Letter from Albert Edward Dowse to Gladys, 19 September 1915

PR82/8
Lemnos
19.9.15

Dear Gladys 
Just a few lines to let
you know how I am getting on
hoping it will find you all in
good health - as it leaves me at
present. I received your letter yesterday
& the papers so I am having a good
days reading to day. I have just
finished doing a fortnights body
guard for Sir Ivan Hamilton &
now I have joined my Battalion
up again, we are having a rest
away from Gallapali for a few
weeks. I can assure you it is quite
a change to get away from the
shells & bullets. I am the only one
left now out of the lot that used
to be in the tent with me at old
Kenoo. I have had a few slight
cracks but nothing serious. I had
a shells burst just in front of me
one day, it nearly buried me with
dirt & took all the skin off my nose

2
I have been very lucky up till now
it is marvelious at times how the
shells miss us, they come over very
thick at times & big ones about 10
inches across. I had a letter
from Charlie a few days ago
he is up at Goulbourn now
Owen has not made up his
mind about coming over here
yet, he will find it a bit crook
here to what it is at Liverpool
It is very trying on the nerves
when you have to charge a turks
trench & about 4 machines guns
waiting for you. I have a
particular dread of machine guns
they will fairly cut a man in
halves if they get properly on him
the bullets come that fast. It
must have been alright on
Australia Day in Sydney
I would like to have been 

3
there myself, it would have 
a bit of a treat just now
Well Glad I am only supposed
to write about private & family
matters in this letter so I cant
tell you much about what we 
are doing, but I suppose you
saw by the paper about the
great charge we done last
month, it was hot I can
assure you. I was saving up
some curious to fetch home
but lost everything in the
charge. but I am thankful
to get away with a clean
skin. I am sending a card
to Edna this mail so I hope
she gets it alright. Tell Millicent
I will write to her next week
Well Glad I think I have
told you all the news 

4
this time so I must now
conclude with love to all
from                 
I remain

Your loving Cousin

Albert
xxx

 Private A.E. Dowse
P.S. address the letters the same
as before, I always get your
letters alright, do you get
mine safely Good bye A.E.D 

Photograph - see original
 

Cairo 21.3.16

CARTE POSTALE

Dear Gladys
This is a photo of the chaps & myself
in our section. We have been together ever
since I joined. We are getting very hot
weather here now, but,  I suppose it will
be worse in another six weeks. I wrote to
Millicent last Sunday. There is nothing of
any importance happened here lately, We
are still drilling every day. I will write again
next Sunday. Hoping you are all well as I am at
present. I must conclude with love to all from
your loving Cousin
Albert xx
Dont forget to write soon
 

C W Brain Esq.,
"hillreth" [[ Lillbreth?]]
Brighton St.
Croydon