Correspondence from Keith McKeddie Doig to Lewis Maffra Grant, 1917, Part 20

OAS  19.6.17

Recd 9/8/17

Miss Louie Grant

413 Park Street 

North Carlton

Melbourne 

Australia 
[*KMcK Doig*]

France.

14^th July. 

1917

My dear Louie,

I'm sending you 

a parcel which I hope will reach

you on your birthday and it goes

with my very best wishes and love.

It's intrinsic value is small. It

most probably will not appeal to you

for its beauty, but as a little

souvenir of this war it is one of the

genuine. It consists of two shell-cases

cut down - they are German "whizz-bang"

cases, which I got when we were in

the line in the month of May. The

bullets at the bottom are German. The

coins & buttons are German, collected

off Huns who will never see any more

fighting. The solder used was obtained

by melting down "bully- beef " tins. And

the whole concern was made while

we were under more or less shell-fi

2

and was done by one of my A M.C

boys. Ive been looking thro'

advertisements etc to see if I could

see something you would appreciate

but without result. In Amiens &

Abbeville I studied the shops carefully

but. also I was not satisfied for

most things seemed shoddy. So

dear please accept this with my very

best wishes & love.

We had Divisional sports the

other day and the King was there

Beautiful day & the sports were 

very well organised. Ross was there

and I saw numerous other fellows

I know.

Every thing is right here. All well, & all

fit. But dear we are soon going

into a push of pushes, so one does

not know but there will be a few

faces missing après. Cheeroh dear

Lots of love & all good wishes

Keith

KEEP

14-7-17

[*cKDoig*]

O A S 

29/12/1

Miss Louie Grant

413 Park Street

North Carlton

M

[*ows*]

France.

14.9.17

My dear Louie,

I was very glad

indeed to get your letter of early

July to-day & to know that you

were all well, altho' mumps

had caused a temporary scare

amongst you. We had quite a 

number of mumps in the battalion

last year but je ne suis jamais

malade so of course I failed

to get them. Also to-day got

the snaps of the "tank" and
the socks with the college colours

for which numbers & numbers of

thanks. The air is getting

that crisp feeling in it that

betokens the onset of winter,

and in a few days we will

2
how one does get to laugh

and joke about things of that

nature, but it comes to you

sooner or later and perhaps it is

just as well for your peace

of mind.

Saw Ross this afternoon and

he was looking very well after

his trip to Scotland. I'm very

grateful to him, for he got me

a nice little pony, instead of the

heavy old horse I had before

We are still in a

village billetted, but with early

prospects of a move the boys

are getting around and

having a good time in estaminets

while the time lasts. We purpose

having quite a good supper 

2

have finished our spell out of

the line and be well in the

fighting. And it is to be

a big "stunt" I think and

there will be many who will

not worry about the war again.

I hope we do well - we've

trained hard, for it, worked hard,

and the men are very fit. But

dear, I grieve to think just

who will be missing from

our ranks in a little while.

Still that now, is just a

passing thought, for here, one

learns to put thoughts like
that out of the mind and in or, on the

next, they are other hand you find yourself laughing &

joking about it. It's strange

before going, because goodness kn

when & where we will get one

next.

George writes & says he may

be over at the end of this month. Poor

Kid - He little knows France in

winter.

Cheeroh dear and keep smiling

I'm as right as a bank

and I don't think old Fritz

is going to get me

lots & lots of love to you dear

good wishes to Floss Micks. & Drevs.

Perhaps the war will be over

soon & then it will be joy

Harry is as well as can be.

but he has not got his parcel yet

Still that will be here in a day or

so. I think along with mine.

Sweet dreams dear; from your

loving Keith
[*Australian
War Memorial PR00317*]