It ain't half hot for bored soldier
Egypt, land of the Pharaohs, the Pyramids, and sights to amaze. But you get bored with it.
At least that was the view of one soldier posted out there in the Great War, as revealed by a letter discovered by Mrs Jean Barrowclough as she had a look through the effects of her late father Eric Sharp of Admaston.
A little while ago Jean, who lives near Telford, took a dip into an old envelope and discovered the letter, which she thought would be of interest with the approaching Armistice centenary.
Dated July 20, 1916, it begins "Dear Jim," and is signed "Your affect. Cousin, Adam Birrell."
"I know nothing about the letter. All I know is that it comes from my father's side of the family," said Jean.
"My grandfather on my father's side was Alfred Sharp, and he married Nellie Birrell. The letter is signed Adam Birrell, so I'm assuming this could be her brother."
Adam is serving out in Egypt, three miles from Heliopolis according to his letter, but his unit is not revealed.
"I have got so much of Egypt and its antiquities now I am tired of looking at them," he says.
He details to Jim some of the ancient sites he has seen.
"The street scenes of Cairo are interesting, but I have had my fill of them. I pass the old Slave Market every day. You can see the blood of the victims on the walls yet."
Heliopolis he finds impressive, as he describes it as "the finest place ever I saw or was in. Every building a palace, a real modern Babylon."
He adds: "I have been here 16 days and done nothing. I was sent to be 2.M. (? – the writing is a little difficult to be certain) over this place but I did not take it on. The heat was such I was fair done up when I came. It is never under 100 in the shade. It would have been a gold mine had I took it on.
"I have never ailed anything since I came to Egypt but would like to be home now. I am lonely amongst Englishmen & don't like their ways, the same as the Scots. The Australians are no good. But the heat is terrible and one gets covered with prickly heat. The sweat does not drop, it runs off one.
"I can give you no news of our Batt (i.e. Battalion or perhaps Battery). There are lots of Stafford & Shropshire & Welsh men here."
