Part 02: Rex Nixon letters, 21 May 1915-27 December 1916 - Page 74
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[Page 74]
Will send you something when I get in some civilised part, as where we are now, is in the desert somewhere in Egypt.
"Tel-el-Kebir."
2211
Pte Rob Rex Nixon
"D" Company
4th Battalion
1st Inf Brigade
A.I.E.F.
2-1-16
Dear Mother,
By the time this letter reaches you, the news of the evacuation will be known to all; we could not write about it for some time, for the enemy would soon get to know things, worth knowing. All the boys hardly liked leaving the place, especially the older hands who have been in action, well up to the 6th reinforcements; of course the 7th & 8th reinforcements had only four weeks on the peninsula; to hear them, or some of them talk, you would think that they had been there from the start. I have seen a good piece of work, also have seen others doing some, like the 18th Battalion did, my two mates Gascoigne-Ray's (John & Rupert) were both wounded, especially John my mate; he is at present in England and about to leave for Australia; Rupert is back with his battalion.
Talking of the evacuation, I think it was a most wonderfully carried out scheme, for where we were embarked was at least a mile from the firing line. I cannot say too much about the wonderful work, as it to be kept strictly to ourselves, but will tell you when I come back (a hero) for it would not do in writing. I suppose it will be known some day how cleverly we did it.