Correspondence between Herbert Vincent Reynolds and his family, 1918-1919 - Part 3

(4)
this town, we then seen the interior
of the Parish church, it is really
very interesting & is quite a nice
place inside, portions of the building
are a great age, but the place has
been restored from time to time, &
of course at present has no appearance
of being really a very old structure
I am sending you a few views
of the church both interior & other
wise. The walk leading into the
building is formed of large stone
slabs, with inscriptions carved in
them to the memory of persons who
have been buried in the church yard.
Sat xxx. afternoon we went
up one of the most notable hills-
near this place called the “Tegsnose”
on the top is a large stone quarry.
we got back & after tea spent
the evening at the pictures.
On Sund morning I went to

(5)
Gawsworth a short distance away
with Mr Kennedy, he shewed me
the fine old church there & the
very pretty old rectory building,
we then seen Samuel Johnsons
grave a very notable spot in
the district. I will describe it
on a card After dinner I went
to Prestbury another very interesting
little village, we could not
get through the church unfortunately
but seen the ancient Norman
chapel that has been slightly
restored & stands in the church
yard also a very notable xx old stone
that is being preserved in a
glass covering in the church yard
also, right opposite the church
stands the old rectory or priest
house a typical old English
structure it is at present be used
for a furniture storage place.

(6)
In the evening the girls took
me to St Georges church, I had
not been to church for an extremely
long time, so the visit would
do me no harm though I’d really
got out of the run of the
service.
On Monday I got a bike
& went for a ride there are too
many hills around here for my
liking so the most successful
part of the trip was the down
hill stunts. I managed them
allright I went out to a small
village called “Rainow.”
After dinner one of the girls
& I went into Manchester, she
managed to get the afternoon off
from work to shew me round
she was not satisfied with doing
that, but wanted to pay for our
tea xxx at Lyons popular cafe

(7)
but I would not have any
though it took a lot of
persuasion before things were
fixed up, we had a look
inside  the Cathederal, it is
a magnificient place inside
but is really nothing looking
at the outside owing to the smoke
& grime on the stone work, of
course the work & everything in
the way of the design is of
the best, but somehow the
whole thing is spoilt there is
no really striking effect owing 
to the dirty grim look of the
blackened walls.
Some of the work the
carving etc inside is beautiful
& I was much more impressed with
appearance of the interior of this
Cathedral than I was with the
Abbey. The great organ was

(8)

being played when we were in
there, & it was really beautiful I
would give anything if you could
only just see some of these places
they are wonderfull you would
be delighted to see the Abbey &
a few more of these celebrated
buildings.
We did not go to any of the
shows in Manchester but came
back by the 7 30 pm train. I could 
tell you tons more about the
place but cannot write very
much more.
Wed afternoon we went 
up the hills along the Buxton
road right up on to the Derbyshire
moors, we had some light
refreshment in the highest inn
in England I will send you a
view of it, for the present I must
close so au revoir for the present
Bert.

Feb 1^st  1918
Mrs Reynolds
Albert St
Sebastopol
Ballarat
Victoria
Australia

No 3 Command Depot
Camp 8 Hurdcott
Nr. Salisbury
England
Feb 13^th  1918
Dear Flo
It’s about time I thought of writing
you a few tines once again, well four of your letters
came along together, with the bundle of mail I received
on returning from furlough, there was 24 letters all
told & two parcels, so that gave me something to do.
Thanks very much for the things you sent in the
bonza Xmas parcel they were greatly appreciated 
I can tell you.
Well yesterday I received a letter
from Lena Stones & was extremely pleased to hear from
them. also a few lines from Ada Kennedy to let
me know that they had received my photos, 

& would
send them on to Mother, I hope you will be
pleased with them, there must be a regular assortment
of them, any how that will not matter you must
please yourselves which ones you keep & do what
you like with the rest. I am sending Vi one
of the cabinets which was sent to me for a sample
There will probably be 4 cabinets & 6 other
photos that you will receive I’m keeping 8 out
for friends over here.

(2)
Well, I did not get down to Bournemouth during my
furlough as you thought I might, but spent my
holiday up in Cheshire this time, I will never regret
it, it was positively the most enjoyable holiday
I've had the pleasure of spending in England, & I’ve
really had a splendid time every where I've been.
The people I was staying with, Kennedys by name
are, as you no doubt know, relations of Herb Smiths,
& Ive not felt so much at home any where, since
leaving good old Ausie as I did with these people
They treated me better than I would expect to be
treated at home.
You need not fear about me getting tangled
up with any little Scotch lassie, I suppose you've
been getting some tall yarns put in on you about
the matter, but there cant be too much in it.
Any how where is the harm, providing the right
girlie turns up she is just as likely to be over
here somewhere as she is to be in Ausie. Don't you
think so?
Almost every letter I have received lately
has something to the effect that they hope it won't
be long before I get back home, well if you have
any idea that I'm being returned to Ausie, when
you receive this letter, don't retain that idea any
longer, because its quite out of the question, unless
something unforseen turns up, & believe me, I really
hope & trust it will, but at present there is
nothing else for me but another trip to France.
sticking out a mile.

(3)
I must thank you very much for the neat little
calendar that you sent along it's very nice
to get little things like that from home.
By the way, Don't you ever get any photos
taken if not well how about it? I'd
very much like to get a photo or two from
you occasionally, was extremely pleased
to get the one of Mother, but gee, - Is she
worrying about me at all? it looks much
like it by the photo.
I was rather amused to hear
that Stan is in long trousers, he will be
thinking himself some kid with his new
suit.
Last Sund evening I went to church at
Hilton with a mate that is a record for me
since leaving home, three Sundays in succession
The service was very monotonous the preacher
was any thing but a good speaker I really
enjoyed the music & the singing though, all
these English churches of any size have a surplus
choir & a big organ & the singing last Sund
was very fine the hymns were 210, 211, 370, & 223.
I am looking forward to attending our little

church again at Home & hope it will not be long
before I get the chance to do so.
Well Flo, -I must say Au revoir
for the present so trusting you are all
quite well at home
I remain
sincerely yours
Bert
P.S
Very pleased to hear that you like your new
place & that you are getting along nicely.