Correspondence from Keith McKeddie Doig to Lewis Maffra Grant, 1917, Part 24

30 10 17 &
Recd. 3/1/18
Miss L M Grant
413 Park Street
North Carlton
Melbourne
Australia
 

15^th Nov. 1917
3 Vicarage Park.
Woolwich.
My dear Louie,
I do wish you were here now my dear
love for it I'm so happy and contented. It's hard
to realise just how much one appreciates home
comforts until one has been without them for some
time And these two "aunts" of mine are most
wondrously kind to me. I've a lovely big soft
bed in a lovely room and I get up just when
I please. I have a hot bath daily and food
restrictions are unknown to me, while the cold
weather is just what is needed to enjoy the
lovely coal fires. So that at present I
have everything I want but - you. I wish it
were all over and I were away back with
you dear but alas it looks as if. years.
of war are yet to come.
I got over here five days ago and wired
George who got 4 days leave to visit his
brother on showing the telegram to his adjutant
And we were both happy in seeing one another
again. One day we were around at Aunt Tina's
and next night at the Cartwrights to see Aunt
Liza. And while there Don's sweetheart came
 

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and sang to us. They are very nice people
and George & I enjoyed ourselves immensely there.
Next day we went into London together and
after lunching in the Strand went and had
our photographs taken to send home. I
managed to screw up courage alright. Yesterday
evening I saw George off back to camp and we
were sorry to part. You know dear, George
is such a boy yet and France will come
to him as a big shock and I feel as if I
should be there to look after him. Still he must
go on like the rest I suppose. And he is such
a big boy now - so broad and strong. I think
Im frightened to tease him now.
To-day I went to Wandsworth Hospital to see my
friends whom I saw last on the 25^th - 26^th Sept
when we were fighting in Glencourse & Polygon Woods
Im very glad to say that they are all getting
on well altho' two of them have to stay about
6 mos longer in bed. I did not see several of
our other officers for their wounds were in the arm
& they were walking about and had gone to London
The ones I saw were so glad to get all the
latest news of the battalion
Aunt Jess & Aunt Isa say emphatically that I'm
not to forget to give you their love and as its just
 

3
the thing I would forget I'm putting ^it down
now. They are sitting around the fire reading the
papers and isn't the war news critical. Lloyd
George's Paris speech has caused an immense stir
here and no small amount of controversy and
debating as to what is going to happen.
About those B.M.Js Louie Don't you & Mother
go worrying about them at all. No I dont think
I'll be reading them all thro' but you see dear they
are ^so very frequently referred to in all medical
theatres for their original articles that they
are always very valuable. But still dear don't
you worry your head about them.
The old Kaiser's speech which I sent you was
quite genuine and as you say is quite typical
of his bombastic style.
I met here the other night a Lieut Keays (living in
Footscray) and he is returning to Australia with
a piece of shell in his being. I gave him a
letter to mother & he is also taking some photos
to mother addressed to you. On account of their
nature I would not advertise the photos.
Willie is at Hitchin about 20 miles from
here & I think I'll run up & see him to-morrow
if I can. He has not yet left for France
and when he does get there I believe he is
 

4
going to be well back. so tell mother not to
worry about his safety.
There have been no more bomb raids recently
in this part and I'm glad for when
one gets leave it is nice to hear nothing
that will remind one of Flanders. And
more than that of course it is terribly
hard on the poor civilians, who
Now dear that is just all that I ^can think
of at. present. So will close. Give my
very good wishes to Floss and Micksey and
remember me to the Drevs.
Cheeroh. dear. I'm as fit as a fiddle. and
I send you all my love and good wishes.
Keith.