Lieutenant Colonel William McKenzie, MC, OBE - letters - 1917 - Part 3

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
AWM2019.22.6
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

that thess + the than soon things will be going 5 hammen + to I have hadng letter from in since I last wote but I expect one within the next fivedays, I an anxwors to hear row nall ot on you your holidays the andlay is now in bicland astas in nospital & also a touch of Pluensy He will likel blava fou many weeks probably untilne, I amjoind his remainivg to agvise in Englands ething into one of the S.D. Aoks theye Atleast I think of doing this hat I'll waitasee he progues o so how the o0
Notes are enclosing 3w which can be used, to pay for books for Cohn &rdor do souah it will come handy at this time. Ian wondn did yn money into the put any War loan ont thre have put $150 into the British Warloan, I missed the Tueasum Bond, i op owing the postman noldinging letter of mine for a a outh so Io only th to is theren room it. a very & itwilnot repaiduntil 1829 Lsan at the earliest the to advantage at sell may time in the intenval It is betten than the Aata load I wasa stragtt to raise the $142/10/ to get the 815. t
is to te gta I a w a few days nawss in Seotland at the end can thoad march leave is sthoppI at present hope this finds you with the children in the best form & doing well in evenyway must soncludewith sasd love to all ay maying that go Fracionsly bless comport nide help thep you I remain inever Yours in fighting form Perre Angaokissesforall inquireus et is
Natch the Namber TEMNN M tre t toe 2 b sursnon seur pomre man rrcu Wa 5/3/7 Aelleaon Ry Deaud waw have Justerad a letter of her youg relorn to Helbannef Fassy- a regret that you had such when yu mightase shortata have bad another her days anyho o the expense, I am at you tadane profited b the change. Yes, I suppose thewer any enquirens after me, who nt loks of measages etc tam more than sunprised that you to lebten from me ars I certain write to calch ever mail foo aes thene are pitchey in th pasting awing ono being, on the be when ae cannot wit or post lettens, had knowing youre netydb hand oa carl xif you one thange in the double dose wt sarch get the oollar
Janually that Frednic & that Band is take his place the latten I know + thent wre a live noret Comner Espill's Bo Law I noteals that he wanies have had a gard welcone + made a becinning of you desire to tof the position just do so + cease ost on it if this is was outis isa you can do it rolongd lowe t they will soon get someone else note your pessimisn he Don his exam you have probably god cause for sayiness- However now Ao should 23 you be fice of tim we in camp by now & training for he front thers all iswell that both he dean well magve hod time apa colis hada real shrng would Dellicks & the whole Ii bgd do then both mack to g corit & me then omethisf tall aliont. Lordon would have Denalss, d guite a happy stay at hope he is beginning to shap well at the guaman ochool & bentor making bod & baring somethi
TECMNMM Heparror, Of Cowts &. Walowre Mn suvan seu asmr owedoree 28/3/10 Deanest Mewd the wail will foraust & diad fait be closing ras this present opportunity & fu the wits sehana a goe noo every irgular & tis auch wail senot gt as Howenew you t waslast you with the children a £6 well a some well in every way I aan gess that the weather wosk befaily pleasant with and hippy wor Ded Sacanoall abit ofun anod a will deglat to gt baik te aust climate & ais folk We are naving at changeable +nd sold weather o entl & ad alose a orck stured of the wid fnot thank of sehuat wtten fod itensified with no couse
TEMYMNMM Hesdreror, Of Bouds & Naboura SMUan AAU AITE rCu live might lettle comforb anyta yowle havea ea of ou bintenconditin I was beavy frost this wonni is beating out but how the sad an the gonad thaws a m perailo evanwhene pevet wewadilte mshal onann fou special teamin by the bygant &s beable pay sove sucks on Agcturs It is anful the way the have bursed pillased & destrozed the villacs, beshondb ine all shicks of mtan that the could not take away owearge with human sund any yohas + wall fistunes placed homss bgwites to ofnenises & wen bcto could then the Hnwan Lien Do was
TE MYmn MM Hardoceron, Of Concte & Matowna Suvanon AenY AmT surr c Te disguacets t a pisit 101 haag having no sense decirey wrateven the will something very by doing the we be stthesan the dean fellows withor a well han more, t ione tekille al am e b as present I am the oat wu chaplain in the Brigda ore the other was onema re to Hospias with oorefeet, then were botherecant avals + babenot stood it lone. The othen is a K.C Chap, & ven ittle abovnal frhendo He thenks te the greatest new oterean & says te go oligy Comwalla veddy novovel on and od o been a coft evenan RI wal pla 9 8 nave he the
WEMAM Hdoro Of Cowt & Meloune SvAnn SenY AmTe rerc I have baving som meakings helpfol Canlsvin as also were honoue Concent kand is maring rapid strides is wphione + plays asonishil ll now winng oldn very favourable comment from a e nd n Bandwasten Fearson of uhalls I have got then alot th msis from wndo sent the Boys a pcket wallet them Burthday. I am each t them sately + findtood theile use for them. I alsosent bng Ha a wall pocret & tis dtay a tible centre which I ope the will like doent ilded pn in d t help hen with hen sotfet for coleage Iwe the trainin asefar i emellf
TESRAM Hoodgearr Of Cowto H Mohoumo sulann reur nomre 6 moner caue sending Marisanotor rost cand i mness she think aen all right- She wouldno soubt at the Hankenchief Sacha naveohen it she would have e menates pleasure again. the whole I am keeping fanl sell ws toad back tns alal however ore co Blways beat these seine days the topnotcl in nay is still Birminham Hospital I saw ten Hopper the other da, he is well ay be coming to the 4th Bathlu Band heaa Monster Bugade Churick Fanade on Sanday I Brass Bands fal astaff fre pasens man. her ltage her I hat a wonter concent (Brigile) with Skands, and sepyesentaties of unt tak pair. Another to Bosing thusde igt g eatdnights calfuda Snda Fulignose I am Left intall Ducy

2
the thaw & I guess that 
soon things will be going
hammer & tongs.
I have had no letter from
you since I last wrote
but I expect one within
the next five days, I
am anxious to hear how
you all got on from your
holidays etc.
Grindlay is now in England
in hospital - Gastritas
& also a touch of pleurisy.
He will likely be away
for many weeks, probably
until June. I am going
to advise him remaining
in England getting into one
of the S.A. Huts there 
At least I think of doing
this, but I'll wait & see
how he progresses, so
say nothing of it.

 

5
I am enclosing £3 in notes
which can be used to pay
for books for Colin & Gordon
No doubt it will come in
handy at this time.
I am wondering did you
put any money into the
war loan out there. I
have put £150 into the
British War loan. I missed
the Treasury Bond 6% owing
to the postman holding up
a letter of mine for a
month so Im only getting
5% in the new loan.
7/10/- a year & it will not 
be repaid until 1829
at the earliest, tho' I can
sell it to advantage at
any time in the interval
It is better than the Austn loan.
It was a struggle to raise
the £142/10/ to get the £150
bonds

 

6
I am going to try & get a 
a few days across in
Scotland at the end of
March if I can tho all
leave is stopped at present.
I hope this finds you with
the children in the best
of form & doing well in
every way.
I must conclude with
fondest love to all
Praying that God may
graciously bless, comfort,
guide, help & keep you
I remain
as ever
Yours in fighting form
W McKenzie
Hugs & kisses for all
Greetings to enquirers

 

[*Watch the numbers*]
THE SALVATION ARMY.
Headquarters: 69 Bourke St., Melbourne
SALVATION ARMY INSTITUTE.
MILITARY CAMP at France
5/3/1917
Mrs McKenzie
Melbourne
My Dearest Muma
I have just read
your letter of Jany 22nd written
after your return to Melbourne from
Tassy - I regret that you had such
a short stay when you might easily
have had another ten days anyhow
& hang the expense. I am glad you
had an enjoyable time & profited by
the change. Yes, I suppose there were
many enquirers after me, who
sent lots of messages etc.
I am more than surprised that you
got no letter from me as I certainly
write to catch every mail, sometimes
there are hitches in the
posting owing to us being on the
move when we cannot write or
post letters, but knowing you're
anxiety, I try hard to catch each
mail & if you miss one, then you
must surely get the double dose
the following mail.

 

[*PR84/150 (3)
Australian
War Memorial*]
3
I note that Fredrick is farwelling
& that Bond is taking his place -
the latter I know & think him a real
live wire - Comnr Espill's Bro-in-law.
I note also that the Lonnie's have had
a good welcome & make a good
beginning. If you desire to drop the
2/ R.S.M. position just do so & cease
going, insist on it, if this is your
position & say you can do it no longer.
They will soon get someone else.
I note your pessimism re Don &
his exam - you have probably good
cause for saying so - However now
you'll be free of him as he should
be in Camp by now & training for
the front, thus all is well.
I can well imagine that both he
& Colin had a real good time up at
Sellick's & the whole thing would
do them both much good in body
& spirit & give them something fresh
to talk about. Gordon would have
quite a happy stay at Devah's. I
hope he is beginning to shape well
at the Grammar school & bent on
making good & learning something.

 

THE SALVATION ARMY.
Headquarters: 59 Bourke St., Melbourne.
SALVATION ARMY INSTITUTE.
MILITARY CAMP at France
28/3/1917
My Dearest Muma/
The mail will
be closing for Aust & I must fast
grasp this present opportunity &
get away a few lines. The mails
are now very irregular & thus I
have not got any Austn mail
since last I wrote you. However,
I hope you with the children are
well & doing well in every way.
I can guess that the weather would
now be fairly pleasant with
cold 'nippy' mornings and
a bit of rain occasionally.
Anyhow, I will be glad to get back
to the Austn climate & my
'Ain folk'. We are having extremely
changeable & cold weather, snow
frequently & mud galore. I am
sick & tired of the mud. Just
think of Ballarat winter ten
fold intensified with no house

 

THE SALVATION ARMY.
Headquarters: 69 Bourke St., Melbourne.
SALVATION ARMY INSTITUTE.
2
to live in & mighty little comfort
of any sort & you will have an
idea of our winter conditions,
It was heavy frost this morning
but now the sun is breaking out
11 a.m. the ground thaws & mud
prevails everywhere.
At present we are in a village
a ramshackle tumble down dirty
concern, doing special training
for the big 'stunt' & so be able
to play some tricks on the Huns
It is awful the way they have
burned pillaged & destroyed the
vacated villages, destroyed by
burning all sticks of furniture
that they could not take away
smeared with human dung
any photos & wall pictures
placed bombs, trip wires to
spring mines & every trick they
could think of. They are
Human fiends inordinate.

 

THE SALVATION ARMY.
Headquarters: 69 Bourke St., Melbourne.
SALVATION ARMY INSTITUTE.
3
& a positive disgrace to the
human race having no sense
of decency whatever. We will
have something very big doing
by the time you get this, and
many of the dear fellows with us
now will be no more. I hate
the killing business.
As usual I am kept very busy.
At present I am the only Protestant
Chaplain in the Brigade. One
has gone mad & the other has 
gone to Hospital with sore feet,
they were both recent arrivals &
have not stood it long. The
other is a R.C Chap, & does very
little abominably frightened of shells. 
He thinks I'm the greatest hero
of the war & says I'm an "Oliver
Cromwell" & a "Teddy Roosvelt"  
in one. And had I been a C of E
Chaplain or even an R.C. I would
have had the V.C.

 

THE SALVATION ARMY.
Headquarters: 69 Bourke St., Melbourne.
SALVATION ARMY INSTITUTE.
5
I have been having some
helpful soulsaving meetings
& also some rousing Converts.
My Band is making rapid strides
is 26 strong & plays astonishingly
well now, winning golden opinions
& very favourable comment from
all. A young Salvationist Sergt
is Bandmaster - Pearson from
Uralla. I have got them a lot
of S.A. music from London.
I sent the Boys a pocket wallet
each for their Birthday - I guess
they'll get them safely & find good
use for them. I also sent Eug
Hay a wall pocket & Mrs
Hay a table centre, which I
hope they will like. I sent
Mildred Huepper in money 50/- to
help her/with her outfit for
the training college I guess
she will find it useful.

 

THE SALVATION ARMY.
Headquarters: 69 Bourke St., Melbourne.
SALVATION ARMY INSTITUTE.
6
I am sending Mavis another
silk post Card. I guess she thinks
them all right- She would no
doubt get the Hankerchief sachal
& rave over it & so she would have
five minutes pleasure again.
On the whole I am keeping fairly
well, tho' I get back turns occasionly. 
However one cannot always be at
the top notch in these stirring days.
Grindlay is still in Birmingham Hospital
I saw Ken Hoepper the other day, he is well
& may be coming to the 4th Battln Band.
I held a Monster Brigade Church
Parade on Sunday 3 Brass Bands
present, 4000 men. Genl & staff present
Then last night tues - I had a monster
Concert (Brigade) with 3 Bands, and
representatives from 7 units taking
part. Another tonight, Boxing thursday
night & Satdy nights concert friday
4 religious services Sunday & so
on. I am kept awfully busy.
 

 
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