Lieutenant Colonel William McKenzie, MC, OBE - letters - 1916 - Part 3

4^th Infty Battln A.I.F.
Jany 31^st 1916
Mrs McKenzie,
Melbourne
Dearest of my heart
My! That was a
great letter that you wrote me on Xmas
Day & finished on Monday 27^th Boxing Day
It was a refreshing, breezy & newsy
letter. I am real glad you gave the
children such a good time for
Xmas.  I can imagine how happy
Mavis was over all she got - I am
wondering did the ^wall mats & beads
arrive safely. The carrolling band
certainly did well & it will help
things along some. The songster too helped.
I am glad Colin is having another year
at school 'The Teck' should do him good.
I would like him to learn a 'Brs' of some
sort - If Building then go at it with all his
might - If a grocer then the same only
get at something definate, no hitty-missy
business - A definate aim is needed.
I am sorry to hear of the hard times
that has befallen the folks at Bendigo

2
It was a pity you did not get to Kew
these outings does you good in every
way. I like you to go to them. The folks
are interested in you & you can
give them a good time  too & it gives
you a chance to say something good.
I get some great a/cs of your fine
talks. My Col told me yestdy - I [[garne?]]

better every Sunday. He reckons Im a

marvel - He sent for me to come & have

a yarn with him & also to audit the

Regimental A/Co for him, should any

future difficulty arise. He told me

that he thought the Salvation Army

Religion a wonderful religion -

He also informed me that he had

had his will altered lately & is

now leaving his money to the Salv

Army in Aust & he also told me

that his Father had Jim Melville

MacNaughten had also added a

codicil to his will in november

leaving a sum of money to the

Salv Army in England - And my

Col added: You are responsible

for all this. If there were many

of your sort about, things would

soon be mighty different. He has

an awful contempt for the Dean of Sydney

[*I consider myself that I gave a real rattling

address yesterday morning - I had an immense

crowd & the weather was perfect. I just let go

& the words came forth*]
 

5
I had a fine open air meeting last
night & then a big tent meeting
when 6 souls got saved. I am

I woke asked to hold the opening service

in the monster Y.M.C.A. Building just

erected in this camp. It has a very
large capacity. We must have souls
there - I think it will eventuate
next Sunday evening - I am having
a meeting in my tent on Tues night
next. I expect a crowd present.

I may go in to Cairo on Wed morning

to send the Cash away & to see the

nurses & other salvos about and have
a meeting with them as also try to

fix up a room for future use with

Greene. He has been decorated with

the Military Cross" Two N.Z. Chaplains
& two Austns got decorated - our acting
Senior Chaplain (Dexter) C. of E. & one
R.C. who spent a comparetively short time

on the Peninsula. Dexter is s great
cobber of mine & and a charming fellow.
Our 12^th Brigade has got but few decoratns
The Canadians have got 6 times the

number of decorations of Aust &
yet their fighting has not been half

so severe nor their casualties a

1/3 as heavy. Still to all in the war
[*the Decorations are a farce in many instances & I
think it would be better to give them to the regiment
in preference to Individuals. Like promotions they
cause bitter heart burnings*]
 

6

My Colonel leaves his regiment to

become the Camp Commandant he is

awfully bad about it too. He'll get a much

bigger job directly. He is a very clever
organizer - He & I have just walked
arm in arm up thro' the Camp from

lunch room, so you'll see how thick we
are. He leaves us tomorrow.

I note your remarks re gallant - It is not

sarcasm on his part it is discipline.
It is purely his way. He is good but narrow.

Well now, I hope this finds you all in
the best of health, the most cheery spirits

& everything running very smoothly.

I can guess Gordon had a rare time at
Bendigo. I'm anxious to learn if the

watches & other things arrived safely.

If we go to France, as we expect to
do in 1½ weeks time - I'll get watch

chains there, so dont buy them.
I must close with fondest love
hugs & kisses
May God richly bless you

Yours as ever
Father.

12^th Inftry Battln A.I.F.
Feby 18^th 1916

My Dear Wife
The mail facilities
have all been denied us for the past
8 days owing to shifting our Camp

& we are still unders orders to shift

further & so we cannot post any letters
yet for a bit, as our censor stamp has
been recalled & a new one is being given

us a little later. Still I'll try & get this 
thro' somehow by someone passing thro'
to Cairo, as I know you'll be anxious
to hear how things are with us.

I have unfortunately had rather a
trying week as I got Ptomaine poison
& then Jaundice now on the top of

it. They wanted to send me to the Hospital
but I refused to budge & so I'm still in
Camp & getting better. I had 5 or 6 hours
awful agony with the poisoning & sweat
like a horse with the pain, I retched a bit

& then got relief a little. Now Im as yellow
as an Austn Sovereign but will be
right again in a few days.
 

2

I took bad on satdy night last
after a great concert - (It was a ringer)

the Genl & staff were present - I had
1000 inside & over 1,500 out around
the building. I had 5 meetings on
Sunday 7 am 9-30am 5,30 6,30
& 7p.m. A soldiers meeting on tues
night a crowded Salv meeting on

Wedy night 22 professed conversion
& got saved in my tent on Thur
night while I lay in bed (or on
the ground) 150 attended th Bible

Class on friday night. Donald McNicol
took this, I was unable to attend they
sent a note of sympathy to me.
Donald McNicol is a Baptist Chaplain
in the 32^nd Battln (8^th Brigade) He is

a clever platform man & has many
gifts, but is extremely unpopular in
his own Battln. Neither Officers nor men
can sight him - I like his style immensely
but he could do with more discretion
& less "swagger" He never moves among
the men & insit on always being saluted
when addressed etc & this simply
"cuts his throat". It is a pity as it spoils

his usefulness.
 

3

I have just got your letter written

after new year dated 11^th Jany
I am glad Don had a run to Goulburn &
Gordon to Bendigo. It is all nonsence
you saying you cant have a
holiday for want of cash - I thought

I had sent you some - Ill have to try
& send some more if it wasnt enough
to give you a holiday - Im thinking you

get a ittle fit of the 'blues' at times
my dear & they are none too healthy for
you. Try & have a run with Mavis
to Maryboro' Qld for a month on

the steamer to Brisbane & then by train
The boat would give you a rest both

ways & you could have a couple of

days in Sydney. Someone could look
after the 2 youngest boys & Donald
culd go to Penberthy's or some safe

place. I do not see any inseperable

difficulty in the way & the last £20

I sent you should see you thro' the [[et's?]].

I note that Don has failed in the French
I hardly expected him to pass in this

However, I wanted him to have this year
1916 in the school. He should pass with
 

4
flying colours next year. I am anxious

he should then get a job & later have

2 years & take a degree at the
university. If he has any snap in
him he can do this first a B.A.
& then an M.A. when he 10 years older
if he is spared. All this he can do
by his own efforts & the grace of God.
Im glad Colin is getting a further show

What is he going to learn. Is it a trade
or merely a general education?
I note too with gladness that the three

watches arrived safely & they are
delighted with them. I hope they keep
them with great care.
We are not likely to have any fighting
until May next, when it is more

than likely that we will go to France

at least Genl Birdwood told us this
last Monday - that is "Go to France" We

will be on the Canal Zonefor many
weeks yet. The Turks may come on
Egypt, but I think not now, as the
Russians have given them an awful
walloping & will hit them harder.
Then the British will stop them up in

Mesapotamia in a month's time.

5
The Allies will give them Jip' in Salonika
in April to June & the
Russians on the Eastern Europe

Front & the Allies & another on

the West Front by August next
there will be the most awful
3 months slaughter that this
world has ever seen - the

losses on both side will be
staggering running into millions
on both sides, probably 6 million

in 4 months on both sides.
Think of it, It will stagger humanity
- the war will be begun
in earnest next May & I think
finished finally about November,
may be before but I hardly think

so. And even it may take a year
longer - 3 years as Kitchener predicted.

However, fudgingly the studpendous
preparations the Allies are now
making. They intend to try hard to

finish it this year. However, we
must wait & see. Much love -
May God richly bless you all
Father [*PR83/150(3)*]

 

Final

I hope this finds you all
in the very best of health &

as cheery as possible
Fight the good fight, follow

the right track - there is no
need to get downhearted.

Very much love to you all
May God richly bless and

keep you. [[always?]]
Yours as ever

Father