Lieutenant Colonel William McKenzie, MC, OBE - letters - 1914 - Part 3

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
AWM2019.22.3
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

INTERNATIONAL HEADOUARTERS IOI OUEEN VICTORIA ST. LONDONEC THE SALVATION ARUIY. Duraian Hendaugton. H Boute o Nalal Ava MTARYEEACUE ArRAY MPERAL HRCE anndron A Troopship Sumpide Liancenar convecing Oct $32 194 My Dauling Hb J. Lan ell a Dom well enjuyne my wour ime ensell it is a mighty Sppoitunits and worth of wach sacrifice. His a novel shif with 2,00 odd contad woand. Me officer ane fine + treat we wiith errueme kindness, so me of them ane just wppins! o wt I pcotemen. The chief wanss a scot + the balk of the 4 Battalion office to which Lam now attacked any scots, so Im in clodent Thave a rang cabin to myself with nbeds + a coach, get a lob of attention from my Stewant a live in the best of stle on 10 class farie. I all night being a swell. Hany you weere with mes to enjo it. I would be in closen I am themon so much of you & psqungthan got may steengthen you + keet you cheeng all othe wailes & the childnen swelt Borking at them obedint & datiful lsoons, with all them might.
THE SAIVATION ARNY. Adtalian Headqvarter: 69 Bourte St. Mathoure. NAVAL AND MILITARY LEACUE AUSTRALLAN MMPERIAL FORCE. cam JAMESHAY concnn heweane mostrespectful tome ane taking to me O.R. they give me a creat sheen at the Conceun when I preside. We have had so me great concents + possess a lot of five talent among the men + some weal hand case to the pipe band chans me, & we also have some fine weitens We had a anay day yosten sa (Tunday) a senaice at 7.45 Aw commanion the official paudde at 11 am read & peay in this oe forme& a Bible Classin the Apten at 3BM 25 Joiel forastat se had a five time I gave the reading + the Dean of Pyrneg conducted the song & the pudgens. He & I want hand + glove & weane becoming great cobbens hers a fine fellow. Tho an invetenate emoken. & condacted the night evaagelasty & senvice & he piaged. It was a prce, fines the parson think for the ideal man o job & I seveng all Sh Plight I will see so before o ovea
We have hobshanted hold in puageas (officil) with the teooks eachmonning at 8.45 Ams & each night we have somethingoine the Dean + I ame wsto noidcefor the amagenes alao. Madday night Pipe + BinaBande flay it going antends Tueday conceat Hedy Thunaday. Bar ds plyat Surdayin James Lanter (uneend tconcent We hold a bane ofragen meeting on wor tuenday ten & finday nighto also, so they et a woodl of rengiors: I must aaclads we canenon in sight of albont 42 noon man thope you with the children are well happy. hore hug Lisses hat May God pless yon abandantly pane aede Bath i He have had a remanoably fine pasoage thers tha Bich
The Satvation Army The HighScar Chaptain Expeditionary Forces, 131 M Mens Dendigordic Vy Dauling Wife Custaline meet d with gladness at this me d guess you ane wonder i how nghell best wat amdo just D.R. th somethin tr owhals sull te &hat fie spportanty for oe il caution an essential cenconsdid should be able to make the pto onr yourne 52 2 Dor day fle interstiing Fas it but I can helt you to the at y some other & a waybe when I see you o tueaked with gheat kinoness & consideratio b the officens + profourd respect io the men &
The Salvation Army Chaplain Expeditionary Forces have many a helpful alot with stations un its kersorall His woodderfor now they open out & tell us their doubt eans o follies she o than od fouthe opfortunity neach thero t is well outh while my dear I am vey app yt ny to I am woddening how you the chalnes Ltt a ou, + my thought are ather with you all & yur baid paycert fodis your safe Keeprrs & sreenput aegovsence in this will se the Boys an don w every way & hedd t the mant in then wark & duing their less thedience owith credibty whd sett then I am whie hat think Do then and heant boten if th will Keep them promices to me dont
The Salvation Army Chaptain Expeditionary Forces Shakeyou will spend a vessss rahee smas & new yoa ene tho hether is not at home I had be thinking of you all whenever I am hen Ill be wondering what is likely whappen to you aften the neas year as to whether you will be shipting dower danve. If they want to Weth ft you down, to ideaton ohe I lor Ihaah etten to uenan in Bendigon I am, aronder too about Dons school X00 Wethouane you might place him at a college soe ohat the saotch Collesnes t Ministens sons. At either Wewillan or Henrry o see nto this boy you I would like to gnl him and therchanee for one mone year at East even tho it may be a binch Sanive the Scotch them are others that would gualify him for the Inxion Bablio ite Cinil schore exanfor
The Salvation Army Chaplain Expeditionary Ferces, pt Anhow being on the st will know in that is best ten ou emain in sendigs let thi begin somethinng Dckwate to ain either acun frwen electuic enginelu An dcconstan Banten o Doctor or 8 sonething. tewist now beg to choose so wewhat for him sell & show sowe predspint andsoncouse what it going to be ws he gin wont & wi it I shall bangions to kno what he As you all afternoy year Tll be writing Dou himself now sonaladewith wns pordestione higs & tissgs all I hope dostak gine to thecy up mother. tat have I to wer howe ths time for bii I think tr to get a teal stron 0 Bank fo her kenniss soshe saw gt there to sa themo mickly
The Salvation Army Chaplain Expeditionary Forces, Dea M Benson 1230 1914 Dendi My Durn Barlin Nma Don't I just wish I could fot in vse you all now miss you sasoich & think a pria fougon very ofter in a day wandenhow you all ane athan on + what you aue I am and such like things on that so my ow lunging for a hagk in two &o fewnesses froom you all santions to hav a sony from hass of a pew of he wait I Rope everthing is for well with younself o the shald re tho I can readily meas that you thinkofegl the maid days a long time in comin hound however wten we tike the old connting thro a long sight mone yaan I sould bay you ll hear each the waikss are mnning c suant. You will be glad leans thhat we are pr essue o
The Salvation Army Chaptain Expeditionary Forces, andthings one gon ven wll withus, tho we feel a hufl tired of the one slow voyage whill theneave mand in trehing espinces that beak the mon who my fromday today and ddd spie to the Ianly wutr of life. I will by a chronics & feae of these fou your ad ficatisa & engogwent and you wight hand then to the oenespapen as I think the would nake very good sead able staff & the Bendag puthis would de interested in the langal of these. You could me is to noth fakens the same day at the same time that is the dspendent reput Icould take the steaff down whont hand & the adm tisan couldat the oan of the copy enwell could fis there up if you dont so yourself
The Salvation Army Chaplain Expeditionary Forces, Yousee swant to keep tha my to the front & this will helf uhafes one of the papens would like it exchising + ane ready to pay for it. fs take the saih & let then have the gado. The money can he a livre latena and awide of couase if the dont fay the it is all wisht read the staff to the hogs finst s t sas theill bewtnted avor dowg It is rother tupng to be shat of from all the wenispapers nd fn penodicals I dont kavi how things are going outa Sittlewould oun ono n goneven we exfecet to be home is Linds & then well get can moncenens of the words som go douess it will be at least io weeks before we truck theand in orage Here is a hupned sumiad we touched Allean on Monda

INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS:

101 QUEEN VICTORIA ST., LONDON, E.C.

 

THE SALVATION ARMY.

Australian Headquarters: 69 Bourke St., Melbourne.

NAVAL AND MILITARY LEAGUE,

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE.,

 

W.BRAMWELL BOOTH.

General.

JAMES HAY.

Commissioner.

 

A14 Troopship Euripides

Oct 26th 1914

 

My Darling Wife/

I am well, and

doing well & enjoying my work immensely,

it is a mighty opportunity and

worthy of much sacrifice. It is a

lovely ship with 2,500 odd souls on

board. The Officers are fine & treat

me with extreme kindness some of

them are just 'ripping'. A lot of

Scotsmen. The Chief man is a Scot.

& the bulk of the 4th Battalion Officers

to which I am now attached are

Scots, so I'm in clover. I have a large

cabin, to myself with 2 beds & a

couch, get a lot of attention from

my stewart & live in the best of style

on 1st class fare. Its all right being a

swell. If only you were with me to enjoy

it. I would be in clover. I am thinking

so much of you & praying that god

may strengthen you & keep you cheery

all the while & the children sweet,

obedient & dutiful, working at their

lessons, with all their might.

 

THE SALVATION ARMY.

Australian Headquarters:69 Bourke St., Melbourne.

NAVAL AND MILITARY LEAGUE,

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE.

 

W.BRAMWELL BOOTH.

General

JAMES HAY.

Commissioner.

 

2

The men are most respectful to me &

are taking to me O.K. They give me a

great cheer at the concerts when I

preside. We have had some great

concerts & possess a lot of fine

talent among the men & some real

hard cases too. The pipe band charms

me & we also have some fine reciters.

We had a busy day yesterday (Sunday) a

service at 7.45 a.m. (communion)

The Official Parade at 11 a.m. I

read & pray in this.

We formed a Bible Class in the

aft'n at 3 p.m. 25 joined for a start.

We had a fine time I gave the readings

& the Dean of Sydney conducted the

songs & the prayers. He & I work

hand & glove & we are becoming

great cobbers he is a fine fellow!

Tho' an inveterate smoker. I conducted

the night evangelastic services &

he prayed. It was a [?] [?] so

the parson think for the ideal man

for this job & Im [?] all

right & will do so before it is over

 

3

We have just started holding

prayers (official) with the troops

each morning at 8-45 a.m. &

each night we have something going

The Dean & I are responsible for

the announcements also.

Monday night Pipe & Brass Band play.

Tuesday   "    I give [l?] & Bands.

Wedy       "   Concert.

Thursday  "  Bands play

Friday       "  Games [Lant?] [unevens?]

Satdy      "  Concert

We hold a Praise & prayer meeting

on Mon Tuesday Thur & Friday

nights also, so they get a good lot

of religions.

I must conclude we are now

in sight of Albany ie [?]

I hope you with the children are

well & happy. Love hugs & kisses to all

May God Bless now abundantly.

Yours as ever

Father

We had had a remarkably fine

passage thro the Bight.

 

The Salvation Army.

-The High Seas

Chaplain Expeditionary Forces

 

Mrs McKenzie

Bendigo Vic

 

My DarlingWife

Just a line

to greet you with gladness

at this time. I guess you

are wondering how I

am doing. Well, rest content. 

I am just O.K.

& trying to do something

worthwhile. It is a very

fine opportunity & but

for needful cautious and

essential censorship

I should be able to make

the [?]  of our journeyings

& [?] so far today.

to say a trifle interesting

to you, but I can tell you

the story some other day

maybe, when I see you.

I am treated with great

kindness & consideration

by the officers & profound

respect by the men &

 

The Salvation Army

Chaplain Expeditionary Forces.

 

have many a helpful [?]

with various units personally

It is wonderful how they

open out & tell us their troubles

fears & follies etc. I thank

god for the opportunity

to reach them. It is well

worth while my dear.

I am very happy in my job!

I am wondering how you

& the children are getting

on & my thoughts are often

with you all & my daily

prayer to God is [?]

safe keeping & cheerful

acquiesence in  His Will.

I hope the boys are doing

well in every way & keeping

up to the mark in their

obedience & doing their lessons.

with credit to everybody.

Tell them I am hoping great

things from them and I 

will be heart broken if they

dont keep their promises to me

 

 

Edit this transcription

Log in Sign up

Last edited by:
Judi GayferJudi Gayfer
Last edited on:

Last updated: