The Baker Boys Episode 3

Egypt,  February 16^th 1916

My dear mother,

Just a few lines to let you know we landed safely and am quite well.  Just a month on the water.  We had to anchor out in Port Suez for a couple of days before we could land. I have been to Cairo several times.  There is some very nice buildings, the native portion is very dirty and mucky.  There are some real characters, the “natives”.  If you go in to a shop to buy anything in comes five or six of these street sellers yelling out what they have to sell. They are a continual pest.  They might be selling oranges, we will say how much, they will say two for one piaster, if you keep at them you will get four or five.  We call a piaster here a “disaster”.  The money seemed very awkward for us at the start but we know about it now.

Heliopolis is another town it seems to be much cleaner than Cairo, very nice buildings.  There is some lovely green patches around.

The Nile is a bonza river.  I went to the pyramids last Sunday, it is about 10 or 12 miles from Cairo.  You can go out for one “disaster”, two and a half pence.

There is a lot of things I could tell you but all letters have to be censored so I will tell you when I come back. 

The same old mob are still together, we are sleeping in in tents over here, we have a gay old time. I think it will be some time before we get to the front.

Tell Les I met Dan Sheehan the other night.  It is lovely weather over here, just the same as the Australian spring.

How is Lizzie’s calf getting on?

Well Mother, I hope you are all well at home. Remember me to all the boys and all the women folk.  I saw old Hanna before I left Adelaide.  He told me he was going to enlist.  Have you received any money yet? If not let me know.  Keelty is keeping well, wishes to be remembered to you all. 

Well, Mother, I can’t tell you much so I will close now with the best of love to yourself and all at home.

Your loving son,  Ross.

Egypt
March 19^th 1916

My dear Mother,

Just a few lines to let you know that I am quite well and that I received two letters from you on Paddy’s day.

I am in the artillery now, went into it on the 17^th.  The infantry has all the dirty work to do.  I got sick of it, it is a gents life.  I think I will go in for a driver, you get 1 shilling a day more than a gunner.

My address now is 4127 Driver ER Baker, 111 Howitzer Battery, 24^th Brigade, 4^th Australian Division, Egypt.

Keelty did not get in with me, he put in strong though, old sod.  I have not seen Willie Cox yet, there are so many different camps here and so big, different to Aus. I don’t think we will see any fighting for a long time.

Well mother, we are not allowed to write too much now, so I will say tat ta for this time.  I am in the best of health and fatter than ever, only I have a bad cold at present. 

Well, with best love to all at home, hope to have Christmas dinner with you all. 

With love from your loving son,  Ross

Egypt
March 26^th 1916

My dear Mother.

Just a few lines to let you know that I am still well.  We have just come off church parade.  Also got issued with our cigarettes and tobacco which was very acceptable.  We are all wearing those khaki helmets and light weight khaki uniforms.  They are just the thing for the summer.  Summer is settling in now, we will have two summers following.  All the other boys are moving from here Tuesday morning down the canal on the trenches.  They are marching down 38 miles full pack.  Three days they are taking. We went up to their camp last night.  I was poking it at them just in fun. Oh, that’s the common old infantry all over we said. You ought be to in the artillery, you don’t have to come up with them silly games.

You will think I have gone mad changing my address so often.  It is very awkward.  The letters will be a bit mixed up. I would not send any socks if I were you.  I might never get them the way things are.

You ought to see our tent.  We have it decorated all round the outside with little white stones, looks real well.  We all take pride in keeping our lines and tents nice and clean.

We have to come on parade spick and span in the artillery, clean shaven every morning, boots cleaned and tidy.  We have to get up earlier now to do our work in the early art of the morning as it is getting very hot, and late in the evening.

Keelty’s is mess orderly today.  Orderlies are better off here than in the infantry, you have the day off, go on no parades.  In the infantry you have to wash your dishes and be on all parades. 

It is funny over here to see us turning our clothes inside out to see if there is any chats.  I have had a few captured, they seem to live in the ground.

We are right alongside the railway line and a canal.  See the old sailing ships going, they look alright. We eat buckshee dates here once a week.  Buckshee means they give it away.  The flies are very bad here.  They had a sports day on the 16^th, they had a donkey race, about 50 donkeys, by gee it was comical, some would not move hardly.

We are all wondering when we will get into action and where we are going.  Our officers are real good chaps, treat us real well.  Just finished dinner, had a good feed of bully beef and bread and jam.

Well mother, in case may last letter goes astray I will give you my address.  4127 Driver ER Baker, 111 Howitzer Battery, 24^th Brigade, 4^th Australian Division, Egypt.

I can’t think of any more news so remember me to all the boys and girls.  I will send Bubs and Nell and you all something one of these days.

Well Mother, hoping you are all well, I will now say tat ta with best love for all

Your loving son,  Ross

Egypt
April 9^th 1916

My dear Mother,

Just a few lines to let you know I am still well.  I have a camera now, bought a Number 1 Brownie, have some good little photos to send along to you.  I am an expert with it now.  It is very hot over here now.

I suppose winter is setting in now over there.  I will send you some photos shortly.  George Murray gave me his photo.  I will send it home to you.

How is Auntie getting on?  I hope you are all glad the summer is just about over.  We are getting two summers together.

I would like to meet Les over here when he comes but I don’t think there will be any hope.

Well Mother, I hope you are all well.  I am just the same, expect to be home for Christmas. I can’t tell you much news, you might think it funny for me not writing a long letter but we can’t say anything out of the way put in the letter as it likely as not won’t go.

So, with best love and kisses to all at home and hope to see you all again shortly.

From your loving son, Ross

In the field
July 9^th 1916

My dear Mother.

I received your letter yesterday wrote on the 5^th of May and was very pleased to hear from you.  First letter I have had from anyone since March.

Is Jack still working at Mt Arrowsmith?  I was very sorry to hear about Frank Moore. 

You ought to have heard the rumours going about the first night we had to go up with ammunition, how far we had to go up and who was going to be knocked etc but we are pretty safe so far.  We see our aeroplanes getting shrapnel pelted at them every day. 

A German came over us yesterday, our chaps gave it to him but he got away.

It is alright of a night, the whole place is lit up with star shells, big bombardment every night.

Our chaps sent over gas the other day, it is just like a big dust storm.  All the people for miles behind the firing lines have to carry gas helmets.  We always have to carry ours. 

I think that I will get letters more regular now that you have my correct address.  There is a lot that I have not got.

I will have lots to tell you when I get back.  We are not allowed to write too much and I will have to say goodbye for this time.

With best love to all at home.

From your loving son, Ross

Address:  4127
ERB
No 8 section
4th Aust I a c
FRANCE

In the Field
July 27^th 1916

My dear Mother.

I received your welcome letter the other day, dated 19^th May and was very pleased to hear that you are all well. I am still going strong.  Old Fritzey has not got me yet.

I broke my teeth and I miss them I can tell you.  I will have to try and get another set.  My gums are nearly raw, worse than toothache. 

WFK is well (Keelty).  He got two parcels the other day.  Have not got any yet.  We have seen a good bit of France since we’ve been here.  Things are a bit lively.  On the 19^th a lot of our chaps were cut up.  Old Fritz was lobbing a few about us.  You could hear the coming over our head and burst not far away.  We were in the centre of two Tommy garrison batteries.  The GS were pelting on each side of us.  It was a bit different to rooing.

We are not allowed to write too much now Mother or I could write a good long letter so I will have to say tat ta with best love to all at home.

From your loving son,
Ross

In the Field
August 31^st 1916

My dear Mother,

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well and that old Fritzey has not given me a knock yet. Old Fritzey has a bad time in store for him.  I think Romana joining in will upset his plans a bit.  Keelty and I are still together.  We have a violin now and of a night if there is nothing doing we have a little concert to ourselves.

It has been raining for two days, makes things very uncomfortable.  Can’t go home and get a change of clothes and dry boots like a fellow been used to but we don’t mind.  Winter will soon be on us now I suppose. It will be a bit different to the Australian winter.

We have done a lot of travelling lately.  Well Mother, new is scarce.  There is a lot I could tell though you might not get the letter at all if there is anything concerning the war.  It is generally torn up.  A fellow knows nothing about it so will make sure of it and tell you all the news when I get back.

Well dear Mother, I am keeping in tip top health and quite happy.  Hoping you are all well and don’t worry about me, so with all the very best of love to all at home, your loving son, Ross.

In the Field
Sept 10^th 1916

My dear Mother,

I received your very welcome letter today dated July 14^th and was pleased to hear you are all well. 

Well mother, nearly all the boys that came over with us are knocked off, there is only about 16 of us left.  You remember me talking about a chap Maynard?  Poor chap he got his leg blown off.  He is in England now.  And Lieutenant Moyes, he got shot in three places but he is with the 48^th Battalion again.  And Bradley, he got killed with Jacko.  You remember the Jacko?  I could tell you all about it but I would want a newspaper. 

You said something about Frank Lyons.  I quite forgot to tell you about him, he was shot accidently by a Military Policeman in Cairo. He just came round a corner as the chap fired at another chap he was after and poor Frank caught it.  The chap the MP was after was a deserter, I think.  I was in Cairo at the time.

I have not seen Ted Bonnett or the Monaghan boys yet but I think I will in a day or two. I have had several letters from Ted, he is well.

Yes, I won’t know half the little ones up there by the time I get back if they are growing up so much.  I could just imagine the composition Bubs would write.  I got a letter from Girlie the other day, dated May 5^th.  I got one from GG Williams.

Well Mother, I can’t tell you much news so I will have to close this time.

With love to all from your loving son, Ross

PS Re the parcel I have not received any yet, some soups would be very handy but a chap has to be very lucky to get them.  WFK wants to know what he has done. He has received no letter from that way since we left Egypt.

Love from Ross

Sept 11.  I met Arthur Pengclose last night, he is well.  Wishes to be remembered to all.

In the field
September 17th 1916

My dear Mother,

I received your welcome letter today, dated 29^th July, also one from Girlie and Nell and was glad to hear that you are all well.

I have just met Willie Cox, he is here with me now, he is well.  Just showed me a photo of a car in front of the post office when Joe Cox left.  I see Austin’s dad and little Bubs and Lizzie and Percy Penrose but there is a few there I don’t know.

I was glad to receive a parcel as winter will soon be on.

Well Mother, I will write a longer letter soon.  I am in a hurry as the mail for Australia closes tonight so I don’t want to miss.

With best love to all at home, your loving son,

Ross

In the Field
October 23^rd 1916

My dear mother,

I received two letters from you the other day, dated September 1^st and August 25^th.  and I was pleased to hear you were all well and have my corrected address.  Also, one letter from Nella and Bubs and our old favourite rice pudding cook.

Yes, that lady Mrs HV Vernon, her husband is our colonel.

Well mother, I think that I have got all your letters but have not been lucky enough to get a parcel yet.

Les is having a good stay in Australia.  I’ll have to drop him a note and let him know that there is a war on over here. But good luck to him, he will get his cut when he comes.  I would like to get him with me.  I have not seen Willie Cox since his division has gone away from this front, I don’t think that war will last many more years, I think we will all be home for 1917 Christmas if not before.

I often wondered where Bert got to, he worked his nut didn’t he, good luck to him anyway.  I can’t make it out why Tom has not got any of my letters, I write to him often. 

It is very wet and cold here now.  Talk about cold feet, if ever I had them I got them now.  It is the constant wet ground, your boots don’t get a chance to dry.

I will try and get leave and get my photo taken.  I will send some little souvenirs of France first chance.

Keelty has not had a letter for weeks now.  He came up to me the other night, none for himself but for me.  Of course, the boy was happy as a soldier got a Blighty and poor old Bill was cursing. We have a good winter rig out and I have a pair of bonza top leather boots, a rain proof overcoat and sheep skin coat so I am Tres Bonne. 

Well Mother, I can’t tell you more this time so remember me kindly to all the boys and girls and that I will be there with them for the next Christmas.

Well Mother, I will close now so with the very best of love to all,

Your loving son,
Ross

In the Field
November 6^th 1916

My dear Mother

Just a few lines to let you know I am still well, hoping you are well also.  It is very wet here now, mud everywhere, always raining.

I have not had a letter for some time but might get one any day.  I think I received all your letters up to date September. 

Well Mother, I said in the last letter I would send a parcel but can’t yet for a while anyway.

I suppose Les is over here somewhere by this.  Keelty is still going strong.

Well Mother, we are doing well here and quite happy so don’t worry about me as I am tip top.  I can’t tell you any more news so I will sa y good night with best love to all at home.

Your Loving son,
Ross.

In the Field
November 10^th 1916

Dear Mother,

I have just received a nice long letter from you dated September 11^th, also one from Nell and Bub’s letter.  I got one from Girlie, Ruby, Mary and Lizzie and there will be more in this afternoon.  I am very likely to get the parcel so you see I am in Luck’s way.

I was sorry to hear you all had bad colds, they are quite plentiful over this way too.  It is a nice bright day, quite a treat to see the sun shining but it won’t last long.  It will be raining again tonight I bet.  I was glad to hear you got the ANZAC book alright.  Charlie has just come in with the Chronicle you posted so out ought to get the parcel alright. 

Yes, I remember one night we were go going up to the guns I saw a chap on guard, he nodded to me.  I thought then that I knew him but I could not pull up to speak to him.  He has a big moustache.  I did not know him at first when I saw him here.

Yes, we are all anxious to get overseas mail too.  If one gets a parcel all his pals get round him like the kids around a Christmas stocking, especially if there if there are any smokes around. 

No Mother, I have not had the luck to get to London yet.  About the ANZAC book, we fill in a form here and it is sent to London and posted to the address given.  The first one only cost 3/- but this one 5/- so it ought to be better.

We don’t need the “kill em dead” now that we have got rid of those scrubbers.  We get a good hot bath once a week here and a change of clothes…it is tres bonne.  It is a bit of work by the military, it is surprising how many they put through here a day. 

There is big laundries and women do all the working. Socks are very acceptable; we have wet feet all the time.  I told you in one of my letters I was sending a parcel but I won’t be able to now, we can’t send anything with any name on.  They are very particular with our correspondence, but I will send some souvenirs along first chance.

I have received on letter from Austin, not from Tom though and I write often to him. 

Well mother, remember me kindly to all the folk, tell them to have a good ball and supper on for the next Christmas I might be with them.

Well Mother, I will now say good night with best love to all at home, from

Your loving son,
Ross.

Will Keelty is well.

In the Field
November 25^th 1916

My dear Mother,

Just a few lines to let you know I am still quite well and I received the parcel alright sent on the 12^th September and received it in the right time.  We were travelling for about 10 days.  We were run out of smokes, could not buy any so last Sunday morning when I got up I got the mail, there was a parcel for me.  I had plenty of mates then, the cigs and lot did not last long.

I gave WFK two pair socks and Charlie one.  I was completely run out.

Well Mother, we have a bonza dug out, a shell hole we put a cover over it.  The three of us are in it.  We are in it now as it is raining heavy.  It is nothing else but mud and shell holes here.  Old Fritzey had all this ground a little while ago, he has left some great dug out behind him and he lobs a few of his 15 inches here but a miss as good as a mile at this game.  I think we will have a rough old Christmas.  We had snow last Saturday, it looked bonza.

Well Mother, I will write a longer letter next time, so wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I will now close with love to all at home, from your loving son, Ross.