Letter - 19 August 1916 - Adah plans a trip to Egypt

Athol writes home to mother. It seems that Adah is considering a trip to Egypt and England to see her two youngest sons. Athol tries to dissuade her. It is two years since Athol joined the 1st AIF in Melbourne. He sailed from Australia with the 5th Battalion in October 1914. Adah had not seen her youngest son since then.

No1 Squadron

A.F.C.

19.8.16

Dear Mater

Just a line in answer to 54. No.53 is still to come. Also for 2 Punches and Table Talks of June 15 and 22. This will be quite short as it's late (9:00pm) and I've got a reconnaissance tomorrow morning, and is only to let you know what I think about your coming to Egypt in November.

If you are thinking of coming solo I don't think it would be much good for the following reasons:- I might be at an out lying station and leave is not very easy to get; I might be in France or some other front and might not be able to get leave at all. By the time you get to England VHA (Athol's elder brother - Valentine Harold Adams) will probably be either in France or one of the other fronts. In any case it is highly probable that you would be able to see very little of either of us unless we were stationed at a flying school or station at a principle town in England or Egypt. There is a Flying School starting at Alexandria where I will probably do my course but I hope to be a pilot before the end of November.

Taking all these facts you can see that by yourself you would be mighty lonely and there wouldn't be nearly the same chance of your occupying yourself in Red Cross work, at least in Egypt as there is in Melbourne. Also there are all your friends in Melbourne and I don't suppose there are in Cairo.

Against these things if you have Pater with you or why not Bill (eldest brother Arthur Parker Adams known as Bill), it would be all right as Egypt won't be flooded with tourists and you could get round without falling into cheap .... though again many, in fact nearly all, of the best hotels are closed. Also you would not be wise to build too much on seeing a great deal of me or VHA if any at all. Also there are our friends the Huns to be considered and the submarines there of which are as ubiquitous as ever. So mother mine before buying passage think well and weigh the points on both sides, of which I have named but a few and though I'd like to have you here don't build very high on the hypothetical fact of my being get-attable or also of VHA either. Remember we have to stay where we're put. 

Love to Pater and Aunts also any E.F. (enquiring friends).

Yours lovingly,

Athol

PS Please let me know Tom's* address also VHA.

*Tom would be Thomas Parker - Athol's first cousin. The son of Adah's only brother, Ernest Parker. Tom was not eligible to enlist in the AIF due to poor eyesight, so he sailed to England and joined the Royal Horse Artillery.