Personal Letters Forming a Diary of Raymond Parker WARBURTON

Transcript of letters by Raymond P WARBURTON

SS Pera
October 22nd, 1914
My dear Mother,
We left the wharf at Melbourne at 12 on Sunday morning 18th and came straight down the River and cleared the heads about sunset.
The send-off we got at Melbourne was very poor, only about twenty people (who happened to be passing), nothing like the ribbons etc at Sydney.
We have had beautiful calm, warm weather so far, in the mornings it looks just like Snails Bay on a Sunday, not a ripple, only here there is a big swell. We are somewhere about three hundred miles from Albany expect to get there tomorrow night or Saturday morning. We are quite on our own now, have only seen one ship since last Sunday - she passed us about daybreak and gave the officers a great fright she was sailing with lights out and they thought her a German cruiser and called the Captain hurriedly - but she was an English ship, blue funnel line.
The troops are real good sports, most of them from the back blocks, lots have never seen the sea before, they have plenty to do feeding the horses and cleaning out their stall and spare time they fill in with target practice, boxing, reading
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and phonograph, target practice, in the afternoon a piece of line about a foot square is stuck up on a raft of boards and towed behind the ship, the men take turns firing at it, at two hundred yards it is hit nearly every shot. I would not like to be a German.
At Albany, where we are supposed to stay about a week, all the transports are to meet, nearly forty ships and to sail in three lines a mile apart, and each ship half a mile behind the next. I believe we are to be the third ship in the middle line.
Albany, Saturday.
Arrived here this morning at daybreak, it is a great big bay, where we are anchored there are about 6 troop ships here now, the rest (about 38 altogether) are to arrive within the next few days and we all leave together under a strong escort. Don't think there is any chance of going ashore but will be able to get letters posted.
Lieutenant Asher (3rd in command) used to go to school with me, he comes into my cabin occasionally for a yarn.
So far I have very little to do, start at seven in morning, change over the machines, start ventilating fan etc and general repairs till eleven.

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Then I am off duty till 5:30 in the evening when I start the other dynamo and turn on lights & fan and wander around in uniform till I shut off fan & most of the lights at 9 - after which I can turn in. Of course I am liable to be dragged out anytime if anything goes wrong.
Hope you are keeping quite well & happy, expect I might get a letter sent on from Melbourne or Adelaide if we are here any time, am wondering if you have let Garry hinch.
Would you please remind Allen to look after my accumulator if he has not already done so.
I am enclosing a photo I took with one of the engineer's camera of the horses being fed, ought to get some good photos here when all the ships come in.
Two or three of the engineers have promised to take me round when we get to England, they think we will most likely got to Southampton or Plymouth.
I did not get a chance to go and see the McNaughtons in Melbourne - I like Arthur's friends the Scotts very much I was out there quite a lot.
I am feeling very well and getting quite fat everyone says. Good bye.
With fondest love from your loving son
Raymond.
Pg. 4
Monday Nov 23
My dear Mother
We are passing the island of Socotra today and expect to be at Aden on Thursday so writing this on chance that I may be able to send it home from there.
So far we have had a splendid trip, have only had about two days rough since Albany all the rest of the time it has been quite as smooth as Sydney Harbour but very hot.
At Colombo we anchored outside the harbour for three days, but no one was allowed ashore I was very disappointed it looked such a pretty place from sea, I wrote to you from there but was not allowed to give address or any information, all our letters are read on the flagship before they are sent.
We had a little excitement just before we got to Colombo on Monday 9 Nov at 8 am we received a wireless message from Coachus Island to say there was a hostile warship approaching the "Sydney" immediately left us and at 12 o'clock we got the message that she had sunk the Emden.
The Emden must have passed within twenty miles of us the night before, but of course
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we have been sailing with lights shaded.
The poor horses in the tween decks feel the heat a lot but so far only three have died. In a week's time the weather will be getting much cooler, there is much argument as to whether we will get to England for Christmas, it will be about then anyway.
I will try and send you a cable, but you will see by the cables when we arrive, the is yet no news of what the ship will do afterwards or what I shall do.
My job has been going quite alright so far have had no difficulties over anything and not very much to do, very often I have to go on watch on the main engines with the fourth engineer from 8-12, as they are somewhat short handed.
Last night we had service on deck conducted by the Captain, he is blessed with an extremely nice voice for the purpose.
On Friday 13th when we crossed the line we had the usual Father Neptune & his wife and the ceremony of dipping the new chums. (of course only amongst the soldiers). Neptune's wife was awfully good, very fashionable dress, split skirt etc. at the end of the ceremony she also got ducked in the tank.
Expect I may get a letter from you in London have had none since the one at
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Albany sent on from Melbourne.
Hope you are not missing me and are keeping well and happy, you ought to get this somewhere about Christmas, I wish you and all at home a very happy one and a happy new year.
I have no stamps but if it does not go O.H.M.S. suppose you won't mind paying.
You might pass this letter on to the rest of the family and give them all my love. I have not enough news to write them too, I am rather afraid of saying too much in this for fear it may be stopped.
I had a nice letter from Annie at Albany.
Nov 29
We arrived at Aden on Wednesday 25th at 4 in the afternoon and left again at 6 next morning, there was no communication with the shore as we were anchored right out so could not post this.
Now we are two days off Suez, on the Red Sea, and until today it has been very hot, have never met anything quite as hot before. This will be rather a queer drawn out letter but I am writing as we go
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along and will end off and post it the first chance attainable.
We have been nearly a month now in white uniforms have had to do some washing and a little borrowing as I only have two suits. Yesterday it was 112 degrees in engine room and this morning only 89 degrees.
Yesterday we had a "wireless" that the troops were to go to Egypt to Cairo for training and from there to the front, they ought to think themselves very lucky, the climate there will be much better than England.
I have not seen Eric or Ken or the Wardens or Jack BUCHAN - You remember Frank CAMPBELL, he is electrician on the Clan Mac Corquorale, he was on the wharf at Sydney when we sailed. I will try and see him when the ships get in port together and we are allowed ashore it is beastly being kept on board when you can get a chance of seeing things ashore.
Suez,
Tuesday 1st Dec
We are at Suez, anchored off the mouth of the Canal, we got here this afternoon some of the ships have gone through and we go tomorrow, we are to go to Alexandria land the troops and take in coal and go on to England.
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There is a launch alongside giving us water and the captain says he will post this for me, so will have to shut up soon.
We have got lovely cool weather now, I will write again from Port Said or Alexandria. Expect after this will be able to write as I want to without having to pass the censor.
The Chief thinks I will be transferred to a mail ship coming out to Sydney, I will try and get some time in England in the meantime.
Please give my love to enquiring friends. I must close now as the man is leaving.
Still enjoying my trip immensely.
With fondest love from your loving son
Raymond
Pg. 9
Port Said
4th Dec 14
My dear Mother,
Hope you got my last letter alright from Suez we were not allowed ashore there so got the man on the water boat to post it for me.
Tonight we are in Port Said being cooled by about a million yelling Arabs on punts, and expect to be here a day or so before going on to Alexandria where we say Good bye to the troops and horses.
We had an awfully interesting trip up the Canal, we left Suez on 3rd at 1:30 and steamed up as far as Better Lakes (about a third of the way) arriving there at 6pm anchored for the night and left again at 6am this morning and arrived here about three today, so that I was lucky enough to see the whole way in daylight.
There are companies or Indian troops encamped on the banks of the Canal with trenches, earthworks etc guarding it from the Turks and some other hostile tribes on the Egyptian side. They all stood at
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attention and saluted as we passed by.
We also saw Camel Batterys [sic] manoeuvering and Mountain Batteries, and a Company of Royal Engineers.
Today on arrival here I had a letter from Bun written to Albany and dated 28-10-14. It is nice him getting Aberdare Central permanently and a rise as well. You want to watch him now or he will be getting married to some Flapper or other.
Have just that we are to stay about a week at Alexandria and then come right back to Fremantle for another cargo of horses, we aught [sic] to be there early in January so you could write to me there - It will make a much longer time getting to England but it will then be much warmer there then.
Have not been allowed ashore anywhere yet, not even here where we are almost right alongside - but am still cheerful. I will write again from Alexandria if possible so goodbye mother dear,
Hope you are keeping well and not missing this, your loving son
Raymond.
Pg. 11
S.S Pera
8 Dec
My dearest Mother,
Since the 4th when I posted my last letter in Port Said we have been lying off a few miles away at anchor, with no communication with the shore. Tonight we leave for Alexandria and expect to get there about noon tomorrow - we seem to be doing nothing much else but lie off places at anchor, if they would only lie alongside a wharf so that's e could go ashore there would be much more sence [sic] in it
We are to stay (I believe) about a week at Alexandria before we start back to Fremantle but I suppose we shall go in and land the horses and spend the rest of the time anchored off outside.
I have got some rather interesting snapshots but must not send them as the authorities might stop the letter, it is very awkward not knowing if you have received my previous letters from Suez & Port Said.
We are having particularly nice weather just now, like a warm winter day in dear old Sydney. I hope I shall catch a letter from you at one of the ports going
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back, you can write to me at Fremantle we seem pretty sure to be going there and ought to be there about the middle of January.
Wednesday 9 Dec.
We came along and into the Harbour of Alexandria today and are going alongside tomorrow to unload the horses, I will do my best to go ashore and post this and see something of the town, it looks a very big place and of course will be frightfully interesting.
I wish I had the gift of letter writing (as you have) and tell you all about the places & people I have seen, but I cannot, and must first wait till I get home again, won't I get on a box and spout for hours then.
Things are going pretty comfortably on board, my cabin mate gave a little trouble at first but have got him trained somewhat now - the Chief has got a rat, he gives his engineers a rough time, except his electrician, who has very little to do and is the only person whom he argues with, without raising his voice.
Have not been down to weigh myself
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My greatest weight hitherto has been 9.5 now I am 10.2, not bad is it. No late hours (don't get a chance worse luck)
Have managed to get some washing done here so will be right for clean clothes coming back, wouldn't it be nice if we came right back to Sydney, it is remotely possible that we may do so.
Am wondering how you are doing, whether you have let ‘Our 'Ouse and if everyone is well, it seems years since I left home on my travels.
Good bye
Give my love to my brothers and sisters,
Fondest love to yourself
From your wandering son
Raymond.
Pg. 14
SS Pera
My own dear Mother,
Tomorrow we arrive at Fremantle for orders, so I am writing in case we stay there some time or do not go on any further - at Aden we went in for orders and only stopped about half an hour.
We had a nice stay at Alexandria, five days, saw a good deal of the town, had dinner ashore there two nights and wandered round in the afternoons, there is pretty well every language spoken there, and least of all English, had great fun trying to make my French understood - Went ashore the first day with Ship's Doctor and had coffee Turkish fashion, in cups about the size of a large thimble, at the Hotel Majestic, a magnificent place. Also went to Picture Shows where you sit at tables and have coffee and ices etc while show is going on, most of them start at about 9:30 and finish sometime next morning.
We went into dry dock at Alexandria after the troops disembarked, which they did in a particularly smart manner, we went alongside the wharf about 11am, there
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was a train of trucks and a few carriages and by 9 at night they had all the horses, fodder etc off the ship in the train and away to the encampment area near Cairo.
While we were in dock Frank CAMPBELL on the Clan McCorquodale came along to see me, I showed him over the ship and went along to his, he had two days off (they got in before us) and had a trip up to Cairo to see the pyramids, his ship and about four others and Pera are coming back for the next lot, the others are either waiting in Alexandria or gone on to England.
Coming back I managed to get ashore for half an hour at Port Said, the ship only stayed a few hours for coal there.
Have not seen land for nineteen days. Just out from Aden we saw a convoy of Indian troopships, and the next day big merchant cruiser the Empress of Asia, since then we have not sighted any ships, we have had nice cool weather and a very calm sea all the way. Have had even our easier time coming back than going, no breakdowns or difficulties, tell Allen I have repaired the Bridge telephone satisfactorily.
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I will leave this now till tomorrow till I see where we are going.
Port Melbourne
15-1-15

We are just coming up to the wharf at Port Melbourne, at Fremantle where I expected to send a letter to you we only stopped outside for a short time and got orders brought out to us to proceed to Melbourne which we have done.
There was no chance to get any letters off and of course none came from shore have had none since Fremantle except one from Bun sent on from there, so am anxious to know how you are and all the home news.
Saturday morning
Very glad indeed to hear your voice again and find you are quite well, you sound very well, but there are lots of things I found I wanted to ask just after we were cut off. I did not think till afterwards about asking for an extension of time, we heard today that we are leaving here for Newcastle for coal on Monday or Tuesday and coming back here and sailing from here
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and not going to Sydney at all, hope it is not true, anyway if we are staying long at Newcastle or here will do my best to get a run home, but do not come home from Mittagong, I will send you a telegram if it can be managed. Please give my love to Howard and Connie & George and to my favourite Aunt am awfully glad she is with you, hope she is keeping well.
Mr Patterson (George's manager here) took me to dinner last night and invited me out to his home.
Everything is going on alright aboard, everybody is particularly nice to me, and I think I may as well stick to a pretty good job while I have got it as things seem to be pretty slack out here. I have nearly four months wages I have not touched, and a few pounds, after having a good time in Alexandria and buying a few things to bring home, so I have done pretty well I think.
I will stop now I have some more chances to write to you, you might chance a letter to Newcastle or Melbourne (to be forwarded).
Good bye Mother dear,
With fondest love from your seafaring son,
Raymond.
Pg. 18
SS Pera
Victoria Docks
Melbourne
30-1-15

My dear Mother,
Just a line to tell you I arrived here safely, had a good trip over had all one side of carriage to myself so had some sleep we are lying at Victoria Dock - expect to sail on Monday week 8th or perhaps later.
Mr TAYLOR said to thank you very much for the calendar & vase, he was very pleased with them.
Found things (Electrical) have been going a bit wrong in my absence so will have a little work for a few days - Nice cool weather here, in fact quite cold at nights.
Bert & Ramsay came over and saw me off on the train, suppose you are away at Mittagong. I do not know where you are going so am sending this to Howard. Hope you will enjoy your holiday - will write again soon when I get some news.
Your loving son Raymond.

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SS Pera
Melbourne
Sunday 1st Feb
My dear Mother,
Received your letter yesterday. Glad you are enjoying your holiday at Mittagong, it is nice to be so close to Howard.
The soldiers or some of them have come aboard today and the horses tomorrow we are supposed to sail at 12 o'clock.
Have quite settled down aboard again but feel ever so much better for my week at home - Have been out to Scotts a couple times and taken Reggie, he plays the violin well and the Scotts play piano and sing so we have had some good music, one night we went to the Palais a dance at St Kilda and had some dances it was quite a cold night so it was nice.
Don't suppose I shall see George now, Mr PATTERSON does not expect him till Tuesday and we will be away by that time. I bought an electric iron at WF Ltd yesterday to press my uniforms etc.
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Had a letter from Ethel yesterday she is disappointed not being able to go to Terrigal with you at Easter, Allie has an exam or something. Hope you will have as good a time as usual, try and get Bun off tactfully.
You might chance a letter to Alexandria please put in Aunt's address cannot find it, and am not sure if I remember it right, we have no idea where we are going, the Captain expects to be back in Australia in about three months.
Mr TAYLOR sends his kind regards to you, I got a very good photo of him, he is awfully pleased with it hope to get some of the troops embarking tomorrow.
Well I must say au revoir for a month or two Mother dear,
Please give my love to Aunt, Howard, Commer etc.
With lots & lots from
Your loving son
Raymond.
Page 21 has been ripped out of diary.

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SS.
February 23rd
My dear Mother,
We expect to be at the Port from which I sent you the post card last voyage in a couple of days, we are calling in there for provisions and a new native crew, so will able to get a letter off home.
This trip has not been anything like as interesting as last, we are quite alone this time and have our number painted out so as to look as much like a merchant ship as possible.
The first few days out from Melbourne we had it pretty rough, nearly all the troops were horribly sick, they are mostly country fellows from South Australia and Victoria and most of them have never been on a ship before - the poor horses felt it a lot too, we have lost seven so far mostly with lung trouble.
The last few days have been very warm, the troop officer gave me a hammock so have been sleeping up on deck, much nicer than the cabin in the tropics.
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It seems pretty certain that we are coming straight back again after landing the horses. If the ship is fitted out for cargo suppose I shall get kicked out, without seeing England after all.
We have had no war news since leaving Melbourne, and have only seen one ship so everyone is anxious know how things are doing - if there is trouble in the canal, we shall probably only go as far as Suez.
Suppose you will be just about home from Terrigal when you get this, you ought to get it about 16th or 17th of April if it is not delayed.
Hope this time we will have a few days in Colombo we arrive there next Tuesday, may leave again on Saturday or Sunday.
Old Bill TAYLOR is still going strong, we wished to be remembered to you. I am enclosing a snapshot I took of him, also one of the horses coming aboard and one of crowd on the wharf seeing us off.
Have had one or two quite decent rows with the old Chief lately - think the hot weather must affect his temper.
He is quite in the wrong of course.
I have had awfully little to do this voyage, even less than the last one.
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I will send a post card at the same time as this in case a long letter is delayed by the Censor, don't quite know whether we are allowed to write fully or not.
Hope you are keeping quite well through the hot weather and that you still have your old Pal with you. Please give her my love -don't suppose I shall get any letters this time either - perhaps some of the old ones will turn up.
If we should happen to go right on to England I will try and send you a cable through George.
Have you been doing some work with my electric iron, the Doctor and some of the engineers use it as well, it is a great success.
I must stop now.
With fondest love from
Your seafaring son
Raymond.
Pg. 25
My dear Mother,
Have got the chance of sending you a few lines, we are just about a week further on than the place I sent my last letter from - I managed to get ashore there to post it we were only in about twelve hours. I had about four hours ashore with the Doctor, so saw round a bit, we looked around the town, curio shops etc and drove about a mile out along the sea front to - - Hotel, an awfully swagger place, to lunch - of course we went in Rickshaws and drove back into town through the suburbs? which hum somewhat but are frightfully interesting.
We went ashore in the Company's launch in great style, there are no wharves, the ships all lie at anchor, the Doctor & I were about the only ones that were able to go, the others being busy, so there was much jealousie [sic] & back biting when I got back this seems a particular hobby of Scotch and English engineers, do not be
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afraid of me becoming English, & thank the Lord very often that I am a Colonial (as they call it). If they came to sea to travel and broaden their minds some of them who have been over ten years at it must have been horribly narrow to start with.
Please do not think from these remarks that I have been having rows or anything, most of them are awfully nice, and I quite enjoy little arguments sometimes with the others.
We have been having nice cool weather lately and very smooth sea, not a movement in the ship, we hope to be at our destination in about another week, think it will be the same as last.
I am sending this letter with the soldiers'.
All the men are going about with swollen arms, they have been vaccinated, poor devils. One man has appendicitis, he is about to be put ashore for treatment.
Everything is going on alright, I feel particularly well and happy and keen on my job, expect to be able to write you definate [sic] news in about a week.
Hoping you are well and happy Mother dear, with fondest love from
Your seafaring son
Raymond.
Pg. 27
Tuesday Mar 9th
My dear Mother,
Hope you received my last letter no. 25 & 26 from Aden, we were not allowed to give dates or place on destination, we did not go inside the harbour at Aden, just anchored outside for a couple of hours and away again. We are three days in the red sea today, and it is almost too cool for white uniforms on deck. We have had nice cool weather all the way this trip.
Enjoyed my trip ashore at Colombo very much, the people there are much nicer there than those at Alexandria or Port Said, the small boys are quite nice looking and clean. I got two white uniforms and two boilersuits there (much needed), measured at twelve and they brought them aboard finished at 5, pretty quick wasn't it.
We got a complete new crew of natives at Colombo. I was sorry to lose some of the old ones, I got quite to like them.
At Aden we saw these merchant cruisers, C. P. R. boats, one of them was kind enough to escort us some distance up the Red Sea. After leaving Colombo we came quite an unusual course, instead of going straight across to Aden we went for
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a couple of days in sight of the mainland of India and through the Lacadive Islands before we turned across.
Thursday 11 March
We arrived here at Suez this morning at 6am and came alongside the wharf where we are disembarking the horses.
Received two letters from you, one from Terrigal with New Year card and one from home just before you left, also two from Arthur and one from Bun written about the same time. It was quite exciting to get them even if it was old news.
I joined this ship six months ago tomorrow, doesn't seem that long? We are staying here till Sunday or Monday.
Friday 12 March
Have had a bit of a walk around ashore this afternoon, Port Tewfik [or Taufiq, later Suez] the mouth of the Canal where we are lying - the town of Suez is about three miles away, will try and go tomorrow afternoon. Everyone almost goes about here on donkeys (about 6 sizes too small for them) and sitting well back almost on the rudder. Am going to try and have a ride tomorrow afternoon. There is almost a free fight as to whose donkey you will

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ride, there are about twenty donkey boys waiting on the wharf, for you, when you get on they run behind and whack the poor little beast with long canes all the way -
It seems to be very like other Eastern towns, I am getting quite used to them now. I don't think we shall come back to Melbourne yet awhile but get troops from somewhere else, afraid I will not be able to say where before we leave.
Things seem very quiet here, you would hardly know there is a war on.
Have had a few rows this voyage but everything is calm and peaceful again now, they have cleared the air, I am feeling very well and quite satisfied with my job. Everything is going alright -
Hope Allen and Lib have been able to get a place near you and that you still have Aunt with you, also that you are keeping quite well yourself and not doing anything in the worrying line - do not worry if letters are irregular, I will write to you every chance but we may out of the mail track.
Good bye Mother dear
Fondest love from your wandering son
Raymond.
Pg. 30
Alexandria
17 March
My dear Mother,
When I wrote my last letter to you we were at Suez loading stores, etc, for an army to Persian Gulf or somewhere there, but when I arrived back from the Post Office after posting it they were unloading them again, the authorities had changed their minds, we were too long and too deep for the purpose, so we came on through the old canal and are back in our old place Alexandria again.
We arrived here yesterday and anchored right out in the Harbour and expect to be here a fortnight at least.
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Alexandria
March 17
My dear Mother,
The last letter I wrote to you was from Suez where we unloaded the horses and troops, we were going from there somewhere towards Persian Gulf as a shore trip, but, after they had been loading us with flour etc for about a day and a half, and I had posted your letter, the authorities changed their minds and took it all out again.
On Sunday 14th we left there and came through the Canal, we started about five in the afternoon and arrived at Port Said at 9 next morning so did not see much of it by daylight, did not see any of the places where they have been scrapping.
We left Port Said the same afternoon after coaling etc. and came round to our old place Alexandria again. We arrived here yesterday morning and anchored out in the Harbour where we expect to be about a fortnight at least. Have not been ashore yet, hope to go tomorrow afternoon.
Am afraid Mother dear, you must resign yourself to my being away a good deal
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longer this voyage, am afraid the old Pera does not intend going back to Australia for a while. The Australian Stewards etc. have been sent back from Port Said. I do not know where we shall be going, hope it may be where I can get to see Aunt.
Have been getting one or two old letters, have not received Ties, or Aunt Millies [sic] letter yet, had a nice one from Dorothy. the photo has not turned up either. I was telling you of the donkeys in Suez, I had a ride the day before we left, it was good sport, he second Marconi who accompanied me, is about 6'2", he had a donkey much smaller than mine, it just took him where it wanted to go, regardless of steering, down back lanes and round unexpected corners.
You could address letters here, I think we shall be backwards and forwards here to somewhere or other.
Thursday 18th
I intended writing a much longer letter but have just got the chance of going ashore so will go and post it, and will be able to write again soon.
Hope you are keeping well and happy,
fondest love to my own dear Mother and all at home.
Your loving son Raymond.
Alexandria
Sunday 21 March
My dear Mother
My last letter to you, last Thursday, was cut off in somewhat a sudden manner - I got a chance of going ashore and thought it might catch an earlier mail so I posted it.
This morning we came up into the inner harbour, much handier to go ashore. Where we were before, you had to go in an Arab sailing boat which takes an hour each way.
I have been working on day work which is 7am to 4pm so by the time you are cleaned up it is a bit late to go ashore but have been twice so far. Frank Campbell's boat is anchored not far from us, I went over there on Friday night and we had a wander round on Shore last night, together. He has an awfully nice crowd of engineers on his ship, and is very comfortable.
We expect to be here for about another week at least but do not know where we shall be going after that - not Australia anyway.
Afraid I cannot write very interesting letters, the things that would be interesting might upset the censor and cause the letter to be stopped so will refrain.
I am quite good friends with all the Engineers again now, all the rows have quite blown over.
We are having simply beautiful weather here now, nice warm days and cool nights, like old Sydney. It's Easter, hope everything is going on well at home and that you are keeping well and happy and not worrying about this wandering son of yours.
I expect you will get this letter with the last one as I believe I missed last week's mail with it, do not worry if my letters are irregular I will write every chance I get, but we may go to some outlandish places, where I would not be able to.
My cabin mate is a good old sort, we get on better than ever together. He has asked me to go and stay at his house if we go to London.
I must stop now, there is really no news. Please give my love to all my brothers and sisters,
with lots and lots to my own dear Mother
from your loving son
Raymond.

Alexandria
Sunday 28th March
My dear Mother,
This morning there was great excitement on board, we had word that there was a bag of letters on shore for us, so they sent for them. We were playing cricket down the hold when they came. There was a scatter up to the deck when we heard the call, I, with my usual luck, got six,mtwo from you and a long letter and two postcards from Mittagong. Also one from Bun, Ethel, Alice and Bert. It was very nice to get them - the ones from Alice, Ethel and Bert, were old one [sic], I mean written before I was home.
Everything is going on well with us here, have got a good deal of work on hand, there are crowds of other ships, transports, hospital ships etc, coming and going. We do not know yet when we are leaving and where to - may not go for quite a while yet - it is beautiful cool weather and really quite the fashionable thing wintering in Egypt.
This afternoon I am going ashore and out for a drive with the assistant wireless man, an awfully nice fellow, he is another Australian who joined the ship when I did. We are going out into the suburbs.
I was glad to get Aunt's address, I think I shall write to her from here.
Hope old Ping gets quite well, you said in your letter he was better.
I have not had the chance of some many [sic] photos this voyage, but may be able to send you some next week.
Tomorrow night I am going to visit a P&O hospital Ship with the 2nd engineer from here, she is lying quite close to us, she has been in Boulogne and had hundreds of patients for England but only three of them have died.
Hope you have managed to get a decent "fairy" and that you are keeping well and happy.
Good bye Mother dear
Fondest love from your wandering son
Raymond.
Alexandria
My dear Mother,
Another week has passed and we are still here with no immediate prospect of moving, everyone is anxious to get on the move again.
Last Sunday I had a decent trip on shore with the 2nd Marconi, we hired a guide and took a gharry for the afternoon, drove out through the native quarter to the catacombs, paid our kubs [sic] and went down below amongst the bones etc. They are caves cut out of the solid rock and most of them beautifully carved - we then drove along the bank of the Canal de Mahmoudieh which runs from here over to the Nile, it is full of weird arab dhows and arab huts along the banks, a proper old world place. Then we went to the gardens, had coffee, Turkish, at an open air cafe, and wandered round admiring flowers, monkeys etc for an hour. They are really fine gardens, you could almost compare them with ours in Sydney - but best of all was the Museum, they have the most interesting old mummies and pottery and pictures and carvings and old muck of that kind. I had to be put out at closing time and intend going again.
Saturday April 3rd
Yesterday at dinner time the 4th officer, Marconi and I arranged to go to Cairo. I got leave for a couple of days, and we were going today for Easter Sunday and Monday, but yesterday afternoon we got orders to come alongside the wharf for more troops so it is all off, anyway it will be nice to be on the move again.
I was aboard a hospital ship the other night and saw all over her, it was very interesting, everything so nice and clean and plenty of room everywhere.
Things are going on very nicely on board here, plenty of interesting happening but I will have to save news till I get back to my dear old home again. Letters may be very irregular after this, for a while, but keep on smiling Mother dear,
With fondest love from your loving son
Raymond
My love to all my brothers and sisters and friends.
Mudross
Sat 15 May
My dear Mother,
Since Easter Saturday when I wrote my last letter we have carrying troops and letters have been under strict censership [sic] so have only been able to send you a couple of post cards. We have been having a most interesting and exciting time.
However will start and tell you all our doings in this letter and post it when we get back to a port.
On Easter Sunday we went alongside the wharf at Alexandria and took on board an Indian Mountain Battery consisting of six guns, two hundred Mules and about four hundred Indians. The guns were distributed about on our upper deck, it made this old tub look quite war like. The same night at 9 o'clock we left Alexandria under "Sealed Orders". Next morning found we were bound for Lemnos, one of the Grecian Islands only about forty miles from the mouth of the Dardanelles. We arrived there on the Wednesday morning and anchored in the harbour. We stayed there seventeen days. There was always plenty to see and do, Queen Elizabeth and often big warships used to be coming in very often. Lizzie is a wonderful ship, she has fifteen inch guns, and is an enormous size, more like a great floating fort than a ship. Also, there were troop ships arriving every day, some of the troops encamped on shore and some used to practice disembarking, taking horses and guns ashore and marching about the Island.
We engineers used to go out rowing in one of the Ship's boats very often, land and wander over the place, watch the troops and walk through the villages. The people are very nice and clean looking, a great improvement on the Egyptians.
Every hundred yards or so there is a donkey tied up to a peg in the ground, who makes a most horrible noise if you go anywhere near him, his pal on the next beat then chimes in till you have donkeys braying for miles.
We took about seventy donkeys and five donkey-boys on there to carry stores there for the troops, poor little beggars are only as big as large dogs but they put a load big enough for a large draught horse on the poor little chap, when you think he must surely break in halves, the driver climbs up on top and away they go.
On Saturday 24th April we heaved up the anchor and with about a dozen other ships we made for Capa Life, ten miles north of the mouth of the Dardanelles. I went to sleep and wakened at five with the noise of big guns blazing, you can imagine what a row it was when it wakened me at that hour. I skooted [sic] up on deck in my pyjamas and found we were lying about five miles off the shore, two or three ships closer in we're landing Our Australians, in torpedo boats, tugs, trawlers, life boats etc, the warships quite closeto us were shelling the hills above the beach, there were Turkish batteries on the hills firing down on our troops landing but our ships kept them pretty busy.
The poor fellows lading had a very hot time, the Turks were waiting for them on the beach, but they rushed right through the Turks and captured trench after trench at the point of the bayonet.
Some big shells started plopping into the water not far from us about breakfast time, from some guns over the hills, so we moved a little. At noon we went close in and disembarked some of our troops.
At night we went about ten miles away and anchored and came back next morning. Our men (Australians) have by all accounts done marvelously well but you will know by the newspapers long before you get this letter.
We stayed about five miles offshore, till Wednesday 12th, sixteen days. All that time you could hear rifle and machine gun fire on shore and our ships firing onto the hills behind - quite a number of times shells began to fall close to us and we altered or position a bit, of course there was quite a lot of ships besides this old barge. We only saw one ship struck, two shells dropped on her deck, but did not do very much damage, she was a collier.
On Sunday 2nd May just at nightfall about half a dozen battleships and cruisers formed up into a crescent just in front of us (one ship less than a quarter of a mile away). At a given signal they all began firing at once at the hills at the back of our camp, a wonderful sight to see the flash from the guns and the bursting shells all over the hills, and a simply awful row.
Old Lizzie used to wander up, fire one or two 15 guns (which rattled everything on our ship), her target was miles away inland somewhere, then sail away again. Later on you would volumes [sic] of smoke coming up inland, she had hit something: I wouldn't be a Turk for a good deal.
Last Wednesday May 12th we got orders to proceed to Lemnos again, where we arrived next morning, and where I received some very welcome letters from you and Bun, and last voyage one from Bert. Yours were dated 2nd Feb, 21st Feb and 9th March and Bun's these 22nd Feb and 1st & 8th March - it was indeed nice to get them. I think we may get them pretty regularly now as we expect to be about these parts. Allynta must have enjoyed her beano with such a lot of her pals.
Pity Allen and Lib could not get a cottage near us still, as you say, it is much better than Mosman. I am glad you still have Aunt Nellie with you. I would like to be alongside you now telling the yarn, instead of sitting in this cabin writing it.
This morning we got orders rather unexpectedly to proceed to Alexandria (today is Saturday 15th May) and we expect to get there next Monday night, when I shall post this letter and perhaps get some from you, I am glad you are writing on cancer and not thinking (after last voyage) that it is useless.
The man I introduced you to in Newcastle (he was with the Doctor) in the Naval Reserve and has been appointed to one of the Destroyers here.
I have not been able to find any of the people we know amongst the Australian troops.
Things are going quite pleasantly on board now.

Alexandria
Friday 21 May
My dear Mother,
The letter enclosed with this is a duplicate almost - of one I sent last week from here, dated 16th or 17th May. You aught to get it before this one. But as I have the chance of sending one today by a man that is going t o Melbourne by the P&O mail next week, I will enclose it in case the other is delayed by censer [sic].
We are lying in the harbour here, we have been taking in lots of stores and are going to get a big supply of water and coal but do not know where we shall go then. We expect to be a fortnight at least here before we go anywhere, perhaps longer.
London I am afraid is one of the most unlikely places, but "you never know your luck", especially my luck. Marseilles is quite possible however.
Have not had any word so far from Aunt Gages since we have been here (three days) I have been lucky enough to receive there letters from you, two from Bun and one from Arthur. Yours were dated 16th and 22nd March and Easter Monday and Bun's and Arthur's about same.
I think Arthur can get someone more worthy of him than Elizabeth, I would like to be home to help you in the matter, but I don't think there would be much need for us in his case, not like the trouble and worry we are having with Bun.
Very glad to hear, from Arthur and Bun, that you are well and "getting about as usual".
It is indeed nice to be getting news of you and of home things, I have not received any letters from anyone written after I left this voyage, nor any of the Christmas letters.
The Chief Engineer told me yesterday that if I particularly wanted to go back to Sydney he could get me transferred and get someone else but I think I will hang on a bit longer in hopes of getting to England even if I have to leave the P&O Company and pay my own fare back to Sydney from there. We are getting 15% per month on our pay from 1st January "war bonus". That will make my stipend £11.10 a month, so am getting up a decent amount.
Of course the ship may come out to Australia from here, we don't know. If you think it is time I was coming home again just write and say so and I will come.
It is beautiful warm weather here now, we go in swimming every day. We are anchored out in the Harbour and we either go out rowing in the ship's boats and swim off her, or first jump in from the gangway down the ship's side. There are no sharks anywhere in the Mediterranean so you can just go in and swim where you like.
You must have enjoyed your Easter having Howard and Connie as well as Bun and Arthur with you.
I will send you one or two snapshots in this, I will write on the back what they are, the Alexandria ones were taken just before Easter, before we left for the Dardanelles.
Old "Bill" my cabin mate, wishes to be remembered to you, the last two letters I have forgotten to put this in. He is a fine old chap.
Expect to be able to send you another letter or so from here, as we may be some time. I have not been on shore yet, this morning we came into the inner harbour, so will go ashore tomorrow and Sunday. The Sultan and all his retinue will arrive tomorrow from Cairo and live in the palace you can see from one of my snapshots. There are crowds of ships here now waiting for orders, and others coming and going with troops, great big Atlantic ones bigger than any we see in Australia.
There are also four or five hospital ships bringing wounded from Dardanelles to hospital here.
It was good being offered so much money for Garry Linch, it is nice to know you can make a little on your bargain if you want to, any time.
I must stop now Mother dear, please give my love to all my brothers and sisters and Aunt Nellie etc etc.
With an extra large share for yourself
From your loving son Raymond

Alexandria
Tuesday
My dear Mother,
In the last letter we were just leaving here for Lemnos, we have been away twelve days. Have not seen any of the fighting this time. We transferred our troops onto small steamers at Lemnos, stayed a week and took on board some men to be brought back.

Approaching Alexandria
Monday 7th June
My dear Mother,
Tomorrow morning we expect to arrive back at Alexandria again, in time I hoot o catch the Australian mail, with this.
We have not seen any fighting this time. We left Alexandria May 27 (when I sent my last letter to you) and proceeded to Lemnos with Indian troops and mules, arrived the on May 30th and the next day our troops were taken off in a small steamer. We stayed there a week and now we are going back to Alexandria again.
I have been on watch with the 4th Engineer, owing to one of the juniors being ill and have had a bit more work in my own department lately.
I heard by letter that Bert's cousin is Doctor on of the the [sic] P&O Hospital ships, as she was at Lemnos, and got the Ship's boat and went over - but did not see him, he has been transported to another ship.
I wrote to Aunt Gages when we were in Alexandria before and aught to get an answer soon. There is always a chance of going to Marseilles.
As usual we have no idea how long we may be staying in Alexandria, or where to next.
London seems as far off as ever, we had a lot of stores sent out to us here so the Authorities evidently don't expect to send us home.
Did I tell you about seeing Fred Pollock? Last time we were in Alexandria his ship was lying at the wharf next to us for a night so he came over to see me. He is fourth on one of the Captured German ships and has been lucky enough to have had two months in London and a few days in Marseilles and Malta. We had a fine old yarn, may perhaps see him again this time.
Hope to get a letter from you in a day or two with some home news, it seems much longer than it really is, since I was home. Hope you are keeping well and happy and still have Aunt with you. Suppose you got my cable alright.
Alexandria, 8th June
Arrived this morning and anchored waiting for a berth, will stop now and try and get this ashore in time for the mail. I do hope you are getting my letters alright.
Good bye Mother dear,
Fondest love to yourself and all at home
From your wandering son
Raymond

Alexandria
Tuesday 8th
PS.
I have just received some letters from you as I expected - and the cable with the glorious news of my new niece's arrival. Great sport. I would like to have been at home and put in my application as God father, just about my turn I think. I had three letters from you dated 13th, 19th and 20th of April. One from Bun written to Fremantle and one from Dorothy D'Arcy-Irvine. It was nice to get your letters and hear of your good health and that you are not worrying. Do not worry for a minute that I will want to stay at sea, I don't think I was exactly a wanderer when you had me at home (apart from numerous short journeys) and I am about four times fonder of home now than I ever was before. I dare say George will be able to find me a job or I may go in for the church.
I am very sorry to hear of Will's illness, hope he has been well long ago. Poor Aunt, doesn't she have a rough time.
Old Bill and I are still the best of pals, he is saving hard to bring his family out to Australia - shows his sence [sic].
Have not had any letters from E. yet, I think she must have forgotten me. I will I hope be able to send you another letter next week, very glad you are receiving mine and a bit more than glad to be getting yours so regularly.
- Raymond.

Alexandria
14th May [should be June, corrected in a later letter]
My dear Mother,
We have anchored out in the harbour here now and may be here some time but of course we don't know anything as usual. It is very hot weather here, not at all nice, but we get letters and have plenty of swimming so it might be worse, and we are in hopes of going on to England.
Frank Campbell called for me after lunch and we went ashore together last Saturday. We went out into the suburbs in a tram to the Indian Hospital, but it is really too hot to go ashore.
Frank came aboard tonight with the news that they are sailing for England, they are lucky, he thinks of going into a munition factory for a while.
I am glad you have such a nice fairy and one that you can talk to a bit and that she is fond of old Ping. I had a letter from her namesake last week.
Have been to church here one night, it seemed quite nice to have a proper Church of England service in a place like this where there seems so few English people except soldiers.
It was indeed nice to give the 3rd Contingent such a fine send off, they deserve it. The things we have seen them do in the Dardanelles makes you proud of being an Australian.
There are men who have been at the front (Dardanelles) and sent back for wounds or sickness. They desert and stow away on ships that are going back, to have another cut at the Turks. Five of them stowed away on this ship the last time we went to Lemnos.
I am glad you enjoyed Ruby Bracegirdle's wedding - Campbell our third officer knows them both very well, I told him you had been and what a happy wedding it was.
Hope Lib's baby is doing alright, what are they going to call her?
The Third Contingent are arriving here now. Everything is going on alright aboard but it is getting very monotonous, not the least chance of my staying at sea.
I must stop now Mother dear, my love to all at home with a large share for yourself.
From your loving son
Raymond

Alexandria
20th June
My dear Mother,
This week I have received two letters from you, May 2nd & 7th, and one from Arthur, May 10th. You sent two newspaper photos of Eric Goldring and Cedric Brodziak. Of course I know them very well especially Cedric, hope they are quite well again. I may have had a chance of seeing them if I had known when we came back from Dardanelles ourselves.
Although we have been amongst so many Australian troops and I have made enquiries, have not discovered any of the ones we know.
I have had an answer to my letter to Aunt from Arles saying that they are going back to Epinal [NE France] again so don't suppose there will be much chance of my seeing her.
We are still lying here in Alexandria and have had no sailing orders, do not know whether we are going on to England or if we are coming back to Australia, there are lots of chips that have been with us going on home and some going to Australia. We should know our fate soon now.
This morning I went over to see Fred Pollock - he has had no letters for a good while, he did not know of Less going into camp, his ship is going to the Dardanelles again.
We have been having some very hot weather this week, one morning it was somewhere about 115 degrees, hottest day they have had even here, for years and years. The engine room was the coolest place. I went ashore one day and out to see our boilermaker who is in hospital, poor chap.
Yesterday I went ashore with the 5th and went for a drive out to the Khedries Gardens, they are beautifully green and cool now, the trees meet overhead along most of the avenues.
I am enclosing a group taken by one of the engineers when we were out for our usual afternoon row and swim, we are sitting on the breakwater.
Old Bill and I are still as good pals as ever and everything is going on smoothly and pleasantly, he wishes to be remembered to you.
Hoping you are keeping well and that everything at home is satisfactory.
Afraid I have no more news this mail so will stop.
With fondest love to yourself and all at home
From your wandering son
Raymond

Alexandria
Sunday 27th June
My dear Mother,
Another week has passed and we are still lying here, we are going into dock tomorrow to be painted, but have no idea if we shall go away afterwards or not.
I have had no letters this week but hope to have some next, they have had no English mail on board for about a month.
In my letter written about fortnight ago no. 51 & 52 I made a mistake in the date putting May instead of June, have just noticed it.
I do hope you are getting my letters, I have written every day since May 15th only missing one week between May 21st and June 7th when we were at Lemnos for the second time.
It has not been quite so hot this week but we still go swimming every afternoon about 5, and enjoy it.
I was out at one of the camps yesterday afternoon, fellow that have been six weeks at the Dardanelles in the the thick of it, digging trenches, they are camped now right on the beach here with the waves breaking a few yards from their tents. They say their present position compares very favourably with heaven after the Dardanelles. I think they are right from what we saw of it - I had no desire whatsoever to land there myself.
Our men do look brown and healthy, you can hardly tell them from the Indians when they are in the surf together.
Even the superior Englishmen on board here have altered their opinions of Australians since the landing at Gaba Tepe.
If you can find out what regiment Jack Buchanan Wardens and Jacksons etc are in or anyone else we know you might tell me as I might have a chance of finding them some time if I know where (I mean what regiment) they are in.
Hope you are keeping well and happy and they everything is well with those at home.
Don’t worry about me in the least I am really too comfortable. I often wish I had joined the engineers or something - I seem to be doing so little here when others fellows I know are doing so much. There is a splendid account of the landing at Gaba Tepe and pictures in the Illustrated London News June 5th.
I will stop now Mother dear will be most likely to write next mail again.
With fondest love to yourself and all at home
From your loving son Raymond

Alexandria
30th June
My dear Mother,
My last letter was written only three days ago, but as we have orders to sail tomorrow to Lemnos with troops I am writing again.
We do not expect to be away long but of course one never knows at this game so you will understand if you do not get letters. I believe there were only three mails a month to Australia now anyway.
It is a fortnight since I had any but expect some tomorrow before we sail.
It will be nice to get away to sea for a while after this hot place - we have been in dry dock the last two days painting etc. Monday night I went into town with the 5th and went to a sort of circus.
Things are going along in quite a friendly manner now. Old Bill and I are of course the very best of pals.
I am enclosing two little snapshots the 6th took, one of the 4th cutting my hair and the other was taken on our way out to one of the military camps last Saturday. You can see the horse picketed in the distance.
July 2nd
We did not come alongside the wharf yesterday as expected but have come today and expect to sail today from here. Have not received any letters yet but there were some in my teacup at breakfast so have hopes.
I am anxious to get letters to hear about the new niece, what she is like and all the rest of it. There does not seem much chance of the ship coming out to Australia, expect we will be about with troops till the war finishes. We carry Indians mostly now - I don’t like them - to be vulgar, they are too lowsy!
I am keeping extremely well and have a bit more to occupy my working hours, being on watch pretty often with the fourth engineer.
Hoping you are keeping well and happy Mother dear, don’t worry about your
Loving son Raymond
My love to all at home and enquiring friends.

NOT POSTED
July 12th
My dear Mother,
In my last letter July 2nd we were just leaving Alexandria for Lemnos.
We went there and discharged our troops, and we’re waiting for orders to proceed back to Alexandria, instead of which we got a welcome surprise. Receiving orders to proceed to Malta for coal and onto Gibraltar for England. We don’t know yet what port in England or what we are going for or how long we are to be there.
Anyway it is a very welcome change and I will see three new ports at least. We may be going home for. More troops and come back to Alexandria or the ship may be altered to carry cargo - in that case they will not want me. I think I should like to stay in England for a while and work, perhaps in a munition factory or something of that kind.
If you can get along without me a bit longer - it is ten months today since I signed on - or there may some chance of a good job in the Electrical line at home where I could get some experience and maybe see a little of England at the same time.
Thanks you for the newspaper. I received it first as we were leaving Alexandria. It was very nice to get it, you did do splendidly over that Belgian day imagine getting all that money for the poor beggars. I passed it onto other Australians and to the Captain whose wife is one, she lives at Bathurst.
It will be about the nicest time to be in England now, summer, you can imagine how excited everyone is at the prospect.
We expect to arrive at Malta tomorrow when I will try and get this posted, will try and write you again from Gibraltar but may not be able till we get to England.
Hope you are still keeping well and still have Aunt Nellie with you, give her my love please.

Port Said
17 July
My dear Mother,
We are on our way out to Melbourne and probably arrive there not long after you get this. It is all very sudden and unexpected, in my last letter July 2nd we were leaving Alexandria for Lemnos.
We went there with troops and after disembarking them into a smaller ship we got orders to proceed to Malta for coal and on to Gibraltar for England.
Of course everyone was very excited. We made full speed for Malta, arrived there 15th at 11 in the morning. As soon as we got in the harbour we had fresh orders to proceed to Port Said and Australia at 5pm.
I managed to get ashore for a couple of hours, but of course could not see very much in that time. It is a frightfully interesting place, very much more so than Alexandria.
Our Doctor lives there, he managed to see people for one hour.
I don’t know if we are coming out for troops or if the ship is finished with, in that case I will be passed out otherwise we will see what you and the family council say about me making another voyage.
We will no doubt make Melbourne our port and May do as we did last time in going on for coal, anyway I will ring up when we get to Melbourne or May send you a marconi-gram before that, if the Captain will allow it.
It will be lovely if I can get home again and see you and everyone, I am excited now and it is about five weeks off.
Expect will get very hot weather in the Red Sea, and rough further down but who cares!
Hope you still have Aunt Nellie with you and that you are both well and happy - you ought to take up skating in the mornings - taking Aunt Sarah with you of course, as Chaperon.
Expecting shall get some letters here before we leave, sent over from Alexandria.
July 16
Have just received 10 letters - four from you May 17th & 31st & June 8th-15th. Four from Bun about some dates and 1 from Ethel & Bert.
It was a treat to get such a lot of news at once. I am awfully sorry to hear about poor old Ken. He was evidently right in the thick of it. Nice to hear that you are well and not worrying, and particulars of little June. She must be a wonder if you can pick out features when she is only a few weeks old.
Bert talks of finishing his exams quickly and going to the wars, and Less gone, everybody is going, it seems.
Please give my love to Aunt Nellie. I cannot realise that I am coming home and will perhaps see you. If we only go to Melbourne and I am doing another voyage I will do my best to get some time off and come home for a little.
I must stop nowMother dear, my love etc to enquiring friends.
(How lovely to be able to Pup[?])
Hoping to see you all soon
With fondest love from
Your loving son
Raymond

At sea
Monday 15th August
My dear Mother,
Two days ago we received orders by wireless from Perth to go to Port Pirie instead of Melbourne. Port Pirie is not far from Adelaide and is the Port of Broken Hill, so expect we will load metal of some sort as ballast instead of the stuff we have now and go on to Melbourne afterwards, it should take nearly a fortnight to do this.
We don’t know yet whether we taking horses, troops or frozen cargo.
Hope you got my wireless safely. I was not allowed to say what Port we were going to or when we should be there. My letter from Port Said you ought to get this week, a few days before this one, although it was written a month ago.
We arrived at Port Said in the morning and did not leave till late at night as it was Saturday was able to have an afternoon ashore without much growling - at Suez we picked up about thirty grooms that brought some horses from Australia. We are taking them out again. We had it very hot in the Red Sea and right down past Colombo. We had some rough weather part of the time in the monsoon, spray coming right over the ship, even down the engine room skylight. We had it even rougher last week coming round Cape Leeuwin in Western Australia - everything on the breakfast table jumped the fiddles and wandered on to one corner, what a mess!
We called into Colombo for water and were there all day and night. I went ashore with three more of the engineers but could not do much as neither of us had more than a few shillings - and could not get any more - in fact after buying a few curios we had not enough to have dinner ashore and had to come aboard again.
Our Doctor left in Colombo, he was granted leave when we got there so went back to Malta in the Mongolia. I am very sorry he has left, he was almost my best pal on board.
Hope you are still keeping well and are not feeling the cold, it is a treat to us to get cold weather again, we have been in summer uniform for almost six months. Hope Aunt Nellie is well and still keeping you company. Please give her my love.
I do hope I will be able to get home, we would have some fine old yarns, such lots of things I have to tell you after this voyage.
I am on the right side of the old man now so will be able to get leave if possible.
Wednesday 18th
We arrived here at Port Pirie this morning and have just been on shore and have sent you a telegram. We expect to be here more than a week at least and then go on to Melbourne. I have written to Bun by this mail. We have just heard of the sinking of the Royal Edward - what a loss - she left Moudros when we did and was lying close to us in Malta. She was evidently caught going back there with troops.
Hope the new niece is getting on alright, I have a bonnet and bib for it from Malta but don’t tell Lib.
I must stop now and send this to be posted as I have to go on watch. Will write soon again of course.
With fondest love to my own dear Mother
Your loving son Raymond.
Old Bill sends kind regards.

Port Pirie
Monday 23rd Aug
My dear Mother,
Your letter arrived this morning, it was indeed lovely to get one from you and to hear you are well. I had one from Allen who confirms this also. Imagine the “kid” a godfather.
We expect to be here at least a week longer before going on to Melbourne. There is a possibility of going on to dear old Sydney and perhaps Brisbane as we expect to get the cold storage hold underway again and take frozen meat as well as troops.
This will please Old Bill Taylor as it will give him a decent amount of work and be almost a certainty of the ship going on to England next time.
What a dreadful thing about Alex Milne, poor Mabel, I feel sorry indeed for her, it would be a frightful blow.
The last letter I had from you was in Port Said and was written June 17th so you see there would be a good few pass me on our way out.
There is a rumour that the Clan McTavish is coming here in a few days, if so I will see Tom. I think it was in Alexandria when we were there but I did not recognise it as his ship.
Hope Aunt Nellie is coming back to you again.
This is not a bad little place, people all very friendly. They come down aboard and ask to look at her and of course everyone is very interested in yarns of the landing on Gaba Tepe.
The chief went for a walk the other afternoon and came back quite pleased. Everyone he met said good day to him. Like Mt Kembla.
I am glad you caught Ethel in time about sending me those sweets. They would have been wasted on the desert air right enough.
It will be fine if I can get home and see you and all my friends and so much nicer if the ship goes to Sydney as I would be able to be on board a bit and look after my job and not be under a complements to some of the other engineers who would have to do it for me.
I must stop now, will write soon again with love to all at home besides yourself
From your loving son Raymond.

Port Pirie
Thursday 26th
My dear Mother,
Thank you for your nice long letter of Monday 23rd.
Sorry you are losing your nice fairy, she seems to have been just the sort for you.
We expect to be here until about next Monday, perhaps longer before going on to Melbourne. We have had no news yet of our movements after we have gone to Melbourne, don’t suppose we shall know till we get there.
I had a letter from Ethel yesterday, she is going to send the candy on here to me.
I have some few things besides the baby’s bonnet to bring home but will not post them from here as it is such a small place they might be opened.
Thanks you very much for the fine tie, I like it very much indeed and also for mail. Splashes and souvenir, there is a photo in the mail of the Indian Mountain battery that we had on this ship and landed on that first morning. They gave the Australians a bit of help. Their English officers were about the nicest men I have ever come across.
I have been wondering if you have received a long letter and a lot of photos, I sent them by a man that was coming out to Melbourne, it was mostly an account of our doings at the Dardanelles. I sent a duplicate by post at the same time without photos. Did you get them, they were dated about 17th and 21st May.
All my pals seem to have enlisted and have gone away or are going. Often wish I had enlisted myself instead of this, you would be amongst your own pals or at any rate Australians. My experience of Englishmen so far has not been the happiest.
Am glad to hear by your letter that Aunt Sarah is going strong, please give her my love when you see her again. Imagine Betty having a little girl, it will be properly brought up.
I hope Aunt Nellie is coming back to stay with you, hope you will be able to get a fairy.
Mr Taylor says to thank you for remembrances and sends his own.
I must stop for tonight Mother dear
Fondest love from your loving son
Raymond

Port Pirie
Tuesday 31st [July]
My dear Mother,
We are still at Port Pirie, not leaving now until Thursday evening or Friday. Then are so scarce here to load the lead that we are delayed. Hope to be able to ring you up about next Monday from Melbourne. It would be between 7 and nine in the evening.
No news yet if we are going to Sydney - must hope for the best.
I went to a small dance last Sunday night and another last night - rather a good time. It is not exactly high-class (Gents 1/6 ladies?) but the girls dance extremely well and it is a fine floor. I distinguished myself by sitting down flat three times in the first set of dances.
There is nothing else to do here except Pictures and the halls are very cold.
Received your letter card on Saturday, do not expect any more till we get to Melbourne as you think we had left here.
Ethel’s candy arrived today, it is like petrified marmalade, dry fine indeed (of course) sez you.
Have had some more rows with the 2hd, 3rd & 4th engineers, they generally start in the mess room by them running down Australians. On Sunday I got annoyed and told my opinion of them personally, it was extremely candid and by no means complimentary - but very true.
I may see Tom D’Arcy Frome if we do not leave till Friday as his ship is expected on Thursday. Dorothy wrote to me.
It is not a very pleasant place where we are lying now, you get half choked by sulphur fumes from the smelting works and there is a Japanese cargo ship which hums somewhat.
Afraid I have no news so will say good by for a few days - I can hardly realise we are so close to home again.
Fondest love from
Your loving son
Raymond

11-11-15
Red Sea
My dear Mother
Suppose you will be wondering what on earth has become of this wandering son of yours as it will be a long time before you get this letter. I was going to to send you a wireless before losing touch with Australia, but this voyage no one was allowed send messages.
You aught to get this before Christmas so I want to wish you and Aunt and all at home a happy time and a bright new year.
We are going up the Red Sea now and expect to get to Suez in a couple more days. Since leaving Sydney we have not called anywhere, a whole month without stopping once.
I am quite my self again and “a little bit more “ feeling splendid. I did not do much for a few days after that have been going my old pace the last week I have been on watch for the main engines expect will be doing this all the time now.
Things have been much more pleasant this voyage. We have an awfully nice lot of troops, much pleasanter with the engineers too, so far in fact have not had a single row.
Except for a few days in the Bight we have had very good weather, it nearly as hot as last time. Much pleasanter too, not carrying horses. We have had three Church Parades conducted by the Captain. I attended the first two but could not the last as I was on watch. The troops have the piano on deck and have a good deal of music in the evenings.
Crossing the line they had a splendid ceremony, all those that had not been across before had to attend the Court of King Neptune where they had to undergo various ordeals finishing up by ducking thoroughly in a big canvas bath.
As usual we do not know where we are going or what we are going to do, usual thing will apply to letters, you are not to worry if they are irregular as you know by this time I write every chance I get to you.
I do trust that you and Aunt are keeping well and happy, suppose Allen, Lib and my wonderful niece are staying with you.
We had a fine send off from Sydney this time, a ferry boat brought the troops down to us and there were quite crowds of motor boats, these had the usual paper ribbons for the troops to hold.
The Governor General came aboard and did a slight speech, the Dean or the Archbishop or something also appeared of course. I was watching home with telescope and saw you waving from the front steps as we went out.
Aboard I have no more news now but will be almost sure to be able to send you another letter next mail.
Old Bill is very upset he did not see you before we went that day you and Aunt were aboard, he thought I would bring you forward to his engine room. He wishes to be remembered to you.
Good bye for a week or so
Fondest love to my own dear Mother
And all at home
Your loving son
Raymond

At sea
Nov 27
My dear Mother
You will be glad to hear we are all going to have our wish at last and go to London. We are crossing the Bay of Biscay now on our way there and expect to arrive in two or three days.
We are having fairly rough weather now and it is getting extremely cold. I am afraid I am not going to fall in love with their climate over there.
Of course I have no idea how long we are going to stay there or what we are doing next. I will try and find Miss Hamilton first and see as much as I can in the time, of London. Can hardly realise yet we are really nearly there, but I guess I wish it were summer time.
Hope you got my letter and handkerchief from Port Said. We were only there a few hours and no one allowed off the ship. Had to give your letter to a man that came aboard selling things.
Will finish this when we get in to London.
London Dec 2nd
Arrived here yesterday. I went ashore in afternoon and evening to see the sights with Marconi II and McTupman. It is not a bad little village but everything is so very dark and it is extremely cold. The docks are about twelve miles out of London. Coming back last night we got the wrong train and had over an hours walk to get to the ship.
I do hope we will stay here some time so that I can see round a bit , we don’t know yet where we are going next. I may be transferred to another ship.
Hope you are keeping well and that things are going on alright at home. Hope you shall have your old Pal with you.
May be able to give you more news next mail.
With fondest love to all at home
and your dear self.
From your wandering son
Raymond.

London
9th Dec ‘15
My dear Mother,
Your very nice letter dated 17th Oct. written a few days after we left, arrived here yesterday. How nice of you to go down to Watsons Bay to see us pass. I wish I had known, I saw someone waving from the verandah that I thought was you. I was on deck with Currie until we got outside the Heads and remember seeing people on the rocks waving, but I thought they were soldiers friends.
Have not seen very much of London yet, it is dark just after four o’clock and I have not had much chance to get up in daylight into the city. Last weekend from Saturday till Monday morning. Currie and I went into town and stayed at an Hotel. On Sunday we went to morning service in St Paul’s Cathedral, walked to Horse Guards and saw captured guns, torpedoes etc. then we went and had a look at Buckingham Palace. In the afternoon we went to to two Art Galleries and the evening service at Westminster Abbey. The floor there as well as the walls is of stone and there are great marble monuments every few minutes so you can imagine how cold it was. It certainly is a beastly climate over here just now. It rains a few hours every day and when it isn’t raining it is blowing a bitterly cold wind. However that is the only thing to complain about so far.
I went out and found where Miss Hamilton was the other night, it found that she has left and gone to hang out at Oxford, do not think will be able to go so far.
Yesterday I got an afternoon off and went out to Finchley to see Arthur’s friends the Turpin. They gave me a very warm welcome indeed. Arrther in time for afternoon tea at which there was about four English old maids and an American lady, as well as Mrs Turpin and her Ma-in-law. I handed around tea and grub in my best manner and survived sufficiently to stay for supper and have a good yarn with Mr Turpin, who is going to show me round London.
They quite thought Arthur would have been married and were awfully pleased that thing had been broken off. They have invited me for the week end but do not think I will be able to go as we expect to go into dry dock on Saturday. I think we shall at least another fortnight here. I do not think I will be put onto another ship yet awhile anyway. Mr Leslie (Superintendent) said that I was doing as much here for the country as anywhere else and as it is an Australian transport would perhaps better stay as I spoke the language “out there”.
Should not be surprised if we went out home again within the next few months, but of course we don’t know. It seems to me, also,like a dream that last visit home. I have been in splendid health ever since.
I do trust that you have also, and that you still have your dear old Pal with you and are not worrying.
I could not take Fred’s pudding ashore at Port Said so brought it on to London and was just going to post it whenFred himself arrived down on board so was able to give it to him.
Currie and I have been going everywhere together as we are the only two that have no relations in London. I am jolly lucky to have him, he is a jolly good pal, he wishes to be remembered to you so does old Bill.
I must stop now and post this, am afraid the mails are very irregular now.
With fondest love to yourself and all at home Mother dear,
From your loving son
Raymond

London
Tuesday 14 Dec
My dear Mother,
Here we are, still in London, and having cold weather. We went into Dock last Saturday so could not go to Turpin’s but went into town on Saturday night and stayed over Sunday. On Sunday morning it snowed somewhat. We went through town on the top of a bus to Hyde Park and watched the people riding in the Row, quite a lot of Australian soldiers there, riding.
I have not been able to see the place by daylight yet. All the rest of the engineers are having leave and Dixon and Reggie have left the ship altogether. I asked the Chief for two or three days and was told l had a lot of leave in Australia - it is beastly as I have practically nothing to do on the ship here while we are in port and there are so many things I want to see.
There is talk of us sailing two or three days before Christmas.
London is very quiet, not dances or beanos of any kind at the theatres, you never see anyone in warpaint. Most of the men are in uniform. Currie and I have heard lots of remarks by people in trams, restaurants etc, wondering why those two young fellows have not enlisted. So far we have not had any white feathers bequeathed unto us. Your sleeping sox and my knitted sox are a perfect godsend this weather, it is my greatest trial, trying to keep my feet warm in trams or trains. They get like blocks of ice. I think we will take our trips home to England in the summer, you and I.
It makes me very sorry for the poor beggars wintering in the trenches.
Our new 2nd Officer lives at Darling Point. He lived at Rose Bay and was married by Arch Deacon D’Arcy-Irvine about two years ago. His name is Fitzpatrick.
Currie is going to Edinburgh tomorrow, we are granted free passes on the railways here. Sorry I cannot get off and go with him and see Lib’s people. Hope little June is doing well.
Hope you are all well at home and that everything is alright.
Good bye for a while Mother dear.
Fondest love to you and Aunt and everybody.
Your loving son
Raymond

London
Tuesday 21st Dec
My dear Mother,
We are leaving here tomorrow for some unknown destination, after that I think it most likely we will go out home again, perhaps not to Sydney but to Hobart for fruit and Melbourne for our usual cargo.
I received your letter a few days ago written on 31st October in which Arthur and Bun were home, you say. Glad Allie was able to go this time with Arthur. I also had a letter from Bun written the same time.
I went out to Turpins at Finchley last Saturday afternoon and stayed till Monday morning. On Saturday night we went to pictures (Mr & Mrs T and I) and on Sunday morning we went into town to the East end and walked through Petticoat lane, like old Paddy’s Market only much worse to see and smell them eating whilks and jellied eels is enough to make anyone frow up.
On Sunday night we went to church, Mrs Turpin tried to stuff me with grub almost like you do. I think I told you in my last letter that I am better than ever I have been in good health and spirits; now.
We have just heard today about our fellows evacuating Gallipoli, doesn’t it seem a shame after the dreadful time they had there at first.
Currie came back from Edinburgh to day, he had a splendid time, people were skating there and fine weather all the time. I wish I could have gone with this.
I am wondering what you are doing now just four days before Christmas, suppose you will be at Terrigal or somewhere like that with your old Pal and the “boys”.
Letters may be irregular again but don’t worry. Will write when chances offer of course.
The new 5th & 6th seem very nice fellows one has not been away before and the other only voyages to India- we have got a boiler maker so I will not have to go on watch below again.
The old man is madder than ever, I very nearly had a row with him today.
I must stop now -
With fondest love to my dear Mother and all at home,
Your wandering son Raymond

Devonport
Dec 27th
My dear Mother
We came in here on Christmas Day in the afternoon and are off again tomorrow. Our Christmas dinner went off very pleasantly, the old man came in afterwards, he was extremely pleasant for once.
I was very sorry we left London before Christmas as I should have liked to be at Turpins’, they are extremely good value.
Old Bill’s wife came down on board in London and we had a long yarn, she is very nice and is as keen as he is to go to Australia to live.
Have not had any letters for a week or so, we may go to Alexandria and will no doubt get some there hope you have been getting mine alright.
I must stop now and try and get this posted.
Fondest love to my own dear Mother and all at home
Your loving son Raymond.

Pera. At Sea
7th Feb
My dear Mother
We have just orders to go to Port Pirie, so will start and give you some of the news since my last letter at Devonport in the south of England, where we took on troops and miles for Alexandria and Port Said.
We are about a couple of hundred miles west of Fremantle now and expect to get to Pirie in about a week when I will send you a telegram and post this. I wish it had been Melbourne so that I could ring you up and give you a surprise, however expect we will go on there after a few days in Port Pirie - it is hard to realise that I am almost home again - hope we go to Sydney or Newcastle or if not, that I may be able to come over from Melbourne. However we shall see soon how things are going.
We have had a splendid cool trip at this time - we left Devonport with our escort of two destroyers that escorted us out of the English Channel.
I might mention one day out from Devonport I came out with a lovely crop of spots which the Doctor immediately pronounced as measles - there was a great hubbub, I was bundled out into the troops detention room and quarantined for nearly three weeks and all my clothes and cabin fumigated. However to this day I won’t believe I really had them as I did not feel the slightest bit sick and had a whopping appetite all the time, in fact got quite fat.
We had all the usual excitement with submarine dodging in the Mediterranean, lookouts stationed all over the ship with glasses, and we were steering a zig zag course all the time. We called over to Malta for a day where we heard of the Persia being caught a few days before - I think there was a letter for you I posted in London.
Next we went to Alexandria for a day and on to Port Said where we stayed there unloading our horses. I got Currie to send you a cable from Alexandria hope you got it alright - we did not know till leaving Port Said that we were coming home so could not tell you.
In Port Said I received letters from you to the beginning of December. Hope you had your usual happy Christmas at Terrigal.
Coming down the Red Sea it was quite cool and pleasant - quite unexpected weather for there - at Colombo we were lucky enough to stay 24 hours coaling so Marconi II and I had a few hours on shore and a drive in Rickshaws out about a while along the sea front.
While I think of it, would you mind sending my razor strop (Safely) I will try and tell you in the telegram how long we are staying at Pirie so you will know to write there or Melbourne. You can imagine how anxious I am to get some home news - have had none since a letter written the beginning of December. I do trust you have been keeping well and happy and not worrying and that everything is alright at home.
Old Bill sends his best wishes and hopes you are enjoying the best of health.
Monday 14th
We are arriving Pirie tomorrow morning no more news except that we are most likely going to take apples from Hobart as well as troops. Hoping to hear from you soon, will conclude
With fondest love from your loving son Raymond
Love to Aunt and all at home.

At Sea
18th April
My dear Mother
We hope to be in Egypt in a few days now so will start and give you an account of some of our doings.
We had a splendid send off from Sydney - crowds of people on the wharf holding ribbons and quite a decent band - we got away from the wharf at about eight and anchored off Garden Island till we left at noon. I saw you and Aunt waving quite distinctly on the verandah - hope you saw me. I was standing on one of the horse boxes about the centre of the ship and waved a towel.
Coming across the Bight this time was pretty rough, waves were coming right over onto the deck, our poor passengers did frow up. Lately it has been beastly hot, will be glad when we are through the Canal into fairly cool weather again.
Things are going very pleasantly now, have not had any rows since we left and I am quite well and happy.
We have a nice lot of troops this voyage - they have the piano on deck and there are two or three splendid players so we have some decent music. There has been two church parades, both of which I attended. Also the usual Neptune Ceremony - I was on the Bridge taking photos of it. After the Lieutenants had undergone the shaving ducking etc, I was astonished to have my name called out. As they could all see me it was no use hiding, so had to go through with it.
The new Marconi II (who took Currie’s place) is an awfully nice little chap - we are great pals - he has been seven times to England from Australia - he knows England very well so we will be able to go around together if we get the chance. I hope to be able to go and see Lib’s people at Ayr this time as it is not very far from where we expect to go - will be able to lecture to her on subject of the wonderful June. Hope she enjoyed her stay at the Mountains with her Ma and Pa and that they were all the better for the holiday - I reckon I could have done a couple of weeks up there myself - However I must not growl, I am having a long sea voyage - but it does get monotonous. It is just on a month since we left Sydney - and we have not seen a sign of land or ship until this morning. I have been filling in time making a case out of wood and brass for the little clock you gave me, it keeps splendid time and gives me the maximum of sleep in the morning without being late for work.
Hope to get one or two letters at Egypt written for last voyage and papers, and some new ones soon after we get to England.
I have just written a long letter to Betty. Suppose you will have Arthur and Bun home next weekend as it is Easter, don’t I wish I was there too. However we aught to be out there some about next August.
Thursday 20th
Arriving in Egypt tomorrow - have a nice cool trip up the Red Sea by unusual luck. Hope to be able to write again in a fortnight at least. Hope you are keeping well and happy and everyone and everything all right at home.
I am enclosing two snaps of Neptune Ceremony, I am being shaved in one.
Love to all at home -
And Oceans of it to my own dear Mother
Your loving son Raymond

Liverpool
May 8th 1916
My dear Mother,
We have just arrived at Liverpool in fact we are not alongside the dock yet but am writing this to post as soon as I can get ashore as it might just catch a mail, will give you fuller news in my next.
I wrote you last from Suez - we only stayed a day there and a few hours at Port Said coaling, and only Haig an hour at Gibraltar for orders, so have not had a chance to send you even a post catered till now.
The last few days have been beastly cold and wet, nearly as bad as last trip but expect it will be warmer when we are in the docks. I have not got a cold or anything, in fact feel very expensive, in hopes of getting a weekend trip to Mrs Marshall’s but am to sure yet.
I am going ashore when we get in to post this - hope to get some news from you in day or two. Hope you are keeping well and happy, also your old Pal
My fondest love to you all
Your loving son,
Raymond

Liverpool
18th May
My dear Mother,
In my last letter I was just starting for Scotland - I left here at five and arrived in Glasgow at 11pm on Friday night. Saw a good deal of the country going up as it is not dark till 9. It did look lovely - cultivated fields bordered by clipped hedges or stone walls the whole way - and everything the vividest green you could imagine. I arrived at Glasgow at 11 and stayed for the night at Caledonian Hotel. I went in uniform which is the correct thing to do here now, so was given a splendid room and only charged about half rates, it is a jolly nuisance though, all the sailors you meet salute you.
I went out to Balinore [Balintore?] next morning, the trains were very awkward so took a tram most of the way and walked the rest about five miles, through country lanes and villages in a real Scotch mist.
However I met a gentleman going the same way and he directed me to the house, where I was given a very warm welcome indeed. I like the Marshalls very much, the girls are proper sports, they took me for a walk in the country in the evening, an awfully pretty places full of Lochs, old Castles and things of that kind. Of course I gave them all the news of Lib and June, Mrs Creer etc, in fact nearly gassed my head off. Mr and Mrs Johnston came and in the afternoon (Mrs Johnston is one of the daughters). They live in Glasgow and on a Sunday when there are no trains they walked out so that they could walk in with me and see me off at the train, proper sports.
We were going to church in the morning but it poured, in afternoon it cleared and we walked up to the church, it is the original Kirk in Bunty Pulls The Strings, exactly as it is on the stage.
I had to leave at seven and got back to the ship at five in the morning, pretty tired but it was worth it, I gave Mrs M. a snap of Lib and June, also one or two more I had.
I had a letter from Mrs Turpin, she was very pleased with the case of apples I sent her and also that I went out to see her Mother when I was home.
She is very anxious for me to go to London for a day or two, and to go to a reception at the Hotel Cecil to meet Mr Hughes, blow old Hughes but I would like to do a mild swank at a reception in London - but afraid I will not be able to get away again.
Mrs Murray (Currie’s cousins) have invited me there for the weekend so will do one or the other - really do not seem like a stranger in a strange land do I.
We will be here another week or so yet then we are going to a Port in Wales to load coal.
The weather is getting splendid now, fine and warm and even the old sun is shining, a real treat for me.
You will sorry to hear our chief is leaving for this voyage, the new one might not give me so much leave in Sydney.
I am wondering what you are doing now if things are as I left. Hope you still have Allen and Lib and June and Aunt Nellie keeping you company. June will be quite talkative and more wonderful than ever when I see her again.
I assured Mrs Marshall that she was quite the most wonderful baby that had ever happened.
No more news so will close up
With fondest love to my own dear Mother and all at home,
Your loving son Raymond
Old Bill sends his remembrance to you.

Liverpool
May 29th
My dear Mother,
Have just heard that there is a mail on Monday, will send you a few lines before we leave this afternoon. I am afraid I have not much news this time as I did not get away last weekend to London as I expected - I had a trip to New Brighton a seaside place about half an hour away in a ferry, fine big buildings and promenade, but the tide is out about half a mile at low water and there are no breakers as it is at the River Mouth.
Since Wednesday we have been in dry dock undergoing repairs as most of the machinery (drills etc) is run off the ship’s supply. I have been keeping pretty busy and have had to be aboard in the evenings.
We have had fine long evenings now this daylight saving has come into force, it is light until ten o’clock at night. All the clocks in England have been put on one hour.
I had a letter from Bun a couple of days ago and another from Ethel about a week ago but have only had the first one from you I got on arrival. Bun’s letter and Ethel’s were sent on from Egypt suppose yours must have got off the track somewhere.
We are off to Wales this afternoon and should be there almost a week before proceeding to Port Said. Expect we will go on from there but it is by no means certain.
The Chief left a couple of days ago, he left me a few decent books before he went. The new Chief is much quieter but I think is inclined to be fussy over trifles, a habit I don’t approve of. Old Bill has been away nearly a week, was in London on leave.
The 2nd Friezer went to London for three days leave and came back married, serve him right.
I have not had any word from Aunt Gages if she received the parcel, expect she would write to you.
I must stop now and post this, will be able to write you again from Wales next week.
Fondest love to all at home and my own dear Mother,
Your wandering son Raymond

[No page 99]

the letter if I did. However I don’t think we will be coming back to Australia. Hope you have written to me either here or London - you cannot imagine how good it would be to get a letter from you. I have received some of last voyages letters but none of yours or the photo.
You might write after you get this, we will most likely be somewhere up in this direction, say one to here and perhaps a P. C. to London, just a line or two would keep old warb from being too homesick

Alexandria 21 March
My dear Ethel,
On the postcard I sent you last Friday I told you four arrived here. After we discharged our horses at Suez they loaded us with stores for the Persian Gulf and then discovered we were too big (drew too much water) to go, so they took them all out again and we came through the canal and round here. Since last Tuesday when we arrived, until this morning, we have been lying in the outer harbour. Today we have come into the inner one, and anchored, it is much handier for going ashore. From the other place you had to take an Arab sailing boat and it took about an hour to the quay.
Have been ashore twice. I know my way about the streets now, don’t have to bother with guides. The Electrician on one of the other ships is an old friend of mine, I was ashore we [with] him last night, there are no theatres, only picture shows, and as you know I have not much time for them. I like wandering around and watching “local colour” there is every nationality under the sun here - the people are so interesting.
At Suez the Marconi and I had a donkey ride, it was great sport, Marconi is about 6.2 and his donkey was about as big as a large dog but it was boos - it would not follow mine but took him round corners, down bye streets, through bazaars in fact anywhere it thought would be of interest.
Mine was quite a gentlemanly fellow, really more of a friend than just a hired donkey

Coming through the canal I had a bit of excitement I was just just going to bed when the second engineer sent up for me to come and have a look at the dynamo, before I was out of my cabin the whole ship was in darkness. Warb broke all his previous speed records getting down below and starting the other dynamo - it was lucky the searchlight in the bows was off a separate machine as we would have been aground almost certainly.
I cannot give you any news of how long we are here or where we are going. I don’t know for one thing, and the censor would probably stop

My dear Ethel,
It was indeed nice to get your letter last Tuesday, I knew you would be nice enough to write when you heard that we are not coming back for …
you say you were waiting a longer one to London, do hope it will be sent on here. I would have liked to have been at your beano, having very vivid recollections of the last one: of my extraordinary wife in the partner lottery and of some extremely fine “potatoes “ at supper, two and a half and accounted for.
Since my last letter 27 May we have been to Lemnos and back here again - we took troops as far as there and transferred them onto a smaller ship stayed about a week and brought some back here. It is a nice trip to Lemnos from Alexandria about two and a half days, part of the time through the Grecian Islands, we go different courses each time - the sea is like an advertisement for Ricketts Blue - and quite calm, in fact we have not had anything much rougher than ‘Our ‘Arbour since leaving the Australian coast. At night we sometimes put all the lights out except the engine room. I have been on watch as junior engineer with the 4th lately. Reggie 6th has been sick for about a month and today the Buster has been taken ashore to the hospital. Most of the engineers have been sick at odd times except 5th and myself - he is an Anglo-Indian - I have been having rows off and on with the 2nd Engineer, he is a mean back-biting little beggar and most horribly narrow minded.
We have a lot of bathing here, we are anchored out in the harbour and just jump in off the gangway or pull over to the breakwater and swim off there - it is very hot weather and the water is very much warmer than at home, a little too warm in fact. I bought a swimming costume from a man that came aboard selling them, it is about the loudest thing in costumes you could ever imagine and is something ever. I put it on on Fred Pollock’s ship, is still here, I will go over and see him again in a day or so.
We are anchored here as usual indefinitely - there does not seem much prospect of going to London yet.
Last Monday when we arrived I had a cable with news of the new nieces arrival, if she grows up half as nice as her mother it will be satisfying this particular uncle.
I would love to see your new winter dress and the cherry and pink and black hat if you can surpass the general effect in which I last had the pleasure of seeing you, you will be indeed conveying a pleasure on humanity.

Sunday 28
Still here tomorrow we are going into dock for painting etc but have no idea if we are going away afterwards or where to