Lieutenant Colonel William McKenzie, MC, OBE - letters - 1916 - Part 11

THE SALVATION ARMY.

6

children. I have sent you a
watch, butter knives & spoons, all
for yourself. I have also given instructions
for the London Bank to buy
me a £100 Treasury Note bearing 6%
yielding £118 in 3 years when I can 
withdraw it. I have instructed them to
send it to you if anything happens to
me, so this is another hundred for you.
I am sorry you wont go to Q'land.
Re house, get out of it, either to Adelaide
Sydney, Brisbane or any place
you fancy- back to Bendigo or
Ballarat, Wagga or Goulburn.
Why be so helpless- get over to
Essendon Boxhill or any suburb
you fancy- I dont want you to
stay where you are if you dislike it
Why not get some of the Officers to
be on the lookout for a house for
you- Corps Officers explain what
you want & they'll find a house
Why not Thornbury or any suburb
you fancy - Get a move on -
 

THE SALVATION ARMY.

Carpenters, Greene's & Unsworth send

warmest greetings to you.

Unsworth is now in training on certain

inspection work & is likely to have a

chance as an S.A. Chaplain to the

British Salvationists.

I hope this finds you all real well

& fairly comfortable. I trust you

have had a very enjoyable Xmas

& New Year as also the holidays.

I conclude with much love,

Hugs & Kisses for all.

Greetings to friends,

God Bless & be with you
 Yours as ever

Father

 

THE SALVATION ARMY.
5

month at least in the Trenches

The weather is wet & miserable at present

& the roads etc fearfully mucky.

Still we must take the good with the bad.

I buried a poor fellow last night who

got shot thro' the lungs while walking

along the road with bullets coming

over from the Trenches. I had a 

couple of narrow squeaks while fixing

up the burial, bullets were whizzing

past me in the dark much too close

to be pleasant. I was pleased to get it

thro' without others being hit. The Bonny 

Scot in question got Killed 50 yards from

where I buried him. He came from Glasgow.

I conducted the Sunday night meeting at

Wishaw while in Scotland, it was a 

poor affair That is, very few were present.

I was unannounced. I think I stirred

the soldiers some over their building.

It was in a disgraceful dilapidated state

& I wized them to get a move on.

One of my cousins came along with two
of the children.
 

6

X I have sent a letter to Commn - It is

one from General Birdwood & I have

asked him to hand it to you for

safe Keeping. You will see what

the General says, I was unable
to go to my birth place in Scotland

for lack of time & other places besides

I was too long in London for this

Still, London is the place. The Country is

looking charming. It, is, indeed bonnie Scotland

I hope you are keeping well & cheery,
as also the children & that Don is
giving no undue anxiety. If he

gives this. Perhaps it would be well to

let him enlist as a soldier next

March, He'll then get over to France

about July 1917 in time to finish the
war in October 1917. It may finish
this year but Military leaders say 2 more
Years yet. They of course like the prospect
as it is their profession. It may of course
break up suddenly. The Russians are making

a big move now. We must do something big
here in a few weeks time. probably August
Anyhow, we're about ready.
I must close with fondest love to you & the
Children. Hugs & Kisses Galore!
May God richly bless help Keep & Guide You.
Yours as ever
Father

oxoxoxoxox
 

9

The Austn mail is just in

today but Ive got no letter

from you. a lengthy 6

pages from the Commr -

I may get yours tomorrow

I got two old ones of yours)

Since I wrote you last, least

I think so tho' I really forget

as I have to destroy them as

one cannot carry them all about

I hope you are Keeping all

mine as they will help me

later as a reference for

information etc.

Now my dear Girl I hope you

with the Children are Keeping

well in body soul and

spirit - Strive to Keep a cheerful

soul, a prayceful spirit& a heart at rest, despite

your worries, cares and

 

10

responsibilities. - Yours is
a heavy burden, a trying
task, a lonely way but
God is your helper & may
He Give you the needed
daily strength. I get very
heart hungry at times & home
sick too - I long to see you all
& clasp you to my breast.
You are a great joy and
comfort to me & I'm so glad
You are mine. I lay for 3
hours last night having such
Kind thoughts of you & it
did me Good.
now may the Good Lord Graciously
care for you all. Heaps
of hugs, Kisses, love and
warmest thoughts for you
all. From
Father
oxoxoxoxoxoxox