Part 02: Rex Nixon letters, 21 May 1915-27 December 1916 - Page 14
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[Page 14]
6.
The "Red Caps" English military police, thought we were a soft lot, but found out after wards that we were not, for on the way from the sunny land, we heard from some English lads what they would do, & what they wouldn't. Some Austns. were killed in a riot in Cairo (4) the Redcaps fired on them for not going along when told, when our men knew about X they dragged them all over town, since then a few deaths have taken place, but they are absolutely frightened to do anything since. If a nigger gets in a "Red Caps" way, they hit them, or kick them out of it, our fellows do it a bit also. The bootblacks are a pest for they run after you along the street & ask you, boots cleaned sir, you have to say; burrow, or imshi, which means go to the devil. I can speak now to the tram drivers (who are black) in Egyptian/ Moir means water, buckshee means [indecipherable] yellow go away, a lot of other words I can say also. I am amongst the wounded enough, for I go to the hospital (Atelier where Rup was) to see one of my pals and he says it is great in the firing line, & what I see of the wounds, it is nothing to be shot, of course, not in the heart is not too pleasant, but I'll be quite satisfied with a bullet wound, but there is one good thing & that is not to be frightened of the Turks