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The Desert 9.8.16
My dear old Dad
Just a line to assure you that I am fit as a fiddle. We have had a great victory here as you know before this. But my pleasure is entirely damped by the fact that I had no hand at all in it. I am more disappointed over this than over anything that has happened since I left Australia; to me. A month ago nothing was anticipated in the Shape of a Turkish attack & so to use up the reinforcements in Tel el Kebir they formed 3 double squadrons from the 3 LH Brigade details. By some mischance (or perhaps the mischief of some person who does not love me - tho' I cannot guess whom) my name was incuded on the officers list for the new force. Now I should not be sent away from the brigade without the consent of the brigadier, but like an ass I obeyed orders at once & was appointed adjutant to the Second Double Sqdn. This would not have mattered much if we had been sent to Romain but by a streak of ill luck we were sent to man the trenches & do the outpost work at the spot where Abdul did not choose to attack. So while we heard the firing & heard the news & moved hither and yon we in our spot never fired a shot. Its rotten luck for it was a famous victory. As