Correspondence from Keith McKeddie Doig to Lewis Maffra Grant, 1917, Part 2

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you get it safely. I got your letter 22^nd Nov
a couple of days ^ago sent on from Woolwich
They are good people there and they get my

mail over here in no time. But of course
mail is always a bit late for everybody but
we do look forward to it when it does come.
Capt Hughes came & had lunch with me to-day.
We relieve his battalion which is going in ahead of
us. He is keeping very well and is camped
in the spot where I got those souvenirs
Well dear I think I've just about bored you
enough have I not and I think I've given you
most of the news. Keep smiling and never fail
to write to your ever loving.

Keith

O.A.S.
Miss L. Grant
C/o. Vict. Fertilisers Assocn
59 William Street
Melbourne.

Australia
K.McK Doig 

France
19.1.16
My dear Sweetheart,

I got such a lovely
long letter from you today that I
must write & thank you for it. It was
dated 29^th Nov and you told me all about
the coal strike and the harbour party
and xxx wrote many other little things
which only you and I [[?]] of. And
for those many Thanks. And the photo
of Bob Turner in camp was very nice
but my dear the absolutely worst camp
in Australia would be paradise
to this place. But cheeroh it's all in
the game and we have no end of
good fun even here where silly old
Fritz sends his ironmongery fairly
often. Tonight I moved again. Now I'm
in a little hut with the Intelligence
Officer and the Adjutant. Where I'll
be tomorrow I do not know but
we live for the present & do not
bother about the morrow.
Just had an argument with Capt
Hughes. You see when we moved

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into this camp I told the Advance Officer
to find out if there were any baths for
our men & if so to book them. This
we did & have them for to-morrow. Now
Capt Hughes who knew about them at
the same time as I did wants them
for to-morrow as he is going up the
line sxx before us. But I talked to
him like a father for not getting in
immediately as we did; for baths are
always booked up for days ahead
However we xxxxx managed to
effect a compromise & he's quite happy
and a good turn to a battalion will
get a good turn from them later.
Anyway our men will be clean before
they get up the line & so will his
Cheeroh dear & keep smiling
& writing
I'm well & happy
Much love from your
fuzzy headed
Keith 

OAS 
19.1.17
Miss Louie Grant
C/o Vict Fertilizers Assocn
59 William Street
Melbourne
Australia

KMck Doig 

France
31.1.17.
My Dear Sweetheart,
Cold is no name
for it here. The thermometer has
been registering 15° degrees
or more below Freezing Point
for the last week or more. Shell
holes of water are frozen right
to the bottom. Ink is frozen.
The mud is frozen and of
course we are frozen. Up
in the line with only one blanket
Gee it was cold. But we are
out now for a few days and
I'm as fit as a fiddle. - not
even the sign of a cold.
I had letters from you dated 27 Nov
& 3rd Dec, but Capt Hughes said
yesterday he had them 12^th Dec, so
he started to swank it over me.
Thank you dear for the photos of 

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of the embarkation and the
British fleet at sea in a storm
They were just alright and
no doubt the Society will be
conferring further honours on
you. Not seen Ross for some
time but may possibly go
back somewhere near him in
a week or so.
The battalion all got their Xmas
parcels yesterday through the
Australian Comforts Fund. Bit
late in coming but the boys
found them most welcome especially
as they had just come out of
the trenches. Great organization
that Comforts Fund and they
do an awful lot of good work
here - more I think than the
Y.M.C.A. I say. Louie you 

3
promised to send me over a
photo of yourself and I've not
received ^it yet. Don't tell me it was
on the Arabia, for if it xxx was
you must send me another
Incidentally also I've not
received the parcel you sent
me. In fact I've received no
parcels from Australia
whatsoever but I must not
growl for my Woolwich aunts
are very good to me and
send me good things occasionally
Well my dear I'm stuck for
news and I've to be up at 7
in the morning to do sick
parade so I must to bed
Thank you for your dear
letters and do keep on sending
them. Won't it be alright when
we can speak to each other 

 4
and not have to write. Lots & lots
of love to you dear, a big hug
for Mick, (of course not forgetting
the dear child's younger auntie)
and all kind regards to
Floss & Mr & Mrs Dreuerman
& Allan
Cherroh & Keep Smiling
I'm right as a bank.
good-night my dear, & sweet
dreams & good wishes from
your own loving
Keith
PS That Card
"There's a friend you've sorely
neglected"
is not in the least applicable
to me dexx but I thank you
for it dear all the same
Cherroh 

O.A S  31.1.17
Miss Louie Grant
c/o Vict Fert. Assocⁿ
59 William Street
Melbourne
Australia
[* KMck Doig*]