Letter from an unidentified serviceman.

LETTER FROM THE PERSIAN GULF
[Bridgnorth Journal, 30th December, 1916]

The following is an extract froma letter dated Nov. 11th, written by one of the M.G. Section 1st/4 K.S.L.I., Persian Gulf:-

“We have moved a considerable distance up the country since I last wrote, but we are still one of the main bases waiting to be attached to some unit. Of course, we are a very small unit, but I hope to goodness someone will adopt up [sic] before very long.

The weather here is simply glorious, lovely sunshine by day and cool nights, whilst the moonlight is something to be seen to be believed. The town we are at now is of about 10.000 population, chiefly Arabs, with a sprinkling of Jews and Persians. The Arabs are picturesquely garbed in their long flowing robes, and look exactly like we see them portrayed in pictures illustrating Bible history. One thing about their dress that struck me as peculiar to an Eastern people is that they don’t possess the usual love of colour, or, if they do, they don’t indulge it in the manner of dress. Most of their robes, or bernouse, are either black, white, or brown, with the sombre colours in the majority. The houses are of sun-burnt clay, very plain in appearance and with very little pretence at any style of architecture very unlike India. Of course, the mosques and main buildings are more elaborate and, I believe, quite beautiful in the large cities.

Of the whole, the features which struck me most are the dust and the flies. The dust appears to be fine clay; it clogs the [laces?] of one’s boots like snow does, and the whole place seems to be inches deep in it. What the place must be like in the rains I can only imagine, but I don’t like to think about it. The flies are awful. It is now the cool season, and consequently not the fly season, but they drive one nearly frantic now, and I dread what they must be like during the intensely hot summer months. One of my section is already down with dysentery – a very severe attack, but he is pulling over it now. I don’t suppose we shall see him again, as he is certain to go back to India, and may possibly be returned to his unit.”