Letters from Kenneth Jack Young to his family, 1916 - Part 15

Wet & Cold.
Now this is rather - a short letter but you
must excuse brevity of this, I am tired, I did
not get to bed until after 12 last night (from London)
My Word there was some (Doing) with us in London
I can tell you, taxi cab here & there, "Hyde Park
Please" off we go, Bobby's shutting the door etc.
We would get quite aristocrats, if we stayed there
long. of course I like anything like that, & it did
not cost much. I didn't walk far, was driven
everywhere thanks to the £5 you sent me Mum
I went to the Commonwealth Bank & got it, thank
you so much for sending it gave me a grand
time, & I have still £4 & so to keep now - it is
nice to have on hand for When I get Back, perhaps
wounded.
Never Good Bye
& Hoping all are well.
I will write soon
much Love from
Yours Sincerely
Kenneth.
 

Mrs J Young
Princes Street
Alberton
Port Adelaide
South Australia 

rear of envelop ~ see original
(24)
England.
 

Oct 22nd 1916
Sunday
Salisbury Plain
England.
Dear Mum Dad & May.
I have received all your Very Welcome letters..
also all papers, it is a grand idea numbering the
letters - but l am glad I have had no lost ones.
continue to number them Ma, it will be nice - to see how
I get them when at the Front. I have not heard any
thing more Definite regarding us leaving for France,
but they are yelling everything unpicked & packed
Kit inspection yesterday, also an inspected of the
11^TH Brigade. I am getting everything Ready, several
wee things I am going to buy that may be useful.
Today, also yesterday has been terrible cold, I can't get
a grib of this pen - it makes it hard work writing.
I am making good use of the Gloves & others things
now - goodness we will feel it later on in the
winter - This is only The starting point. Did I tell you
I went to the Hospital where Arthur Keley was, when
in London, but however, he had only left there one
 

to Glasgow again. I saw him off from Euston Stn London.
Several trains leave London for Glasgow each day.
it is a most enjoyable train trip, not tiring.
Glasgow they say is looking a 1 still - Plenty of life.
Yes Mum, I was greatly pleased With Westminster
St Pauls &c. The building - Westminster - is grand, -
-grand, has a meaning which be4 I saw such wonderful
things & places, had not the same meaning as it has to
me now -, The carvings &c, are magnificent, but I think
I will wait till the War is over, & I am Back in S.A. & then
tell you all about these glorious spots. I am sending
you a few Post-cards hope you like them. The old
"Elephants", I bought in Ceylon, will arrive in a few
days I put them away, I have always intended sending
them - but better late than never. they will do for an
Xmas Box, - I must finish this after Dinner -
(continued on other  paper).
 

Oct 22^rd 1916
2
hour B4 I got there, now what do you think of that, I have
not heard from him yet. he was feeling a 1. I believe.
Everything is going a 1 with us all, plenty of hard solid
training, I think we can lick the Huns the noo, if
given a fair go, I do hope we Do some good work. Won’t
it be grand if we Do, There has been great talk in France
as to where the 3^rd Div is. poor chaps over there are not,
it appears, Thinking too much of us, taking such a
long time to come, You know, how they must feel
towards those Australian Shirkers still sitting back.
He had our vote last Tuesday, it was my first vote, I of
course voted "Yes”. but most in camp I think voted
No. ignorant fools, never mind we don’t want
conscripts - along with us. They are not much good
Who would be a Conscript —. It is those poor
chaps fighting at the Front, hard, who Dislike them.
oud understand, the feeling is pretty Strong, I was
told this by a wounded Australian in London.
 

[*The Canadian

BADGE
is LIKE
↓
THIS*]

[printed graphic ~ see original]

3
this poor chap had nearly lost his voice, he can hardly speak
now - & he might lose it altogether. I did feel sorry for
him - he said - Australians would be two manly
to be forced to enlist they, would surely enlist
be 4 at their own free will: poor chap, he is going
back to Australia This month. - a decent chap This
Suppose Lawford will be in camp next month. he turns 21 the 5th Nov.
wont he be in a state. I received Lil's nice letter
alright, it was good of her to write - Tell her I will answer
it in a few days. I have received a parcel from
Aunt Liz, also letters from Mollie, & a very kind
letter from Mr Shanks, I was so pleased with it,
I am going to write to him This afternoon, it was good of him
it was one of the nicest letters I have ever received
I have of late had letter from Aunt H. Mary. & Kit.
perhaps I have told you though. Some of the 43^rd are
going on leave tomorrow. D Coy & some others Alex Watt,
is going to Scotland again, Stevenson (whose photo u have) went

 

5
May was saying she had bought a 43^rd Btn. colour Badge, Well
Lizzie the Blue & Gold Business is not correct, - our
colours are Brown over Light Blue - this shape -
[sketch-see original] we will be wearing them shortly now, They are on
sale in London now but I did not see them - I hope
to be able to buy you a pair, & send them to you.
Clair wears his, wonder if Clair is in France now.
I think he must be, Ray, I have written to twice
but no word, you know he might be Well in
camp on the Penham Down 12 miles from here.
& perhaps Doesn't trouble to write, he is such a Kned
like that – l am going to try & get time to drop
Clair a few lines tonight. Well our Signalling exam
matter came off Thursday I was very successful
altho' less than half passed in every thing, I failed in
one subject - & that was map reading & did a 1 in this
but did not give the correct answer to one Question so
 

6
that Knocked it in the Head, it was a solid test.
one mistake - that's enough. Did a 1 in all the
reading & sending also, just this one mistake, most of
of the Sigs, got, Knocked out on the parts of the
Telephone, but I passed in that & that was hardest, & the
one I hacked up was simple - but I did not have much
instruction on this particular Thing. however less than
half got thro', & most of those have been in the
Sigs a long long time & are in Hdqrs, so I did
a 1 & am quite satisfied, so you can see what
kind of test it was, just to see what we could do.
can still wear the Crossed flags now. I have bought
a pair of shining ones - cut the old one off long ago.
There are a great bunch of home Service Tommy
Soldiers around here goodness knows what they do
with them all. They have me old card working
about - called up from the West Indies, by jove he
 

leaves with the cold Yesterday Morning, England no good
time, says he. Canadians Australians & Z Nealanders
all are wanting to Get Back to the own lands. I
have not spoken to one, who would rather have
England than them own land, Canadians call us
Anzacs, that name has taken up, & appears to
come quite natural to those speaking about Australians
I heard one, call me, "an Anzac", when in London
Australia seems to me to stand, as a separate "Nation"
almost, altho' perhaps we all ought to feel as one.
& more so as we are all mixed up here in England.
but some-how, Australians, seem different to the others
& then it has its own ways, & soldiers have Different
uniforms & the big hats we wear, yes in a way we
are almost like foreigners. the English people in London
have been very good to us. & provide free Buffetts
on the Stations for Soldiers. They have these free Buffets
in Scotland also, Coffee, tea; Bread & Butter &c so
nice - & real cheap. eH.
Now Mum Dad & May I will again Close.
I am getting flat of news & have more to work to
Now I hope you will never worry too much
about me - I'll be alright, & when this War - is
over. (goodness Knows when that Will Be though)
I'll tell you of all I have seen (and Done)
With very Best Love to you all. xxxxx
& Connie. Yrs Ever Kenneth.