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" I 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. T
On Sunday we had the usual 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 1 forward Right wing
played. Centre Right for 2 quarters & Rover the other
half. I fed Tom up all the time o 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

H.M. FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE
PATRON
MILITARY CAMP DEP!
HRH. DUKE OF CONNAUGHT.
Company 3
Stationed at
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 of 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 I had to go back to Bullfod
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 font 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 phots of the King. You see him as he
is. We got back here about 4 Oclock 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 quite new
never been worn, I made by a saddler, to
order it fit 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 7miles
from here.
We are to act 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 Uncles up at 

For God. For King & for Country
YMCA

H.M. FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE
PATRON
MILITARY CAMP DEP!
HRH. DUKE OF CONNAUGHT.
5
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 "Miltarden" 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 

just sent into the hut & I've Ive been
having a look at them & What do you think I
found the Yarrawonga Chronicle. August 1st
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. thangs 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
try.
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
YMCA

H.M. FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE
PATRON
MILITARY CAMP DEP!
HRH. DUKE OF CONNAUGHT.
26^th-10-1918
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
got 1 from Vera [[Vauhenys?]] also, today with some
snaps of the Boat, before we left Port Melb.

2
I have had 2 from Et 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 3 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
YMCA

H.M. FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE
PATRON
MILITARY CAMP DEP!
HRH. DUKE OF CONNAUGHT.

MILITARY CAMD DEDI
HM. THE WINE.
HRH OUKE OF CONNAUGHT
3
I have been out on the ranges shooting
this last 6 Days doing our Musketry
We are
put through tests here & get prize for
reaching a certain number of marks
was 4 marks light for a marksman
Badge & a prize of £2. I got the
Honor of being a First Cluss shot
& 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 10th 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 were 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
but what
well Mater. I'll do nothing but what
I'm told to do. You may be sure
Fancy
Poor Old Bob White going under, & Bot 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. Well take Berlin on our
own. 

For God. For King & for Country
YMCA

H.M. FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE
PATRON
MILITARY CAMP DEP!
HRH. DUKE OF CONNAUGHT.
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.