Private William Graham, 28th Battalion, July/August 1915

WARNING: Contains words which may be considered offensive, but may have reflected the author's attitude or that of the period in which they were written.

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Henty Observer 

and Culcairn Shire Register (NSW)

18 August 1915

From a letter received by Mrs Graham (whose oldest son is at Gallipoli) from her younger son, Willie, now in Egypt, we are favored with the following extracts:—

I went to the Pyramids last Sunday. No doubt they represent a marvellous amount of labor, but from outside they are not much to write home about. Will tell you more about them when I get back. 

I met Walter Barrie the other day. He is in the hospital at Luna Park. I tried to find Alf Haberecht this morning, but was told that he left for the front yesterday. I went to see Geo. White, from Nhill a couple of times, but so far have failed. He is at the same hospital as Barrie, but I guess he will be out agin before you got this letter.

If you see Bob Cooper tell him, that George has his arm in a badly smashed condition. I don't suppose I will see him at all now, as 25 of our company (myself included) are leaving for the rifle range tomorrow night.  We will be there for three weeks or so and won't have any chance of getting into Heliopolis. 

I went right through the Egyptian Bazaar yesterday. Cairo is said to be a very old city, and judging by its aroma it should be like some more of the ancient Egyptian cities, buried by the sands of the desert. We read that the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for wickedness. It is a wonder that some of these places here have not been burnt long ago. As far as morals and cleanliness go Cairo is absolutely disgusting. I am told it is a perfect queen compared to Alexandria. If that is correct that place must be very crook. Cairo in times of peace is a great tourist resort. I must say that in my opinion they must have more money than good judgment if people see anything in these dirty stinking places to make them spend their holidays in it. 

The natives here can talk English to the extent of "Shave Sare," "Clean boots half piastre," and "Gib it back-shees.' I may say that piastre is worth 1 ½d in our money. Every second shop is either for ice cream or soft drinks or a restaurant, The slum hotels have such names as "Young and Jacksons," etc. In these slums the niggers seem to barely exist and, like a soldier, their homes seem to be where they can lay their heads. 

There are some fine gardens in Cairo, but they are of limited extent. Giving it all the good points possible it is not to be called a decent place. Still, with all its drawback one can easy spend a few hours in the best parts of the city. If I am lucky enough to get back to Australia I think I will be satisfied to stay there.

Soldier Identified: Sergeant William John Graham, Service No.: 1225, D Company, 28th Battalion, A.I.F. Returned to Australia, 8 April 1919.

Brother: Trooper Reginald Graham, Service No: 408, 6th Light Horse Regiment and 4th Division Artillery, A.I.F. Killed in Action 5.8.17, France.

See also (letters):
Trooper Reg Graham, 6th Light Horse, 1915 (brother)
Driver Reg Graham, 4th Division Artillery, 1916 (brother)

Cairo, Egypt, 1915.  The 28th Battalion AIF, lined up in the square after arrival from Western Australia. (Courtesy: Australian War Memorial)

Sources: 

1. From our Soldiers (1915, August 18). The Henty Observer and Culcairn Shire Register (NSW : 1914 - 1950), p. 2.
2. Cairo, Egypt, 1915.  The 28th Battalion AIF, lined up in the square after arrival from Western Australia. Australian War Memorial