Letters from Kenneth Jack Young to his family, 1916 - Part 11

                                  Sept 16^th 1916

Salisbury Plain England

Dear Mum & May,

     Your two welcome letters I received yesterday, letters from

you both have been coming in very regular of late, I

answered your other two, & this is in answer to the last.

Thanks Connie for sending The "Australia Day Book",

Connie addressed it to me, can tell the writing, so will

give her the thanks for sending it. You were asking

how I liked the old country, well I think by this Jan 

will - have a good idea as to how I like it and the 

rest of it. The weather has been very mild the last

few days, not so cold, believe it will be getting 

cold shortly, it will be bad in old France then

I often wonder how our chaps will get on there

We may not be fighting in the winter, & 

really I do not think we will, Australians

could not stand the cold, some of our boys

sent to reinforce other Battalions from the 43^rd

BTN are leaving for France next Saturday, & I

believe they are taking 150 more men from our

Btn next month, it seems a strange thing to

do. I suppose they will reinforce the 43rd

from men of 2/43. I will cable when I

know I am leaving for France - so do not think

of me being in France, till you get that cable.

I do not know when that will be, but may be it

will be some considerable time yet, signallers

must be well trained & not one of us are

quite ready yet. We have got on A1 since

arriving in England - any amount of Practice.

    Glad auld Cockie is so well - that's good O.

     There is nothing I am wanting just now

Mum, but would be glad to have some warm

things later, you will know about when to 

send anything, its gets very cold by Xmas.

We are going on a 5 days march to some place

I intend going to see Mrs

Robertsons' Mother when I have an hour or

two in the town ship (London)

 

will have to make our trenches &c, but the

sigs do not have to dig much, my word it will

be cold sleeping out at nights, I hope they do

not take too long to build the trenches, but they

will work hard. By jove a soldier does not get

5 hrs a day 24 hours some times eh.

     Had church parage this morning I went to

The Church Eng. service (open air) it wasn't bad.

I am hoping to find out about Clair & Ray. I 

cannot so far of course Ray will answer

my letter if he gets it, but I have not got Clair

address so of course cannot do much.

I saw where Capt Kayser was wounded, what 

part of England is he. the are so many military

hospitals, I am glad it is not serious, but I feel

sorry for poor Mrs Kayser, it is a worry.

If I am in Scotland again later which no doubt I

will be, I'll got to Perth, if I have time & then

                                  over

go and see Jean Young cousins, & Dads Grandmothers.

I know he would be pleased. Wasn't it a pity didn't 

have Mrs Ronald addresses sooner, I ought to

have got them be4 leaving Australia.

     I had such a grand letter from Ede Dorvic

the other day I have to answer it today.

       Tell Lilly Baker, I have not forgotten

what she said - "By jove, I'll come back then,

I was always scared of Lil, she is such a 

monster, you know.

       Most of the Btns are wearing their

colors, but not the 11^th Brig yet, we will wear them

soon I suppose Blue 0 Light Brown is the colour.

Will send May the badge colour, later on.

          I will now close as it is Dinner time &

I am hungry,

          Kind regards to all,

         With much love to dear Connie May & self

            Yours Sincerely

                Ken.

PS. I have received all letters & papers &c.

I'll soon sing out when I don't get them,

                       Ken

Back of envelope

 

     Active Service

        Y.M.C.A

 

          (19)

        England

          Oct 30^th

          1916.

Mrs John Young

 "Palm House"

Princes Street

Alberton

Adelaide

South A

Back of envelope

  (7)

England  Sept 18^th 1916

Salisbury Plain                       Sept 24^th 1916

England

 

My Dear Mum & Dad,

       Well here I start to write you another few lines,

we are still jogging along in the same auld style.

Last week from Monday till yesterday (Sat) we were away

from the old camp, we were in the Trenches for 2 1/2 days

& three nights, the whole 11^th Brig was out, that is four

Battalions, the 11th Brig consists of 2 Battalions from

Queensland, one from SA, one from WA. The Brigadier

seems a good chap. This trip was a great experience for

us all. The signallers have far better conditions than the

other chaps. The others had to dig & pick &c. My word we

did some work out there right enough. They worked in

exactly the same way as in the trenches in France. 

The dug outs & c were just the same. I do not think we

have much idea what they are like. The fire line

& c everything & the men had the war time duties as well

at night the hour was fixed for the attack. They would

jump over parapet & charge. Young Alex Watt was being

on the wet grass on duty as listener, of course

hundreds had the same job. I however fell into an easy job,

(influence again) I was quartered at the Battalion Headqrs

had a good time, slept away from the Trenches also, so I was

really not in the trenches at all, of course I had to take

messages to the OC "C" Company, also to Brigade Head qrs

which were a long way from the trenches.

       We were all delighted to get back to the old

comfortable camp yesterday, altho' I enjoyed it

all very much in one way, but my word

what about the trenches in France with

Bullet shells flying about, & big guns roaring

that will be very different to this first trench

experience I have had, altho' we did live under

active Service conditions and the rest of it.