Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
Letters from Eric Susman in the Middle East war zone to Dr. M. P. Susman, 1914-1916
MLMSS 2355 ADD-ON 1839
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The Cairo Young Men’s Christian Association
with the
British and Colonial Forces in Egypt.
Heliopolis
near Cairo
14/2/15
Dear old Mick,
Many thanks indeed for your very welcome letter of Jan. 7th. You can’t imagine the pleasure that it gave me to read all my letters from home. Took me all the way back to Mosman for half an hour.
So old Kidstan pissed the court up. I suppose Dad’s faith in a "professional" is not so strong as it used to be. Don’t forget to tell me next time you write all particulars re the court. Have plenty of young people to
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play on Saturdays & Sundays – it will keep Mum from getting "the blues".
Suppose you are working very hard for the Senior. Write and give me all particulars. I hope you are going to try for an Exhibition – you know, every little helps a "broke family" in hard times.
So you have bumped Nina Peacock again. She must have changed a lot to be tolerated at "Coppabella" and I am pleased to hear that she stirs the mud up at home.
The paragraph in which you state that, in your opinion, the Mater is really glad that I enlisted, gave me great pleasure. From what I have seen from other chaps’ letters, those who are available and have not enlisted are, I am given to understand, not too popular in Sydney. By the way, how
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are Dad’s friends, the model "Zanderboys"? Suppose they still come to the mugs’ tennis on Sunday afternoons.
Mum tells me that you are a little brick in trying to cheer her up. Keep it up, Mick, for my sake, and it will not be long before I return to Sydney. Any news of interest you can read in Mum’s letter.
Ever your loving brother,
Eric.
Hope you will be able to send me a Torchbearer occasionally. Up to this, I have not received any, although you have given me to understand that you have sent some.
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Eric Susman
On Active Service
No stamps available.
To: Mr. Maurice Susman
"Coppabella"
Queen St.
Mosman
Sydney
N.S.W.
Australia
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Dear old Mick,
Many thanks for your letter labelled "Broadmeadows" which I received at Colombo. It was all the more appreciated, because it happened to be the only word I received from home.
Well, Mick, I suppose you shall have started your year’s work for the Senior, before you get this. You must write & tell me all about your work, the set books, etc. I dare say you will do all right but I would advise you to bog in to French right from the start. Craig, you remember, neglected this [?] very tricky subject and consequently his Dec.-March holiday was spoilt by his having to do the Matric. in this subject. Have had cards etc. from Kath Begbie, Enid Chandler. Ask them over to tennis as often as you can. My kind regards to all the chaps at school.
Best love to all from
Ever your loving brother
Eric
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Eric Susman
[13] Battalion
A.I.F.
On active service
No stamps available
Melbourne Young Men’s Christian Association
with the
Australian Imperial Forces
To: Mr. Maurice Susman
Coppabella
Queen St.
Mosman
Sydney
N.S.W.
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Dear old Mick,
Many thanks for your letter which I duly received but which I had not time to answer before I left [indecipherable]. I must also thank you for the Varsity results and also for the swastika. I appreciate it all the more, knowing it to be a gift from our dear little Mater.
Remember me to Decent & Miss Cohen & explain to them the impossibility of me writing to them, but give all my friends my best wishes & ask them to write to me.
Have not received a "Torchbearer" as yet. Will you also try & get me a "Hermes" & send it along.
Best love to the Jenkos, Greigs & Jones, also to Callie & Nan. Will write to them as soon as I can.
Ever your affectionate brother
Eric
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A/c had, Available at London Office, 36 & 38 New Bond St., Balance £18-5.
The Cairo Young Men’s Christian Association
with the
New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Zeitoun Camp, Egypt.
Heliopolis,
March 13th ‘15
Dear old Mick,
Your letters of the 1st and 8th of February duly received and very much appreciated. You don’t know what it feels like to get letters from home, especially in this kind of a joint. So you can get busy, old man, and write to your old pal in your spare moments.
Ere you get this you will be well in to your first term of your most important year at school. Of course, there is no need for me to wish you good luck, I will be constantly interested in your work right through the year. So don’t forget all particulars of your work etc.
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Many thanks indeed for all the papers. They are greatly enjoyed by about 20 of us – all anxious for Sydney use. Up to date, I have received a "Torchbearer", but no "Hermes". Suppose it has gone astray.
Decent’s address is:- 6th A.A.S.C., [Australian Army Service Corps] Ma-adi, [also spelt Maadi] Egypt. This may be altered by the time you can write but if you address it there, it will be much appreciated. Hope you will see something of Geraldine Cohen. See that she doesn’t get lonely or any or that sort of thing. You might have her to tennis and tea occasionally if it is convenient.
Mick, I want you to do me a favour. Call at the offices of the Commonwealth Bank, Savings Bank Dept. and see if the 3/- a day which I left behind
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is being paid into the account of Eric Susman. The account number is 11640 Sydney. If it is not being done, I would like you, if you have time, to call at Victoria Barracks, Paddington, and ask for information re my allotment form. Quote my regimental No., 463, and also my company & battalion. You might let me know the results of your investigations, as I do not want to be stuck for cash when we eventually (as we all hope to do) reach London.
From what you write you have evidently not had much tennis. I am sorry in one way, because plenty young people round the place ought to brighten the Mater up. I hope she still plays "rags". Make her keep up her playing. It will please me immensely to hear that she still
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plays the "pianer" during breakfast, etc. As yet I have not heard from Jack or Cliff. So they could not have written this mail.
So Daisy is engaged to Blackmore the silliest pisshouse under the sun! I tip it will last for about two minutes. As I have not heard from her yet, I have, despite the rules of convention, not taken the trouble to write to her. But you will please "congratulate" her for me.
Well, Mick, I will close now. I know what a brick you are as regards our dear little Mater. Now that "Spot" is away you will have to be all the more attentive to her, for the sake of your brother who is always thinking of those dearest ones at Coppabella.
Yours as ever,
Eric
Writing to Japan in a day or two.
In case of any difficulty, quote the number of the receipt for my pass book, No. A20725.
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P.S. If you like, you can send me a couple of tins of T.C. William’s "Mahel" Tobacco. Quite unobtainable here and also, I think, where we are going. Register it, mark it "Urgent" and give full adress. I am now "B" Coy instead of "D", due to the 4 company organisation.
Eric.
Heliopolis,
near Cairo,
April 7th 1915
Dear old Mick
Many thanks for your letters of Feb. 28th and March 9th, also for the Exhibition Results. Nearly all those sort of things I pass on to Hugh Pulling who is now attached to our battalion.
I didn’t think you would be very interested in Field Firing, Co-operation of Infantry and Artillery in the Field, The theory of Rifle Fire, and the Theory of Infantry Attack and all that sort of thing. It would take a long time to give full details. Besides I have it all in the diary, you know, which you can read till the cows come home when I send it back. At any rate our training consists of five parts, (i) Field Tactics, skirmishing, fire control, fire discipline, mutual support, passing on of orders, (ii) bivouacs, camping for a night in the open and doing support work, (iii) divisional training in which infantry, cavalry and artillery co-operate as a fighting unit, (iv) entrenchments, digging trenches of all descriptions with pick and shovels, right distribution of the tools from the transports and the telling off of shifts to dig the trenches, (v) bayonet exercises.
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But thank the Lord we are now finished our training, and expect to leave Egypt any minute. So you must cheer the Mater up, Mick, if she does not hear from me for a couple of months now, as we are off to the front. (Can’t tell you where – it will be censored.) Even when you do hear from me it will only be a bum field service post card. But you will know that everything is O.K. and that I am all right.
Getting a bit nervous about the 20 quid I cabled for, in case you did not get the right stress or the word "immediately". At any rate I have instructed the Anglo Egyptian Bank to hold the money till I send instructions, if it should come after my departure from Egypt. So everything will be all right.
If you are finding any difficulty with the history for the Senior you want to make out a list of the important dates, and then enlarge on them as for instance (information hopelessly incorrect but an example) B.C. 56 Catalinarian [Catilinarian] conspiracy – Cicero, the famous barrister and orator consul deals with it in a prompt vigorous manner & arrest of the principals – etc. etc. Get this short summary. Then read the details thoroughly. And when
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you come to fag it up, use your summary list and you will be surprised at all the details you can remember without burning up the book. Then, of course, be very careful of the dates. Try and think of something, an event, that is to say, as happening immediately after another event, and you will soon get the run of the dates. Hope I have made these few little notes quite clear.
Glad you are keeping the tennis going. It is doubtless keeping up Mum’s spirits – and if it does that, it does a lot. One day I had a strike at a beautiful place, the Heliopolis Palace Hotel, one of the finest in the world, which is now occupied by No. 1 Aust. General Hospital. I was on guard there and I took the opportunity of having a knock up. Needless to say, I didn’t know which end of the racquet to hold. By the way, I trust you are looking after my racquet and occasionally having a hit with it.
I am getting the papers all right now. At the front, they will be a veritable God-send.
Les, with his usual impetuosity, bought a camera and stupidly they began snapping everything and everybody. The enclosed are some products of his work, taken by the camel boy. Of course they are hopelessly bum but you can just about recognise us. Give one to Kath Begbie if she wants it and stick to the other if you think it worth keeping. Unfortunately there will be no time to have the new ones taken. So long Mick. Look after our little Mummie for the sake of your loving pal. Eric.
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Ghezireh Palace
Cairo
Tuesday, May 18th 1915
Hospital
Tuesday, May 18th
Dear old Mick,
Just a few lines to give you a few particulars of how I got shot. A general advance was ordered – a night attack – and in spite of a huge volume of fire resulting in many casualties, I managed to get through the night safely enough, and we entrenched fairly deeply by dawn. The fire was terrific, and by about nine o’clock we found that we were being enfiladed by one of the enemy’s cleverly concealed machine guns.
A couple of my mates were killed in big hit by the deadly accuracy of the Maxim’s aim, our company sergeant major received a severe wound in the thigh, and
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it finished up that there was only woofers left. We recognised our danger but could do nothing, just be there like rabbits in their burrows. But I hadn’t long to wait, for in a few minutes I caught one on the calf of the left leg – a real beauty.
Now usually, in trench fighting, the wounded have to stay in the trench till nightime when they are got out under cover of darkness but my leg was stinging like blazes and men were climbing all over me with ammunition and water, so I decided to try and reach a sheltered hollow 20 yds. in [indecipherable] of the trench.
(Am finishing this now in town.)
But the machine gunner (the German swine) was too quick for me and got me right across the right cheek of the arse. Bled a lot at first (see enclosed gory piece of trousers) but soon stopped.
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Well, old boy, I am getting along nicely now. But I haven’t got a scrap of energy to do any writing but you will here from me every weekend. I am afraid they will have to be short and sweet.
Best love to all,
Ever your affectionate
Eric.
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Gallipoli,
Aug. 21st ‘15
Dear old Mick,
Was very pleased to receive your letters of June 18th & 28th also big batch of papers, the most welcome of which was the Torchbearer containing poor Lee Pulling’s photo. Poor chap was killed by a piece of shrapnel hitting his head. Hugh was quite broken up, but has improved since. A clever verse entitled "Tom, Dick or Harry" by Lock Pulling so I expect he will take his son’s death in the right spirit. Convey my sympathies to him, please Mick, and tell him I am writing later.
By the way our mails were delayed a week owing to the whole bally lot being sunk by the Turkish long range artillery. But the mail bags were good and very little water got in. You can just see the traces on your letter which I am enclosing as it might be of some interest.
The school concert was evidently done in real Varsity style. Wish I had been there – nearly as exciting as Gallipoli.
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Glad you gave me your exam results. They are jolly good and you ought to do all right in November. I will be thinking about you, and wishing you all sorts of luck. (Hope you will be able to read this, my pen has run dry, and I can’t write with a frowzy pencil.)
Sorry you did not get my letter about being wounded. I have it all in the diary however which you will see some day.
Laughed when I read that Mother’s friend, the Folly-Pointer had taken over the Salon de Luxe. She’s a fair goer.
Mother has written that you are just it, Mick since I have been away. Keep it up son, and you will make me feel happy with regard to the Mater being looked after well.
You have probably heard about our advance on & around Aug. 6th. I will not give any details as you will probably have read of the doings of the 13th Batt. ere you get this. I was fortunate enough to have taken part in the big operations, and had a fairly exciting as well as a trying time.
No more news. I have received letters from Kath Begbie, Myra, Enid Chandler
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Muriel Nettheim & Elsie Hooker. Please thank them all, and say I will write as soon as possible.
So long Mick & Good-luck,
Ever your affectionate brother,
Eric.
Let me know if this envelope was opened.
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Sarpi Rest Camp,
West Mudros,
Lemnos.
Sept. 28th ‘15
Dear old Mick,
Very pleased to get yours of Aug. 4th & Aug. 9th. Many thanks for all the news & the mementos of Australia Day. It appears that everyone lost their heads, more or less, that day and the succeeding days, & from the speeches of many bum politicians, I judge that Australia is perhaps unintentionally so, getting swelled head over the military achievements of her boys – in other words, the first signs of jingoism are beginning to show themselves. Don’t become a military maniac, Mick. War is not all champagne and fifteen course dinners – there’s to much Army tea and bully beef attached to it.
Sept. 30th
(Got a little ink to-day.) The mail has much improved, and I now get my letters & papers quite regularly, thus managing to keep well in touch with Sydney and its doings. Thanks for the little Australia Day book. Ashemead [Ashmead] Bartlett is some correspondent isn’t he? Bean, in my opinion is not a war correspondent’s bum.
I was pleased to get the details of your work. When you get this, I have no doubt that the Exams will be
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very close upon you. Make absolutely certain that you know your French & Latin authors, Macbeth (i.e., the notes in the text), the Propositions in Geom., and the Formulae in Alegebra & Trig., by heart. As to Ancient History, don’t forget the little précis of principal events and dates. Whatever you do, don’t forget to read over your Latin, French & English compositions, before hand up your papers. With any unseens, take your time and keep cool, and don’t forget to try for an "A" in Latin & English. This is all I can think of to tell you. The best of good luck, Mick, and I shall be thinking of you all round the November periods and hoping for bonza results.
This rest camp is very slow, but yesterday, we had a good time at Castro, the "capital" of this progressive, two-men-and-a-dog, island of Lemnos. I would like to get to Athens which is not more than 20 hours steam from here, but they are afraid of deserters, & will not give leave.
Expecting a mail in a day or two, so I will write again shortly. Kindest regards to all the boys & best love & good luck for November.
Ever your affectionate
Eric
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Lemnos,
October 17th 1915
Dear old Mick,
Was pleased to get yours of Aug. 23rd & 30th especially as I was down with a slight attack of the flu. And letters from home are doubly welcome at such times. I am all right now, however; the Canadian medical officer informed me of the good conditions of my throat and lungs etc., which were probably instrumental in my throwing off a few unwelcome visitors in the shape of a few thousand typhoid germs. So my run of luck still continues good. I only hope that the "Coppabella" luck is still holding good – that the Exams will come off all right & that Dad will be his old self ere you receive this. By the way, as soon as the Senior
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results come out, I want you to do one of two things.
(i) Accept my tennis racquet & press etc. with my best love.
(ii) Knowing your dislike for "2nd hand goods", & my unwillingness to make such presents, you are to draw a couple of pounds out of the Bank (H.T.’s money) & buy yourself a new racquet. You will need a good racquet for the Varsity & it is the best present I can think of.
Also, I want you to do me another favour. I don’t want to trouble Dad, so buy me a good sweater-coat (Cardigan jacket I think they are called) and send it to me by registered post. As they are out of season, you will have difficulty in getting one, but you ought to succeed at Farmers or Jones’. Color, brown or navy blue, & best quality. The money, of course, from H.T.’s account. Get a fairly big size, because I have grown a bit during the last year. I would send to Egypt, only everything is so shockingly dear. Besides, the one I brought
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from Australia will last me for a month or two yet.
Did not see Springhall or Howard before we left the Peninsula, although they sent a message round to me by our then acting C.O.
As to future movements, we are still in the dark. I hope we will winter in Egypt, but nothing is certain.
Well, so long till next week. Best love to all from
Your affectionate,
Eric.
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"Coppabella The Second"
(My Dug-Out)
"971"
Gallipoli.
Nov. 26th
Dear old Mick,
A big batch of your letters just to hand, bearing various dates, from April 16th to October 3rd! A typical instance of the erratic delivery of our mail. Thanks very much [?] for those photographs – the little snapshots brought back vivid recollections of "Coppabella" and its dear inmates. I don’t know how it seems to you, but it seems years since I left Sydney. I am afraid it is going to be a very long way to Tipperary, even from now. So we must all sit down on our bottoms and wait patiently for this colossal struggle to end. I don’t think Gallipoli will bring about (or even help to bring about) any permanent victory, even if the War lasts ten years.
I have sent a few Xmas cards away –some of my own manufacture, but doubt if they will reach their destination. I ordered some from England, but if they have not been torpedoed, they have been delayed so they are, in a musketry term – a wash-out.
Have not got the latest copy of Hermes yet, but it may turn up later. Thank Enid Chandler for me
[Continuation of letter in margin]
will you? Got a couple of letters from some of the lower school chaps, but none from Alf, Heath or Hilton Chenball. Will write and answer them when I get time. By this mail in accordance with his wish, I have written a long letter to Dad. I will write to Mum next week, tell her. Got Dad’s photos all right, they were bonza. Glad you’ve got in touch with Rene Struck. Ask her to write & send me her photo – it’s such a deal of a time since I’ve seen her. Don’t forget to send me copies of the Senior & Leaving Certificates, as I will want to know what papers you got all your good passes in. Have given Dad all
[Continuation of letter from top of page]
the news. Best love to all. So long till next week.
Ever your affectionate
Eric.
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Moascar,
near Ismailia.
Feb. 14th ‘16.
Dear old Mick,
Yours of Jan. 4th & 9th just to hand. Also those reminders of happy tennis days, besides plenty of newspapers. The photos were all excellent, and whenever you have anything in that line which will serve as a reminder of pre-War bliss, don’t forget to send it along – you may rest assured that it will be greatly appreciated.
Pleased to hear that Sheffield, [indecipherable] Boy No. 2 & Harold have
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all enlisted. I would like to know where Major Susman is – his Battalion, Brigade etc. So if you can give me the information, I shall be very glad.
I sent that cable "Eleventh December" etc. from Durrant’s Post, before we had definite news of the Evacuation. If you mentioned the word "well" in your cable, it was necessary to put the date that you were well. Hence the "eleventh December". It was disappointing to know that the cable was late (due to disorganisation at our quitting), but it got to Sydney in nice time for New Year.
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No news of interest, just the same old training principles which have found to be absolutely up to shit in a war like this. Brigade & Divisional manoeuvres, a little Musketry, and a little night work. It is all for the benefit of our reinforcements – the dinkums or the "comforts fund soldiers" as we call them.
Am writing to Mum & to H.T. this week. Have received my Sheepskin, also another bonza parcel from the Stores. So long for the present.
Ever your affectionate
Eric.
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Tel-el-Kebir
March 13th ‘16.
Dear old Mick,
I was very pleased to get your letters of Jan. 26th & Feb. 6th, especially as they contained the good news that you were enjoying a good rest, and more particularly, that you had passed the Leaving Certificate, and your work had not been all in vain. Then came the news of the Exhibition, and I puffed my chest out muchly, and had a few beers on the strength of it. But, fair dinkum, Mick, I am very proud of you. There’s not only the honour of it, but also the financial aspect, you will have saved Spot a good few pounds and got a better standing for yourself, up at the Shop. I often wonder whether I will take up work there again, I hope I will be able to settle down (that’s if Dad does not want me too badly in town) so that we may have even a little time together at the old Varsity.
You said something about enclosing a cutting from the personal column, in case I could "do something". Any rate, I didn’t get it, so what was it?
I have given Dad my new address, so there’s no
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need to repeat it in this.
I am enclosing in this several [indecipherable] prints. They are not good, owing (i) to the fact that I don’t know the camera to well yet, and (ii) a slight defect in same (not me, the camera I mean). If you get the one of myself intensified, it may make a good print. (Note the bonza Farmer & Co. cardigan.)
I was very sorry to hear that [indecipherable] had failed. Remember him to me (and to all our pals) & wish him better luck next time, for me.
Nothing else this week, will send some more films on, at an early date.
Ever your affectionate
Eric.
Enclosed (if it passes the Censor) you will find a post card, giving you some idea of where we are.
Also a few negatives of interest. The one of myself can be improved by getting it intensified.
[Transcribed by Judy Gimbert for the State Library of New South Wales]