Letters from William George Blaskett to his family, 1915-1916 - Part 14

8

from your ever loving son

Bill

PS  I was in 2 minds whether

to get black or black and

white, but the one I got was

the better quality, besides

you won't have to go into

mourning will you. I guess

I'll turn up like the 

proverbial bad penny. Not 

that I'm not insinuating I'm a

bad penny.

Bill

I suppose the "old gentleman"

is still threatening to do 

things for himself. Why he

can't even drown a cat.

PPS I started this as a short note

but I seem to have rambled somewhat

8 May 1916  

My dearest Mother, 

I couldn't

write yesterday, which was

my day, being Sunday, but

hadn't time, as we were on

out post. I had to get up at

1 am & didn't get to bed again.

We worked digging trenches

from 8 to 12 and 2 to 5. I

didn't have to work, but

hopped in & dug a good

bit. It's jolly fine exercise

& keeps you fit. Besides, the

boys think a lot, if you

just stand & look on, & 

its no hotter working than

standing in the sun.

We've done another

pretty good day today, 

and I  got ^ have about 1/4 hr

before "lights out" to finish this

letter.

I haven't received my

birthday parcel yet. I 

suppose it will come to  

light some time or other.

It is getting very hot

indeed here. I hope we

don't stop here much longer.

There's one thing about

this life;  you can wear

clothes to suit the climate.

All we wear is a a

singlet, a pith helmet, or a 

felt hat, khaki shorts ( like

football knicks) boots, socks

&  puttees .  My arms, knees,

face and neck are all burnt;

not merely brown but

almost black. If we stay 

here much longer, we shall

be taken for Egyptians.

If we ever get back to

civilisation they will think

we're aboriginees.

By Jove, I'd like a few

moments with " The Bull".

I'm in pretty good nick 

now, & think I could give

the fat old bounder a

warm minute or two.

One thing, it's only "bluff"

on his part; he would

dare do anything. Tell

Madge to keep on the

right side of Pitman.  These

union secretaries have a 

lot of power, & influence.

I wrote to Aunt Jane today

about "Little Alice" . I think

you have a warm 

corner in your heart for

her, somehow.

If what they are expecting

happens, I may never be 

able to write you again; so 

heard from him.

Now I think I must

close with love to you all

& trusting it won't be 

too long before I'm back

with all you dear ones again.

Your ever loving son

Bill

1^st Aust Stat 2 Hosp

Isimailia

17.5.16

My dear old Mater, 

You will be sorry to

hear, if you haven't already

heard, that you are the mother

of a poor old wounded hero.

As the result of a gun

accidented  I got a bullet through

my left hand last Thursday.

It's very hard luck; as

the boys are going to ___ in

a few days time, & I'm almost

sure to miss them.

However I hope to be 

able to join them again before

they get into action.

They had an enquiry 

about the affair & I was not

only exonerated from all blame

& carelessness but complimented

on the cool manner in which 

I took it.

The unfortunate part is that

owing to our appointment

not being properly confirmed

yet, I shall probably lose

my stripes; though of course

if I get back to the 42^nd I

shall get them again. It sounds

very hard luck doesn't it?

They were expecting some

bullets to be flying about at

that time but but I didn't ^ expect it 

the way I got it. Poor old Bill

was very upset. He has been

a splendid pal to me. He's one

of the best. The bullet went in

at the palm & it came out just

at the junction of the wrist

& the hand. It was  The

wound was going nicely till

Sunday when it got septic.

I was then shifted from the 

field Amb. to here. The

change is delightful . It's a 

splendid place, the nurses 

& doctors are A1. Very kind

& considerate. If it wasn't for

the way the hand stings me

up now & again I should enjoy

it immensely.  As it is; the

splendid food & a bed to 

sleep on are worth while.

Especially as the wound is

yielding to the treatment &

the poison is coming out.

I was under the X rays last

night & the doctor told me

no nerves or bones were 

affected and that if all

goes well, I shall have

the use of my hand.

I thought I was very

unlucky at first, but now

when I realise how slight 

it is and how bad it might

have been I thank God

for His goodness to me.

If the bullet had been

an 1/8^th of an inch to the

right or left or lower, I should

never have been able to

play the piano again.

A little stiffness for a week

or so & I shall never know I

have been shot.

I hope by the time you

get this, to be quite alright

& on my way to join