcel of a containing a little statue of a horse which I hope you and Mother will think pretty. I know Mother likes anything crystal and any way it is a good one of a horse and ought to look nice in the dining room at home – It is a god job that I’m going back to the desert soon as my tin is beginning to get low – it really has lasted me very well considering how I have gone about and spent money down here; but I have still got over £2 left and there is about £5 pounds of pay owing to me and you cant spend any at Tel-el- Kebir so by the time I get another leave I ought to have saved up a good bit again.
Suppose you are feeding off the wheat now and the Corriedales will be lambing on it; have you sold any of the cull ewes yet?
I have bought a book of Lindsay Gordon’s poems to take back with me; it was the only one I could get - now that I have got my two kit bags with me I can keep a few extra things which is jolly nice. Love to Mother. I do hope you are having a good winter.
I am your loving son
Rob.

[Page 114]
Please return

Page 115]
[Front of envelope]
On Active Service
H.C. Wilson Esq.
Wyaldra Park
Mudgee
New South Wales
Australia

[Page 116]
[Back of envelope]
18th May

[Page 117]
Ras-el tin
Alexandria

19th July, 1916

Dear Boys
Finish this place; I am off back to the desert to day.
First of all I had better fix up about some photos I am sending you – The shop made a mistake and did not print me off any coppies as I had ordered so I think when you get them you had better go to the Harrington’s and get one of each so that Mother can have can have all the same sort of gas-light photos. Rostron & I printed of a douzen so that I could tell you what some of the negatives were. Of the others - the rabbit is a pet one here – the goats are a mob that stop live just in front of Ras-el-tin here; you can see what the country is like and I cant find out at all what the goats eat & yet they are all fat. Fat tailed sheep – they have hair only it is wool like goats – Hassan is our waiter here – All the horses here are arabs – you see little weedy ones pulling tremendous loads, they are all terribly poor and all stallions. You will be able to make out the rest your self I think.
I am very well equipped for the desert this time; I bought a compass with a luminous dial cost 10/- a wristlet one, a person needs one out there, especially in these sand storms – also a French dictionary and Tolstoi’s “Le Faux Coupon" in French - I have been reading the french paper here & talking to french people & getting quite good at it so I am going to keep it up & it will be something to do.

[Page 118]
I am also picking up a little Arabic from the niggers here; give them cigarettes and they will teach you by the hour – they all call me “Tawheales" which means big one.
I think Rostron is going on to England; he has been jolly sick here but I think the trip will do him good.
I suppose it will be your birthday in a couple of days “old copper top". Many happy returns of it.
The other day, under registered parcel, I sent home a statuette of a horse in quartz crystal on a marble stand – when you see it write and let me know what you think of it.
The films I am sending you are really very badly developed, they have spilt stuff all over them - Must go and get dressed now.
Has not the war news been good lately! It looks like the beginning of the end.
Love to Aunt Katie – I wrote to Father on Sunday but forgot to number his letter.
Had my photo taken yesterday along side a 6 ft. 6in. man just to show you I was not as big as I looked.
Hope to get my mail this afternoon. My word it will be good.
Be good sonnies me boys.
Rob.
That looks professional!

[Page 128]
Double picture.
The sultans palace taken from here and the inside of an old Roman church out at Pompey’s Pillar

Page 129]
[A blank page]

aeroplane over head

[Page 131]
[Front of envelope]
20 Jy 16

H. & F. Wilson
c/o Miss K.F. Hales
Lyttleton
29 Orlando Av.
Mosman
Sydney

[Page 132]
1st Training Regt
A.L.H.
Interm. Base Depot
Egypt

Tel-el-Kibbir

23rd July 1916

Dear Mother and Father
So you have really gone and bought a car. I was surprised and pleased when I got your letters telling me you had ordered it and I’m fairly busting to hear how you got on with it at the start. I arrived back here on Wednesday night and next day got 33 letters and 2 parcels but the latest date on the letters was 14th May so there must be a lot more for me somewhere; coming slowly.
There are three letters from father; will answer them first – their dates are 25th April 29th April & 13th May. Fred Warner did well out of our ewes alright; expect he will want to get some more of them - It is a long time to remember about that netting in the front paddock being down but I have an idea it was, any how it does not matter much by now does it?
I look in every Australian paper to see if C50537 has been had up for exceeding the speed limit but have had no luck so far, it must be awfully nice for you all to be able to get out so easily now. My word we will have some sport when the war is over I guess. Suppose you attend every sale and meeting etc in Mudgee now.
2 letters from Mother, one to Australian port and letter No 2.

[Page 133]
25th
Have not gone out today – but are still hoping to go soon. You had better addrss 1st Training Regt until I tell you for certain that I am in the Regt.
Had a letter from Aunt Min & Aunt Beatrice May 28th none from you since May 14th but expect one every day.
Rob.

[Page 134
[Front of envelope]
12 Fe 17

Mrs. H.C. Wilson
Wyaldra Park
Mudgee
New South Wales
Australia

[Page 135]
[Back of envelope with numerous post marks]

[Page 136]
Tel-el- Kebir

1st Training Regt.
ALH

29th July 1916

My dear Hal and Freddie

Got your letters of 22nd June to day also from Mother & Father of that date.
What a time you kids must have had at mid-winter with the car: Guess we will shake things up when I get home eh what! Toot Toot !!! There is a letter for me from home written about 16th June which I have not yet got but expect it in a day or two as the week after one often comes a couple of days before the week before one: if you can understand – It will be the description of taking delivery of the car. People round home must be pretty brave when they’ll go to a meeting where you Fred & young Coleman play the hymns – Think it would drive me to drink! We all thought last Monday that we were off to the Regiment; however we have not gone yet and dont seem to be going for some time so I have volunteered for the machine gun squadron & expect we will be sent to a school. Don’t know what we will be attached to. Might just stop with our regiment any how my address is the same.
I have no Brigade number till attached to the Regt then if I am still 1st Reg I’ll be first 1st Brigade also at present I’m just 1st Training Regt. Will have some photos to send next week but they are not good ones I’m afraid. Am on guard all to night & tomorrow. Dash. Love to Aunt Katie
Your loving brother
Rob.

P.S.
Going to Regt tomorrow (31st July) in Machine Gun Squadron.
Rob

[Page 137]
[Front of envelope]
On Active Service

H and F Wilson
C/o Miss K.J. Hales
Lyttleton
29 Orlando Av
Mosman
Sydney
N.S.W.

[Page 138]
Tel- el- Kebir

1st Training Rgt
A.L.H.

31ST July 1916

My dear Mother and Father
We are off to the desert tomorrow - Have been transfered to the machine gun squadron and will be attached to the 1st Brigade of which the 1st Regt is a part. Nearly the whole of us here were put into this squadron, so I am with all my mates including Bill Graham.
I got your letter of the 22nd June on Saturday also the Kerchief & leather but I did not get a letter telling me about taking delivery of the car which I expect you wrote.
I am writting this in the Dr’s tent waiting for final enoculation, we were only told this evening that we were going and we had to be on train at seven in morning. Our kit bags are to be sent to the kit store

[Page 139]
so that is the finish of them I expect. We are only supposed to take what we stand up in and one pair of short trousers but the pockets of my overcoat are pretty big ones you know so am stacking in frannels & socks. We will require a good bit of training yet I expect as none of us know much about machine guns. It has been terrible dusty here the last two days but they say there is no dust out there. I think we go to Romani away out from the Canal near Katia. I think I saw it mentioned in the paper the other day so suppose the censor will not stop this.

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Enclosed is a piece of maiden hair from the hot house in Nouzha Gardens – Lots of chaps go there just to see the maiden hair because they say it is a bit of Australia
My word I am glad you have got the car. Wonder if you have gone out to Nyngan yet. I have some photos to send home but dont know when I can do it. Expect it we will be traveling all day tomorrow. Think my address will be Machine Gun Squadron 1st Reg 1st Brigade ALH but 1st Reg 1st Brigade will find me.
Stella wrote saying she had sent a parcel but I have not go it yet – hope it is not lost as the last one she sent me was longer
I ought to see Colin & Lecester as they are out at Romani too I think & of course Ronald Mc is in our Regt. This pen is rotton. Will write a decent letter as soon as I get out there.
I am your very loving son
Robert C. Wilson

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What a great price we got for the hoggets. So glad you have had so much rain would not mind seeing some here

[Page 142]
[Front of envelope]
6 Jy 16

Mrs. H.C. Wilson
Wyaldra Park
Mudgee
N.S.W.
Australia

(Page 143]
[Back of envelope]
1st July

[Page 144]
2nd August 1916

Machine Gun Squadron
1st Light Horse Brigade
Egypt

My dear Mother
Am going to write you a letter and post it in a green envelope, but I cant give you much news of where we are so will write one to Father and tell him & leave it open and see if it passes the censor.
We are right out on the desert now alright; it is hilly with loose white sand every where – soft and over your boots where ever you walk; but it is a jolly side better place than Tel-el-Kebir, there is no dust here, only clean sand and the dust was awful at Tel-el-Kebir.
I hope you got my letter written on the day before yesterday telling you where we were going. I wrote it from there in the chance of it going through as they say the censorship is very strict here but I knew that it was pretty sharp in there.
I suppose you know I am in the machine gun squadron of the 1st Brigade: All the old machine gun sections have been taken from the regiments and formed into one squadron, only there were not enough of them so we have been brought up to fill up.
Of course we will have to have a good bit of training before we are sent out but we are close enough to hear a big gun go off some times.
We get a much easier time here than in the regt – no fatigues or guards – but all the same I would not mind being with the regt as they get more fun than

[Note: Pages out of order]

[Page 147]
than we do I think, they can bang in at anything but with us the gun is too valuable to chance it much and so are we who work it so we have to look after ourselves – We really are having a jolly good time here and seem likely to have it – the idea out here is to always get a much rest as you can and as we dont go out patroling and have no guards we have very little to do and the sand is like a feather bed to sleep on. Another thing is that we get plenty of water; there is an oacis close with a well for washing and the drinking water is brought out here on Camels as well as the tucker & horse fodder. The sand is too heavy for much whealed traffic and so they use sledges made with [indecipherable] four horses in [indecipherable] When we left Tel-el-Kebir myself & another chap got notice that there were parcels for us at the PO & we were allowed to fall out & get them. I got one from Aunt Katie and one from Stella, and of course we had to carry them out here with us and they were jolly nice, especially as we got ahead of the tucker and Stellas had fish & prunes in it & yours chocolate.
Thank you very much for the balaclava cap cover Mother dear – it would be very useful if we went to France but out here it is rather adding insult to injury. Dont think I am ungrateful Mother but we could not help laughing last night when we opened our parcels and mine had a cap cover and the other chap had two pairs of woolen gloves and mittens, and this after a very hot day in a place where they have

[Page 146]
never seen rain and my balaclava cap has just gone on with my kit bag to the pack store near Cairo.
There is a Y.M.C.A. in this camp but it some distance from here where we are camped and we have to pinch off there when we want to go as we are not supposed to leave the lines camp in case we have to the stand to the horses.
Will you please thank Aunt Min for the fly net & the mirror and Aunt Katie for the pairs of socks. I wrote to Aunt Katie a few days ago. I wont be able to write to every body as I have been doing as the nights are so short we have to sleep in the day time and it seems hard to settle down & write letters out here so I’ll try & write [indecipherable] news.
Ronald McDonald is camped close here but I have not seen him yet and Colin & Leycester are about a mile & a half away I think.
Although I had to send my kitbag away I have still got a good bit of stuff with me, managed to stick it in my blankets on the quiet and so have got two spare frannels and socks etc and boracic acid vascelene soap. That knife and falk affair you gave me is very handy. Frank has nothing to grumble about being a W.O. it is a jolly nice job – expect he has gone straight to France - If you want to know what to send - anything eatable is good as long as they are not thirsty things – prunes, dates, cheese chocolate etc are all good things but butter scotch is a bit dry. There are tons of date palms here but we never seem to get any dates.

[Page 145]
round Tel-el-Kebir and Ismalia and where ever it is sandy you the only cars you see the only car you see both Gov. and Private are Fords so that shows you what they are. Of course out here there are no cars at all.
After all said and done you are getting all my green envelopes Mother the poor girls will have will have to do without them.
6th August
Am sending this after all. You will know where I am from the papers so wont write to father although I don’t like to put anything in this envelope.
[indecipherable] being in action I am rather [indecipherable] I’m not a machine gunner; don’t like having to stick to the gun under shrapnel the way they do. Am jolly glad I was here for this scrap though – some of the chaps who did not get away from Tel-el- Kebir when I did were sent out today and poor wretches are put on every fatigue going being new men whereas me having been in a scrap am alright [indecipherable] round [indecipherable] proud as punch are we are old hands [indecipherable]
Your loving son
Rob

[Page 148]
[Front of green envelope]
Mrs. H.C. Wilson
Wyaldron Park
Mudgee
N.S.W.

[Page 149]
No. 2480
B Squadron
1st Regt
A.L.H.
Egypt

6th August 1916

My dear Mother
I wrote to you from Tel-el-Kebir telling you we were leaving for the front and I also wrote to you the day after we got here but did not get a chance to post it and so much has happened since then that it is not worth sending. We came out here on 1st August and went into the Machine Gun Squadron but on the night of the 3rd our Regt came and claimed us and I was put into D troop B Squadron which is Ronald McD’S troop and since then I have had a pretty good baptismal of fire.
I expect you have had a pretty good account of it in the papers by this; so there is no need to tell you about it except that I was in most of it.
We were sent out early in the morning of the 4th to hold the Turks back till our Artillary got into position and My Word we did get it hot Taubes with bombs & darts, shrapnel, machine guns pom poms & rifle fire and we had to move about in this heavy sand which you could not

[Page 150]
possibly run in it and it was rather trying having to walk accross places swept with fire. Our officers were marvelous (Ronald especially) they would walk about and sit up and tell us what to do when I would be trying to lie as flat as a shaddow.
We have given the Turks a jolly good licking and today are having a grand rest so you need not worry about me Mother dear.
I received a parcel from Aunt Katie the day we left Tel-el-Kibir and brought it up here & opened it out here and the chocolate & stuff in it was most acceptable: but the balaclava cap cover was a little out of place Mother the chaps did laugh when they saw the cap cover in a country where it has never rained and my cap had just gone off to Cairo pack store with my kit bag and another chap who got a parcel at the same time had a pair of gloves and mittens in his.
I am very much afraid that poor old Bill Graham is killed: he was very badly wounded by shrapnel bringing in a wounded mate and since then I cant hear anything definate but I will go to the field ambulance and try and find out about it and if he is killed will write to his people.
He was some distance along the line from me so I did not see him; but it was jolly hard luck for him as he had not been in the Regt 12 hours.
Yesterday we were under fire a good part of the time but it was not very bad as it was only rifles and the Turks kept surrendering ahead of us.

[Note
This action was the Battle of Romani. An extract of the official history states:

"The British defences were sited 35 kilometres east of the canal, which the Turks tried to outflank early on 4 August. Initially, only the 1st Light Horse Brigade was in position to meet the Turkish attack. Heavily outnumbered it was forced to fall back but as the day progressed reinforcement steadily arrived allowing the position to be stabilised."]

[Page 151]
The chaps got some lovely souvenirs as the Turks left all their things behind them even pulled off their boots to get through the sand quicker.
I found a heap of nice clean folded white calico bags near a machine gun, think they were meant for sand bags anyhow one is doing good work as a kit bag for me. I also got some cartridges and pouches etc which I thought would be good to bring home.
The Turks seem a pretty ragged lot and all round the back of their firing line were empty bottles of wine and rum which shows what they fight on.
I have not got the letter yet telling me of taking delivery of the car so supposed it is lost; hope the car is still going well, wonder if you have gone out to Nyngan yet.
Stella sent me a parcel which I got the same time as Aunt Katie’s one, it had fish & prunes in it and my word it was nice as we have only had bully beef and biscuits and not too much of that till today. Dates, prunes and chocolate are all good to send; but toffy is a bit sweet especially when there is not to much drinking water.

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Am writing this in the YMCA, just under a ho shrapnel hole in the roof. The YMCA man here is jolly good: he came all round on the 4th giving out cigarrettes to the chaps just behind the firing line and did not mind the bullets a bit.
Please dont worry over me Mother dear: we are all in God’s hands and now we have licked the Turks so much of it is pretty well over and we might be sent back for a rest. I have not written to Mrs. Wilson and some how dont think I can yet: we do most of our work at night here and you have to get all the sleep you can in the day time although I had a good sleep last night and feel grand today.
Our chaps are were jolly good considering it was their first time and they were all split up from their mates and rushed into it suddenly: some of them are a bit nervy after it but it has not affected me at all; but I never did have any very great shocks although the concussion of the shrapnel bursting stopped my watch – they tell me there are very few wristlet watches will stand shrapnel.
It is jolly nice being in with Ronald and he is a splendid officer.
Will go over to the tent and finish this off.
Later. Just found out it was Sunday & have been to a service in YMCA. The man in charge is a great chap alright. Think I’ll send the other letter after all; its an account of things before we had the dust up. We were formed up and this evening the Colonel have us a message from the General thanking us for what we had done. I am glad I got here in time for it.
Love to father
Your loving son Rob

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B Squadron
1st Reg.
A.L.H.

Sat. 12th Aug. 1916

My dear Father
I might as well begin this letter to you now but I don’t know when I will be able to post it as we are right away out in the desert from camp and have been ever since Tuesday night.
Things were pretty lively out here at the start but have got very quiet the last two days; in fact today things were so good that I sat down and took off my boots for the first time & and had a look at my feet. Found them still there alright & only want a wash to be quite respectable.
I suppose that long before you get this you will have heard of poor Ronald being killed; I was not with him when it happened as he had advanced with the left of the line for a few hundred yards leaving us on the right to keep firing – I think a sniper may have got him. He was shot dead through the heart at the head of his men - He was an awfully brave man and every body in the regt. misses him, as soon as I get back to camp I will write to Mrs. Macdonald. That Wednesday was an awful day; the Turks were much stronger than was expected (it was thought that there were only a small detachment of them

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left for a rear guard. However we found they had left a good many men & guns and they gave us a bad time for a bit.
Our chaps were awfully brave and douzens of them deserve the V.C. I think only there was so much of it that nobody noticed it.
I saw Colin on Thursday morning and have arranged to meet him in at camp. He told me that Leycester was slightly wounded the Friday before.
The latest news we have had is that the Turk is clearing out fast and so we are all hoping to get back to camp soon.
Must go and boil the billy now.
Monday 14th
Here we are back in camp again and it is grand to have a change & a wash again. It was beginning to get necessary as a lot of the chaps had had to start lice hunts but I am glad to say that I never got them.
We got back here to Romani yesterday afternoon after being out for five days and the whole camp fairly rushed the YMCA canteen to get get tinned fruit after only having bully beef & biscuit rations

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and carries me well.
It will be getting on for shearing time when you get this – suppose you will shear when the boys are home - The car will be handy then I guess !! I suppose we are good for about 20 this year; the wool ought to be in great order. Did you get old Blackman for the pruning again this winter. Must stop now. Will write again in a day or two so as to be sure you get one. This is a good camp here; it is all heavy sand but there is no dust which is a great thing. Love to Mother
I am your loving son Rob.
Colin Sams came over last night and we had a good talk. He asked to be remembered to every body and said he had had a letter from Mother about three weeks ago.
Some of the chaps got mail here today but I was not in luck & did not get one. Have not had any since being at Tel-el-Kebir but expect it will arrive any day.
I have been allotted a very fine horse was jolly lucky to get her; she is big and up to my weight & a good doer

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[Front of envelope]
On Active Service
18 Aug 16
H.C. Wilson Esq
Wyaldra Park
Mudgee
N.S.W.
Australia

Passed by Censor
No. 3004

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[Font of Field Service Postcard date stamped 19 Au 16]
Mrs. H.C. Wilson
Wyaldra Park
Mudgee
N.S.W.

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[Back of Field Service Post Card signed by Robert C.W. Wilson]
16th August 1916]

Page 159]
[Front of Field Service Postcard date stamped 19 Au 16]
Miss K. F. Hales
Lyttleton
29 Orlando Av
Mosman
Sydney
N.S.W.

Page 160]
[Back of Field Service Post Card signed by Robert C. Wilson]
16th August 1916

[Page 161]
[Front of Field Service Postcard date stamped 29 Au 16]
H.C. Wilson
Wyaldra Park
Mudgee
N.S.W.
Australia

[Page 162]
Back of Field Service Post Card signed by Robert C. Wilson]
6th August 1916

Page 163]
16th August 1916

My dear Mother
I wrote to Father a couple of days ago but am going to write to you now to reply to three letters from home which I got last night after not getting any for nearly three weeks so you can imagine my joy at getting 18 in eighteen in one bunch.
The dates of the letters are 6th June; 5th July & 8th July and one from Father 8th June.
Father had a great trip when taking delivery of the Car. I am glad he has got it – it will do you such a lot of good to be often out & it is jolly nice to be able to talk about "Our car" over here.
The silk shirts have not arrived yet but I’m expecting them any day: about sending parcels – there is a YMCA canteen here but it is always in a cronic state of sold outedness and when there is anything in you are not allowed to spend more than 1/- on any one thing to make stuff go

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round so it would be very nice if you could send a few eatables now & again; such as grapenuts or anything that requires only boiling water to cook it: of course we get splendid lunches here and can often get some tinned fruit but we often wish for other things as we don’t get many vegetables. A lot of the chaps have just small parcels sent to them nearly every week and I think it is a good idea if you could do it; only dont go to too much bother. We get plenty of money but there is nothing to spend it on unless they give us leave at any time.
This is a jolly bad pen and there is a strong wind blowing so it is jolly hard to write.
It must have been a pretty big shock to you when you heard Ronald was killed – poor Mr. & Mrs. McDonald will feel it terribly.
It was the first real fighting the regt has been in since leaving Gallipoli and a lot of the old hands said the would rather have been in Gallipoli than face the fire we had to in the open so that shows you what it was like; however it is all over now and we may not see any more fighting at all as I think the Turks have had enough of the Canal.
You must not worry Mother dear as we are all in God’s hands and I never th realised how

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true that was till being through this: and you cant help thinking there is some one watching over you when you come through places untouched where you would not think the smallest thing could be and live.
The first morning in action was rather trying as we were sent into it unexpectedly at dawn with out knowing our mates or anything that was doing.
However now four of us have got together and formed a section (and we cant be shifted any more) and we are great mates and look after each other like anything. The other three chaps are, Bill West, Dick Dawson & Basil Thorpe.
I like Bill West the best I think; he is about 32 & a gentleman and is awfully brave & a strong character, and is the sort of chap that if you were wounded no matter what the odds were he would get you in. Dawson was a Sergt at Menangle, is about 32 also & a nice chap. Thorpe is about 21 – his father is in

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the Post Office and he has been at Hawksebury College (cant spell) - Butter dept.
Wests people had a place but have had to retire as they are too old to work it & the three sons have gone to the war, he himself was a wool classer & an overseer and a merino man. I have asked him up home to show him the Corriedales.
We are going to give each other our peoples addresses and we want you to form a section at home so that you will be always to get news of us. Jack Glennie is also in B squadron so you can always ring up there and get news of us.
It is nice having the small formations in Light Horse; we four can now stick together properly share all our things and take turn about as horse holders for the sections etc. - I do seem to be lucky in always getting with good chaps dont I?
West is bald & Dawson gone quite white so Thorpe & I are the younguns of the section.
Poor old Bill Graham is now reported killed: I have two photos of him taken the day before & if they are any good I will send them to his Father; he lives at Beechwood Hastings River. I thought you might like to write to him. I never heard Bill speak of his mother so don’t think he has one. Must go to “stables" now will finish this in the tent

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In the tent
Was just thinking how much I liked writting to you and Father, Mother dear, I think I could write books home if there was only something to talk about & My Word I like getting your letters too I gess.
We are having a really splendid time at present, not a bit like the awful times people imagine; most beautiful weather, cloudless days & nights, not very hot days and nights just cold enough to like blankets. We get up about 6 o’clock and all we have to do is feed & water our horses and feed ourselves and we get jolly good tucker, far better than Liverpool, and there is no ceremony or orders or anything & we are all a happy family.
The flies are not really bad & there is no dust & we just lie round & smoke & read yarn & write letters all day and I have never felt better in my life. Of course we get touches of Home sickness now & again but one of your happy letters always puts me right again straight away.
While I think of it, would you send me a couple of woolen vests, they say the nights are very cold here in winter, but anyway vests are always very useful the silk shirts will be nice too.
I have never received a paper from home since I left (got 2 Australians from Alan) but parcels seem to come alright. Got a letter from Mrs Nicholl with yours. Jack Glennie gets the Guardian every week & hands it on to me so I am not missing it altogether.

[Page 168]
If I have to cable for money (which is most unlikely) especially in these reagens I will try & use the word you mentioned.
In your letter you put “Another think I want to say" Am afraid you are falling horribly from grace while I am away & I will have to do a lot of correcting when I get back. Arnt I a bumpious young prig?
2 days later. Have not had time to finish this before, but every thing in the garden has been lovely the last few days. First of all there was the big mail then a backseech issue of tinned fruit, sardines, milk & lime juice from the War Chest, then Dawson got a parcel with tons of chocolate in it and yesterday West & I got off and rode over to the sea for a swim & had a real picnic.
We bought sardines and managed to get some soda water & a tin of condensed milk each; which we mixed up together & drank and it made us both feel very bad for a bit after it.
We have also had a good concert in the YMCA. There is a jolly nice piano there; it looks funny to see it under the shot torn roof but it never got touched itself.
I was making inquiries about Leycesters wound yesterday. It seems to be only what is called a “Tourist" one here. That is one that does not do you any harm but is good for a trip some where –
That parcel has not come yet but am still expecting it unless somebody has thought he needed shirts more that I did. Must stop now. Love to Father
Your loving son
Rob.

[Page 169]
B Squadron
1st Regt ALH
22nd August 1916
Dear Boys,
I have not had a letter from you for a long time; don’t know whether it is that you have not written or your letters have not come, but I have not heard a word about the car from you and I expected to get pages; if it is that you have have not written My Word! You will have to look out when I get back cos I’m getting very strong over here & even though you two are growing up I’ll still be able to wop you. Did you get all the photographs etc that I sent you the first time I get any leave I’ll send you some more but I cant post them from out here.
Yesterday the whole of our squadron rode over to the sea for a swim and had the time of our lives; we took all the horses in and used to swim out and then race for the shore; it was perfectly calm and there were no waves and the horses enjoyed it just as much as we did.
A lot of niggers were down there washing their camels and I got some good snaps; some of our chaps got hold of a camel and lead him out into deep water and then used to climb up on his back and dive off him; altogether we had a real good time.
I have been allotted a real good horse, a nice tall one to suit me – Have not decided what to call her yet but am thinking of calling her “Ta-whealer" – big one same as the niggers call me only you see so much that is Egyptian here that you would like to get away from their names for a bit.

[Page 170]
By the time you get this it will be jolly near shearing time I suppose: wool seems to be up well again this year so I suppose we are good for about 20 pence again.
It wont be far off the Intermediate either will it Fred suppose you wont have time to write to me anymore you will be so busy studying!!!!
Now that the Turk has gone: civilization has come in the shape of a military canteen so we are able to buy all sorts of luck luxuries now until we are shifted out further I suppose.
If you are sending a parcel any time please put a tin of ligho “Champion" tobacco in; I have was given a tin of it from the Red Cross when in Ras-el-tin and it is lovely tobacco and although I don’t smoke much I like that little good and you cant buy good stuff here.
Did you take any photos in the winter holidays I hope so as I’d love to get some views of home and of Father & Mother; have you sent me photos of them.
I am very flash even out here in the desert and when I wear shorts I always put my puttees on upside down just for swank: we only wear shorts in camp and keep our breeches & leggings for when we go out riding.
Saw Colin the other day. Did not see Leycester as he was wounded in the first scrap; but they say it is only a “Tourist" wound through the fleshy part of the leg. Must stop now. I forgot to wish you many happy returns Hal
Your loving brother
Robert C Wilson

[Page 171]
Romani

B Squadron
1st Regt ALH

25th August 1916

My dear Father;
There is absolutely no news this week and I have not received any more letters from home but I might as well write this one now and then write another in a few days in a green envelope and you will be sure of getting one.
I am trying to learn all I can about sheep etc while I am over here – it seems a funny place out here in the desert for learning much does it not but Bill West was in charge of the stud at Koree for three years and although of course he is a merino man he has told me an awfull lot that is worth knowing about studs.
Koree was owned by a brother of Sir Samuel McCakey (however you spell it) and when he was there they shore 150

[Page 172]
thousand sheep so he ought to know what he is talking about.
He says that all their flock rams that is the two, three, five & seven guinie ones were all bred from selected flock ewes by their stud rams.
Why they were classing their sheep they used to pick out any extra special looking ewe and put her into the No. 1 flock so if that is the way they do it we ought to be on the right track.
He has also told me a lot about working the rings in their cars etc and keeping their pedigrees but it is too much to put in a letter and will keep till I get back I guess.
West is a jolly nice chap – you want to go through a couple of scraps with a man before you know what he is really like – It was funny this morning he and I were wakened up early by a Sergt and told to go the Cook House at once and get our breakfast as we were on Canteen fatigue – We got our breakfast and went to the Canteen, which is a wet one, and were put on picking up empty Beer bottles and

[Page 173]
putting them back in their straws and packing them in cases.
It is wonderful the many things you’ll come at in the army but we agreed that anyway if we were hard up any time after the war we would always be able to get a job in a bottle department.
I got a letter today from Roy Beecraft; I wrote to him some time ago to get his address as I thought then that I might be sent to England. Roy seems to like his work but does not think much of England.
It is funny how no papers ever come to me from home, I did not even get that Fortian you sent the day I left and yet the Australasian comes most regularly from Nyngan and letters come most regularly from Mrs Nicholl and from home and Mosman ones are very irregular although I always seem to get them in the end.
The parcel mother sent with the shirts has not turned up yet but that is not a bit wonderful and it may come any time during the next month or two – I hope you got all my parcels from Alexandria; they were all registered and I have got the receipts thereof.

[Page 174]
It is grand the way people write to me and I get more letters than anybody else in the troop and they ought to come more regularly now that I have got to the regt. What a splendid winter you seem to be having; hope you get more rain as the weather gets warmer to keep the wheat growing – wish I could be home to harvest it still we all hope to be back to sow it again next year.
Was the Ford much trouble to start in the winter? I have heard that Fords take a bit of winding in frosty weather but it ought to be warm again by now. It would be a nice change to see some rain again the last time I saw it was some where in the Indian Ocean I think.
How are the rabbits in the Lease; I suppose they have come on a bit with the green feed; we will have to fix them up for good and all when the war is finished. There is a tremendous dew here at night now; however we all sleep out side and it does not hurt us as we are allowed to spread our blankets out to dry; there is none of that foolry here they had at Liverpool. Here pretty well all you have got to do is to look after yourself & your horse to their the best extent. It is jolly nice having a horse to look after as it gives you something to take an interest in: The wool market seems to be keeping up well again this year. Love to Mother; will write to her in a couple of days. Don’t work too hard Father but spend your time rolling about in your carriage now you have got one. Have you built a garrage yet?
I am
Your loving son
Robert C Wilson

[Page 175]
29th August 1916

My dear Mother
No more mail from you yet and there is no news at all but if you like getting letters from me as much as I like getting them from home; spex I might as well write.
The main thing of interest the last few days has been the wet canteen and every thing has been beer;
West & I were on fatigue on Saturday packing empty beer bottles and I was on guard over the beastly thing on Saturday night and all Sunday so I did not enjoy it.
I am writting this on top of a chocolate tin so that accounts for bad writting etc; it is too hot to walk over to the Y.M.C.A. as this is one of the hottest days we have had.
West and I were talking about our homes the other night and West said “I think my Mother must be something like yours" and I think so too because he showed me one of his letters from his Mother and it was such a nice one, just like yours, and she has her three sons all at the war: you ought to write to her Mother if you have time as I’m sure she must be nice.

[Page 176]
We don’t get much war news out here but they seem to have been doing good work in France; dont think we will see any more fighting round here as the Turks got it too hot. I’m jolly glad I was in time for the scrap though.
To come back to smaller things – When I was at the Canteen on Saturday night I left my haversack beside the Guard tent while I did my shift on Guard, forgetting that there was anything in it; when I came back the haversack was open and I then remembered that my camera and compass were both in it but they were both gone; some drunken wretch must have taken them.
Of course it was my fault for being careless but I had forgotten about things being shaken because you never loose anything in the Regt. but of course at the Canteen there are men from all over the place.
I have put up a notice offering 10/- reward in hopes that he will bring it back for the money but I don’t expect to see it –
Later The parcel containing my shirts etc has arrived so my luck is in again – The shirts are not too bad at all though they are pretty big of course, but they will be grand for here. The handkerchiefs were good as I am a bit short of them. We have just had another issue of War Chest stuff 2 lbs of Lemon & Melon jam per man My Word it is great Also a chap was put into out tent for a few days & a parcel came for him which he shaired with us;

[Page 177]
It contained a cake, chocolate, cheese and all sorts of stuff so we have had another great feed.
Am afraid you will think we are awful gourmants but really all we live for is the tucker and there is no weather to talk about as it is always the same here.
Did you see that the YMCA has spent 35000£ on photographing soldier’s homes and sending the photos to the men at the front – Hal said he would send me some of home. I hope they come as all I have got is a photo of
Miss S and a bad one of Father & a spoilt one of you so you cant say I am well off.
30th August. Got 10 letters yesterday and six papers so everything in the garden is lovely also heard this morning that Romania has declared war on Austria which ought to help to bring things to a close quickly.
I have worn those shirts and they are very nice and I am have had three chaps wanting to buy them from me.
I thought when Father went down to the sales that he would buy something; the ram must be a beauty for 35 gins; father was wise to get him I think.

[Page 178]
I was supprised that you had not got any letters from me by 17th July. I posted them about 1st June so hope you got them soon afterwards. Your letter is No. 8 17th July 1916
The papers I received were two Guardians and 2. S S. Journals the others were Australations from Alan.
Your letters are all rather funny now as you all seem to think we are in England instead of the desert but it is not really as bad as when Colin wrote to Miss Smith because now there are no sand flies or mosquitoes and Abdul has come and gone Finish
I hope Father’s cold is alright again though I suppose it is long ago! I was glad to get a letter from Aunt Katie from home saying you looked very well; you see I can believe her whereas I could not be quite certain if only you had said it.
There is a rumour on that after to day no letter is to go for three weeks – don’t know whether it is true but the section is making hay while the sun shines and are all writing hard; we are an awfully happy family and have been telling each other what to say & all signing the letters & all sorts of tommy rot.
They have church parade every Sunday here now – I was not able to go last Sunday as I was on guard but the Sunday before I was able to go and stayed for Communion as well – Yes I read my Bible pretty often Mother dear! I cant do it every day but I read it as often as I can.
Stella Writes saying she has sent me a parcel; so we are all eagerly expecting it – It is funny when West & I are out with the troop we get talking sheep and almost forget where we are – it feels like riding out mustering again at home instead of plodding through the desert – Things must be looking up some at home I guess with “Arawata" and the car! Eh what!
Love to father and yourself Mother
I am Your loving son
Robert C. Wilson

[Page 179]
[Front of Field Service Post Card date stamped 31 Au 16]
Mrs H.C. Wilson
Wyaldra park
Mudgee
NSW
Australia

[Page 180]
[Back of Field Service Post Card signed by Robert C. Wilson]
30th August 1916

[Page 181]
B Squadron
1st Regt A.L.H.
3rd September 1916

My dear Mother
It is Sunday afternoon and we have just finished stables for the day so I might as well start a letter to you now.
No more letters have come from you yet but on Thursday I got six “Guardians" some Stock & Station Journals and a “Dagetty’s Review" so they must have discovered where I am in the paper office anyway.
I also got a jolly nice letter from Dora and Stella and Mardie both wrote saying they had sent parcels, which the whole tent is keeping an eye open for but so far they have not arrived.
Those shirts you sent me are jolly nice and I wear them always now: yesterday there were three shirts per troop given out from the war chest so we drew lots for them and I got one, a kahki cotton one, but swapped it away for a frannel as I have got your shirts and one of my frannels is worn out.
Does not the war news look hopeful the last few days Romania in and Greece seems to be coming.
6 Sept.
I left this on Sunday afternoon and went to Church Parade and have not had time to finish it since. The Church Parade was the best one I have been to I

[Page 182]
think; I don’t know who the Clergyman was but he was a man and spoke jolly nicely.
On Monday some of us were sent out to patrol the desert some distance from here and look for any stuff the Turks might have left behind in their retreat; but we never had any luck and only found a few cartridges they had buried; - it is tiring work for both horse and man this riding over the endless white soft sand but on Monday we were lucky as at the oacis where we stopped for dinner there were a lot of date trees with ripe dates on them and there were also a few stunted fig trees; which had those small black figs on then – anyhow we all had a pain by the time we left.
While I was out there I saw a funny looking lizard; he was only a small chap but was the nearest approach to a monkey I have ever seen; he had a ring tail and hands and feet just like a monkey and would hang from a piece of palm by his tail while he reached out with his hands and pulled in another piece and climbed up it. His colour was green and yellow on the back with white spots on the side and he had a head like a cat fish with eyes stuck on the end of cones right out from his head and he moved the whole one round when he wanted to look about.
It is a pity to see all the dates going to waste round here; there must be thousands of pounds worth and

[Page 183]
the whole crop is just falling off the trees for want of some one to gather it in.
You see before the war there used to be a Bedouin village at each oacis and they used to work the date trees but now of course they have had to be sent away and their orchards are suffering in consequence.
The censoring here amuses me; there are lots of things here we are not allowed to say anything about but we can read long accounts of them in the Sydney papers; there is always great excitement in the camp when a paper comes with any news of what we have been doing and you in Australia generally know more about it than we do although some times we can see that the censor has had a go at it – anyhow there will be plenty to tell when we get back I guess.
It is with in the bounds of possibilities that I might get a little leave down to Port Said next week and if I do I will go and see Mr Trelawny if I can find him.
I am getting very much behind in my letters I am afraid; but I cant help it as we really dont get much time for writting here and I always like to write a fair amount home so I will have to write very short notes to other people.
Am hoping to get a letter from Father soon with an account of the Sheep Sales and “Arawata" I will

[Page 184]
send a service card along as soon as I get my letters.
A few days ago our section got leave and we rode out to the battle field to have a look round; it was not very amusing but I got some copper bands of some shells which had not exploded – They are rather nicely marked from the rifeling in the gun and if polished ought to make jolly nice serviette rings – a lot of chaps sent them home form the Peninsula they tell me – so I will send them home first chance
Also I have a piastre broach which I bought in Alex & did not have a chance to send home before – it was in my pocket all through the scraps here so I’ll send it along with the bands – It has rather a cheap jewelry look about it so give it away if you don’t like it.
Next Day
I went over to try and see Colin last night but he was away on some duty – so I enquired about Leycesters wound and found that it was slighter than they thought and he expects to be sent to his Regt any day.
We have started Rifle drill again to keep us exercised - I suppose we want it but it is funny to be back on it again. “Not a move" is the order of the day and it is the joke of the camp.
Was glad to see in the S.S. Journal that Father was a member of the Country Club.
Love to Father and your self Mother
I am
Your loving son
Robert C Wilson

This pen is rotton
Hope the boys have sent me the “swan"

[Page 185]
[Front of Field Service Post Card date stamped 13 Se 16]
H.C. Wilson
Wyaldra Park
Mudgee
N.S.W.
Australia

[Page 186]
[Back of Field Service Post Card signed by Robert C. Wilson]
10th Sept 1916

[Page 187]
B Squadron
1st Regt A.L.H.

10th Sept 1916

My dear Father

I was very pleased to get yours and Mother’s letters of the 1st August as the last I got from home was dated 17th July – What a long time my letters seem to have taken to get home; I don’t think I will use those green envelopes any more as they seem to take so much longer: Your letters this time were not long coming to me. I got one a couple of days ago from Mardie dated 7th August in which she gave me a description of their celebration of the Anaversary of the start of the war – Guess I wont forget that morning of the 4th for a good long time.
You ought to have got a good many letters from me by now as I wrote pretty often from Rasel-tin.
Tomorrow morning I am going down to Port Said for 48 hours leave so hope to be able to see Mr Trelawny Mr Wilson’s brother-in-law.
There is no news here at all and anyhow I must get my clothes ready for tomorrow so cant write much.
Was sorry to hear of Nigger’s death but I think the poor old fellow has done his share at home; I hope none of the other horses have got that complaint.
Please thank Mother for her letter and Oliver’s address in it; the parcel she is sending sounds

[Page 188]
very nice; especially the preserved fruit, which the chaps nearly go mad over here.
You ought to have a splendid spring at home after all the rain but you want more now I suppose to stop the wheat setting down too hard where it has been boggy.
The Corriedales seem to be increasing well; there is no doubt they are the sheep and we are going to do great things with them – we will have to get all the land we can under cultivation as soon as I get back so as to make the lambs grow well – we will never have much trouble to sell the rams judging by the way people want them now.
I thought you would soon have the road up to the house fixed once you got a car, the wool shed is too far away for a garage – I suppose you keep the sulky there now.
I heard that Leycester’s wound is alright again and he was expected back at the regt. So may go over and try to see him to night.
Am afraid this letter is not very interresting but I do like talking about home and you would laugh if you could know all the schemes I work out in my head for getting rid of the rabbits and more wheat in when we get back.
Love to Mother and kind regards to Miss Sterling & Dick
I am
Your loving son,
Robert C. Wilson

[Page 189]
[Front of envelope]
On Active Service

3 Se 16

H.C. Wilson
Wyaldra Park
Mudgee
N.S.W.
Australia

Passed by Censor No.3004

[Page 190]
B Squadron
1st Regt ALH

11th September 1916

P.S. Dora’s sox were labled fr From one streak to another “and may your “shadder" never grow lees" as I know who that was.

My dear Mother,
I only wrote to Father yesterday but there is an Australian mail just closing so I thought I might as well write a note to you too.
Your parcel has not arrived yet but I expect it in a day or two as the parcel mail is not in yet although I got a pair of socks from Dora today but I think they were posted some time before yours.
Sergeant Cay has come to the Regt and is in B Squadron as a trooper of course; he was Doug’s chum you know and is a jolly nice chap and he and I know a lot of people in common.
Fancy Geoff enlisting; Aunt Beatrice will feel it pretty much but I know Geoffry will be pleased as he has wanted to come for a long time but I hope the war will be over before ever he gets to the front.
I got some more papers from home last night, two Guardians, an S.S. Journal and Dalgety’s so my mail is coming very regularly now.
What great times you seem to be having with the car; I am glad you have got it and can get about and see people now: that is one good thing the war has done; it has made people pull together and not have these “sets" and little petty quarrels that people thought were the

[Page 191]
proper thing before.
I was sorry to hear that poor old Nigger had died; he has been a great old horse has not he – suppose Father will have to buy another draught horse for the harvesting.
It was very nice for you having Uncle Fred and Aunt Katie both up home – the car must be the attraction all right which is rather a nasty one for you and Father is it not.
I suppose the Sulky and Taffy feel like a bullock dray after being used to tearing along in the car.
Those supine tablets you sent me are great things; I got a slight cold the other day and took some of them and it was gone the next day; though I don’t think they are very nice to eat for a’ that.
I have written down Oliver’s address but am afraid it wont be much use to me and I may not be able to see Mr Trelawny for as leave has been stopped for a bit I think.
I was supprised that Oliver is a Captain: the old hands here think an awful lot of him and often talk about what a good officer he was – I wish he was back her now with us but he is lucky having such a good job in England.
Dalgety’s & the S.S. Journal are good papers and I read every word of them; Gossip does write well though I don’t always agree quite with what he says which sounds very priggish I know but he is a marvellous man – Must stop now! Goodbye Mother dear and don’t exceed the speed limit in the old puff puff because if you do you will end up in jail & you would have found it better quicker to go slow in the sulky.
I am
Your loving son
Robert C. Wilson.

[Page 192]
B Squadron
1st Regt. ALH

11th Sept 1916

My dear Hal & Freddie
I have not received a letter from either of you for an awful long time but dont know whether it is that your letters have not come or that you have forgotten to write in all that excitement you have been having skating etc but I have been hearing tales about you you young shavers!
Suppose by this Aunt Katie is back and has put you in your right places again.
The man who pinched my camera evidently wanted it as he would not bring it back for the 10/- reward so I only have a few old negatives which I will send you first chance but I will often be able to send you photos home as lots of other chaps have cameras and I can often buy photos from them.
I hope you have sent me those views of home you talked about.
There is no news to tell you here and I am writting this in haste as an Australian mail goes soon and I want to write to two or three people including Mother. I received some more papers from home last night (those addressed by Aunt Katie)
Love to Aunt Katie.
I am
Your loving brother
Robert C. Wilson

[Page 193]
[Front of envelope]
On Active Service

13 Se 16

Mrs H.C. Wilson
Wyaldra Park
Mudgee
N.S.W.
Australia

Passed by Censor No.8004

[Page 194]
14th September 1916

My dear Hal and Fred
Thank you for your letter of 10th July which only came yesterday, containing the eight photos of home.
My word! I was glad to get them and see a little bit of home again but I dont think the paper you used was too good as all the photos had gone rather blurry. The one with Dick in the cart and also the one of the horses were good also the one of the house but it was very hard to make out the people in the car and the corriedale rams had nearly gone altogether – I could see Mother and Miss Sterling very plainly in the Reedy Creek one – anyhow I was jolly pleased to get them; and does not the car look grand: I almost imagined I was sailing along in it I sat looking at it so long.
Am posting Mother some views of round here and one of some high class ladies in Cairo.
They are good cards and show you the class of country we live in no 5 is our camp and the oscis one is a good one of the date palms. I had to pay 3 piastres each for them so they are worth keeping and I’ll be able to tell you lots about them when we get back. I wrote to you only a couple of days ago. Love to Aunt Katie
Your loving brother
Robert C. Wilson

[Page 195]
[Front of envelope]
On Active Service

16 Se 16

H.C. Wilson
Wyaldra Park
Mudgee
N.S.W.
Australia

Passed by Censor No.3004

[Page 196]
B Squadron
1st Regiment ALH

14th Sept. 1916

My dear Mother,
Enclosed are some pretty good photographs I got from a chap last night; the first one of the Egyptian ladies is taken in Cairo of course but the others are all taken round here and will give you a good idea of the camps and the class of country.
I was very pleased to get some photos of home from Hal – You do all look toffy with the car; what an imprssion you must have created in Ulan when you were sailing through to the picnic at Reedy Creek.
I don’t think the paper the boys used was too good as the photos were a bit blurry, especially the one of the young rams, but some of the others were very good and you dont know how pleased I am to have them. Of the cards I am sending you, the fifth one is our camp and the place where I keep my horse is the left hand end of the back line in the middle; our tent is not there as it was taken before we came I think.
Your parcel has not come yet but am still watching for it. I only wrote to you a couple of days ago.
Love to Father and lots to your self Mother dear.
I am
Your loving son
Robert C. Wilson.

[Page 197]
B Squadron
1st Regiment ALH

22nd September 1916

My dear Mother
I have just got back from forty eight hours leave into Port Said – John Cay and I went in together on Wednesday and have had a pretty good time but of course there is nothing much to see there compared with Cairo or Alexandria.
As soon as we got in John and I had our boots and leggings cleaned and made ourselves look spick and span, then got a garry and drove round to the Post Offices and asked for Mr Trelawny.
I was shown into the Boss there, and who was a Frenchman and he was most “desolate" because Mr Trelawny had gone to England for a holiday and would not be back till 23rd October but would I wait and come back then? – I did not see how I could wait so said I might come back again; but we were really dissapointed because John and I thought we were at least good for a dinner if Mr Trelawny had been there; however we met a young lady from Australia working in the Empire Club whom John knew so we talked to her for a while and did not feel so bad.
I sent you yesterday a small packet with some coins for the boys and that piastre broach for you, also a “Moses in the Bullrushes" charm and three small trinket affairs – The two smaller copper coins are half malimes and the other copper one is a malime; they are out of circulation here and are rather hard to get so are worth keeping.

[Page 198]
The big coin is Turkish and is used in Jerusalem mostly and is worth 5 1/2d, the small coin is a Turkish malime.
The three trinkets are not much good but I thought that Lorna Mardie amp&; Kath might like them as they came from over this side and the other two are for you but I am afraid they are not much so don’t wear them if they look cheap. The broach is made of two silver one piastres and a two piastre piece; you don’t often see silver piasters now as all the small coins here are being made of nickle.
We had some rather funny experiences in Port Said; you see we tried to get rooms at the “Continental" which is a good pub, but they were full so we had to go to a place the Continental people recommended to us and it was a rotton place; it seemed clean enough but there was no bathroom, and one thing we had looked forward to was a good bath, and a bed for one night cost 3/- and at that we had to fight the attendants to get more than one bowl between two of us.
The first morning there they brought us each a cup of tea in bed which seemed very nice but before we went out they tried to make us pay 10d for it; of course we refused but offered to give them 6d for it; they would not take this so they sent out and got in the military police to us.
Fortunately the police we good chaps and they told the Hotel proprietor that the 3/- was for bed and breakfast so instead of us paying for the tea we were to get breakfast free; which nearly finished the nigger but we would not take the breakfast as we had had enough of that pub.
Port Said to seems to be a terribly expensive place to

[Page 199]
To live in – to get as good a meal as we used to get at Harper’s for 1/- you have to pay half a crown here; in fact I’d rather have Harper’s because you get sencible tucker there and here everything is cooked in Olive oil which I do hate.
There was an Indian fortune teller there so John and I each had our fortunes told – I cant say I believe in him but it is simply marvellous how they can read character and can tell you things that have happened to you before, I know he astonished both of us.
He told me that something unusually lucky was going to happen to me in March 1917 so I am waiting to see what it is; Miss Stirling will be interested in this; you can tell her that I’m always going round now looking at my hand just like her and when ever I do it I think of her and cant help laughing; the way we used to tease her about it! Oh! Rubbish!!
I suppose you will be shearing at home by now and I hope that you and Father are not working too hard: I often get Hal’s photograph of the shed and yards and imagine I‘m at the house and watching the boys bring sheep up and can hear the engine going – My word would not I like to be pressing up the wool this year again. The wool ought to be pretty good; wonder what Father expects for it? I saw a good many Fords at Port Said and had a good look at them all as they all seemed to have some conection of home some how. Bill West & Dick Dawson got two bonzar parcels from home so we have had another feed and are looking forward to your parcel which ought to come in a day or two.
Hope every thing is going well at home; you will be cutting the wheat when you get this Love to Father and yourself Mother dear
Your loving son
Robert C. Wilson

[Page 200]
[Front of envelope]
On Active Service

30 Se 16

Mrs H.C. Wilson
Wyaldra Park
Mudgee
N.S.W.
Australia

Passed by Censor No.3004

[Transcribed by John Brooker, Warwick Hirst for the State Library of New South Wales]