Lieutenant Colonel William McKenzie, MC, OBE - letters - 1914 - Part 4

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

Page 1 / 10

The Salvation Army Chaptain Expeditionary Forces, the Looo nayou I was tled to aondier not main fomoursh were so fwsce behewd Iwene I lepton mouning ot t am what lovely monning too & whate a comif cient eight to witness orinesf Dopships sait out of the Landour an as seaille in them lines & sa the ff to gether no dot o also the agship &u platsnet of the wd line othe onerophine that of the 3 ane theie were steren boats u ou live & we ave the pastest live you will know that the face is set healh in the slowest boat the Iwret bads the seatue lie & we tate the than tose dooe wthat I side of hew they ens in I pawritted we ee about awile hetween i 300 yds or so behween the boats the lire then we hav
The Salvation Army Chaptain Expeditionary Fonces, powenful cruisenahead 50 tflant Woeoviea en the near ivesides sconts that are away on we don't know how war here sa ided of the lins lading B cunise Plarship turpides orouts Thrspakin way Rin
The Salvation Army Chaptain Expeditionary Forces, 2 theis aree 33 twopships all to bk Dalindeus M studing a blagship is the bangani I don't know how man arinsen thereare propatly 1o0e so foe of the most infreisive 5 oights one soen. There has been excettionat weather thro out inmuch mcaaae ac thankful for athho we have fne aauisea to wad I a wallydith & eckinon ane g dught £4 Ashsin po aichandan concents of the 4th 2t Bathallion & mask of the A M Conps ttung madical ch great ts from the bogs. We also have excellent meetings & there and sertaintydan ns guite a got od he week Dibbe crass to alsover populan. We have ayens &45 neld in 60 faity at sepiphe places, each thaplaw saces
. Sananon srmg Chaplain Expeditionary Forces, we have something lite wost Catholics oo boaa dnut oone appaiently very hipter I am reated with teat aspeat onsideration Daney Iot taken dowes for m lank we Dnewbot in sydne a few cames there were taken know one of scases that h been open af ou bo, and the miltine there is a tenuble lot of the the sah oti this shaf the office shad a taken out of his calios is a woist belt oven so haw lost money lyts this ratoth s galone there are some tenruble Gamblens, or boand but this hae been put down wth a kand quite a peas t but in andnooof yo days each + money som procared in man lat t tater from him in this he 620 Days in Wg tell w mighty hot weather do d
The Salvation Army Chaptain Expeditionary Farces, we touchd Colonbo on Monyst nadda an trnight at o (15 days) aften leaving albany be rewained there unhil husda nnt & sailed for adew which place we will reach Dr.S on wedg worman west Nov 25th We are just I weeks on the ship Ston land 50 letch ou legs some, but we do this until we wush do natand to wget thenice na close it i we mn of tmas geesing & you all heap of his Thases and gll sorts of for. Wishes. No adanexaito time over the inden episdd wall read it elsewhere. In oalosi we sty in anothen package N 45 St Grengh S. wo sfoul th to ettles from we b this maib if a St Ld you mush therd. Ma $0 waus appecte Kns J.F.D
The Salvation Army Chaptain Expeditionary Forces, Dec 2 1014 Ay Garking Nife NeK To just weashed br & said other a mash intenesting fabacy thro the Dnes ona whigh to al persent guanded by $15000 troops hifl indiat Ehs. We have thatI go that we ave 44 who axnd Disembard thene & wer fairo to t ass or granter & tedig then heat ooneet the Savage sarks who are manching Dor ypt dan Annin Ison othelaneno espect Teaeness sle when fight nykod tossasskned. I am bed ghaving sear Ihine Ofih I aw hope ato goad yout, some te the heoh Fadge eventher have know
The Salvation Army. Chaptain Expeditionary Forces, that is the afficin ssc waidently t have made o D ank somehow. I dont toow Slonatle hews toyp v Texpect about 10001 week aops for the ladiois of I to saas the ntanhey strngh on to C thatwe Franes the fihwstine is wery an setar ot it tenant on tod mas all the od etten that has been addw thene Snat San n hor thea to aseat X wtt. Dresoi ten as eloas: aptilk aplain t MBaz AsD S Ht Sattalion ypt add.Ro any lther will following up
The Salvation Army Chaptain Expeditionary Ferces 131 topeng dear that stonare shealwell & wa teet joyfal cheeny fram Opctn othin I. Have no worry atener ov my a/ hads & sandi of to my joo & will comethits d with y dues by the gudes 20 akinal t Syou a the out bless & help you it aw ho wy o fodnn its on I would have sable but. Soso shortofe ask that I could not do so isorry thope sincerely that all the Loysane stapin well and behaving heaselves thorought Bredivs a Your to Whelpi fyou dish they saw May ant the
The Salvation Army Chaplain Expeditionary Forces, 181 I am iuctwondenn what Rappen after the naw Iw thinkn youall 200 of the sacking I shipping in a was doskope you have not to sheft flow Bendin olve Loweagan gent it so that St I he adle so under tote all the heavy wout. an all wang Iall Janax Dens dnet waita las. to weeks poy letter now yo o Fatreaon a month lew o Loadod Smnst blose with lone kigs 5 for you wayblea cllanis & the thre oys by and Hepakeery throught wearke hay wollles& yoa all aesen 1 o Sathe 0 D X X0 0
03 A.L.F. M. Battalion Sano, Sytt 4/12/14 No Bauling Ni0 We have now wasked alexandenia, which is a svery lange, city of a five Bastenn gope with many very firs Buildings & also possesses a comwadious Ad lan which is protected by a poweafal Bretaining wall has jukson acnoss t way + bueaks the ponce of the Noutherin o N. West storms. I was unable to thap to the City, hevee I cornnot descenbe it to you He are now basy ocembarki ay lott of to morrow monoi We entran for cavo mauch 10 mle out, been about 1 will from the Lynamids so instead of eating our mas sinner at fadon well be shemon vitish relight nean the Sphnix Anyhow I'll be throtm of you all when

The Salvation Army.
Chaplain Expeditionary Forces,
4
morning where by the good
Offices of the Major I was
permitted to go ashore, not many
from our ship were so priveleged
we remained there & left on Sunday
morning at 6 a.m.  What a
lovely morning too & what a
magnificent sight to witness
the 3 lines of troopships 
sail out of the harbour and
assemble in their lines & sail
off together. The Orvieto is the
chief flagship, ours is also the
Shropshire that of the 3rd line.
There were eleven boats in our
line & we are the fastest
lines. You will know that the
pace is set really by the slowest
boat. The Orvieto leads the 
centre line & we take the starboard,
or righthand side of her
they run in & parrellel lines
about ½ a mile between us ^the lines &
300 yds or so between the boats
in the line then we have
[*555 hugs & kisses for the boys*]
 

 

The Salvation Army

Chaplain Expeditionary Forces,

5
a powerful cruiser ahead of
us one on each flank &
over in the rear, besides
scouts that are away out
we dont know how many
here is an idea of the line

leading {:} (cruiser)

  Shropshire Flagship
Orvieto		 Euripides  
 

{ }

{:}

{:}

  
 

{ }

{ }

{:}

  
Cruiser
ship
  {:}

{ }

{ }

{:}

 Cruiser
Warship
     {:}
 

{ }

{ }

{:}

 Warship
 

{ }

{ }

{ }

  
 

{ }

{ }

{ }

  
 

{ }

{ }

{ }

  
 

{ }

{ }

{ }

  

{:}

{ }

{ }

{ }

  


 

 

The Salvation Army

Chaplain Expeditionary Forces,

6
There are 38 troopships all told
including 10 New Zealanders
whose flagship is the Maunganui
but I dont know how many Cruisers
there are probably 10 or so.
Its one of the most impressive
sights I've seen. There has been
exceptional weather thro'out
& we have very much to be
thankful for altho we have
had quite a lot of sickness on
board & a couple of deaths &
burials. Our meetings & concerts
are going strong & I'm quite
a popular chairman. I chair
all the concerts of the 4th
Battalion & most of the
AM Corps (Army Medical) I get
some great "things" from the
boys. We also have excellent
meetings & these are certainly doing
us quite a lot of good. The
weekly Bible class is also very
popular. We have prayers
daily at 8-45 held in 6 or 7
separate places, each chaplain
3 places.

[*They died from pneumonia*]

 

The Salvation Army

Chaplain Expeditionary Forces,

7

we have something like 200

Catholics on board but none

apparently very bitter. I am

treated with great respect &

consideration. Fancy I got

taken down for my lantern

in Sydney & 25 new books &

a few games these were taken

from one of my cases that had

been opened on board the Miltire

there is a terrible lot of thieving

going on continually on board

this ship. One officer thad about

£30 taken out of his cabin in a

waist belt. Over 100 have lost

money like this & clothing

galore. There are some terrible

gamblers onboard but this

has been put down with a

firm hand quite a few

put in guard room for

28 days each & money confiscated.

One man had £56

taken from him in this way &

he got 28 days in the cells &

in mighty hot weather too. 

 

The Salvation Army.

Chaplain Expeditionary Forces,

8

We touched Colombo on Monday

midday a fortnight after

(15 days) after leaving Albany

we remained there until tuesday

night & sailed for Aden which

place we will reach D.I. On

Wedy morning next Nov 25th

We are just 5 weeks on the ship

& we long to get on land to

stretch our legs some, but we

wont do this until we touch

England 4 weeks hence

I must now close this one the

warmest of Xmas greetings

to you all, heaps of hugs &

Kisses and all sorts of good

wishes. We had an exciting

time over the Emden episode.

You will read it elsewhere. Im

enclosing the written

'Copy' in another package

I hope you get them all O.K.

You should get 3 letters from

me by this mail if all get

'thro'. May God Bless you much

Your affectn Hubby W McKenzie

[75 hugs & 250 kisses for Mavis & Murna]

 

The Salvation Army.

Chaplain Expeditionary Forces,

Dec 2nd 1914

My Darling Wife

We have

just reached Port Said after

an interesting passage

thro' the Suez Canal which

is at present guarded by

15,000 troops, chiefly Indian

Siks. We have just got

word that we have to go

on the Alexandria & tovns

disembark there & then

pass on to Cairo to

quarter & train there & get

ready to meet the Savage

Turks who are marching

on Egypt. I am Arming

also as they have no

respect for preachers or

anybody else when fighting.

Rest assured I am real

well & having a real

good time of it. I am

voted a good sort, some

reckon the best Padre

ever they have known

 

The Salvation Army.

Chaplain Expeditionary Forces,

2

that is the Officers reckon to

so evidently I have made a

mark somehow. I dont know

how long I'll be in Egypt but

I expect about 10 or 12 weeks

for the training of troops

& to pass the Winter here

& then we'll go straight into

France & the fighting line

but it is very uncertain

so far. It is a great pity that

I'll miss all the London

letters (that had been addressed

to there from aust. I am

waiting for them to be sent

on to me in Egypt.

Address my letters as

following:

Capt. Chaplain W. McKenzie

A.I.F. 4th Battalion

Cairo. Egypt

 

Any letters will follow me up.

 

The Salvation Army.

Chaplain Expeditionary Forces,

4

I hope my dear that you are

keeping real well & in a

hopeful, joyful cheery frame

of mind. Have no worry.

whatever on my a/c Im in

good hands & standing up

to my job & will come thus

all right with flying

colours, by the grace

of God.

I am continually of you

all & praying the Lord to

bless & help you. I am

wondering how you are

getting on. I would have

cabled you but I'm so

short of cash that I

could not do so. I'm sorry

I hope sincerely that all the

boys are shaping well and

behaving themselves thoroughly

& are proving a joy to you.

& helping you all they can

May God grant this.

 

The Salvation Army

Chaplain Expeditionary Forces,

5

I am just wondering what's

going to happen after the New

Year to you all. I'm thinking

of the packing & shifting. In

a way I do hope you have

not to shift from Bendigo

until I come home again

so that I'll be able to undertake

all the heavy work.

I am awfully hungry for

news of you all & it is

trying to have to wait at

least 10 weeks for letters

from you, & at least a

month for London.

I must close with love &

hugs & kisses for you

my warbling Mavis & the

three boys.

Keep a cheery, happy and

thoroughly restful.

May God bless  you all

Yours as ever

xoxoxoxoxoxoFather

oxoxoxoxox

 

A.I.F. 4th Battalion

Cairo, Egypt.

4/12/14

My Darling Wife

We have now

reached Alexanderia, which is a

very large city of a fine Eastern

type with many very fine

Buildings & also possesses a

commanding Harbour (which

is protected by a powerful

retaining wall that juts out

across the bay & breaks the

force of the Northern & N. West

storms. I was unable to

get up to the city, hence I

cannot describe it to you.

We are now buoy disembarking

& my lot gets off tomorrow

morning (FridaySatdy) We entrain

for Cairo & march 10 miles

out, being about 1 mile from

the Pyramids, so instead of

eating our Xmas Dinner at

London we'll be chewing

Turkish delight near the

"Sphinx" Anyhow, I'll be

thinking of you all when

[*I am at this job & I am quite interested

in the fact that we are coming here to

Egypt. I dont know how long we'll be here.*]

 



 

 

Last edited by:
Sam scottSam scott
Last edited on:

Last updated: