Keast, Asdruebal James

Letters from Keast to family. Describe sea voyage, Egyptian customs, experiences with 7th Field Ambulance at Gallipoli (mentioning dugout construction, collecting wounded under fire) and France (Mentioning Imperial Officers Training Corps, differences between Gallipoli and France, shrapnel wound in arm). Also describes enlistment in Royal Engineers of British Army, study in Bacteriology, and working on water purification and filtration in Mesopotamia with Electrical and Mechanical Section and Inland Water Transport. Describes conditions at Baghdad, Basrah, customs of Arabs, applications for transfer to RFC and frustrations at being far removed from fighting, lack of work, end of war, and plans for post-war work. Includes letters from mother and sister, mentioning home news, award of MM to Keast, strikes in Broken Hill, `Shirkers", mother's volunteer work making garments for Red Cross. Gives good indication of the effects of separation on a close knit family and community.