Letters from Alexander Sutherland Mackay to his Family, 1916 - 1917 - Part 7

dozen post cards of the full size. He was to send one copy each 

& the post cards to me the balance going to you. One lot of the

head & shoulders is not yet complete but he sent me two large

copies of the full figure in addition to the post cards so I presume

he has posted you 20 of the bust & 4 of full figure (I asked for 6 of these

if he could not mount as post cards). I don't go nap on the mountings.

Home will be flooded with my photos, I think Ill send the copies

I have to Norman Bourcher & ask him to give them to some of my

Northern friends. No fresh news

Alex.

 

I enclose a few photos to hold for me. Give Barlow in the Bank

one of my photos, Mother will you?

 

15/4/17. An aeroplane fell this morning at Dorrington about three miles

from here. We were over this afternoon looking at the machine, it

was an awful wreck the engine buried right into the ground.

The poor airman - an Australian- only lived half an hour after the

spill.

Bulford

2/5/17.

 

Dear Mother,

You will be surprised to see Im still here

from all accounts it will be another a fortnight before we

get a move on. Fancy 8 weeks without a scrap of training

it does not give one much confidence in the Military system in

England, does it? Evidently they intend keeping us until

all the new fellows who recently arrived, have passed out.

I received letters from you Roy Lily & Elsie last week & today

got a very new pair of socks from Vera Duncan. Ive written

to her tonight. The warm weather is here at last. the

last two days Ive been walking about with tunic off its a

great change. They are bringing the bread ticket system

into force shortly, the sinkings by the W Boats have been

awful of late. The Australian February Quota lobbed in all

sorts of rigs, the transport was torpedoed about 70 miles away, but

everybody was saved. On land there appears little doubt

that the Allies have them beaten, the papers all prophesised

great strikes in Berlin yesterday - May Day. No particulars are

yet to hand owing to the strict censorship on all German

papers. Its to be hoped they set the ball rolling no hurried

the end. Ive no news Mother but know you like a line

weekly or so. Immediately we leave for France Ill start 

numbering my letters.

Love to all

Your affect son

Alex

 

1 DRL 441

Bulford

8/6/17.

 

Dear Roy,

Thank goodness we are off at last, today has been a

regular bustle passing doctor dentist & obtaining full kit. Ive been

at it solidly in the Quartermasters' store we only take one uniform, &

1 complete change of underwear. All the rest is handed in. Ive

had to leave a lot of private stuff as the officers & all returned men

warn you to take as little as possible in fact they favor only the clothes

you stand up in. Everybody in the draft (-86 men) is thoroughly pleased

at going as we were all heartily sick of loafing round this camp.

We are now ready to skip at a moments notice, in all probability it

will be Sunday or Tuesday. Ive been making up a photo album for

you but I'm sorry to say it will have to go before I can complete it.

I have some 20 photos coming so will try & arrange that they be posted

on to you. The majority of the scenes are taken during the winter at present everything is beautifully green, trees & flowers in full bloom. Ive been

 picked to reinforce the 3rd Division, but doubt if I will strike Bill

Nott as we are not going to the Base he went to. However they may

have changed plans over there, the beggar has not dropped a line yet

Well Roy I'll probably write again in a day or so before leaving

Love to all

Your affect brother

Alex

Bulford

10/6/17.

 

Dear Elsie,

We are supposed to leave for France tonight, we will

know definitely in the course of an hour or so. If not tonight, Tuesday

for certain will see us off. I'd prefer the latter as I'm waiting for

some snapshots to complete an Album Im sending to Roy. In any

case some photos will be forwarded later, but Id like to complete

the thing here. For the last hour we've been out watching an aeroplane

performing marvellous manoeuvres. Since arriving here we've probably

seen hundreds but this pot absolutely had us bluffed. Looping the

loop was only a minor affair, he used to go right up stop his engine

& make a perpendicular dive for earth, spinning round all the time

like a top. On the first occasion I made sure he had lost control 

& was waiting for the smash, as he got near the ground he would

swoop up like a hawk after a chicken. I've never seen such an

expert he had his machine in all sorts of positions diving all over

the shop, standing on the tail, nose, right wing, left wing & on his back

After such a performance I'm perfectly satisfied, flying is almost

now perfect that in the future we may see heavy loads being

carted through the air. Well Elsie I'll keep this open to see how

things are going.

Later. Just received a pleasant surprise in getting four letters, yours of 9th & 28th March. Lily's of 8th March & Roy's of 30th March. Fancy poor Mabel losing

her youngster, no doubt its rotten luck. There goes the bugle for the draft

 to fall in so I must get my tunic on.

We are not going today so now there is a slight chance I may finish

'The Album". We are all jolly glad to get our own marching orders. I

believe the Australian Base is now Le Havre in France & that is

probably our destination for the time being. I fancy I told Roy I

am going to the third Division (7th 8th & 9th Brigades). We hear the

9th is reinforcing the other two so probably we will be further split

up over there. All my letters still arrive from France "not 7 or 8 FAB"

Your old address however will eventually strike me.

Les evidently has a nice spot out there, its fortunate its so

handy to home, the short trip is a great outing for Mother & you

kids. Audrey is evidently a grafter at her school lessons. I'll bet

she gets on well. I still have a photo of her & one of Lorna in

my pocket book. I had a general cleaning up this morning burning

all letters, those photos alone remain. I'm enclosing two photos also

the negative of one of myself taken ^in the hut. Well Elsie my next letter

will be from France. Love to all.

Your affect brother

Alex.

 

14/6/17  Leaving today 10 am.

Posting Album incomplete

I

 

France 

22/6/17

 

Dear Mother,

My last letter was to Elsie

from Blighty. The Album was forwarded

on from there unfinished but the photographers

would send the other scenes on later.

Had a week here now of really warm

weather with any amount of rain.

My present address is A.G.B.D, C/o

Base Post Office ^ via Le Havre. Of course

that is only temporary, we may shift

any day. Had leave last Sunday afternoon

& had a tiptop time in a place close

handy. Not understanding French is

certainly a drawback but one can always

make himself understood. The money is

also a problem to a newcomer, but the

whole is very interesting. I wish I could give you

a full description of everything but needless

to say, its not allowed. Ive written to

Ronnie, its very unlikely I will drop

across him. Bill Nott must be up

the line, its rather difficult for mates

to stick together, we are gradually getting

split up. Looking forward to further letters

in a week or so. Hope all at home are OK.

Feeling tiptop myself.

Love to all

Your affect son

Alex

2

France

28/6/17

 

Dear Lil,

I fancy I wrote to Elsie last

time so now its your turn. Yesterday I

got your letters of 15th, 22nd & 29th March &

4th April, Elsie's of 23rd March & 3rd April

& Phyl Blacket's of 26th March. Hope you

enjoyed your Easter at the selection, Roy had

hard luck in missing the Bay trip, struck

one Chillagro & two Richmond fellows here

this week, it's marvellous how you drop across

fellows. I also got a Richmond letter, both an

Gleeson & Veness who were in the Bank there

are now in camp I believe. Out of all my hut

mates in England only three of us remain

here, so we will be lucky if we stick together.

Its just a question of chance, no doubt they have

enough to study without trying to keep friends

together. Raining practically every day, fairly

sultry in the daytime but beautiful nights. Its

curious Bob Porter hasn't written home, he must

be OK otherwise he would be reported. The

Military are reliable in that respect. I fancy

Bob must be suffering from the tired feeling.

Its certainly a task writing letters under the

restrictions fixed; but still he should drop a line.

Bert Millingen is evidently getting his share

I guess everybody will be in the same box

before the last round. Well Lil I'll end up.

Don't worry should you not hear from me

for a few weeks at anytime, as we may be

shifting about.

Love to all at home

Your affect brother

Alex.

Lt Gatcum