Lieutenant Colonel William McKenzie, MC, OBE - letters - 1915 - Part 7

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.
3
I had a very fine Church
Parade at 7.30 a.m.
this morning some 2,000 present.
My text of course was 'Calvary'.
Then we breakfasted at 8-15 am
& at 9 a.m. it was announced
that we were under orders
to move off within 3 days, and
the bustle began. We go up to
tackle the Turks first of all.
A soul got saved in my tent on
Monday night, another chap came
to see me on Wed evening about
writing a letter for him, he
had just arrived in Camp
hours previously. After a short 
conversation I tackled him
about his soul & soon he was
kneeling by my stretcher praying
to be saved & he got deliverance.
he was present in the Sunday night
meeting at Sydney when I led
he had a sister in the Clapham
Training College at present.
Since I began this letter, several

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called to see me, among them
a backslider from Burnley
who is seperated from his wife
Jack Thompson - mother a soldier
I have fast written her. I thanked 
Jack & after an hour, he too
surrendered & sought a restoration
of the joy of salvation. I 
think I told you that 3 got saved
on Sunday night. Others are
nibbling at the bait & I'll land 
some more soon. This is good it
it not?
I actually cried myself to sleep
last night  - this is good Friday - 
thinking about the suffering of 
Jesus & all it cost to provide
such a glorious salvation.
Christ in the garden  - before Pilate
His journey to Calgary & his suffering
on the cross etc. It moved me deeply
& I think that I read & preached 
all the better for the experiences.

5
No mail come to us
from Aust this week
We'll be away before it does arrive
next week, so it will follow on.
We will land right up the Dardanelles
where fierce fighting will
take place but great victories
will be won.
I must now conclude with men
Fond love to you my darlings
as also to each of the children
I hope that you & they are keeping
well & enjoying yourselves
and that everything is going
right. I will not be able 
write you much for some 
while; However, rest assured 
is well. I trust that Corps
 are improving H League
Y R May God richly bless
guide & keep you.
Yours as ever 
Father
Hugs & Kisses to all & 
regards to friends.

4th Battln
April 6th 1915
Mrs D McKenzie
Melbourne
My Own Darling Wife,
Just a line of
greeting from the Aegean Sea in the
vicinity of St John's place of banishment
I am well & eagerly looking forward to 
contact with the enemy in the near
future. No doubt you shall read of
the doings of Austs long before this
reaches you. Meanwhile let me add
there is no need for you to worry or
be over anxious. I am in good hands
& associate with the best of comrads.
The longer I am with the men the more
I become attached to them  I am
glad that there is no thought at present
of seperated our lot.
I trust that you & the children are
keeping real well in every way and
enjoying what of the favour and
blessing of the Lord. May He keep you
all in perfect peace.

2
I will not be able to write you at
length for sometime in view of 
the need for silence & censorship
& as I have given my word of honour
my letters will not be examined
by the censor.
Fondest love to yourself and the 
children with hugs & kisses for all.
Greetings to all enquiring friends.
Adieu - God Bless you much
Father
Address letters - 
4th Battalion A.I.F.
Egypt or elsewhere

a float - 21-4 - 15
Dearest Muma
The fortnights
mail has arrived but no letter
from home came along for me
Probably it may come later,
your last record was dated 26^th
Feby - which I noted is last
weeks letter.
I may say we are now playing
the waiting game. The wind
is now blowing hurricane
force & we are lying sheltered
in harbour. We will advance
within the next 3 days to meet
the Turk & Germans. It will
be a terrible tussle under
very trying conditions.
However , we'll come out on
top, tho' for a heavy price will
be paid by us, so it is in
difficult country & the
enemy has had 6 months
to prepare.
[ *We have now been lying here in
the vicinity of 2 weeks - but we will
strike hard when we begin to fight.*]

2
The waiting is trying for
the boys but it is teaching us
the needful lesson of patience.
I am having some excellent meetings
on board and preaching some
strong stuff too & it is calling
forth some striking remains.
There are two ships moored side
by side  & a lot of scots among
the Officers & crews of both.
The Captain of one said yesterday
how much he enjoyed the service
& told ^me his chief engineer remarked
to him - man isnt gran tae
hear such strong fine manly
sermons I wad gang a lang 
wey tae listen tae they sermons
The Scots always speak of me
as "the menister" & look upon
me with great reverence.
Out of 140 Catholics in the
regiment, only about 25 stayed 
away from the official service
last Sunday morning. A priest 
came aboard to conduct it.

3
service at 10.30 a.m. after I
had finished , but he only got
35 of his own flock. They look
upon me as an "everybody's man"
& not a mere protestant. The men
cheer me & show their partiality
on every possible occasion. The
Jews also come to my service.
I had a rattling time on Sunday
night. A free informal meeting
I had a great crowd, the singing 
was simply charming. I got the
hundreds to repeat the shepherds
Psalm & the Lord's Prayer.
I gave a talk on Paul's journey
in the Aegean & Mediterranean Seas
His shipwreck & imprisonment
& a rapid review of his life's work
with needful applications etc. The
men were greatly interested and
at the close of the meeting asked
for favorite songs to be sung
& we all by the hundreds

4
and sang for an hour such
Hymns as Tell me the old old story
Where is my Wandering Boy - Sun
of my Soul. Jesus lover of my Soul
shall we gather at the River
Abide with me, nearer ^ my God to to thee
Lead kindly light - God be with you
The 100 Psalm - The Glory song
etc. We sang ourselves hoarse.
The men really enjoyed it
I am having a really good time
& the work is easy to me, because
of the great responsiveness of
the men. I love then dearly &

they in return love me.
They reckon to put me in parliament
when we return, they think this is
the highest honour they could
confer on me, I smile & go on,
I am wondering often how you &
the children are? I am aware
that our spirits commune; Indeed
as I lie awake at night thinking
of you I feel you & the children too,
very near to me & this refreshed my
spirit. I trust everything is going
really well & that you work

60 An odd page
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in the corps is full of interest and
blessing for you & the people,
I am wondering if you get the British
War Cry weekly to keep you in touch
with things in General. Fancy the S.A
being over £7000 ahead of last year
despite the war. Evidently a lot of
new donors have been tapped. Scotland
with 5 million people gave
about £15, 000 of the £77, 5000 Ireland
with 5,000000 folks gave £2, 000 odd
& England & Wales with 36 million gave
£60, 000 only 4 times the Scots Total
that they have more than 7 times the 
people so Scotland is all generous yet
when in this war there are many
Scots on a prorata or percentage
basis than any other nation in the
Empire, You will see how frequently 
they are mentioned for valiant 
deeds. They are given some of the
hardest tasks & perform as they
have never been know to flinch