Cover of the Day 25th April, Hospital Cover +letter No 7 Hospital MONTAZA 1915

[Chris Grimshaw]

Morning Team

My cover for today,  On Active Service cover + letter from No 7 Hospital MONTAZA Alexandria, December 1915, written by R H Thomas. No 1 Co AASC, 1st Co AASC AIF at the Convalescent Hospital No 7.  Date lined 6 Dec 1915, Civil cancel MUNTAZAH 7 XII 15, Received in Melbourne 11 Jan 1916.

Contents include " This war does not seem to have hardly started yet. Lord Kitchener seems to think that it will not finish till 1918 but lets hope it finishes long before that for I am getting fed up of this life under these conditions.  Greece does not seem to attempt to come in at all, and according to this mornings paper our General seems to favour the disbandment of Gallipoli altogether that sounds awful after all the loss of life in landing there." 4 page letter in total on headed notepaper.

Chris

[Chris Grimshaw]

Pages two to four of his letter.

Chris

[Chris Grimshaw]

Having given some thought to the contents of this letter it makes one wonder what the press was publishing at this time regarding pulling out of Gallipoli.

The evacuation is considered to be one of the great feats of WW1, however how much did the Turks and their German/Austrian allies really know.

Is it possible that at this time attitude was " we know they are going,  Good riddance, we can claim a great Victory"  That's not to take away anything from the evacuation which was master planning at its best.

Food for thought, 

Chris