Major-Sergeant Arthur Thompson, 53rd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 6 April 1916

Nepean Times (NSW)
20 May 1916

Mrs Thompson, of Jane Street, has received a letter from her son, Sergeant-Major Arthur Thompson, written from Ferry's Post, Egypt, under date 6th April, 1916. Extracts are: —

We have now as you see, had another shift down on the canal. We left Tel-el-Kebir on the 27th March at 6.30 a.m., on a route march to Ferry's Post — of course, across the desert. After collecting three more battalions another mile from our camp the whole brigade set out upon their long and fatiguing march. The first day was scorching hot, and after marching from thirty to sixty minutes our General would sound his whistle for a spell. The men being tired through the heat would lie down in the scorch-sun for about ten minutes. 

I forgot to say that with us we carried our full packs, with overcoat, towels, shirts, breeches, tunics, puttees, and everything we would require, as our kit bags had been taken from us the day before and sent to the base. We also carried 120 rounds of ammunition and our midday meal. We stopped at 11.30 for dinner. We started out again at about 12.45 on our march. At about 2.40 we sighted a small camp about three miles away, and we then learned that we were going to camp there for the night. We arrived at the camp at 3.30 in the evening. 

The camp being near the station we wandered up and found that the village was Masahma, and that we had marched 16 miles in the day. The boys were in bed early and arose again at 4.30 the following morning. We left Masahma at 7 a.m., the day being hotter than before, and marched again till 11.30; we then stopped for dinner. We then began to wander about in search for water, as our water bottles only hold a quart of water. And we had no water carts with us. A great number struck the fresh water canal and filled their water bottles with it, but the water in the canals is no good to drink. We then started out again after dinner, about one o'clock — but this time a march across heavy sand. After marching about a mile through the sand the men began to drop out — the day being very hot, and water scarce. We marched about four miles through this heavy sand. Just after we cleared the heavy sand a camp was sighted, about four miles away. This gave the boys a little bit of encouragement, but the men still continued to drop out — no water being obtainable. We arrived in Moaska about four-thirty. There we found a big New Zealand camp, and these soldiers soon went out with the water carts, etc., to the men who had dropped out, and they were brought in. No doubt, the New Zealanders are fine fellows; they are a lot that no one could ever forget. We did 18 miles that day. The third day left us about six miles to march. 

We left Moatka at nine o'clock the next morning, and arrived at Ferry's Post at 11.30, where we had the day's rest. The Prince of Wales rode up to us, and had a few words with our General.

Soldier Identified: Major-Sergeant Arthur Oswald Thompson, Service No. 3459, 53rd Battalion, 4th Brigade, A.I.F. Returned to Australia, date unknown.

Brother: Private Oscar Norman Thompson, Service No. 2457, 56th Battalion, A.I.F. Returned to Australia, 1 April 1919.

See also (letters):
Private Oscar Thompson, 56th Battalion, May 1916 (Brother)
Lieutenant Arthur Thompson, 53rd Battalion, July 1916

A View of a Camp at Ferry Post, On The Suez Canal. Ferry Post was a camp and stopping point for Australian troops moving to and from the front. (Courtesy: Australian War Memorial)

Sources:

1. Soldier's Letter (1916, May 20). Nepean Times (Penrith, NSW : 1882 - 1962), p. 7. 
2. A View of a Camp at Ferry Post, On The Suez Canal. Ferry Post was a camp and stopping point for Australian troops moving to and from the front. Australian War Memorial