Lieutenant Colonel William McKenzie, MC, OBE - letters - 1916 - Part 6

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

Page 1 / 10

more on ondersawia he was too busy Srava we have teen hewrest $8 45/18 fou a weet. I have Deaestmania been billetted with the Mayon + waysness, he I ame weting a cantspeax endisn fewe lines to you this we wove back to the After it Lave just had a fine Church Sanade line again toworrordn. with a line mnon &. I any tt for another have two weeking to t have been eifor li night one at 6 nested arepitted & now we another at 7 -30 infor another stafe not bo 500 opraulat I held sports ar this village da afte were, Killed or woude last p (50f saty &a bis cncent at night the fol and a tunble Brisness the His staff wereat the antillery or as is a sone flouts. He was coming tiral, some p nas we concent but he many lose them verve stanapolde as opece
shill are remining inatl a few seep dints of the sa I way bucalas ovoreto ve anticibate. Thes wetl be some awful doing before that lases places. the ran wilh to yedwithe toypedo brats on sigt as also send Zeppsgalore n awot oe all as porson adoto w7 cacon tareb it oa edges you magagine niples hent out Deamo hilled with a hisgh explosive that the hir. onr with a trench Mostan A wakes a hole 20 feet wide &n fell seep int thwrnd-o needo nut tto face all these 00s Troyhow well an Lace Many werre blown to smat frrogwents us ovelast to. o only pieces of thes could befordd. t antillery is machwouse than alliply now. He have the mestnne on ove sector atpreseat to the sumano most be thing feanful punishment Hs a curible tradely I gt two older letters of thon this week. nonsa now Coloo wrote his dum the first soe doesnt say an thing fit so it had not occaredly May 194 the next conguess time say it to braken in two places but that he had nese to a pecist the ys deat & was lad Dou bad get convental & io dapi geal well now. I hope resticks in & Doessone th with the can this ang
count 1 yye thate way we wrodon Dae & sunt to help your thus 5 I Manukele ust at tl dab your letten of me the gonac uascal may th yestende, the last Gene ges ways. I am fasts know that thane one was da is a great changbo I have thus miasedat thei now a diffengt you had least two of your letter boy, Io to Conguese onvention fordons a heal wisdeeds + aise the evidentl things went fact that Colin is laid real well in every wa up with a buoksa annd how I ouppose you will ths nothing is said of be ronaing at yo an how it happened o oftenti to S.D once ness this was related mone. I hope you have a a porme letten a real good onecaso I guess you will that y did not reciive people should ben fe ane raving fove the habit of giving now troable with the boys, the coman will thy in which you havene ocore a ris success deepec sympathy
I am shoutly seadingd mare - his I woulite invested in Wanloan with another $50p0des you can drawg this from Bank & pay that 100uto Barloan anyouwi see howto do in the papers- Only inrest $100 in all in the war loan at the present Junctire & will yield p4p01 a year interest & this will mane than pay for my mnerrancafers I wasver lovt el Havis letter, she expresses hensels veryweell d be shaping all night at school I will seve each of you at eaten on I see you have hadgreat an hainoin and Iuly month + this will assule another by harrest siel aaarguess the connte lookelovely by the tince Esletten& trast till be home for taster neet yea I wnt expect to be howe before then if the way edds this year, which all the gaenalo doubt. tmust close with foudis loveto all, hroping you with all the children an in wrst clais forn hodyssoul May Josniahl bles. you all. with sugs & koses I revain yous Father
MeM tatous Hen2 s 2 sm wr come aeFe bax 23 126 Moma how are you hing along thoke neat well in wan, way chare a gor smooth ena of unintenipted bless shappiness enjoyne good health bnight outlook + a happy sont ght once wore with tolins and i hl a leauping with gs might noe has soys & Mavis for tutze it is quite a ron ame oice I oet eyes on you all & it will be same time yet eve I am permitted that pleasure. Homcon we must jst poss son soul patience + whis bth spect Daa Kyy t gay that all o Sg with me the & do feelug somewhat praged eroun & centaial long whiah mion me considerably but are has to seeep i all sot of lice infected places & so wee 8 bread beced
I has been hand to get and wshing dime & are can only samy a dane of clothes as I ware bg andet a whole month, I washed to day +so will have a clar change to hernst undanbants adocande in pin a sice not woss ewo i huo new pains almost sance as the weather is itting caol again will be cold in b weat tine the b the troe you as this letter, eto get the somme (Beands) + have just t Bolgwn whene ae take an the rydman a ilte h health + numbers again. We ar goenead 600 men, to sli will take 8 to ro weeks to et them, we'll be fit for another killing etions + his puste. We have had oner of as losses lotely, nearly a 1000 oer a D France Killed Ion It is a thubl annes this destruction colidat wandos-the piat of Anstus. tyet, we ar inflicting Grate loss ano-Tey are poorfighte a closs hand to hand anaounte want to ommendsn when they say the gameis up. They are awpullsis war songi to stop
TS Aran O A & Rme wm wr come rcnR hat an f am in anelittler. N the last manday on uay givenal was atmy senvice agained had liberty spereached a very ods In the possecois of on exclntpe Daniel- A cheeuful spirit, and wdu brons spit, a spinit of faitfulaiss denon sons b lmansnp of e made her a neator one s sunstances ws a Caphine, and at benefrcton in the the the boys srank in t Twas a Ctian and take the since then I expect a neal sod to with the Charce and for a foutnig II turned it sowna yeste leave the boys at this ene magine head theys a hl son bat I 8
5 thema he hold I have of wenvellons. They think that i am without feam in any placeang In afeail tell tall jau my doings. To the wan of the 10t Brgade t geneeus & anbulance men I'll be a heno with a halo. Thereis no doubt they think a might lot of the sal sume. I wte all you say wethe sinion of my weart the held by Ms Hay or you appec inds regandf them wait swouth Smustconclade with warnest long &best Affection to you + the Children e had a Clomons 41t with defw ay blew happy days be fellow. I exelued we soing in youlonsletter hanher f ct 2 Anoter Kangonoo Stamps- thay are warth y each now in some coctions the wstaa may god inable bleso you all day. e ia to allyous
TEMAN s wue oir come mow trasce 29/8/16 6 Deareit ans h at rew your tain letting of 4a aen Jo. Don a hich stei at the canty aga & needs aot of firm onpus at mss thay cave hos denaby + thas inanease you tase by a great scal n farwed which was fine affair when grame a to fawelled fo pnshave a can guess fell hy made a sho go the night oesho Binsbare awill becowe populas Iet that Dinnwa I whould leenve retrn. I should for openin 6 more Corps & shake things up in general, then Havis is asy to follow I thought shalp, Havies, albuton and foe Williams would have b an lent Colo ene this
Inoty that Major Smith has been promited eend the Coman wicikd him enchesred Inote your remaigs c Don & the stoff The is interested. Yu band and well to at him a Bitz give him ans as apresent from yourself. I will each a open Fon then and tram & holiday not nothing else. Irshe that Colin was commenc school once more bercan saheso another yeart youc at the Colsgeir Seh him stop his boy at masic on fact shof all the the end of this yeaug start gravs 1919iso the finst quarters enough then to begin tosis E leswns a week, she is liker to ware good headway hny nightin hada fa a hat ith 15 sectene for alvat The meeting wne of an inhouse aha is the finty wdos weetng octen. R we been ableto hold for some time 4 were Butish boys n Canadian + the others Austro. One the son of Mrs Whitewan (the Waterloo soldien Capt Lor the libtle fab Jewassa MMCA sect was carmed that him. He is training the Tresttin Mesistey is Townts

FRANCE
6/8/16
Dearest Muma
I am writing a
few lines to you this
Aftn. I have just had
a fine Church Parade
with a fine crowd. I
have two meetings tonight -
one at 6 pm &
another at 7-30-
I held sports at this
village this yesterday aftn
(Satdy) & a big concert
at night. The Genl and
His staff were at the
sports. He was coming
to the Concert but he
sent an apology, as
2
move on orders arrived
& he was too busy.
We have been here resting
for a week. I have
been billetted with the
Mayor & Mayoress. They
can't speak english.
We move back to the fighting
line again tomorrow (Mondy)
Aug 7th for another 'go'
We have been reinforced
rested & refitted & now we
go in for another 'strafe'
just on 500 of our lot
were killed or wounded
last 'go' (50%) — Tho
a terrible Buisness. The
artillery & gas is a sore
trial, some go mad
many lose their nerve
& go to pieces & no
wonder.
 

 

3
Still we're winning & making 
a few deep dents on the Hun.
It may break up sooner than
we anticipate. There will
be some awful doings before
that takes place. The Germans
will go mad with rage
& torpedo boats on sight
and also send Zepps galore
& run amok generally.
Gas, poison, all sorts of
weapons. They have bayonets
with saw edges now.
Magazine rifles, great oil
drums filled with a high
explosive that they hurl
over with a trench mortar.
It makes a hole 20 feet
wide & 12 feet deep in
soft ground - one needs
grit to face all these.
Anyhow, we'll win by God's
grace.
4
PR84/150 
Many were blown to small
fragments in our last 'go'
& only pieces of them could
be found. The artillery is
much worse than Gallipoli
now. We have the most guns
in our sector at present
So the Germans must be
getting fearful punishment.
Its a terrible tragedy.
I got two older letters of
yours this week. None say
how Colin broke his arm
the first one doesn't say any
thing of it so it had not
occurred by Mar 19th  The
next congress times says it
is broken in two places
but that he had been to
the Y.P. 'go' in a special reserve
seat. I was glad Don had
got converted & is shaping
real well now. I hope
he sticks in & does some
thing with the exam this time.
 

 

5
I got your letter of June
11th yesterday, the last
one was dated May 13th
I have thus missed at
least two of your letters.
You mention Gordons'
misdeeds & also the
fact that Colin is laid
up with a broken arm
tho' nothing is said of
how it happened. I
guess this was related
in a former letter
that I did nor recieve.
You are having some
trouble with the boys
in which you have my
deepest sympathy &
6
earnest prayer that God
may give wisdom grace
& grit to help you thro'
Meanwhile, I trust that
the young rascal may
amend his ways. I am
glad to know that there
is a great change in Don
& he is now a different
boy. I'm glad you had
a real good congress
& evidently things went
real well in every way.
Now I suppose you will
be turning all your
attention to S.D. once
more. I hope you have
a real good success.
I guess you will.
The people should be in
the habit of giving now.
The Commr will try &
score a big success.
 

 


7
I am sending £50
more - this I would like
invested in War loan
with another £50 added
You can draw this from
Bank & pay the £100 into
war loan as you will
see how to do in the
papers - Only invest £100
in all in the War loan
at the present juncture
It will yield £4/10/- a
year interest & this
will more than pay for
my insurance premium.
I was very glad to get
Mavis' letter, she expresses
herself very well & must
be shaping all right at
school. I will send
each of you a £
later on.
8
I see you have had great
rains in Aust in during July
month & this will assure
another big harvest yield.
I can guess the country
looks lovely by the time
you get this letter. I
trust I'll be home for
Easter next year. I
don't expect to be home
before even if the war
ends this year, which
all the Generals doubt.
I must close with fondest
love to all, hoping you
with all the children are
in first class form
body & soul _
May God richly bless
you all.
With Hugs & kisses
I remain
Yours Father
 

 


France
Aug 28th 1916
Dearest Muma
How are you getting along?
I hope real well in every way & have a
good smooth run of uninterrupted
bliss & happiness enjoying good health
a bright outlook & a happy soul.
with Colin's arm right once more &
he going to school & learning with
all his might as also the other two
boys & Mavis. I am thinking it
is quite a long time since I set
eyes on you all & it will be some
time yet ere I am permitted that
pleasure. However, we must just possess
our souls in patience & wait with
growing expectancy.
I am happy to say that all is going well
with me, tho' I am feeling somewhat
frayed & worn & certainly lousy
which annoys me considerably
but one has to sleep in all sorts
of lice infested places & so we
are even getting a fresh breed.
 

 


2
it has been hard to get any washing
doing & we can only carry a change
of clothes, so I wore my undershirt
a whole month. I washed today & so
will have a clean change tomorrow.
My underpants I discarded in June
& have worn none since but must
get two new pairs almost at once
as the weather is getting cool again
& the nights will be cold in 6 weeks time
by the time you get this letter. We have
left the Somme (Picardy) & have just returned
to Belgium, where we take on the ordinary
Trench Warfare until we get built up
in health & numbers again- We are
400 at present & so need 600 men, 'tho
will take 8 to 10 weeks to get them, &
then we'll be fit for another killing
expedition & big push. We have had
over 700 losses lately, nearly a 1000 since
coming to France- killed & wounded.
It is a ghastly buisness- This destruction
of robust manhood - the pick of Austns,
& yet we are inflicting greater loss
on the Germans. They are poor fighters
in a close hand to hand encounter
they want to surrender when they see
the game is up. They are awfully sick
of the war & long for it to stop.
 

 


3
I had an open air in one little village
last Monday. On Sunday morning the
General was at my service again. I
had liberty & preached a very good sermon
on the possession of an excellent Spirit
(Daniel)- A cheerful spirit, an industrious
spirit, a spirit of faithfulness,
a devout spirit- a love & worship of God
These made him a victor over adverse
circumstances tho' a captive, and
made him a great benefactor in the 
land etc. The boys drank it in O.K.
I had a visit from Cpl Ross a Canadian
Y.M.C.A. man and I take the services there
tonight. I expect a real good go, with
some decisions. I had the chance
of a trip to England for a fortnight
given me yestdy, but I turned it down as
I did not want to leave the boys at this
juncture. They need encouraging & cheering
& they simply dote on me & are ready
to do anything in reason that I
ask them.
 

 


4
The hold I have on the men is
marvellous. They think that I
am without fear in any place, and
I'm afraid tell some tall yarns of
my doings. To the men of the 1st
Brigade Engineers & Ambulance Men
I'll be a hero with a halo. There is
no doubt they think a mighty lot of the
Salv Army. I note all you said re the
opinion of my work etc held by
Comm & Mrs Hay who also grow
upon you in affectionate regard from
their work & worth.
I must conclude with warmest love
& best affection to you & the children.
Hoping you have had a glorious 41st Birthday
& other happy days to follow.
I enclosed some coins in Gordon's letter
I have others french, Egyptian etc. - Try
& get 2/- Austn Kangaroo stamps - They are
worth 4/- each now in some collections
if the right sort.
May God really bless you all in
every possible way. X O X O X O X O.
Greetings to all. Yours as ever
Father
PR84/150 (3)
Australian
War Memorial
 

 

France
29/8/16.   1916
Dearest Muma,
I have just recvd
your two letters of 4th & 11th July
from which I gather of Gordon's
doings etc. He is at the cranky age
& needs a lot of firm supervision.
They no doubt miss my presence
considerably & thus increase your
task by a great deal.
I note you attended the McMillan's
farewell which was a fine affair where
Imrie also farewelled for Brisbane.
I can guess he'll be made a Major
on the night he gets wed. He should do
well in Brisbane & will become popuar.
I should like much to get that Division
on my return. I should go for opening
6 more Corps & shake things up in
general, then Harris is easy to follow.
I thought that if Harris, Albiston and Joe
Williams would have been Lieut Cols
ere this.
 

 


2
I note that Major Smith has been promoted.
I'm glad the Comar visited him ere he died.
I note your remarks re Don & the Staff
Bands - Im glad he is interested. You
did well to get him a Bike - give him this
as a present from yourself - I will
send them a £ each to spend on their
holiday, but nothing else.
I note that Colin has commenced
school once more. he can go for
another year. - You can start Gordon
at the College, in Feby term stop his
music - In fact stop all the boys at
the end of this year & start Mavis
the first quarter in Jany 1919, she is old
enough then to begin Music - 2 lessons
a week. She is likely to make good headway.
I had a great 'go' on Sunday night in
a hut with 15 seekers for salvation.
The meeting was of an intense character.
It is the first indoor meeting
I've been able to hold for some
time, - 4 were British boys one Canadian
& the others Austns. One the son of
Mrs Whiteman (the Waterloo soldier.)
the little fat Jewess. A Capt. Ross
Y.M.C.A. secywas charmed. - I had
tea with him. He is training
for the Presbyterian Ministry in Toronto.

 

 

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