THE BATTLE OF THE WASSIR, CAIRO, EGYPT

For the Australians in Egypt, life soon became both monotonous and impatient as they waited to go into action. Fairly soon some of the more boisterous and high spirited young soldiers began to run wild. Discipline deteriorated, military offences increased and the incidents of venereal disease rose. This all culminated with a large riot in the red light district of Cairo called the Wassir where they went as far as to burn buildings and destroy shops.

Pte Ralph Goode (Lilydale), 2^nd Field Ambulance: At Mena Camp, Cairo. From his diary – ‘Big riot in Cairo this evening’.

Pte Frank Kingsley-Norris (Lilydale), 1^st Light Horse Field Ambulance: In an excerpt from his auto-biography ‘No Memories for Pain’ –‘The fun began on our way back; our route lay through the least reputable street in the disreputable portion of the city – the Wassir, the red light area. As we turned into this narrow way, I had a front seat view of a most remarkable sight. From an upstairs balcony came sailing an iron bedstead complete with its streaming mosquito net canopy, crash on to the roadway and then pandemonium. For a few moments we watched while smoke began to curl from the buildings and girls in various dress and undress rushed out, shouting, to join the clamorous, congealing crowd. We had just room to turn and retreat as the shouting and yelling rose to a roar. We turned down another street as the smoke was billowing. We had witnessed the opening shot of the famous Battle of the Wassir.

A band of Australian soldiers, according to the New Zealanders (or a band of New Zealand soldiers, according to the Australians), had counter-attacked this brothel area in reparation for their disabilities. We learnt later that the battle went on for hours; as often as the fire hoses were adjusted they were slashed by the troops and it was the end of the day before the fires could be controlled and order restored. After that, the area was out of bounds for all troops’.