Letters from Alexander Sutherland Mackay to his Family, 1916 - 1917 - Part 9

suppose he is well satisfied now,    
Les is getting well under way with
his poultry farm, he is lucky in
having Father to assist him. A couple
of his fattest hens will supper me
for Christmas.  xxxxxxx xxxxx
xxxxx xxxxxx xxx xxxxxx xxxxx xxxxx
xxxxx xxxxxx xxxx xxxxx  We are all
billeted at various farmhouses. Thank      
goodness, the incessant drizzle has
stopped, the last three days being almost
perfect. The Frenchies are hard at
it collecting their wheat, they work until
about 9 at night. Old men women & children
do all the farm work, men of military age
are all at the front. At this camp, you
would hardly realize a war was on, we 

get no papers & its only occasionally at
night, you hear any guns booming.
Received a letter this week from a Miss
Peterson, an old Richmond nurse, she
went to Egypt then India & now at
a Hospital in Middlesex. Glad to
hear Connie has been appointed
Matron of that nurses' hospital, she
deserves a spell if any one does.
Well Mother I must close
Love to all at home
Your affect son
Alex 

A.F.A. 2042.
114/Gen.No./5248.
FIELD SERVICE
POST CARD.
27/9/17 

R.S. Mackay Esq.
Home Secretary's Office
Brisbane
Australia  Queensland

I am quite well.

I have been admitted into hospital
{sick}  and am going on well
{wounded}  and hope to be discharged soon.
I am being sent down to the base.
I have received your  {letter dated
{  telegram "
{parcel  "
Letter follows at first opportunity.
I have received no letter from you
{lately.
{for a long time.
Signature]
only]
Date  A S. Mackay  27/9/17

Belgium
29/9/17
Dear Roy,
I posted you a card the
other day. My last letter told you that
we were all out for a spell. That relief only
lasted six days when I was transferred to the
30^th Battery one afternoon & went straight into
action the following day. You will see by
the papers of this date about the severe fighting,
we had two pushes one on top of the other
& pulled out temporarily last night. Can't
give you my experiences but you will see
the Allies were successful all along. Today
had a bath & a good sleep, luxuries we
have ^not experienced of late. Feeling tiptop 

& doing OK. Address my letters now
No 30137, 30^th Battery, 8^th Brigade AFA.
as the old address only means a delay.
A fellow just brought in the following
letters for me - Lily's of ^16^th & 21^st June, Dods
of 16^th June, yours of 20^th June, Ernie
Pillars of 28^th June & Elsies of 13^th June
19^th June & 13^th July. Elsie's last
mentions the arrival of the photos, glad
you like them, I began to think they had
gone down. Thing was no other enlargement.
Glad to hear you are all well, you
have no idea how one appreciates home
letters here. I wrote Ronnie before going
in, but so for have had no answer.
Show Ernie Pillar this letter, we have not
much spare time at present, so my letters 

may probably go in fits & starts. Ill
drop cards whenever I can. Hope Les
gets a good go on with the fowls, he
seems fairly well set up now. Before
I forget, I sent Norman Bourke some
photos to distribute, I told him to write
to you if there were any others other old
friends. I'd forgotten. If he hasn't written
& there are any of Mother's left, she can
do as she likes with them. Rather dreading
the Winter here but one consolation little
scrapping goes on during that period.  Hope
to hear you got those photo scenes I sent
from Bulford  Some others were to go later
on. They are better souvenirs of this war
than any collection of buttons or badges
I think. Turnbull who took my photo 

on the last page & gave me several of
the scenes, has since gone under, poor
beggar. Congratulations to Audrey on
being raised to a higher class. I often
see things here to send to Audrey &
Lorna but its so awkward getting them
away owing to the Censorship. I'll wait
until this longed for peace arrives & then
see if I can't collect a few odds & ends.
Started this letter last night but Fritzy
arrived in the sky so it was a case of
lights out. Going up again any day from
latest accounts.
Love & best wishes to all
Your affect brother
Alex. 

A.F.A. 2042.
114/Gen.No./5248. 

FIELD SERVICE
POST CARD.
3/10/17
Mrs D. Mackay.
Galloways Hill
Norman Park
E. Brisbane
Australia  Queensland 

I am quite well.
I have been admitted into hospital
{sick }  and am going on well.
{wounded }  and hope to be discharged soon.
I am being sent down to the base.
I have received your  {letter dated
{telegram  "
{parcel  "
Letter follows at first opportunity.
I have received no letter from you
{lately
{for a long time.
Signature}
only}    A.S. Mackay. 
Date    3^rd Oct 1917