Letters from Kenneth Jack Young to his family, 1917 - Part 23

2

 

I bet, & more so if we can only get parcels to reach

him both from us, & the Aust Red Cross Soc!

the Huns are very nearly "Napoo" so they will laud

over all Prisoners, & jolly glad to do so too, the 

pests they are, it would not pay them to ill treat

our Boys Now, too near the end, Remember, that

goes a long way. This weeks news has been

lovely very encouraging, for all the allies, there

is always great talk when the papers arrive.

Morning and night I never miss if I can help it.

I wonder often what you all at home are thinking 

of the war now, I'm no pessimist, always reckon

we are doing OK, looking on the dark side 

of things during this terrible war is No Bon, I've

great faith in Britain and our Allies, but really

I think having British Troops in their midst,

keeps the Allies going, altho' Le Francais Soldiers

are always doing tip top, fine men these, well

dressed, & smart looking mostly, Belgian Soldiers

I have seen are also smart looking and

well equipped, of course Before the war Belgium

I am told was a wealthy country, on the whole

I think Dad & Mum I will got to Bunk now.

& finish this tomorrow evening - so off I go.

(Night Night) Has been very cold all day,

-3-

to day, seems as if it was going to be very rough & cold,

snow will be the next thing now, this time last year

it had been snowing, heavy. I don't seem to have much

news, somehow. Some of the chaps here were just

reading a letter from France, the chap that wrote it, had

been in a Yank Hospt, one of the nurses said to him,

Do you think your Boys can hold the line, till

our Boys (Americans) reach there, he gave it back

in Australian style, saying they had held it for 3 yrs

so thought they could "manage", suppose the yanks

reckon they are everything now, anyway they are

wanted aren't they?  Do you think Conscription will

be sent thro' this line, we are all sure it will

think we are getting a vote, same as last time.

The 3rd Division - we hear - is in the

line again, 12 months yesterday since we left, I've

had some shifting about, just about everywhere.

Suppose before very many weeks I'll be one the

trip again, wonder what luck I'll have then?

It was nice had Jon selling the wee

rise, I'm glad you did better this year, with it.

I know the cost of living is much more

living is very high in England. G. Britain I

should say. Ireland everything is mostly much

cheaper, they want a good shaking up.

4.

Wonder if young Andrew will be sent away over

here, he will be scared of it all I know.

Ray is back with his old unit then, he

says Archie Bowie is still at it, going strong, does

Archie get enough to "eat" now, food is the greatest,

trouble altho' I always managed to get more

tucker behind the line, (just behind) than I do here

of course here we can always buy a snack

men are fed well in France when it is possible,

rough and ready of course, but that's Nothing these

days, is it? Wish to goodness we could get some

of Australia's wheat shipped over here now, it's 

a horrible pity to know its wasting's there, Glad

you saw Mrs Josden, Mum, poor woman, I

often think of Bert & those other boys who have

been killed over there what a place it is,

thousands there killing one another like this.

Clive Balmer was disgusted with it all

there what he saw was enough for him

he's still in the Hospt at Croydon (-London)

seems to be a beautiful place there where

he is. Tell Elsie Tulloch I will write in a

few days time, Elsie wrote me such a nice

letter, I owe several letters I'm thinking

5.

We have a route march every Saturday morning

go about 12 miles, or so, it is not so bad tho;

we want plenty of heavy machinery No doubt;

wish it was the march thro' Adelaid again, that

will the the march for those lucky enough to

get back strong and fit to do it, some say the,

it's hard to imagine such a show - yet.

Well Dad and Mum I must close -

News is anything but plentiful just now.

Give my love to all Aunts, & Friends

With Best and Very  much love

to you Both

Yours Ever

Billy.

 

I hope you are always keeping quite well now

I am sorry to know you were ill, but that was

a long time ago, altho' it's not long since

I knew.

Good Bye

Much Love xxxxxx

KY

[Front of Envelope]

 

Mrs. J. Young

Princes Street

Alberton

Adelaide

South Australia

 

[Rear of envelope]

 

Nov 26

(108)

For God. For King & For Country

Y.M.C.A.

H.M. FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE

 

Letter no. 90

p.1. missing

 

-2-

43rd reinf Lines: (lots of these are returning to Australia - Not fit.

some are proper crocks too poor chaps: wherever they lay them

up, I dinna Ken. The weather has been glorious the last few

days - quite warm too, but the nights and morning's - very cold.

Last night my pal and I went to that old Church of

England in Amesbury: & village I have mentioned when I was here

with the battalion: it was very nice too: you might remember me

saying how old this church is: Hundreds of years old: Every thing

around Amesbury is so pretty still. The streams look lovely

with the shadows of the trees on the water quite a lot of

people about, in this quiet spot.

It is surprising to see the Number of improvements

made in this camp since I was here last - foot paths

made roads fixed up &c. looks ever so much nicer.

Think this is by far the best camp I've struck - that is

a training camp. Have not heard from Ray since

he was to have gone up the line again. Last time he

wrote to me - I do wish he could have some thing of chain

-3-

 

I hate to think of him - perhaps in Germany, but trust he

is there safe and sound. yet Mum & Dad I thought we would

have heard something a little sooner than this, I'll not give up

hope - just wait on and wish for the very best. That's all

only hope you are not feeling too miserable over it tho'.

This seems bad paper to write on to me:

Well I am keeping well & going good.o. so far - feel well too-

more than I do for over 6 mths, really I was off colour

when in France; most of the time I was there, I think.

I'll keep better now tho' the trip to Blighty fixed me right enough.

I wouldn't have got on so well had I've stayed there all the time.

Notice some Ausy's sending Xmas cards this evening - plenty

of time yet - but no doubt the time is nearly here for them.

Another Xmas amongst the snow and cold - but think there

is yet a chance for a peaceful Xmas, surely there will be some

chance still. The loss of life thro' sickness is very great

usually in the winter - not ¼ as many in the warm mths.

so hope that can be avoided this winter anyway.

I saw an Adelaide Paper yesterday - dont see too many.

I never have received your papers Mum you send me - I know

you sent them too - in it, I noticed Capt Kayser had been

promoted to Major poor chap. he didn't get much of a chance.

yet he is only one of thousands. The days are getting so

short now, they will be getting much longer in old Australia

now summer for you and Winter for me over here eh?

Think this camp is shifting - rather the Australians

in it - in a few days time - to a place some where near

Henacott where I was the other week too cold on those

plains is the reason for the move I think we hear the

4.

The Yanks are taking it over, of course all sorts of yarns as usual.

Do you remember that Lawyer (Adel) Gillen, he came

away with our Battalion. he has never been away

from Lark Hill. however he is off back to Australia soon.

he is not a bad poor wretch to speak too, fat as butter.

We are always looking out for the Australian

mail. but they are few and far between, never know

quite when to expect them. Now - as most of them go to France,

in spite of us writing to Hdqrs London asking them to

send them on to our new address. if you address my

letter to Miss Nicholson I am sure to get them then.

she has been doing that too a number of our chaps

comes in very handy sometimes. Knowing these kind people.

Tonight there is a lecture in this Y.M.C.A on Lantern

slides - seems to be pretty good too.

Well Dear Dad & Mum think I will need

to conclude once again. You know I've nothing to

write about to interest you much, but I never like

to think I have missed a mail any time - don't

think I have since last Jan have I?

Au Revoir. Trusting you are all quite

well & give my love to all. With much love to

you both.

Your son Ken.

[Front of Envelope]

 

Y.M.C.A.

 

Mrs. J. Young.

Princes Street.

Alberton 

Adelaide

South - Australia

[Rear of envelope]

 

(90)