MENZ, Henry Berthold
| Original items held by the Army Museum of Western Australia |
| Conflict | World War 1 |
|---|---|
| Service Arm | Australian Imperial Force |
| Unit | 28th Infantry Battalion, D Company |
| Service No. | |
| Service Arm | Army |
| Date of Birth | 15 Jul 1887 |
| Date of Death | 27 Nov 1915 |
| Relatives | Wife - Eugene Muriel Miller |
Attestation and casualty documents
Photos
Letter addressed to wife dated 13th June 1915.
S.S. Ascanius
18.6.15
My Own Sweet love & our darling little ones
God grant that you are well my Queenie and are trying to be strong.
I do not know how to start my darling, but you understand I know how my sweet. I am going to try and tell you how things have been going.
Of course all our letters are supposed to be sensored but as I happen to be pretty friendly with the sensor on board ship, I am going to
get him to stamp my letters for me. Well darling I know that you were a brave true wife when I said au revoir, & I know that you were
trying to bear up. Now darling I am continually wondering what my loved ones are doing, and I am sure that I am greatly comforted by this
thought.
I cannot describe the great joy I had darling when you had the love to send my precious little angel down to the boat to see daddy. No
doubt that day will live long in our little Rose's mind.
Well sweetheart Daddy & Allie will have told you that the send off was something stupendous but I am sure the welcome back when I come
again to my loved ones will be even more so. On starting this embarkation of course I had an enormous amount of work to do getting the men
to settle down but after the first few hours every thing went well with the men, but I am sorry to say that after the first night I got
terribly sick and did not have anything to eat or drink until today 13th I went up on deck and got my sleeping bag up there, of course it
was very much fresher than down below. Now my own sweet darling I will once more commit you to God's gracious care, protection & comfort
with mountains of love to little Rose & Allen.
Good Night Sweet wife.
14th I did not mention yesterday my queen than they had a series of Services on the boat deck which I could hear & every time that they
had the prayer for absent loved ones you can imagine how I felt. Although I could not actually attend the services love still I prayed
that God in his mercy would guard & protect you & bring me safely back to you. Every night my darling I read your loving & brave little
note that little Rae (God bless her) gave me on the boat & naturally the note brings me nearer home.
Well darling, today we saw a whale but it was a long way off. I am having something to eat now & naturally I feel stronger. The weather is
also becoming smoother. I will close now darling bride some more tomorrow.
15 My own sweet love I miss your greeting of birthday & also our little ones, but never mind my sweet next one we will have 3 greetings
won't we. I am eating at the table today & have kept the menu card for reference, the sea is such a beautiful blue now love but the
weather is becoming hotter every day. We are right off the line of ships therefore we won't see anything until we get close in. If it not
were for the danger of the voyage my own I should love you & our loved ones to be on board, but we will make another trip together someday
under safer conditions.
I am going to get these Photo prints fixed before they go black. I have a good look at them every day. I am meeting with a considerable
amount of success with my work & it is appreciated by all ranks. Each officer of & above the rank of Captain has to give a lecture on all
sorts of subjects. I have to lecture on Training in marching, on the 17th. So far the lecturers have all read their lecture (Major up to
now) and naturally they are pretty dry you can guess. Well love the sea is beautiful again today & is getting calmer. I will close now
darling bride.
God bless you & guard & protect our loved ones
16 My sweet I am feeling splendid now & have got a bottle of fruit salts to keep me regular. We only have one stewardess on board she is
returning to England as a passenger. I did not know we had any one at of the gentler sex on board. The troops are all busy on board for
4 1/2 hours during the day. After the evening meal they have boxing contests & sports. I have been doing some aerobatic tricks greatly to
the amusement of a lot of people. Now a good many of the officers are trying the same tricks. It makes me think of the tumbler that little
Rae used to have with me on the lawn. I do hope my darling that our little son is quite better. I know that he is going to grow up a
great strong man loved by all & - to his mother please God.
I cannot imagine that our little Rae would get sick she is so bony & I can assure you that everyone who sees the Photograph say what
lovely children. Now darling I will close with mountains of love & kisses to my queen & loved ones.
17th There we are again my love one hardly realizes that we are on the mission we are this weather is so glorious & the sea so blue,
perhaps it is just as well.
I have to give my lecture today so I will practically have to go for some study. The troops are all settled down by this & are very
orderly. I have been appointed on the recreation committee on Board & have arranged concerts & tugs of war the excitement is immense I
must say.
Well darling I wonder what you are doing now at home of course you are about 1 1/2 hours ahead of us on time we have to put our clocks
back about 5 to 7 minutes every day.
It seems strange to think that we are not anywhere near Australia but about midawy between Australia & Africa. I must close now darling &
prepare for lecture. I will finish a little more after lecture.
Well darling I gave my lecture & was complimented on the excellent manner I had prepared it by all kinds from the Brigadier down to the
junior subalterns it was voted the best of the series. The Col. of Medical Corps said it was one of the best he had the pleasure of
listening to so that is all right.
Now my sweet love I am Captain of the ship tomorrow so that I will be up most of the 24 hours & I will get to bed (up on deck). Good night
my ownest own wife.
18th A lovely day again today, darling I only hope that you & the little ones are as well as I am now. There is a lovely table on but I am
not eating too much because I believe in keeping fit & hard.
Well darling I suppose that you are trying to be brave in fact I know that you are. I feel that you are praying for me my love & that God
is giving you & me strength. From what I've seen the fit officers are a long way superior to any other in every respect. We only have one
silly ass but he will be cured very soon. Today we had another fire alarm. I meant to tell you before darling that about every other day we
have fire Drill. When the fire Bell goes every man has to parade on the boat deck with life belts on, absolute silence must be observed &
after everything is checked troops are mustered back to their messes. I will close now darling with Gods blessing to my wife & loved ones.
19 Well my sweet I've had a day of it & no mistake talk about work well I made things hum & apparently the work met with the approval of
the heads. We saw a whale again today about 600 x away he must have been an enormous one judging by his aproach at that distance.
The weather is becoming hotter now & it is almost unbearable in the cabins, but as I sleep on deck it does not seem bad. The men have
great difficulty in keeping cool down below & 50% of the men sleep up on deck. I have to go every inch of the ship & that with the Captain
the Colonial Medical officers. We are - - the mess & the cabins (Dining room) is crowded. I will close now my love. Ta ta till tomorrow.
20 Sweetheart here we have Sunday again & naturally we are going to have church services at 11 oclock for 'D' Coy. I will write again after
church love. Well darling we had our service & had all the heads present. We were complimented on our excellent singing by the Minister
Capt. It is a glorious day darling & the marvelous blue sea you would almost imagine that we were on the Swan River.
There is no work today. I meant to tell you that the minister took as his text (There shall be war & rumours of war) & he handled his
subject remarkably well. We have a splendid prayer for our absent ones darling.
Now darling I was president of the mess tonight & sat up at the head of the table alongside the Brigadier. He is a nice old chap, very
quiet & agreeable. I will close now my love with the grandest love possible to my darlings at home.
21 A lovely day again darling we crossed the line at 12.30 a.m. we were going to arrange for a Neptunes bath but did not get the big bath
from the ship's officer. He got it into his head that the tub was good enough for us but the thing was too small altogether therefore the
thing was abandoned. We were able to rig a spar up & have some boxing with a net underneath which was very enjoyable to the men. We went
right through a school of Porpoise today darling there must have been hundreds of them jumping right out of the water they looked so
strange. I'm sure that our little darling Rae would have loved to see them jumping about. The men were roaring with laughter at them &
laying the odds. I was going to tell you darling love that the little book that Molly gave me is just beautiful. There are so many
lovely little pieces in it that one seems drawn to think of home. You would laugh I'm sure my love if you could see my moustaches but I
am by no means the most backward of the crowd in fact mine is quite respectable.
I am getting quite a reputation on board for athletics but it is far too hot to do much & it is that sticky heat you know. Everyone says
that that Photo is lovely darling I only show them the ones with my dear wife on board. Now my sweet wife I will go to bed. Good night
my love God bless & keep you & comfort you all.
24th Well my own sweet love I have had a rough time since the last day I wrote but first of all I must tell you about the time we
crossed the line. I see that I have told you about that. I trust that our loved ones are still well & happy darling & that you are strong
& not too lonely. I have been on my back again love I took a No. 9 pill guaranteed to shift a house & by jove it did. I am alright again
now darling & today I have quite a chapter of events to chronicle first of all we saw land today at 5.30 AM for the first time. Ras Hufen
& then we were in sight of land till about 4 oclock & all along the coast we could see the mud huts of the Somalis.
We passed 5 boats today & 1 Dhow. The Dhow looked so funny with her 1 sail & green paint with white stripes. Now my darling I must close
tonight with all that pure love can wish the dearest woman in the world to me & my darling children. Captain of the day tomorrow my love.
Good night & may God bless you & keep you safe & sound my darling wife.
25 This little bit is going to be short my darling. We are just in sight of Aden & I am of the opinion that we are going to send a mail
ashore. So I am going for dear life/ My precious love I know that you will be anxious about Daddy but you must not worry my sweet God will
protect us & bring me safely back to your loving arms & then my darling the joy of meeting will more than compensate for the parting for
awhile. I know that you will be strong my queen in love & faith.
I cannot say much more just now my darling bride but I want you to give all our friends my love especially to mother. I will write again to
them all in good time.
We do not know where we are going yet love but before I close I must tell you that I asked Mr Stanthe of the A & I staff to send you pd5
which I gave him. I hope you got it alright & also the registered letter that I sent from Blackboy Hill.
I enclose the receipt from Mr Parker the tailor darling & I got him to date the receipt last year so as to enable you to get the money for
the allowance for citizen officers clothing.
I hope that you got it alright darling you would be able to do so by going to the Pay office & asking for Mr Kennedy.
Now my own sweet darling I know that you will kiss my loved ones for me & tell little Rae to pray for Daddy & pray yourself my love wont
you to Gods good care we commit you darling wife with all that my loving heart can think or say. Good night my precious
from Daddy
H Berthold Menz
Letter addressed to daughter dated 20th June 1915.
June 20th
My Own Dear Little Daughter
God grant that you are well darling & able to comfort our dear Mother. Mother will teach you to read this dear & that will comfort her.
Little one I am now a long way away from home dearest one but daddy is praying for you always & I know that you are praying for daddy too.
Darling I am sure that God is watching over you & protecting you. You must help Mother & nurse our little darling Allan. I know that you
are well & waiting for Daddy to come back to Mother Home & darlings.
God bless you always From Daddy
Put your arms around Mummie's neck & say cheer up Mummie.
Letter addressed to wife dated 25th June 1915.
June 25th
My Own Sweet Wife
I could not post the letter that I finished yeterday darling because we did not stop at all at Aden. It looks a dirty little place from
the sea & I am only sorry that we could not post a mail there. I have written a little note to my darling Rae dear heart & I want you to
teach her to read it won't you love?
Last night it was fearfully hot & I had the greatest difficulty in getting the men to go to sleep but finally I persuaded them to do so.
We saw the group of islands today known as the 12 apostles the hills have quite a volcanic appearance with now & again a light house. We
are continually passing ships now but today we passed a Dutch ship with a great big Dutch flag painted on her sides to prevent submarines
chasing her.
We passed Perim an island about 3 oclock this afternoon but she did not have wireless. Now darling you must cheer up I have your little
note to read & then a verse or two from Mollie's Book & then to bed.
God bless my darling. May God Bless & keep you all safe & sound.
29 My own darling Bride & loved ones.
I did not write yesterday or Sunday dearest but today I am. It is now 9 oclock by us but of course it is much more than that where you are.
My darling I do hope that you are well & strong & that our little ones are likewise T read that little book every night & somehow I seem to
see you all. Now dearest love we are somewhere about Suez & I will wire to you on arrival so that even when yoy get get the wire it is
doubtful whether it will have my address permitted. Of course everything has to be censored & that will make writing heart to heart more
difficult after this letter my love but I know that you are a brave strong woman & that you will understand won't you.
We do not know where we are going yet but expect to know in a few days.
Now darling bride I have to tell you of a most sad occurence. One of the Stewards (Pantry) died of heat apoplexy on Sunday at 6 oclock.
They buried him at 7.30 He was a married man with two children in Sydney and May God help them. The captain told me that prior to coming in
this ship the man was very poor & down out of his luck. We have started a subscription for his widow.
The Minister preached a very good Sermon on Sunday again about (He that takest the sword shall perish by the sword) but he said that we
must not take that as literally correct but to understand it meant those that took the sword to gain agrandisement at the expense of
others more weak than themselves.
Again the men appreciated the sermon & joined most heartily in the singing of the hymns.
We are continually passing boats now darling & one wishes that all was over & that we were going the other way but that will soon be for
sure. Now my own Queenie may God in his mercy comfort & Guard you all & in good time again join us in his bond of love & may he bless you
& our loved ones beautiful little Rae & Allan & keep you all safe & sound for Daddys sake.
I almost forgot to tell you dear heart that I was vaccinated again yesterday. The first one did not take but I think that this one will.
I will send a money order to you darling as soon as possible & I do hope you get your ordinary pay regularly.
I cannot think of anything more just now. So with all the love that it is possible for a devoted husband to give to the dearest wife &
Mother in the World, from your lover & Daddy.
Berthold
Kiss my little ones my Queen & hug them tight. I know that you will protect & guard them always.
My dearest love
Berthold
Letter addressed to wife dated 1st July 1915.
Suez C.
1st July 1915
My heart of my love & Darling little ones,
Please God you are all well at home & that you are not growing too much dear Rae. We have had two days spell here & really the scene is
magnificent. There are 30 boats of all sizes & shapes & Nationalities. The town of Suez is about 2 miles from where we are anchored but
with the glasses one can pick up a lot of detail. We are having glorious weather dearest & the sea looks so blue. There are a lot of oil
refining places round here & we can pick them out easily. We got in at Midnight 29th & you can imagine the excitement on board to once
again see strangers & lights that spoke eloquently of Home & loved ones. Well dearest wife the morning broke & showed us groups of natives
in their - Boats trying to get near but after a couple of them had been warned off with - shots they deserted.
Well darling I expect you got my cable alright it only cost 89 piastres about 19/- but it was a great load off my mind when it was sent.
Grant Macrae went ashore & he sent it for me. I am sending you some little Souvenirs dear. I want you to give them to Dutch Madge Allie
and keep one for our lovely little Rae dear. They are only small but they will serve as momentos of Daddy's ship. I want to see Little love
wearing it when I come back to you darling wife. I must tell you dear that the socks & belt that your loving hands worked for daddy were
just lovely & I would like you to thank mother for me also. We got some bad news love last night & that was that a ship one of this
company's was blown up by a mine in the Suez canal. It may have been meant for us but thank heaven it missed. I believe that the canal is
clear again because we saw 9 boats come out of it today.
We are disembarking tomorrow morning at 5 oclock & then entrained for Heliopolis Egypt so that is settled for a while. Now my darling I
must go to bed so with God's Gracious blessing & protection over my darlings
Good night my love
4th On finishing my note my darling I must say that Heliopolis is about 9 miles in rear of us & Zeitun about another mile but we can't go
anywhere but it looks lovely in the distance. Address your letters darling to:
28th Battn, 7th Brigade, Abbasia, Egypt
Good night darling
Letter addressed to wife dated 4th July 1915.
July 4th Sunday
Abassia Egypt
My beloved Wife & little ones,
Here we are at last darling after a long journey by sea & land. I am still well and I trust that my dear wife & little ones are also. It
is just about 9 p.m. where you are now darling & it is just 3 p.m. where we are. I can imagine you about an hour ago dear putting our
little darling Rae to bed & praying for daddy. I always think of her about her bedtime dear & of course you are just 6 hours ahead of us
in time.
Well darling we started on our land trip on Friday & first of all we saw the breakwaters and then the Arabs. We tied up to the wharf at
about 7.30a.m. & then the fun began, dirty filthy Arabs jostling each other & pretending to work, there must have been about 100 of them
and they did about as much work as 6 whites would, if one of then so much as stopped when a trader was near the trader would give them
a whack with a stick and punch or kick them.
We had a lovely view of the mountains in the distance. I am sending you a little sketch I drew from the Boat deck of the ship. The place
itself was dreadfully dirty & the natives dirtier if possible. As you will see by the sketch the troop trains were waiting & we went off in
the 3rd one. After leaving Suez we went along the banks of the canal & it was just marvellous the sights we saw. We talk about our
irrigation system darling you can't imagine the extent that it goes to here. We saw hundreds of Arabs in the most fantastic dress that you
can imagine. In some places they had little wheels on a spiral something after the style of a mining machine to lift the water up 2 or 3
feet & that was drawn by some old man sitting down & in other places by the work of oxen going round and round and dragging a wooden sledge.
At other places dear we saw the wooden ploughs drawn by oxen & perhaps they have been using the same ploughs etc for hundreds & hundreds of
years. A little way from Suez we saw the Sacred bird of Egypt the Ibis. They were taking things easily I must say.
We could see the sunken boat quite easily from the train darling but it was only down as far as the portholes so that it soon will be fixed up.
Again along the banks we could see the tamarisk planted by Moses. It was historic if not handsome. Now darling bride I must tell you of the
scene that we passed at Tel El Kebir. No doubt you will remember the battle that took place there in 1881 I think it was. Well dearest we
could see the place where the British were & where the Arabs were & now all we see is the cemetery where those brave officers & men lost
their lives for the subduing of barbarity & oppresion. One's thoughts run away when you see the actual battle field dear love and you know
that I have a vivid imagination which people who ought to know say a good soldier should possess. We had to call at Ismalia which is
pronounced Ish-mlear. Further on again we came to Zagazig, a real first class station with a white station master & his british wife who
you could imagine received a cheer by all & sundry. The station was fixed up with a real good subway all bricked in with a cafe in front &
all sorts of niggers about. There was also a nice little garden on the front of the station well looked after I should say.
Now my bride I will tell you about the most wonderful people in the world.
Just at sunset we were passing a group doing their vows at their shrine, just a small cluster of trees marked off with a few stones. First of
all they stand up & take a vow with their right hand & then two hands then bow, then kneel. And the women wear black veils with what appears
to be a wooden protecting piece over their nose they look for the most part dirty & ragged. One thing that appears to sink right in
darling is the amount of scauring that goes on. We saw one man that could not stand up & could only move along with his hands & seat. I
was going to tell you darling that there are three classes of carriers on the rails 1st 2nd & 3rd and the first class are really good so
far as I have seen.
After passing Benha station we went over a tributary of the Nile & then a little later we came to Cairo. This was about 10 oclock. Of
course we could not leave the train but were taken back to Abbassia. Well of Cairo my love I expect it is a wonderful city but as we are in
quarantine for a fortnight it will be impossible for me to leave camp. When I do darling no doubt I will have quite a budget of news for
you but I know sweetheart that any news at all of daddy would always be welcome & looked for even as much as I look for news or letters
from my darlings at home. I seem to have been away for years dearest but the time will soon pass when I will return again. We are compelled
to stop in camp owing to about a dozen cases of measles on board ship. I must say darling that this heat here is oppressive during the day
but it is cool at night.
All the troops will eventually be issued with helmets & shirts with short pants that means bare knees. We will have to put Kiwi boot
polish or something to neutralize the colour of our knees. Some of the territorials have frightfully spider like legs & they do look
tricks.
I know that all letters are censored my darling so that I cannot tell you the number of troops there are here, but I will have enough to
talk about when I come home that not even our little darling Rae or Bonnie Allan will be able to get a word in edgeways.
We start work at 5 oclock that means getting up at 4.30 a.m. then knock off at 9 for breakfast. Theoretical instruction during the day in
the shade then Parade again at 4.30 till 6 oclock then tea.
We have Egyptian cooks & waiters for the mess & they are not bad. I am getting on fairly well with arabic & tonight I asked them for Gaala
Eyter Shaay which means come give tea. It is funny at the mess I must say.
Now my darling I must tell you about some of the lads at the front.
First of all Jimmy Peat has returned to Australia. He left yesterday so will probably get home before you receive my note. Poor chap, he
is settled beyond doubt. He appears alright but they say that his eyes start rolling around after he has spoken awhile. I could not get to
see him myself but Capt Leane that is G. Leane who is Chief Ordnance officer here was telling me. Now you will be delighted love to know
that Charlie Luckings is well & a captain & also that A L Leanes is a major as well & that Col. J L Johnston is better than ever he was. Also
Nicholas, you know Chie, well he is a major now & Jack Williams a Captain. Poor old Mort Reid got touched up a bit I believe but they will
soon be alright. I met several of my old boys yesterday & today, as soon as they heard I was here they must make all effort to see me, some
of them were in the 11th when they landed & have been wounded but they are getting on splendidly now & anxious to get back to the firing
line. I believe that young Job is getting on splendidly. Now dearest one I have just about run out of news for awhile.
By the way darling the vaccination did not take so the doctor thinks that I am immune. I hope so but still I am going to have another go at
it & then I'll give it up as a bad job if it does not take. We are having a general inspection tomorrow morning so that we will have to
look smart I expect.
Well sweetheart I expect that now you are in bed with our darlings. May God in his mercy give you blessed sleep & happy faithfull
wakefulness & may he bless you always & Guard & protect my darlings for ever Cheer Up Heart of my love & I'll soon be with you all again.
from your devoted
Daddy, Berthold
With all best love to all darlings & to Mother especially. you must tell Father dear when you see him, anxiously waiting news from home ever
yours in true love
Berthold
You must kiss & hug my loved ones for me wont you dear.
Letter addressed to wife dated 8th July 1915.
28th Battn, 7th Brigade
Abbassia
July 8th 1915
My Own Darling beloved
May God in His mercy comfort you in our great grief, dear heart. I cannot realise as yet that our darling boy has gone to heaven but I am
awaiting oh so anxiously a letter from my beloved telling me that God has taken Allan home. My love it must be for some purpose & who
knows that He wants sweet heavenly children in His home as well as we do. Dearest I cannot describe to you my grief but I know that you
realise how closely alike we are heart to heart & soul to soul and God will soon bring me back to you darling to console & try & cheer you
with brighter dreams of the future. I was lying down dear after sending away the Officers to their work I had already posted my letter to
my wife & the mail had gone when about 3 oclock I received the fatal message. Ah love that you should be away from my side when we lost
our love. I did not get the wire until the 5th darling. But I expect that it was some time before you sent it. Immediately I sent a wire to
you dearest which I trust you received alright. I expect our darling little Rae was wondering what was the matter sweetheart was she?
Dear love the death of our son has served again to cement my vows to the sweetest woman in the world & may God help me to do so.
Know that I long for news darling of you. Today I am sending you all the money I possess pd114 minus the cost of cabling to you my darling
because I know that you want it.
I have not reserved any pay since I left Fremantle But will probably get some either today or tomorrow. The cost of cabling is heavy as
you know dear love, but for week end it is 10/4 a word. We are still quarantined darling but I have not desire to go anywhere now. But
today (morning) we went for a route march through portion of Heliopolis and darling you cannot imagine the beautiful buildings that are
there. I would love you to see them someday when the danger is over.
The arabs are irregular dirty filthy beings the most part.
The electric trams & lines seem great & go at a pace. I believe the pyramids can be seen from the hills around the south of Heliopolis.
You may know darling that the people of the sun the R.A.s used to live there. Peter Haggards people. There appears to be a few French
people about but not nearly as many as I thought there might be.
Cairo bears a pretty bad reputation for immorality which appears to be correct judging by the hideous features of some of the people seen
in the vicinity of the camp.
We start work at 4.30 a.m. now darling & go on till 9 then breakfast. lectures at 10.30 to 12 then dismiss 1.30 p.m. Parade again at 5
till 7.30 tea at 7.45 then bed which I can assure you everyone is ready for by then.
I am sending you some pictures of the place darling so that you will be able to ask daddy about them when I am home again.
11th My love I received your long looked for letter yesterday dearest & you can imagine the joy that I had in getting news of home even
though I can see now dear heart why it was that our precious son passed away. May heaven bless his little soul. I do hope my queenie that
you are quite strong again by now & that the fearful blow that we have received has at least moderated by this time. I found dear that it
would cost pd2-10 to send pd8-10 to you by cable so I will send it to you by post.
No doubt you will have heard of Charlie La Dauze's death by this time. May God comfort his poor wife & little ones & also darling that
Major Ray Leane has had portion of his nose blown off. Poor Mrs Leane but they know that happened when their loved ones have been doing
their duty. Major Mansbridge has been in Cairo I believe & so far has not received anything but a few scratches on his face. I went for a
gallop yesterday afternoon dearest on such a lovely fiery horse just through the edge of Heliopolis and then out across the desert to
Flagstaff Hill about 2 1/2 miles away. I had a lovely view from the top of the hill of the pyramids about 9 miles away and Cairo about 6
miles away. I can see our little love darling asking about daddy & I know what you will tell her her. I understand my precious one how you
are grieving but don't be downhearted queenie will you?
I hope that the pay people are paying you regularly dear love. If they don't, let me know won't you.
I will send you all the money I can dear love so that you will not want.
Today we had a church service & the minister again preached a good sermon of Jacobs ladder & the text was. And God was here amongst us and
we know it not. He talked to the men about the temptations of the city & told them to remember their loved ones at home.
We are going on a march of about 12 miles this afternoon & will get to camp about 8 oclock tonight.
The mail closes tomorrow morning my love so I will have to get this note in by 9 oclock tomorrow morning. There are thousands of horses
here darling & they do look fine. We had a visit from 2 of the 16th officers & they had some interesting tales to tell about Gallipoli.
One of the Navy men there says that the Australians are devils not men. He says that one of the boats were cut about so much that it nearly
sank. Well these men did not have any ammunition in their magazines and had not fixed bayonets.
Well when the fire came one of the men jumped into the water & when he came up he had 10 rounds in his magazine & bayonet fixed. I shall
have to knock off now dearest & dress for parade 3.45 pm. I will finish this when I come back.
Here we are again darling. It is now 11 oclock & we have just got back from a 15 mile march through Cairo, the filthy dirty yet vastly
interesting city. Well my love we started off about 4.30 pm. and about 110 in the shade to start the march. First of all I must tell you
that the whole battalion are in short pants & Holland shirts now & they look fine. After passing through Abbassia we reached the outskirts
of Cairo and at once we were struck with the ancient buildings there & the most ugly people that I think it is possible to meet in life,
There is a splendid Electric train & tram service also motor cars & gharry's ie cabs. It was about 7.30 when we arrived at the capital
which you will see by the picture is a beautiful place built by Saladin out of the stones of the smaller Pyramids I believe in 1176. Again
the people I believe there are somewhere about 700,000 inhabitants in Cairo & they comprise Europeans, Egyptians Mussalmans or Capobs,
Oriental immigrants, Turks & Syrians, Nubians, Negroes & Bedouins. So that you can imagine the kaladioscope picture that presents itself to
one. They all appear to wear a distinctive dress & the more colours they use the better it suits them. There appear to be few French people
about & there appears to be hundreds of houses of ill fame. A lot of the houses are just about falling down through age. Cairo began in
the year AD 640. So that it is pretty ancient. One thing strikes you here darling wife & that is the people work on Sundays building
houses & all sorts.
I gave a bottle of lemonade & some biscuits to a tiny little French girl about 18 months or two years old or perhaps she may have been more,
while we were halted in Cairo. & she said thank you m'sieur so prettily. The little one reminded me of my own sweet little Rae & she had
little dark curls on her hair. Again one could see some really fine looking women in Cairo but they were few & far between.
The way that the people live is a mystery to everyone. Certainly they seem to have nothing at all to do & there are thousands of them.
We passed the Continental Hotel & also Shepheards & they are magnificant buildings full of Generals & staff officers I think judging by the
numbers we saw there.
Now my love I must say that the 28th are a really splendid lot. The discipline of the march was excellent & not one man dropped out which I
think speaks for itself. I will tell you about some more sights next time I hope darling & then again I will try & describe something on
the post cards.
I did not receive the Photos yet my sweet or anything but your sweet letter. Thank you so much darling for your lovely little prayer. May
God do as you wish my own. Somehow I seem to think that He will & then I will be able to cheer you my darling once again. Now dearest love
it is 12.15 AM. & reveille at 4.30 AM. in the morning so I had better stop. May Heaven bless you my dearest one & darling daughter &
comfort you my own in our terrible grief is the earnest wish & prayer ofYour Own true & devoted daddy with oceans of love & kisses Good
Night sweetheart.
You will remember me to all friends I know darling & also offer my deepest sympathy to those that need it love & Mother, I am so sorry that
dear Mothers not well but perhaps she may be by this time.
Ever yours my love
Daddy Berthold
PS I am scribbing a few lines to Father & Dutch dear. Good night my love & remember
Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not
for such is the Kingdom of heaven
Peace Perfect Peace
By thronging duties pressed
To do the will of Jesus
this is rest
Letter addressed to wife dated 16th July 1915.
Abbassi, Cairo, Egypt
July 16th 1915
My Own darling wife & little love,
God grant that this finds you stronger now my love after the terrible time that has passed. It will seem years dearest until I get a letter
from you telling me how our darling boy passed away, but be strong my sweet & put your trust in Him. Now love I want to tell you the little
news that there is to tell from here as we are still quarantined and it does not end until Saturday night next. We still have very long
hours here and really I think that that is the cause of half the sickness that is here. There are about 100 men per day on the sick list
most of them through diarrhora & berritis. Well my love on Monday last we had a route march of about 8 miles. I took command of the company
& rode the major's horse, it was fine. We went to a place called Qubba, a suburb of Cairo, and as old as the hills. Some of the place was
quite new & one place in particular was very fine. It had beautiful scroll work on the walls & also under the ceilings it had handpainted
views, a garden in the front with great iron gates completed the picture. One thing that strikes one here dearest is the nunber of places
that have a building like a lodge on either side of the of their front fence & some of them are most artistic.
I received the Photographs on Monday darling & I was delighted to once again have them. I must get a frame for them as soon as possible so
as to have you before me in photogravure at least. I am always praying for you my Wife & little Rae & somehow it seems to cheer me up
considerably.
I sent pd12 to you darling. It was all the money I had & the mess account will have to go pot for a while. I know that you need it darling
for the burial expenses of our darling boy. May God bless his little soul. I have written a B.C. to Father & Addie also to Madge Dodd &
Allie & a letter to dear Mother.
On the 13th I was Capt of the day being very busy & tired out at night. It was fairly cool today about 100 I think. On the 14th I got up
feeling pretty tired & I can assure you, but I took the company out for a route march & we had a march through some of the dirtiest streets
that I have yet seen. Houses or hovels more nearly describes them, were crowded together & in some of them could be seen women children
goats dogs and bags rugs dirt and filth all mixed up together and lain out on the floor. We then passed through some fine country called
the garden city, & no doubt it was fairly named.
15th (on the) I took the company out for a small scheme & taught them the use of the small entrenching implement. We came home to camp
singing so that is the right spirit darling is it not?
16th Today my sweet I bought you the most beautiful piece of embroidery that I have seen. It is a blouse, piece silk with a collar piece
attached. It is made by the ladies of the harem they say out of silk provided by the rich people. The article was then sold & the proceeds
given to the mosques. I hope that you will like it my darling. I will buy you some beautifull scarf lengths of glorious work in egyptian
and also a table centre they are magnificent & of course very expensive but as the Post master at Cairo said that there is no duty on it,
it will be much cheaper than if bought in Australia. I will register it darling & send it by this mail.
Some of the things that the dealer was showing us were superb & you can imagine the prices when some of the wealthy officers bought as much
as pd36 worth in a few articles. Of course everything is hand made & that makes it all the more interesting. We have a Capt Belfield
attached to us from the Devonshire Regt. He saw 3 months in France & is able to give some rather good impressions from there. I met Col.
Holms yesterday. He is the officer that took the 1st Division to Rabaul you will remember.
I am looking forward to a visit to Cairo darling so that I will be able to tell you something about it.
The quarantine is lifted tomorrow so that probably I will have a chance soon. On our different marches dearest we sometimes see native
women carrying babies & goodness knows only knows what. The poor little ones on their mothers seem poorly fed & ill nourished and yet they
do live while our sweet little one cared for by loving & tender hands passes away. There is nothing that makes me think of home more than
seeing little children darling whether they be black or white. I always have a tender spot in my heart for them. Tonight dearest we are
going on a long night march so that I expect I will be fairly tired when I come home to camp. All the men in the Battn are keen as mustard
and 'D' Company in particular. I have charge of all the messing and accounts together with crimes & punishment of the Company, so that I am
kept going pretty well and by the time that I write to my darling wife & little Rae there is not much time left for anything else.
Today darling it is Saturday and quite hot again. I am Captain of the day today & have just finished my inspection of the battalion lines.
We went for a route march as a brigade last night and it looked fine just before dark last night we started off & went about 12 miles
partly through a place called Qubba & partly through Highlands & the remainder through desert. Passing through Qubba we could see some
beautiful places & the natives were still working on them at 9 oclock at night. There does not appear to be any trouble about labour here
and just fancy an Australian working all day for 2 1/2d which is what some of the natives do here. We had a look through the building dear
& also at the big swimming bath at the rear about half as big as the Kalg baths. You will guess that those that are able to swim made good
use of it. They fill it twice a week with fresh water.
We then got the motor again dearest & started back to Cairo. We took along with us an Egyptian Christian lad that Bert Davey had seen
before & he was going to show us a couple of old Mosques. We arrived in Cairo without mishap & then took a Gharry to the slums where the
Mosques were. The first one that we went through was the Sultan Bahoub about 700 to 800 yrs old. On reaching the entrance (in a dirty
little alleyway) we had to put on a pair of huge sandals over our boots so as not to defile the floor.
The Policeman on duty outside wanted to stop the lad from going in because he did not give the police (backshis) money, but I told the
nigger cop that as the lad was doing no wrong he was going to take us in & that was the end of it. Well Mother darling. One could go on
talking about the beautiful work for a week.
We passed through numerous chambers, with big wooden gates or doors heavily studded with brass and weighing a couple of tons. The ceilings
of some of the chambers were supported by enormous granite pillars from 30ft high to 3'6in thick & polished. The bases of them were set into
molten lead to give them good bearing. All around the walls dearest there was the most marvellous designs in inlaid Ivory & Mother of
Pearl, Glass & Torquoise. The celings were made up of the most glorious blend of design & colour that one could wish & the windows while
the sun was shining through them looked lovely. The one big dome in the Mosque is 150 ft high & had a chain hanging straight down the
centre. Below the chain is the tomb of the Sultan Bahoub & every Friday they hang a lantern on the chain.
The Sultan's son is also buried there & the father & son must have been enormous men, because at either end of the tomb there is a granite
slab the exact height of Father & son. I should say the Father was 7ft & the son 6ft 8in. On one side of the tomb is a small semicircular
recess & in this the sultan used to pray. On either side of the recess are two polished granite pillars that the people call the lemon
stones. When they had anything wrong they would bring a lemon, squeeze it on the pillar & then knock their nose against the pillar & make it
bleed by this means they thought they would be cured.
Now my Sweet Mother wife just imagine people doing such things now (the blood stains are still there).
We went to the second mosque dear & here we came across much the same work only here we saw some wonderful woodcarving in sandalwood.
The original Koran darling that was used here was about 9in thick and about 4ft square so that you can see they did not hold it to read.
This mosque was built for Bahoubs wife & 7 daughters. The wife is in a tomb & the 7 daughters underground in tombs. This dome is about
125ft high.
I had a look at the Koran kept by the wife's tomb in a baize cover but of course it was written in Arabic. After coming out we of course
had to give the old haggard attendant something & then walked to the bazzar. There is no such thing as Sunday observance in Cairo & I
bought you a beautiful little bottle of scent dearest, pure rose. the maker wanted 4/- but I beat him down to 2/- of course there is only
a few drops but I will send the bottle. After this we walked on & saw the native weavers making silks, braids, cloths, carpets and in fact
almost everything that one could think of.
We then went again to the Saults darling & had tea.
After tea we thought we would take a Gharry & drive through the slums & all around the centre of the city & my love I can assure you that
in your wildest dreams of dirt filth squalor & immorality you could not imagine the scene. You can rest assured we cleared through pretty
quick back to Dresney again & then to a small entertainment. I was wishing you could have seen the beautiful ceiling in the show dearest,
it was splendid. Some of the singing was very good but it was in french.
There was a cornetist that played three instruments at once & he was excellent.
We came home darling bride tired out. But considering it was the first day I had been out of camp, (had it not been for the most tender of
memories) rather nice & giving daddy something to write to Mummie about to try & cheer her up.
On Friday this week darling I went to Cairo again to draw pd600 for pay. I was only in about 1 hour. I took the Quarter master Sergt. with
me & we walked about 1200x to a tram. It then only cost us 1 piatre = 2 1/2d to go about 8 miles. The bank is a beautiful place & the
officials most polite. Coming back we mistakenly got into the second class compartment of the tram & rode from Cairo to the Abbassia
junction for 2 milliemes = 1/5 paitre or about 1/2d. Of course all the officers roared when I told them that I rode 4 miles for 1/2d.
In Friday night dearest Bert Davy & I walked over to Heliopolis to see one of our chaps, Lieut Hargraves, who has gastric trouble. The Palace
Hotel Hospital darling is something glorious. One corridor alone is 250 yds long so that you can imagine the length of it.
There is a constant stream of motor ambulances going to & fro here. Some with loads & some empty.
Well my Own Darling wife it is now about 2 oclock a.m. where you are & I think I can see you hugging our little one to your lovely breast &
praying even in your sleep to God to join us again in true & devoted love.
I often imagine little Rae praying for Daddy dearest & it is in thoughts like these that I spend the times between work. I am sending you
the Photographs darling & I do hope that you got the Blouse safely.
Now my precious ones to God's glorious mercy & protection & comfort I commit you. May this blessing be always upon you & in the fullness
of time join us together again, The Jesus Christ our comfort. Amen
Berthold
Good night my Love from your devoted Daddy & Husband. Hugging precious little Rae.
Letter addressed to wife dated 24th July 1915.
Polygon Camp, Abbassia, Egypt
July 24th 1915
My Own beloved wife & little one,
May God strengthen you and comfort you. I received your loving letter written on the 20th June dearest & I can see that you are still at
Bayswater. I wonder darling whether you will get my letters quickly. I know the terrible time that it must seem to you dear now that one
of our little gleams of sunshine has gone to Heaven. Try to cheer my sweet wife & remember that it is His will.
I expect that you will have got a letter from Seuz by this time my sweet but what has happened since the time I wrote. It is Saturday
evening now dear & I am sitting in my tent. Practically all the officers have gone to town and 25% of the men.
Owing to the enormous cost of almost everything in Egypt the men have practically no money to go on leave with and of course there is a wet
canteen in Camp. There still appears to be a good deal of sickness in camp dearest about 10 to 12% everyday. mostly colds & sore throats.
There are enormous clouds of dust that blow about here darling & they just about choke one.
Now darling I think I told you in my last letter that I would be on leave last Sunday, & that I was going to try to see some of the sights
of Cairo.
Well first of all on Sunday morning we had combined church service in one of the big mess huts & really darling it does anyone good to
listen to the hearty singing of hymns by the men & the splendid sermon preached by the minister.
Well love after service, (& you know how I would pray for you all & our departed darling, don't you dearest) We had breakfast then got a
Gharry (a four wheeled buggy) 5 of us & started off. We went to Shepheard's Hotel in Cairo a really magnificent place but frightfully
expensive. From there we went to see the second largest in Cairo, the Grand Continental, another beautiful palace. From there we went to a
place called Saults a cafe for lunch. For a 4 course lunch it cost 20 piastres, about 4/- , so that you can imagine things are pretty dear
here. Well love about 1.30 pm we bargained for a motor to take the party out to the pyramids and after a good bit of haggling we got it for
100 piatres. That included an hours wait and return journey.
We started off love and if the place was not so dangerous (it is martial law everywhere) I would have loved you to see the wonderful sights.
Passing through Cairo one sees palatial dwellings alongside squalid hovels. Then magnificent shops, again squalor. On the outskirts of Cairo
we came across the Nile really a wonderful river when you allow yourself to think of the scenes that have been enacted on it. A good bridge
over the Nile and then one came across the Botanical Gardens. Something after the Adelaide style I think. Again looking back towards Cairo
one sees a wonderful sight. Spires Minarets & Domes, Flags Egyption English French Italian & Green patches making altogether a glorious
sight.
Now darling we are on the way to the Pyramids, in front about 10 miles. On the right of the road about half way we could see beautiful
houses & on the left agiculture of the primitive type. The road was very dusty & of course hot & along its sides one sees the inevitable
arabs sleeping right out.
Well darling we got to the terminus and at once there was a scramble made by the guides, camel men & donkey men. After more bargaining we
decided to have camels & a guide for 3/6 each. Lieut Smith would not ride a camel so he took a donkey. Well one gets disappointed love when
one gets to the pyramids. There are certainly big stones in them but nothing as big as we expected. The big one that you will see in the
Photo is an enormous height & I daresay if we had time I should have climbed it. We did not go inside but went straight on to the Sphinx,
a marvellous thing cut out of solid stone but now worn by ages of hot grinding sand.
We had a Photograph taked there darling wife, so you be able to show our sweet little Rae of Sunshine what Daddy looks like with a
moustache. Mr Smith would not have it taken with him on a donkey so he had to borrow a Camel. He said that people would say two of a kind.
He is a good sport. The glare of the sun was terrific so that we could hardly open our eyes.
We then dismounted love & you would have screamed to see the way that two of the chaps hung on.
We then went down to the temple of the Sphinx. A really remarkable place with its enormous granite blocks of polished stone, no cement, but
just fitted together. Long ago there were 24 statues in one of the chambers & the floor is pure alabaster stone white & transparent. We
left the temple & came back to the terminus at the Mena House Hotel, now a convalescent hospital. The place must have been a splendid place
during the tourist season dear but now of course now only the necessary things are done there.
On looking through the casualty list I saw a name Westrop. Inquiring. I came across the Goldfield's Westrop's brother. He has had two fingers
blown off his left hand by shrapnel.
Again dear we passed through Heliopolis at night & you will remember what I told you about it well at light it looks twice as nice, with
the brilliant lights & full of Tommies. After leaving Heliopolis we struck out across the desert & had some practice in silent marching.
'D' Coy received the commendation of the staff as being the best company in the brigade. Just before coming into camp darling I saw two
most brilliant meteors & I at once thought of the beautiful meteor that showed in the night of our darling Rae's birth. Now darling I am
sending you that parcel by registered Post. I am longing for a letter from you so you must endeavour to write every week dear there is a
mail every week from Aus.
You said in your letter dear that (Nick) was dangerously wounded. That is not so. He is as well as ever. He was just wounded a bit in the knee but
is as fit as a whale now.
I weighed myself on the army services scales today & go eleven stone with uniform on so that I have not gained or lost anything since I
left Aus. I wish that I was as sure that you are the same. Well darling the quarantine was lifted today & we are giving leave to 25% of the
men but I cannot leave camp owing to being Capt of the day. I may be able to go out tomorrow but I am given to understand that things are
awfully expensive since the Military Occupation.
We have some City of London yeomanry quarterd here & they are scrags. Our boys are miles ahead of them in everything. There are about 7000
horses hereabouts and they look splendid just eating their heads off.
Every night we can hear them neigh & stampede when the feed whistle goes.
Now my darling I wonder whether our little Rae is behaving herself & whether she does what you tell her. I know that she will be a comfort
to you & will help you to be as brave as you always have been to await Daddie's return.
We may be here for a long time yet darling, but I do hope that it gets cool soon.
After you get strong again love I would like you to run over to Adelaide. I think that you would regain some of your health love if you
would. I am longing for news dearest so much. I am relying on you darling to tell me all there is to tell won't you. Now I must close with
God's greatest blessing & protection over my Darling Wife & little Rae. Au Revior my precious Wife. Oceans of love & Kisses.
Ever your
Faithful & Devoted Husband
Daddy Berthold
Kindest regards to all & Miss Molly Sugg
28 Battn, 7th Brigade, Polygon Camp, Abbassia, Egypt
Letter addressed to wife dated 31st July 1915.
Polygon Camp, Abbasia, Egypt
Saturday 31st 15
My darling Wife & little one,
Truly the letter that you wrote of the 4th dear was the saddest that was ever penned by you, or read by me. My wife you know that when your
heart bleeds mine does also so that anything that I have left unsaid you will understand.
I am so glad darling that our little son was not lain to rest in Boulder. For when we are reunited love we are not going to live again in B.
but in a more agreeable place. I felt gratified to learn that our friends were so kind to you my sweet & that they helped you to look on
the bright side.
Also darling bride I am also proud to read from you that recogonise that it is Gods will. My Brave True love. You are truly the wife of a
soldier & pray God that I may be as brave when the time comes.
I expect our darling little Rae is still bouncing about love & that by this time her cold is better. And also that by this time my love the
wound in your heart will have somewhat healed.
I feel very much indeed that the doctor & Nurse were so kind & I want you love to express my gratitude.
By this time you should have received either 2 or 3 letters from me dearest. I got your last letter on Friday 30th & you wrote on the 5th
so that it takes 25 days to come out. I don't know how much longer it takes to reach Australia.
I have not been out anywhere for 2 weeks now my love so that I have not much news to tell this week.
I am not sure whether I told you that Dean Berman had a bit of fun the other week.
It was about 6.30 a.m. & he was not up. Well a donkey was being loaded up with two baskets(like a signaller's basket) & all at once he took
fright & bolted dragging that baskets behind & bumping into everything.
The Dean's tent was in the way & of course down it came with a rush & the sight that all hands saw was a frightened priest sitting on his
bed when they pulled the tent off him.
Donkeys are real good fun. Some of the chaps go for rides on them & they call the races the Abbasia Cup or Hairdressers Handicap. I can
just imagine young Rew on one or even Rae love. You cannot fall off & they are absolutely without vice.
On Thursday last we had a bivouac out about 5 miles from camp. At daybreak we had an attack on a position held by two companies of another
battalion. 'D' Coy had half of the line of attack & I had charge of the firing lines & supports with Major Welch in rear with reserve. The
Brigadier accompanied me nearly all the way & I can assure you dear wife, my men worked splendidly.
After this attack we marched back to camp & had breakfast, a wash & shave. Then there was a pow wow & I received the commendation of the
Brigadier & also of the staff for the way the work was carried out. Whilst waiting for the pow wow, I had a very pleasant surprise. I saw
someone that looked familiar at the Battn Head Quarters & on going up I found it was Stanley Watson! He is a Lieut in the 2nd Divisional
Signal Company & had just come back from the trenches at Gallipoli. He has not had a scratch so far and is looking well.
Stan has not heard from home for 6 weeks because he has all his letters at Gallipoli. He supposes I must get him to come to mess as soon as
possible to have a talk. We only had about 5 minutes then. He is at Div. Head Quarters in Heliopolos.
Jack Williams is also there & Major Cass also. I must try to see them. On Friday I was Captain of the day & had a fairly busy day but in
the evening I went over to the Hospital with Bert Davey & while there met a nurse among others named Nurse Smith. My darling you cannot
imagine the amount of work that these poor women have to do, & the way that they are treated by their matrons. Well darling this poor girl
had just received news that her Fiance is killed at the front & naturally she was frighfully upset & yet there she was on duty having to
forget her own worries in the administering to the sick & wounded. You can imagine my delight at being able to speak to a lady once again
dear wife for the first time since leaving Suez on the boat. The Stewardess (Miss Stromson) it was lovely though. Of course I could offer
her my heartfelt sympathy.
There have been 14000 cases in the Palace Hospital since January & only 109 deaths so that speaks volumes for the care & attention devoted
to the poor chaps. Major Wilson of our Battn has had his wife here on business matters. She is still here staying at the (Pension) Board
House, Heliopolis. Mrs Mort Reid is here also. She has come to try & find some trace of poor old Mort. but I am afraid there is no hope. He
was shot in the thigh & was not seen since. Good old Rae Leane has been doing glorious work & has now gone to England for a health
recruiting trip. He has only a few bruises on his face & is otherwise well. I saw one of our Boulder boys in the Hospital. He was in Boulder
the day we came away. He was with the 7th, 16th Reinfts. A Big shell went off just a little way away from him & he was thrown head over heel.
On going over he was shot in the back of the neck with a bullet. He is getting along fine. Poor old Jeffery had been shot in the ankle & so
far I have not seen him again. No doubt you will have heard that Pinnell has been killed & also Lieuts Hall & Robertson. I don't know
whether the news has been sent out yet.
On Saturday last 14th inst. Bert Davey paid for a Gharry to take us out to the Obelisk at Heliopolis. It was a beautiful drive to the place
& we saw the famous monument, supposed to be built 500 or 600 years before Christ. The drive takes you past the avenue of trees called the
Avenue des Sphinx. & through a village typically Egyptian. Coming back we called at the Virgin Mary's well, & had a drink of water. Also
sat under the tree that was supposed to shelter the Virgin Mary when she fled with her baby from Jerusalem.
The tree is really not the one that was originally there but was planted on the same spot. This one also died about 1906. It is a
beautiful tree and old enough to become petrified by age.
Cairo has been out of bounds these last three days & that was owing to the fact that the feast of Ramedan has ended & the natives are
likely to become unfriendly. The waters of the Nile are opened again and of course the low lying lands will soon be swamped again.
Today (Sunday) after church service which was conducted by a minister (who was broad Scotch in accent & presbyterian in theory) we had
breakfast & then (oh by the way darling I am not sure that I have told you, we altered our mess from black and now we have our own men
cooking & waiting. It is much better & by far cleaner. Of course I dare say it is going to cost us a bit more, but it is certainly worth
it. We now have white bread & steak & Roast beef etc.) Bert Davey & I went for a ride on horseback to the place called the dead city. We
saw all the old tombs of the Marmeluchs & the people of the massacres & plagues. The scourge that passed through the place wiped it out in
24 hours. On passing the roads where they are levelling off we saw hundreds of skulls human & bones of all description. It was a gruesome
sight & one to be remembered for many a long day. The heads on most cases were covered in hair & one in particular was covered in red hair.
He must have been one of Rider Haggard's strays.
Well my Own sweet love I am hopeful of being able to tell you shortly that the situation at the Dardenelles will have cleared & that
another form of fighting will take place.
I was doing bayonet exercises with the company on Saturday morning when the General (Legge). He said that the Turks were not as a rule good
marksmen & that they very seldom waited for the bayonet. He had quite a long talk with me & seemed rather pleased at what I had to say
about different things. Especially about the rifle.
There are a number of Barracks around here until lately occupied by Imperial troops. Today (Sunday) they are converting them into Hospitals
etc.
It is a soul inspiring sight, my love to see the Hospital trams coming by our lines.
One sees nothing but Kahki round here on everybody that appears of English origin. & I can assure you darling that the name that our
glorious battn has got. the J.O.B.s (you will not think me profane) (Jesus own battalion) is very proudly earned & retained. Today there
took place the burial of our first casualty. A man named L/Cpl Quick of B Coy who died of pneumonia. The general health of the troops is
excellent although of course the usual number of colds & sore feet etc. are here.
Our training dearest, is getting more severe & of course it is necessary. The Fifth brigade moved off today & there is every probability of
our going shortly, perhaps a very short time. My own sweet, the faith that we have has a marvellous effect on me. Somehow I always seem to
feel stronger & more hopeful after prayer. & I know that it has the same effect upon you my love. Probably before you get this letter you
will have received a wire for I will wire you darling when we move.
Our Company 'D' has done some very good shooting at musketry & came out 2nd in the Battn. Personally I shot with about 6 different rifles &
I came about 3rd I think in the battn.
I should have liked to get one of those little kodak cameras but so far I have only been able to pay my bills. I will have quite a few
photos by the time I come back (with God's will). And I think that they will at least be interesting.
I remember darling wife how I used to love to look at Photographs taken of the Sth African war. Of course these things cost a few piastres
each, but they are something that one cannot replace.
Now my sweetheart I must close for want of news. All our officers are well & did some good work at a school that some of the junior
officers had to attend. I do hope that you got my first mail posted at Suez alright my love & also the little packets. Your last letter
letter my own only took 21 days to come but I have not had a letter for just on 3 weeks. I have just heard enormous cheering going on & now
they are singing 'God save our King' over at Heliopolis about 1 3/4 miles from my tent as I write. It is because the fifth brigade are
moving off. May God bless them & guide them to victory.
My precious helpmate I know that my little Rae is praying for daddy's safe return, & may God help me to stay strong & true to my darlings &
may He guard & protect you all my wife, is the earnest prayer of your devoted husband Berthold
With best love to all. Mother & Dutchy Madge Clar Charl Doad Albi Hew and all the others
Letter addressed to wife dated 7th August 1915.
Polygone Camp, Abbasia, Egypt
7 Aug 1915
My own Sweet loved ones,
How are you now darling? I do trust that you are getting stronger now & that our little darling Rae is well & not giving you too much
trouble. I know that you have numerous worries darling, but we must try & be as cheerful as possible under the circumstances. and put our
trust in Him that loves all. Well my own wife I was very much disappointed in not getting a letter this week from home. You know that news
of my loved ones is more to me than aught else don't you love? But the mail arrangements are not of the best and of course we cannot always
get the mail on time, but I am living in hope darling of getting one on Monday at least. We are still having warm weather dearest & dust.
I wrote to Mother darling this week but I don't know whether the letter would go with this one or not. I told you in my last letter dear
that I would tell you about our trip to Sakkara. Well darling We started off at 8.45 in the morning & took the Gharries to the Abbasia
train. Electric from the station, we went to Cairo by train thence to the car stand. We had a photograph taken at the camp before starting
which I am sending to you. Well darling we went round the place of the big fire in Cairo. There were about 5 houses of ill fame burnt of
about 5 stories high. After visiting there we went out to Mena to visit the pyramids of Cheops. This was the one that we saw from the
outside on Sunday week last. Well my dearest we had a look through this time & honestly the scene was weird. First of all one is rushed by
about 50 guides jabbering & wanting to be selected. After about 15 minutes we managed to select a number and started off. We went first of
all down a narrow opening for almost 20x very slippery & steep. Then up a steep incline that took all ones time to climb. There were nicks
every 18in or so to enable one to get up the steep tunnel. After about 15 minutes climbing we came to the Kings chamber or Vault, which
still contains the sarcophagus of the King but is now empty. The coffin is hewn out of solid rock and is polished granite.
Otherwise there is nothing to see there, except that round the walls there are numerous inscriptions carved out. The air is obtained by two
air shafts that run out at an angle. Coming down again we branch off into another chamber called the queen chamber. This chamber is
slightly smaller than the first about 32x18x18 & contains nothing but smells.
We were glad to get out of the stinking place I can tell you darling & my word, talk about turkish baths. I think that they must be cool to
this pyramid. We were fairly ringing out with perspiration & yet the guides did not seem to mind it at all. I should think that a lady
would require a pretty sound constitution to stand the trip.
Well love we then went to the cafe opposite the Mena House & had lunch under the trees. There are quite a large number of troops again at
Mena & of course the place was crowded with tommies & wounded. & talk about ribbons on tunics; there was a major there that had as many as
could be got across twice. Imperial men of course.
After lunch we started off on our long trip & I can assure you darling that had we known the length of it we would not have gone, just
fancy about 24 miles ride on a camel & donkey, we changed about. We passed through Indian corn fields with cane about 10 to 12 feet high,
& then through arab villages & then over pure desert. We each had a driver, mostly young men & they ran all the way. We could not help
admiring the way they do it. & one of them was observing the feast of Ramadan, a fast in which they do not eat anything between daybreak &
7 p.m. Just imagine practically running all the way on an empty stomach. No drink or eat at all. You can imagine how he jumped at the
chance to eat when I told him it was 7 oclock. I was much struck with their devotion to their faith darling & it is apparent everywhere
from high to low. Well after passing a whole string of pyramids in varying stages of decay & demolition, we could see where the different
Schycological societies have been mining for jewels & precious stones & ancient data (the place looks like an immense alluvial field.)
We came to a place called Mariette House, an old tumbledown structure built by one of the ancient explorers of this part. Having had a
drink of Ginger beer & beer for those that drink, we started off again the visit the tombs of Serapium. The entrance is through a big iron
gate & you go down a few steps & then immediately you are in a big tunnel, with lighted candles we started off & explored the famous tombs
of the 24 sacred Bulls. They are hewn out of solid granite blocks brought from Aswan about 100 miles down the Nile, & are about
14ftx8ftx8ft. Polished & hewn out hollow for the sacred bull, the walls or sides are about 12 inches think & the cover consists of one big
stone of 4ft thick that covers the whole affair. The whole thing is polished & of course the joint between the cover & tomb is almost
invisible. There are 24 like this in different places in the tunnel & each one was let into a separate vault.
Having inspected this place that thousands have spent thousands of pounds to see, we then retraced our steps to Mariette's House, had a
spell & then went on to another lot of tombs that were under lock & key. In these tombs were some of the most marvellous sculptor work that
one could wish to see. Just carved out of the Alabaster. Men, women and children, working, playing, singing & agricultural scenes. One of the
best was a scene showing a cow being milked, then showing the bull mounting the cow then the extraction of the calf really a marvellous
piece of work. Again the colours were preserved to a very great degree red & white seems to prevail. We left Sakarra at 5 p.m. & got to
Mena at 7.30 p.m. arrived at Cairo 8.30 tired & dirty.
We went to Shepheards Hotel had a wash & then went to a less expensive place to have some dinner.
I dont know dearest wife if I told you about the coinage here. it is weird & confusing. They give you 97 1/2 piastres for an English pound
& for an Egyptian pound you get 100 P.T. Everything is so many Piastres & a piastre is about 2 1/3 pennies. so that when you have to pay 5
P.T. for a drink it becomes rather expensive.
We arrived at camp tired out & were pleased to get to bunk. I went to Cairo yesterday to get the company's pay & I went in a Gharry, or as
they call it in arabic (an Arabayeeh) I took the Company Quarter Mast Sergt with me & we had a nice drive. We went past the slave market of
olden days. A great old building with what was once a moat all round. On one side of the building you can still see the stains of blood
that were caused by the execution of refactory slaves. (I meant to tell you darling that on our journey to Sakkara we passed dozens of
young children & they came running out to us crying Zaidah =(say ee dah) meaning good day. Some were quite naked & others wore a snake) On
leaving the slave market we passed along some really nice houses gay with plants & coloured curtains. Again passing buildings of great
splendour & architecture. I should love to to see inside some of these places to see the furnishing. They must be lovely.
Yesterday I had to wait 45 minutes at the bank then we went to a big boot place & got some hard boot polish 3 P.T. a tin. I then bought a
couple of metres of mosquito nett to keep the flies off at day time, for 12 P.T. at one of the big drapers Cicurelle, in Boulac Avenue,
Cairo. It is a French place & the beautiful costumes that are there would fairly make your mouth water. Some of the embroidery darling was
magnificent & the Lingerie department. Well you know how I love beautiful things.
The building itself is about as big as Boans.
We have been formed into the 2nd Aus. division now dear, under Maj. General Legge. You remember the officer that was on the Imperial General
staff for Aus.
Jack Williams is a captain now & attached to the General staff. I saw him on Sunday. he was riding a fine bay horse. He said the flies in
Gallipoli are so lean & strong that they are like little pieces of tin & you cannot kill them.
We have two fine bands in camp now darling, the 26th Batt & 27th. The music is lovely & on Sunday morning they play hymns.
I managed to get hold of a French conversational dictionary & am trying to learn a little French. The language seems to be pretty well
known here. I also got a nice little oak frame to put my darling's photo in & have it on my table so that I can see you every time I come
into my tent.
Major Welch (my company commander) & myself have a nice big Indian pattern tent about 20ft by 15ft so we are fairly comfortable. The only
thing that worries us between 12.30p.m. & 4.30 p.m. are flies. They crawl over you under & through one so that now we have got mosquito
netts.
Just at present we are doing musketry & we have to get up at 3.30 in the morning, march out to the range & start shootong at daybreak, back
to camp at 9 oclock for breakfast, then after breakfast we have orderly work to do till 12.30 pm lunch at 1.15 pm then parade again for
Musketry at 4.30 pm proceed to range & shoot till dark. We have had 5 days now & have 2 more to do. So that you can guess we feel inclined
for break at night.
I must send you a wire darling on Saturday so that you will get it on Monday morning, the anniversary of our marriage. My darling bride do
you remember the jovial prophesy of Rev. Collier how true it has come. Dont worry my own sweet love. We are in Gods care & He has already
ordained whether we live to an old age or die. My bride I dont want you to be morose but hold up by faith & all will be well. I picked up a
scrap of letter on the range this morning darling & it was apparently from a loved one in England to her sweetheart & she talked about
clouds with a silver lining etc. & also about looking toward the place where he lived & of her thoughts. It was a pretty little piece &
ended with your affectionate Selina. May God join them together again is my earnest prayer.
My queenie I really cannot think of any more to write about this time. So I will seal this with a loving kiss to the dearest of all women.
& my precious little Rae of Sunshine that is going to brighten our future home dear wife. & then we will forget all about our separation in
the joy of the reunion. Kiss my little one my love & get her to kiss you for daddy. & Give my love to Mother & all the others & to Dear old
Dutch. & to all inquiring friends kindly remember me. I have not heard from Father yet. Good night my beloved May God in his infinite mercy
watch over you & keep you all safe for Daddy's return, & comfort you in our loss darling. Au Revoir for awhile & these.
From Your beloved & Devoted Husband
Berthold
Letter addressed to wife dated 15th August 1915.
Darling, keep on addressing your letters the same & I think that they will always get me, fondest love Berthold
Abbasia Camp, Egypt
Aug 15th 1915
My Own sweet darling wife & Mother,
Sunday again & I am writing today to my queenie. I received 3 letters from you on Saturday dearest dated 11th, 18th & 21st of July. You can
imagine the pleasure that I have, my own, when I hear from loved ones at home. I am so glad darling that you are trying to bear up & putting
your faith in God. Surely he will comfort all.
So our little love Rae is still well I am thankful for that & no doubt the little sweetheart does comfort you by her prattle. I have you
before me as I write love, & I can see our Rae's smiling face & I know she will cheer you.
I am so grateful that you have a kind outsider to come & see you. In the midst of our sorrow we all think that people are callous &
indifferent but really darling I dont think they are. It is because they don't wear their feelings on the outside that we do not see them.
So poor old Jim Prat is back in Australia again. I don't think he will ever recover poor chap. And so Beresford is back also. I have heard a
good deal about our boys, dear wife & the Boulder boys have done well. You will remember L/Sergt Marshall of 'C' Coy that I wrote about
before, well he has since been back to the trenches & has now come back again to Cairo with his eyes out by a bayonet charge. I go to the
Hospital as often as I can to see the boys & they are all cheerfull & some of them are anxious to get back to the front.
I neglected to say I got a short note from Father, also some Kalg Miners for which I was very thankfull. I wanted to send you a wire
darling to commemorate the 4th anniversary of our wedding tomorrow but as I have absolutely no money I cannot do so. Still my love I will
send one as soon as I get some. Just four years my own & dont you remember the Rev Collier's words. Cheer up my love we will soon come
marching home again & the war will be over & peace regained.
The brigade goes out for a route march 3 times a week & last night they went for a march across the desert about 12 miles of dust so thick
that one could not see your comrade in front. Almost everyone is suffering from fine dust down the windpipe & of course everyone is
coughing a treat.
You really cannot imagine what it is like here dearest, absolutely no rain at all. I believe they had 3 drops once & they thought the world
had come to an end.
War news is awfully scarce here dearest. We only get direct news from men & officers wounded & of course the usual run of Russian victories.
I must find Jeffery on Wednesday night. I was lying down & he came in to camp.
We went on to the Darden on Thursday. He is well & fat. Also they had some excitement on the voyage. Called in to Colombo where apparently
a religious riot had broken out & people were being killed wholesale. Then again at Aden they called in but did not land. Some Turks have
been trying to get Aden but failed miserably. Our lads are still doing splendid work at Dardenelles. & on more then one occasion when the
English Terriers wanted to retire our boys hopped in & saved the day. I'll tell you a little tale dearest without the least
embellishment that originally were contained, absolutely guaranteed. Well love, 'A shell would drop in the trenches & the French would
duck, two shells would drop & the British would duck. Three shells would drop & the Indian Ghurkas would duck. Four shells would drop & the
Australians would yell out, 'who --- threw that'. Of course that is a Ghurkah yarn.
I do hope you get the parcel & Photos alright dear & also the pd12 that I sent you. Perhaps I may have some other Photos to send you
shortly dearest. We have the loan of a camera. Tomorrow a party of us are going out to a place called Sakkara about 20 miles away so that I
shall be able to tell you about it when I come back.
Our battalion has again earned the approbation of our chiefs & 'D' Coy in special.
We are starting musketry again on Monday dearest so that we will probably not be long after we finish our course. Uniforms are fairly cheap
here. I got a khaki Drill with stars & buttons for 25/- & it fits fine.
There are quite a number of staff birds here. They do try to cut a dash but apparently noone takes any notice of them.
I noticed in an English paper that L. Job was reported missing & also Mort Reid. I am just longing for a view of the sea again with all its
mighty array of ships of War. I must tell you about a gunboat that was at Alexandria. She has been out for 10 months looking for submarines
without success and one afternoon lately she captured 3 of them & of course they did not last long. This boat also caught the steamer that
laid the mine in the Suez canal, the one that blew up the Blue Funnel boat.
There is a story told of transport going to the Dard. full of troops, passing a hospital ship returning at night, a feeble voice from the
Hosp. ship 'Are we downhearted. Answer from Transport. No! Voice from the Hosp ship Well you jolly soon will be.'
I saw a dairy supposed to be written by Bob Hunter in the Army Star the other day. He appears to be one of the lucky ones so far.
I got a short note from Arthur Flowers the last mail. He says that two more chaps have gone from the mines to Blackboy, you will remember
the carter & the Hipe brother to the violinist. We are giving our messing contractors the sack darling & we are going to try a little on
our own. I don't think that I have had one really good meal since I came to this place & fruit is absolutely prohibitive. No doubt Jimmy
Peat will have arrived by this time & perhaps you may have seen him.
I see also that the first Hospital ship has reached Aust perhaps it may awaken some of the young stay at homes as to the need of strong
men. We are fighting now dear love for our very existence, our homes, & our loved ones. & the sooner that all the thousands that witnessed
our glorious march Perth, realise the fact, the sooner will war end. Now my dear heart you must try & be as strong as you can and all will
come well please God.
Monday morning. We started out yesterday morning darling, at 8 oclock & did not get back till twelve midnight, but as this mail is closing
now I will have to tell you about the trip in next letter. I am Capt of day today, & things are pretty busy. Gen Maxwell is going to be
here this morning.
Now darling wife to Gods gracious mercy & protection I commit you, & my dear little daughter; & may she comfort you dearest & try in her
own little way to fill the aching void. Au revoir my own sweet with oceans of love & kisses to Mother & Rae from your devoted Husband &
Daddy
Berthold
PS Give my love to Mother Addie Madge Dodd & Allie & also to Olar & little ones & to Clara & Charlie. Ever yours True till Death. Berthold
Give my love to Oliver & Harry & all the others
Letter addressed to wife dated 20th August 1915.
Abbasia Camp, Egypt
Aug 20th 1915
My Own Sweet darling Wife & Mother,
Another week has gone darling & I trust & pray that my loved ones are still well & strong & that God is gradually comforting you in your
need.
I have not received a letter from you this week my own, but I am hoping to do so soon. perhaps by the next longed for letter you will tell
me that you have received my first letter from Suez.
I wonder what my little love is dreaming about now, dear wife it is 7 oclock on Friday here, that makes it 1 oclock on Saturday morning
where you are. And you also darling, I suppose that you are thinking of me, I know you are even as - - at night.
Well dearest there has been no changes apparently here with exception of our Battn. We had orders arrive at Gaza, while we were out on
bivuoac night, to return to camp, pack up, and march to the Citadel in Cairo to garrison it by 7 a.m. the following morning. You can
imagine the rush that was necessary to get all our stuff packed and march out. 'D' Coy had the bad luck to be duty company for the battn &
of course all the fatigues of show fell on us we got through all right & now here we are in the Citadel of Historic fame, living in
Barracks & drilling on the barrack square. Our officers quarters are magnificent & our mess is a great big dining hall that overlooks the
whole of Cairo. The view is simply superb. One sees the ancient guns mounted on the battlements of the Citadel & beyond them the huge
panorama of Cairo with its Mosques Domes Minarets & tumbledown buildings all together making a wonderful sight. Away in the distance we can
see the Nile river gradually flooding the low lying country around. Again we see the green fields & far away in the distance the
interminable desert.
Sunday evening
My dearest again I am sitting down to write a few lines home. Today we had church service in the barrack square & afterwards I went to
communion service in the sweetest little chapel that one could wish to see. All the walls were decorated with handpainted scrolls & in the
little domes in the ceiling there are beautiful lanscape scenes painted. The Altar is very pretty & the Cross is almost like the one that I
made for St Mathews. They have an american organ there & it was very nice. Captain Montgomery used to be organist at St Georges Perth & in
Saturday evening he and I went there. he played & I sang. The acoustic properties of the little place were excellent & you know how I love
church music.
Now my love I had a very pleasurable meet on Saturday, no one less than Major Mansbridge & also Capt Aarons. Major has got his D.S.O. & you
can imagine how proud he is of it. He looks rather weak yet & he says that the doctors are not going to allow him to go back because his
blood is so bad. He wished to be remembered to you darling & also sends his sympathy. We had a long talk & he had some blood thrilling
incidents to relate. Capt Aarons had a bit of a wound in the knee but was otherwise alright & considerably thinner.
I am getting some small photographs of this place my love & I am sure that you will like them.
Our stay in this place has been lengthened I believe & I am not sorry for here we have hard soil to work on & comfortable quarters at night.
I forgot to tell you darling that I heard that Captain Leane has been recommended for the D.S.O. He had only a slight accident to his nose
& is otherwise well. I believe the sixteenth battn had by far the worst of the two scraps & except for the landing the 11th had a fairly
easy job.
We do not get nearly as much news here as you do in Australia, mainly owing to the fact that the place fairly teems with spies & of course
the people here (natives) are almost akin to the Turks. Therefore one has to be at least prudent. We see that Italy has come in the scrap
and of course the more men we have against the German, Turks & Austrians, the sooner the war will end & the sooner will we return to loved
ones.
There were two nurses here today darling from one of the numerous hospitals & we took them around for about an hour. Then they had to go
back on duty. They were wonder struck with the place and when we took them to the little chapel they wished they could stay there. We also
took them across to the Mohommet Ali Mosque the latest built mosque of Cairo only 104 years old. My darling it was simply wonderful the
whole of the place is built of alabaster a white transparent stone & the wonderful colouring & carving & the height & beauty of the place
overwhelms most people. On the floor they have the turkish carpets and of course one is not allowed in without first of all putting on the
sandals prepared for hire. I am sending you a Post C. of the place dear wife to show you something of it. Outside, in the courtyard, there
is a fountain called the devotion fountain, Mohommadens have to wash their head, face, hands & feet 3 times before going in to pray.
Again there is a well in the courtyard that goes down 900 ft. The guides make a great point of yelling down the well & then asking you to
hear the echo.
Inside again you see the beautiful chandelier that Louis the fourteenth King of France had & all around there are thousands of E. Lights.
I should have loved to see the effect when it was lit but we didn't.
I got a small piece of alabaster for you my love. It is shaped [diagram] it cost me 10 piastres or 2/- it will serve as a momento of my
visit. After the Mosque dearest we came back & had some afternoon tea at the mess & I showed the ladies your Photo. They said it was very
nice & when I told them about our little darling Allan they were most sympathetic & kind. They said that little sweetie Rae looked lovely
& coy & that she must be a sweet child.
If we have time during our stay at the Citadel I want to try to see the other ancient mosques & also the museum at Cairo. I believe it is a
marvelous place. Right here amongst us we have 500 horses of the Notts Hussers an old Imperial regt & it was founded 1n 1794 so that you
can see it has had some historic incidents to its name. & also the Sherwood Rangers another old Regt. They have only a few men here the
remainder having gone to the front as Infantry. Again we have 3 hospitals within our walls, two British & 1 for wounded Indians. My word
darling some of the Indians are keen looking & they come up to the salute like one man. I was Captain of the day yesterday & here we have a
long walk round all the guards and very steep climb occasionally. All the different courtyards are closed by enormous iron gates & the shot
that has been pumped into them by the enemy canon, have in some places come right through. I went right up on the roof of the Citadel mess
& it was a glorious sight.
Well darling I am hoping for a letter this mail & also to hear that you have received my letters from Suez. I trust that my letter from
there, my own, will not reopen your grief stricken heart. Cheer up my brave wife and try & look forward. I don't know when the mails are
leaving darling, they are so irregular. I expect that the weather is breaking over there now is it not and perhaps the sunshine that cheers
will make its appearance again. I have not had a chance to see Stanley again but I am living in hopes. Our company is receiving quite a
reputation for good feeding & discipline & yesterday the Reinforcements came in & they were all eager to join 'D' Coy. that is about 2/3 of
them. As I have this matter in hand (cooking etc) I think that the results are quite satisfactory.
I expect that our little love is growing like a house afire now darling wife & talking from waking to sleeping. I am so glad that the
little pet seems to understand & also to cheer you. I do hope that you can see Jim Prat dear & try to tell me how he is. I am afraid he
will not be much use after his illness. Well sweet I hope that poor Mother is quite well by this & that she will not worry but live in
hope. I am sending some P.C.s to the Girls dearest & I do hope that they got the little souvenirs of the Ascanius.
I must close now my own sweet wife & May God in his infinite mercy Guide Guard & Protect you & my darling daughter & May he comfort you &
Bless our absent son & give us faith in Him.
From your loving, devoted & soldier Husband
Berthold Menz
With fondest love to all
to Mother & Rae from Daddy in Egypt
We are likely to stop here sometime yet darling. B
Letter addressed to wife dated 27th August 1915.
Citadel, Cairo, Egypt
27/8/15
My Own Sweet love & little one,
God grant that you are well & strong Queenie & that our darling Rae is also. We have not had a mail for over a fortnight now but are living
in hopes of getting one today. It is now 10 oclock on Friday & I have just finished breakfast. Of course that does not mean that we have
just got out of bed, far from it. We are up at 5 a.m. and parade is dismissed at 8.30 a.m. It was our muster Parade today & 'D' Coy was
again to the fore in as much as they turned out better than the others. Today at 11.30 the General is going to have a talk to the officers
& N.C.O.s of the 26th Battn, probably about our departure. We are still quartered in the Citadel & I am forwarding you some views of the
place that I took myself & also some other Photographs. I am going to try and get a snap of the General this morning if possible.
I have just got news that the Lecture is cancelled so that the snap will not be taken.
Things are pretty busy now dearest & I don't think it will be long before we actually push off to the front. I have no doubt that we will
have a pretty rough time of it, for the W.A. Battalions have got such a good name that the hardest of the job is usually entrusted to them.
We are all on the que vive & of course there are all sorts of rumours floating around but they mostly unfounded.
Father Fahey was here yesterday. He is a case if ever there was one & the language that he uses is far from priestly.
Sunday afternoon. My own sweet wife, I did not have a chance to write to you yesterday. I had to prepare a whole lot of papers for Hdqrs. I
thought that once having left W.A. we would be finished with nominal rolls but apparently not so, for we had to furnish 5 copies of each
man. You will remember dearest one the two nights that I put in up at Blackboy, staying up till 3.30 a.m.
I saw Captain Collick dearest, he is at the Palace Hospital at Heliopolis. We had a long talk & he says that he would give his right hand
to be able to go away with the 28th Battn.
At present he is looking after some 5000 patients and you can imagine that he has not an enviable time. Hurrah my love I have just got your
two letters dated 25 July & 4th August. I am so delighted darling to get them they are just nectar to me & I expect that everyone of us is
the same. There is never any difficulty in getting sorters for the mail & today 'D' Coy was duty company so we had to furnish the fatigue
party. Now my own I hope that you will get all my letters safely. I know that it must have seemed ages to you darling before you got my
letter from Suez. I do hope you got the little parcel alright dearest. I am so sorry darling that Mother & Papa have still got their colds
but perhaps by this time they are quite well.
I trust that Mother got my letters alright dearest I know that she longs for them second only to my dear wife. I have not much time dearest
for writing & of course a little later on letters will have to be very short but I know that you understand & that you will tell all about
what I write won't you.
I am sending P.C. to most of the people for I have not got a chance to send them letters.
So Charlie is coming, I thought he would. No doubt Poor Addie is discontented up in Boulder but no doubt you will comfort her when you go up.
Of course you will be there now if you went on the 21st. I also today Allie & Dodd's notes. I am sending them a P.C. in return.
Olive & Harry sent their love in a letter dearest & also the little ones. I received a letter from Tom James of the Kalg. M. he was very
kind & says that things are just the same up there.
Father sent some papers dearest but I do not know when I will get a chance to read them.
Sunday Evening 9 oclock. We have finished mess dear & after mess we had some hymns on the piano & also some beautiful music duets & pieces
by Capt Montgomery & his sister.
His Mother & sister came here (Cairo) last Thursday & they are staying at Heliopolis with Mrs Maj. Wilson, Mrs Featherstone-Hay, Mrs Read &
Mrs Mecham. They all came to the Citadel tonight except Mrs Read so that we had a good talk. It was lovely to talk to a lady like Mrs
Montgomery. She is so kind.
There are so many things to see here darling that I don't suppose they will go back to Australia for some time. But Mrs Wilson is going
back on Wednesday. I do wish that I could see you again for even a day dearest, but God knows when we are going to see each other again &
in his wisdom we trust. I am so glad dear wife that the church gives you comfort because I am sure that you need it & also our little
darling Rae. I pray to God night & morning that Rae may be able to comfort you until I return.
You must not worry darling but think of the joy of reunion & the splendour of that meeting will almost obliterate the parting.
My own girlie. I know that your mind is troubled but when we think of all the thousands of like true hearted & brave women that have sent
their loved ones to fight for King & country. We must put a smiling face in things & as to God leaving you only our darling Rae to Kiss you
dearest. Who knows but that God will someday bless our lives with another little son to fill the place of our lost one.
I saw Capt (Temporary) Major Jack Williams yesterday. He went to the front again today.
You said Aunt Adelaide has not heard from Stanley. Well he is well & has built a pier at Gallipoli that thay call Watson's Pier.
We are moving out of the Citadel tomorrow Monday & are going to camp again in the desert, but don't alter your address dearest & perhaps
all the letters will reach me. I must try & write a few times to Mother. Dear, it is now 11.30 p.m. & I have to be up at 5 in the morning.
All our kits have to be packed by 6 a.m. so we will have to move.
Living is awfully expensive here my love. & I find that 8/6 a day is just sufficient to pay expenses & that is all. The men are better off
for they get their 1 or two bob a day & everything supplied.
I am sending some little Photos dearest so you will be able to show darling Rae what daddy looks like in Egypt.
Now I must close with fondest love my precious ones & may God Bless, keep, comfort & protect you & in his own good time join us again in
the bonds of Holy love is the earnest wish & prayer of your devoted & absent daddy
Berthold
With fondest love & wishes to all B
for darling Rae & Mother
Letter addressed to wife dated 1st September 1915.
Heliopolis, Egypt
1.9.15
My own Sweet wife & little one
May God bless you darlings. We are off tomorrow for Dardenelles. Naturally everything is as busy as can possibly be. Men are being fitted
up with all the hundred & one things that are necessary & officers are kept hard at it.
I do hope that you will be strong in faith dearest & all will be well. I have just finished packing my kit for the march & I think it
weighs about 94 lbs. All our helmets had to be returned & now we are in service dress completely. No belts or stars or leggings, only
tunics, pants, puttees & hats web equipment.
Out brigade colours are blue (-) & our Batt white. They are worn just an inch below the shoulder with battn on top & brigade underneath
like this [diagram]
Of course white stands for purity & strength so that we ought to be alright. We marched out of the Citadel dearest about 5 oclock on
Monday & just before we left we had a big photograph taken of the battalion on the parade square. Of course the jolly thing just cuts me
out but it is otherwise a splendid Photograph. I am hoping to be able to get one before we go but it is doubtfull.
Well dear wife after marching about 8 or 9 miles we arrived at this, our new camp. 8.30 p.m. no rations & no blankets. We got things fixed
up & by the time I got my tea after walking another mile & a bit, it was 9.45.
We are just outside Heliopolis & on the edge of an enormous desert, right across the other side where we were last time.
We are messing with the training battalions, a long way away, we did not consider it necessary to start a mess for a couple of days.
Yesterday, sweet heart, I had to rush to the bank to get the company pay & back again. Coming home in the Gharry we had rather an exciting
time. First of all the Gharry knocked over a boy on a -, the youngster was on the wrong side of the road smashed the - but did not injure
the lad at all.
Next we just missed two youngsters on a donkey coming out from a side lane. Not being satisfied with that we must drive the Gharry over a
drop down wall of about 2' 6in. no damage & a lot of fun.
I have just had L/Sergt Marshall in to see me - you will remember his case. He is going back to Australia shortly, so I asked him to call
on you darling wife & he will be able to tell you about things, & myself.
We will probably be moving off at 10 oclock tomorrow morning & I am expecting a bit of a rush.
The men all seem quiet & determined & no doubt realise the responsibility that they are undertaking. I am sure that quite 90% of the men
know in their hearts that we are in God's hands, & that He will look after our loved ones in far off Australia. Now that our departure is
so near, we see men writing home in the few minutes that they have to spare & if one could read their letters I should think that there
would be great similarity between them.
Our men dear wife are determined to do their share & may God Guide them. Now doubt we will be given some pretty hard work to do but we
will do it, with God's help no less.
I expect that you will give a lot of anxious hours to thinking of your daddy dearest one but don't worry darling. Get little sweetheart Rae
to talk to you about daddy & you will get comfort I'm sure. Allie told me in her letter that our darling can almost say her prayers alone
now. Every night in thought I see you my love teaching our Rae to say those words that bring comfort to every aching heart. Pray on dearest
we need your prayers now if ever we did.
It is just dark now, dearest, & I will have to write later on.
I have got Cooks Agency to take my trunk. Their address is.
Thos. Cook & son (Egypt) Ltd, Near Shepheard's Hotel, Cairo.
This is the duplicate of the form that I filled in, dearest.
Friday Morning. We are leaving tonight my darling Wife & Please God we will soon be back & that the war will be over. I had a long day of
it yesterday Captain of the Day also. Pay matters etc. Everyone is packing up finally & I have just completed.
Yesterday morning I had breakfast with Mrs & Miss Montgomery just before going to the bank. They send their love to you darling & tell you
not to worry, that God will look after me alright. I had my hair cut right off this morning. I am sending you a tuft of hair dear wife.
To find out how many men we require to fill right up. I forgot to tell you sweet that Os Isaac cut my hair. he wishes to be kindly
remembered to you. The Photos dearest are of Miss Smith and Miss Robertson of Heliopolis Hospital. The Red Cross train is drawn up at the
siding at Heliopolis.
We are leaving tomorrow morning at 3.55 a.m. for Alexandria so that we will not have much time to sleep between now and our departure. I am
getting George Shaw to wire to his Mother, & add Menz on to it so that she will let you know through Pater.
I will not have time to write to anyone else darling wife just now so that you will tell them all won't you my own. Probably by the time you
get this letter the situation will have changed & we will have something fresh to tell you. I should love to have another letter from you
before we go but it is doubtfull.
Now my darling all my brother officers send their kind regards - I don't know whether I shall see Capt Collick again before leaving. I hope
I shall but it is doubtfull. I expect that just now you are having tea dearest & that our little sweetheart Rae is talking about Daddy. I
always think of our little love & I know that God will look after you & join us again in that bond of love that we have enjoyed for the
last 4 years. Queenie love. I don't know what to say just now. You know how I feel & I know that you apreciate the love that I have for you.
May you give my sincere regards to all inquiring friends & give to Mother & all my dear sisters & brothers my deepest love. And to my sweet
loving wife & darling daughter may God bless & keep you, and me, and join us again is the Earnest prayer of your loving, devoted & Trusting
Daddy Berthold
Au Revoir my love with fond kisses to all
Letter addressed to wife dated 6th September 1915.
S.S. Invernia
Sept 6th
My darling Wife,
Here we are in the Mediterranean sailing along on a mission not of peace.
By the time you get this letter darling we will be where God wills. & I know that you will have heard from Mrs Shaw that we had left.
We left Heliopolis on Friday night or rather Saturday morning at 3.35 a.m. Everyone was quiet & orderly & recognised the seriousness of the
job.
I was rather anxious as to whether we would have a full muster but as far as 'D' Coy was concerned we had only one absentee & he was a
Stretcher Bearer. We marched down to the station about 2 miles from camp with full kit up about 84 lbs altogether & then entrained for
Alexandria.
Each man had 24 hours iron rations with him & we did well on bully beef & biscuit.
We arrived at Alexandria 9.30 & were taken right down to the wharf alongside the boat. An enormous one. 14000 tons Gross Register
accomodating 2000 odd. The mess is splendid after our desert fare & of course we appreciate it. While laying at Alexandria a French
battleship passed us. We gave & had returned a salute & a distinct thrill passed me, love when the boat passed we felt proud I can tell
you. I am taking very little with me to the front dearest because we can only take what we can carry & that is not much. We don't know
where we are going to but I expect it will be something new. Now my dearest one I think that everything is fixed up should anything happen
to me. I know that I can talk to you my brave wife, of the possibility of my death. I should like to advise you to get Charlie Lemore to
fix things up, should anything occur & I know that the Insurance people will have everything arranged. If you see Jas Connolly in Perth -
as C.J. Long in Kalg. As for the effects etc. darling I should like to advise you go to Perth to him. Of course my bride should I fall
there will be a fairly good pension payable to you & that with the insurance etc. I know will keep you for life & my darling little
Sweetheart Rae. Now that is enough of advice my love & now for something more cheerful. I was captain of the ship today & had a fairly
busy time we are continually on the lookout for Submarines as one boat got blown up around here a little while back.
Letter addressed to wife dated 9th September 1915.
SS Invernia, Lemnos
Sept 9th 1915
My darling Wife & sweetheart daughter
We are still in harbour my own & do not know when we are going to leave. I am taking every opportunity of writing wife because I do not
know when I may get another chance. Today is just 3 months since we sailed from Fremantle & I know it seems like three years to you does
it not? With me dear wife things have been that busy, that we hardly have time to reckon the days. But even then it seems like years since
I saw you.
Just now we are having a spell of work, probably the lull before the storm. I am captain of the ship again today but the duties are not
nearly so arduous as they were. I have to accompany the Officer Commanding Troopship & the Ships Captain on the inspection & with the
bugles going before the party blowing the (attention) anyone would think it was an annual procession of the dignitaries of the world.
Most of the men are in swimming just now. It is a beautiful harbour & the water is as clear as crystal. You can imagine the fun the men
have. We are in view of many ships dearest & at night the Hospital ships look very fine with their green & red lights. This place is one
that will live in the minds of thousands as one of the natural harbours of the world, & I don't think that one could imagine anything more
inspiring than the sight here. My word Sweetheart I will have enough to talk about for all time when I come home again & I know you will
want to know all, won't you.
On Thursday night the 27th arranged a concert on board & asked me to sing. Capt Montgomery played the accpt in his finished style & I sang
the Admirals broom. I was in excellent voice & fairly brought down the house. Last night again there was a concert, I gave True True till
Death, your favourite my love. I could not get a proper accpst as Captain M did not know it, & the chap that did play it was not too sure.
It went alright although I am sorry I didnt have some music with me.
We have some excellent talent on board & I don't suppose you could get a better programme anywhere.
We are all very much disappointed at not getting our mail, dearest. I believe it has been sent on to the front, so we will have to possess
our souls in patience & wait.I do hope you get those photographs alright dear. I would not like to lose them.
I have got a little pocket in my paybook with your Photo in & I will be able to keep that even if I should lose everything else. Probably
you will see Major Mansbridge dearest one & he will be able to tell you about things. I could not see Capt Collick again, but I may later.
We are having glorious weather here & it is a distinct change from the desert.
I expect that our darling little Rae is growing like a house afire now wife, & that she is prattling away all day. I am always picturing
the darling as she was when you in your goodness sent her to say Au Reviour to daddy. I do hope that you are quite strong again dearest &
that everything is well. Im sure that the trip to the Goldfields will do you good, & act as a break in your thoughts. You must not worry
too much dear wife but try to look forward to our reunion & that thought I am sure will obscure all others. We know how sweet it is to
meet again after being parted for awhile, & the longer the parting love the sweeter the reunion. May God grant that it be soon & that this
War may be at an end.
We have seen boats of all nations & have only to see Aeroplanes to complete the list. Every hour something new attracts our attention. I
am writing this in the libary of the boat & things are very comfortable.
I have got a few ideas about furnishing & we will have a change when I come back. I only wish that this show was ended dearest & that you
Rae & I were here on a pleasure trip. (praps) someday we will be. I should love you to see the places. You will have to mark on the map dear
the way we went; when I am able to tell you.
We will be loaded up like camels shortly I will have a snap taken & when I get a chance have it developed. I think that I will be able to
get some good Photographs of the Harbour in good time.
How is poor old Dutch getting along queenie wife I do not here from or about her at all. I have written her a couple of letters & Postcards
& someday am hoping for an answer. Now my darlings I cannot put what should like to into my letter because of the censor but I know that
you will understand & read between the lines.
May God bless you & comfort you my all & bring us together again in His good time. With all that my loving heart can send to my darling Rae
& Mother from your Devoted Soldier Daddy Berthold
Fond love to Mother & Addie & all the others. Bert.
Letter addressed to wife dated 15th September 1915.
Fondest love to Mother & Olive & Duch and all the others & Miss Sugg
address the same as before, Gallipoli
15-9-15
My Own sweet darling Wife & little one,
We are here at last under God's care. May you be strong in faith sweetheart. I am writing this in our dug-out & just at present the shells
are screeching overhead from our warships firing on the turk's trenches. I have not received a letter from you darling for 2 1/2 weeks. I
do hope that you are well & strong & that our darling Rae is also. I have just got your loving & thrice welcome letter beloved dated the
8.8.15 you can imagine how delighted I was to get it & also to hear that you were both well. We landed at 11 oclock at night after 6 hours
steaming at 21 knots an hour. It was just glorious tearing through the water at such a rate spray coming all over the boat H.M.S. Sarnia.
We landed while the gunboats & rifles were doing their job & you can try to imagine the feeling that one has being under fire. We did not
have any lights of course, & although we were not exposed to direct fire, there were quite a nunber of bullets coming around the boats. We
then marched along the beach for a few miles hidden from view but not from shrapnel. Luckily no one was hit & we went into a deep ravine
occupied by the remains of the Connaught Rangers where we bivouaced for the night. The bullets were coming over pretty frequently but no
casualty. When we left the Invernia we were issued with 3 days rations bully beef & biscuits just as well for we wanted them alright. Well
on awakening at 3.30 a.m. we were met with a weird sight. Steep hills either side very rugged & Dug-outs just like large rabbit warrens all
along the sides. Gradually the men emerged from their dens & we could see the country & marvelled, as hundreds & thousands have marvelled,
at the task that our boys have accomplished. We bivvied again on Friday night & on Saturday we marched to another position in between two
high hills & bivouaced on the dry bed of a watercourse.
Well my sweet the enemy had some practice on our chaps the first day & wounded 2 of them while drawing water. Not seriously but the bullets
& shells were uncomfortably close.
On Sunday they got 5 of the 25th Batn. & that with shrapnel in the same gully that we were in. We moved up to our present position on
Sunday & got a very hot reception. 13 shells in about 3 min. & that about 2 min. after we had got into our dugouts. I was talking to the
Staff Off. of the post & he was telling me of the possibility of being shelled. I at once started yelling out to the men to get down into
their dugouts just in time. For we had no casualty the enemy have a battery of 75 millimetre guns about 5 or 6000 yds away & they do rip
along. We get a menu of a few about 4 AM 12 noon & about 5 to 7 pm. I am sorry to say that on Monday the rascals got 5 of our Battn with 1
shell. You hear only an ear splitting shrish simultaneously with bang & then the hail of bullets. One of our officers had a nasty wound on
Sunday night. He was doing something over the top of the trench where should not have been (i.e.)( firing a rifle) & one of the snipers got
a bullet right square in the muzzle of his barrel, expanded the muzzle & blew the foresight into his face. Lieut Jensen. The only casualty
D Coy has had so far is 1 bullet through a mans mess tin and equipment & clothing blown to pieces.
We have all more or less had some very narrow squeaks dear heart but God has watched over us. Major Welch & myself are together in a dugout
& I call it sniper's point. There is some excellent sniping going all day & night & we are right on the outside of the position; it was
given to our Btn as being the best one. One night darling I was sitting down at the Lat. & I got a bullet just alongside my body but a
miss is as good as a mile in this game. & since then dearest wife there have been many. We are only 40 yds from the Turks trench in one
place & that almost overlooks our position.
We have a post that was taken from them by the N.Z. lost by the Tommies & retaken by the N.Z.s and now held by us. It is practically
impossible for them to retake it. Just outside my dugout I can see the little scene that I sketched while the adjt was going over his
orders. We are up all hours and take a little sleep when we can. We are living on bully beef biscuits jam & milk & onions. Bread 3 times a
week & fresh meat once a week. Water is pretty scarce my sweet love, therefore I can only have a sponge over once a day & shave about 3
days. I have cut my hair short so you will see what is unnecessary. I'm sure that my little darling Rae would not recognise Daddy with his
black moustache & short hair. but I will have an opportunity of growing longer hair before I come home. I hope that the money I sent you on
the 10th or 12th of July reached you. pd12 I think it was. You did not mention it in your letter darling. I know now that it will pay for
our little darlings last ornament, you know how I like beautiful things plain & sweet. There are many graves around here my love & their
simplicity is their beauty. We're being continually shelled darling but we get used to it remarkably quick. The thing that we have to
watch are snipers, if the Indians catch them they scalp & kill them, the devils, many are the epithets used toward the Turk snipers &
they get a lively time until they die I can assure you. On Saturday last a party of us had to go & reconnoitre another position (4th
Brigade) & from it we saw the Turks entrenchments & the dead bodies of Turks and others are plainly visible. Of course it is impossible to
get to them & I expect they will have to remain until we take the position. I meant to tell you in my last letter darling that I had to
censor a lot of letters just before leaving Lesmos, but I will as you say have enough to talk about for all time after this. Some of the
letters were really humorous & others imagined that the morse lights showing on the boats were really the flashes of big guns, & wrote a
little about them as such, again dearest some of the lads had fine appreciation but vivid imagination. Oh I will have a budget of news for
you. Well my queenie I can assure you that the mail brings more gladness to the men's hearts than any other thing that is possible. I don't
know whether I will ever get those chocolates dearest heart. I did not get those sent by Olive & perhaps yours will go by the same path. I
would not mind if they went to some poor deserving man but when we think that the men who take these things are the postal authorities &
always gluttoning on other people's belongings it makes one wild. Some of the things that the N.Z.s and Moaris say about the P.O. people
would make your hair curl. Truly darling it is wonderful to think & see things as they really are. Here we are living like rats &
scurrying into our holes when the music starts of course the Battleships on the bay reply. But not till the damage is done. 'B' Coy lost 2k
& 1 wounded by shrapnel today & then the Moaris went out to find the sniper that did the trick, they found him --- EXIT SNIPER -------
I saw Col. Pope. he is well & has now gone to Lemnos for a well earned spell. Major A. Leane is now O/C 11th Battn. & Col. Johnston
Brigadier. Two of the 11th came over here yesterday & said that Major Leane wished to be remembered to me. I sent back a message. They are
both well. Lieut. - is acting o/c company (poor company) & I am sorry to say that the news of Les Job is incorrect. That he is missing as
near as I can make out. While one of our rear parties were being shown the way by poor L Jeffrey, a sniper caught him in the chest with a
bullet & he has gone to the Hospital ship lying out on the bay. He will be alright shortly. We have a marvellous view of almost all the
fighting from our post and the country is as rugged as it is possible to see. At present we are about 650 ft above sea level. Aeroplanes
are fairly frquent visitors both friendly & enemy & they look grand but one has to look out for shells when an enemy one has flown over the
position. But when our planes are over the Turks trench it is great to watch the bursting shells about them but never a hit. Now my own
love I know that God is taking care of you even as he is me & I also know that you will be strong in faith & health & that you will teach
our little love the right & true way. I am so glad that you got that letter from Mrs Montgomery. She is a lovable woman without a doubt.
But I don't think that you will see her for awhile as she is in Egypt. I am sure that you will love her darling. I got a short note from
Pater with your letter darling - Saturday 18th - Father says that he has had knee trouble again he also says that he is looking forward to
our darling Rae coming back again. It is now 10 oclock in the morning & a glorious morning but the bullets & shrapnel that come over
occasionally make things far from pleasant. We had our first casualty this morning in D Coy. Corp Macras had a shrapnel shot through his
two legs flesh wounds no bones broken about 10 yds away from my dug out. We had a fine demonstration the night before last the 1st & 2nd
Divisions taking part. Last night the big guns from the Gunboat were doing great work & the big shells make things hum I can assure you
my darling. Aeroplanes are fairly common now & try the Turks try to hit them but without success.
We had some rain the other night & I managed to catch some water & have a wash. We only get 1/2 a gallon per man for all purposes so that
it does not go far. The majority of the men are sticking it out well, but the hours are long. I must tell you dearest love of a little
incident that occured. The Moaris 3 of them were coming along the trench & when asked the password they said that they had forgotten it &
when asked what it sounded like they said (chew tobacco) you will know what that sounds like. Now my darling something terrible has
happened just now. I had just left the Dug-out to go through the trenches when one of the Turks 75s burst right over the dug-out & Maj
Welsh's batman (one of the nicest men that ever lived) was killed instantly another man just outside was hit on the leg & foot but not
badly. It is remarkable my sweetheart the number of men that do not get touched. The flies are very bad here. Millions of them & they do
worry one. Now my dear heart you must not worry but teach our darling Rae to pray for Daddy & I know that God will hear her prayer. I know
that you are all praying for me darling & my safe return. Truly we are in God's hands & His will be done. Au Revior my precious one & only
love, & my darling daughter Rae. may God bless & comfort you always is the earnest prayer of your devoted & absent soldier daddy Berthold.
Letter addressed to wife dated 31st October 1915.
21st General Hospital, Alexandria, Egypt
31-10-15
My Own sweet darling wife & little one
You will see by this that I am in Hospital but you must not be alarmed. It is only enteric and I am about better again although I am not
allowed to get out of my bed & my hand is shaking as yet. I got taken to the clearing Hospital the day I wrote to you last darling & on the
24th I was taken down to the beach & it is right that we must thank God for another delivery from death. It happened this way my love. Two
stretcher-bearers were carrying me to the beach, & had just rounded the turn on to the beach when the enemy started shelling, well 3 shells
just missed us & the fourth one burst only a few feet away on our left side. Of course the bullets were like bees. The man that was
carrying my feet end was killed instantaneously the other man at my head was badly wounded in several places. 3 other men a few yards away
were hit & although the blanket that was covering me was more like a mosquito net than a blanket with bullet holes & my gum boots that I
had on had two holes right through yet the only bullet wound that I got was a nasty bruise on the left side of my leg. The bullet had stuck
in the rubber.
Now my darling bride you must not worry. I am being well looked after although of course I have only had milk to drink now for just on a
fortnight. I am not able to write much now my queenie. I do hope that our darling little Rae is quite well & yourself also darling.
Although I cannot see it dear there is a beautiful view from this place, looking right out over the sea.
Now my love I must close with fondest love to you both my own from your devoted & absent daddy Berthold Husband
Letter addressed to wife dated 18th November 1915.
31st General Hospital, Alexandria
18.11.15
My Own Sweet bride & little one
God grant that you are both strong & well dear. I have not received any letter from you darling, or from anyone since 18th Oct. but I know
that you are well & happy.
Well my girlie I'm afraid that I'm booked for a lengthy spell in Hosp. although there is nothing to be alarmed at, my temp is still up & I am
as weak as a kitten. Naturally I'm still on fluid diet. Now darling I cannot find anything to tell you about the 28th except that they are
now in reserve.
I see that Hughes is now premier of Aus, first time I saw it was this morning.
Now darling wife I expect our little pet has got quite a nice lot of Hair now & I know how you will brush it. I'm always wondering how you
got on about the furniture dearest. Of course you would get my letters alright & now as it is coming near Xmas Im wondering where you will
have your Xmas dinner. Of course my love you remember how Dutch, dear old Dutch, was so emphatic about going to Olives. Today, I believe,
is the Arabic Xmas day, but by the time the Christian Xmas comes along I hope to be well up.
As soon as ones temp goes down & stops for about 8 to 10 days below Normal, they the (M.O.s) put one on a fish diet & porridge,) After
another week, if your temp is still down, they put you on Boiled chicken well then things are pretty rosy, and one is up in a few days.
Well darling the weather is getting very cold at nights here, that is, we who are sick feel it so. Otherwise it is lovely & fresh.
Sweetheart I cannot write to anyone else just now, so that you will have to tell everyone the little news there is. I want you to give my
best love to all & hug my little Rae for me & tell her to pray (that if they are going to send daddy away to get well, to please send him
home). Now my darling there is just a faint possibility of being sent back to recuperate & if so we'll have a late Xmas.
My wrist is aching also my head. and I send you darling bride & daughter all the love that you know & fond kisses
from your Devoted Husband & daddy
Berthold
Letter from the Commandant of the 5th Military District to Mrs Menz.
Will and Probate
