Lieutenant Colonel William McKenzie, MC, OBE - letters - 1916 - Part 5

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I expect to be over in England for

8 days leave within a month

or so, if I am spared. I would have

gone ere this but I did not want

to leave the men until we had

done our final spell in the Trenches

We do 16 days in the front firing

line & 16 days in support and

after this will probably fall

back into 1^st reserve also to

allow others to take their turn

in the firing line. The supports

is in most danger from big

shells. 70 Q'landers were caught

by two big shells. 25 killed out

right & 45 wounded, some have

since died, this was when

Brookes & McGrath got hit.
The Trenches here are not near so

good as at Gallipoli & are very

wet, the Dugouts are infinitely

better & safer here in the

Trenches. They are like a Giant

steel tube covered by sandbags

of earth feet thick on top & over

the back & sides. There are 2

of us in this one - the Dir &

myself- We have 2 windows

(glass) in front & a strong door

with a bolt on the inside

I laughed when I saw this.

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 still of course it is to keep the

door closed in cold wet weather

we have a wooden floor and

a small table. We also have

2 homemade bunks made out

of wood & wire netting on

top its a huge success . We are

very, very comfortable You

see- We have a dining room

in our H'Qrts Trench with

a table to seat 8 of us and

all sit on chairs - Does it

make you laugh to read this

& we at war. We have

inherited these things from

a [[Bartand]] regiment that were

here with rich English Officers.

So 'our little 'dug-out' in the

Trench is all right.

Why should we pay rent in

future? Let us buy a 1/2 acre of 

ground & make a series of

lovely Dugouts & run a poultry

farm on the spare lots. It

would save you a lot of worry

work & expenses. Still where

we advance we'll have to leave

all these fine places here

but then we may get the Germans

domiciles. Some of which are

great places likewise.

I don't know when we are

going to begin to push.

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PR84/150(3)

Australisn

War Memorial

I got your letter of March 6^th.

telling me of Don's default and

your misery thro' this. I am very

sorry indeed to hear it. I am

likewise very sorry for you

& sorry for Don- Once more

my darling I say without

hesitation that I have no present

fears for Don's ultimate well

doing.. He is a heavy cross

for you, but I think you are

inclined to worry just a bit

too much over him and

compare him with other boys

who haven't half his brains

or spirit. Let me only ask

you my dear not to nag

at him unduly - Take him

aside quietly & talk to him

as his mother. Treat him

as a man now & this will

break him quicker than anything

I know. Don't say much to

him but make him feel there

is honor, manhood truth

& righteousness to stand for

& he'll do better than you

imagine. The Commr thinks Don's

a marvel and a great credit

to us. May I suggest that you

let him attend Hawthorns Corps

where there are many more

France

24/5/16

My Precious Darling

I am glad of

the opportunity of writing you

once more. I hope this finds

you with the children really

well in every way & having

a time of blessing, refreshment

& much engagement. I got no

letter from you with todays

Aust'n Mail. Even tho' I got 

over 3000 letters within the last

5 days, with parcels not a few 

& sacks of papers. Im swamped

overwhelmed snowed under

snuffed out. And given a task

that is most taxing indeed.

They have much overdone the lonely

soldier letter racket by publishing 

it in the daily papers & simply

done me up. We distributed

all so far but it is a tough

proposition & so bringing  bringing me

considerable notority. I hope

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it does not grow, over 5,000 per

mail day. Anyhow, I guess I'll

manage somehow.

I have over 450 letters awaiting 

personal attention I have

written 35 to 40 some days,

while in the Trenches but this

keeps me from seeing my men

in the firing line. It is now 

9 pm & Ill be going to 2 a.m.

to try & catch up some.

Well we come out of the Trenches

on Satdy for some little time

probably 18 days & am now in 

a billett a fine big room

House was riddled with shell

& bullets. Is is comfortable, no 

women about. Im on a home

made wire netting stretcher.

We are not out of shell shot 

but very safe on the whole

We will to into a very hot place

next to face warmer times etc

France
12/6/1916

My Darling wife.

It is Monday

morning & I sit down with much

felt pleasure to pencil you a line

or two of my recent doings which

have been many varied. I wrote

you in good time to catch the last

mail after I had got your letter of

April 4^th. I have had none since

I expect one tonight as mail is

now in for me & comes to us after

dark as no travelling can be done

by horses & waggons near the Trenches

in daylight. I'll thus get your latest

about 10 p.m. I'll be glad of this too!

I forget if I told you in my last that

I had a fine R Sunday Aftn Musical

'Go' in an improvised theatre the

first Sunday after coming out of

the Trenches- They insisted on me presiding

& it was a rollicking affair

I had some good S. Army singing &

Music. I had a fine soul saving

meeting at night a strong from | over

X 2

which you will read in the 'Cry'

I had quite a good time. Then I left

late on Monday night to go on 9

days leave for Britain as I started

off in the Motor Bns from the Rly

Stations A crowd of the 'Boys' gathered

around & gave me a great cheer.

I had to stay all night at a Y.M.C.A.

but from 11am. to 4-30 A.M. had

a snooze on the platform. Had a 

mile & a half to walk to Train &

carry a heavy load. Got to Bo'lone'

at 12 noon was rushed on to boat
& left almost immediately for Folkestone

2 hours run on the war escorted

by Destroyer. Caught train right

away, rode in Pulman Car reach

London, 430p.m. & Clapton 6-30

went in to A.H.Q at '101' next day

They treated me like a hero & made

much of me - Genl & Chief of Staff

on furlo' Unsworth was like a good

Uncle, Carpenter jubilant, Commanr Higgins

had long yarn. Jeffries Duce Knotb

Commr Lamb, Col Duff, Comm Lawley

Sturgess Carleton & others. Crowds

reckoned it a privelege to shake my

hand. None could be nicer.

Things went along with a fine swing.

3  29/6/16  

I have nothing much to write

of save devastating war

with its trying experiences -

morning, noon & night.

However I keep as cheery as

sparrow & as opthimistic

as a lark. My trust is in 

God my times are in his hand.

I cast myself on the merits

of Jesus & rest in hope.

My lot with the men is a happy

one the opportunities far

outweigh the disadvantages,

discomforts & seperations

endured tho', at times they

are trying enough. However, we

face them with faith and

without fear or feebleness,

Now my darling I hope you

are keeping real well in every

way & having a useful, busy

& happy time. I note by the

'War Cry' that you have been

doing some specialling and

some praying. Evidently [[Sharp]]

had a fine time at Easter at

City & Sth Melbourne, and surely

they had a good 'Go' in Sydney.

France 

1/8/16

My Darling Mavis

It made me very

happy to get your nice

letter about the Congress

and all the other nice

things. Fancy having a 

ride in Motor Cars -

I guess you enjoyed the 

Congress & especiallly

the Young People's Meeting

on Satdy night- What did

you like best? I am

now wondering how

you got on at the Doll

Show & what you looked

like as a baby doll

& how you managed to 

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sing ''Australia will be there!''

I suppose you could now

beat me at skipping. I

must have a try with 

you when I get back & 

mother will have to give 

a prize of 5/ to the winner

I'll have to practice on the

ship coming home to Aust

if I want to win. I think 

I can do 44 without a

mistake, Can you do 33 yet?

It would be nice if I 

could come home soon

& stay with you all. It

will soon be two years 

since I last saw you.

I have had a lot of lovely

long walks along roads

but they make our feet 

very sore, we lie down

in paddocks & feel very

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cold in the morning

not having a blanket

only an overcoat.

Then when it rains, we

get wet & so the struggle

goes on. I am well &

frisky as a pony.

I hope you are getting

on very nicely and

learning much at school

I suppose you can do 

quite a lot of housework

now & also sew things

What a lot you'll have

to show me & tell me

when I get back home.

It is nice & hot here now

& we've had no rain

for a week now.

The grass is so green

& the flowers so beautiful.

4

There are a lot of young

birds out now & hopping

about looking for food

& the pussies try to

pounce on some of them

to eat for supper.

They will soon have harvest

here & big crops too

This is a lovely Country

Picardy (France).

I must close by asking

you to look after Mother

be good, pray for me

& try to learn all you

can at school.

I send heaps of hugs &

Kisses to you all

Goodbye

God Bless you much

Father