Letters from Kenneth Jack Young to his family, 1918 - Part 3

3
on weLL. Have Been Wondering if you
Connie have started Yet.
I Heard from Ted HiLL some
few Days ago, I may manage to see
him, he seems to be a Nice Boy.
Before I forget, WiLL you ask
Mum to cable over a few £s to the
Commonwealth Bank, in case I get
into Hospital or anything like that it
was very inconvenient last time.
& also I wiLL require money to come
Home with, "buy up on the Return trip.
Two Bob a Day wiLL not go far these times.
WeLL May & Connie I will Need to
Close, really Have no News
Good bye.
& Good Luck
Yrs Sincerely
Billy XXXXX
If I get some Leave I will get some News
of interest then I hope

 

Mr John Young
Princes Street
Alberton
Adelaide
Sth Australia
 

Rear of envelop ~ see Original
20/2/18
(123)
 

Feb 23^rd 1918.
Sigl School Fovant.
My Dear Dad & Mum.
Again just a short letter to Keep things going.
Since I last wrote I've received four letters or so,
from Australia, one from you Dad, 1 May, but NO
more Word from poor old Mum I hope you had a
good time in Sydney and Vic; by aLL accounts
you appeared to be feeling tres Bon, I am delighted
to Know this, You Dad, seem to have had a Quite
Xmas, & sacrificed your usuaL for Mum, I hope
you wiLL be able to take the trip later, Do as
I wanted Mum to Do, I'll shout; (compree).
You will see I am still at "The Sig'
School" no Word yet of going to France, in fact
I believe Signallers have to wait tiLL required in
the Battalion, there are 60 odd Classified Now
& waiting to go on draft to France, there have
 

2.
been any stunts of late, So perhaps not many Knocked.
This week my class has been having more
advanced work, pigions; These are used in the
Line for Carrying messages in France from the
Trenches back to Hqrs, Aeroplane Contact work
another very interesting lecture, how to Signal to Planes
etc - This is rather interesting, of course 'Planes
Do a great Deal of good work in France Now,
I have told you how much and aLL about
This before I know, the Preparations before an
attack is wonderful, few Know exactly what
goes on, - yes we talk and write of such things
training etc. as Next to Nothing, aLL this to beat
Prussianism, and isn't it taking Some beating
and costing some lives, I think it is time this
business was finished with, Surely to Goodness, they
Cannot go on for much Longer like this - if those
who caused aLL this had to face the music for
2 Hours or less, they would be throwing in the
Game. I think twice before starting it again, it
seems to me to be the big Heads that come off
on top, they Never suffer or witness any thing
very terrible, the Ranker suffers aLL, & it's a
wonder how they have stuck to it, on Both
Sides. there is no justice in this world, but as we
Know the life is only temporary, This Prussian Heads
 

3.
with aLL their Smart uniforms, & Polish, will faLL pretty
low. I am glad Dad you are against those
Stay-at-Homes in Australia, You know what I think
of them, I am finished with that push, & if I had the
same time over again, I would enlist. we Don't get
much good food, & not much enjoyment, & none
in France, but a man with any Principle at
all, any love for the British Empire, & aLL it
Stands for, or Australia alone, who would not go
against these Prussian Devils, he ought to be thrashed
& made to understand. Some of the chaps in the
Same hut as me sometimes say. "What did I
enlist for" You should here me go for them just,
I can manage to Shut them up, I am getting
into the habit of speaking as I think  — quite indifferent
as to what they think of me, nothing like being
straight, Never mind it if your PaL or others like it
or Not, nobody thinks any the Less of you, after all.
The weather is keeping grand, Still, I am
Not feeling exactly weLL, I don't wish to say I am OK
when I am Not, but just a cold. I think I should
be "pensioned" off. Doubt if I'll see France, or I

mean the Trenches, Now, so jolly short of wind.
If the "Un" got after me, he'd soon run WiLLiam
Down Now, however I am Quite independently
 

-4-
& not going to Bother with these army Doctors treat us
pretty shabby some of them, of course you Know What
some of the chaps are, "Swing the Lead".
We often think of the great wheat stacks at Home
& wish they could get some away over Here, they get
4 rathe thin slices of Bread a Day, hardly any meat
in fact just scrap meaLs, (today Sunday we had
a tip top Dinner 3 courses, Soup etc, not Bad though)
WeLL by the time you receive this, it wiLL
be your Birthday Dad. I hope you Have a
Happy Day, I trust you have many more to
come. I will Remember you on that Day.
Last Birthday wishes I sent you was from the
Base France, I often think of those Days there,
I have had some Wonderful changes, aLL over
the place, I often wonder where I Land Next.
& under what Conditions etc. always prepared to
 

move off any time now.
No word of my 5 Days leave so far but
I'll be off to Worthing for a few Days soon I
guess, Mrs Sugars is reaL good to me.
WeLL Now Dear Dad & Mum I will Conclude 
I Have Not much news to give you, & wiLL
write to Mary & Connie soon.
Trusting aLL is weLL
Yours Ever
Much Love
Billy
X X X X X X
I Have those snaps May sent thanks.
Glad poor auto Cockie is OK always
Some Lad that I know.
Remember me to Capt Tulloch & others.
Do you ever Hear of Geo Lakic now? I've
Not Heard for some time.
Ken
 

Miss May Young
Princes Street
Alberton 
Adelaide
South Australia.
 

Rear of envelop ~ see Original
Feb 23
(124)