Letters from Kenneth Jack Young to his family, 1917 - Part 1

(address letters as usual Ky.) FRANCE 18/1/17.

My Dear Mum & Dad

You will be wondering what ever has happened to me-

not writing to you all this time - perhaps the military informed

you I was sick - I hope they Did. Well I've had Bronchitis.

& have felt very much off colour - Have been laid

up 3 weeks & 3 days ^now, first of all I was in 11^TH Field Amb Hosp

then Aust Casualty Clearing Station, Then last Sunday I was sent

in the Hospital Train To - and am now in the 3^rd Canadian

Gen Hosp, feeling much better now - thank goodness. You can

imagine how this cold climate would shake me up, I thought

it would - however I'll be alright soon now - I have lost a lot

of condition - but we get well cared for, so will soon fit built

up again. This is just a note, it has been a worry to me, not

writing so this will do for a Day or Two, I am going to try & send

a cable as soon as possible to reach you long before these letters

43^rd Batt have been in trenches, I got sent to Hosp - just be 4 they went 
in. I am sorry to think I cannot be with them, still those things

cannot be helped. I don't know how they go on, there were some

heavy bombardments on that front, our chaps holding their own,

Will write again in few days, Good Bye With Best Love to all Ken xxxxxx

On Active Service-

10 JAN 17

PASSED CENSOR

2556

Mrs J. Young.

Princes Street

Alberton.

Port. Adelaide.

South Australia -

(33)

France

No 7 Convalescent Camp.

Boulogne.  FRANCE

29/1/17.

Dear Mum & Dad.

Last night I receive that long- long waited for

mail - was so pleased to get them - but there

must be some more some-where, I received 2

from you Mum, & Dad1, and two from May,

as well as from Edi, Elsie, Aunts H - N and Vera

Clive - cards from Olive TonKin, Mrs Taylor & Mrs Hana.

wasn't it good of them, all - To think of me.

Yours was dated about Nov 12th & 24th and see

what date it is now, also had a letter from Liz Clausen

Well, it was really wonderful to hear from

home once more - I was almost forgetting I

had - someone that did care for me, and so

many good friends - it took a long time to

2.

read all these letters, I was quite enjoying it

this morning. Now about that 2 or 3 £ you were

going to cable - I will write to Com W. Bank &

ask them if it is there. but I think perhaps

you did not send it. When you Received

my cable saying we were off to FRance.

However it would never go astray if you

Did send it, they always advise when money

is there for you, and so far nothing to Hand.

I have not received any further parcels, since

before I went to Hospital - but that registered

parcel - is in France some-where - that must

be the one I heard of at 43^rd HDQrs, so I'll get

that for sure & most likely the others will turn up.

I only received the one big parcel from home - so far.

So glad May and Annie were going to

Melbourne - I do hope they had a nice time.

poor Kids - it is nice for them to able to

3.

enjoy themselves While possible, Annie will be

just like a sister To May now. I always hope

they will get on well together. I am sure they

will now, I will be hearing all about their

trip soon I suppose. I would like to be in

Melbourne just now, any way. Have not

heard from Clair yet - but got an early Dated

letter from Razo De-Luze. It was nice

you seeing those Somme Battle pictures -

I guess it much nicer To see on the

screen - than to witness The whole affair

Our Battalion is not on that front,

but where they are will soon be as bad.

It is getting warmer. I cannot Tell you

Too fully anything like this - You Know!

we are Knocking the very devil into the

Huns now, the allies at last have the

upper hand - the end is not far Distant.

4

Surely I can Do something more before it Does

end - this cold weather has played up with

me - but Don't worry - I'll be in good health

for Australia - I have a touch of Rheumatism,

it pains my legs and shoulders

and the cold sticks to me, so I am not

fit for the trenches yet, (perhaps you will 

be half glad I am not) You must always

look on the 2 sides of things you Know,

so don't think I'm going to peg out - I'll stick

it, this winter has shaken everybody up.

ice to everywhere - fancy you having snow

in SA - it must have been a bit fresh like

but I guess nothing to compare With this:

Now; FANcy the asses letting those men out

of the camps - it is a sad thing I think,

fancy any man being such a coward.

their mates over here - will Turn on them

5

when They get back - their terrible experiences

will make them Do so - the Brute ought

To be put to Death - they are no good, &

look what a lovely land they are asKed to

protect - high wages - highest paid soldiers,

freedom such as no Englishman ever enjoyed.

Tommy has to do it for 1/- Day - and has

other things to contend with, my word I

hope They all lose their job when we return.

I've not much to blow about I know - but

I am Doing my best, and no man can do

more - well hang them - I must not fill up my

letter & waste my time - on those Dogs.

Hughes is a great man - & I wish him all That is good.

I had a very patriotic letter from poor old

Clive - he has a down on those shirkers

I doubt if ever he will see the front:

The coal strike was a disgrace - I do not know

6.

how it ended - or much about it at all - as I've

not seen an Aussie paper for weeks.

I got a P.C. from Helen Jenkins, also a letter

from Dorothy Sugars for Xmas - good of them.

No, Dad, I do not Know how Geo Lakie is - I've

heard nothing of our chaps since I left Them

6 weeks ago. I Know Lawson he is not a

very select Kind of joker Though. Glad you

always look out for my letters - I don't know how

you get on me not writing for 3 weeks - but

perhaps that will be only 1 mail or so.

Hope you will manage a trip to Vic Easter -try

and go. hope Dad got away Xmas Time.

Read with interest in your letter with Dad- all

about the hens &c, glad the chicks are A1.

So Charlie wrote to you. He has done his

Duty anyhow - & I think a lot of him for

it too - I had such a nice card from

7.

Mrs Taylor, I thought it was so Kind of her.

You will be receiving This the same

Time as the other one I wrote two or

3 Days ago, so you will be right for that

mail - make up for lost time.

Well now I have To write To May.

and also To Connie so will put anything

I have forgotten in That.

So will close This.

Very much Love to you both.

Yrs Ever. XXXXXX

Kenneth.

Glad Mr Kuely is well & going strong.

O.A.S.

1 FEB   17

PASSED FIELD CENSOR

1872

Mrs. J. Young.

Princes Street

Alberton

Adelaide

South Australia