The letter written by Private W. Watson to Berwick headmaster Henry McCann in August 1915:
Letters and papers are what we are always looking for and today we could almost smell the gum leaves. The largest mail that we have had yet arrived yesterday – 950 bags from Australia and 200 from England. I was in Cairo helping to sort it out and the job was a little bit out of my line. But it was a change from diving into the sand. We get quite enough of that.
Our company was out all night trench-digging – quite a cheerful job on a dark night, and in the sand. You could imagine what it would be like.
I suppose you have already had an account of this place. I imagined it was bad, but it is just about 10 times as bad as I imagined it to be. But we are all quite happy and in the best of spirits. Some have not been too well since they came here, but I could not have been better.
I fancied I would melt during the first week, and well I might too, for it was only 123 (degrees) in the shade the first day we were here and just coming off the boat we were rather soft. But it is just nine weeks to the day since we landed in this part of the globe, which is made up of sand and sin, with plenty of niggers thrown in, and I can tell you we are not too soft now.
It is not until you see our boys side by side with men of other nations that you realise what strong and athletic fellows they are. I think we could manage three Turks each.
There are hundreds of wounded chaps here in Heliopolis and they are still coming in. Perhaps before this reaches you, some of us will be returning here wounded, as I believe we are to leave next Friday (20 August). Of course, I do not know for certain, but it seems to be the general opinion. We are all hoping that it is true, as we are thoroughly sick of this place.
I am glad to know that so many are coming forward in Australia. I am sure they will all be needed before the war is done. I heard that Harry Randle had enlisted. I wish he had done so when I did. I have some very good pals but there are no friends like old friends. A good pal is worth a lot in an affair like this.
You would be surprised at the small number of arguments that occur amongst such a number of men. When one does come along it is always settled with the gloves, and we have seen some real good ‘goes’.
Well, now I must pull up. We are to go to the rifle-butts tomorrow morning to finish our musketry. Kindly remember me to the boys.
Private W. Watson.
