Letters from Alexander Sutherland Mackay to his Family, 1916 - 1917 - Part 8

France
6/7/17.
Dear Mother,
Still OK & feeling as fit as
a fiddle. They've advised us that the mails
going by the Mongolia to Australia, have
all been lost. No doubt some of my letters
were aboard as I wrote nearly every week from
England, they would be chiefly the May
letters. My last letter to Lily, was censored
by Lieutenant Gatcombe here. He sent down    
for me & to my surprise I found he knew
you all, also the Hodgsons. No doubt you've
mentioned his name, but being away from
Brisbane so long, I'd forgotten it. He & a
Lieut. Whittington, who went sailing with poor
old Archie, are sharing the same tent. Mr
Gatcombe wished to be remembered to you all.
I've struck two fellows from Chillagoe & about six
 

from Richmond Hughenden. Its great
dropping across friends you knew at home.
Had no word from Ronnie yet, I suppose
he is continually on the move. Young Hunt,
a relation of the Porters is in this camp, I
was asking him about Bob, but he knew nothing.
Suppose Claude Watson is homeward bound ere
this, Ive dropped on fellows here who left two
months after I did, simply the luck of the game.
If one tried to swing the lead, he would probably
fall, some of the Benalla boys are still in
England, others have been up the line for
three or four months. Afraid I'll have to
buy a stock of post cards in lieu of note paper
if this shortage of news continues
Love to all
Your affect son
Alex
 

France
2/8/17.
Dear Mother
After leaving the Base, I was sent
to a camp in Belgium & was chiefly occupied
and helping to load & unload ammunition at
various dumps. Fritz sends shells over now & again
some the other day lobbing about a hundred yards
away. Our guns have been booming night & day
recently & must be giving Fritz an awful time,
he has no chance with our Artillery, prisoners
of late appear very young. To hear our bombardment
one does not wonder at some of the Germans being
half stupid when collared. His aeroplanes also
get a poor welcome, immediately one comes over our
lines, our antiaircraft start singing & in no time
you see a ring of small white clouds (shell bursts) all
round the plane. Needless to say he doesn't hesitate
long on the return journey. It has been raining almost
continuously the last few days. I am in France
 

again now at a Trench Mortar School & likely
to remain here some three weeks. After finishing
here, I fancy, we go back to the 18 pounders. There
are still women & children in the villages, well
within range, I suppose the poor beggars can't get
away. Ive been waiting for letters, but afraid the
recent shifts will mean a long delay in any coming
to light. Papers have better chance, as in the Field
they generally get handed round if you are not there.
Its a good scheme I think,  someone gets the
benefit, if you don't. Ronnie hasn't written,
probably he forgets my address, I can't find
out where he as situated. Connie Keys must
be over here also but I can't find out her whereabouts
Wouldn't mind spending a few hours now reading
Australian news, it seems ages since I saw a paper.
Well Mothers letters must be short, hope all
are well. Suppose Les is still bunging in on
the station.
Love to all
Your affect son
Alex.
 

France
26^th Augt 1917.
Dear Mother,
My last letter informed you I
was at a French Mortar School. We finished
there returned to our previous camp in
Belgium. The night we got back, three
of us marched, with blueys up, to our old
camping ground only to find it deserted. We
slept that night in a barn & caught our
crowd up next morning. We are now on
the move again, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxx I struck young Archdall last night
he is camped nearby in a different division.
No sign of Bill Nott yet, he can't be too far
away. Im hoping to see him shortly. Struck
 

2
a goldmine tonight in the shape of 17 letters
Yours of 13^th Apl, Doug's, & Nell's of 1^st Apl
Roys of 13^th Apl, 27^th Apl & 26^th May
Elsie's of 17^th Apl, 25^th Apl & 21^st May
Lilys of 13^th, 19^th & 26^th Apl 19^th & 26^th May
Norman Bourke's of 9^th May (Readdressed by Roy)
Phyl Blackett's of 20^th May, Dod's of 27^th May
& one from a fellow over here.
No papers arrived but I fancy I explained
in one of my previous letters, papers are not
sent from camp to camp. They are generally
distributed at the first camp they arrive at.
I've read all the letters twice & was jolly
pleased to hear that you are all well.
Bert Millingen's luck was right in, some
of our fellows think a Blighty (a slight wound &
a trip to England) equal to a prize in Tatts.
 

3
Fancy little Graham knocking himself about
so, hope he is right again. Roy's friend
Grimes had stiff luck, one can hardly
realize it was accidental. Roy sent full
particulars, re my account, hope he is
not hesitating to bite into it for the kids
or opera tickets etc for you or the girls.
I omitted to number my letters but you
can fairly well tell if any are missing.
Don't worry over delays in receiving letters
as we move about a good deal & some letters
may go astray. I've struck several old
Queenslanders lately from Enoggera Camp
Fritz appears to have his hands full at
present, he ought to realize by now that
he is doomed. He raids England now &
again but hasn't the same cheek over
 

our lines. He doesn't poke his nose
far before you see the bombs bursting
from our guns, all round him. As we
are not allowed to give much news
Mother, one letter will answer the
lot from home. I'll have to write
Norman Bourke shortly. Love to
all & best wishes
Your affect soon
Alex.
 

France
4/ Sept 1917.

Dear Mother
Today I received Elsie's
letters of 30^th May & Post card of 29^th June
Lily's letters of 31^st May & 30^th June &
yours of 1^st July. Evidently all my letters
have reached you, I can't understand
the delay in those photographs, the
photographer was to post them direct
to you. Ill await you next letter before
dropping him a line re them. Mrs Mott's
parcel arrived last mail, a lovely Vest
Balaclava, mittens & 2 prs socks. It was
very kind of her, they will be just the
 

thing, I'd left my others in Blighty
with the intention of sending for
them when the Winter shows up.
She dropped a note saying she
had met you. I wrote Mrs Mott,
when next you see her ask how
Courtney Boyle is. He lives out Highgate
Hill but I've forgotten his address.

Bert Millingen apparently is not
so badly wounded, as they thought
good luck to him. Elsie & Lil speak
of the play "Daddy Longlegs," its a
funny thing, that is the last book
I read at Bulford. I should like
to see the play, one would think it
rather hard to stage. Eric had luck
in getting a permanent job ashore, I