Correspondence between Herbert Vincent Reynolds and his family, 1918-1919 - Part 4

Hand written envelope - see original document

Miss F Reynolds

Albert St

Sebastopol

Ballarat

Victoria

Australia

13-2 1918

No 11 Sandhill Camp
Longbridge Deverell
Via Warminster
Wilts Eng.
Mar 3^rd 1918

Dear Stan
Very pleased to receive your letter
of 23^rd Dec & to hear that you had passed your
exams. Have been wondering what you intend
taking to, & wether you have made up your mind
as to what occupation you intend following.
Mind you make the best, of every opportunity
you have, remember there's no time like the present
& time waits for no one, so buck in & make
the best of your opportunitys while you have them.
You said your work for the year had been
reported as being steady but lacked enthuiasm,
well, -why not buckle to & make your work
interesting, not do it because you have to do it
but because of the benefit you will receive out
of the work, & the fruits you will reap in time
to come. Don't look at the present, but at the

(2)
future, that is when you will find the value of
all your schooling.
Was very pleased to hear that you had a
pleasant time at the school picnic to Wilsons dam,
you made me think when reading your letter of
the very pleasant picnic which Pete & I were at
some years ago at the same place, I have very
pleasant memories of that & many other days of those
past years, but they are always followed by sad
& extremely unpleasant thoughts of happenings of
this last couple of years, which seem to somehow
act as a barrier between those pleasant & joyful
times & the present.
I had a couple of letters today one from
Herb Smith the other from my mate Harry Madden   
he is at Weymouth & expects to get back home
very shortly, I wish him luck too, because he really
needs a spell, he will have to return on duty
if he goes, but that will be very nice to be able to
do that, I wish it were possiblye for me to do

(3)
the same, my mate was classed B2B which is
six months at home, but he was reclassified &
marked B2A which is six months unfit for active
service so he has to do light work now for that
time, & expects to go home as orderly on a transport
I have not written to Mother for a week
or more so must do so very soon, the last letter
from you was dated 8^th Jan, so I cannot complain
about not getting my letters, there is no doubt
I have been very fortunate with my mail

lately.
The description of your holiday at Gmas
was very interesting, I'd give any thing to be able
to spend such a one with you at the present
time, it would be glorious, you have not the
slightest idea of how the bush appeals to one
who has not seen it for years, it has an
attraction that I cannot properly describe.
At present I have a job in this
camp post office but cannot say how long it
will last, it may last for a souple of months

(4)
& then again only for a few days, you see
I am "A class" & am not supposed to have
any sort of job on the staff of these camps,
at any rate I'm staying here as long as I
possibly can, & only hope it will be for a few

months. I'm writing this letter at a very
peculiar hour it is almost midnight & my
two mates are in their bunks asleep, one
chap is driving them a million I think if
he keeps going I'll have to put a sock in it.
The people I spent my furlough
with a Macclesfield, want me to arrange
to get some leave at Easter to go up &
spend a few days with them then, I only hope
its possible for me to do so, the money
question is the difficulty it costs 21/- for
the railway fare away up there, but you
can depend upon me raising that if I only
get my leave, Well I really must say Good-night
Trusting you are all perfectly well at home. Best
wishes to all yours sincerely Bert.

Hand written envelope - see original document

Mr Stanley Reynolds 

Albert St

Sebastopol

Ballarat

Victoria

Australia

Mch 3^rd 1918     

No 11 Sandhill Camp
Longbridge Deverell
Via Warminster
Wilts England
Mar 6^th 1915

Dear Flo
It's time I sent you a few lines
again, just to let you know how things are going with
me in this part of the globe. At present I have
a temporary staff job in the post office here, but it may
not be for long as I am "A class" & they don't allow us
to remain in any of these jobs for long, when we are on the
active service list, anyhow Im remaining here just as
long as they will allow me to, don't suppose it will be
for long worse luck. There was a big clearance made
in the staff of this camp at the begining of this week, &
almost every active service man was put on draft, they
evidently are getting ready for the spring handicap
& are going to make the best use of the Ausies again.
The last letter I received from you was
dated Jan 6^th, was very pleased to hear that you

(2)
intended having a holiday at Queenscliffe, you will
no doubt have had a real pleasant time, I hope so
as any rate, take my advice & take advantage of
an opportunity like you had, when ever you get the
chance, they do not come along very often, & as for thinking
of not being able to get down to Melbourne when I
get back, well, -just put that on one side & don't
consider it, because you will not be disappointed
about that. I expect to see you in Melbourne if I do
get back, & will be extremely disappointed if you
are not there along with Mother & Stan. I only hope
you will not have to wait long for your trip to
Melbourne either, at present there don't appear to
be much likelihood of me seeing the shores of dear
old Vic for quite a time to come, but there is no
saying, something unforseen might turn up, I've
been waiting long enough for it, & there's nothing
for it but to keep on looking forward to that
much longed for day, which will be "the day" of my
life. If possible I intend to stay

(3)
here, so that I can get a few days leave at
Easter to go up to Macclesfield again, one of
the girls wrote & thanked me for the views of
good old Ballarat that I sent them, they were
extremely pleased with them. If you care to write
to them they will be very pleased indeed, one of
them collects post card views, & has a really fine lot
I would be very pleased if you would ∧send her some
post card views of our churches at Ballarat & some
views of our real bush scenery.
As you already know there are three
girls in the Kennedy family, you could write to
one of them, if you cared to do so & they would greatly
appreciate it, the address is Miss G Kennedy
267 Peter St Macclesfield Cheshire England.
My mate Harry Madden is going home
to Ausie on a duty trip, he has been classed B2A
for six months. I only wish it had been my luck
to fall in for something of the kind, I have
half a mind to apply for a duty trip, but its not

(4)
at all likely that I would get any thing for my
trouble, any how I really don't think I'll be much
good at my old job with the unit if they bundle
me back there.
Had a few lines from Mr. Key yesterday
saying they hoped to see me again before I go back to
France, but I dont think Ill find much time
to stay with them, -they treat me real well there
but I don't exactly enjoy my stay like I do at
other places. The air raiders got pretty close to
their locality the last time they were over London
& Mr Key was out with the ambulance you know
he is a sergt in the special police force.
There is no more news at present
so will ring off for the present trusting
you are perfectly well, & enjoying the dinkum
climate at good old Ballarat, it's mighty cold
over here now, I often think of what it must
be like to see the sun shine all day
Au-revoir yours ever sincerely
Bert

[*just for luck 

xxxxx

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