Correspondence from Keith McKeddie Doig to Lewis Maffra Grant, 1917, Part 11

5.4.176
Miss. Louie Grant
413 Park. Street
North Carlton
Melbourne
Australia
 

35 Little Heath
Charlton
London S.E.
Dear Louie,
This war is alright
at present  — for you see
my address. Got word
suddenly to go on leave and
I did not dispute the authority
for one minute. The day after
Good Friday I was in Bapaume.
Got from there to Albert. Thence
by slow train to Amiens where
I got trains to Boulogne reaching
there at 1.30. on Easter Sunday.
Found a bed in a hotel for the
night but altho' I was up fairly
early next morning I failed
miserably in getting a bath. They
don't know what a bath is in
France! That morning got a boat
 

2
and across the Channel to Folkestone
Thence train to London and
that same evening I was in
Woolwich in front of a wood fire
and very heartily welcomed by
my good aunts who of course
are doing their best to spoil
me — lovely bed, beautiful baths,
any amount to eat and
everything in the garden lovely.
Not a bad sort of war - when its'
like this. Have only got 10 days,
and then back to the battalion.
Went to London today and bought
clothes, sent cable to Mother and
knocked around generally. Came
home and they had some beautiful
smoked haddock - I did enjoy
it. The day after to-morrow I
go to Edinburgh for a couple of
days. To-morrow I wire Willie who
 

3
is in Perham Down still. George
ought to be over now and I'm
anxiously awaiting his arrival,
and hope he comes before the
leave finishes.
I'm just as well as I
can be. but this climate is
terrible. It has been snowing

here most of the day and its'
still bitterly cold weather. The
Bosche seems to be getting it
in the neck at Arras and I
do hope. they give him a terrible
welting. He needs it all, but
I'm afraid the end is not yet
in sight. The two Aunts - Jessie
& Isa - xx at Vicarage Park
have shut up their house for a
while & are staying with their
sister Mrs Cairns at Charlton, so
that's why I'm here & not at
 

4
Vicarage Park. They send
you their love. and they're always
asking about you. Aunt Jessie
is sitting beside me knitting
at present and she says . that
she  .apologises for not writing
you but she has been very
busy lately.
Aunt Tina (Mrs Cairns) has
been making short bread
and I've been in the Kitchen
telling her . how to knead
the stuff. It's alright to
see a real kitchen again
and also great to see & talk
to people who know a decent
language instead of the awful
chatterboxes the French are.
Now that's all the news
so far  . and I'm afraid
I've put it very crudely, but
 

5
believe me dear I'm just as
happy as can be at present
and full of good spirits.
And now my dear I do
hope you're well and happy
and not worrying at
all. I wish you were
now with me on leave.
What a great time we
would have, for in spite
of the cold and the snow
pleasant company makes
a world of difference. So
my dear if you can come
by wireless post straight now
come immediately.
Also dear I'm sending
the cables to Mother because
I'm sure she must be lonely
these days, and I know
she lets you know immediately
 

6
No more news. Cheeroh
for the present and keep
smiling. Lots of love
my dear girl, and sweet
sweet dreams from your
loving Keith
I wired Ken McLean yesterday
but he could not get away
from Salisbury.
 

10/4/17
Miss Louie Grant
413 Park Street
North Carlton
Melbourne
Australia
 

THE COCKBURN HOTEL,
EDINBURGH.
13^th April 1917
My dear Sweetheart,
Edinburgh is a
delightful place and I wish I
could put all my leave in up
in this delightful country. Went
all over Edinburgh Castle this
morning and St Giles Church and
Im just crammed full of
history. In St Giles Church where
St John Knox preached I saw
a tablet marking the spot
where Jennie Geddes threw a
stool at the head of the minister
for reading what she did not
believe and like. Stood on the
heart of Midlothian. Saw the
very beautiful and wonderful
Scott memorial : In fact I saw
too much in a little time for
 

my mind to recall it all.
But I do like the Scotch people
and I like Edinburgh. Even
this hotel is a quiet homely
and dignified place altho' it
is right in the heart of the
city.
Cheeroh dear. Have only got
five more days leave worse
luck. Hope to see Willie &
if George is over will see him.
So long for the present
lots of love from your
Keith
P.S. With all this running
about I don't get much time
for letter writing but I'll
write you longer one next time
Fit as fiddle.