We are now guarding Prisoners of War. It makes quite an interesting change and our duties are not too arduous. I'm afraid that's all which we are at liberty to write. You must realise that if my letters seem to be somewhat scanty, it is due mainly to necessary rigid censor.

The washing is done for us. I believe the contractor does the washing in return for scraps from the mess room and cookhouses. These scraps are collected daily and sold or used by low-class restaurants in Cairo. Nice people eh! The scraps are thrown into covered drums and respectively labelled veges, bread, meat, etc. Nevertheless, I make a point of not frequenting low-class restaurants. The laundry is situated on the edge of the camp facing the open desert and it is just like a small native village during the day, as whole families come to do the job. As washing goes from dozens of units, you can imagine the fun I have trying to take back to page 17camp the same amount of clothes as I leave with. Of course they always feign ignorance of English when they are in the wrong or getting the worst of an argument.

Training with tanks near Wadi Natrun.