Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

(Yea, Vic. : 1891 - 1920), Thursday 29 April 1915, page 3

With the First Expeditionary Force in Egypt. The following letter was received by Mr D. McLeish, of " Murrindindi" from Sergt. Don Drysdale ;-Mena, Egypt,14th 14th March, 1915 Well we are all together and fairly well so far. Hal. McLeish had a nasty fall, and got his knee pretty badly hurt, but he is now at work again. Lieut. McAlpin is not at all well since his operation. The wound opened again the other day. I think he knocks about too much and does not give it a chance. Roy McLeish and Hal McLeish are both getting on well. Hal, is a fine soldier and has been very good indeed to me since I came out of the hospital. I was taken there for appendicitis, but it turned out to be gastritis and pneumonia. I had a bad time for a week or ten days, but am back in the lines again but am not able to leave the tent yet. I believe we move from here in about three days. It is a bad place for a camp, there is too much sand, The country is years behind the times in many ways, but it is very interesting. Every kind of plain work is done by manual labor, even to irrigation. The water is lifted from wells with a pole and bucket, in just the same way as they used at the dip at '"Azwarby." The women here work harder than the men, although they all work hard, They are the dirtiest and most immoral race I have ever seen. It is simply disgusting to see some of the streets at Cario, which is a big city with many good qualities about it, I I should think it is the filthiest city in the world. No attempt is made at sanitation. The natives sleep anywhere and at any time, along the main footpaths, simply like a heap of dirty rags as they all dress in a skirt which was once white, but now almost black with dirt. Dead animals are allowed to lay in stagnant pools almost in the centre of these native villages. It is not uncommon to see starving dogs eating others which are lying dead in these villages Some of the finest and richest land I have ever seen is on these Nile flats, It is all ploughed with a pair of cows or any sort of oxen fastened to a forked stick which acts as a plough. They seem to have no desire to better themselves. There is no such thing as a fence. All animals are tethered in the beautiful clover patches. Nearly all the work here in the way of transport is done by camels and donkeys, They cart all crops on camels, which can carry a great load, and are staunch beyond anything I have ever seen. The cattle most favored here are known as Indian cattle. They are very large and blue coloured. A cow is bigger than our biggest bullocks, They are used to ride, to plough, and in odd cases you will see them working a water wheel. The date palm plantations, with all sorts of crops growing under them, are beautiful; Cotton, maize, lucerne, clover, barley, and almost can be grown well. I am writing this in bed as I do not get about yet, so will now close. Hoping you are all well. Yours truly DONALD DRYSDALE

Yea Chronicle (Yea, Vic. : 1891 - 1920), Thursday 12 August 1915, page 2

Local Wounded Soldier 'The relatives of Private Hal McLeish have received word from the Defence Department that he has been wounded at Gallipoli. It is not thought that he is seriously wounded.

 Yea Chronicle (Yea, Vic. : 1891 - 1920) Thu 30 Sep 1915 Page 3 Roll of Honor

Word was received on Monday that Private Hal McLeish, who had
previously been reported wounded, has lost his right arm

 Thu 7 Oct 1915

Roll of Honor
SICK AND WOUNDED,
A telegram has been received the Defence Department to effect that Private Ronnie McLeish has been slightly wounded
Captain Roy McLeish is reported to be ill with enteric fever.
Private Hal McLeish has been moved to England.

Thu 14 Oct 1915

WOUNDED AND SICK
Private Hal, McLeish, who has lost his right arm, is at present in England and is reported to be making satisfactory progress, Septic poisoning set in his wounded arm which  necessitated it being amputated just at the elbow. A week after it was amputated he wrote a letter to his parents with his left hand.