31 October 1916 - anniversary

31 October 1916 marks the 2nd anniversary of HMT Ovieto departing Melbourne. By 31 October Athol had been away from home for 2 years.

Athol photos - 30 October 1916 - aeroplane 4155

Athol appears to have taken these photos at Sherika whilst attached to 'A' Flight. They are the usual size, 68mm x 43mm, quite faded and not at all clear. I have grouped them together as I think they all record the same event.

I believe this is a B.E.2c type aircraft. The B.E.2c came into the AFC in July 1916 and was originally part of 16 Sqn, RFC (see more at: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/afc4.htm). In the ADF-Gallery list this plane, 4155, is noted as a B.E.2c aircraft.

The notes on the reverse read:

'30.10.16'

The notes on the reverse read:

'4155 crashed Sherika 30.10.16'

The notes on the reverse read:

'Ellis getting out of 4155 30.10.16'

The notes on the reverse read: 

'4155      30.10.16'

The notes on the reverse read:

'4155 burrowing  Sherika  30.10.16'

The notes on the reverse read:

'Casely Kilburn Andrews Soames    4155 Crew'

Letter - 26 October 1916 - the soft Englishman

Athol writes home to mother. An English journalist arrives to join 'A' Flight and they play a couple of pranks on him.

Sherika
Egypt
26.10.16

Dear Mater,

Many thanks for your letter Aug 22 No.58. Also for two Punches. I expect the rest will be along in a day or two from the I.C.C.

We are expecting to move from here any day now as this show is finished bloodlessly and successfully. Canal next I expect. Nothing else to report.

We have an Englishman attached here as observer, a reporter out of the Daily Mail. His Pa must have got him the job because he's just about as soft as ever. We talk the utterest rot at meals about Australia and pretty well everywhere else and he swallows it like a lamb. Told him that we could stay under water 6 minutes. He offered 5 pounds to any of us that could do it. 

We got a tin lined case air-tight, and tied it under the water with an anvil and stand as anchors to make a little diving bell. Mr Englishman held the stopwatch and Capt Sheldon went down and got his head out of water in the box and we dived in and tapped his leg every minute. He came up at 5:45 minutes. Then another chap went under for 4:30 and came up in a fake collapse. Mr E. swallowed the lot. You can see the idea if you put a tin..... topside down in a basin.

Then yesterday G.... took me up and we landed at Meherique about 6 miles away. We had morning tea there. G came back solo and said to Mr E that I had fallen out onto a sand dune from 30ft whilst trying to crawl out on the wings. I had breakfast at Meherique and came in on a camel. Painted my right arm and leg with strong iodine and had a lovely limp. Mr E laments that he cannot send it in to the 'Mail' but has promised to write it up for me in proper paper style, headings and all. 

We have nothing else to do till we go, so are all busy trying to think out something else to work off on him.

Love to Aunts and Pater.

Yours lovingly

Athol

Athol photos - possibly Sherika

I think this image was taken by Athol when he was based in Sherika as an AFC observer. I can just make out a small railcar behind the men. The camp there was at the end of the small railway spur. 'A' Flight, AFC, did make camp in the bell tents at Sherika which you can see on the left and they also had a few timber huts (as on the right). The pith helmets are a bonus.

Probably Sherika - mid-late 1916

'A' Flight, Australian Flying Corps

Letter - 19 October 1916 - flight up the Nile

Athol writes home to his step-father, Guy Sherwood. Athol writes Guy about his trip with pilot Lt Jones up the Nile on a reconnaissance mission. Athol thinks that there will not be much need for 'A' Flight at Sherika for too much longer as there is not much enemy activity about.

Sherika

Egypt

19.10.16

Dear Pater,

Two of your letters arrived in the last mail, 17.8.16 and 22.8.16 for which many thanks.

Sorry they put you out of your job, but I should think that a spell wouldn't do you any harm. I wouldn't mind a month in Melbourne as a common or garden order civilian.

Had a trip up the Nile a week or so ago. About 200 miles. Jones, one of our pilots, and I went up and two other pilots brought machines from Cairo. Jones and I did the first reconnaissance and one of the others did the second. Then they flew back to Cairo and Jones and I came back here per train. We were away six days which made quite a good break.

This show looks as if it was about finished so perhaps we will get away to somewhere where there is more doing.

Bad luck for W.J.A .... I met him in Cairo nearly a year ago. He was a reinforcement to the 2nd Brigade Infantry. I suppose things are pretty slow in the H.P. [Huddart Parker] office. If you go there remember me to Messrs Hughes, Whelan, Joy, as well as the heads. Cheerio.

Yours very sincerely,

Athol G. Adams

Athol photos - camp life

These images make up a series showing camp life at Sherika. They are all the same size - approx. 80mm x 60mm and quite clear showing lots of detail.

Athol outside a bell tent wearing flying helmet.

Unknown officer at work. Note the lovely carpet on the floor. He wears the wings of a pilot on his uniform and smokes a cigar.

Athol outside a bell tent

Sleeping quarters with a rush mat on the floor as well as some kind of animal skin. Everything very neat and tidy with polished boots lined up, suitcase and trunk stacked

and a cartoon on the wall above the desk.

Letter - 9 and 16 October 1916 - another desert reconnaissance adventures

Athol writes home to mother. More parcels arrive at the base at Sherika. Athol and his pilot, Lt Murray Jones, take part in more reconnaissance work further up the Nile. They also take a ride in a Rolls Royce with a 'whole lot of heavy stores' and nine other men. On a camel excursion Athol and four companions visit the nearby ruins of Hibris, the Christian necropolis and a Roman fort.

This letter is written in two parts. First part was written on 9 October and the second part on 16 October.

67 Australian Squadron

RFC

Egypt

9.10.16

Dear Mater,

Once more a whole lot of parcels to thank you for, two of food, two of netting and one of clothing, also letter 16.8.16.

I've got heaps of shirts and things now thanks very much and Ferguson, my batman, says I'll have to buy another trunk to put them all in.

I got back from Cairo last Tuesday. Not sorry either. Leaving here on tonight's train with Jones (Lt Murray Jones, pilot) to do a job of work up the Nile. Don't know how long we'll be away expect about a week.

16-10-16

Have been away nearly a week up the Nile. Jones and I did a job up there. Went up by rail. Two machines were brought from Cairo. We went out to a post 60 miles out and did a reconnaissance from there. Next day two other chaps did it again and we then went in to the railway in a Rolls-Royce. There were nine of us in it and a whole lot of heavy stores. It's simply marvellous what the cars can do. The Rolls and the Ford are the only ones that stand up to it. Curious, though true. We left the same night by train and got back here on Saturday evening. 

Yesterday five of us got camels fro the I.C.C. and went down to the Temple of Hibis (image below) and then on to the Christian necropolis and the Roman Fort. Both the latter very disappointing. 

No.59 also a tin of chocolate, two lots of socks and one of clothes and Australasian and Table Talks to thank you for since I got back. Don't think I can do anything about a permit for you. I never was a wire puller. 

I've had a couple of letters from Pater and some parcels from Aunt May. Also a few letters from the Body's and one from Mrs Gillan (never can read hers). 

My love to Aunts and Pater.

Yours lovingly,

Athol

Temple of Hibis

Kharga Oasis: the Temple of Hibis after reconstruction. Photographer unknown, 1937 (K3-839).

Archives of the Egyptian Expedition, Department of Egyptian Art,

the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Reference: http://www.metmuseum.org/met-around-the-world/?page=10149

Letter - 1 October 1916 - Visit to Cairo

Athol writes home to mother. He is in Cairo staying at the Grand Continental Hotel and collecting some supplies for the mess.

1.10.1916

Dear Mater,

Many thanks for your letter August 8th also for two parcels of clothes, 2 of socks, 1 mosquito net and three of food, and a lot of papers etc. I'm writing this with the new pen.

I'm in Cairo for the weekend to get some things for our mess. Had a rotten trip down - full train and no sleeper or dining car. Left Sherika at 10am Friday and got the express at 9pm landing here at 7am Saturday.

I've had two or three letters from Pater lately. He seems to like his new job. Had a letter from Aunt May last mail written in May and properly addressed too. I expect there will be some letters waiting for me when I get back to Sherika.

I have been out this morning trying to get some local colour on the camera but the morning is a bad time as the place is asleep. I think I'll go to the zoo this afternoon as it's the prettiest place around here.

This is an awful hole to be in solo. It wasn't so bad when the Australian Division was here as there was always someone one knew about. Nearly everyone that can goes to Alexandria during the summer and so there are very few staying here or Shepheards at present.

I've got over 50 hours flying in now and as a new observer came to us the other day there is a chance of getting away soon I hope.

My love to Pater and the Aunts and anyone I know.

Yours lovingly,

Athol