Letters from Kenneth Jack Young to his family, 1917 - Part 2
(37)
France.
No 3 Canadian Gen Hosp
Boulonge,
France.
10/1/17
Dear Mum & Dad,
Perhaps you will receive the letter the same time as
the note I wrote you the other day, it will
explain my reason for not writing. Will try and
give you a little news - but have very little to
write about just now. You will see by the
above that I am near Boulonge, I think this
Hospital is just a little out of the town. I came in
the British Hosp Train from The Australian
Casualty station, this Casualty Stn, is about 3
miles from the line, everything appears to go on
alright though. The Hospital train is beautifully
fitted up, Doctors & Nurses, Red Cross men galore
2.
and every possible attention is given to the patients
some poor chaps were in great pain, lots of
Australians, this trip took about 9 Hours, of
course there were lots of stops, picking up &c.
Arrived at Boulonge 2 am on Sunday morning.
Have written to my Corporal (SIG), asking him
to forward my mail on to here, I have not
got that Registered letter yet, I knew a Day
Be4 I left for the Hosp it was at Headqrs,
& there are sure to be a lot more - &
perhaps that parcel you sent - I hope it
hasn't gone astray. All my clothes were
taken from me up the line, hat & Boots, have
.3-
not got a thing, except my own private Kit.
This is a cold cold country, I'll be
very glad to get back to the Sunny Land
again - & I'll take some shifting too.
Yet it is grand in the Summer - had more
snow the last two days, very damp too
it will sure to ruin many a man's Health.
& more so Australian who are not used to
the cold. Tell Aunt Helen & the others I'll
write soon as I get right again.
Never hear anything about conscription
in Australia now, yet I saw some-thing in
the paper about men at the age of
4
50 Been called up, if required - they must still
be on the job with the young chaps then.
How do the Baker family like that.
They will need to Hurry up, I really think.
The game will be up with Germany, this
Spring - lots say it will last longer though.
I am always wondering how you are all getting
on - Hope everything is A1, have just been
thinking what to do regarding that land in
Queensland and all the rest of it. I think you
might give that Block of land into Russells
hands to try and sell - I will want some Brass
5
to get things going you know, I want as much as
possible of the Queensland Block under pine-apples
that is the surest way altho' perhaps a little slow,
being in too much of a hurry (as I always was) is
not the thing, I know my mistakes in the last attempt
my word & wish to goodness I was there now.
Well you have a good Xmas, I had a good
Xmas Dinner, Turkey, all sorts vegs, plum
pudding &c - sweets, wine & Beer for those
who wanted it, it was real good, altho' I
was not feeling too well at all, there was
some, Bombardment Xmas Night, very heavy -
also New Years Eve - at 9.30 PM - they did do
6
some Banging & made a great noise.
Lights flashing &c, poor old Fritz gets all he wants now.
Wrote to Dan two days ago, hope he is
doing alright. Did Dad or any of you go
for a trip to Melbourne or anywhere?
Suppose everything is about the same in Adelaide
& about. Will write to May & Connie when I feel
A1 - I'll soon be right I think, so don't worry
about me - will you? It is really nothing, too
much cold & damp, & of course that doesn't agree.
Hoping you are all quite well - & I'll write
again very soon.
With Very much Love to you all
Yrs Ever
Kenneth
XXXXXXXXXX
On - Active - Service.
Mrs. J. Young.
Princess Street.
Alberton - Adelaide
South Australia
[*W.N Bertram*]
(34)
France.
E7m
E— London 15th Nov 21 wds
qir
Young
Princes St
Had bronchitis getting
on alright now
at Boulogne money
received love to all
Feb 11th - Young
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