Letters from Robert Mactier VC to his sister Belle Crawford and other papers, c.1912-c.1962 - Part 3

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
AWM2020.22.113
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

to G 2 Sunday Aug26 17 Dollastone Canp Dear Dell I received your letter of the fourth of Penl. Da to scaby it you were all well ucaws by exes, he als like to hav his phis taken have not go any yeu hiie they don's get to the botton of the ia HenCole came over from Lark Dill to ree me yeaterday ded get a surtrce to se him he is a Cpel now & altendeng a ion of instrucsion over her he has been lucky o a crate Sar. We were reviewed by his royal Higne he Duke of Connaugh on as onday bout 7ouston of is all Hustralians ront 9s much on these eviews to much standing at attention. We have suly luck about our lisoe we are not to get and wntill we hav
Dovant No4 Canss Salisbay Kly October 21t 1917 How wsth air gro Bell word te ti wt thas the fince around the house for oney wasd Dear Bell water laidon& you would to set ap A Merry Oas Nefyn pen fest a few lives to let you kase that w stllwl ing have re of Hidy Lohn since we have some baen at thes cane Andy to camped at Durderts about a mile & half from her He is about his old self again When we first came to England we didn't think much of the fruit, the applosong were aobig as martles but when we got to this comp they were a plly rigis better rearly oy wour Ihers are heap of them grown around hers Andy ohn stold us today when he cane down that he had been helping to make applo from in the morning barrels of it. We never see butter here its all margirine dont think much of it myself. fimo prebald pay was lucky tha time ait iflemper thes the fine not to be hurt. Dory to was not so well Foss all the
amstone veen the Lord Baor titers all the rooms, in me Willedm is a carpet an inch said which was hand made by oe women of Donegal it took two years to make coving over $000, its made in three piecs and ach weignea ton is you can puess size of it is fars reclose its the firest modert building live ever seen. Alds had a look at their act gallery, not so good as the one at Flaigon, From Belfist (wasonly thee a day crocad to scorland land at Stranan had to stay there a night as the train did nt connect with the boak off to Hasgon at half past as got there as eight sae the sights there staying two says then we made for Whitsoin go there it half part ning in the norn Liig Alexander meat us. We got a great respe William was lone also for the Lawest They are a fine family, we stayed there two night Uncll Henry had no all acound showing us off to the vers relatives, hes much like the Dad & Wich v in his ways We left there at 6 ochoch and got to London on the express travelling all night) at s the rea orn saw some of the sights of London Deck to camp at halppast eight the sang o it Altogether a very pasant time Hust close ag there are y more to cron
of Aidy Botn since we lad ande haw at this can Andy to camped at Drurdat about a mile & half from hew t is abeet his old self agrin When we first came to England we didnt think much of the truit, the applionly were asbig as markles but eters we got to this camp the were a plly signs letter rearly to you wour Ther are heap of them grown around here Andy ohn told us today when he cane down that he had been helping to make apple fam In the morning barrels of it. We never see butter here its all margarine dont think much of it myself gimo piesald pray was lucky tha time heptemped thes the fince not to be hust sorry to hear A Chutnet was not so well. How are the crops this year by all account there has tenpilerty of rain, the folk will be busy with the Lawes by the time this reaches you Well Bell will close trusting all are well at Belmont soit leaves wl here yoper affc bro Bob
2 No09 Part Krsk Doneeherw November 28th 72 CNN Dear Delle I received yours t find letter a few days ago Ito you will se Ioe go over this sids, n hea the guns from hew getting gradaally used to the bignoiss Ispose Andyk is here writing with me Ive sen quite a lot of him lately + he will never be very far away. Ihere is panty of nice soft med here to over ferbt Tops the cowyards at home are nothing to it The county around here io good o level hat what we sain England Bont think there will be so much time for letter writing either so in are on by the day here onot like the ordenary drill hours
N mr The first camp we can to here in the best we have been in since we left Aasai Ay word the floods rust have been bad again this year law fut seen a paper & in October some time the Barry was too rihes indo at Albury. How would lansinto fare I wonder Well fim Low is thet Epiebald pony of Yours fir for breaking in 6h Jay fin Well Bello Sn hothing much to scribble about so will close trusting you are all well in the best of health as it leave Ardy & Your Affet bo Bob Andy wishes to be revenbard to you all PH
France Februay 19t 10 n Dear Belle just a few lines in answ to you wellom letter of Desmnt Alad to know you were all well. We are lavere a fairtime of it asprosent but by Jens there are done heavy prite it the mornings but the Atternoons ar H1. I was pleased to know that d had his discharge he would have a time seeing his friends Igot a snapahot from Jack a the oathering at home the fir Sunday He was tome is was good to see the smiling fres Seeing fim must be polving a be boy now to wee Oleve too is 2 s gg th when I last saw h nca
I have not yet received your late pardlis but hip £ to get them soon by Ashwtat b send a l Bell I think the most wsehell things trom ary perhortitan Footlaco a toact Comes in very handy timestes Everstime we go in the trenc we act sered with somie Cookns& fue o its usters sending that as th less we have to carry the better as Absi w have seem heaps of grod steeff sempet when ws more oud of hiclets caas we can leave any thing any where as we may not come back to ns out came plac when on have will be abletotes you wha i like better than in a litter Nell Belle Imost Eloss as Don Andy Rohn a camuen. Ththi Eadall west to be cerentared to n a Do a Fas of buto Touad yu bees
Vell Donewlers in Deared on the Didelf the road Mamthank when he rood part oh a Engline to bome ta Dear Bull where save been few & bet hald but I went N6 Ilars receivved parcels comingto light eg ver risted dont Ma everat letter from you untill lately I have they came in the right tine adely which I have not had only one so far came daythrough larhing seered that wnste the Ampas one from lome parcels that Ahy It was te I have had very little but I hope is or sos door 1 acks me of theyl Ellme to myself for this lase of the others now they are is Sthough I was gaile& tey weeks. I have had a coming in Its good to opened emit while I to nenthe treces One of get ex Where would be at feed they like the cope my mater Bucheron 90 a Dome ofcitiment at Ang to t the Mrh K whe pucion the leg Has war lomg wher trive arrived hardeoses arns three 132 the tonly causualityen durtay now we are peace the Na 400 at homeplla She kind was the wm hes tpll da I con pid rblelig well, fove Bell Hing t pent up with as Ive a yea moraiti Beritold Dn ah will his spoulder it is I san George Dobbin a bad armifor sipaot or, anfer Munites just to you all your afficers wort it. & ane Iredente before we same to thes or with merolo cto he wet chmp be ireem the noteto Eade had aed lle artitly & to lorking o being decovd i welhwf got, a shook eile think to get off so le tale me I wsnsteadin with neat best wo kes One steff (oh propertso s but 341 AndiL then about a forlin conclude An thank
March7th 18 Dear Belle Aam thanks for your sana oct 2r it took a bonstine to bone but it wowe dongg; tn wasa bet laid but it went 16 for all that 4o9 t the cigs wer ruited dont ganything let Hilrone ter thy cane in the registing so Hs pils wa s that sae day through larking in the billt) I got four papcels that day. It was funny the tac met we of the doort achasme if they could carrs then for me I said Ithough I was qaile Copaal but they bas ono me & operedem i whit I corred on to thenwe all had a bad the liked the cate best & all pod their compliments to the maken te word there are sone real hardeases arns there Bitle. We were in belats te ut nowe are pare the Han exest be right hee in a few a I saw Bill Fibt to othe Aay rea the 221 & doing will fove Bot Clescut io having hard such with hea Dhoulder is will be bad such i te has a bad armo sp as ths aeso to ti le will vest it & ave Isidents get & Bisteap what with me tolo to he wylt the well lifup. The lac has hard lack bre at Canp ts being thed in the a det he was lucke I think to get off As liget Billie ke not with neat wrboet as les the a guard yos over some steff (the property of the sarte bo but I tlat I rever sh ten troking a well Nasif Fon are on Elis Lave I tih I saw them about a fortigt ago Well Belle Iem conclude asen thanking you for your parcel kd regrag settle hi I renain you a/so bi0 Sosta

Sunday Aug 26th 17.

Dear Bell.

Rollestone Camp.

I received your

letter of the fourth of June. Pleased

to see by it you were all well.

Guess young Jim can whistle some

by this, he also like to have his

[["phto" ]] taken have not got any yet

hope they don't get to the bottom of the

sea. [[?]] Cole came over from

Lark Hill to see me yesterday. I

did get a surprise to see him.

he is a Cpl now & attending a

school of instruction over here,

he has been lucky not a scratch so

far. We were reviewed by His Royal

Highness the Duke of Connaught

on last Monday. About 7 or 8 thous.

of us all Australians. Dont go

much on these reviews to much

standing at attention. We have

stiff luck about our leave, we

are not to get any until we have

done two months training we are all disappointed as all the lads before us had theirs after they had been here a week. Dave had an easier time of it since we came here as for duties. no guards so far. Did I tell you I have put on over a stone since I left [[?]] 

Must close so I've a [[?]] or more

to scribble [[down?]] of love to you all at

Belmont  Your affec bro Bob.

 

Salisbury Pls Fovant No 4 Camp

October 21st 1917

Now is the air gas Bell. 

My word you will be just the thing with that & the fences around the house. You only want

water laid on & you would be set up.

A Merry Xmas & Happy New Year

to you all

Dear Bell.

Just a few lines to let you know

that we are still well & kicking. We have seen a lot

of Andy Bohn since we have come been at this camp. Andy is camped at Hurdcott about a mile & half from here. He is about his old self again.

When we first came to England we didn't

think much of the fruit, the apples only were as big

as marbles but when we got to this camp they were

a jolly sight better nearly as good as our own

There are heaps of them grown around here

Andy Bohn told us today when he came down

that he had been helping to make apple jam

in the morning barrels of it. We never see butter

here its all margarine dont think much of it

myself. Jim's piebald pony was lucky that time

it jumped thru the fence not to be hurt. Sorry to

hear Mr Chestnut was not so well. How are the

 

round and showed

[[?]] the Lord Mayor's

[[?]] thru all the rooms, in [[one?]]

[[?]] is a carpet an inch thick

which was hand made by the women of

Donegal it took two years to make costing

over £600, its made in three pieces and

each weights a ton so you can guess the

size of it. As far I reckon its the finest

modern building I've ever seen. Also had a

look at their art gallery, not so good as

the one at Glasgow. From Belfast (was only

there a day) we crossed to Scotland landing

at Stranraer had to stay there a night as

the train did not connect with the boat.

off to Glasgow at half-past six got there at

eight saw the sights there - staying two

days, then we made for Whithorn got

there at half-past nine in the morn. Lieut

Alexander meet us. We got a great reception

William was home also for the harvest

They  are a fine family, we stayed there

two nights. Uncle Henry had us all around

showing us off to the various relatives, he's

much like the Dad & Uncle Dave in his way.

We left there at 6 oclock and got to London

on the express travelling all night.) At 8 the next

morn saw some of the sights of London &

back to camp at half-past eight the same

Night. Altogether a very pleasant time.

Must close as there are a [[?]] more to answer

Your affec bro Bob.

 

are still well & kicking. We have seen a lot

of Andy Bohn since we have come been at this camp

Andy is camped at Hurdcott about a mile & half

from here. He is about his old self again.

When we first came to England we didn't

think much of the fruit, the apples only were as big

as marbles but when we got to this camp they were

a jolly sight better nearly as good as our own

There are heaps of them grown around here

Andy Bohn told us today when he came down

that he had been helping to make apple jam

in the morning barrels of it. We never see butter

here its all margarine dont think much of it

myself. Jim's piebald [[pony?]] was lucky that time

it jumped thru the fence not to be hurt. Sorry to

hear Mr Chestnut was not so well. How are the

crops this year by all account there has been plenty

of rain, the folk will be busy with the harvest

by the time this reaches you. Well Bell will close

trusting all are well at "Belmont" as it leaves us lads

here. Your affec bro Bob.

 

No6939 23rd Battn.

Somewhere in France

November 29th 1917

YMCA

WITH

THE

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE.

Dear Belle

I received yours & Jim's

letter a few days ago. As you will

see I've got over this side, can hear

the guns from here getting gradually

used to the bit noise I'spose. Andy Bohn

is here writing with me I've seen

quite a lot of him lately & he will

never be very far away. There is plenty

of nice soft mud here too over yer boot

tops the cowyards at home are nothing to

it. The country around here is good

& more level than what we saw in

England. Don't think there will

be so much time for letter writing

either as we are on by the day here

not like the ordinary drill hours.

P.T.O

 

YMCA

WITH

THE

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE.

The first camp we came to here was

the best we have been in since we

left Aussie. My word the floods must

have been bad again this year. have

first seen a paper & in October some

time the Murray was two inches inches

at Albury. How would Caniambo

fare I wonder. Well Jim how is that

piebald pony of yours fit for

breaking in Eh "Joey Jim"

Well Belle I've nothing much

to scribble about so will close

trusting you are all well & in

the best of health. As it leave

Andy & I Your affec bro Bob.

Andy wishes to be remembered

to you all RM.

P.T.O

 

France

February 19th 18

YMCA

WITH

THE

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE.

Dear Belle.

Just a few lines in answer

to your welcome letter of Dec 12th.  Glad to

know you were all well. We are having a

a fair time of it at present, but Jingo

there are some heavy frosts in the

mornings but the afternoons are

A1. I was pleased to know that

Dave had his discharge, he would

have a time seeing his friends.

I got a snapshot from Jack at

the gathering at the first

Sunday he was home it was

good to see the smiling faces

Young Jim must be growing a big

boy now & wee. Olive too is a lot

bigger than when I last saw her.

P.T.O.

 

YMCA

WITH

THE

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE.

I have not yet

received your late

parcels but hope

to get them soon.

You ask what

to send, well Belle I think the most

usefull things too me are socks & tobacco

& bootlaces. A towel comes in very handy

at times too. Everytime we go in the trenches

we get issued with Tommy Cookers &

fuel so it's useless sending that as the

less we have to carry the better we like it

and have seen heaps of good stuff

dumped when we move out of billets

because we can't leave anything

anywhere as we may not come back to

the same place when we come out

Dave will be able to tell you what

we like better than in a letter. Well

Belle I must close as Don & Andy Bohn

have just come in. The three lads all

wish to be remembered to you all. Ta Ta

Tons of love to you all. Your bro Bob

P.T.O

 

Somewhere in France

Dear Belle

I have received

several letters from you

lately which I have not

answered that was because

I have had very little

time to myself for this last

few weeks & have had a

turn in the trenches. One of

my pates Murchison got a

wee piece in the leg that was

the only casualty in our Coy.

The mud was the worst

thing to put up with

I saw George Robbins

for a few minutes just

before we came to this

camp he is in the mobile

aretillery & is looking

well He got a shock

to see me I was standing

on the side of the road

when he rode past.

There have been few

parcels coming to light

untill lately I have

had only one so far

the Xmas one from home

but I hope to get some

of the others now they are

coming in. Its good to

get em. There would be

some excitement at

home when Dave arrived

at home Eh what.

Excuse this note Belle

as I've a few more to

scribble. Kind regards

to you all your affec bro

Bob.

 

March 7th 18.

Dear Belle

Many thanks for your parcel (Oct 22nd)

it took a longtime to come bit it was bonza; the cake

was a bit hard but it went A6. for all that [[?]] but

the cigs were rushed don't get anything like [[?]] over

here, they came in the right time as my pips  was [[?]]

that same day/through larking in the (billet) I got

four parcels that day. it was funny the lads met me

at the door & asked me if they could carry them for me

I said I thought I was quite capable but they took 'em off

me & opened 'em up while I looked on & then we all

had a feed. they liked the cake best & all send "their

compliments" to the maker. My word there are some

real hardcases aren't there Belle. We were in billets then

but now we are near the Hun expect to be right there in

a few days. I saw Billie Gibb the other day he's in the

[[2 27th?]] & doing well. Jove Bob Chestnut is having hard

luck with his shoulder it will be bad luck if he

has a bad arm for life as they seem to think he

will wont it. Dave evidenty got a great reception

what with medals etc he [[?]] the well "lit up"

The lads had hard luck over at [[Ca?]]. [[?]]

[[?]] being kicked in the face but he was

lucky. I think to get off so light. Billie [[?]]

not with meat [[?]] as he's on a guard job over

some stuff (the property of the [[?]] Department)

but I think I never saw them looking so wee

Andy & Don are on Paris leave I think I saw

them about a fortnight ago. Well Belle I must

conclude agin thanking you for your parcel.

& kind regards to Sam & little Jim

I remain your affec bro

Bob Mac.

 

 

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