Papers relating to the service of Stewart Murray Hansen, 1915 - 1917 - Part 11

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open for review
Accession number:
AWM2020.22.119
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

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Anzae Gallyall Parin 151115 Dear a brother I have been very aury lately own to dortage of Officer. Dty in the trincke in that account, has been long all but we have had thre officer if other wits transpared for duly upl and hiea our return i magnity of them an Fr oe. Isan England ancealment get a holiday Lelve moth wll have clapies in per reave this ane we left Anstaba and Clurknon well mee use be end you Winter with call bleak winds oa deat and you hip an likely to be quiet here for aome time and are on lenly onyea preparing der guarter bu mnathe l o a number every day Reeived litter dated 20t Leps ated pancel with jacket & seay and Jean he afbrant wih an all at aquinated ate the following f it you acount I debit me with 20 taken f Mother L Mr Dove 19 Juan 19 aus, how b seem 4 2
22
I have a soad dear of back pay owing one and where the Paymaner anles will cable some of it home. There is little chance of ever grandg 1ofa the pemne Kindly senaig perting to all friends a it it impossible to write them lnder I present concerting I hardly get for hous slep per night The state of affair ave well not cnsume long now te some officers conned to a. Agutant work is not exceptimally stenuer few acondunian ha to be aoe at aearnly co day might e smel nor aud rane t auffill M week bu if an in mcllend andii feeling as jay as possible Yous Sincerely Stewart

Sarpi Rest Camp
Lemnos
18-10-15
Dear All,
Our month's rest is up but we still linger.
Perhaps before next mail we will be well and truly
in the thick of it again. The unsettled state of affairs
in the Balkans might reach a climax at any time
and there will then be trouble.
The men left are dwindling down slowly but on
the whole we are much fitter than when we entered
the rest camp. My anticipated trip to Egypt is
therefore off.
Today we received information that a number of new
men posted "missing" were prisoners of war at
Constantinople & amongst the number were 12 men
who followed me into action on Aug 8th. There are still
8 more of my Platoon posted missing. I therefore have
a narrower squeak than I had thought. Brendan
Calcutt of Victoria St who joined our Battalion on
Aug 6th about 6 hours before we commenced our
night march and attack is also reported a
prisoner. His father wrote to our Headquarters
asking particulars and it naturally came to

 

me as Adjutant to answer. I had just received
word of his son's presence in Constantinople
as a prisoner of war but did not connect
him with Williamstown until I received the
letter from Mr Calcutt. We have it officially
that they are being well treated.
We held very successful Regimental sports on
Saturday and thereby caused a revival of the
"Spirit" so necessary in soldiers on active service
The men showed great keeness and the Officers
provided the prizes - principally bursaries in the
food line bought on H.M.S. Blenheim. Gill
Down purser of A42 happened along as we
entertained all the Brigade Officers & Gill
afterwards. Quite a convivial gathering.
At night we were entertained at an open air
concert by the NZ. Mounted Rifle Brigade
This was attended by Australian & Canadian
Nursing staff.
One of our Officers made a tour of the Store
ships last week and bought a large supply of
tinned luxuries for our mess. We do eat.
Had a snapshot taken by a fellow Officer
and if anything comes of it, will forward result.
Am enclosing relics for filing and future
reference Please keep.

 

3
Brigade Sports Day next Saturday & Concert in
evening. Hope weather is fine but appearances
are against it: Weather very boisterous at
present.
Receive mail dated 5th Sept including
several papers. Parcels found more will arrive
tomorrow.
Endeavouring to arrange another pay for the
men today as supplies are running short and
these Greek Villagers know how to charge.
Hence rumours today that Bulgaria &
Greece are "straffing" one another. Hope so.
Received note from Jean & Grace. Her generous
& thoughtful gift of tobacco arrived some time ago &
is now "mafeesh" (Arabic "finished")
Finis for this mail as there is nothing
doing of any importance.
Yours
Stewart.

 

1
Sarpi Rest Camp
Lemnos
24-10-15
Dear All,
Yet another week has passed but one
full of interest.
War news has shown us to what extent the trouble
in the Balkans is likely to extend. Already
Serbia is being sorely pressed by Austria in
North and Bulgaria in East but the
Allies including Italy have landed troops via
Salonika and are engaging the Bulgars.
No change in the position at Gallipoli which
immediately concerns us.
General Godley inspected us on Sunday
morning and duly informed us that we would
soon be at it again at which we smiled.
He therefore said we would probably have
another three years to smile as the war would
probably take that time to finish and we
just had to get to Constantinople.
We have been dividing our spare time
between visits to surrounding villages and
the towns at No 3 Australian General Hospital

 

2
they make us feel as if we were at home and
so we just pop in and have afternoon tea
when we feel inclined and they visit us
when they feel up to walking the distance.
In a direct line the Hospitals are only half a mile
away but across the water. To reach it by
land it takes a good hour so naturally we
don't walk every day.
It is quite a common sight to see 40 Officers at
afternoon tea on Sunday afternoon. On other
days the number is smaller owing to duties.
Yesterday ^Capt Winn & I spent the afternoon with the Medical
Officers of No 2 Stationary Hospital and after
arriving at our own abode discovered three
nurses comfortably seated with our C.O.
& Machine Gun Officers partaking of our evening
meal.
On Monday Three officers of 15th Bn & I visited
"Portiano" and while having our photo taken
by a friend "backsheese" (Arabic "for nothing")
two sisters (not nurses) walked into the yard
and incidentally into the group. ("Photo enclosed)
It is very "overripe".
We have been dining sumptuously of late.
Turkey, Chicken and other luxuries.

 

3.
Today the 1st Aust. Brigade left Mudros with
marching orders. Afterwards the 2nd Bde, NZ.
Mounted Bde & Infantry & 4th Aust Inf Bde.
were inspected by the C in C General Munro
successor to General Hamilton.
My batsman Harry Smith - a London boy -
went off his head last night after being struck
on the scalp. He is very quiet but his memory
has temporarily disappeared. I lose a faithful
follower but hope he will be well soon.
We embark for scenes of strife again on
Saturday next after six weeks spell.
Our 7th reinforcements numbering 2 Officers & 141 men
arrived on Saturday last and on Monday
800 men of the Bde were isolated owing to
mumps. Fortunately none of those infected belong
to 14th Bn. They all came from N.S.W.
Nothing serious as they will in all
probability rejoin us on embarkation
next Saturday.
Our C.O is still away on duty but
is expected back before we sail.
Italy has joined us in our fighting against
Bulgaria. Something is going to happen in the
Balkans some day before the war is over.

 

4
Am enclosing small vest pocket camera
snapshot taken outside my tent at the
Camp This is the only approach to a photo of
myself in officers uniform.
My eyes are giving a little trouble of late
especially when I attempt to read but Dr (Major)
Lockard Gibson Eye specialist from Melbourne
has just about fixed me up alright. A
slight dose of "Conjunctivitis" probably caused
by flies or dust.
Kind regards to all regards
Stewart.
I have seen Scott Hall who is in splendid condition
after his trip to England.
Also young Duff & the one older than Alex's pal.
and Rudy Griffiths yesterday.
Bob Cruthers left his morning with 2nd Bn.

 

Anzac
Gallipoli Penin.
13-11-15
Dear All Mother
I have been very busy lately owing
to shortage of Officers. Duty in the trenches
has been long and arduous in that account,
but we have had three officers of other units

transferred for duty until such time as our
own return. The majority of them are in
England convalescent. Poor me. I can't
get a holiday.
Twelve months will have elapsed ere you
receive this, since we left Australia and
Christmas will once more be with you.
Winter with cold bleak winds are now with us
Heat with you.
Things are likely to be quiet here for some
time and we are busily engaged preparing
winter quarters. But casualties still occur
in small numbers every day.
Received letters dated 14th & 21st Sept also
parcel with jacket & scarf and Jean's tin
of biscuits which are all much appreciated
I want you to make the following gifts
from my account & debit me with same.
To Father ₤1
" Mother ₤1
" Jean 10/- Mrs Dove 10/-
" Alex, Norman, Reg, Allen, Winnie, James Jr.
5/- each

 

Messages and Signals Form - see original document

 

I have a good deal of back pay owing me and
when the Paymaster arrives will cable
some of it home. There is little chance of
even spending 10/- on the peninsula
Kindly send my greetings to all friends
as it is impossible to write them under
present conditions I hardly get four
hours sleep per night. This state of affairs
will not continue long now we have
some Officers loaned to us..
Adjutants' work is not exceptionally
strenuous but is continuous & has to be
done at unearthly hours day & night.
This small note will have to suffice
this week but I am in excellent condition
& feeling as gay as possible.
Yours sincerely
Stewart.

 

 

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