BRUCE SANDERS - 2/3 PIONEER BATTALION WORLD WAR II - A SOLDIERS LETTERS HOME

25 DECEMBER 1941

DECEMBER 25 1941

W.A. DIVISION. KEEP YOUR MOVEMENTS SECRET

NX27395

Sanders B.

Sgt. B. Coy.

2/3 Pioneer Bn. A.I.F

ABROAD.

25/12/1941

Dear  Dad & Mum,

                   Christmas Day & its been raining since Sunday evening. I was lucky enough to get a good night’s sleep in last night & then this morning we were flooded & the tent nearly collapsed, the lights in the mess hut went & the wireless with them. The A.I.F. announcer was just saying,” its 12.30 a.m. in Sydney on  Xmas Day in Sydney” & then he passed out.

          Anyhow, we’ve prospects of a good dinner so that will warm us up , the boys all received a hamper & it is quite a good one, peaches & cream, choc, toothpaste & brush, pudding, boot polish & other small presents. No mail has arrived this week so we are hoping for some. I suppose the planes go by a longer route now. Did I thank Bet & Vera for their postcards?

          Our crowd were on guard on Tuesday night & I only left the guardhouse once during the night & sure enough, over I went in a slippery patch. You should see my uniform. Some chaps went right into slit trenches, they were in a mess as most of them were full of muddy water.

          Just now, there is thunder, lightning, hailstones. Its terrific. I should hate to be out on bivouac in this. The boys in Syria have six blankets & sometimes it is too cold for them to get out of bed, so we’re told, no wonder the Germans do not like Russia.

          I went to the cinema with Bob on Saturday, he is quite well & had a letter from Vera last week. Peculiarly enough, the “ Great Dictator” was showing on Tuesday night, you remember I saw it with Mum at the Plaza last Christmas Eve.

          Our mess looks quite homely under the circums, some green bushes for decoration & if I am not mistaken, sweets on the table, a rare sight.

          One of the worst points with this country, is the shortage of wood, most floors are of concrete & that is not too warm. Oil is used quite a lot as fuel in various ways, it gives us a hot shower most evenings. The country is free from trees for miles, the orange groves are the only places where they grow.

We were out on a hike, the other day and came across a farmer, sowing his seed in the old fashioned way, just casting it  from a bowl, then we passed two shepherds , just boys, playing a weird flute, one feels in an old world when out in the hills with no signs of civilisation, just these primitive people. I sometimes wonder what they think of us, I had a chat with the guide in Jerusalem & he  remembered when the Turks were in possession of the city last war and then the British. He was an Arab & would not say much, he did not seem to think highly of the Jews, but I suppose that feeling is mutual judging by the British Police Force in the country. All the Palestine  Police live in forts I understand.

          Well, dinner is over & it was excellent, turkey & all the trimmings, the O.C. came in & all our Company Sgts had a drink to the occasion.

          I had a game of League on Sunday, it is a good way to fill in time, the boys are all keen on a game & we have some fun.

          Well, I guess I had better close, so cheerio & I hope you are all well, love to everyone,

                                      Lots of love,

                                                          Bruce.