Letter from Roy Bruce to Maud Bruce

Back again in
the trenches but on a different
line this time. The Turks
are not quite so mean, not
that it makes much difference
to their shooting which is always good.

The first two days
we were here we had a
lovely time. It began to
rain which turned into
snow & developed into a
blizzard. My hat. We had
no shelters dug, the gully
was a sea of mud, and

the trenches were beyond
description.

Chillie cracked up the
first day and was sent
away with a high temperature.
We have heard nothing since
& do not know whether he
is ill or not.

Menzie went away the
day before we came here with
jaundice leaving me only
Mathias who was not
well enough to do anything.
Consequently I had it all
on my own, and I don't
think I shall ever forget
those few days & nights in
the trenches with naw troops.
Forty eight hours without

a break, short rations &
water because mule transport
could not get along. Everyone
we through, no hope of
getting anything dug. I
got off with a cold which
has now practically gone.

The men were splendid
right through it, and I have
no doubt about them now.

We are all comfortable
enough now and I have a
most excellent dugout. I
built myself a fine place in
it and I am now sitting
in front of the fire with my
goods & chattels surrounding me.

The weather is fine & fairly
warm again, and everyone

is happy & dry.

Have had no letter for
a long time. We heard a
mail of ours had been sunk
by a submarine between Egypt
& here.

We have managed to get a few extra stores from Jeubros
crushed pineapple, salmon, tomatoes
& sardines, so we are living
fairly well.

Your muffler is a most
previous article at present, as
also are my gum boots which
I have managed to preserve
all this time.

Yesterday it was a
year since we arrived at
Zeitoun , it has gone very

quickly, amid all the
excitement and one thing
and another, but I do hope
I shall be able to have a
spell and see you before this
time next year.

I wish I knew what was
the matter with Chillie , you
will have known long-ago if
it was anything serious.
There were several cases of
frostbite after the blizzard,
thank goodness I have a good
circulation.

Haven't see Andrews for
some time, he is a good
distance away on another
line, and we are both too
busy to do much prowling.

I am sending Helen a
Xmas card, it is rather
late, but it is somewhat
of a curiosity. It was made
by one of the men out of
a peice of an old pair of
breeches of mine. Get her to
keep it if you can because
Anzac is going to be more or
less historical.

I have a great man for
a cook, named Mc Phenora ,
he used to drive some of
McGrath's wagons from Fairlie .
He has just appeared with
some afternoon tea & a piece
of cake. Noone knows where
he got it from. I doubt if
he does himself. Anyway it

is here and I am just going
to enjoy it. He produced
some pancakes yesterday &
announced he found the
backing powder on a bush!

By fore I am
beginning to promise myself
that you & I am going to
have a might good time
for a change when this is
all over. I amused myself
last night before the fire,
wiith making all sorts of
plans for a holiday, and it
is going to be some holiday
whether it is in England ,
Egypt or New Zealand .

By the way mext parcel
please put two or three

batteries for pocket lamps.
They are not expensive, most
fearfully useful & almost
impossible to get here. I have
only one and a bit left.

Must go now and have
a look round the trenches
before tea.

Be a good girl & don't
worry, you would be amused
if you could see me now,
how horribly fit I am &
quite happy.

Goodbye till next mail.
Your loving husband
Roy