Lieutenant Colonel William McKenzie, MC, OBE - letters - 1915 - Part 4

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X Capt'n Lawson's hubby is here & is

in the Hospital, He has been there

for 6 weeks or more his Brother

is also there here, he is well. He

was a back slider but has got

right once more.Howell is their

name Their father is a fine man -

Many of our troops have left here

& we'll be moving any minute

for an unknown destination.

From now our letters will be

severely censored, so expect

but little news from now

indeed it may be weeks from

the time you get this letter 

until you hear again. Don't

worry over this at all, even

tho' you get no news. It is

needful or it would not be

done. I'll come thro' all

right as I've this assurance

so why worry & doubt God.

The men are only allowed to

write one post card a week

& we may be only permitted

to do the same & perhaps

where we go the postal facilities

are suspended somewhat

 

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& so we have to wait & murmur

not as war is not waged with

an idea of soldiers getting their

letters regularly. However, all is well.

I am praying that God may strengthen 

help & sustain you all. Often

& after I long intensely just to have

a good look at you, & the children

to hear your voices, have a yarn

& depart. However, we must just try &

process our souls in patience.

I trust that you are keeping really

well as also Mavis and the boys.

I guess Mavis liked her daddie's

letter.  By the way Cap - that is

returning to Aust & taking you

a parcel is a bandsman of Adelaide

Corps, the parcel among other

things has a Turkish cartridge

that a Turk emptied at the New

Zealanders at near the Suez Canal.

I suppose the boys like the stamps

I sent them & the post cards.

Everything is going well with me &

Im perfectly happy, Greene & Martin

were over to see me for 6 hours

on Monday last. They are well.

May the Lord help you all the

time. Kindest regards to all enquiriers

Hugs & Kisses to yourself & the children

Yours in much love

Father

 

March 4^th 1915

My Dear Son Colin,

I hope you 

are keeping real well and

have now got properly

settled down at your new

school at Camberwell.

I am wondering how you 

will like it, what class

you'll be in, who is your

teacher, & how you are

getting on with your

lessons. I hope you learn

to write a bit better.

I want you to be a good

scholar, a brave truthful

boy & an earnest soldier

of Jesus. I am also wondering

how you are getting

on with your tenor horn

place. I guess they'll be

glad to get you into Camberwell

bands & this should

help you to learn to play

well, try to do everything

you do real well & thorough.

We'll be there, there, there

You will find Australia there

'Mid the smoke & din of battle

Thro' the cannon's roar & rattle

we will keep things moving there

We'll be there, there, there

We're the boys to do & dare

and when Australia's wanted

We'll be there, there, there.

A Millionaire Egyptian Sheik

& some french people built

out here among the troops Two

big picture shows - each holding

about 3000 people. I got the

loan of one, on Monday night

last for a big Concert in aid

of the Red Cross Society in Cairo

They made me Chairman

the Chairman made the Concert

hum.  I had to sing my "Good bye

Cairo" song. The place for the

1st time was jammed to the doors

& crowds standing all around.

I was a great success. I have

made several songs. Here is

the words of one verse :-

We are longing most intensely now to go,

And eagerly we wait to meet the foe.

We are asking for no favour

Only let us prove the labour

that we've learned the way to shoot

and lay them low.

Our officers are heroes every one,

We will follow in their lead to Kingdom c come,

In attack or in defence, wreck an airship

storm a trench

they have just to say the word, We'll see 'tis done.

 

We'll be there, there, there,

You will find Australia there,

where the Cooee's ever ringing

and the happy folks keep singing.

It is lovely to be there,

We'll be there, there, there,

wont you come our joys to share

My heart is often yearning

To be there, there, there.

 

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When the war is over we'll return again

to our homes away across the raging mist

Oh, what joy to meet our Mothers',

Father, wives, sisters & brothers.

Wont you come and take a

"humpy" in our name?

We can show you our broad acres by

the mile.

And should you care to come & stay a while

next next next please.

I hope you are keeping Mother cheery

& looking well after things about

the place.  Of course you have found

a job for every Satdy for which

you got 2/- or 2/6 each week. If

not look our for a Grocer or Baker

You dont write much to me. I

am wondering if your throat

is better now for the operation.

Give my best love to Mother and

10 kisses to Mavis for me.

Be kind & good to them all.

May God bless, help & keep you

Your affectionate Father

W^m McKenzie

write soon

I hope you play strong

in the school football

team.  Learn to be a

good kicker & runner.

I suppose Donald will

be in his school team.

 

March 4^th, 1915

My Dear Son Gordon

How are you

& how are you getting along

I hope real well. I was

really glad to get your

letter last week and to

learn that you had been

having a good time down

at the sea side bathing

in the sea & walking

along the Piers. Now I

suppose you are settled

in the house in Camberwell

& you'll be going to

the Camberwell school.

Where I hope you'll do real

well & learn your lessons

with all your might & try

to do something good & big.

I suppose you'll find some

new mates now, who are

there. I am anxious to

know what class you are

in, what is your teacher's

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name, how you like the

school, what junior Corps

you go to & if you have

 got converted yet.

How do you like learning

elocution and how many
recitations you have
learned & what they are.

Give my best love to Mother

Mavis, Donald & Colin

and accept the same your

self.  I guess you liked

the Stamps & postcards

that I sent on to you.

Did Mother get my photo

taken on the camels?

A horse fell with me yesterday 
& bruised my calf

& thigh & my elbow & lost

my collar & hard top that is all

It was like a Circus turn.

I must close now Dear good

Boy.  God bless your Prays

Your loving Father

W^m McKenzie