Z549/17/144

Letter sent from Egypt by Cyril Verdcourt to Mama [Helena Verdcourt].

Tuesday 15 July [1919]

From: 1919 To: 1919

From: 62304 D Company, 1/4th Northants, Egyptian Expeditionary Force, Egypt Dear Mama, I have been unable to pack my parcel yet but hope to do so shortly. The last two or three days here have been spent in celebrating peace. A dinner was given to the men by the civil population of Tanta, but I was ‘on guard’ at the time so in company with others who missed it, I am to have mine tonight. The dinner was given on Sunday and sports were held yesterday but the programme resembled a Sunday school treat so strongly that we, that is Caz etc scorned to enter. Last night Bert Helps (one of my companions on guard) dismounted guard, went into Tanta bought two ices each, and then hired a ‘garri’ (a cheap ‘Gyppo’ carriage) and drove to see the ‘sports’, arriving just in time to see the prize distribution by the Brigadier’s wife. He wandered round some pretty gardens, which contains something like a small Zoo. Baboons, marmosets, parrots, ostriches etc are exhibited there-in to the intense amusement of Greek, French, Gyppo and Italian toddlers. Having exhausted the Zoo we visited a sort of garden-café and sat watching some ‘buckshee’ pictures, and imbibing iced lemonade. A concert was being given in the Municipal Theatre at 8.45 so we were unable to stay there very long. Although I wish we had now. The concert ended the celebrations and was given by a soldiers’ concert-party which only contains one or two good artistes, and consequently it was rather a wash-out. Such, mama, is a faithful account of an especially pleasant evening in Tanta. I usually stay in. This morning I was on officer’s mess fatigue cleaning ‘umpteen’ knives and forks etc and when that was finished I had a shower bath and washed a pair of khaki-drill slacks, a tunic. A shirt and a towel under the cold water tap on our benches. So you see, Mama, although not all the while on actual duty, one is usually busy. Sunshine all day long here and never a cloud to be seen. Can you imagine it? The flies and mosquitoes are our biggest worries, and I never spare a fly I can kill now. Please give my love to Maude, Louis, Papa etc. I am Yours lovingly Cyril Ink sketch showing full length front view of Egyptian man wearing kaftan and holding box and brush, ‘Gyppo boot black’.

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Verdcourt, Cyril,
Verdcourt, Helena Annie

army, Tanta