Letters from Kenneth Jack Young to his family, 1916 - Part 4

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knows & a good fighter, rather, what I have seen are very

short but well built wee chaps, our Big light Horsemen

Artillery men to look just the thing, some of these

good old Queenslanders, look grand.

I have not written to many outsiders yet but will

so this week I cannot be writing to everyone - have enough

to do usually, & plenty to do later on.

Wonder how I'll like London & Glasgow - it 

will be a bit of change anyhow - we are all looking

forward to going as you may guess. I was thinking how

pleased poor Mrs Necken would have been - to know

Clair & Ray, were in England - as without doubt that is

where they will finish their training. I would love to know

where the boys are now. Believe there has been some very

sever fighting & the Australians were in it. Wonder how

Charlie Taylor & the others are doing, I never hear anything

of them - but expect them know to be in France now.

Very few troops in Egypt now, that was a terrible spot

just red hot - & that Desert - I saw it, going thro the

canal - quite enough to. I was telling you on the first 2^nd

Page about the old ruins, these places were built

1700 .B.C. & in some of the grave yards in the other

old church tombs date back to -1589 - The writing is just

visible. They still host services in these old places.

Last night (Sunday) passed one of those old churches & it must have 
been nearly filled with our Australian troops.

The town Salisbury is just 14 miles from this 

part of the camp - this is a fine town I hear

will go there some day soon I hope.

Yesterday morning (Sunday) we had Church Parade, that

was the first bringing together the whole Division

The Bishop of Salisbury spoke to the men, & then the

march pass - it look wonderful, men from all the

States - The Russians are still doing wonderful work,

aren't they? some more good news the night most encouraging

They bring a lot of German wounded men near

here - they get treated well (of course, as do the

Huns in French Places - whom I saw working along the

railway lines (under French Steel) The Francais soldiers

look A1 - really happy - quite gay, in spite of what most

of them have gone through, I believe I told you I saw

a big crowd of them on their way to Verdun.

They could not speak English too well.

Now, Mum, Dad & may I will again come to an end

Trusting - you are all doing alright & feeling strong & that

your eyes are better. I am of course most splendid - as -

Good Bye -for a few months longer

With very best Love & good wishes to you all

not forgetting Connie & Ray Clair

Yours sincerely

Kenneth xxxxxx

Back of envelope ~ see original

19 Aug 16 3.30PM

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Pt Said

Opened by Censor

O.AS

Mrs J. Young

Prince Street

Alberton

Sth Australia   - Adelaide

No 3 August 1916

Stationed at Salisbury Plain.

Glasgow is a fine city, very busy, Women Tram Drivers & Conductors (only a

few Drivers though) girl munition workers - galore - Thousands of men

employed in these great works. Sam has to work hard; anyhow it all

helps to end the rotten war, when in Glasgie I met a Young

chap - have not seen him for 8 years, he used to go to Le' Fevres School isn't wonderful how these chaps turn up, in such faraway places (in uniform). Visited many different places. The Clyde River trip, we called into 
Govan, Renfrew, Princes Pier Greenock, Gourock & then Dunoon. 
Many a time have I heard off Greenock, it looked a Beautiful place, 
we returned in the train, it was a change from the steamship. 
Went Botanic Gardens- And Gallry Museum &c &. all fine places. 
one after noon to where the Battle of Land-side was fought,

in 1568 I took a photo of the monument there. Lona Roberts

memorial too, it is a Beautiful structure just completed.

Was glad I saw auld McClClaren - That night he is a fine

auld chap, saw him the next Day from the steamer, he was

at the wheel of his boat going up the Clyde. Will be

pleased to get Mrs Ronald sisters address. perhaps by the time you

Turn over   -  -> Turn over (3)

In this camp (or these camps) there are moving

picture shows &c several of them - I have not been

yet though. The camp extends for miles.

I am sending you a few little things from Scotland

just a reminder of Bonnie Scotland. It was funny to

see so many women & children wearing Shawls, it

did strike me as funny, it was Summer too - but not

hot for me - The flats are funny too - although they are

quite alright - nice and comfortable. Mr McLaren

showed me thro' his house. Some of the Bairns

would ask us the time (just to hear us speak) They

the kids , appear to think we speak funny. they used 

to grin, we had several doing this, Sam said that

is what is was. They Didnot want to know the time

They have got just as much lip as the young Australian.

Every-thing in the food - line is very Dear, in Both

England and Scotland. Sugar, Bread, eggs &c awful

wages are much higher just now: fruit you can 

hardly get hold of, at anything like a price. I have not

bought any since I arrived. There are soldiers f m

C A's every where. Both London & Glasgow - everything

is much cheaper on the station in Both these 

towns are free Buffets for Soldiers & Sailors in

uniform, we made guid use of them too. Living is

just as cheap, or I should say cheaper. Meat, is very dear,

clothing in (Glasgow) as far as I could see was cheaper.

Was speaking to an Australian who was in Edinburgh

he said the people there were just splendid, could not

do enough for him & his mates. They gave them a grand

time. we changed trains at Edinburgh coming back to

London, it was night though, so couldn't see too far.

London is in Darkness at night - same Glasgow -every

Light out or the Glass Blackened, Suburbs too just the same

Alex Watt was pleased about going home - quite excited.

 

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receive this Mum, I will have had another trip to Glasgow.

perhaps not so soon though. but I believe we get 6 Days

leave before going to the front. wouldn't mind going to the

front this afternoon, we are all getting tired of camp

life & would like to be in this scrap that is going on now.

Australians are doing well. They always take ½ dozen more

trenches than they are ordered to, so would I. Red Tape is

no good to us. too much of it here. My pal & I left Glasgow

Thursday night at 8.15 PM - in London next morning, had

a look round, looked right enough little I saw of it, will

see London again before long. Went all thro' the

Tower of London, it was wonderful. I'll be getting used to

seeing won derful sights, have seen more than last two

months than all my life before. that I have.

You will all be grinning when you see my photo (in Kilt)

Yes I had my photo taken in Kilt in Glasgow, hope to have them

next week & You will get them next week too. Before I forget, I

would be pleased if you will send me a couple of SA papers Weekly.

would be pleased to get them, Mail & Chronicle I would love to have.

lots of our me get them thro' now.

Glad to know SA had such good rains it is lovely & would do

a lot of good. Was pleased to receive Vera's letter will write later.

No, we only stayed at Albany 26 hours or there abouts, Yes

all troops, or rather most troops from Egypt are now in

(Let me know how Charlie Taylor has been

getting on, There is now news of them here

only the officers usually

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France or England, & all those leaving Australia will sure to come to

England - Won't John Holker have a time, I am glad he is in camp

Better late than never & I wish him luck. Glad Clair is a 

Lance Corporal - good for him he'll soon get another, I will

get a few stripes later on, but not in the right place, eh?

Thanks for sending photo to Fonkins & the others.

Fancy them sending you another enlargement good oh, etc.

(Dinner time) - Now for some more news (after Dinner)

I will write to Aunts, & some of friends tomorrow, will try & get

a few written anyway. I will be on the look out for

Ray, & Clair. I am hoping to see them in a couple of weeks that

is if they left on the 16 of July hope they ate on their way.

I really do not think the war will last much longer 

now, what a crowd of soldiers everywhere now! Kilts &

the other style in Glasgow. plenty of Australians, Canadians

New Zealanders &c are in London. all sorts & sizes.

Well Mum Dad & May I will have to close again

for this time - you will get another line next week.

Hope poor old Connie is well. I hear Arthur Keely has been

wounded, Sam Jenkins was telling me. Did I tell you I

saw Allan Mac.Pherson the other week, looked fine.

Hoping you are all in the best of health,

I am quite well & having an alright time

Well Best Love & Wishes to you all xxxxxxxxxx

Ken Young

43^rd Battalion

Got to Glasgow & back for £2 from

here - half fare. Have not received

the money & cable for yet but it

takes a long time - I will let you know

directly I get it.

Thurs. August 10th -1916

Glasgow, Scotland

My Dear Mum Dad & May

You will be glad to know I got this far, & to know that

I am having a most beautiful time - I arrived here last

Monday, & leave for London again tonight (Thursday)

I saw auld Sam, have been out with him a good

lot, yesterday he & I went a beautiful trip down the

Clyde, it was wonderful, passed shipbuilding yards galore,

& saw many, an eye opener, got out of the Steam Boat

at Dunoon, & Then went along to Sam's young ladies 

home, such grand people - The mother a grand woman

(Glasgow of course) spoke verra Broad like, it seems so

like home after all these weeks living with the military.

The trip from London was done by night, saw Edinburg

the Castle, &c, we stopped at the Station for ever while

The Scotch a grand, mean, oh! yes. Who invented such

a yarn. Wish to Glory we could stay longer, I have a young

friend wi' me. At the Edinburgh Station, an old

Girl couldn't open the carriage Door to get out, she

turned to us - & said - I canna get oot. We roared after

she had gone (only grinned when she was there of course)

the way she said it. Kilts galore - wee lads, men

too, or rather soldiers wearing them Hundreds of them

Tartan galore too, it is a pleasure to see such things

won't I have some tales to tell of if I only am spared

to return to my native land, ach awa, I'll get

back alright, they canna kill me, wouldn't you just

love to see these lands, & Aunt Helen, rather.

Tuesday night I paid a visit to Jean MacLe

Longstaffs Home, however only Dad was home,

Mother & the others away on a holiday, he is a grand

auld man, had a good yarn too, then he walked down

the street with Sam & I, will give your more news

later time is very limited so must get oot & see more.

Will write you a good letter next. Have not seen much

of London yet only passed thro' will spend tomorrow

there, plenty more chance later to see London,

turn over