Letters from Kenneth Jack Young to his family, 1916 - Part 2

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June 27^th 1916
Dear Mum.

Another line from here to say-
all is well, & I am having a good
time - as you may guess
The natives here are very

interesting, & of course so are the

different places
I am sending you a few
views hope you get them
It is very hot here today
but not too bad.
I wonder where I will land
next - we hear all sorts of things.

as to where we are going nobody
knows though.
With love to Dad May

Connie & Kay with much love to self
Kenneth.

At Sea
Dear Mum & Dad
I will now give you what little news

I have, well up to now we have had a
grand trip - & I am pleased to say I am quite
well - & also contented. We has a very
nice time at Colombo, it was very

warm there - but it was just beautiful. 
Quite different to any other place I had
ever seen, of course there are natives
everywhere - some only half (or less dress)

we marched from the town and down to to
the Barracks had a very nice time
Bananas 1/- per Hundred. They were a bit

on the small side though, we were

there 26 hours, anchored in the Harber

there are no wharfs there. I have some

good photos which I'll send on later

one is me in a rickshaw, I had a 
ride in one, the letter JC posted
from Colombo you will now have 
received at least I trust so

Today the heat is very severe,
you might guess where we are, we saw
parts of the Arabian Coast, isn't it
wonderful? to think I am away over
 

2.
so many thousand of miles away, but

the trip will do us good if everything
else goes alright.
I believe we will see xxxxx
later, we will not be in xxxxx long
at least that is what I have been told.

The sea is like a river so calm
not the least bit of a wave.

The perspiration is running off me as
I write this.
Last week one of our men died

& was buried at sea, a sad thing to

happen - anyhow he may be better off,

we do not know what we who are left

have to go through, there are a lot of
men down with the measles but

nothing very serious, as far as I know.
It was a month yesterday since
we left doesn't the time go?
Have been doing some washing
today not much of a job. This weather

Mr Lakes is doing alright, feels the 
heat I think, not a bad chap, I often see
him & have a talk
Had you been to Cowell just hope
 

(3)
you managed the trip, & had a good spell

How are my two sisters

May & Connie & Brothers Ray & Clair

has Clair left for the front yet.
& when is Ray going?

Will you write & let Grant

know I am alright etc, I can't be
bothered writing to them all just now.
You can give them all the news.
We get some war news each day I see
it has been very good news too - I think
the war will be over in a few months
we will be there to finish the job.

I am sick of War talk, any how I am
glad I was able to go, chance whether I
get to the front or not.
Is Holker in camp & who else has
gone in that I know? How is recruiting

gaining, good I hope I am thinking those
who enlist now will never see it,
sometimes I think I will be too late.

Alex Wall is doing a 1 he is enjoying

it fine - The officers have all been very
good - and see that we are alright
Remember what they used to say about
 

(4)
the bad time the men got on the boat

that is all rot, nobody has interfered
with us on this boat anyhow of course
some want to be waited on hand & foot
& are never satisfied as you know.
How is Capt Kayew I may see him
will give him all the SA news.
Our meals are good & plenty.
we are all fair eaters.
Sleep on deck every night too hot

So hot below
Two Maoris came aboard at Colombo,

left behind from one of the New Zealand
troopships. fine stamps of men - gave 
us the "War Cry" Dance the other night,

it was funny, have concerts & sports
through the week, it is alright.

Our trip is about to an end now,

at least the first part of it, we are going

a good long trip in the train in Egypt.

I am afraid I cannot say where to just now,

the reason why you will know.

Each man has been given a 
pocket New Testament. & nice little Bible

I am looking after the one you gave me
[*)(( Wonder if I will see (Old Joe Bowen) over this way
no doubt I'll see him later.
Will look out for him & Clarke Hylon & all
the other boys I know*]
 

(5)
consider it to be the most important

possession I have & would not like to lose it.

Have May and Connie started the 
short hand yet. hope they have it is
the best thing for them to do. They will
be able to get a good position if they
try hard & learn the thing properly, there

is bound to be a shortage of men after
the war.
How is poor old Kelly? hope he is well & doing

alright. I often think of him

If we go to England I may line  for money

Mum - so just send what you can- I will
not say how much. Just depends how I stand

Is Allen keeping quite well he did

not seem to good when I left - Remember
me to him. My little watch is working
well still & not having any trouble with it.
Seco Capt Ronald got to see you
after I left.
Well tea again] I will now
close - this letter has to be in soon to 
be censored
I hope you are all well. Remember
me to all Friends. With very best love
[* May Connie Ray Lea & self
I will write again after we land
Good Bye. (KJ Young
614 KJ Young}

Private} *]
 

At Sea.
Dear mum & Dad & May

We are still on the move, as you will see by the above.

but by the time you receive this we will no doubt 

have finished this great trip, I thought we would have
disembarked at the last Port -, but on we still go.
I don't think I can tell for where to, We stayed a few hours,

at Port Suez, then through that wonderful canal, it was
so nice the different views &, very interesting, it was
a moonlight night, we didn't miss much, left Port
Suez at about 4PM & soon got into the canal, natives
everywhere, we arrived at Port Said about 7am in the morning.
the boat had to travel very slowly - as all steamers do,
when going thro' the canal. Port Suez was not a
very inviting looking place - (as seen from the Harbor)
very dry looking, & the day was very hot, & seeing the

Desert in the distance - I thought it a warm shop right
enough - however Port Said was much nicer to look
at, although we were not ashore, the ship
coaled there, stayed there about 29 hours & then
on, it was a great change from any thing
else I had see, I would have loved to have

gone ashore but no such luck - however
I was thankful we did not stay in Egypt,
too hot & dusty there.

(2)
Our soldiers who have stayed there have not had a very
nice time by. all accounts.
It was very hot at times going thro' the Red 
Sea - that is where my last letter to you was

written - saw the coast of Arabia, & of Africa
12 apostles &c this is a trip I shall not forget.
in a hurry, & it seems as if we are to see some
more countries before we are finished.
I hope you are all quite well - also Con &
Ray, I often wonder how they are getting on.
Will look out for Ray and Clair later on.

Suppose we will all be in France about the 
same time. I am trying to learn Francais
Will Stevenson and myself (that is his photo u have)

he is a very decent chap.
All the boys are doing well, a few

cases of sickness still - but glad to say no
more deaths - hard luck that one dying.
that is bad enough.

I hope to see Sam Jenkins - will look

out for him - have his address - as you know
How did Mrs Jean Longstaff get on, did she
go under that operation.
Five weeks yesterday since we left it doesn't
seem that long to me in a way, the time soon
goes - calling into Different Ports &c.

I have taken several more good snaps, hope you

will be able to see them some of these Days.
The Days are not so hot again & nice cool cool

nights - just nice at sea now. it is so calm.
I saw a fine Hydroplane the other day aren't
they wonderful how they fly & then skip the waters
we will see plenty of them now I suppose.

Still sleep on deck every night so nice and fresh -

yesterday we saw a Bit of land, some part of
Africa I think. All the boys are looking forward to 
to get the Australian modil - hope I get some time
soon we have of course had no news of Australia
since we left. (Have sent Ian a couple of wee elephants)

got them on be Col) Alan Watt is having a good time, he is a nice little
chap - he may have a chance of seeing his people.

Has there been much rain this last few weeks 
hope things are looking alright (Ian will receive another letter
in a wk or so) Have not had any parade the last week - but believe
signallers start again next Monday (tomorrow).
Suppose there will be a church Parade
this morning, have been every Sunday.

Have you heard from Mrs Moar since I left,

Tell Mrs Taylor I will look out for Charlie, & give him
all the S.A. news. I no doubt will see a lot of Birkenhead
Boys, over here some-where.
How is Dad? - going strong I hope - how are his
and your eyes, better I hope. Well now, I will again close.
and remember I am well - (quite well) & taking care of 
myself
With very best love to you all - & kind regards to
friends x x x x x x x
with love Ken.
6 Pt KJ Young
Private