Lieutenant Colonel William McKenzie, MC, OBE - letters - 1914 - Part 5

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

Page 1 / 12

Hs aclimate at present much alike sydney, wann thuo the day very chiily at night, of soma this now winten hene, Hense this wach bethen than foeing the cold ssnow of Badans &We tnair heve probably how surthes & proceed from Nene Sinect to he fwort bacy he we shall he wanted eisewhens, say b face the sunks + so notoet to Dunofe at all hat I hope we Joacusg to Dunope Yness wwell cano as Mawsellers in Tuance ohow, it will he all wisht. Capta greene (adst J. Chaplain to with the Ag wnoops & cameto see me gestenday & hoday. some shall see each other often now as he will uot ne I wiles apart in travnng camps & hevaps a wroe Iadld just lite to pop I for a few hounerow to soee on all jot fancy it will be another I weeks hepi lerens as geba kave hadts wrte to Lovd.r.
Address Chaplain Caphan Md Dewzie A.T.F. 4th Battalion on active Seunice Durrope or elsewhery It will find we quickly & sabe serays as the ostaauthoriti ane always well aware of the dish snoops whene abouts but on A.L. F. Canoh Imperial force this dves the trick. I hopeng daulin that you & the children ane in the best of foum in every way shaving a good time. I wish close with fondest love to you + also the chiltiers Flong with wntense loveing to look upon the lot of you and weanden whet Ill be pureleges with that omenew wede is much to do before that is poosible Seanwhile, we will Keepsmiling & goon without word which I amenjor not immensel. Heaven alessyou wa as
The Salvation Army Chaplain Expeditiongory Forces. n Benay Dec 15th 1714 Bindy 0 vy naulias Hife you would Wultleas a the nenes inthe itthen Iwrote to Donald tast week I save sonee Santiculary my boings etc, the wail clase ill op a suaded + we Jnsoagd & lovnsnotice of it thes we had toge oa a rowhe manch so it coold not get anotet you & Dons I had written te prexious. Wet Du De one dailing I hope you, + the cuildren anedong fist yate in eeny way, You better am fust weanying believe. in letter from yours onow neaving 9 weeks since you + manis left a the sydace train yor Home & tve heand aothing of go since then & I expect in to reafournight before
The Salvation Army Chaplain Expeditionary Forces, w Thousaddof auho ectin th abread & have fallen down some distance one brok his &kull + naother his shire noth still loe out one next to cokecess. I is suamt ale all the Camele and Sonkeys hene widden aboo & used as the were o0s your alo the ayshs ane Fghtedas and pesifactan be & setoctwnate in asking finds fo rdin them donteys o camels lorel Arab fonces. What wanderfal sight to see so wdny mey on caneto the canpso beartifull ptake in a datley to the dobith West favids of the Bydcan Desent stuctahu away to the West & westh no for hundredsor miles, Land + noorereny whene ov came is ptake depo man peet oa
The Salvation Army Chaptain Expeditionary Forces, peet. Eh huntreds wa won Syneds one lowen now than the used to be as the moad has neefilled up with sand. The husoks due none very busy tedmang & ghven tine, we am shill noable to have goy toncet it night on this a/c. then the mes goto bed soeanly + also shup at daven now 6.30 Ras his simpe lovey to watch the sis lsing over the lange fyecanies & the sunsets are channiing to behold. Edenesaeven neavis + viy blankets se very Dampeach night & morning as Lisleek ourside reguet to pay that since Monday my old trouble with my Torbils has cone onngn & In fealin very seedy these last 3days. I did a heave manch thee the Dasen sand nondae worning, in which many gob cleans
The Salvation Army Chaptain Expeditionary Forces, krocked ap + I had ho two back to cant, had to have one caneld, on a stuctchen Thea I went to visit the hospital & this takes also ine gttrea I can only do facit of it few of the Nonconfornust Ohallain far wet this morning O to dunongg a fran pouwnita the Hospiral, so coppreend I Moa Wed & fendy & tl TPleg & Catto Mills, lake tre ata been o weth Mthee, Hieshton Mephew of Bris MSH + Miles Baptist &o man (hofts Died in the Hospital this mor me tvisited him yesterday hat he was hos forthur to noticeone Anotherdied in Alexanderg on Suaday 125 milesfuwn heere chaplain bucked him thene I have to preaco to Fresvry ns an methodish on Sunday + have to at the youca as night is they have a langerent into which we can get Goomen &we are taking this in an
Sanlos sbaedn to a sait the lauten master of the rginent in dealing out the uations to themen & to help MDonald thus any tight cornen this thanepromond too soid the monings in and as I eithen go out in the march ver move around among the Chaptains & sick eo in camp lam turing tmake myself freat useful so this is another oppointmnity to stah have net quite a few salv soldiens abead + we have not yet s all pixed in Camp sone still Beek comine t will be about dwas before the Panp is olhtled o there we gie to weark in propen ondea I giess if men therre will be somethymoning
Hom appea I won gar what you all ane doing how soing & it all ane teekin well It would done hod ot he Deak ias & see you fouar hour apo. I know you all anpuasing four me + d dont fanger you fam quite anxious to reano i you are moving frrg m Bendigo In a wear thopenet. as it would sangyoa sucha lot ophrouble &n and wart packing + shipting Smust now close wish fandndt love to you Mavis the Boys shope the three of these ane behaving + active like beave kores & proving a great dlessing &cheen to Mother. May God Besarnfonvery macd yours as Lne Father
The Salvation Army Chaplain Expeditionary Fonces, Dec 28 1914 of Saslin Hife Trs is my St Birthday & in my will seat dreams I never espected to sevd this in the pisiant o Sypt bi CByrawds. Beit here I am anting this no m rent by sandle lions at 9 f Howti dopend the day Well itwes githedup at san to visit a dyie wan in the Hospital hedied at 9 am another vistim to reumoria a youskellow on feomny Bathalitn was hulned on Fity so the funeral is towored w Monday) & then prepaned for Church Parade at 20255 Aw which lasted to 10.00 do 35 monntes, the men shanding ad the while. I had aloan $4000 the stand in hollow square- four, one end tng last to a speat mate all reaw
In the Appennaont went to and they senvice vioited acouple of officeus in the hospital forer had a walk in myelshoned by the spknex & the Bran ft was Dank when I made home when I halked to the looks a bit o ther ont for dinney at NP.M Hent upho the YMCA tent afterward, Ithen cane back to write his o you. his has been a great day Bggft Dec whew the new protechorate was protlained & a geat on wony penformed the Dea Soltan is 61 years ol to day Dec yof Youll head all about senmony o the papent. I have been hond wut ronna came but ths wntoago
The Salvation Army Chaplain Expeditionary Forces Sunday geado Lynamid Kundradsclb then this day oh in to inspect themlikens at the pho & hundred more have ende Sanels & Donkeys, I eo nn havent net done have I timed to climb the fraands, it is a try task will have a latifunn I was here however. It will wouth while if only for the novelty. I windernow yoo all are soing this stmas tess you'll have a very enjorable tie enewwith out father if only for te childrens sake snow canclade this shout note uith foodest one to you &the children tdays ssen all now well & folly We get nonews wich here floo to see awrr cup oo Blessyou your ascve Father
I have iot neceeved comple of lettens from Austn mothers rethec boys & Innst look then up this weeks. I tress I'll get the first lettens f yours in about here saystime from now fo about new yars tay fettings to all inquiniens 4 AUOTNHO te tint

It is a climate at present much

like Sydney warm thro the day

& very chilly at night. Of course

it is now winter here, Hence,

it is much better than facing

the cold & snow of England.

We train here probably for 3 mths

& proceed from here direct to

the front. It may be we shall

be wanted elsewhere, say to

face the Turks & so not get to 

Europe at all, but I hope we

go across to Europe. I guess

we'll land at Marsailleis in

France. Anyhow it will be
all right. Captn Greene (Adjt)

N.Z. Chaplain is with the

N.Z. troops & came to see

me yesterday & today.

So we shall see each other

often now as we will just 

be 8 miles apart in training

Camps & he owns a horse

& would just like to pop in

for a few hours now to see

you all, just fancy it will

be another 5 weeks before

I get any letters as I

have had to write to London

[* as King, that my letters be sent on me

at Cairo in future you can

address all letters to me as follows *]

 

 

Address

Chaplain Captain W. McKenzie,

A.I.F. 4th Battalion

on active Service

Europe or elsewhere

It will find me quickly &

save delays as the Postal authorities

are always well aware of

the Aust Troops whereabouts.

Put on A.I.F. (Aust Imperial Force)

& this does the trick.

I hope my darling that you

& the children are in the

best of form in every way

& having a good time.

I must close with fondest

love to you & also the children

I long with intense longing

to look upon the lot of you.

and wonder when I'll be

privileged with that. However,

there is much to do before that

is possible. Meanwhile, we will

Keep smiling & go on with our

work which I am enjoying just

immensely. Heaven bless you

Yours as ever

WMcK

[* Kindest regards to all enquiries *]

 

 

 

The Salvation Army

Chaplain Expeditionary Forces,

Dec 15th 1914

Mrs McKenzie

Bendigo Vic

My Darling Wife

You would

doubtless get the news in the

letter I wrote to Donald last

week & gave some particulars

of my doings etc, the mail

close all of a sudden & we

just had 2 hours notice

of it & then we had to go

off on a route march

so I could not get a note to

you & Don's I had written

on Satdy previously. Well

now darling I hope you &

the children are doing first 

rate in every way, You better

believe I am just wearying

for a letter from you, it

is now nearing 9 weeks

since you & Mavis left by

the Sydney train for Home

& I've heard nothing of you

since then & I expect it

to be a fortnight before

 

 

The Salvation Army

Chaplain Expeditionary Forces,

3

Periods Thousands of  Austns
are climbing the Pyramids &

already 2 have fallen down

some distance one broke his

skull & another his spine

both still live, but are

next to hopeless. It is quaint

to see all the Camels and

Donkeys here, ridden about

& used as they were 6,000

years ago the Arabs and

Egyptians are perfect hands

to beg & extortionate us

asking funds for riding

their donkeys & camels. & 

lovely Arab ponies. What a

wonderful sight to see so

many men in Camp & the

camp so beautifully pitched

in a valley to the North West

of the Pyramids & the

Lybian Desert stretching

away to the West & the Sth

of us for hundreds of

miles, sand & rock everywhere. 
Our camp is pitched

on many feet deep of sand

 

 

 

The Salvation Army

Chaplain Expeditionary Forces,

4

maybe hundreds of feet. The

Pyramids are 50 & more

lower now than they used to be

as the ground has been filled

up with sand. The troops

are now very busy training

& streny very tired, we are still

unable to have any concerts

at night on this a/c. Then the men

go to bed so early & also get up

at dawn, now 6.30 a.m. It is

simply lovely to watch the sun

rising over the large Pyramid

& the sunsets are charming

to behold. The dews are very

heavy & my blankets get

very damp each night &

morning as I sleep outside

I regret to say that since

Monday my old trouble with

my tonsils has come on again

& I'm feeling very seedy these

last 3 days. I did a heavy

march thro' the Desert sand

on Monday morning in

which many got cleans

 

 

The Salvation Army

Chaplain Expeditionary Forces,

5

knocked up & had to take

two back to camp, had to have

one carried on a stretcher.

Then I went to visit the hospital

& this takes a long time & then

I can only do part of it. A few

of the nonconformist Chaplains

met this morning (4 of us

to arrange a plan for visiting

the Hospital, so Col Green & I

go on Mon Weds & fridy & Col

McPhee & Captn Miles take tues

Weds & friday Thurs & Satdys, Green is Meth

McPhee, Presbytyn (nephew of Brig McP.

& Miles (Baptist) A man (Ch of E.)

died in the Hospital this morning, 

I visited him yesterday, but

he was too far thro' to notice me

and then died in Alexandera on

Sunday 125 miles from here

so a chaplain buried him there.

I have to preach to Presbytyns and

Methodists on Sunday & have a

go at the Y.M.C.A. at night as

they have a large tent with

which we can get 800 men

& we are taking this in turn.

 

 

 

6

Our Col has just asked me

to assist the Quarter Master

of the Regiment in dealing out

the rations to the men & to

help McDonald thro' any tight

corner this I have promised

to do in the mornings in

Camp, as I either go out in 

the march or move around

among the Chaplains & sick

men in Camp. I am trying

to make myself generally

useful so this is another

opportunity to get in.

I have met quite a few Salv

soldiers already & we have

not yet go all fixed in Camp

some still keep coming. It

will be about Xmas before

the Camp is settled & things

begin to work in proper

order. I guess by then

there will be something moving.

 

 

8

How often I wonder what

you all are doing, how you are

doing & if all are keeping well.

It would do me good just to

drop in & see you for an hour

or/so. I Know you all are praying

for me & I don't forget you

I am quite anxious to learn

if you are moving from

Bendigo In a way I hope/not.

As it would save you such a

lot of trouble & hard work,

packing & shifting.

I must now close with fondest

love to you, Mavis the Boys

I hope the three of them are

behaving & acting like brave

heroes & proving a great

blessing & cheer to Mother.

May God Bless You very much

Yours as Ever

Father

 

 

The Salvation Army

Chaplain Expeditionary Forces,

Dec 20th 1914

My Darling Wife

This is my

45th Birthday & in my wildest

dreams I never expected to

spend this in the vicinity of

Egypt by the Pyramids. But

here I am writing this in my

tent by candle light at 9 p.m.

How did I spend the day?

Well I was called up at 3 a.m.

to visit a dying man in the

Hospital, he died at 7 am.

Another victim to Pneumonia

A young fellow (CO's) from my

Battalion was buried on Friday

so this funeral is tomorrow

(Monday) I then prepared for

Church Parade at 10-15 am.
which lasted to 10-50 am

35 minutes, the men standing

all the while, I had about

1,000 They stand in hollow 

square - I focus one end

& it is a trying task to

speak to make all hear,

 

 

2

In the afternoon I went to

another Service visited

a couple of Officers in

the hospital & then had a

walk by myself round

by the Sphinx & the Pyramid

it was dark when I walked

home when I talked to the

Cooks a bit & then out

for dinner at 7 p.m.

Went up to the Y.M.C.A.

tent afterwards & then came

back to write this to you.

This has been a great day

in Egypt Dec 20th When

the new Protectorate was 

proclaimed & a great ceremony

performed - the

new Sultan is 61 years old

today (Dec 20th) You'll read

all about the ceremony in

the papers.

I have been for a run

round camp but of 

this I will write again.

 

 

 

The Salvation Army

Chaplain Expeditionary Forces,

3

Sunday is a great day for the

Pyramids, hundreds climb

them this day & go in to inspect

them likewise the Sphinx &

hundreds more have rides

on Camels & Donkeys, I

haven't yet done so nor

have I tried to climb the

Pyramids. It is a trying task.

We will have a rather funny

Xmas here however, It will

be worth while if only for

the novelty. I wonder how

you all are doing this Xmas,

I guess you'll have a very

enjoyable time even with

out father if only for the

children's sake.

I now conclude this short

note with fondest love to

you & the children & hugs

& kisses to you all.

I am now well & jolly

We get no news much here

I long to see a war Camp.

God Bless You Yours as ever

Father

 

 

I have not received a

couple of letters from

Aust'n mothers [retheer?]

boys & I must look them

up this week. I guess

I'll get the first letters

of yours in about ten

days time from now

on about New Year's Day.

Greetings to all inquirers

DR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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