Letters from Kenneth Jack Young to his family, 1918 - Part 2

Mrs J. Young.
Princes Street
Alberton
Adelaide
Sth Australia
 

6th Jan
(116)
 

13th Jan 1919
Sig School.
Dear Mum & Dad
I must write you just a line or two tonight,
I seem to have so little news, & plenty to do here
studying up - you know.
I am getting on OK, had a nice run into
Salisbury with my two pals, on Sat. afternoon
the weather was OK too, not very cold, we went
in on Bikes. the roads were good too. Had a
look thro the Cathedral, my word it is
a beautiful Building & no mistake I
love seeing thro' these old Places, it
was built sometime in 1100 so they say
doesn't look olde though. Salisbury
is very old city, but not Bad kind of
spot, We Had a good enough afternoon
& evening anyway. Yesterday morning
when we peeped out, there was a lovely
sight, snow galore 6" or more Deep,
it was a great fall. Had been snowing
all the night you would Have
laughed to have seen the Snow
[*Back of this.*]
 

2.
Balling, the chaps Did go at it too. Today
has been very wet, & tonight coming down
like one things, we don't usually get so
much rain this time of the year Here.
Some-times it has been terribly cold
enough to Kill us all, but taking it
all round this winter Has been A1,
& going along fine, thank goodness!
I've not felt it so bad this year of
course I am comfortable Here you know.
A few days ago I received a fine
letter from Mum, dated Nov 25/ So
that was OK getting it so soon, Miss N
sent it on to me.
Have not heard from Ray or Clair
Since, of course Alan Cannot write often
I Know - poor old chappie.
Well I don't know what to think
about the war now, (or anybody else)
sometimes they seem to be making Headway,
then again at a standstill
todays papers say they want 450,000
more men, so there we are, but I
 

 3
expect it will end some time this year.
Mum, I will be pleased to know
that you have taken a Holiday to Vic
or NSW, I am afraid you are not
Keeping well at all, & I don't like to
think this, you must go for a good
trip, the change will do you good.
Have a good time, & don't let any war or
anything else worry you. Have a long
Holiday this time, everybody wants a
change these times, (I've Had Plenty off?)
I am alright you Know. Quite OK, a bit
short winded & thats all —, no Heart
trouble now, that I am aware of anyway.
(Struck ink) Ive been wondering if, May
Has got a "Yah" job Poor kid it seems funny
to think of Her making a Start, anyway this
will be nice for Her & Connie when they get going
You were wondering How people at home
in Australia would like marjarine etc, Yes I often
wonder myself Mum, but this is no Bad, I
always Have a ½ lb "on Hand" for my toast
at night, we can even buy Bread, & Milk (tin)
 

4.
Bread ½ small slice, Nestle's milk ½ tin (this
is the Canteen Prices of course) so things are
not so bad in England even Yet.
Try and send a few views of Adelaide &
the others Ausie Towns over to me please, I'd like
fine to have a few.
Well Dear Dad & Mum, You must
excuse this rather miserable letter, I Know it
is not much good, but it is a job as You
Know to write these lines, & so often, But
remember I always think of you; all, & wish
for the "Day" —
Never mind Good Times are coming:
Bon Zhin, Au Revoir
Very much Love to you Both.
Yrs ever.
Billy  xxxxxx
Must write again in a Day or two, to May.
Ken.
 

Mrs J Young
Princes Street
Alberton
Adelaide
Sth AUSTRALIA
 

Jan 13
(117)
 

Signal School
20/2/18.
Dear May & Connie
I seem to be right off letting writing the
last few weeks. I Hope you have Not
missed getting any of my Notes.
I wrote to Mum & Dad on Sunday.
Well, I am still in the School
of course may go just at any time Now.
to the training battalion, Nr here,
& then of course off to France, the happy
Hunting ground eh?
Everything is tip top Weather food,
it was very cold for two or 3 Days
but it has turned wet again Now, so
it is OK Now. I mentioned in Mums
letter that I had passed the Sig'
Classification OK, our squad did very
well, the officers were very pleased.
Broke all the Records of the Signal School.
of course a lot of that squad were Returned
 

2.
men from France.
I Have not Heard from poor old
Alan yet, or Raymond for some time.
May strike some Leave Before
going away, Mrs Sugars will have
me, you know the food Question is
pretty serious Now, so I was wondering
if she could stand me or not.
We are Not getting too well fed now
in camp, didn't do so bad today
though, managed to get enough
the YMCA & Canteens can't sell much
now, but can always get a supper
at Night, one big chap in the Dining
Room the other Day, was scratching
round picking up Bacon left on
some of the Tables, he seems to be some
Eater, he is a Big chap. Get just
a wee Piece of meat a Day, our
Rations have been cut Down again too
I'll need to wait till I get Home
to get a Decent feed I am thinking
Hope you are Both getting