Letter - 10 March 1916 - Sidi Barani

Athol writes a brief note home to mother. He is further west again and writing from Sidi Barrani. See map below on which this outpost is labeled 'Sidi el Barrani'. Athol writes the day before they leave on an excursion with 5 days rations.

On that excursion, Athol and the 2nd Camel Company were to bring up the rear of a mixed military unit comprising the South African Brigade of infantry, the Dorset Yeomanry, a camel supply column and an armoured car battery. This combined force no longer followed the coast road but headed south from Sidi Barrani into the desert so that they might climb up the escarpment and reach the Medean Pass and the plateau beyond. The enemy occupied these heights and any progression by the British along the coast from Sidi Birrani towards Sollum would have made them easy targets for the Senoussi. The British commanders were not sure of the water supply in the interior and that's why the 2nd Camel Company were loaded with 5 days rations.

Athol also let's his mother know that he had a fall from a bolting camel and, of course, collected more parcels.

Sidi Barrani
Egypt
10-3-16

Dear Mater,

Still further west and still going. We leave here tomorrow with 5 days rations. I hear the country is very rough from here. This place is simply an old coast guard station but now, of course, nothing but soldiers. 

I had my first fall this morning. I had been to the field P.O. and got a small bag of letters and a big one of parcels for the Company and tied them on the saddle and started to lead the camel home, but after a bit the bags began to slip so I got up behind the saddle to hold them on whereupon the camel bolted and bags and I hit terra firma but without damages and after all nothing in either bag for me. 

We're very busy this afternoon draining rations water and watering camels so I'll have to ring off. 

Love to Aunt Puff and Pater.

Yours lovingly,

Athol