Letters from Alexander Sutherland Mackay to his Family, 1918 - Part 5

 

18/4/18
Mrs D. Mackay,

Galloway's Hill

Norman Park

E. Brisbane
Queensland

Printed post card - see original document.
AS Mackay
18/4/18

France

19/4/18

Dear Roy,
Yesterday I got the following letters, the first
for some considerable time - Doug's of 27^th Janry, Elsie's of 2^nd ,
6^th , & 16^thFebry, Lil's of 15^th Febry & yours of 15^th Febry. What

a beautiful time you gave the Blacket girls, they are just
the girls who would enjoy it. No doubt they have grand dispositions

good natured always happy. I can imagine how you would

all miss them. They look a happy lot, notwithstanding the

crooked shanks, in the photo. Little Audrey look a character
& as chubby as ever. Doug also sent photos of Nell & the

youngsters. They are splendid I think, Nell looks exceptionally

well. What rotten weather they have been experiencing in
Australia lately. Mackay had a rough time according to
the papers. I don't know whether I told you that the papers,
now you have my new address, are coming to light. You

will hear about the brisk time here, Fritz has retaken a
good deal of country, but don't be downhearted, he is paying
for every yard. The Yanks are ready & Im tipping this
Spring will see daylight. Thank goodness the Winter is
over, we get a good deal of rain & any amount of mud
but thats not bad in comparison. Missed Ronnie last
time we were out of action but got a letter from him. He was
still engaged on farm work. I'm afraid he will come a cropper
 

over his proposed Paris trip. No leave going at present.
Glad to hear Roy, you drew that fiver, don't forget to
operate at anytime if Mother or the girls want anything.
I see old John May , our Member was killed, hard luck
for the poor old beggar.  Ryan & Hughes appear to love one 
another, they're adventuring Australians if nothing else. If Ryan
gets that Railway out to those Bowen Coalfields & makes those

shares go up, Ill smother up my opinion of him & his crowd.
Poor Bert Mulligan had hard luck in losing the sight of
one eye, although he is fortunate in missing future scrapping.
Get a couple of tickets in Tatts for me each month Roy, in

any name you like. You might strike something & I know I
won't feel like graft on my return.
Love to all.
Your affect brother
Alex

France
2/85/18

Dear Elsie,
Yesterday I received your letter of 22^nd Feb, Dod'd & Phyl's

of 3^rd& 5^th Mch & Vera Duncan's of 24^th Feb. The girls were all full
of the Coolangatta trip, they evidently enjoyed every moment of it.
Glad to hear those coins arrived for father, I'm enclosing a couple
of Fritz's, which he can add to his collection. I wrote fully re
my Paris trip Else, so I hope you got it, I only wish I could get

the same trip again now. We are out of action at present but as
you will see by the papers things are too unsettled for us to remain

quiet long. We had a fairly solid passage this time in, one night
in particular, we all wished we were aeroplanes. A Bulford mate
has just called over ro see me so I will leave this letter until later.

Could not complete this letter last night. Fritz was hovering about

trying to see places to drop his eggs. None fell too close here.
I saw about a dozen Queenslanders last night, neat nearly all came

over in the same boat with me. We had some good old yarns.
A fellow named Shackleton called a couple of days ago, it appears

he was on Manfred with Ron & also knows you. He is with some
mobile Battery, he asked to be remembered to you all. Haven't

struck Ron again yet. Claude Watson dropped a Field Card.
Can't strike old Bill Nott, he is also with a mobile Battery, I believe.
Hooper Nuggent is OK again, how are the fowls, just as well he

he is not camped near our crowd, he would be minus a few

 

Cows, Sheep or any live stock are soon settled here. I posted
Roy a long letter sometime ago, he may have difficulty in reading it
I hope he gets it. Well Else Ill write again shortly, I fancy

more of my letters are hanging round.
Love to all
Your affect brother
Alex
 

8/5/18

Dear Lil,

Since last writing to Elsie, I've received
your letters of 23^rd Feb, 2^nd & 8^th March & Elsie's
of 28^th Feb & 8^th Mch. Hope you had a good 

time at Monteville during Easter, but I suppose

you are certain to have done so. Claude
Watson landed over to see me yesterday, he is
as fat as ever & looks well. He said he would
call again but I'll miss him, as we are off into 
action tomorrow. I was asking him about Ronnie

but he only met him once & does not know
his whereabouts at present. There is a likelihood 
of us being kept moving for some weeks to come
Lil, so don't worry at home, if my letters are not
regular. Ill drop cards when possible, mails may
be disarranged, if my surmise is correct. Mrs Keys
is fortunate in regaining her hearing, the old

quack must have been a bit of a blob. Haven't

heard from Connie for a long while, Ron I think
corresponds but I've lost the address he gave me.
Have you heard from Bert Mulligon Millingen
 

lately, its a wonder they don't bring him to Aussie & 
Hope the [[ lydy?]] help is giving satisfaction to

Mother. I'd like to drop a few bombs in her native
country at present, they are helping Fritz for all

they are worth. From all accounts they won't

realize a war is going on & are living on the best beside

compelling a good number of troops to be held
at home in readiness .

Well Lil the mail is just going in to

Head Quarters.
Love to all at home
Your affect brother
Alex

 

France

19/5/18
Dear Mother,
I haven't received any letters of late,
but hear another mail is in. Elsie's socks

arrived this week, those with the Artillery colours.

Today I got another parcel - two pair of socks
toothbrush, tin of tobacco & candied chewing gum
through the 9^th Brigade Comfort Funds from

Miss Watson. I don't know whether its Ida

or Gwen. Thank the girls for me, I told you
about losing all my socks & handkerchiefs on
that march, but I have a good supply again

now. We are out for a spell, on the road down

I struck Ron, his column was moving in the 

opposite direction, so I only had time to jump down

run after him, shake hands & tell him where
we were going to. He could not pull hs wagon
up as it would have blocked the road. He

looked well, but like myself, carrying a grey

toppiece. Later on in the day the pillbox I was

on,  broke down, the Battery moved on & sent back
rations from their first stopping, for 2 of us, for

48 hours. We had two days country life living
under a tree, they could have left me there,
 

a week, as far as I was concerned. It was
beautiful weather & we did nothing but swim
& loaf about all day. However the wagon turned 
up for us on the third day & we eventually
reached this spot. This is undoubtedly the
prettiest country I've seen in France, magnificent 

long avenues of trees, all out in full bloom. We

are camped in a Chateau & all the horses & guns are
under trees in the ground. In addition to these
luxuries we are having really hot Summer days

We hear no guns & are close to a canal, so
everything in the garden, is perfect. I'd be 
quite content to remain here for the duration.

Gordon Mott called over to our Wagon Lines, but

I was up at the guns so missed him. I'm

beginning to think Ronnie, Gordon & I are
past masters it dodging each other. Well
Mother Ill write again ch in a few days time.
I have an Italian crown for Father, Ill forward
first opportunity.
Love to all
Your affect son
Alex.