Lives in Cricket No 5 - Rockley Wilson

and the writing of intelligence reports, and “the general substitution of British for German influence in Palestine” through the encouragement of trade and economic development and the fostering of closer relations with the indigenous population. Rockley relished this aspect of the work and the opportunities it gave to visit historic and religious sites in the area, absorb something of Islamic culture and improve his Turkish. There is little doubt that Rockley could have been a most successful travel writer. His letters contain vivid descriptions of journeys from Jaffa to Jerusalem and of the sights of the Holy City, of a visit to the Dead Sea (in which he refused to bathe on account of the dirtiness of the water), of a journey up the Jordan Valley to Jericho and the Sea of Galilee, and later to Damascus. Rockley was deeply affected to be in places known to Jesus Christ and his Disciples. The flora and fauna of the region also interested him greatly. He has little to say however about the local people he would have encountered on his travels. As was typical of the officer class at the time, Rockley had a rather low opinion of the Arabs and their Turkish masters. Rockley also took every opportunity during his time in the Middle East to acquire stamps for his collection. By the end of the war he had amassed a large number, some of which proved to be rare. He had an eye for antiques and objets d’art. Among his purchases were carpets, leatherware and fine silks which he thought would make “pretty frocks” for his sisters. There are many anecdotes about Rockley Wilson’s time with the army in Palestine. In one of the best an officer in the Australian Light Horse, boasting of his men’s exploits, remarked: “Last week my men were encamped on the hills above Bethlehem”, whereupon Rockley broke in “I bet the shepherds watched their flocks that night.” Cricket provided enjoyable interludes from military duties in the Middle East, as in other theatres of war, and Rockley played in various Army matches (but not, because of pressure of work, in the “Test” matches, so-called, between teams from Cairo and Alexandria). As would be expected, he had a considerable degree of success. In a letter to Clem, he remarked: “I can generally get a few wickets on the queer pitch where we play.” This was a matting wicket. Rockley reports in another letter that one match had to be scrapped when it was discovered that Bedouin tribesman had stolen half of the matting! The outfields were sometimes coarse Great War Interlude 66