Letters from Kenneth Jack Young to his family, 1916 - Part 9

Back of envelope ~ see original

 15

England

C Company 43^rd Btn                    

Salisbury England

Sept 11th 1916

Dear Dad

It was so pleased to receive your very welcome letter this

morning. I have been looking for a letter from you, so

at last it has turned up. As you will see by Mums

letter I have had another spin round the country &

of the good times I had during the short time I had off.

I smiled at your saying in your letter that we were

in Egypt, of course you will have known long ere

this, that we are well in the auld country, Egypt

would be no good to me. too red hot altogether

You will be pleased as me being in old England so

we are lucky. I will give your nice message to Geo Lake

I have not seen much of him since last I told you I

saw him. Yes I heard of the Great Rain SA has had.

hard luck so much damage has been done. Glad you

got my note from Colombo also the cards & the

old Handie, I put it in like that, just dropped it in 

the envelope, so it would not be the censors fault.

I hope Australia Day in the city turned out a 1. A German

prisoner was buried this morning funeral passed here

white ensign round coffin. The Hun hospital is near

here, poor chaps. I must feel a bit sorry for them. They

cannot help it. I suppose any how they are better away out of it.

That was a great thing catching that Zepp the other day,

wasn't it. Saturday a very fine aeroplane raced along with

our train. It was a beauty. of course I see doz of them,

Airmen galore too, for two pins I'd join the Royal Flying Corps

one Australian soldier a Cpl was transferred from the AIF

into the Flying school. One of the Aust soldiers in the train

last night said he had a fly in one, he got a bit scared, a

very funny sensation it seems I hope to go for a run thro'

the clouds some time. I also saw a great Balloon kind of thing

the other day, all sorts of wonders in this 'ere country, all

blinds are drawn in trains at night, Zeppo - Zepps. I am

sure by what I have heard the Zepps have done far more

damage than ever Australia has heard of. They say we have

also captured a great number of submarines (German Subs)

& saw that one they brought up the Thames. Bread is 1/9

loaf 2 lb. loaf sugar is dear, eggs 2 1/2d each, fruit is dear, everything 
is most expensive here in England. I am sure it is far -far

cheaper living in Australia. Fancy Dad, I met Young, Hunter 

who was with Aunt in Elsternwick, last Saturday while

waiting for the train. I saw the chap thought I knew his face,

he remembered me, we had a yarn, a decent young chap that

I will look him up some time soon. He is camped quite near

our camp. There is some talk of us being cut up into

reinforcements but goodness knows, however already

they have taken 150 men from 43^rd & other BTNs & put 

them into reinf. I do not want that. I am afraid there

is always a heavy "dead & wounded" list & know what our

chaps are. They will fight to the end. By English

papers there is some talk of conscription in Australia

& we Australians in Britain & France are to be

given a vote - for or against- you vote for it, I will.

by jove yes. Vote for it all of you" I detest shirkers

But I do hope volunteers will not be mixed with conscripts

we are a Thousand times better than the likes of them They

round me up every day in England & these men are 

marched off to the military under guard & the Band playing.

I heard Hon. Fisher ^Hughes has got hold of several steamers
for the Commonwealth Govt.: F Hughes is everything in the 

country, they want to get him back, Asquith is no

favorite so it seems, the people do not like him, reckon 

he is always drunk &c and some of our chaps saw where he 

lives -is a miserable old place. They say I have not seen Buckingham 
Palace yet, but will later. London would be a

terrible place to live I should think. The buildings are such

an old looking lot & funny colour. The smoke has darkened 
the stone. Well dad Good Bye. I hope you will write

again soon. ( the War is nearly over

I think: Love  Ken

 VIA SAN. FRANSISCO

Mr. Jno Young

Prince St

Alberton

Adelaide

South Australia

Back of envelope ~ see original
ACTIVE SERVICE Y.M.C.A

16

England

Oct. 23rd

1916

Sept 11th 1916
Stationed at Salisbury England
My Dear Mum
Your Very Welcome letter to hand this morning
& by jove it was grand getting it, I also received one
from Dad & May so I am quite Well satisfied the day.
I go the Australia Day Book Thanks, I like ot see all
these things. Well Mum in my last to you
I said I was going to see Mrs Sugars, Well I have
been so I will tell you all about the bonza time I
had, - I left camp at 11 a m & and caught 12.30 train for 
The Village of London, arrived There at 3 P M. Then I
made for The Victoria Station, (I first arrived at Waterloo
Station) waked over London Bridge, & down The Strand
then into White Hall Str, in White Hall St, I saw The 
Life Guards, mounted on their fine horses. I do not know what
what was inside this entrance - by the Living smoko, it was
wonderful how man & horse stood not a move, The 
cards on the horses looked splendid, a real old fashioned
uniform - & the metal work on the breast was shining
 

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Well really they looked like stuffed Dolls. I do wish you &
Dad could see some of these sights - I will do my best &
see if you can't have a trip - before many years. I may
do well when I return. I caought a bus & made for
Victoria Stn - I by mistake handed the conductor a
Francais 5 cent piece (like a penny) he however brought it
back, The man in front of me, turned around &
asked me if he could have it, - Do you know, he was a
son of Charlick Bros Grocers IN Adelaide, his father he 
said just died the other day - he is doing well in London I
think, such a nice man too, (he was wearing The Australian
Badge, rather).  Well I was soon in The train again &
after a great run thro the country I arrived at
Worthing at 6.30 PM. soon found the house - & by Jive
Mrs Sugars was pleased to see me, her Daughter was
home on holidays, she is in an office in London, I think
younger Than May, & Taller than me if anything, we had 
tea- (a good feed) had a good yarn, it was just a 1. I
 

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Sept - 1916
had a beautiful time, did not get up til 9 AM being a 
Sunday, had a grand room & comfortable Bed, - a great
change from the old camp. We went from a walk in
the morning, down to the Beach & and all over Town & in
the afternoon we went a long way, I was beautiful.
if I only got more leave I could have a time. Mrs Sugars
is quite well & looks a 1, I like her very very much. she
could not have been Kinder. I felt quite at home.
Her son Charlie is in France. Won the D. C. M what 

a great Honour, she is proud of him alright he is
going up for a commission, hope he get thro' he has
had some hair breath escapes- wonderful how some get
thro! & others Go under very quickly. I am going Down again
Some-Time - Mrs Sugars was asking after You all, & says
She is going to write to Aunt & You. she & Aunt were
great pals, I arrived in London again at 9 PM same 
night, & Then Down below in the underground railway, 
wonderful affair & no mistake - branches

 

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running in all Direction. There are revolving steps, ordinary
looked ramp steps, bur inside of being still 
they ^are moving. Downwards - I was surprised at seeing this
affair, got to the bottom pretty quick. Of course you
walk down as the Things move down. so of course
get There pretty quick. (pity They Didnot have That on the 
The port Station, Lifts galore. these are electric
railways - & run for miles & miles under the city.  Last night
I had the pleasure of seeing The great search Lights
in London 3 great lights thrown into the sky - was
as sight to see too. - all suburbs- as well as every city in 
Britian is Dark at night, saw Part Of Parliament
Houses. Passed Westmister Abbey &c, Trafalgar Square.
so I am seeing a wee bitty of London, The city itself
most be a Terrible size - oh; I saw Big Ben Yesterday
& fine "watch That". Waterloo station was packed 
with people Hundreds of our men there - Canadians
N Zealanders, Scots & Tommy all There, waiting on their