Correspondence between Herbert Vincent Reynolds and his family, 1914-1915 - Part 2

JAN 12^th 1915
"J.S. Berrima"
Dear Mother
I expect you have
received my last letter by now.
The holidays have been very quiet
on board, a church parade was held
on Christmas Day and sports were
held on New Years Day, otherwise
there was nothing outside the routine
of ordinary work, held to celebrate
that time of the year. I have not
been sea sick yet, the water has been
like a mill pond since we left Melbourne
except the first & second days, out I have
been all right, the motion of the boat
upset me a bit, but I soon got used
to it. We crossed the line yesterday
and the occasion was celebrated in
the usual way, the fourth officer of
the boat turned out as His Majesty
King Neptune & other officers acted
as his attendants all the military
officers were put through the performance
as well as the naval and ships officers.
They sat each one on the side of the
tank & lathered him with flour and
water, then handed him over to
the barber, when he had finished

with him, he was tiped back
into the tank and ducked
the number of times named
by Neptune, I got out of the
ducking they had no time to
put every body on board in.
We were all onoculated the other
day but will have to have another
injection in 10 days time.
The vacination did not take
effect on me, I do not know
wether it will be done again
or not. We were not ashore at
Albany although we were in the
harbour for 3 days We get splendid
food on board plenty of vegetables
puddings & stewed fruit.
They have a store on board where
we can get soft drinks chocolates
etc but we have to pay pretty
high for them. We are having a
good time on board all through
we have no band, but there is a
piano on board so we have to make
the best of it.
We have been out of sight of land
for near a fortnight so land
will be a welcome sight when
we reach the next port of
call, it gets a bit monotonus
with nothing in sight but
the other boats day after day,
we passed a wind jamber a
short way out from Albany
There are any amount of flying
fish about here, they get out
of the way of the boat & fly
a good distance before they
drop back into the water
We do not have much to do we
get up at 6 am have an hours
physical drill before breakfast.
lectures & first aid in morning
& afternoon. This is about all that
I can tell you about so must
close with love Bert

Sebastopol
12/1/15
Dear Bert
It comes rather awkward for
me so write not knowing where you are
or anything else or whether you received
my last two letters I hear you are not
allowed to write so must be content &
wait patiently. However I hope & trust
you & yours mates are all well and
happy, and are having a good time
On New Years day we went to Buninyong
with Mrs. H. & the Girls we camped in the
gardens where we had dinner & tea.
We were asked to go to Burrumbeet by
those over home but had to decline.
I received another money order for 7/6
which was due from 16^th to 31^st Dec That makes
£1.6.3 to 21^st Dec.  Then on 7^th I received
another for £2.0.0 up to 31^st Dec  so that will
be alright. Things have been very quiet
in and around Ball through the holidays
I think we have skipped a couple of months
as regards the weather its more like Autumn 

we are having at present in fact ever since
Christmas day, its cool in the day & very 
cold at night, in fact we have to keep a
fire going all the time some days
I found your large file in the Kitchen
the other day. I sent photo to May but
have not received an answer to
either of my letters. I can't make it out
unless they have gone away on Holiday
We were over so see Grannie last week
she was not to well. Jim was home
for the holidays he was inquiring about
you Well Bert this is about all I can
scrape up for the present with the
exception that Florrie & Stan are both
well & myself also. hoping you are
the same & that you are not seasick
with fondest love from all
your loving Mother 

[*Not 1st Fd Amb*]
No 622
*12th Jan 1915*
Pte H. V. Reynol
1^st Reinforcements
1^st Field Ambulance
A.A.M.C.
Berrima No A. 35 

Back of envelope - see original document 

BERRIMA Jan 1915 
Dear Mother
I was disappointed at not
hearing from you by the last mail
We are having a good time on board
but will be glad to get on land
again, we were not allowed ashore
at Colombo so it is getting
a bit monotonous, we have
been on board near 5 weeks now.
*censored*
I received a letter from Ted Raine 

by the last mail dated
Dec 29^th he says Bill Ham
had a bit of a smash up
on Christmas Eve, he seems
to have got off rather lucky
with a dislocated shoulder.
We got plenty of bananas and
coconuts from the natives who
were allowed on board with
their goods, they are great ones
for making money, they
started by wanting 4d for
a coconut, but soon reduced
the price, until we got two
for 3d, they also had a good
scheme of bringing 1 cent
peices on board worth about
1/4 d and selling them as curios
for about a dozen times
their value. Our own money
is in use there so we did
not want our money changed
into Ceylon coinage. 

From what I could see of
Colombo from the boat it
appeared to be a pretty place,
there are some fine buildings
there as you will see from
the post cards I sent you.
The natives were very amusing
at diving for money that
is thrown into the water,
they come alongside in boats
constructed of three logs of
very light Timber, when
a coin was thrown in they
all made a dive for it and
the one who got it, placed
it in his month and was
ready for any more that
may be thrown.
The weather has been splendid
all the trip, it was rather
warm until we reached
Colombo, but it has been
milder since we left there. 

the sea has been very
calm. I would like you
to send me Stan Davies
address. This is about all
the news this time so good bye
Yours truly
Bert