Roy Magnussen

News from the front

 

Gunner Roy Magnussen of the 1st Field Artillery Brigade, has written the following letter to Mr Neil MacNamara, captain of the Balmain Rowing club:

 

“Just a line to let you know I’m leaving Zeitoun camp tomorrow for some place unknown, but strongly suspect to be the Gallipoli Peninsula, and I can assure you that I am real glad to get out of this place, as Cairo is no good to me. There is not much to do here at this camp. We have had a few games of football, but outside of this things are very quiet indeed. I don’t know if I told you about our trip from Australia, but we had a pretty good one on the whole and with the exception of crossing the equator, a rather quiet time. Crossing the line there was the usual amount of water tossed about, and I enjoyed it immensely. Well, I want to write to a few more before I go to bed as they do not allow you to write too many letters over a at the Peninsula. So remember me to all the boys at the rowing club. Wishing them and yourself a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year".

 

”Referee and Arrow -  1 January 1916

 

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Gunner Roy Magnussen, of the Balmain Rowing club, has written the following letter from Egypt to Mr Chidgey, hon secretary. The letter is dated November 11 1915. 

 

“I’m having a quiet time, and I think I’m losing weight, but I feel as fit as a fiddle. I am in Oasis Camp, with Eugene MacNamara. How is your secretarial work going? I had a good row with an eight in Melbourne while I was there. We went over the Henly course, and right up past the wharves. Just as I am writing this, orders have come to pack up, as we are to go to Gallipoli at 8.45 tomorrow morning, and we have a special guard on camp this afternoon to stop us leaving. Well, Jack, I’ll have to cut this short for obvious reasons, and so will say good-bye, and wish you and all the Balmain Rowing Club boys the compliments of the season".

 

Referee and Arrow