7374615
L/CPL J. BROOM
7 LT.FD. AMB.
22nd OCT ‘42
Dearest Mum
A week ago
I promised that I would continue my impressions of Cairo. Though long delayed, here at last is the
letter. Much sand has blown about the
desert & much rain has fallen since my airgraph was written, real
torrential stuff. But for the last three
days the sun has been in the ascendant, & it’s almost like mid-summer
again. The flies, which had begun to
despair, have taken a new lease of life & resumed their 1942 offensive
against mankind.
I think,
before I proceed to write about Cairo, that you would like to know exactly what
letters have reached me.
Here they
are, letters written on April 27th, April 28th, May 5th,
May 6th, May 13th, May 20th, May 28th,
June 2nd, June 10th June 17th, June 24th,
July 1st, July 7th, July 17th, July 22nd, July
30th, August 6th, August 14th, and lastly
August 20th. From which list
one gathers that, in all probability, every one of your letters has reached
me. Good show, what?
Thanks for
the newspaper cuttings sent with the last letter. I certainly should have loved to see those
famous cricketers at Colchester, six of which I’ve actually seen play in county
matches.
I can guess
that the garden looks as lovely as you say it does & that you miss me
everywhere. Strange when one considers
that the total time I’ve spent at `Roselands’ amounts to a few weeks. I’m glad
to learn that you did enjoy your short stay with Dad, Iris B & the girls,
although you were unfortunate enough to catch illness off Mary. I haven’t seen radishes as large as your
description of Walter’s. He must be even prouder than usual.
Regarding
the papers, I appear to be receiving them frequently. The Christian papers are a great comfort
& joy to read, and the local papers, though not so interesting as
heretofore, yet contain some interest.
Reference
your concern about my bodily needs. The
food is good & plenteous, my clothes are adequate & comfortable, my
bed, though hard, is nevertheless warm.
My health, moreover, was never better, you’ll be glad to know.
We had a
church service here last Sunday, and a couple of mornings ago I attended a
communion service at 7am! However,
services are few, usually about one a fortnight, owing to operational reasons.
I shall be
interested to know what happens to Walter & Uncle Frank. Yes, dear, it would be such a shame if the
shop in St. John’s St is closed down. I
do hope it won’t come to that, for everybody’s sake.
If I had
known about Fred Martin before I went on leave, I would have looked him
up. He would have been surprised if I
had walked in!
I was
really shocked by what you wrote of Frank Halls & his wife. I remember how she looked and spoke when
Pansy & I travelled in the train with her from North Stn when she was going
to visit Frank at Brentwood. She
appeared quite lovesick in a gentle sort of way. Perhaps that was an indication of tepidity,
as love, undoubtedly, should be anything but gentle. I’m very very sorry. I don’t know the rate for civilian-sent
cables. But the rate here for soldiers to send an E.F.M. cable is two &
sixpence per three set phrases. You can
enquire at the P.O. as to the charge.
Iris E. sent me one a month or so ago.
I haven’t
received a letter from Dad yet, but I fully understand. It’s a distasteful job, when all is said
& done, and such a poor substitute for personal contact.
Sorry to
see that Leslie Rabett is in much the same situation as Frank, regarding Freda. It behoves one to tread warily, what?
Dick
appears to be after that Field Marshall’s baton. Two stripes is going it rather. Cutting a dash & all that. Won’t do!
You will be
glad to know that I’ve had at least two of my friends with me at any given
time, for, as my friends are clerks, it is inevitable for one or two to be with
me, though some, it is true, are detached, for long stretches, from the
unit. (I seem to have comma-it is!)
I’m
wondering what you’re doing now, dear.
Finding things rather flat, I should think, after having the girls &
Dad to Sweetbriar & spending a couple of weeks at Roselands. I’m wondering more especially whether
Arthur’s work has meant the removal of his household to a place nearer his new
depot.
I do pray
that dear Mary has fully recovered from her bad cold which surely lasted too
long to be comfortable.
Those texts
are a blessing, especially the one you quote, “He led them on safely, the
feared not. How good is the God we
adore.”
I am
claiming His Protection these days. As I
write this on the night of Oct 23rd events are occurring which will
find a place in your newspaper. I know I
have your prayers. God’s Will be done.
I though
that George Polley was in Egypt, not India. My hopes of seeing him are dim.
The
extracts you sent of Spurgeon’s readings are truly helpful. If only we could accept without bitterness
that the “worst calamity is the wisest & the kindest thing that could
befall to us if God ordains it”. How
variable are life’s values, how uncertain, altering as they do according to
one’s need, circumstances, outlook, ambition.
I wonder if
Auntie May received the letter I wrote her on the boat.
I have just
been re-reading Geoffrey King’s Tabernacle sermon “When the Master Springs to
His Feet”. And because of its exceptional aptness and beauty, have decided that
it will be one of the few things I must find room for in my wanderings. “Arise, let us go hence”. Those are the words of the text. I’m reminded of the hymn we used to sing –
“Anywhere with Jesus I will gladly go”.
So if at times, dearest of all mothers, you feel a pang of uneasiness,
disquiet, remember that I’m not alone, and after all, I’m but following Moses
& Joseph into Egypt.
And the
Holy Family came to Egypt to escape the hand of Herod. Our Dental Officer on leave in Cairo, visited
the Coptic Church in part of which the family is reputed, by tradition, to have
stayed. I have read a booklet on the
subject.
I did see a
tableau of the “Flight into Egypt” In the Waxworks in Cairo. Also tableaux of “The Judgement of Solomon”
(Two babes) “The Suicide of Cleopatra”, “The Finding of Moses by the Egyptian
Princess”, “Joseph in Prison with the Baker & Butler”, “A Wedding in a
Coptic Church”, “Scenes at the Opening of the Suez Canal”, “Deep Sea Divers
after Pearls” etc.etc. Most of the et
ceteras portrayed scenes taken from Egyptian history.
It was
pretty warm in Cairo when I was there.
What must it be like in July!!!
I’ve never had so many iced drinks & sweets (iced) as I had in my
few days stay.
While being
driven in a gharry from the station I saw a shop bearing the name `Nile Mission
Press’. I couldn’t find it afterwards
(Cairo is a large place) but at the time I thought of you & Mr Oliver. I don’t know whether I mentioned it in my
last letter or not, but when I was touring the native bazaars I was induced to
buy a handbag, which I intended for you.
You may not get it. If you do, most likely there will be a stunning tax on the thing.
Please pay that duty out of my money.
I’m afraid that the bag is a very inferior sort of article, rather
shoddy & second-hand looking, but really, the prices of things in Cairo are
shocking & I don’t think there were any decent bags, not even in the
reputable shops.
Should you
get the bag, please do as I say, & accept it as a poor substitutional Xmas
gift.
In a
similar moment of weakness I purchased some scent essence for Iris, which, if
she receives it, musn’t be mixed with alcohol!!
What have we come to, eh?
I hazard a
shrewd guess that the tax on scent is large & generous, so as I don’t want
Iris E to foot the bill, please insist on paying out of my money.
It is a
picturesque sight to see a native (man or woman) sitting on a donkey trotting
along the highway. Typically
Biblical. Well, dearest, it’s nearly
3a.m. & I must really come to a stop.
Please
remember me to all at Roselands & Sweetbriar. May you have that river-like peace.
Trusting
all are well, especially Dad & yourself, with fondest love.
Yr loving
son,
John
xxxxxxx
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