Letters from Robert James Henderson, July - December 1916 - Part 9

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
AWM2016.30.3
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

No. 4 London Gen Hos. Temmants Will Londlon 4.12. 16. My dear Mum from you dated Received letters of course delighted to 310.16 15.10.16. and Wrote to gave a few hear all the news. her all the news ago and told days returned from a week just since have but just waiting for Brighton am end to after which I am come to afternoon tea with the Henleys at to dine going down to have gone last St. Ermens thtil was but something much more fascinating Thurs day however it did not go and turned up I an having appointment fixced was not a have dinner to drop in and open invitation going on The leg is like. 9 or any time since last it dussed had have not five probably tomorrow shall after Friday morning the incisions at all on have us dressivg trouble also the skin have healed nicely months I shall need a The sister says
putting message now but think she is on a bit she is very keen to keep for Christmas a New Year we here that is the best of the in getting come in people good graces of these in like out when I like 90 when I she wiong although fact can do nothing abut frm lectures in gives mes great how much I shend do late nights what I not get to duak its ite what I I refer to is impressions the latty fulse woman about 35 Seotel red headed big a the wart the has charge old yrs in heart and does every thing she real by a as she calls us. boys her can for The Scotchman named Mc Callum & self had a great week end at Brighton very expensive from Friday until Mona £10 us 1 casting each things very well stayed at I coruse we did had fine rooms foll, ave the hotel metropole expect you have been to attention. Of course gay spot bentuful Brightion it is a very five guls gay musie promenardy plenty on the pier de etc. W breakes as for as I could see & no sand all pebblic still a very beautiful place and am
there fine time would a have sure one think I or so something for a firtnight our Manly yet in other after the style What beautiful tims respects totaly drifferent had a thruch this countr we plt they pullman case ench every with dining train Youny the very comfortable chairs. and easy be must it only took he ten minutes et class. well over 40 miles from Victoriu all simply accomatlation in the trains here like a drawing room than gorgeous more Have not the slightest idea carrange railway A I going to hold out if money is how my another month then get hospital for am in fortnights leave and live at a thtil abnit a go to Scottand, Liverport that fortnight in and other places shall heve to send through fifty pounds or so the bank for another to but have no idea how my account stands whether I have $50 or not to my credit with the bunk of N.S.W. however expect they will if short as you might let you know and think I have some for me pre it uh money in the Savings Bank but really forged him much Will my denr shall write again love to every one foom Boby bti 1 sin
S4WOV t Ner
14s No. 4 Londlon yei Penmark Will London 10 Dec. 1916 Year Mick pleased with perticularly Feeling back to at present having come myself. midnight after night about last hospital London night very in gay a Spending waiting 20 bundle letters to fincl a my Sir bea from Australia on me all Jane Lorna Aunty Mother from Some yourself Bull have spent the Luey Pay. Billy Flly them and you can morning readling whole they seem to be enpyell quess myself September mail glad it and my August leg is simply at The last. turned up and second day dussell only every now fine will massage no trouble little me a gives the Sister tncely However things now fix ditermined month this spend shall is shall end it so towards the here less still lead more or be siving ing the this every not like occur H opportunities do
from kind invitation very Have a day. spend And peverpovl to 90 Javieo Mr at Liverpool have Christmes with them but invitations wretten have several other it will the Liverport strnt accepted and the much to change see be a fine says here The sister talkent tope and on away Saturelig get can the until to hospital not come buck return here shall following Fridny but Jay after Bosing Wednes duy day on the too with bire do not whnt them to still gay me living the Am much fine girls Knllon nhe plenty in life course you on it cote by would a to etc. Went gay cape etc thinkes last Wednesday Swank At Hme string by Mr. Edwards Afternoon afternoon given etc I met ten then entertained by music turibly that hally this & Lhady eli who girt old another there swank met next asked her with have ten me to see you that Mondery afternoon So dinner the Hall armull getting some Am they are Henlege evening with other the unter every Mr Henley all busy even
one Playedl comports business the at day 250 up here billiards Meer the were level pegging We yesterday afternoon to 190 or so he then made a 56 of course ran out soon and brink by had my revenge however after 3 games him beatly beating badly in gto it a was snooker after waret there rome bellard interesting rather upon my and girls were playing some the at would bry you laugh sent agartte here they Suoke their Women with wisky soda their and drink quite is ehse in fuet it consumate pul giils into a take in order to I mean drink have a them and with you know. Well respectable people quite a terrible hurry old lock Am in charming lass. to out a going Just probably take her shall fir ten flat Frocaders to dinner at the after wards conent there a fine you they give about the b say nothing on Sundays soon shall write home Shall Again pivel fr France leaving Londn also cable when left which i have any money is that is choublfal. Boly lots of lue to alt
Gen. Mrs. Y.4 Kindon Yenmerk Bill Lon don 11.12.16 My dear Aunt Pot. so Thanks dated much for your letter Oct which I received 14 yesterday in a bundle here so letters from Aushrlir you can well unaguve un all at hearing excutement the news. course I write have regularly and you will news from there the get all
to all mine pleasure still the few you write so shall your dear all to tines self. When I cabled home wounded. it did slightly the to be but slight Appian and wound Septie went now nearly 3 1/2 it is am still I months and the leg However in hospital now on five going do healed and has practicall some to have up. Expect about 3 more mass age for shall be all weeks then right again curse after

No. 4 London Gen Hos.
Denmark Hill
London
4.12.16.

My dear Mum
Received letters from you dated
3.10.16.  15.10.16. of course delighted to
hear all the news. Wrote to Jane a few days
ago and told her all the news
but since have just returned from a week
end to Brighton am just waiting for
afternoon tea to come after which I am
going down to dine with the Henleys at
St. Ermins Hotel was to have gone last
Thursday but something much more fascinating 
turned up and I did not go however it 
was not a fixed appointment having an
open invitation to drop in and have dinner
on any time I like. The leg is going on
fine have not had it dressed since last
Friday morning after tomorrow shall probably
have no dressing on at all the incisions
have healed nicely also the skin trouble
The sister says I shall need a months 

 

massage now but think she is putting
on a bit she is very keen to keep
me here for Christmas & New Year
that is the best of getting in the
good graces of these people I come in
when I like go out when I like in
fact can do nothing wrong although she
gives me sevi great lecture in fun about
late nights what I do how much I spend
what I drink etc etc do not get
false impressions the lady I refer to is
a big red headed Scotch woman about 35
yrs old in charge of the ward she has
a real big heart and does everything she
can for her boys as she calls us.
The Scotchman named Mc.Callum & self had
a great week end at Brighton very expensive
costing each of us £10 from Friday until Monday
of course we did things very well stayed at
the hotel metropole had fine rooms, food, and
attention. Of course expect you have been to
Brighton it is a very gay spot beautiful
promenade plenty of fine girls gay music
on the pier etc etc. No breakers as far
as I could see & no sand all pebbles
still a very xxxx beautiful place and am 

 

sure one could have a fine time there
for a fortnight or so something I think
after the style of our Manly yet in other 
respects totaly different What beautiful trains 
they have in this county we had a through 
train each way with dining pullman cars 
easy chairs and very comfortable the journey 
only took 1 hr ten minutes it must be 
well over 40 miles from Victoria 1st class 
accomadations in the trains here are is simply 
gorgeous more like a drawing room than 
a railway carriage Have not the slightest idea 
how my money is going to hold out if I 
am in hospital for another month then get 
about a fortnights leave and live at a Hotel 
in that fortnight go to Scotland, Liverpool 
and other places shall have to send through 
to the bank for another fifty pounds or so 
but have no idea how my account stands 
whether I have £50 or not to my credit with 
the bank of N.S.W. however expect they will 
let you know and if short so you might 
fix it up for me think I have some 
money in the Savings Bank but really forget 
how much Well my dear shall write again 
soon lots of love to every one from Bob. 

 

1DRL345
2/3

4/12/16

 

No 4 London Gen Hos.
Denmark Hill
London
10th Dec. 1916.


Dear Mick
Feeling particularly pleased with 
myself at present having come back to 
hospital last night about midnight after 
spending a f very gay night in London 
to find a bundle of 20 letters waiting 
for me on my bed all from Australia 
Some from yourself Mother Jane Lorna Aunty 
Polly Lucy Dag. Billy Bull have spent the 
whole morning reading them and you can 
guess I enjoyed myself they seem to be 
my August and September mail glad it 
turned up at last. The leg is simply 
fine now dressed only every second day and 
gives me no trouble a little massage will 
fix things nicely now.  However the Sister 
is determined I shall spend this month 
here so towards the end of it shall 
be swinging the lead more or less still 
a opportunities do not occur like this every 

 

day. Have a very kind invitation from 
Mrs Davies Liverpool to go and spend 
Christmas with them at Liverpool have 
several other invitations but have written 
and accepted the Liverpool stunt it will 
be a fine change to see the much 
talked of Hope. The sister here says 
I can get away on Saturday and 
not come back to hospital until the 
following Friday but shall return here 
on Wednesday the day after Boxing Day  
I do not want to bore them with too 
much of me. Am still living the gay 
life here in London plenty of fine girls 
boy you would dote on it of course 
gay theatres cafes etc etc. Went to a 
swank "At Home" stunt last Wednesday 
afternoon given by Mrs Edwards Afternoon 
tea then entertained by music etc I met 
Lady this and Lady that etc terribly 
swank met another old girl there who 
asked me to have tea with her next 
Monday afternoon so that you see I 
am getting around some. Had dinner the 
other evening with the Henleys they are 
all busy even Mrs Henley works every 

 

day at the Comforts business  Played one 
of the officers here 250 up billiards 
yesterday afternoon we were level pegging 
to 190 or so he then made a 56 
break and of course ran out soon 
after however I have my revenge by 
gro healthy beating him badly in 3 games 
of snooker afterwards it was a 
rather interesting billiard room there 
were some girls playing and upon my
soul you would laugh boy at the 
women here they smoke their cigarette 
and drink their wiskey & soda with 
consumate ease in fact it is quite 
in order to take girls into a pub 
and have a drink with them I mean 
quite respectable people you know. Well 
old cock am in a terrible hurry 
just going out to a charming lass's 
flat for tea shall probably take her 
to dinner after wards at the Trocadero 
they give you a fine concert there 
on Sundays to say nothing about the 
food.  Shall write home again soon. shall 
also cable when leaving London for France 
that is if I have any money left which 
is doubtful. lots of love to all Bob 

 

1DRL345 2/3

10/12/16 

 

No 4 London Gen. Hos.
Denmark Hill
London
11.12.16


My dear Aunt Pol.
Thanks so 
much for your letter dated 
14th Oct which I received 
here yesterday in a bundle 
of 20 letters from Australia 
you can well imagine my 
excitement at hearing all 
the news.  Of course I write 
home regularly and you will 
get all the news from there 

 

still the pleasure is all mine 
so shall write you a few 
lines all to your dear 
self.  When I cabled home 
slightly wounded. it did 
appear to be slight but the 
wound went septic and 
it is now nearly 3½ 
months and I am still 
in hospital. However the leg 
is going on fine now 
and has practically healed 
up. Expect to have some 
massage for about 3 more 
weeks then shall be all 
right again Of course after  

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Jacqueline KennedyJacqueline Kennedy
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