Lieutenant Colonel William McKenzie, MC, OBE - letters - 1917 - Part 4

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

Page 1 / 10

well with tes Kipethat all Yon & that your heath reet isd, your spieits buight oables few some well i - trast of n be trai shing cheada thenth shoot l nd a and eadad bless, T di the Slenge
WMII Rta plee enrnor venyoomre don nc 18/4/197 My Dauling Wife t amy hener onwill be admt on Fance for r outhe saie visitation of Sospital hav a foulnight a tte dyance atout June toth het ns hope the wan will he neauly onge by then came oren kag a letcaren a week ag have been etme hand way an e ettind beakfast, in hed coan mannes stant Hospital wond tomamon pasehat the Cadet seitdas Day with Moene Booth & had Eminates wound in the Afte & then ment to rea with ts sut Booth & fame
TSAMAAM tt Bent 2 sam ue SuUAnoN AEHY AIMTE nc &Co you with the childisn ane well as alos all the Orvy Loeks I am feeling himd out, it I am by hain is ndth nes ste bt ance say thus a concende with heaf kugs & thavest fl all at Rome May ncle bless nide p help heap & compout you Inemain yous as even Father An
2 I have dated the Settans i hat lit mile d ee-aferios faily quiet Asttoke
Hall 2 p t te B0 t tucker doti the note that salos tngeing waya at all anekee ell to can ke gov e0 sb Fanse Land & wave i C 20 Beat Heavenbto thes are
The Sabstion Aray Chaplain Austratian Expeditionary Forces London 111 57 131 N Fearast Muna amail weill be leaving heeein days for anst or I will pas a few lines in ad lime to catch this, ih t would be the least yor pursed if the ship eamying the wait is poupeaded & yo still deden The postunes of war. is one I was tlod to gt your lebten informing me of your own the childrens continued we yare over thene have e all you say ue the Children, Conko &s.A. dous neyh the usual attention an ness am mone plase to mow what your coupe 2 shapin well & the crowa comidg along in food osyle I hope they have a haul of souls.
The Saboation Avvry Chaptain Austratian Expeditionary Forces 131 had avery fall time hare latel with hospital wisitato on & spcial matings the suning as the Engress Hall it was a real pod p we had y souls out beat encoeds. & redule t20 you the day, I enclose the 50.s letter that you may see it & leann wehat he says tings Reny ane mighty slask ayrnnd these pants need. Iao sompt shaking woh of swamped with appeals for speial makings. had a lengthe intenviw with F.A. Nneaze, the Savadian greatriten we spent hearly two honey togethen swapping youns etc. He is a petnidt sideneol his fellow + compy. You will remember he te Slareph wote e up (o pages) i leater
The Satuation Army Chaplain Australian Expeditionary Forces 3 101 Iwtoot & spent an evening with caupertens, the send siad Fielting as to unsnths He pkef came rspatone night with me, I am on for meehings quite a lot clay hisnext 1o Dags + or 21st & booked to speak in the tamgns albeut Hall Nest End, a shanb poa soan rn S& hope rest day to opo I abouth a foutnight thene + have a good time all is well with e & the rest & change is doine me woulds of goo. Tunsting this fin d you, all is the besh of foum bod & sooe May god nchl bless, help we I hope the leaken Geaake yen yon Keape of love + hises to al. Your aseven fallier
TESM a oena 2 M surnor seur nmre rnrc2 2 191- 15 Mlin Wife 5 Thinsd intansed to tra a &vers la t thdays we are seeoncen t weleave d de btonedoong or an or months as lept there the sevene fighting of Apwl, an may his netesaven sad home coming when one ponders over They have been ont of the fichting for six weeks now present hesting and oeat training in a village tehing the lines. Neall we some fo wa areto again at distagt e a wighty lon peen fthe ai t 4.2 the senyarc thoivene

7
I hope that all goes well with  
you & that your health keeps
good, your spirits bright &
your troubles few.
I trust Don is doing well in
the training camp & the
other three pushing ahead at
school.
Praying that God may richly
bless, strengthen and sustain
you.
I remain
Yours as ever
Father
w. McKenzie
PR84/150(8)
Australian
War Memorial 

 

London
18/4/1917
My Darling Wife
I am here in
London & will be absent
from France for 2 months
Doing visitation of Hospitals
& having a fortnight in
Scotland returning to the
front in France about June
10th Let us hope the war
will be nearly over by then.
I came over here a little over
a week ago & have been
resting hard ever since
getting breakfast in bed
each morning. I start
Hospital work tomorrow
I was present at the Cadets
Spiritual Day with Mrs General
Booth & had a 25 minutes
"round" in the Aftn & then
went to tea with Mrs Genl
Booth & family.

 

I hope you with the children
are well as also all the
Army folks.
I am feeling tired out, it
is 1 a.m. & my brain is
muddled so that I cannot
write with any sense
thus I conclude with heaps
of love hugs & kisses to
all at home.
May God richly bless, Guide
help keep & comfort you
I remain
Yours as ever
Father
(W McKenzie)

 

some postcards
for Mavis

 

London 4/5/17
My Dearest Mavis
I have
just recvd your letter dated
20/2/17 in which you again
mention that you recieved
no letters by the mails just
arrived previous to your
writing me. This i cannot
understand as I have
written to catch every mail
Including the period when I
was in England in December
However no doubt you have
had quite a batch of letters
between then & now & you will
thus know how I am, what
I am doing & a few of my
experiences etc.
I am at present filling the
chair at London Military
H'Qrts while Major Miles
is away in France - a period
of 3 weeks-
I am having a fairly quiet
time of it - the Hall at Stoke
newington was full form
Recharge last night. They came
to enjoy themselves.
I hope to have a very fine

2 

2
Sunday at Congress Hall-

There are big expectations
We are harrassed here
with the U. Boats & the
tucker portion is getting smaller
& disturbing many.
I note that the boys are
plugging away at school
& that all are keeping
well.
I note your remarks re
the Corps Lonnies's etc
I hope Camberwell gets
a good lift up & comes out
well.
Trusting this finds you all
in the best of form
Including yourself, Donald
Colin, Gordon & Mavis
Best of love, warmest of
wishes. Heaven bless you
Yours as ever
father
XO XO XXOO XO
for all
[[?]]
Australian 
War Memorial

 

London 
11/5/1917
My Dearest Muma,
A mail
will be leaving here in
4 or 5 days for Aust so
I will pen a few lines in
good time to catch this, tho
I would be the least surprised
if the ship carrying the
mail is torpeoded. & you
never get this, still it
is only the fortunes of war.
I was glad to get your letter
informing me of your own
& the children's continued
welfare over there. I have
read all you say re the 
children, Corps & S.A. doings
with the usual attention and
interest. I am more than pleased
to know that your Corps is
shaping well & the crowds
coming along in good style
I hope they have a haul of souls.

 

2

I have had a very full time

lately with hospital visitation

& special meetings. I did,

the Sunday at the Congress

Hall it was a real good

go. We had 24 souls out

great crowds & nearly £25

for the day. I enclose the

T.O.'s letter that you may see

it & learn what he says.

Things, Army are mighty slack

around these parts & need a

lot of shaking up. I am simply

swamped with appeals from

special meetings.

I had a lengthy interview with

Canadian J.A. McKenzie, the

creative writer - we spent nearly

two hours together swapping

yarns etc. He is a jolly nice

fellow & I did enjoy his
Compy. You will remember he
wrote me up (2 pages) in the "Pladephia
ledger"

 

3

I went out & spent an evening
with Carpenters, the send Kindly
Greetings as do Unsworths
He (Ike) came & spent one
night with me. I am out
for meetings quite a lot
this next 10 days & on May
21st I am booked to speak
in the Famous Albert Hall
West End. I start for Scotland
next day May 22nd & hope
to spend about a fortnight
there & have a good time..
All is well with me & the
rest & change is doing me
worlds of good.
Trusting this finds you all
in the best of form body
& soul.
May God richly bless, help & keep
you. I hope the letter reaches
you. Heaps of love & kisses
to all. Yours as ever Father

 

France
19-6-1917
My Darling Wife
I have just
returned to France on Thursdy
morning & rejoined my old
Unit- The boys were mighty glad
to see me once more & gave
me a great welcome- There are
many hundreds gone since I
left them 2 months ago, ∨ lost many
the severe fighting of April and
May. This makes a very sad home 
coming, when one ponders over
it. They have been out of the
fighting for six weeks now
& are at present resting and
training in a village behind
the lines- We'll be going forward
again at no distant date. It
seems a mighty long trail to the
end of the fighting yet & one
gets very sick of the killing of
the fine young men.

Last edited by:
Loretta CorbettLoretta Corbett
Last edited on:

Last updated: