Letters from Kenneth Jack Young to his family, 1917 - Part 10

Mrs J Young

Princes St

Alberton

Adelaide

Sth. Australia
J.Walley

May 12th [[19?]]

France

(62)

June 2nd 1917

6B Main Ward

Norfolk War Hosp

Norwich

-address to 43^rd Btn

My Dear Mum & Dad

I have been having a nice time

here during the last week or so

& am not feeling too bad: of

course it will take some little time

no doubt till I am quite fit again.

rest if the thing I want: I do not

really think much is wrong with

my Heart, but as they say something

is a little out of order with it, & that

puts me out of order all over;

I think I told you in my last that

I'll been to Norwich which is just

a treat to see. well I've been out 

on pass 3 times now - twice on the 

river - Hired a rowing boat: it was

just glorious - my English Pal &

-2-

self just - he is a decent young chap.

Well, it was so pretty _& the weather

is always beautiful: lots of others

on the river - This river leads to

Yarmouth: charged 1/- for 2½ hrs 

so that wasn't bad eh? Of course 

this river is not as Nice as the Pt 

River: fine Houses on the Banks, 

further down beautiful cattle &

feeding on the beautiful grass:

fancy shrubs - as well as the grand

trees: Then yesterday we went thro'

the Museum & Art Gallery -which building

was a castle - Dating back 

to 1050 AD - wonderful place: 

then had a couple of Hours at

the pictures which cost us 0/0 nice

to be a soldier sometimes eh?

A picture called "For the Honour

of Australia" it was very good too.

Was also through the Norwich 

3

Cathedral - Now this is a magnificent

old place : much after the style

of Westminster Abbey London

every bit as lovely too: The great

organ was playing at the time -it

did sound lovely too, There is Nothing

I enjoy so much as to see these

Historical old places: I only hope

that some day- with my help-

that you both will be able to 

see some of these sights: but now

one of the sights that would please

me most now- would be to see

the shores of old Australia. I will

have the luck I think, altho it is 

a game of chance this - many

things get in our way to prevent

our return - both sickness & the

Hun shells, if I had as many

narrow escapes at Home: as I did

have at times in France - well I

would think it was wonderful -but

4

little notice is taken in the land of 

the war - of such things: I see

numbers of our Aussie lads - legs off

&c here - but all are as happy as

can be. They will be pleased to get

away back home now, I Do get

mad when I think of there being

so many loafers at home: & others

out here & in France - that should 

be sent away back, but they have

to face the music time & again: as for

myself in a way I would like

to return while the war is on. Those

beggars would get on my nerves.

Anyway there is not much chance

of my return: I can't say, I want to yet,

either. We are all so well looked

after here - grand place this: The sisters

are so kind: every night - the night 

sist Nurse - gives a prayer in our ward - 

when all are in bed: and then says

good night- what a different treatment

to that which we get in France &

5

in Training. Had a grand kind letter

from Mrs Lyons the other day,

Charlie is getting on A1- has been 

Discharged from the army now -&

gone back to his old position in

the civil service. Also a letter

from poor old Clive Balmer he

wants to see me; so no doubt

I will be4 I or He go to France,

he writes a Bon letter, so keen

on doing his bit too - but little

he knows of the rotten times he

will have in France soon, he's in

The Field Artillery, so that is much 

better than the poor old infantry.

The infantry is the last - never 

mind perhaps they get their

6

reward some day -poor kids- Australian

troops are treated much better than

the British - very much better,

I always feel so proud of Australia

but I also wish more would enlist

to make it easier, for their mates

already worn out, I get wild to

think I couldnt Do much: after all

I did my best - & perhaps will get

the chance yet, as perhaps the war

will continue for a few mths yet

but I doubt it. Last Sunday I

went to the Hospital Chapel & this

too is a beautiful Building- pipe

organ - of course it is a big place.

Most of the day I go out on the

lawns & read - if I'm not asleep.

Bowls - cricket - tennis players always

there: Bowls is not a bad

game either: Have been wondering

if you got the cable - Mum - asking 

for cash: we only get paid 3/6

week here - so am saving plenty now

I've got 3 or 4 souvenirs I am going

to send now I'm in England: I'll

see they go later on - but I must

get them packed Decently.

Well Dear Mum & Dad

Good Bye -

Hoping all are well

Yrs ever

Billy xxxxx

Will write in a few days, May 

KY.

Mrs. J Young

Princes Street

Alberton

Adelaide

S^th Australia

 

June 2nd 1917.

England.

(63)

No 2 Aust Command Depot

Weymouth

25/6/17 - England

Dear Mum & Dad,

You can see by the above address - that I have

again shifted quarters. I left Norfolk W.H.

Wednesday morning - and reported in London

at Headquarters - Horseferry Road - saw the Doc

there and he sent me off to Weymouth -

I am getting on A1 - think I will be back

in France before many weeks now, don't

think I'm too anxious to get back there -

nobody is - who has been there: but you know

how I feel. I'll be in Scotland again in

a few days - can take my furlough any time

I will write to Sam tonight. I may go to Ireland

if I feel inclined, perhaps I would like it and

ought to have plenty of time - two weeks leave -

it must be pretty there - Well Now I can tell

you a little of Weymouth and the country

from London to here - We left London -

Paddington station at about 3 PM - the country

is lovely - so green - that always takes my eye -

the beautiful greenness - went thro' some big towns