Letters from Ronald Lennox Henderson to his family, 1914-1915

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Finalised
Accession number:
AWM2017.6.218
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

crow's Nsl 11th June 1914 my Dear little Mollie I was so glad when you came and spoke to me on the Telephine this morning, because then I knew that you are such a good you were really better. hrave little girl - a real toldier - and I am jut terribly mond of you. I would drive into towmba to see you, little gort only if I go to ere you I might give you the sickness that Peter had, and I duit wont to do that. It wuildn't do at all would But I think about you all the it? time, & want you to ame back bet to look after me goen, as orn as you can. Where giv are all right & when Piter is all right, ye will both go away to the sesside, & haddle in the water & play in the sand, if you would like to you ask Dr. Fallnen to if it would be a good thing for you to have sime mif-bathing next time you sre him. Isn't he
a good kind man to look after you so well, & inale you better again Peter is getting along well - he culs wood for the stive. By shy you will He has a pretend culky help him. in the yard & two pretend horses in it wint for a drive in it yesterday. He calls the two horses vavy-Clue Wedwood & Pink Fom. Dent you think that thue are wee names? Will you give my live to frandina & aunt Emma. Thope that when you read this you are really quite well. I got your paintings - they are lively o they are in iy room good- lye now, my dear little brave mugfet. you will son be all right & dwill sre you again. with ever so much live & lots o kenes from Father
Mellmine 4th August 1913 my Dear od Millier I was very glad to get your uire in the boal in lydneyo hear that all waswill with wrying I espect the little pople are cittting duen to the new order of things guile will. They are very nunble little custimen I shent the afternoon at forndi, but did not be the guils as they were inl. tin came dumn to the ship in saturday & saw them thrre for a few moments. in Rolmsn & his daughters came duin, libenie Aunt Ennna Havr laad a livity lug is far round to mellouner. Hope it will lug to I sre that amongst the doctors junry lie is a D.OHara who was al Edenlinge with me - hvent new him time Mrs the dig Malimag is my cabin there -a real good wit too he is. inate Have only lime for a liner as I
HE ORIENT LINE OF ROVAL MAIL STEAMERS BETWEEN ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA. PASSENGERS BOUKED FOR Gibraltar, Toulon, Naples, Port Said, Suez, Colombo, Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and all Head Offices: Chief Ports in Australia, Tasmania and FENCHURCH AVENUE, LONDON. New Zealand. West End Branch Office: 28, COCKSPUR STREET, S.W. on board the R.M.S. brinks August 1911 18th my Dear old Molhien. hor are tue to arrive in Colunts timinow, so must set my letters written before t here is a prosiblity that that we may not be able to land there, as we may be inly thene at night, + nobody is allmrd about the there at night because place is under martial Law.
that will be bad luck . Fremantly to Lulz wittout a break is a ling run. we were delayed to much by the very rough weather in the Byghl thing oul that it has put even I fear. Frill Fuemanth we have had a good trip & an un. usually cool iney. We are in the cool side of the ship & have the bist cabins on the upper deek, & have nothing to amplain of. my fat Irishman from Brsbang who is my calm mate, has ben in bed for two days tuffering from the rnilts Vacunation. Deveral of the nurnes are pretty bad too. I did not take, s will have to be diner again later on. In the mean time will have the py ofelicily of being inoculated against Typewrd
there is a man named cheony on board who liver simewhen pndangan way & knows kent & the Williams family well. He is going un lo joun the troops in England - King Edwards Horse I think. There ar thideen other filliws going over lo fit comminin in England, & also an Avralin in his way to the Pernan Guilf. Altogether qucli a military party. In the therage are a number of Hahian. Resnish ging to Htaly to yoin the Itahian army. Time of them are pritty tinger looking charachers too I wonder very much how things 1 are getting in at Cunis West whether the Lorum is behavng the little himself properly people have quite sittled dinn to the new order of things I expect - they are wise little folk will be very glad to fit the first letters thear him winine is. Heven't heard anything ance Had a wire from melboumg. Mr Purvis at Fuemantte, wishing me luck - decent of the old bug want it? Didn't have lime to go fill him. must say god-ly nw. much love fim your hir pr K.W. five my live to Pater when you are writing.
Statunany Hopilal 239 Mundros meditinanian Expeditionan my frar old Mothers have temporarily ciltled iat the abos addres, io when writing you might and letters there. If I have moved an they will be forwarded. One is moved about 4 thet Da the not cuf to arsmg that an will remay in any thit for more than an enrer or hus From what I have bren able to learn siel soming here Iimagine da will priobilly remain were for snt him inles they cheft to Invla Bay Eeg may be ct along there. Whether will slay will ther. went I din't hum WhenI left egupt Ma suppesed to be ameng over here for either one Field Amhilance the to act of Rgmental Redical officer to me the Betallions, but at the last in was surtched into thes place this Ctal cunts of a lot of benls & a very few beds mer of the patients simply lig ade by ale in the pound. I have at tien look afler each me holding abrut 20 men, this particular yhre S Hopital is called
a statimary tibital beaud it counts bolely B Guls is happed entirely by makes, & is meant to i mived about after the lwops. Hlanly Jusers Btal is camlied aloud be away from us, but I have not been able 3/4 to fit over & oe of lie is still to be found yet will bry + get over there tomanin. Idon't know whity Rexis - Bring Dodds is on at Alexandrea rmided Ihave met such aercember of fellows the thes I know here ad came 8 him that mnt particular friends swuld ahnost imagine tha Mrs Irely Edinlugl again there is nc Ranny lodge in a collection t bellows there who used to live there Perey wall is adjutant in a camp about 200 yards away. Iwilhed in to him a few meml after I landedy thare bren mnning arren a enccessin of fillineg that I know we ance 9.15 shave brn atout to Hankiy Ttti's Bataltion - Shad a pod deal of difficully in getting any news. one man who said he knew hem well said that Hanly had bee wounded August, in the attach in Smesime Pinle garnow at alexandrey Kidge,, another man who was near him told me that he was mining after the attack - fale unknown. Trally I got hold of sergeant word of Hanley's company. He also knew the bry will, as he lird in wilty bydney says he ofler used to p wer to down anr him in tho
same feny bont. wood told me that Hanlig was mining after the attack. Number of our dead a thil lying out in front of the trenches Cannot bpt at mmlee more were cithled time after the attach + bring unrecognineabl were lined toether. As many identification as could be ft were collected & lnught samongst them was tanting one feels very dubions about sccopl a information that i tendered here, but this chap think me as bring reliable sas krning t was helting dint what afraid that the poor youngste was killed then al any rale that is certainty her ajeants opencon Still, as I said, everything that one hears here is a lie-wat any rate 9970b it is. Manl hind to find the m who goed that in lad not desie Wall tu & find him gaen tomorrow. He undenly knew him, because an soon as Iarled hem if le pesnt bull Fuster, he arked me Flank 8h t this is hindang night, & about 50 yards away a few men are linging some of the a mournful bymn wones that were
d. Altggether the Ithnl mill pol esnt actierful one wtt the while by bed stry time. fir the little Smll odnight ple fume & Will my live Rl yot mighly hlad loke you all a u

Crow's Nest
11th June 1914
My Dear little Mollie
I was so glad when you
came and spoke to me on the telephone
this morning, because then I knew that
you were really better. You are such a good,
brave little girl - a real soldier- and I
am just terribly proud of you. I would
drive into Toowoomba to see you, little girl,
only if I go to see you I might give you
the sickness that Peter had, and I don't
want to do that. It wouldn't do at all would
it? But I think about you all the
time, & I want you to come back here
to look after me again, as soon as you can.
When you are all right & when Peter is all
right, you will both go away to the
seaside, & paddle in the water & play in
the sand, if you would like to. You
ask Dr Falkner to if it would be a good
thing for you to have some "surf-bathing"
next time you see him. Isn't he

 

a good kind man to look after you so
well, & make you better again.
Peter is getting along well - he cuts
wood for the stove. By & bye you will
help him. He has a pretend sulky
in the yard & two pretend horses in it.
I went for a drive in it yesterday. He
calls the two horses “Navy-blue Nedwood"
& “Pink Tom”. Don’t you think these 
are nice names?
Will you give my love to grandma
& Aunt Emma. I hope that when you
read this you are really quite well. 
I got your paintings - they are lovely
& they are in my room. Good-bye now,
my dear little brave muffet. You will
soon be all right & I will see you again.
With ever so much love & lots of kisses
from
Father.

 

Melbourne
4th August 1915

My Dear old Mother
I was very glad to
get your wire on the boat in Sydney & 
hear that all was well with everyone.
I expect the little people are getting
down to the new order of things quite
well. They are very sensible little customers.
I spent the afternoon at Bondi, but
did not see the girls as they were out. They
came down to the ships on Saturday & saw
them there for a few moments. Mr
Robinson & his daughters came down, likewise
Aunt Emma. Have had a lovely trip
so far round to Melbourne. Hope it will
keep so.
I see that amongst the doctor's joining
here is a Dr O'Hara who was at Edinburgh
with me - haven't seen him since I was
there. The big Irishman is my cabin -
mate - a real good sort too he is.
Have only time for a line as I
[* must rush off up town. Saw the Vintner family yesterday
but have not seen Eva - will not have time.
Ever so much love. from your loving son.*]

 

THE ORIENT LINE
OF ROYAL MAIL STEAMERS
BETWEEN ENGLAND and AUSTRALIA 
Passengers Booked For
Gibraltar, Toulon, Naples, Port Said,
Suez, Colombo, Fremantle, Adelaide, 
Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and all
Chief Ports in Australia, Tasmania and
New Zealand.
Head Offices:
FENCHURCH AVENUE, LONDON.
West End Branch Office:
28, COCKSPUR STREET, S.W.

On board the R.M.S.  Orintes
18th August 1915
My Dear old Mother,
We are due
to arrive in Columbo tomorrow, so
must get my letters written before
that. There is a possibility that
we may not be able to land
there, as we may be only there
at night & nobody is allowed about
there at night because the 
place is under Martial Law. 

 

That will be bad luck - Fremantle 
to Suez without a break is a long run.
We were delayed so much by the 
very rough weather in the Bight
that it has put everything out
I fear. Since Fremantle we
have had a good trip & in
unusually cool air. We are in the
cool side of the ship & have the
best cabins on the upper deck, so
have nothing to complain of.
My fat Irishman from Brisbane,
who is my cabin mate, has been
in bed for two days suffering from 
the results of vaccination.  Several
of the nurses are pretty bad too.
I did not take, so will have to be
done again later on. In the meantime
will have the joy & felicity of
being inoculated against typhoid.

 

there is a man named Cheney
on board who lives somewhere Jindaryan
way & knows Kent & the Williams
family well. He is going on to
join the troops in England - King
Edwards House I think. There are
thirteen other fellows going over to
get commissions in England, &
also an Aviator on his way to
the Persian Gulf. Altogether quite
a military family. In the steerage
are a number of Italian Reservists
going to Italy to join the Italian 
Army. Some of them are pretty 
tough looking characters too.
I wonder very much how things 
are getting on at  Crow’s Nest, &
whether the Locum is behaving 
himself properly. The little
people have quite settled down to


the new order of things I 
expect - they are wise little folk.
I will be very glad to get the
first letters & hear how everyone 
is. Haven’t heard anything since 
Melbourne. Had a wire from
Mr Purvis at Fremantle, wishing
me luck - decent of the old boy
wasn’t it? Didn’t have time 
to go & see him.
Must say good-bye now.
much love from your loving
son
R.L.H

Give my love to Pater when you
are writing /. 

 

2nd Stationary Hospital 
23.9.15
Mudros
Mediteranean Expeditionary Force.

My Dear old Mother.
I have temporarily settled
down at the above address, so when writing you
might send letters there. If I have moved on
they will be forwarded. One is moved about 
here, there, & everywhere, without notice so that 
it is not safe to assume that we will remain
in any spot for more than an hour or two.
From what I have been able to learn since 
coming here, I imagine that this hospital 
will probably remain here for some time,
unless they shift to Suvla Bay. They may
be sent along there. Whether I will stay with
them or not I don’t know. When I
left Egypt I was supposed to be coming over
here for either one of the Field Ambulances, or
to act as Regimental Medical Officer to one
of the Batallions, but at the last moment 
was switched into this place. This 
hospital consists of a lot of tents & very few
beds - most of the patients simply lie side by
side on the ground. I have ab seven tents,
each one holding about 20 men, to look after.
This particular type of Hospital is called 

 

a stationary hospital because it consists solely of tents,
is staffed entirely by males, & is meant to be 
moved about after the troops.  Xxxx
Stanley Fosters Bataln is camped about 
¾ mile away from us, but I have not been able 
to get over & see if he is still to be found yet.  Will
try & get over there tomorrow. I don’t know where 
Rex is  - Dr Cedric Dodds is over at Alexandria, wounded.
I have met such a number of fellows that
I know here - old Edinburgh men, some of them 
particular friends of mine there. Sometimes 
I could almost imagine that I was back in 
Ramsay Lodge in Edinburgh again - there is such 
a collection of fellows here who used to live there.
Percy Wall is Adjutant in a camp about 200 yards 
away - I walked in to him a few minutes 
after I landed, & have been running across a
succession of fellows I know ever since.
25.9.15
I have been along to Stanley Foster’s Batallion - I had
a good deal of difficulty in getting any news. One man
who said he knew him well said that Stanley had been 
wounded on 6th August in the attack on Lonesome Pine 
Ridge, & was now at Alexandria. Another man who was near him told me that me that
he was missing after the attack - fate unknown. Finally 
I got hold of Sergeant Wood of Stanley’s company. He
also knew the boy well, as he lived in North Sydney 
& says he often used to go to over to town with him in the

 

(3)
same ferry boat. Wood told me  that Stanley was
missing after the attack. Numbers of our dead 
are still lying out in front of the trenches, &
cannot be got at, & a number more were collected 
some time after the attack & being unrecognisable 
were buried together. As many identification 
discs as could be got were collected & brought 
in, & amongst them was Stanley’s. One
feels very dubious about accepting all the
information that is tendered here, but this
chap struck me as being reliable, & as knowing
what he was talking about. I am afraid 
that the poor youngster was killed then - at
any rate that is certainly his sergeant’s opinion.
Still, as I said, everything that one hears here
is a lie - or at any rate 99%of it is.
I tried to find the man who said that he (Stanley} had
been wounded, but could not discover him.
Will try & find him again tomorrow. He evidently 
knew him, because as soon as I asked him if he
knew Foster, he asked me if I knew meant “Stanley
Foster”.
This is Sunday night, & about 50 yards
away a few men are some of the 
most mournful hymn tunes that were 

 

ever invented. Altogether the little ensemble 
is not a cheerful one, & I think I will go to
bed & try & forget the whole business for a 
time. 
Goodnight & much love. Give the little 
people & Gussie & Nell my love - I will
be mighty glad to see you all again.
Your loving son

R.L.H.

Read this to yourself
before reading it aloud.
——————
Please return.-

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Jacqueline KennedyJacqueline Kennedy
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