Am afraid I
have rather neglected you
lately, but it has not been
altogether my fault. Have
had a bad run lately and
only just managed to save
myself from another turn in
the hospital. We left
Serapeum and went out to
the front line some distance
the other side of the Suez
Canal , here I managed
to get a touch of fever a sort

paratyphoid and was
in bed for nearly 3 weeks
during part of the time with
a temperature of 104º. Things
were in a parlous state I can
assure you. When I did
manage to get up was so weak
could hardly walk. Everyone
was very good, and when I
was a little stronger the Colonel
told me I had better have
a short holiday to get strong
again, so here I am getting
better quickly, but still
somewhat shaky. It was
touch & go, I think it was
more dangerous to have sent
me some miles to the hospital than to keep me in the camp,
at the time. I am glad they
did not send me because you
would have got some cables etc
and I didn't want that. It
is lovely here now and I spend
most of my time in the Zoo-
logical Gardens, where there are
many trees & a lake. I am
all alone and only want to be
quiet for a few days.

Suppose you know there
have been many changed in our
organisation & a lot of officers
have been sent to the infantry,
which is forming a new brigade
& going to France almost immediately.
We are likely to stay here for the
present, but doing what I don't

know.

I have been promoted
to Captain & 2nd in command
of the 8th, Hammond has his
majority & is in command. I
believe I am to be detached to
command & train a reserve
squadron for a month, but when
& where I don't know yet.

Chillie you will know is
doing machine gun work with
the infantry.

Andrews is a full major &
2nd in command of the 1st Otago
infantry battalion, with if you
please Robinson as one of his
company commanders.

Had one letter from you
not so long ago, but there
must be many missing. The

mails seem to have gone all
to pot again.

Am feeling a little anxious
about Helen , that cough seems
to be taking a long time to get
well.

Thanks for the photos of the
men who were at Rollesby, they
are quite good.

Am awfully glad to hear
that Jean is better, I hope
this new treatment will prove
lasting. Give her my love when
you write.

Did I tell you that

Chatterbox was dead. We had
a big staff ride one day, over
40 miles, the going mostly in
soft sand, and it was too
much for her, she was too
soft. I was awfully cut
up, she was a grand little
mare.

Am enclosing a snapshot
Andrews took of me one day
during the trek. I am just
pulling out to talk to him.
It is not bad & everyone says
very typical. What you can
see of the mare is Chatterbox.

My writing is not really
shaky, but I can only find
a fine pen and I can't write

with them.

It is lunch time, I will
go on with this afterwards.

Have just got a letter
from you and a lot of photographs
which are very interesting- one
of the men brought the letters
down for me.

I expect to go back
to the Regiment in a few days
as I am feeling much better.
Blakeney was down yesterday on
2 days leave and says they are
not expecting me yet. Really
they are very good to give me
a run like this.

Cairo is very quick now,
a bit like old times. No

drunks after 9 o'clock, where
formerly they went all night,
by 11 o'clock (in parts) the city
is like Timaru !

Saw Robinson today, after
all he is not going with Andrew ,
but as Brigade Major to the
training battalions which for the
present remain here.

Think I will go & lie
down for a bit, good bye for
the present dear old thing,
be happy and don't worry, don't
forget you are to look like 22
when I come back.

Love and humbugs to you both
Your affectionate husband
Roy .