Letters from Kenneth Jack Young to his family, 1917 - Part 19

4

who saw me at Weymouth: as that's the spot for returning

men - but so many come Gutsers (as they say) and

are sent back to their risks in France:

I have sent Xmas Card just to you both

one to May & Connie & Mrs Kayser, I always feel

very sorry for her, so thought I'd send her a card first

I'm not sending many this year at aLL I write

to all of them instead -(much cheaper as a rule).

Those letters you have addressed to 2nd Signal Coy

have reached me alright of course. They take some time

I was wondering if that parcel you sent me was also

addressed to the Signal Coy?

Well Dear Dad & Mum I will conclude

With very much Love & Best Wishes for a Very

Merry Xmas and a more Happy New Year, my

Xmas Card Conveys my Wishes,

Yrs Ever
Ken    xxxxxxxx

Mrs J. Young

Princes Street

Alberton

Adelaide

 Australia

Rear of envelope ~ see original document

(98)

Oct 21st.

Signal School

West Farm Camp

Fovant Wells

27/10/17.

My Dear Mum & Dad,

Again another few lines - I often wonder

how much longer this writing wiLL have to carry

on without me seeing any of you: it seems

as if it was to be for ever sometimes. Yet the

Great Day is sure to come sometime -surely next 

year. I am always keeping A1 - stiLLin the

Signallers School & getting on tip top always

as I have said I will most likely be here tiLL

Xmas or after so that will be some of the

winter rid of again - This morning it was very cold

a white frost - no Bon to me these frosty mornings

everything was white - snow will be our West Lille show

Last Friday evening -at tea - There was

a great uproar in this camp - the tea quite 

out of the ordinary - so very little - so the chaps

300 odd in the Dining Room - counted out the

Messing Officer - & Kicked up a great Noise

refused to go on parade - at the blow of the Bugle

however they (we aLL) refused to leave the Dining 

Room - (waiting for some more tucker) Well the

2

Messing Officer nearly blew his teeth out, with the

whistle - same with the Quartermaster, the Messing 
officers clears off - & next appears with our O.C.

a Capt - who I mentioned in last weeks letter, as

being an ass &c - They quietened down when he

came on the scene, picked out 2 or 3 men and

ran them into the Clink - or the (Boob) &

ordered the rest of us out on Parade, he then

spoke to us, what he said was most insulting to aLL

called us a Disgrace to Australia - & rotten to the

Core -the Brute that he is - however I'm bothered

if the boys didn't shout at him - saying "Cut that out"

hooted him and counted him out also, he was

afraid to dismiss the chaps right there, so he had

them dismissed further away, I'm sure some of 

them would have tackled him then. Then next

morning in - Broad daylight on parade - he spoke

to them - of our behaviour &c - they Hooted him &

Counted him out then, his next move was to move

a squad of men off - & buck them up - I happened

to be in the squad, he spoke quietly, & then two or

three of the chaps spoke as straight to him as

Never before has anyone spoken to him, & got into

him about saying we were rotten to the core &c,

he was in a bit of muddle then, Really he

didn't no what to say to the boys, as it happened

3.

many of the squad he puLLed out to speak to were

returned men from France, so that finished it, as he

hasn't seen France, however the whole camp here

got 7 days C.B. (Confined to Barracks). but not

likely when the Colonel gets hold of this affair he

will make things alright, but wasn't it a strange 

affair, I guess he wiLL be better kind of chap

after this Doing. The Sun is shining beautifully

now - not warm tho', its very cold in this Hut.

I may get a couple of Days leave shortly

I think. Have not heard from the Com BanAus

yet, don't know what they are up to I'm sure that

I've written to them twice now too. I told Mrs Sugar

I have been trying to get the money so she wiLL

quite understand. Is Hun not received any more

maiLs from Australia in spite of them

getting addressed from HdQrs to Miss Nicholson

They appear to go to France first stiLL that's

why they will always get bothered about

Believe the 43^rd Battalion have lost a

good number of men During the last few weeks

they have had (the 3^rd Div) some very hard

fighting I know, haven't heard aLL the kiLLed

yet, perhaps there were not too many kiLLed tho'.

Clive Bolman is still in 'The War Hosp'

at Southampton, hear from him nearly every

week poor old chap, have not heard from Ray

for a good Long time now. No word at aLL

has reached me from Don old Clair;

goodness Knows what to think - it is a terrible

Thing to think of him being in trouble, I 

worst of aLL not knowing where he is, I do

wish to goodness you could hear from some

one who Knows.

Well Mum & Dad this mail wiLL

perhaps reach you just before Xmas, so

Again I wish you aLL a Happy Bright Xmas

& a real good New Year. 

I have really no more News.

So Au Revoir

With very much love good wishes to you both

Yrs Ever

Ken. xxxxxx

Give old Kelly a good Xmas Dinner

Ken

Mrs J Young

Princes Street

Alberton

Adelaide

Australia

Back of envelope ~ see original document

Oct 27

(100)

Signal School

Fovant Wiltshire

England 31/10/17

Dear May and Connie

Must write you two or three lines, have so very

little news with no Australian mail in for a long time

Have not heard anything of Ray, since so

must now write to him in a while - Perhaps he has

gone to his unit, but no doubt you hear from Him

now and then; I am sorry nothing further has reached

me concerning poor old Clair, I do wish we would hear

something more definite. Suppose it will be Xmas

by the time you receive this - Christmas this year

I am afraid wiLL not be too happy for many of

us - only for those who this war doesn't appear to

concern. There are thousands in Australia who it

seems never worry aBout the war at aLL.

The war news has not been of the Best

during the last few Days - with the Italians faLLing

Back like they have, & Russia, but we will be

quite alright in spite of these rather disappointing

turns to the worse, it only makes the thing last 

longer - Britain & France are sending men to

help them all they can, any way the Western