Letters from Kenneth Jack Young to his family, 1916 - Part 17

5
they were very good -  When we came thro’
with the Bread coffee &c. I am sending May
the Battalion colours- Blue & Gold – is not
right - Brown & light Blue is correct,
I promised Iris Lette our colours, so I
must send them to her soon, all kids
like to get any thing like that.
When in London, each time - I always
stuck good weather, wasn’t that good.
Next week I want to go to Winchester,
Mrs Sugars son is in hospital there.
I hope to get week end leave, it will be
a nice wee trip. I Do not think it is
very far from here, I would try & see
Capt Kayser if I only knew where he was,
however I will try & find out, & then may
manage to go to that hospital, I know
Mrs Kayser would like me to see him.
That hospital where Arthur Kelly was
is beautiful, such a great big building
it is at the same place where Mrs Robertsons
mother lives – Wandsworth - only
about 15 minutes walk. I walked from
the hospital to her home not knowing
where I was, yet I struck just about
 

6

the right spot. Yes, Mrs Tuttle is very
nice, I’ll go and see her again – when I
get (the slight wound) It is nice to know
these nice people, isn’t it, Fancy poor
old (Maldon) & forget his name - going back
to his home land, I hope to see Ireland
some day, be4 I return, It would be
nice if you could send me his address
one never knows (& that's been proved) I
have been to many a place, we thought
I’d never see, & I have. Have written to
Edi Irvine, & I will write to all Hands
for Xmas, we are almost sure to be
in the trenches for Xmas Day, how
nice, we will have to cook a nice fat
German for dinner I think.
Now I must Close Nothing to send
to write about you know.
Hope the Hens are laying & Cockie too,
how is that poor red chap.
Remember me to all Friends. (I know
Bessies Cousin, he is in the HDQ’rs here.
With very best love you and Connie
Yrs Ever
Kenneth.
 

Mrs Jack Young
"Palm House"
Princes Street
Alberton
Adelaide. - Australia
 

Rear of envelop ~ see original
(27)
England.
 

Nov 5TH 1916
Salisbury
England..
Dear Mum Daa & May,
Mail Day once more so must write a few lines,
we have not had any home mail yet. I Do
not know what has become of it this time
however it will him up shortly I know.
You would have received my cable I hope
I sent it last Friday, & it would go week end,
I know you like to know how I am, &c, &
letters take such a long time, so the cable
saying (all well) would be giving you the latest.
I am not too sure when we leave, nothing official
so cannot say, I am wanting to get away, &
I have it over, but I really doubt if they will
send us into the trenches for the winter, the
Australians are out just now I believe. Had a letter
from Clair two days ago from France he
appears to be Doing alright I hope he has
 

good luck, he had met several Benten Head Boys.
I will most likely see him o'er there.
I wonder if where he is, is Beautiful - I love
that country, but there is plenty of mud in the
Battle Fields I know & in the trenches. The
weather has been awful in England here, tho
last two or three weeks.  yes weeks not
days, mud & ponds, everywhere now, there has
been 2 or 3 cases of meningitis, and one of "C"
Coy's boys Died at the Hospital Yesterday, but
our BTN has been fortunate so far, have only
lost 2 or three men, & not a great Deal of sickness,
more just now, colds &c, the climate is
very bad, where is the sunshine; no I hardly
see any sun at all, it keeps well over
& also under the clouds. Just on Duty at 4 . 30 P.M.
but of course Salisbury Plain is about the coldest
& most miserable part of England, (so I'm told)
 

4
had something special, such as course on machine gun
Bomb throwing, runners, First Aid, & any amount of
Bayonet practice - very little shooting, that is just
about a thing of the past, of course that stands to
reason, Sigs have all had extra training & all are
pretty good now, but that is one thing that take
time, practice is the only thing, & not to learn it
only, it will not be such hard solid work as the
infantry, not Quite any how, yet there is more
to think of, & a far more responsible job of course.
How are you all feeling on St a 1 I hope. I
many a time think of what I now call "The
old times, we are like in an other world now.
in a way, It gives me a sick feeling When I
think of another Birthday next month, that
what I hate now, Andrew will be 21 today,
& fine soldier he will have to be now.
I am disgusted to see "The No" has just about got
the best of "Yes", it is a shocking thing. What
kind of people ever. are they, that voted against it,
they must be dashed well mad, the men themselves
surely they did not let them vote. What is
going to Happen to the Australian Army I don't
know, they will perhaps cut up the 3^rd Div, or
else cut up some of the others, what a pity.
What pride have those confounded loafers got I'd
rather be in my grave, & wouldn't you rather that
 

5
But for all this I am Quite contented & feel A 1, never
have felt better in my life, & they all say I
look a 1, so that's alright. & only hope I can stand
the strain &c in the firing line but I think things
will be alright, & know what to expect, so have
set my mind for something pretty solid, & just
make the best of it. Have had no word from Ray
so far, I have, written to A I F H Dqrs. &
asked them where his unit is, they will let me
know in a few days - so I shall hope to see him
be4 I leave England, I will be very disappointed if I
do not, I have not had any answer from Joe yet,
but perhaps he didn't get my letter. This is the
5th of Nov, Guy Fawkes is off. fire works & fire are
not allowed in England, this year, so the papers say.
I saw old Guys room in the "Tower of London".
My word I think the 43^rd Batt ought to be the
best trained Btn to leave. S.A they have all
 

6
than have me hanging back, they are brutes, they let
their mates do all the work for them, they sit Back
& eat & drink, & have a good time, Has Gunn got
a move on yet - about time he did & tell him I said
so, they do make me mad, goodness knows what they
are made of - I could not do it, & I am sure I had
a good enough reason if I did not go, it means
more lives will be lost, as you know, great numbers
are the thing, we will go under without Reinforcements,
& these men will let us - for all they care.
Now I must close there will be another mail
in about a weeks time, & I hope by then I will
have had the letter I have been waiting for
With Very best love, & good Wishes to you all
& trusting all are well. Remember me to all
my friends & give them my love. I will
be writing to a good few of them for Xmas
Yrs Ever.
Kenneth Young.
 

Mrs J. Young

Princes Street
Alberton
Adelaide
South Australia