Lieutenant Colonel William McKenzie, MC, OBE - letters - 1916 - Part 2

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
AWM2019.22.5
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

The Satvation Army Chaplain Austratian Expeditionary Forces 4 Bottla R1.F Fist 24/1/ 1816 My Dauling Kama Samaore bad ame at thep I had somefire times a eenings yestd Great crowds. I ave insermon & so natbling mon ev upa trifle immence son D some cabod madtknot the move aain beyond the anat t we dont expect much fighting. Only we ant to be read for lwengencies Ao a tantor this shipthing canf so beqently doever to all is thewa Bath pence he enemy sows abe gathering shalking price for the spring wnto Lineas wetl overahelmn then with guns, shells + men, as they sallies are fevens hulding n mighty reserves of both men & montion I will come out on top s woll hac the enemy porces with aushing effect t will take time unta think It will be done this year before 1917 bawns, Iloul all one pyised if n any anota not France ay Haynext
1 2 4 t t 26 th to wkeou& th t live sy hm ele Ihu rel tix the andy hed. Lawps y pin of health + full ohe shirit & very fet forwa st the to sed wit to making a bee elively scan be ada liftlemeetine tngs e a concent ia Day Ne wit Doundeo asout now t the car teresand oct ments & we the Boks Con w Thene are ar imne Savops K wait fother M hay to day ask yen to let you near the Copta the s famest ode hea I saw them hi till the arewell wide & Okt are popose shet Atwith sx& Isaw pastory fou 1st solawih Arpertne le
att solosels itc the that Juse int of art tohel $0.00 at su gaue no 4 thewih hamhene atrut this frts elf or & tafing usepully sa wit tdaw home + couks a lasting out for a letter frm caad oe from Mavist ofthe beys He have secued the use of a ais hki grese all for the ase of sales to on Sundayon te Di the t in to for scralnt ohd Weill sonbaston seet on our sown ay ct h tooat op
2 usual
pt sav Dale at Alay What a 2 rest of ath They lenated you like the Junion ken d lass and you in at hon what is the ramg of tea en on n tthen hav 26 teat you shill le en Dayanies have you town ought a little naby donteg a ipracties fort wall y cettingso little blact sontey with lon isone of the man sometyce Ale hins 5.2 the tai last evening o the little Siaredo injaid tompl thaeleas& bt the wan in the standet nearl kavesy in over my ve die lant We have also yot a little wadly at he et Eey bp & he smuch wears the be too is vey hassn Sr Bill
doll tig shat Fawwel bast and t apy on te having guit 0 sed t isionday want fo the toned his pot she pooted re & I slep with them on torsies every night now. otten 4higs & 6 Russes Every say founs & the bogs oe each you 2ohig wti doena every day alt for young I hope yous an prayng ford our eveny day Fasting blessrhelp we begsd hewith you to half &Bsoyor taken Yours lovns
The Satration Army Chaptain Australian, Expeditionary Forces 4th Lift, Battalisn A.I.F. Jany 31st 1916 My Dear Soudy I Iwas happy to get young letter eso that you hadpassed chacess fully for the St ae where ptin a aceu earnof t oth cass y ope doing it warn when you gtt a bateres for ta & ar Americen builfen fo EDeay happy bestdi i tac ervins old sy owfor a hipo y recidently has a geat gme fo your fisne I can mess you alsorcfed e the on Have did you ensoy yourcholiddy at Denahs snlenow aga i te put your protive in the paper raid the Gayoy come to the Ll stats i meet you I an havie quite or fappy time hene aeato meetin last meat. I suppose you ar adle so m a bit now I must take you on a wogds hace when Instu Tell Mother Lob pncels from Scotland estardy from an Mothers picter & my cousing soendo morthread a cate ahoo late tolliesor to be seavelos Roveets, DusKugoalin
Wradeline hoasie bhanstie tho Hlona to aey Spairsox pammittens sap & one washigsoap matah of al at onie wash, a honsewife foryo Kertings pden angetin co enc. It wreall nightch? I dignt know the knew whene I was, but man than has been wite alot waithen short me in some the papers in telandn They rector his an exceedingls beau ma when the teneable fighting is proguess. But then they dont know crething. to they sedeasged ane keeping Shapeyou to play you inst well + having t real ped time altogethes s sel mother ill you can Keep her very aheany + chinfy bont give kenany gansest warry. Buy galways we very obedient to hen wishes & wout orhe rike a wenk hero. Imust close with tou dast love &bestwishes. Ad plass you fightowen purc W
The Salvation Army Chaptain Austration Expeditionary Forces 4 Lpty Battalon At.F 3/1/106 Ma Farling Maris nadenefe your ena happy whan letter telling me all about those presents youo from Santa the fea-set a time tono school, a stocring a are soll + a lox of choclates- a lovely inen swce motheranice room, asofbed nic clateso alshaf poercards -thiy I wish I could just see them all. Hone did you like me phots, what a lot of hups & kisses you have sent me. They pne losely. I am lot you had a happ time a the Liknie & that you seeprescally so it yo the beads I sen you vor ao you like them, Did the ugyo gt them watches yet daw well very happy + telling the colou that Jeaus wants to save them. ptav last night aday I am sending a ppiteof mysell tar ipyont of a tent poae ine - Father to plassyou Saest of his

The Salvation Army      
Chaplain Australian Expeditionary Forces,
4th Battln A.I.F.
Egypt 24/1/1916

My darling Muma

I am now back

home at camp. I had some fine times at

meetings yestdy - great crowds. I gave

a rattling morning sermon & stirred

them up a trifle - immense crowd - Some

more Salvo's made themselves known to me

On the move are again beyond the Canal

but we dont expect much fighting. Only we

want to be ready for emergencies-

It's a tarban this shifting Camp so frequently

However, its all in the war - Both forces

the enemy & vuns are gathering striking
force for the spring, but I guess we'll 
overwhelm them with guns, shells & 
men, as they Allies are feverishly building
up mighty reserves of both men & munitions
& will come out on top & roll back the
enemy forces with crushing effect.
It will take time but I think it will be done
this year before 1917 dawns. I should
not be at all surprised if many Austns
are in France by May next.

 

2

I am now putting up a big fight for a soul

I hope to win him over.
Did I tell you I saw sister Softon Satdy

in Cairo, this makes 3 of the sisters I saw

only sister Gant I missed

I must now conclude as everything is bustle

& movement. Meanwhile, I hope this finds

yourself and the children all in good health

& busy with lessons & lucky bags - I got another

mail on Satdy, but no personal letters 
came one from Col Knight & another from

Scotland from one of my nieces - Jean Campbell.

I hope that fortune is smiling on you & that you

get the ₤20 safely I posted to you.

Heartiest of salutations & fondest love

to you all - May God richly bless you.

Yours in constant thoughts & formally

Hugs & Kisses to all     Father

On the Bedsox - "I was tickled to bursting"

 

 

Egypt - 27 - 1 - 16

Dearest Mumia,

It is thursday night

& I think it good to write you a

line or two ere I turn in to my

'Sandy' bed. I am just in the

very pink of health & full of cheery

spirit & very fit for work. The

speed is good & it is making us

as lively as can be.

I had a little meeting on tuesday 

with a Concert last night Jany

26th (Foundtn Day). We will be

off in a day or two now beyond

the Canal to more sand hither

cold nights & lonely vigils etc. 

to meet the Turks coming on to

Canals. There are an immense

amount of Troops here in waiting.

I wrote Esther M Hay today asking

her to let you read the letter.

I got the sox, I fairly exploded

when I saw them & put them on

Still they are well made & O.K. to

sleep with. I have proposed she start
a factory for Bed sox & I claim

the sole right of advertising & 

uspey & salesman. I guess she'll

smile some when she reads it
[*Greene passed thro toward the Canal this Aftn
to see two Generals etc re his [[?Gifts]] Department.
He is O.C. of [[?Gifts]] - OC meaning Officer Commanding*]
 

 

He is on a good wicket so he is the

senior Chaplain of N.Z. out here.

to their sick to the Army at their

H.Qrts. The Genls & Colonels etc. they

are awfuly nice to me when I see

them & yarn away like one saloon

Did I tell you, that Greene has got

a decoration, tho' not at the firing

line. It is for efficient service etc.

I dont yet know the nature of the decoration

I have had no mails lately tho one

has been lying at Suez for us for

3 days.  They are too busy shifting

troops to bother with it and put
it on the train for here- It may
come before Satdy-
I trust this finds yourself in fine
form & keeping usefully busy with
home & Corps work. I am
looking out for a letter from each
of the boys & one from Mavis too
We have secured the use of a
small French Church in Cairo,
(Greene) for the use of Salvos for
meetings on Sunday & one Wed night.
We are now on the look out for
a large Room for social intercourse.
etc. We'll do it & start
the Army in Cairo on our own
thus forming them to tackle something
[*later on. They might easily run a Military Home all
thro the years. They badly need Colonial enterprises
in Homes of these things. Too much English sloth about*]

 

Give my fondest love to the 
children & accept the same
yourself. All can while keep
cheery & as bright as usual. 
May God richly bless you
Yours in Love
WMcM Father

 

Egypt - 29-1.16
My Darling Girl Mavis
How are
You getting along? At home, at 
school & at play? What do
you like to do best of all? Then
how do you like the Juniors?
What class are you in at school
now, what is the name of your 
teacher? How many kittens have
you got? Have you still got the Black
Pussy? How many canaries have You?
We bought a little baby donkey a
fortnight ago for ten piastre
2 shillings and one half penny, he us 
a little black donkey with long
hair, some of the men are

teaching him some tricks - One
gave him a slap above
the tail last evening & the little
Donkey promptly kicked up
his back legs & hit the man in
the stomach & nearly knocked
him over, my we did laugh.
We have also got a little wadly
pup & he is very fat, he gets 
too much to eat- The big
Billy Goat is very happy too
among the horses. 
[*We have erected fancy little windmills & tho
you should see how the strong wind makes
them spin. We had heavy rain today*]
 

 

Tell Mother that I am well
busy and happy and
having quite a good time.
Tell Ensign Hay that I got 
the lovely big sox she posted
to me & I sleep with them on
my 'toosies' every night now,
Give Mother4 hugs & 6 kisses
every day for me & the boys one each -
I send you 25 hugs and 40 Kisses

for every day all for yourself.
I hope you are praying for me
every day & asking Jesus to 
bless and help me.
Your loving Father
xxxxxxxx WMcKenzie
xxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
xoooooooooo
[*PR 84(15014)
Australian 
War Memorial*]

 

 

The Salvation Army
Chaplain Australian Expeditionary Forces,
4th Infty Battalion A.I.F.
Jany 31st 1916
My Dear Gordon
I was happy to get your letter &
to learn that you glad passed successfully for the 8th
Grade where I hope you will put in a good successful
year & come out on top. try to be Dux of the Class.
Boy, You are doing it warm, whenever you get a 2-
watches for Xmas & an American builder for
your birthday on March 22nd Many happy 
returns old boy - Now for a hip hop year!
You evidently had a great time for your picnic
I can guess you got scorched by the sun.
How did you enjoy your holiday at Dench's

What is Bendigo like now again? Did they
put your picture in the paper & did the
Mayor come to the Rly Stat'n to meet you?
I am having quite a happy time here,
& am kept busy. We had 6 saved at our
meeting last night- I suppose you are
able to swim a bit now - I must take yo
on for a 100 yds race when I return.
Tell Mother I got 2 parcels from Scotland
Yesterday from my Mothers Sister & my cousins
Milk, Salmon, Shortbread, a cake, chocolate, lollies, OXO
Bovril, Drinkscalding, writing paper & envelopes
 

 

vaseline, boracic 6 hankies boot laces
3 pairs six 1 pair mittens 3 cases fancy 
soap & 1 washing soap matches 6 big wax candles
wool a housewife for mending cuffs.
Keatings powder 1 large time Coava etc, It
was all right eh !? I didnt know they knew
where I was but then there has been
quite a lot written about me in some
of the papers in England & Scotland.
They reckon I am exceedingly brave
man when the terrible fighting is
in progress. but then they dont
know everything. Do they?
I hop you are keeping good real good!
learning to play Your instrument
well & having a real good time
altogether.
Try to help Mother all you can
Kepp her very cheery & chirpy
& dont give her any cause to
worry. Try & always be very
obedient to her wishes & work
for her like a manly hero!
I must close with fondest love
& best wishes. God Bless you
Yours to fight & win
WMcKenzie
[*PR 84(180(4)
Australian
War Memorial*]
 

 

The Salvation Army
Chaplain Australian Expeditionary Forces,
4th Infty Battalion A.I.F
31/1/1916
My Darling Mavis/
You made me feel
very happy when I got your Xmas
letter telling me all about those
presents you got from Santa

A tea-set a tiny tots school, a stocking
A big dolls & a box of chocolates - A
lovely dinner a sweet mother a nice
room a soft bed nice clothes and
a lot of postcards - Oh my I wish
I could just see them all. How did you
like my photo. What a lot of hugs &
kisses you have sent me. They are
lovely. I am glad you had a happy
time at the Picnic & that you are 
keeping really good. Did you get the 
beads I sent you. How do you like 
them. Did the boys get their watches yet!
I am well, very happy & telling the soldiers
that Jesus wants to save them. 6 got saved
last night (Sunday) I am sending a photo of
myself taken in front of a tent. Good bye
God Bless you. Pray for me - Father.
A lot of hugs & Kisses.































 

Last edited by:
Jen Jen
Last edited on:

Last updated: