Letter from Alfred George Semple to the Sydney Morning Herald

PR82/8
SOLDIERS' HOME,
BARRACK ROAD,
CHRISTCHURCH.
Sept. 19./16
Dear Mr. Ellis
I suppose you think that I
am in the "big push," but no
such luck, the only pushing that
I have taken part in being a
wheelbarrow full of sand. We —
Gus & myself, together with others
are being trained thoroughly
before being sent out. In fact,
I can truthfully say that our
school will be the best trained
Engrs to leave for the front
when our time comes to go. At
present we are learning how to
construct the latest type of
trench/ this is where the barrow
comes in) and I can assure you
that the work is very hard.  

2/
I will try & detail to you the different
courses through which we have passed.
First of all, we had 10 days infantry
drill, shooting & bayonet fighting.
The way we used the bayonet
filled our instructor, who, by the
way, is an old regular, with 
admiration "That's the way, boys,
give it to them." The "them", I
might say were only innocent
bags stuffed with straw,
but a feeling comes over you
when you are sticking a bag
that it is a German. Well, our
second course was bridge building
which lasted 10 days. After that
came barbed-wire entanglements
map reading, and the making of
field kitchens. The next course
was demolitions, mining, and
the uses of explosives. This
week we are on the pick and
shovel, making trenches, which of 

3/

can assure you is "blinkin" hard

work. I have had five days leave

in London, which is a wonderful

old city with its old historical

buildings. Women, is seems are coming

into their own over here now, being

employed in place of poor unfortunate 

man! What a comfortable feeling

Mrs Pankhurst must have now.
I suppose they will get their long

longed for “Votes for Women” now.

I suppose the boys are still rolling

up in New South, God knows
they are wanted across the water.
I met "Billy" Graham, Frank

Johnstone, and Captain Bean

in London. Bill fell into a shell-hole

& fractured his leg, while

young Frank had been knocked by 

a piece of "shrap", but both 

looked well, C. Bean looks A.1

too, but has got very thin on it.

Horace is in the thick of it

now, but so far has been lucky.

Although Gus & I have not left 

yet, you can depend on it that

when our time comes we'll keep

 up the good name of the old

"Herald" and if we do not come

through. you can bet you life

we will die game.

Remember me to Mr. Fairfax,

if he would care you might

let him read this letter.

I hope you have completely 

recovered from your illness.

Give my regards to Mr. Pegg,

the "stone hands", and the poor

old keyboard thumpers. This 

is the best game of the lot.

Hoping to see you soon.

I am

yours in a hurry

Alf Semple

G. E Fairfax Esqr,

Mr. J. Ellis

Composing Room

"Sydney Morning Herald"

Hunter Street

Sydney.

New South Wales

Aus.