Item 01: Oliver Hogue letters, November 1914-29 December 1915 - Page 38

[Page 38]  

[Printed letterhead]
Australian Light Horse Camp
Ma'adi     Egypt.   7.3.15

My dear Old Dad
We expect to get busy in a few days so for a space you can tell all the home folk not to expect many letters. Your very welcome letter dated 15/1/15 only arrived on March 7 just 2 months in the journey. But the main thing is that it did arrive after all. A fortnight ago I received letters from Australia dated later than yours. Marvellous are the ways of the Gyppie postal system.

So sorry to hear of   Mum's illness but delighted to hear that she is   on the mend.   Tell her not to worry about me. I never felt better in my life .And I am rather lucky & being born with a caul I'm sure to win through with flying colours.

We had Sports Day at Maadi yesterday (Sat)   & I had to run the show. We had a fine time and the Maadi folk turned out in goodly numbers .   As I had my hands full with the arranging of the programme I only entered into 1 event - the Balaclava Melee. My (Headquarters) team were thrown out in the final after a good tussle. My fiery warhorse (Herald) was too fiery, and as it was a bareback stunt, I had a lively time. He bolted out of the ring and tried to jump over the onlookers .   Hanged if I know how I kept my seat. Curiously enough it was   Al Chrystal who blocked him and led him back to the ring. With one hand dealing out "Swashing" blows like [gregory?] and the other trying to manage the horse I had my hands full and my team was only beaten by a small margin.

Im enclosing the programme of the Sports and I'm also sending the programme of our last camp Concert which was a huge success. But Sports and Concerts will all cut out now for a while.

Love to all at home & a big share for mother.   Im thinking of her all the time
Good luck.   Your affectionate Son Oliver.