Letters from Mervyn Ernest Hazen to his family, 1916-1917 - Part 3

2
Then I went up to the 37^th Battalion & Saw H. Butler, Les Joe,
Victor Woods, Oswald Woods, & Alex McGinnis, from Bundalong.
the next night I went up to the Artillery Camp & saw
Mr. Thos Roff. (I was pleased to see him,) I was with Bob Carnegie
too on Sunday night. Also Sid Alexender. So you see the
rest of Yarra Boys that are here. Last Saturday Tom Roff
& I went over to a village about 4 miles from here
"Durrington". on our way over we had a kick of a football
& on the strength of it, an old Essendon player
picked us to play a match on the following day
Sunday, but anyhow we got to "Durrington" & had a good
look around. it is a pretty little place we then
had tea & took a walk up along the Avon River
it is a pretty stream. got home here about 10. ^o/c.
On Sunday we had the us^ual church parade
8,000 present. On the afternoon, I went to the Artillery
camp & picked up Tom Roff & we went over & played
in the Match Artillery V Army Service Corps. we
got beaten by 5 point. 8.6. to 9-5 were Kicking
wasn't it? Tom Played ½ forward Right wing I
played Centre Right for 2 quarters & Rover the other
half. I fed Tom up all the time & he scored
4 goals. We are both picked as permanent
players now. After the match we again went 

For God. For King & for Country
Y.M.C.A

with

H.M. FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE

PATRON

Y.M.C.A. NATIONAL COUNCIL

H.M. THE KING
PATRON
MILITARY CAMP DEPT
HRH. DUKE OF CONNAUGHT.
Reply to ...............     Company 3        Bat ............... Regt.
Stationed at .................................          ...................................191
into "Durrington" & had tea, then went to Church
the Church we went to is over 1,000 yrs old after
that we came back to the Artillery Camp & as
I told you, went to see Carnegie & Alexander,
Monday
morning, I did the usual routine of work
in the Afternoon stayed in our huts till 50 ^o/c
when I had to go on Guard, was on Guard 
allnight without sleep & in the morning
(Tuesday) we were relieved early in the morning
& then had to go with the main body of
troops to Bullford, 7 mile off, to go through
a rehearsal for the Review today. We got
home, at 6 ^o/c. all dogtired. This morning we
were up at 5 ^o/c & had to go back to Bulfford
Bullford, to be inspected by "The King". It was a
beautiful sight 100,000, troops. All Australians
& New Zealanders. We were all lined up in Battalions 

4
"The King'. Rode right along the front of the troops
& then went to the Saluting base. where we all had
to march past him. I was only a couple
of Yards from him each time, when you see
the photo of the King. You see "him as he
is. We got back here about 4 O clock quiet
satisfied to be home. we were all wet to the
skin too, as it rained cats & dogs on the
road home.
I bought a beautiful leather
vest here on Saturday, one of our fellows 'went
broke" so he offered it to me for of 6/- & needless
to say I bought it. it is quiet new
never been worn, I made by a saddler, to
order. it fits me "A1'.
While we were in guard
Monday night all the light went out suddenly
& the cause of it was found out next morning
that Zepplins were over Amesbury, 12 7 miles
from here.
We are to get our leave on Friday
or Monday & I'm not going to London. A chap
I'm with, A signaller, by the name of
Percy Johnstone has an Uncle up at 

For God. For King & for Country
Y.M.C.A

with

H.M. FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE

PATRON

Y.M.C.A. NATIONAL COUNCIL

H.M. THE KING
PATRON
MILITARY CAMP DEPT
HRH. DUKE OF CONNAUGHT.
Reply to ............................. Company ........................... Bat .... 5 .... Regt.

Stationed at ..............................       ................................. 191
Scarborough, he is the Health officer up there
& he wrote & told Him to bring a friend
if he wished to, so I've got the Invitation.
I believe they have a beautiful home. up
there. So I am looking forward to a good
time. I believe Scarborough is a pretty
little place.
The "Miltardes" that left Port Melb
on the Tuesday after we did, arrived in last
night & "Tom Cross", is here. I dont care
a hang now that I have such a good
mate here
You remember those chaps that
went up to Wonthaggi on the same train as
we did, well one of them died on the road
over on the "Miltardes", not that drunken scamp
He came over on my boat.
There was a bag of papers 

6

just sent into the hut & I've Ive been
having a look at them & what do you think I
found the Yarrawonga Chronicle. August 1^st
addressed to Bob. Carmichael from Bundalong.
I suppose a week from today you will be
at the Yarra Show. This is the 2^nd one
I've missed but I think. I'll be at the
next one. things are going fairly well over
here I believe as one of my hut mates
got a letter from his son tonight & he was saying
that all Australians are out of the lines
now & are back for a long spell behind the
lines.
Well mater. I'll ring off now as
I haven't anymore news now but will
write again as soon as I get back
from leave. I'll tell you all about my
trip. Goodnight mater. Best love to
all at Home. From. Your loving Son
Mervyn- H.
Sgt. Wm Lowe is only 12 miles from here
at "Perham Downs"

For God. For King & For Country
Y.M.C.A

with

H.M. FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE

PATRON

Y.M.C.A. NATIONA COUNCIL

H.M. THE KING
PATRON
MILITARY CAMP DEPT
HRH. DUKE OF CONNAUGHT.
Reply to .................... Company ................. Bat ............... Reg

26^th-10-1916
Stationed at Rollestone
Salisbury Plain
Dearest Mater
Have received 3 letters off
you this last week, & oh so pleased
to receive them. I am glad you have
at last received some of my letters. You
should ^have got some more. about a week
after you received my first, the ones' we
wrote at Capetown, while ashore., Did
you receive the Papers (The' rising Suns'
that I sent you? Also the Souvenir
it went from Capetown with the 2^nd batch
of letters.
I have received several letters from Frank
I'm so glad he writes often to me. Get the
others to drop me a line now & again: I
got 1 from Vera [[Vanheuens?]] also, today with some
snaps of the "Boat", before we left Port Melb.

2
I have had 2 from Eb Bickford, & several
from different Girl friends of melbourne,
Don't forget to tell me if you received
my Cable, as I would like to know
because I paid cash for it & if it
hasn't been sent. Ill roar up our
worthy O.C. I have my doubts of him.
You should receive on an average
of about 2 letters a week since. I've
left Australia.
We are waiting to hear
how the results of the Referendum re -
conscription gets on. it got "no hearing"
here at all with the boys
Bruce is a
fool, if he enlists, as he can get Exemption
If he knew what was in store for him
over here. He would think twice
You ask
why all of the Chaps went back from
the boat the day we came away. they

were "reserves" in case any of the
Chaps that were supposed to go away,
did not turn up. The Girl you pointed
out to me. her father came away, he
is with me in my hut now 

For God. For King & for Country
Y.M.C.A

with

H.M. FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE

PATRON

Y.M.C.A. NATIONAL COUNCIL

H.M. THE KING
PATRON
MILITARY CAMP DEPT
HRH. DUKE OF CONNAUGHT.
Reply to .................. Company ..................... Bat. ................... Regt

...................... 1916

Stationed at ......................... 3

....................
I have been out on the ranges shooting
this last 6 Days doing our Musketry
We are
put through tests here & get prizes for
reaching a certain number of marks
I was 4 marks light for a marksman
Badge & a prize of £2. I got the
Honor of being a First Class shot
& £1 Prize so I did all right didnt
I?
I was in Salisbury last Sunday at
my friends place. I went in for tea
I am having a great run here, as
regards invitations out to different
place, but I rarely go. Cant be
bothered. I have had Tom Roff over.
to see me a couple of times this week 

4
He is going to France on the same
date as myself, on the 10^th of Nov.
Next Saturday week, we are all
anxious to go too. It does not seem
to trouble any of us. We feel as if we
are just going to work. instead of
having a go for our lives.
You needn't
bother Mater, about me looking after
myself, I'm sure to do that, as you
know. I like my own Skin too well
I have felt better, since being here,
than ever I did. I weigh 12 stone 4
lbs. I've put on 2 pounds since landing
here & I I'm as hard as Iron with it
all go all day without feeling it - & as
for looking after myself in the trenches
well Mater.. I'll do nothing but what
I'm told to do. You may be sure.
Fancy
Poor Old Bob White going under, & Bob Lister
being missing it is hard isn't it
Tom
Cross is applying for a transfer to
my Company, I hope he gets in. if
he does. we'll take Berlin on our
own. 

For God. For King & For Country
Y.M.C.A

with

H.M. FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE

PATRON

Y.M.C.A. NATIONAL COMPANY

H.M. THE KING
PATRON
MILITARY CAMP DEPT
HRH. DUKE OF CONNAUGHT

Reply to ....................... Company ........................ Bat. ................... Regt

............................ 1916

Stationed at ...............      5

..............................
There is a big Concert in the camp
tonight & I'm going over to have
a look at it.
A team of Footballers
was to have gone up to London next
weekend. (myself with them) but all
leave has been stopped, we have to
drill Saturdays now to get through
with our work before going away,
I got
the Photos allright. The Boat looks
allright, & the Sports waggon looks
well too. Well Mater. I'll continue this
letter again till then good night.
Sunday 29^th/10/16
Well Mater I'll add a few more lines to this
be. I close it up.