Letter - 2 February 1916 - Camel Corps notification

Athol receives another parcel from his mother. He writes about his transfer from the 5th Battalion to the Camel Corps as acting second in command.
The letter was written in pencil and being 100 years old was a little difficult to transcribe.

Polygon Barracks
Abassia, near Cairo
2-2-16

Dear Mater,

Many thanks for your letter of Dec 14th which I received on 20th Jan. Also for a parcel containing waterproofing and underpants.

The Battalion moved out of Tel-el-Kebir on 23-24th (January 1916) and went to a place called Serapeum about 10 miles south of Ismalia on the Suez. We crossed on a pontoon ferry and camped about a mile the other side (east of the Suez Canal). There was plenty to do for the Transport and we were kept fairly going and then on Saturday last the Battalion moved out to take up a position about 8 miles east, leaving the Transport close to the Canal.

The same day I received orders to join the 'Camel Corps' a job I applied for some time ago as it seemed a good chance, and where I now am. There are 4 companies, each 5 officers and 105 other ranks with 143 riding camels and 9 baggage camels. At present I am acting Officer Commanding No2 Company which is composed of men from 1st and 2nd Infantry Brigades. No1 Company is from the 4th and 8th Brigades, 3rd Company is from 3rd and 7th Brigades and 4 Company is out of the 5th and 6th Brigades. The Commanding Officer is a Major Smith V.C., an Englishman and so are most of the Headquarters but they have been in Egypt some time with the Egyptian Camel Corps. So in future address me at Australian Camel Corps, c/o Intermediate Base.

We haven't got our camels yet but there are nearly enough to go round now and we had our first mounted parade this morning. We will probably train for about a month and then go off somewhere or other looking for ....

Randolph Cresswell is in No1 Company. I saw Sos ... the other day - also Clive Baillieu who is a staff Captain. Also Jack Knox.

It was very cold on the Canal but is much warmer here.

There is not any news so good bye.

Love to Puff and Pater.

Yours lovingly, Athol.

PS. I'm going to have a trek around the POs just in case I get some more parcels.
PPS. Enclosed is the first Battalion order I ever made (not enclosed).