Egypt

"I am writing this in a train. I am on my way to Cairo. I have just come off the Hospital ship at Alexandria. I am feeling weak. Fairly knocked up like, I hope a rest will soon put me right. Everyone is so kind to us. Three months in the trenches make a difference to one. The food on the ship was great. We had two eggs for breakfast this morning. I have seen nothing of Edgar since he left our lines. I may meet him at Cairo. One thing I appreciated most on the ship was a good hot bath. Dear Mother I don't suppose I shall be long at one place so address letters to the battalion as usual." 

Lionel King, 7th November 1916, Alexandria, Egypt.

"Please to say I arrived at Cairo quite safe. I am at the Citadel Hospital. I am still feeling out of sorts. My limbs are rather weak + stiff. I hope it won't be long before I am convalescent. I have seen nothing of Edgar. We are all dressed here in hospital clothes. Sort of grey pajamas with a white short + red necktie. Look a lot a Cads. Dear Mother I'm traveling about a bit but I wish I could travel home + see you all. It will be a year on Thursday since I enlisted. I hope you are all quite well at home. I will write fairly often + let you know how I am jogging along. This is all I have to say at present. God bless you all." 

Lionel King, 8th November 1915, Citadel Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. 

"I am now at Abbasia Rest camp. I expect I shall be here a week + then move to Alexandria. I am feeling fairly well I myself but I am still weak. Sometimes I'm as slow as poor old Mr Peacock used to be when I try to walk after I have sat down for a time. At the hospital I had milk diet for 3 days then I had chicken diet for 1 day + the next day I was put on ordinary diet + sent here. It was a good long ride in a motor. It is a few miles the other side of Cairo. On our way we passed what is called the dead city. It is a lot of empty buildings + ruins. Where I am now has been a large barracks. We get plenty of food. We had sausages + bread + butter for dinner, mutton stew + stewed fig + prunes + tea, tomatoes + bread + butter. We also get supper at 8 pm, cocoa + biscuits. What a difference to what we had at Gallipoli. Before leaving the hospital I was issued out with a new suit shirt, pair of socks + a towel. I am drawing some money on Monday + am going down to Cairo. I shall try + get a few mementos from there. Cairo is chiefly inhabited by coloured people. I haven't seen many white people except soldiers. At the hospital I went to a whist drive one night + a lantern lecture another. I haven't come across Edgar yet. I daresay he went to a different place." 

Lionel King, 11th November 1915, Abbasia Rest Camp

"Please to say I am getting on fairly well though I am still feeling weak. I hope it won't be long before I am my proper self. We are treated fairly well here. All the time is our own. The food is excellent. What a change to the stuff we've been having. We are a few miles out of Cairo, we are allowed there on pass. I am drawing some money tomorrow so I am going to have an afternoon out (no I shan't forget you). The weather here is quite hot. We sleep out on the balcony, couldn't do that in England this time of year. I hope you all are fairly well. I often think of you all. It does seem such a long time since I left England. There is no one here who I know but all the fellows are very friendly. I wish I could find out where Edgar has got to. I suppose he is ahead of me some where as we are shifted about pretty often. I expect I shall be at Alexandria in a weeks time. What do you think of the talk of conscription? They mean to have more men don't they. I thought I had left it late enough when I enlisted last November."  

Lionel King, 14th November 1915

"Please to say that I am getting on fairly well but I am still feeling pretty weak. I hope it won't be long before I am my proper self again. The time here hangs on one, there is nothing to do but write, read, eat, sleep + generally loll about. I am drawing some money tomorrow + I am going to have an afternoon on Cairo. There is nobody here I know but all the chaps are very friendly. It is fairly hot here of a daytime + there are plenty of flies knocking about. We are sleeping out on the balcony. I bet you couldn't do that in England this time of the year. The 8th Batt of the Middlesex Regt are stationed here + I got into conversation with one who lives around Northfields + also another who lives at Acton + know Dad's laundry well. Dear Mother it is rather rotten for me because I know I shan’t get any letters from you till I rejoin my battalion. I must make the best of it + hope + trust you are all quite well. We got the war news here daily + things seem fairly favourable with the Allies. I hope this terrible war won't last much longer. You don't know what fine chaps it has broken up out in Gallipoli." 

Lionel King, 14th November 1915

"I hope this rubbish won't tire you but I know I am glad to read long letters. Last night I went to Whist drive in the Y.M.C.A. tents + I done fairly well scoring 139 + the winners were 151 + 140. I am going to the Church Service here tonight. You don't know what good work the Y.M.C.A. does supplying writing material + newspapers + books, also games. They get up concerts + competitions for the amusement of the troops. Their tents are everywhere possible. They'd be on the peninsula if it wasn't so dangerous but they are so many shells flying about. I expect I shall be shifted on to Alexandria in a weeks time. Hope they give me time to have a look around there." 

Lionel King, 14th November 1915

"I am getting better slowly. I get the cramp so often in my legs. You don't know how peaceful it seems here with out any shot + shells flying about. I see that the officer commanding 'A' company has been wounded. Leuit E W Tee. Our O.B. whom you saw at St Albans (Capt Evans) was wounded the 3rd day after he landed." 

Lionel King, 19th November 1915

"As you will see I have not left the rest camp yet. I am likely to be here sometime yet as I have got the diarrhea + that is a hard thing to get rid of out here. I am on a light diet + taking medicine. Barring the diarrhea I am feeling fairly well but nothing like I ought to. The weather out here is very warm. The sun makes my eyes + head ache. Dear mother I am writing to the Army Base Post Office to see if I can get my letters forwarded on to me here. I am longing to hear from you but I suppose I shall have to wait. Things are very quiet here. We had a whist drive last night but I didn't have the luck to win. We had several good concert parties here last week. Well hows things going at home? I hope you are all quite well + in good spirits. I hope it won’t be long now before this war is over. I don't think Germany will ever hang out the winter. If she does all her poor will starve. Brave little Serbia is sticking it well isn't she." 

Lionel King, 23rd November 1915, Abbassia Rest Camp.

"As you will see I have not left the rest camp yet. I am likely to be here sometime yet as I have got the diarrhea + that is a hard thing to get rid of out here. I am on a light diet + taking medicine. Barring the diarrhea I am feeling fairly well but nothing like I ought to. The weather out here is very warm. The sun makes my eyes + head ache. Dear mother I am writing to the Army Base Post Office to see if I can get my letters forwarded on to me here. I am longing to hear from you but I suppose I shall have to wait. Things are very quiet here. We had a whist drive last night but I didn't have the luck to win. We had several good concert parties here last week. Well hows things going at home? I hope you are all quite well + in good spirits. I hope it won’t be long now before this war is over. I don't think Germany will ever hang out the winter. If she does all her poor will starve. Brave little Serbia is sticking it well isn't she." 

Lionel King, 23rd November 1915, Abbassia Rest Camp.

"I have still got the diarrhea pretty bad. I am still on light diet + taking medicine. The doctors came round the rooms this morning to inspect them. He asked me what was the matter + I told him. He felt my pulse + tested my heart + chest. He went to the other chaps + then tested me again. I have got to see the doctor I am under tomorrow."

Lionel King, 29th November 1915, Alexandria

"Things are going on alright here. It is getting a lot colder. I have been to the Pictures several times but the worst of it is the reading is in French. I saw a Charlie Chaplin picture + I have never laughed so much since I have been out here. I don't know how the Battalion is going on. I haven't heard from Edgar either. I wrote to him thinking he may have rejoined the Battalion." 

Lionel King, 7th December 1915, Abbassia Rest Camp

"I arrived here quite safe after a tiresome journey of 131/4 hrs. We had breakfast at 4.15 in the morning + we got to bed about 11pm. It is a lovely place where we are. It is called the Winter Palace Hotel. The beds are lovely, nice + springy + clean white shirts. The place hasn't been open long for the soldiers so everything is new. We were the Hospital clothes like I did at the Citadel Hospital. The food is alright. For breakfast I get tea, bread + butter + two eggs / sometimes boiled + sometimes fried + porridge. For dinner chicken + vegetables + rice or something else after. For tea Jam, Bread + butter, two boiled eggs + bread + jam. For supper bread + cocoa. We get up at 6.30 + make our beds, wash + have breakfast then we are free for the day. There are lovely gardens at the rear of the hotel + the river Nile runs along the side of the road in front. There is a band plays in the Hotel twice a day + it plays at night at the full picture theatre in the hotel ground. They do everything they can for us. It is quite warm here. There are orange groves quite near with such lovely big oranges on them. There are also a lot of lemon, date + banana trees growing in a big garden of a Frenchman. He is very good to us giving us cigarettes + supplying games etc. We were fed up to the nines in the train. It is lovely scenery all the way down. It is like having a holiday here. It just suits me but chaps who like a bit of life + plenty of beer don't like it so much." 

Lionel King, 12th December 1915, Luxor

"I am pleased to say I am getting on quite alright. I had a letter from Edgar during the week. He's back with the Battalion now. I expect to be back soon but they don't seem to be in a hurry to send me away from here. I am still waiting patiently for some letters but none arrive. I hope you have got the package I sent quite safe. I am sending you a few cards. They are mostly photos of the ruins near here. I am also sending a few snapshots one of the chaps in our room took. We had a concert Old Years night. There was no bells or any kind of row to welcome the New Year in." 

Lionel King, 2nd January 1916, Luxor

"I have been shifted from the Winter Palace to another hotel the Savoy. I think I sent you a PC of it. I have sent you a souvenir of Egypt I hope you will get it quite safe. You must have a collection of PC by now. I had a letter from Edgar this week too, he is in Alexandria now + he expects to join the Battalion very soon. The weather here is lovely, I went for a sail up the Nile Saturday afternoon + it was grand." 

Lionel King, 10th January 1916, Luxor

"I believe I told you before that Bert had been wounded in the wrist. Since I have been in this new hotel I have had to wash in the river. I used your soap for the first time today. Dear Mother you say you think I came out of hospital too soon. Well I discharged myself. They starved me there. I only used to get a small piece of bread + butter + a cup of milk 4 times a day + I felt famished so I told the doctor I was feeling alright. I was then sent to Abbassia where they gave me salmon + eggs etc + I made a glutton of myself + before the week was out I had a bad attack of diarrhoea + you know how long it took me to get rid of it."

Lionel King, 17th January 1916, Luxor

"Just a line to let you know Edgar returned from Hospital this morning. He is quite alright now." 

Lionel King, 29th January 1916

"I don't know when I shall be leaving here. I think I am the next batch to go. We went on a little route march this morning about 5 miles or so. The weather is still lovely + fine here. I am sending you a few more postcards of the ruins here. They wont be of much interest to you now but when I come home, if please God, I will tell you all about them." 

Lionel King, 31st January 1916, Luxor

"It was a long tiresome journey from Luxor. We were 18 hours in the train. I happened to miss Edgar again, he rejoined the Battalion two days before I got here."

 Lionel King, 6th February 1916, Sidi-Bisha Camp, Alexandria

" I am with the Battalion now, I joined them yesterday. I had three letters last evening, one from you, one from Auntie and one from Gwen. I am glad you are having a good frame for the palace. It is not too dear. Dear Mother I hope Dads arm is quite better by now + I hope that you are all in the best of health. I myself am feeling fit alright now. Edgar has gone to Cairo with the transport so I have missed him again. It may be sometime before I see him."

Lionel King, 25th February 1916, M.E.F. Base

"I have caught Edgar at last. We shifted to where he was with the transport. He is looking well. I hope we will have some good times together now." 

Lionel King, 7th March 1916

"I am pleased to say Edgar + I are in the best of health. We are now stationed at Mena Camp quite near to the pyramids + sphinx. I went to see them the other day + about 30 of us, all A Coy had our photos taken by the Sphinx. Edgar + I are going to Cairo tonight." 

Lionel King, 10th March 1916, Mena Camp

"I had a good time at Cairo on Saturday but it turned out to be unlucky night for me. We happened to be 25 minutes late, I had a pass till 11pm I handed in to the prequet at the trams + then reported to the orderly sergeant at 11-25pm. Next morning I was crimed for being absent from quarters from 11pm to 11-25pm. I awarded 7 days confirmed to camp. I + several others have to do I hours pack drill besides all parades everyday + extra fatigues. At this rate I shall spend a fine birthday shant I. Never mind I shall get through it alright. I don't think the O.C. knew what he was giving for so small a crime. This is the first time I have had to answer defaulties. By the way besides what I have told you I have got to answer my name every half an hour in full pack from 6 o’clock till 9.30pm. It's great I can tell you. Edgar wasn't half [?]ld when he knew I had been crimed."

 Lionel King, 13th March 1916

"I have finished my defaulters + a good job too. The night before last we had a fine time I don't think. We got drenched. Our bungalows are made with straw matting + it rained like the dickens. It began about 1 am Sunday morning + it knocked off about 4 am + everything was soaked. I covered my head up with my blankets + stopped until the rain came underneath me. We have been issued out with drill suits + both of our suits were soaked. I had to go about with my pants + overcoat on. Edgar was lucky as he sleeps in a tent. I was inoculated 3 days ago against Typhoid + [???]. Edgar was done today I get my second dose on the 27th."

 Lionel King, 20th March 1916

"I am pleased to say I am felling quite well bar my left arm for I have had my second dose of inoculation. The weather is very hot here. We have got our drill uniform + helmets. We look new soldiers again now. I am sending you a photo of a few of the lads. I will leave it to you to pick me out. I am also sending a photo of the Camp I am at + one of the Sphinx. I have been up the biggest of the pyramids, right up to the very top. You have to climb up one corner. It is 451 feet high. It made me quite dizzy when I looked down when I was about 1/3 of the way up. We are being put through the mill here. It is so hard tramping over sand + the heat is so trying. We are now known as the Egyptian Expeditionary Force." 

Lionel King, 27th March 1916

"We have been on the move again but we are settled down again now. We are in an awful place, [??] of water + nothing but sand around us. We have got plenty of digging to do + we are doing it this time for a real purpose not like we were at Cairo just for something to do. I can’t tell you where we are but I don’t think there is any danger unless something great happens. We have been here 4 days now + I haven’t had a wash yet. Quite like the old peninsula days, eh? I have not had a letter from you lately but I hope to have one by the next mail. We have everything brought up by camels. The battalion is here on its own.  Sort of an outpost.

Dear Mother I am pleased to say Edgar + I are quite well. We don’t like the hot weather but sunshine is better than snow + slosh. I had a nice letter from Auntie and one from Gwen. I shall try + write as often as possible but if you receive a few ‘Field Cards’ you will know it is because I have other work to do + not laziness on my part. I am sorry to say that Tommy Lice has put in his appearance again. I try to keep them down but I always find a few. Flies are a bit of a nuisance here. They seem a bit more daring then the English flies. You might knock them off a dozen times + they soon come back to the spot.

Dear Mother you know Bert was wounded in the wrist of his right arm, well he has been discharged from the army because he can’t use his hand.  It is rather bad for him isn’t it. Harry is still quite alright. I don’t know if you found him out on the photo I sent you. He is looking over my right shoulder.  George Oliver, my billet mate at Stamford, is home in England (lucky chap) + he expects to be sent out here very soon (unlucky chap). I am longing for the time when this war is over + we will meet once again. It seems ages since I was home + working at the old Anglo.  I have written to Joe twice + received no answer so I shan't trouble again.  Do you ever hear how Mr Jarvis is getting on?  I don’t think I have mentioned Walter Hay + Ernie Phillips lately. Wallie went all the way with the battalion. He said he had an awful time the last two weeks they were on the peninsular, mud up to the knees + plenty of snow + rain + not much food to eat.  He left the battalion a few days before I rejoined them the to get some more glasses as his were broke on the peninsular + I only saw him a few days before we left Cairo.  Ernie is in France + up to when we heard from him last he had been in the trenches twice + he didn’t think much of it." 

Lionel King, 6th April 1916

"I have just received a letter dated 27th March and photo of Group, we picked you out in a minute, you are standing in the second row from the back of the third man from the end, your cap is pushed back, we can see your dear face as well as possible.  I’m sure it must be hot where you are, I can see now the sun is shining by the photo, what a queer looking thing the Sphinx is and fancy Edgar and you climbing the Pyramids, you must have been hot and tired. Thank you very much for the photo and card. So glad you are both well." 

Auntie Fanny Newman, 6th April 1916

"Dear Mother do not put yourself out to send me parcels if you can’t really afford it. You see I am not so far away from civilisation as I was on the peninsular. We can have a feed when we get near a town or village.  Of course I am always pleased for a parcel to come my way.  I am still a non smoker so I am not worried with that habit. I always have clients for my issue of tobacco + cigarettes.  Dear Mother I hope Fred has found a job by now.  Has he tried in the munitions factories? Dad’s money is good isn’t it? Yes Edgar is an Officer’s servant but I can’t remember telling Auntie. I have been guarding bridges." 

Lionel King, 8th April 1916

"Dear Mother it is Good Friday tomorrow.  Our Chaplain has got a few chaps together + they are practicing a few hymns.  We are having a few sports etc here just to make things a bit lively.  No Hot X buns though, worse luck." 

Lionel King, 20th April 1916

"I am pleased to say Edgar + myself are quite well.  We are together more here that we were on the peninsula. We were on outpost duty the night before last + we had an awful time of it.  The wind was blowing its hardest + we were nearly blinded with the sand.  We were right out in the open + we had no cover except a few sand bags.  We talked of things of the past + how we wished we were at home sitting around the fire.  We have what is called sand storms. Our tent nearly blew over yesterday.  It was so cold that we were excused off digging.  We normally do 5 hours digging a day.  We had to do a lot of it twice as the trenches soon get filled with sane is left for a day or two.  

The food here is not so good as it might be.  We get plenty of Bully beef + biscuits. Some times we get what is called fig pudding.  I will give you the recipe for it.  I don’t suppose you will use it.  First of all find some Stale bread + a few bits of old sacking pulled to pieces.  Mix these with water + lay out in a flat baking tin.  Get a few figs + put one in about six square inches of pudding.  Then allow the wind to blow about half a pint of sand on it.  Put in oven +bake till crust is so hard that you can’t get your teeth through it. My word wouldn’t I like a piece of Dad’s figgy pudding.  The last night we only had a pint of tea + a small piece of the splendid stuff.  We have to eat it or go hungry.  

You want to know why I was late getting home from Cairo?  Well we had a pass till 11pm.  We have a look around, went in the Y.M.C.A who have a fine place, plenty of amusements + canteens.  Well we thought if we caught the 9.30 pm car back we would have plenty of time for it is an hour journey + that gave us half an hour to get to our quarters.  We happened to miss our way + miss the 9.30 car.  As they only run every half hour to the Pyramids we had to catch the 10pm car.  This arrived 10 minutes late so we arrived at 11.10pm + I was at my quarters 11.25.  As you know I got 7 days punishment for losing a tram." 

Lionel King, 24th April 1916

"I am pleased to say Edgar + I are quite well. Harry + Wallie are still with us + are quite well.  Bert has been discharged from the Army + has got a night job.  It’s bad for him not able to use his right hand." 

Lionel King, 28th April 1916

"Edgar + I are quite well. Edgar was attached to the R.F.A. for a short while as the officer he looks after was attached to them for a short time + Edgar went through a course of riding. He was sorry when he had to rejoined the battalion. He is still looking after the same officer. I am glad Mrs Townsend has found a decent situation. How is the weather at home, it is fearfully hot out here. The flies are getting a bit of a nuisance. Dear Mother what do people think of the War now + when do you think it will be over.  The French seem to have made a headway at Verdun. I hope they will keep it up. Wallie & Harry are quite well. It will be fine when we can have another tea with Edgar, Ernie & Wallie." Lionel King, 12th May 1916

"I am still keeping fairly well although the heat is telling on all of us. Edgar, Wallie + Harry are still with me + are quite well. George Oliver said when he was in England he didn’t have heart enough to go + visit Frank’s people." 

Lionel King, 16th May 1916

"We have had another shift we are at the base of the outpost we have just left.  It is quite lively here up to the last show. There are canteens and recreation huts, plenty of water & the food is much better. The ‘Boys’ are giving a concert tonight. We have got a piano & two violins so we have got ‘some’ music. The canteen sell jolly good dough nuts & lemonade so we can feed here to our hearts content.  Edgar, Wallie & Harry are still quite well. Bert has got his pension from the Army.  His hand is getting a wee bit better. He thinks it may be alright in time." 

Lionel King, 23rd May 1916

"Fred would like the Army life in England. If the war is still on by his 18th birthday he will have to enlist & that would be plenty soon enough for him. We’ve got some lads out here who are only 18 years old. I know one or two who were on the peninsular with us. Dear Mother we have made another move. We are 3 miles away form the last place we stopped at. It is surprising how quick a battalion can shift its quarters.  We have got canteens here so it is not so bad but it is not so good as the last show.  We are paid today, I drew 16d. It soon goes here as things are so dear. We have to pay 1d or 2½d for a 1d bar of chocolate.  I shall look forward to the parcel, I shall be glad when I can get a decent pencil to write with. I am writing this on the Lloyds so I can’t write as if I was writing on a table. Won’t I be glad when I can sit down in our old rocking chair. I have got quite used to eating & doing everything on the ground. Well it is getting near tea time & I must go & get my pint of tea & my bread & marmalade. We have had nothing but marmalade." 

Lionel King, 29th May 1916

"I do not think we will be shifting yet. Edgar, Wallie, Harry + I are all separated for a short time. It is still hot here+ the flies are such a nuisance. How I long for the end to come. It is very sad about Lord K isn’t it. We had a rumour first + we did not believe it. We treated it as a joke. They said “Lord K had been drowned in water”. The Navy have been doing great haven’t they." 

Lionel King, 12th June 1916

"The Russians have been going strong haven’t they. I can see us having Christmas together now if they keep it up. It is fairly windy here today. We sleep in tents but mess in huts. We have Bully beef+ pickles + some rice + raisons for dinner today. I very seldom have any dinner as I can’t stick shacklers + rice (unsweetened). We can buy margarine here so we have a little bit of grease on our bread when we are in funds. George Oliver is in hospital again. He has got Plurisy (I don’t know if I’ve spelt it right). We don’t do very much work here as it is so hot. I see you are having it warm in England now. I wonder what you would say to a day as hot as it is here today. It has been 105o in the shade. It was Whit Monday yesterday but it made no difference to us. No fairs or cocoanut shies. Last year we had some sports at St Albans. Edgar, Bert, Harry, Frank + myself went to the pictures in the evening. What a change this year." 

Lionel King, 13th June 1916

"Walter has had a letter from home saying Ernie has not been heard from for over a fortnight and as he always writes twice a week they are beginning to worry," 

Edgar Bigg, 19th June 1916

"Edgar + I are quite well. We feel too tired to move sometimes when it is so hot. It is too hot to sleep in the day. They get us up at 3.30am now. I bet you are all sound at that time of the morning. We do 3 hours work before breakfast while it is cool. I reckon if I get back safe I shall want all the doors shut like Dad. Lets hope the time will soon come when I can have a snooze in the old rocking chair." 

Lionel King, 20th June 1916

"Yes it is very sad about Lord K. Aren’t the Russians making a headway. Edgar and I are both quite well. It is getting unbearably hot here during the day. We start work at 4.30am till 7.30am in the morning + from 5pm till 7pm at night now. We have very long days here. We get up at 3.30am + lights out is 10pm. I am so glad to now Dad + Fred are looking better. I wonder what job Dad will pick up next. Dear Mother I don’t know as I have said anything about your letters. I am always please to read any little thing you have got to write about. Dear Mother Auntie mentioned about Will Westcott but I can’t think for the life of me who he is. Mr Duncan + several other poor fellows down the lane were drowned. What do you think they are giving all the fellows who were on the Peninsula seven days leave in Alexandria. So they will be away for 9 days altogether. We do no work + will be allowed to go about as we like. Won’t it be grand to have a lay in in the mornings. Edgar thinks he is going on Thursday. I don’t know when I shall be going." 

Lionel King, 26th June 1916

"I am still jogging along A1. Edgar is at another post so I can’t tell you how he is getting on. He sent me a card from Alexandria + said he was having a decent time. He also gave me some bad news. Poor old Perc Johnson went down in the North Sea. It is sad for so many fine fellows to lose their lives in such a way. Dear Mother the weather here is just about the same. George Oliver is still away from us. I heard he was in hospital in Cairo. Harry Fisher is in the same tent as myself. Wallie is at this post + quite well. My word aren’t they giving the Germans jip in France, I hope they keep it up. We got the news fairly quick, they post war telegrams up on the notice board. You will have a house full of furniture now won’t you. Let hope the war won’t last long+ then things will get shipshape again. By the way we have got 4 RAMC men in our tent. They are Lancashire chaps + very nice fellows too (bar one). I like to hear them talk." 

Lionel King, 11th July 1916

"No we have not left the land of sand yet + we are not likely too for some time as far as I can see. We have had some grand news on the War Telegram, Wallie hears from Erinie now + again. He has been in some of the thick fighting. Edgar, Wallie, Harry + myself are all in the pink. What do you think, they have turned us all into school boys again. They have sent us out with short knickers. We have to wash our knees now, what? They are much cooler. ‘A’ Company we have a fortnight training. We are not doing any digging or any other fatigues while we are doing it. 

Yes it is 12 months on the 25th that we sailed from Bonny England. The Boys are going to have a concert to celebrate the day. I shall always remember the sight leaving Devonport, all the Jack Tars waving us farewell. What a difference then + now. Some poor fellows gone, some crippled for life + the others either in hospital or out here. 

Won’t I be pleased when I know it won’t be long before I am back in Blighty. It is so monotonous out here. We do all parades during the cool part of the day. We got up at 3.30am this morning + other morning lately there has been a full moon in the sky when we were woke up. So you can guess what it feels like being woke up so early. We have just a little drop of tea + get on parade at 4.30am. We come off parade at 7.30 + have breakfast at 8am. It is rather too long to go without food, by the way the ‘marmalade run’ has finished + we have had jam for the last week. 

I am sending you a newspaper cutting that I thought you might like to read. It is written by a brother of one of our chaps who is in the R.E. attached to us. I have never told you before but as the fellow mentions the canal I may as well you it is the Suez Canal we are guarding. It was the 6th this chap saw coming in from the desert when we returned from the first outpost we were at which was about 7 or 8 miles out. When we were at the base we had some fine swims in the canal. I have not mentioned this before because I have always put the Green envelope to its proper use besides there is the promise. As they put things in the paper like enclosed cutting I don’t see as there is any harm in my writing about it. Dear Mother I am making another start as I had to go on parade. I have just come back from the range. We had to fire 5 shots at a target + get all 5 shots in as small a space as possible. I got all mine in a small circle. We fired from 100yds range. Not so bad eh? It has blew up very windy tonight. The other fellows in my tent are trying to make the tent secure as the pegs do not hold very well in the sand. We sleep here with no blankets over us. I sleep like a top. The sand makes a softer bed than boards."

 Lionel King, 18th July 1916

"Dear Mother I am still jogging along alright. Edgar is with the transport again. I had a letter from him 5 days ago and he was quite well then. Wallie is still A1. I am sending you his photo he gave me. It is very good isn’t it? He had it taken when he was in Alexandria on his 7 days leave. He went with Edgar. It was nice for them to go together. I only wish I had went with them too. We are still doing our training here. It will only last this week. I suppose they will send some more chaps to Alexandria when it is over. They have issued us out with green glasses. We are all goggled now. They relived the eyes a great deal. Ernie Phillips is quite alright or was when we last heard from him. He does not mention a word of how things are going on out there. I hope Bert Tucker will come through safe. Bert is in a rifle regt now then? Their drills are somewhat different to ours. We have two rifle battalions in our division. The mail has arrived on a Monday night just lately. The weeks do fly by here. This time last year I was out on the deep blue sea wasn’t I. we had a few boxing matches to commemorate the day of leaving dear old Blightie. I hope you have been getting my letters regularly. I don’t know what day the mails leave Egypt so I can’t write to correspond with the mails. I answer your letters at the first opportunity. Dear Mother Nellie still writes to me so I get news of Charlton. She said several others has gone but only mentioned Mr Duncan personally. Dick Walker was still quite safe in France the last time I heard. He has been out there nearly a year. Bert Smith I believe is in France too. I don’t know if I told you before but Tom Eggerton was wounded in the rear. He was at Woolwich the last time I heard of him. His half brother is in our battalion. The weather here is a wee bit cooler. There is a nice cool breeze. Sometimes it gets too strong & we are covered with sand & have to chase after our belongings." 

Lionel King, 25th July 1916

"Sarge tells me that you have been told that the 5th Essex have been in action at Kantara and that their casualties are 75% of the battalion. Surly this is not correct. Have you heard from Nell lately? I haven’t from Hilda or Mabel. Everything going along alright here and sincerely hope it is the same at Oldham.  The officer went out on his horse this morning after I had cleared them both up and he came back very pleased as he said everybody had admired his horse which of course was my doing. I don’t seem as if I can do anything wrong according to him. Expect I shall be seeing you very soon as the 5th & 7th went from here also some Artillery. There is no more news at present so hoping this will find you and your fellow highwaymen in the best of health etc. "

Edgar Bigg, 1st August 1916, Shallafa West

"At present I am sitting on the ground with a magazine on my knee for a table. I have got 7 mates in my tent & the topic is ‘When will the war be over’. It is rather hard to write when so many are talking. The sun outside is pouring down its heat. I do not find it so hot now. I must be getting quite a native. I’ve been in Egypt 9 months now & we’ve been 4 months on the Suez. By the way we have finished training & we have shifted to another outpost."

Lionel King, 2nd August 1916

"Do you know Fred I envy you at your job sometimes. When I am wringing wet with perspiration & perhaps not much water to drink & nothing to walk on but sand, well I mustn’t start grumbling must I for there are thousands of poor fellows in worse conditions than I, what job do you think I had this morning. I had to see that 3 gyppos did some work. They’re the sort of jobs I like eh what. It's not very often we get easy jobs as that."

Lionel King, 8th August 1916

"We have made another move to an outpost further north. We are a good way out in the desert. Things are fairly decent here. We have had plenty of fatigue work to do. It is always the same when there is a move on. Tents to put up, stores to be put in their place. It seems a wee bit hotter here as there is not such a good breeze as there was when we were nearer the canal. Yes dear Mother I consider myself lucky to be out here, but I was one of the first to enlist wasn’t I & I haven’t shirked anything the country has wanted me to do. Perhaps if I had not enlisted when I had I should have had a rougher time. Poor Fred Shelly has had a doing hasn’t he? Dear Mother I think my 7 days leave is a wash out. About half the battalion were lucky enough to go. Never mind, let's hope I shall be able to have a holiday in England before long. Edgar, Wallie, Harry & myself are all fairly well."

Lionel King, 8th August 1916

"Poor Ernie Phillips is in some of the thick in France then, I shall never forget the time Ernie & Wallie & Edgar & you were all together at home at Charlton, as I write I am thinking of Edgar, Wallie & Henry as well as you & pray for all to be safe, good job they didn’t let all the Armies go to France for they are so good."

Florence King, 8th August 1916

"We are still out in the desert. I am glad you are getting some nice weather. It must make everything look so nice. It is the same as ever here. Yes the boys are doing grand in France. Lets hope their efforts will be superseded by a glorious victory. Dear Mother it is a year ago now since we landed on the peninsular. That was a terrible week the first week on Gallipoli. We have all got vivid recollections of that week. Edgar & I are still in the pink. We are still longing for the great day to come."

Lionel King, 15th August 1916

"I am please to say I am quite well but Edgar is queer & has gone to hospital. I saw him when he was here at the Field Hospital & he was looking pretty bad. I don’t know what is wrong with him. Lets hope it is not very serious. Things are going on here the same as per. The weather is not different, just as hot in the day & very cool at night. Two days ago I went down to the canal with a party to swim. We rode down on a light railway that has been constructed to the various outposts. It was a good ride & I enjoyed the swim.

I had a letter from Nellie & she told me that her brother Dick had been wounded in the advance. He had 7 days leave about a month before he was wounded."

Lionel King, 22nd August 1916

"Edgar is still in hospital. He is not very bad. He has a touch of Malarial Fever. I don’t suppose he will be away long, I have not had your usual letter yet this week. I will write you again as soon as I do get it. I had a letter from Auntie this afternoon. Things are going on about the same here, (I haven’t much to write about). I met George Crowe yesterday. He is in the 4th Essex. I have seen him in England before but never had a chance to speak to him. He may drop you a line. He is looking very fit."

Lionel King, 27th August 1916

"We are having a bonza time here, our boys are all good. Lads as lively as mudlarks. We are having some sports during the week.

Dear Mother there is a book called the “Anzac Book” it might interest you. It is published by Cassell & Co Ltd price 2s/6d if you would like it please buy it at my expense. I also want you to send me out the smallest set of Chessmen you can get me (also with my money) This will help a few of the boys spend a few enjoyable hours. I am a learner of the great game. I do not need any underclothes out here as it is too hot for them. I think ‘Blightie’ a new book just published would be a good substitute for the U.F." 

Lionel King, 4th September 1916

"I am having my rest at last. I am now at the Change of air camp Alexandria. We arrived here on Thursday afternoon after a long tiresome journey lasting about 7 hours. We were told on Wednesday we were going & we left our dreary outpost & boarded a little tug steamer that took us to the railway station. We were all paid a pound so we didn’t get much did we. It is a very nice place here. No getting up early in the morning. I laid in till half past seven this morning. What a change from 4 o’clock. There are canteens, concert halls, reading & writing rooms, lounges all for our use. We can go bathing in the sea when we like. We have passes for the town. I went with 4 more of the boys & we had our photos taken. We started off by having a donkey from the camp to the trams. My little moke went well & I left the others a long way behind. We got into town & had a look round & had two or three feeds & free entertainments while we were eating them. I don’t go much on Alex, I shall spend the rest of my time here. Harry is here so I have got a pal. Dear Mother I am please to say I am feeling quite well. Edgar is still in hospital. I had a letter from him & he says he going on alright now. He is at Giza Red Cross Hospital, Cairo. It is the same place as he was at last year. I hope you haven’t mentioned anything to Mrs Bigg as it is against Edgar’s wishes. I do not in with him keeping the news from his mother. Perhaps he has told her by now, I hope so."

Lionel King, 16th September 1916

"I am pleased to say I am getting on A1 here. I am quite well & getting plenty of sleep. There has been several good concerts here. Some of the lads, ‘myself included’, had a laughable time last night. We went into a refreshment bar & started a band. There was a piano, big drum, cymbals & a triangle. I had the cymbals. You can bet what a noise we made. We got some custom for the bar though. I had a letter from Bert & Alice this morning. They wish to be remembered to you. I shall write them tomorrow. Dear Mother I don’t seem to have much to write about. I am glad of the rest here. One thing though we don’t seem to be able to get away from the sand. We are sleeping on it here, I have not got photo’s yet."

Lionel King, 18th September 1916

"Wallie & Harry are both here & are quite well. Wallie has a bit of a sand rash on his face & he can’t shave so he is looking slightly dirty around his face."

Lionel King, 2nd October 1916

"Edgar is in a Convalescent home at Alexandria. I am inclosing his photo which I received today. I received a letter from Auntie this afternoon & it was a very nice letter too. I also had on from Nellie. Dick has been wounded again. This is the third time he has been wounded but they were only slight ones. "

Lionel King, October 1916

"Dear Mother I am tentmate with Grange & I told him what you said about his letters. He did a smile. He is a proper knut, but one of the best hearted fellows one could meet. You asked me what happened to my mandolin. I thought I told you before. I left it on the Southland the troopship when we were about to land on the pen. I was so bundled up with all my belongings that I couldn’t be trouble with the mandolin. I gave it to one of the stewards. The Southland was torpedoed her next voyage so I suppose it was lost. Now about the sports. When there was prizes I was not lucky enough to get a first. Last Sunday we had some contests & I went in for nearly all of them. Swimming there was 40yds breast stroke & 40yds go as you please race. 220yds race & graceful diving. The event I won was the diving. Fancy me being graceful. If you could have seen us you would have thought it disgraceful. On the land I ran a mile but did not get a place though I finished up fairly well. We are having a concert tomorrow night & I am giving a song or two. The company has got a sports club & out of the money they brought a mandolin-banjo I seem to be the only one who can play it."

Lionel King, 13th October 1916

"The weather here is just right now. Edgar is back again with the battalion. I have not seen him as I am at a detached post. The other night a party of us assisted be a few ??????????????????????????????? in the ???? near our post had a nights fishing. We did not have very big catches only about 50lbs of fish altogether. It was a taste for the boys the next day. The [???] [???] [???] very often. We seem to beat them in all things, we beat them in football, cricket & tug-a-war. We are going to play the Water polo & I shouldn’t be surprised if we beat them at that for we have got some fine swimmers. Our concert I spoke of last week off very well indeed. I can tell you we are in oil out here. I often think of all the poor fellows out in France when we are having such a peaceful time of it here. Someone has to be here though & we happened to be the lucky someone. After I have finished writing these letters (I got several more to write) I am going to score for a cricket match between the Officers & Sergeants verses the rest."

Lionel King, 18th October 1916

"I am please to say I am getting fairly well. The weather is still about the same. Just right during the day but it is rather cold in the mornings & there is such a heavy dew. Today is Sunday & we have just come off the Officer Commanding’s inspection. We had our church parade last Friday as the Chaplain cannot get here on a Sunday. We are free for the rest of the day now, so I am going to write two of three letters. Of course Mother come first. I received a letter from Auntie yesterday & one from Gwen. Gwennie sent me another lucky horseshoe. I lost the one she sent me while I was on the Peninsular while I was swimming sometime ago. Now dear Mother & Dad I have got something to tell you. About a half an hour after I received Gwen’s horseshoe & put it around my neck the O.C. called me up to him & told me to get dressed to go before the E.G. of the Battalion. With a few others we were marched up before him & what do you think. They made us Lance Corporals. Fancy me with a stripe on my arm. It came quite a surprise to me. It was the O.C. who recommended me. He mentioned about my stuttering but said I could give command on parade this is very strange but true. Of course I shall not get payed for the stripe yet but if I am efficient enough to hold it I shall be payed later on. One has to start on the bottom rung. Please do not alter address, just put Pte still until I am sure I shall keep it. I never thought I would rise from the rank of private." 

Lionel King, 22nd October 1916

" I am now in charge of the canteen here & it keeps me busy all day. I do no parades and the best thing is I get every night in. I have had a pretty busy time of it today. We have had some sailor ashore. Our chaps played them football. It was a very fast & good game which ended in a draw, no goals being scored. We played them Water Polo the other afternoon & the game ended the same way. We had a bonza concert last night, I sang the Ghost of the Yodlin again it went down well. Now Mother I am please to say I am in the best of health. I am so sorry to hear of Mrs Tucker’s great trouble. I hope she has had some good news by now. I have had some more bad news, Ernie Phillips is missing. As you say dear Mother we ought to go down on our knees & thank God that we are out here. We are the luckiest chaps on earth. I often think of the poor chaps in France. Instead of throwing cricket balls as we do out here they are throwing bombs. I have got a good photo of myself & a few of the lads taken after some swimming sports we had. Our Captain snapped us & he gave us a photo each. I want to show it to Edgar or I would have sent it this letter. I reckon No. 27 is full of photos, isn’t it?

What do you think of this paper? It has been given to us by the Y.M.C.A., pens and ink also.  Edgar, Wallie & Harry are quite alright I expect I shall see Edgar & Wallie sometime next week as we are moving from here, worst luck. I expect we shall be going out into the desert again. We are well off here, plenty of water & plenty of sport. It won’t be so bad now as it is not half so hot now."

Lionel King, 28th October 1916

"I am so sorry for Mrs Tucker. Ernie Phillips has been reported missing by the War Office. I hope they are both Prisoners of War. I have not seen Wallie yet to asked him if he has had some fresh news of Ernie. I saw Edgar yesterday & he is looking pretty well. But I must tell you we have moved from our bonza little post & we are now 8 miles out in the desert. We shifted yesterday. It wasn’t a bad march. We can’t get any swimming here, worst luck. We have just come off church parade. Most part of the time we were on parade was taken up with inspection by the C.O. I have lost my cushy job in the canteen now we are here. I expect I shall have to do some special parades & go to a few lectures here now I am a N.C.O. I am sending you the photo I mentioned in my last letter. What do you think of it don’t you think it is a good photo. Harry Fisher is lying down in front. I am on the right sitting down. I look like a nigger don’t I? Now I am going to try & tell you where our great journalist is ‘Con Grange’. He is second from the right behind me or the one next to the chap with the spotted towel. I will try & enclose Con’s latest if I can get it. I will have a good try. I hope you, Dad & Fred are quite well. I am still keeping fit. I think we will have a fairly good time here. If we don’t we mustn’t grumble but think of what the poor fellows are going through in France." 

Lionel King, 5th November 1916

"Dear Mother there is nothing for you to worry about whilst I am out here. We are as safe as houses. I know it is a nuisance but you can take it from me it is not because I don’t write that you don’t receive my letters regularly. Mrs Phillips has had a report from the War Office that Ernie is missing. She has also got his pay book. It appears that his battalion was going over the top & Ernie wrote a message and put it in his pay book. When they went over he left his book in the trench & one of the battalion that took up their places found it. This man was gassed and when he came to in hospital he asked the nurse to send the pay book on to Mrs Phillips. Dear Mother I am please you Dad & Fred are all fairly well. I myself a feeling A.1. We have had plenty to do just lately. Route marches across the sand, night attacks & when there are no things like that we go digging."

Lionel King, 9th November 1916

"I am still jogging along A.1. I have not seen Edgar since I’ve been at this post. Wallie & Harry are quite well & both wish to be remembered to you. Well dear Mother today is the anniversary of my enlisting two years ago today. I done the deed. What a lot of things have happened during those two years. It is quiet in our tent today there are only three of us in at present. One is sewing a button on his trousers, one is reading & I am writing. Most of the chaps are in the mess hut either reading, writing or playing cards. It is getting on for dinner time now. I suppose we shall have shackles again & with a bit of luck some pudding. Shouldn’t I like one of our rabbits with Dad’s stuffing like we use to have. I believe you asked about George Oliver some weeks ago & I never told you. The last I heard of him was that he had a job at the Base, Cairo. He has got consumption."

Lionel King, 12th November 1916

"We had a big move this time. We are a good way further north. This last three days we have been on fatigues all day. Today is Sunday & directly after Church parade we had to start again. We have just finished so writing this letter was my first job. I hope you, Dad & Fred are all quite well. I am still in the pink. Edgar is at this post & is quite well. I had two letters from Auntie last week. Poor Wilf is having a lot of trouble with his eye isn’t he. Wallie has not heard anything more of Ernie. Harry & Wallie are quite well. Dear Mother now I have been two years in the Army I get an extra 3s a day on my pay & I am entitled to wear a good conduct badge, I will let you know later if I get the badge. Well I think I have said all for now. I have been warned for another job at 2.30pm & it is getting near that time now. I shall write to Auntie afterwards & I want you to send the letter on to her. I am enclosing a small photo taken by one of our officers after one of our moves. I am right behind with my hands on my hips. Let me know if you recognise me."

Lionel King, 19th November 1916

"On the QT it is rumored that we are going to Ferry Port on the 23rd inst. Had a good day in town last week. Have no more news of Ernie. My Propency Pay is in my book now. I suppose you will be isolated for another three weeks now as I hear there are some more supporters of diphtheria just left your little party. Very sorry to hear it but sincerely hope you are keeping in the best of health & spirits."

Edgar Bigg, 5th December 1916

"I was out on piquet last night so I got this morning off. The other chaps who were last night have gone for a march on the desert. Today is Sunday but here we have our Sunday on Tuesday if you can understand. We have our church parade & have the day off on Tuesday. I washed a shirt, pair of slacks, pair of socks, tunic, holdall & ration bag this morning so you see I’ve had a busy time.

Dear Mother I must tell you I have not been made a L/Cpl as I expected I will try & explain why. You know what happened at the time I went before the C.O. I had charge of the canteen for a good while. Since then we have moved to three different posts. When we were isolated the battalion moved to this present post. When we arrived here I found that several chaps had been made L/Cpls for six weeks. I daresay they will keep them. I got it for a reliable source that our C.S.M. had stopped me having a stripe saying my impediment was too bad. They may be glad of me one day. I am quite contented as a private for a L/Cpl is love by nobody & kick by everyone."

Lionel King 10th December 1916

"I should have written yesterday but my I had the luck to get a pass into town. We left camp early in the morning & after an hours sharp walk we (four of us) arrived at where the light railway ends. We boarded the train & had about an eight or nine mile ride. After this ride we crossed the canal & we had another walk of four miles. This time it was on the best road I have ever seen out this way. It was a nice asphalt road with trees and hedges of some sort on both sides. On the one side a little canal runs and there were several chaps there fishing. I thoroughly enjoyed the walk. Where you went through and Egyptian Cemetery and it was kept lovely. There was some beautiful roses growing and other flowers. It was a real treat to get in the town. We went to the Y.M.C.A. in town and had a bit of Tucker and we then had a stroll round. The native quarter of the town is very dirty. It is very amusing to see the little kiddies. They are so quaint. We had some nice bread and butter and tea in a tea garden and it was a real treat to get trees served on a nice white tablecloth. After this we went and brought a few articles such as postcards etc. I will send a few cards to you in my next letter. I also bought a book that will just to my purpose. The other one you send me will do nicely for another purpose. We soon began to get hungry again so we went into an Egyptian cafe & had another feed of bacon, eggs and tomatoes. We meant to have some grub while the money lasted. By for by, Con Grange was the one of the partly. About half past two we had to think about getting back to camp. Not relishing the walk to the light railway we hired a native gowie or in other words a carriage and pair & he took six of us (two others joined us in town) all the way (four miles) for a half a crown. Cheep wasn't it? We again boarded the train & we were soon tramping across the deserts to a little home on the sand. It was dark before we arrived so we had to trust ourselves to our old friends the stars. If it were not for the stars many of that chaps would have to wait for the daylight to find a place of abode. I wished Edgar could have been with us. I think in a few days time we will be moving and Edgar and I will then be in the same camp. Well dear mother I think I have made a good start I have got plenty more to write but the dinner gong has just gone. We are having our Xmas Day today so this is our Xmas dinner. I will continue after dinner and let you know what it was like. -------

Well dear Mother dinner is over it was very decent under the circumstances. We had baked meat, potatoes, carrots, beans, Xmas pudding, figs, oranges, beer for those who wanted it and mineral water. The officers and the NCOs served out the grub. At captain came round with a box of bonbons and it was a treat to see the chaps so merry. They sang nearly all through the dinner. The beer made a few of the fellows a bit jolly. Well I must leave this again for I am for piguet tonight. I will make another start tomorrow morning the real Christmas Day but our Boxing Day. -------"

Lionel King, 24th December 1916

"Dear Mother and Dad I am starting again. I will try & tell you all what happened yesterday. We were allowed to lay in up to 6:30am we then rose and tidy up our kit and tent. The bell soon went for breakfast and we were soon seated. The bell by the way consisted of a shell case hit with a piece of iron. Very soon the officers and sergeants came in and served out the Tommy. We had tea, bread, bacon, tomatoes & porridge & jam. On the table I sat on we also had some sausages & salmon. You see we have a jolly good breakfast. At 11am we had a church service. We sang Christmas hints etc and it went off well. At 12 knowing we regain some ends to the mess hymns by the aforesaid bell and we had lunch consisting of tea, bread, jam & cakes. The officers and sergeants served all the meals. During the afternoon there was a football match. Number 4 platoon won 4-2. There was also a few coconuts fixed up on sticks and the chaps were throwing mallet heads at them for balls. The lucky ones had a cigar for every nut they knocked down. After the match I began this letter and as you know I had to respond again to the bell. I have told you all about the dinner so I need write no more about it. I told you I was on piquet. The captain was good enough to allow us to go out at 7pm instead of 5pm. The boys had a bit of a sing song and that two hours soon stripped away. I was soon out at my posts laying down and looking at the stars, thinking and wondering how you dad and Fred were spending your Christmas eve. Well I came off piquet this morning and the chaps were not up when I got back to the tent so I had another half an hours kip. Breakfast was as before. There is a football match on at the present time but I have got a lot of letters writing to do that I must make time somehow. I believe there is going to be some sports this afternoon. I will tell you about that later."

Now there's another thing I want to tell you regarding the photo of our chaps after bathing. I believe you have mistaken Con Grange for Auntie says she laughs at C.G. with his shirt and helmet on. Well Con is the other side of the chap with the spotted towel and if I remember rightly he is stooping somewhat. I cannot tell you how Edgar and Wallie have enjoyed themselves as they are both at different posts. I saw Edgar and couple of days ago and he was quite well. Harry was at this post so I dare say he has enjoyed himself as well as I have. I am so glad to know you are all fairly well and I hope you have spent an enjoyable Christmas as I have under the skies. I am going to make another start we have had a very good afternoon. We had a few running sports etc. I went in for the sack race, wheelbarrow race, three legged race and pillow fighting over plunge bath. I did not win any event but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Harry won the pillow fighting. He was against me in the final. It was a good struggle and in the end I felt plunk right in the water. It was a bit chilly. I shall be glad when we get back near the water so that we can get a swim. It thundered a little this afternoon and we had a little rain. It rained last Christmas Day. Well dear mother this is the end of the third Christmas I have spent in the army. I pray to God I shall be able to be home with you dad and Fred next year."

Lionel King, 25th December 1916

"As we have been on the move again I did not receive your letter till yesterday."

Lionel King, 1st January 1916

" We have settled down here now. We are going on a route march this morning."

Lionel King, 14thJanuary 1916

"Edgar has been shifted to Cairo. He has not written to me yet so I am not sure what is wrong with him. I hope you are all quite well at home. We have just had news of the terrible explosion . What an awful thing. Dear Mother I am trying my hand as cook now. It is quite a change."

Lionel King, 24thJanuary 1916

Lionel is referring to the Silvertown Explosion in London, that occurred on the 19th January 1917. The incident took place at the Brunner Mond chemical factory, which was producing TNT for the British war effort. The explosion happened when a fire ignited several tons of TNT stored at the factory. The blast was massive, causing widespread devastation in the surrounding area. Buildings were destroyed or severely damaged, and debris was scattered over a large radius. Windows shattered as far as 12 miles away, and the explosion was felt as far as Southampton and Essex. The explosion resulted in the loss of at least 73 lives and caused injuries to hundreds of others. The impact was not only felt in terms of human casualties but also economically, as it caused significant damage to infrastructure and nearby properties. The shockwave from the explosion also damaged nearby factories and buildings, adding to the destruction. Forgotten Stories - the 1917 Silvertown Explosion

"I had a letter from Edgar today & I am pleased to say he is quite well again now. It was an attack of something he had. Wallie & I are still in the best of health. Wallie had a letter from Mabel, Ernie’s sister & says they have had no further news of Ernie. They won’t give up hope yet. Ernie was reported missing on the 15th Sept."

Lionel King, 28th January 1917

"I am right out in the desert & I am writing this by moonlight as I have been to busy cooking during the day. We have just finished a 5 day march. The battalion is bivouacking now." 

Lionel King, 6th February 1917

"Edgar is quite well & so is Wallie. The weather has been pretty wet especially at night. I hope the weather is better in England."

Lionel King, 16th February 1917

"I would have ask him to send it only an infantry man has to carry all his kit with him when he is on the move. In fact all excess kit is supposed to be destroyed. I have lost all my treasures that I have kept since I was on the peninsula."

Lionel King, 16th February 1917

"Dear Mother I & the boys are still jogging along here as usual doing our little share in the war. So glad everybody liked the P. cards. Well I shall soon be 21 shan’t I. I never thought I should see my 21st out here."

Lionel King, 4th March 1917

"Well dear Mother + Dad it was my 21st yesterday. It was not much of a day for a birthday. I was warned for guard in the morning + I mounted at 3 for guarding the A.S.C. dump. One thing it was better than doing pack drill like I did last year. After all the talks I have had with Edgar about what we would do on our 21st was complete wash-out for I did not even see Edgar yesterday. I was rather disappointed. I am writing this outside the guard tent. The weather is getting extremely hot again now. I am not cooking now as one of the old cooks has returned from hospital." 

Lionel King, 17th March 1917

"I am please to say Wallie & I are still in the pink. The weather hasn’t been quite so cold this last week. We had a route march the other day & my word didn’t I sweat. On our way back we saw an Egyptian wedding. Every one of the party were on camels expect the pom pom band in front. The bride was enclosed in a sort of a tent arrangement fixed on the camel & behind her rode on the other camels the bridegroom, three of his wives & children. It was a queer sight I can tell you & it is hard to give a good description of it, things are very quiet here at present. There is going to be a big concert by the Lena Aswell party here tomorrow night. That will liven things up a bit."

Lionel King, March 1917

"I was on police Friday and Saturday 2 hours on & 4 hours off. I don’t like it much. I was on from 4 to 6 in the evening 10 – 12 midnight 4 – 6 in the morning & from 10 – 12 dinner time. I don’t like the night."

Lionel King, 18th March 1917