Christmas in Egypt and keeping in touch with 'the boys' before the internet age

The 8^th Battalion of the 1^st Division, AIF, included many Ballarat men who enlisted in the first days after war was declared. In the history of the 8^th Battalion, Cobbers in Khaki, the author Ron Austin describes the Battalion’s first Christmas away from home as “a most forgettable one” - the Christmas dinner left a lot to be desired.  It sounds a very ordinary menu – stew, followed by rice and raisins.  The Battalion was encamped near the Pyramids and after lunch some of the men climbed the Cheops pyramid – and then had bread and jam for tea!

Cyril Bryant, from Ballarat, wrote home to his mother – 

Just fancy Mother, it is Christmas Day that I am writing this letter in Egypt, little did we know that I would be so far away from you this Xmas. We had a telegram from the people of Ballarat today, wishing us a merry Xmas…¹

Meanwhile, the 100 year old Ballarat Courier reports arrangements have been made for soldiers in Egypt to have cablegrams sent to them at reduced rates:

…cable messages could be sent to the Australian troops in Egypt at the rate of 10 pence a word.  The ordinary rate would be 3/6 a word.

And on Christmas Day the Courier reports:

Taking advantage of the innovation the Mayor of the City (Cr. R. Pearse) despatched the following message: Col. Bolton, 8^th Battalion, Mena House, Guizeh: Ballarat greets Australia’s soldiers and wishes them a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

On the 28^th December the Courier records Colonel Bolton’s reply:

Greetings much appreciated. Please express greetings to all our folks.  Our hearts are in Victoria. Bolton

     1.  Austin, Ronald, Cobbers in khaki: the history of the 8^th battalion 1914-1918. Slouch Hat Publications, 1997 p. 25 (there’s a copy in the Australiana Research room if you would like to look at it)

Corporal Gordon Crocker

Amongst all those troops of the first Convoy landing at Alexandria in Egypt, was one Gordon Crocker.  This name is well known in Ballarat, because of Crockers’ department store on the corner of Armstrong and Sturt Sts, a shop well-loved by many and still family owned right up to recent days.


Gordon was the son (b. 1885) of George Crocker (who began the store) and his wife Clara. They lived in Errard St Nth, and as there were 8 children in the family it must have been a busy household.  As well, George Crocker had just completed a term as Mayor of Ballarat, in 1912-1913, and he continued to sit on the Ballarat Council.


Gordon was working as an accountant before he enlisted as a private with the 8th Battalion on 24 August 1914, and on 17 September he was promoted to corporal. The Battalion disembarked on 8^th December and proceeded to Mena Camp – where Gordon and the Battalion  had desert training to look forward to.

from Ballarat Courier,  March 1915

First use of the term ANZAC

This week marks the 100th anniversary of two key events for the 1st AIF in their preparation for war. Firstly,  December 3rd marks the day that troops who departed Albany as part of the first convoy disembarked in Alexandria, Egypt.  Four and half months of training followed near Cairo, Egypt as well as defence of the Suez Canal as they prepared for the assault on the Dardanelles.

The second key event occurs on December 8 when the term ANZAC is first used to refer collectively to Australian and New Zealand forces.  While stationed in Egypt troops from both countries were placed under the command of Lieutenant General William Birdwood and formed into the ANZAC Corp.