Letters from Hector Aldridge Robinson to Mabel Broom, 1915-1917, Part 3

[*PRO3788*]
Miss M. Broom

c/o A.S.S. Saunders

General Merchant

Orbost

East Gippsland

Victoria

Australia
[*[[NPSennett?]]*]

PRO3788       

Miss M. Broom

c/o A.S.S. Saunders

General Merchant

Orbost

Gippsland
[*[[NPSennett?]]*]

Kindly remember me to Mr & Mrs

Brian Mrs Saunders & all the others

Lots of Love

Yours ever

Hector

Oct 31^st 1915
Dear Mabel
Your P/C to hand_ Glad you like photo_
Yes! you must be pleased that the railway is so near
completion_ it must be a boon.
I am writing this from the trench
as I have been for some days, back in the firing line.
Writing on one knee, in a squatting positon
is not exactly comfortable, but I know you'll not be
too exacting that a very few lines will suffice_
Of course any mention of doings here is strictly
tabooed, but I can safely mention that things generally
are satisfactory.
I am in first class health & feel confident.
You're last letter & paper_Bulletin_ ame to hand
for which many thanks_ I acknowledged before, but this in
case last letter goes astray,
Remember me to all
Fondest love
Yours ever
Hector.
[*Geoff*]
Write soon as its ^(a letter now & then) the only
thing that keeps one alive in this
desert hole.

[*PRO3788}
Miss M Bloom
Wolseley St
Orbost
East Gippsland
Australia Victoria

Trenches
7/11/15
Wishing you
The best of All Good Wishes
for
Christmas and NewYear
from 
Hector.

Egypt.

Dear Mab

Your letters of 29/10/15 11/11/15 14/11/15 also papers 
& 2 parcels reached me a few days ago for which many 
thanks_ It seems like second sight on your part 
sending along just the things which I needed most, & I 
cannot express how much I appreciate the kind thoughts 
which prompted the selection of these articles_

Sprig of wattle was just lovely.

C.Pryor certainly is most fortunate.

Orine Andrews is at present attached to headquarters base

& it is improbable that he will go to the front again.

You mention spring & how lovely everything looked_ how 
I envy people living in Austa particularly East Gippsland

I am writing this from Milty School of Instructions at 
Zeitoun near Heliopolis_ I am just completing a 3 
weeks course of instruction in Machine Gun work & a pretty 
busy time we are having as there is so much to learn.

I was for a short time on a Machine Gun on the
Peninsula but am now qualifying for a certificate_

I met Arthur Mosely & we had a quiet trip to 
Cairo_ Rennie was to have met Arthur but he did 
not put in an appearance, & I had to get back early 
as we had to go for an examtn next day, & I had some 
work to do.

We met Mick & Frank Cowell also they are
looking very well.

 

After leaving the Peninsula we were kept on Lemnos Island 
for some time_ Lemnos is one of the Grecian Archapellago & was the

scene of a Turkish massacre some years ago_  At the rear 
of a small Greek Church is a small brick structure which is 
almost full of Skeletons, supposed victims of said massacre_
how cheerful!!!
It would amuse some of our big farmers to see the way 
the Lemnos Greek farmer does his ploughing. They have a plough

made out of the an elbow shaped branch & handle & a little piece of iron on the front lower part which cuts thro' the soil. This novel looking

contrivance is drawn by 2 oxen - A smart ploughman could get
over quite a lot of ground in a long time_ The ploughman is
usually attired in a long baggy trousers, a goatskin vest (hair inside)
the leather part of hide outside & a fur cap_ If it were not that
one is leather & the other cloth it would be difficult to decide where
the vest ends & the trousers commence_
There are such a lot of things I would like to tell you

about the evacuation etc, but that disturber of the correspondent's

peace, called a Censor, makes anything like an interesting
letter impossible.
You will find enclosed our colors which you asked for
Remember me to all

With lots & Lots of Love

Yours Ever

Hector

[*Address in future

682 Pte H A Robinson

Machine Gun Section

22^nd Battn*] 

PRO3788

Miss M Broom

c/o A.S. Saunders

Genl Merchant

Orbost

East Gippsland 

Victoria

Australia.

 

I am quite well.

Hector

9/4/16

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