Letters from Kenneth Jack Young to his family, 1917 - Part 16

those little snub nosed beggars of Lance Jacks - Sydney touch style, of course That's all in the army. There are ever so many 32^nd Batt Boys

here (SA) you might remember they were training on Cheltenham race

course for some time. I wrote to Charlie Taylor the other day my word

he has been very lucky. How is Joe Bowen & all the other SA Boys:

have not heard from Ray or Clan for some time.

    Have not gone in for that two days leave yet - but may do so.

        Well Dear Mum & Dad. I am expecting letters from Aust

this week so will not write any more just now.

       Au Revoir - Trusting you are all keeping

quite well.

       With very much love to you both

                            Ken xxxx

Have written to (May & Connie)

 

PS Hope the Huns are still laying on.

also lockie how is he doing poor old chap.

I often look at his photo May sent, also the ones of you

all. I look after them rather - and laugh at that one of Dad

in his Sunday rig out - he is a character - that's the life though.

Mrs Jack Young

Princes Street

Alberton

Adelaide

South Australia

Back of envelope

 

           Red Cross

               Ky

               26/8/17

                  (84)

                                                     Hindcott

                                                      29/5/17

Dear Mum & Dad,

           It is only a few days since I last

wrote to you & Dad but as the news of Clair

reported missing jas reached me from Ray, thought

I must write a few lines anyway, of course

here we are so far away, and news is so

old when it reaches each other; & you may

have heard something more by the time this

reaches you; however I have written to the

Aust Branch British Red Cross -^London; & enquired of 

them. If anything has reached them regarding

Clair & if they do advise me - I'll let you

know - in case the military do not do so right

away, the information from the Red Cross

is most reliable Mum- but I'm sure you

know quite as much as I do about that.

This news is most distressing to me, & more is to

poor Connie -& you all, being so many thousands

miles away, it is so much easier for me to 

hear the latest & know - being in England -& I'll do

my best to find out all that is possible-

but Mum- I am confident all is well-

& the Huns will not harm him - if he is a

                     2

Prisoner of the Huns, -but in case you do not know the Hun Government sometime take a considerable time to inform our Government as to the names of prisoners they have taken, in the casualty list - a lot of Engineers were reported missing the same time as Clair: so perhaps a lot of them were cut off at the same time That would be at the end of July, anyway I trust by the time you receive this

some good news has reached Connie - That is all we can wish for at present

     It has made me downright miserable & I know you will all be in such a

state too - such is war- it seems as all you suffer from it - one way or

an other - I hate & despise more than ever, those who have not done something to help end the cursed thing.

     A shame no more news Dad, so Good Bye again.

        Give my love to Connie & May,

             With much love to you Both.

                    Yours Ever

                       Ken xxxxxx

 

Think I will write a line to Clive Hales - Clairs' Pah - he

was -in the 2nd Tunnellers - but of course do not know if still

there - however anything for a trial

                                         Ken.

Mrs. J. Young

Princes Street

Alberton

Adelaide

South Australia

Back of envelope

 

                Australian Red Cross

                      29/8/17

                           (85)

                 No 3 Australian Command Depot

                   Handcott

                      England

                        31/8/17.

Dear Mum,

          Just another line - perhaps it is

not much use telling you - but I heard

from the Red Cross in London - today.

Clair has been posted as missing since

July 10th, and up to the present

they had had no information concerning

his fate: but were making every

effort to obtain some. They mentioned

that in cases of missing men,

news of their capture, is slow,

6 weeks being the shortest period

that elapses between the date when

a man is posted as missing, 

& when his name appears on 

the Hun list, but I trust long before

you receive this, you have received

good news from Clair, & I hope I too shall hear of something very

very soon, This waiting on - is horrible - that's the hard part of

it all with Connie & you all.

     I received your nice parcel two days ago Mum - thank

you so much, please thank Mrs Hutchins for the nice

things, she sent in it too. it was kind of her, have been

making good use of the sugar - Mum, it is lovely to have

it here - quite a treat. Had a P.C. from Sam this morning he

has to report to Devonport to the Naval Barracks there for

service in the Navy, so he will have to go now.

      Again I must conclude.

       Trusting you are all quite well & that everything

is quite alright.

          Yrs very sincerely

                      Ken    xxxxx

                       Hope Cockie is A1 too

Mrs. J Young

Princes Street

Alberton

Adelaide

South Australia