Letter from Roy Bruce to Maud Bruce

The following I
copied from a Tommie's letter
home when I was doing some
censoring -

"When your shirt begins to walk, &
your socks begin to talk,
"And you've grown a beard on which
you use a comb,
"When the cold rain gives you shivers,
makes your trenches bloomin' rivers
"Tis then the time you long for Home
Sweet Home.

"But you hear the cannons call s , &
see chums beside you fall,
"And the shrapnel shells around you
start to roam.
"Then you know your work's begun
and there's much more to be done,
"Before you start again for Home
Sweet Home.

"Though, some things I wouldn't mention
yet when socks stand to attention,
And of ever washing shirts you've
given up hope,
"To make matters slightly better, when
writing your next letter,
"Enclose a great big bar of yellow
soap.

The above struck me as being not
without humour in parts.

There is nothing much in
the way of news. We had merry
hell for an hour the other morn-
ing. The Turks opened up with
a 75' and other guns. Noone
was hit, but there were some very

narrow escapes. One man had
his haversack cut in two, he was
using it as a pillow. A little
piece of shell came into my dug-
out with a dull thud.

We are all developing sore
throats and colds, why I don't
know, unless it is by getting over-
heated at times.

A German aeroplane flew over
the other day & dropped leaflets
inviting us to surrender , my dear,
saying they knew we had been
forced into this by greedy English ,
and that they had deserted us,
and we would get no more
supplies; and if we came in
they would give us plenty to eat
& treat us well etc, and a lot
more drivel like that. Did you
ever hear of such insolence, but of
course the Germans know better, it
is only a bluff on their part to

keep the Turks up to the mark.
I am sorry for those poor mis-
guided Turks, I hope they get
the heaven their religion tells
them they wil, if they die in
battle.

I hear from Egypt that
all the horses are in splendid
condition, and are being looked
after very well. I do hope we
shall have opportunities to use
them before very long. The heat
in Cairo just now, is, I believe
appalling, 125° in the shade.
Can you imagine it! It is
bad enough here sometimes but
nothing like that.

I often smile to myself
now when I think how scared
you were about me going in

for flying. I can assure you
that here it is quite the safest
thing to do. The flying men
have a good time and hardly
any risk. However don't
worry. I am not the least
likely to ever have an
opportunity for flying. It is
lovely to watch these huge
graceful birds sailing serenely
through the air. Do you ever see anything of
M rs Buckley now, you have
not mentioned her for a
long time?

When you see the Nicholls
family remember me to them,
and tell him that all the
S.C South Canterbury men consider it one of
the great tragedies of the
war that he is not here
with us.

Did I tell you in my
last that poor old Bowie is
very ill in Cairo , I don't think
he ever was very strong.

I am glad to hear Frank
is going for a commission at
home, they are very short of
officers, and Frank has had a

lot of experience. I thought
he was foolish not to have
done so at first.

I hope Gwen will be
very happy, please give her
my best wishes. I will
send her a line when note-
paper & envelopes are a little
more plentiful, you have the
first & only call when there
is a shortage.

We get terribly little
news here about anything
that is going on. I am
wondering if that woman's
prophecy about August will
come true. Things will
have to hurry up somewhat.

Give Helen a big hug for

me, tell her I am sure
Satan is or was a German.
Is she going to M rs Laidlaw's
yet, or are you waiting for
the spring? Don't let her be
overburdened with lessons if
she shows any tendency to
learn quickly.

Good bye, dearest, perhaps
for not so very much longer.
This old war will soon be
over, and then, well you will
deserve every bit of happiness
it is in my power to give
you. God bless you my dears.
Keep well & fit & then the time
won't be so long. I kiss you
dear ones. Roy .