Letters from Kenneth Jack Young to his family, 1916 - Part 10

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trains. I did not arrived in camp till 3 AM this morning

so feel tired now. The fare from the station here

to Worthing was 12/- 1/2 fare of course. I had a good 

time and nice and cheap too.

Now I have to write to Dad & May I like to

write an answer each letter I receive altho' it is

all the same - & you get the news just the same

Good Bye Mum & I hope you are

keeping strong & well

Very best love to self & all friends

Yours sincerely

Kenneth

xxxx

(Via San Francisco)

Mrs Jack Young

Princes Street

Alberton

Adelaide

South Australia

Rear of envelop ~ see original                
(17)

England

Oct 30^th 1916

Reply to 614 K Young   Company 43^rd  Bat.11 Brig 2 Div              
Sept 14th 1916

Stationed at Salisbury Plain

England

Dear Mum & Dad & May,

I received your two welcome letters alright, I was pleased

to hear you heard from Mrs Roberston that had arrived

but I thought you would hear long before you go the

first letter from me. You would of course be pleased

to know I am in England & well away from hot old

sandy Egypt. (I will not throw my clothes off when

I get hot) by jove not in this country. My goodness

I felt in very chilly the day. The cold wind seems

to go right thro' me, shivered like a leaf, frosty like

mornings. These airmen must find it cold flying

in the early mornings. They are up first thing.

Yesterday one made some grand dives & twisted about

in a most wonderful manner, right over & its

side. Then almost nose down, up again in a second

they are great things. You have not seen much of

them, but my word we are getting quite used to them

& one must be nearly (up side-down) Before we take

much notice of them, yet a few months ago I paid

1/- or so to see me fly a few miles, looking across ^to the one

of the windows now I can see one flying toward

this building. I am going to take some photos of all

that will interest you. Y M C A's Camps & views

round here, I know you will be pleased to see them.

the real truth is I have been struck for cash, of

course, it takes a bit as you know.

Last Tuesday Sir John French inspected

our camp, he rode  past us, signallers, he looked

very nice sitting on his fine big horse with the

Staff & An Australian Light horse guard following. 

it is most interesting to see all these men.

I enjoy anything like that. The King will be

sure to inspect us before we move off to Germany.

Excellent news again in todays' papers

the war will not last now _ I would not be

surprised if ^it was over by Xmas - Englands men

4
poor kid, he has done well & no mistake.

We are to be given our new Boots very shortly

had the sizes taken today heavy black boots. They

are for hard work (& not for walking, London)

I know. We will be off be4 much longer.

How are we going to reinforce the 3 DIV if

men will not enlist, I am thinking conscription

will have to be before long.

Yesterday I sent another cable, Mum, I did

not know what to Do about the other one I sent

but hope the last one explained itself alright

I like to have a little on hand, you know I Do

not get much pay here & we get leave now

& then, I had to borrow for the last trip & it made

me short, have not been on my feet since - I

hope everything is being fixed up by Degrees, I

know what Debts I left but I think it will work

out alright & in good time for next Feb. I know

it will then I am glad to say you have the block

of land, if any thing does happen to me, you will

have that, & that will make up for £100 you

lent me, & at the same time, with care you

could get Queensland land going - but there is

always some body ready to steal - Clive may

watch things if it comes to that - but I am

quite confident that I will return safe - & sound

will not say right out Bonar Law says the end is

not quite yet in view - but you can tell by the

tone of things in general everything is just O.K.

Rumania has changed the situation - Greece I hope to

see in it within a few weeks or less. When the war

broke out, they say Germany had her chance - she could

have thrashed England - as we had nothing reading

but £ 5 D we did have and good men - so we win.

I have told you there are German prisoners just

near the camp, one of the chaps had a yarn with one

he said (the German) that Germany was Done, French

alright English poke once with Bayonet, but

Australian bad - he poke poke Bayonet all time, no

good, Yes I know for a fact the hate Australians, a

Salvation Army chap, had meetings here, he said the

same. I know our chaps have given them a bad time.

Did I tell you I had a letter from Charlie, I

believe I did though. he is doing a 1, & is going

to write to you, I have given your address to him

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but at the same time I like to mention these things

I would not like to pass out and never as much

as let you know - that I did try and study

you. You have had a job with me, land & one

thing and another, & even now I may never

get the chance of paying you back, as I would

have liked - but if all goes well, I will Do that

when wars and all, are over. Our chaps are

having plenty of hard training, anyway it will Do

them good, there are some roughs right enough

it is a hard job to get a Decent pal but I always

stick to the same two or three. I have been

wondering if there has been any Show in SA this

year. Wasn't it grand me getting down to see Mrs Sugars

She is a grand woman. I must get leave now and go &

see her again, so homely and nice, you will get a line

from her, she will give you some news too.

Now Mum & Dad I will close but will write

again next week & "ten chances to one" you will

get them both the same time but I want to

get them in to make sure of its going.

Please remember me to all friends I hope

they are all a 1. I have written to Aunt Lizzie.

[*for Cockie*]Well very best love to you all also Connie

xxxxxx Yours Truly

K Young

ON ACTIVE SERVICE                  

Mrs John Young

Prince Street

Alberton

Australia     Adelaide

Rear of envelop ~ see original                
ACTIVE SERVCE

Y.M.C.A. 
(18)

Salisbury

England

Oct 30th