Letters from Captain Walter Morris Felix Gamble to his family, 1915-1916 - Part 17

the Australian winter.
Thanks so much Dad
for "The Straits impregnable"
it was grand. my brother
officers also send their
thanks.

All our ancient boor

companions Dad, are gone.

It seems that Ivor and
I are left alone. m
Malcolm has gone with
the rest.

He was in charge of
a Raiding party. - some
how. The Hun spies did
their work only too well. - 
and when the small
handful of men rushed
forward, they were met
by a force far greater
than themselves, but they
did not turn back, until
their work was done,

and then, three out of
fifty returned. How can 
a man die better, than 
by facing fearful odds?
Ivor's brother Spencer is,
I am afraid. gone too.
Well Dad. and Mum
dear, when my guns
work, they will bark
with vengence.
Ivor, Cocky and 
myself are going strong
still, I myself am as
fit as could be.
I am sorry I haven't
time for more
Ever your loving Son,
Wally.

France
7^th November 1916
My Dear old Dad.
We have just
been notified that the
mail will close at 12 pip
and it is now 10 at. I
am the only officer at 
home. so will have to
censor all the letters. -
They are coming in in
dozens - under these
strenuous circumstances
you will have to put
up with a few lines.
I have just seen
ten days real war. It was
the most wonderful
and most terrible
spectical I have ever
seen. One could stand

on a hill. several
miles behind the line 
and watch all day
for a break in the
endless line of ammunition
limbers. and
and supply wagons. 
but you would watch in
vain, and during the 
night, cursing drivers,
rattling motor lorries.
screaching engines. and
clattering trucks. xxx Tell
you that thousands of
guns, and hundreds of
thousands of men will
not be short of food on
the morrow. England
is a slow starter, but
once she gets going. Gee!
she goes some!
I will never forget
the first day Cocky and

and I went up to the
line, there was a bit
of an advance ordered
on our night. We
passed through line
after line of large
calibre guns, almost
deafened, af as far
right and as far left
as we could see,
big guns thundered.
and in front of us, 
the light field guns,
sounded like sox many
giant machine guns.
We haven't won yet
Dad, but we are winning
a captured German
officer, once stated, after
being under one of these
terrible bombardments,
"Compared with this

you have never been
under a bombardment."
Well Dad, this
pile of uncensored
before me is growing,
awfully fast, so I if 
I haven't time to
write to Mum & Mona
explain for me won't
you.
I am going to "Blighty"
for ten days next Friday.
Not much! What? about
"-" that much.
Ever your loving Son,
Wally.

London
19^th November 1916
My Dear old Dad.
"Back to the Army
again" in two days. Gee! but I've
had a good time. London is
a wonderful place to spend
money in, when my ten days
is up, I won't have much
left out of eighty pounds. -
After nearly two years of
this grim business, I don't
think you will blame me. 
It has done me good,

3
whenever I wished to speak
to anyone, not a soldier,
I would have to use a
mixture of either French or
Arabic and dog English,
and would be answered,
by a stream of words which
would convey no meaning
to me at all. Do you wonder
that I stuck in the first
place I met English speaking
people? I haven't even had
time to visit Dr Gill, as a 
matter of fact, I've lost his
address, and - well, my
hours are far too
2.
for I have increased my
weight from 12.9. to 13.2.
When I left France, I 
intended to see Scotland,
Ireland, and England.
but all my wild dreams
were smashed, when I set
foot in the West End. It
was such a relief to be in
a throng of men and beautiful
women, who spoke ones own
language. That I said to
myself "This will do me

for ten days." maybe next
time I will travel, but I
have my doubts
Ever since I left home,

precious to waste looking
up Directories, I've seen
everything that is to been seen
either from the top of a bus
or a Taxie. - I've done precious
little walking, and have
eaten extra ordinarilly (Spelling?)
large meals four times a
day - hence my increase
in weight, - I have sent the
boys a Cricket Set, and
you, Mum, & Mona a little
present, for Christmas.. I
hope you get them all right.
Well, Dad, a merry Xmas
and a Happy New Year,
I'm feeling simply grand.
Wally

London
19^th. Nov. 16
My Dear old Mum,
I will just
get back in time to spend
a second Birthday in
the Firingline, - and to
rescue my Birthday
parcel from Cocky, Hock,
and Bill - for it is an
understood thing that if
any one of us is away when
a parcel comes for him
it automatically becomes