Part 01: Rupert Nixon letters, 28 November 1914-2 October 1917 - Page 44
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[Page 44]
Heliopolis
Egypt
Dear Mother
You will only get a very short letter for this mail as I'm too jolly tired.
We went out three nights ago about tea time & had exactly three days & nights bivouacing in the Sahara Desert.
When we got a fair distance into the sand we took up a position & entrenched, at 11 o'clock the same night.
It was funny to see lots using the "banjo" (shovels) & the "anchors" (picks).
After this work was done & the sentries posted out, we laid down just in our greatcoats & tried to sleep but that was out of the question as it was too jolly cold & a wind which was blowing the sand that stung like sandflies when it came on to your face.
Well after a long time we got got just about settled when suddenly the sound of three rifle shots came along with the wind, & the next minute a smoke message came through