Letters from Captain Walter Morris Felix Gamble to his family, 1915-1916 - Part 7

enough to do without the
girls but whenit comes
to '[[?]]' — God made
man then he made woman
then xx he felt sorry for
man and made tobacco
and all we can get
of the three is an extra
ration of the first.
When I come back
I'm going to issue a
challenge namely, To
walk all corners from
along Brighton beach
with a regulation pack 

up. My feet have not
touched terra firma
since we were dumped
12
two huge helpings of
porridge & bread & jam
for dinner - a chap named
Cockerill and myself
(he's an old Xaverian)
made a wager that each
could eat more eggs than
the other, we each got
outside a dozen, and
called quits.
For tea I put away
a tin of pineapple
together with a few
slices of bread & butter.
There was a shortage 
of tobacco a few days
ago in fact there was
none. Struth it's hard
 

here.
You would laugh if
you could see me in
this rig. I look as
xxxxxx ungainly (excuse mess) as a poor little
Tommy (In fact we all
do, we are wearing their

togs and have cast off
our own distinguished
gear) and are as dirty
as Harry Lauder. But
I will be quite happy
clean or dirty xxxxx (excuse another mess) gainly or ungainly
if they would only take
us from this no-mans land.
Well turn the dark
cloud inside out till
the boys come home.
Always the same old
Wally
 

Sandville
20-5-16
Dear old Dad
I went down to
[[Quorn?]] in a terrible state
the other morning, when
I received your letter
saying that Mrs [[?]]
had been receiving letters
and you hadn't; but before
I had time to ask him
how many letters he had
been writing, he showed
me a letter from his
mater, saying that you had
been receiving letters and
she hadn't. What's the joke?
Our prospects are at
last beginning to look
brighter. Our work here
is nearing its end. Thank
goodness.
A few moths ago the
water was frozen in our
bottles, now it is almost
 

hot enough to make tea, in

fact some of the fellows made

some quite drinkable tea

from the water in their
bottle, so you can imagine
what it is like.

I thought I was pretty
hard and callous until
I received the photo of
you Mum and the old
home. I get homesick
every time I look at it.
For goodness sake get
out of you head all
those reasons for my not
writing, except procrastination
followed by adverse
circumstances. I always
was a poor hand at
writing letters.
I am sending you
some of the photos I
took while I was at the
school, some are taken
views of the zoo, and
 

some the Barrage, two
of Egypt's beauty spots.
How is poor old Mona
these days. I get a letter
from her every mail, but
I am sorry to say that I
neglect her. Same as
everyone else. I owe about
two dozen letters and
seem quite content to
remain in debt. I will
probably take a [[?]] to
myself one of these days.
Young x Herbert is
making a name for himself
How many ducks has
Horace made since he has
been on the team? I haven't
heard much of Fred's
pug career lately. I hope
he has dropped it for my
own sake.
How is Shakespear's only
rival progressing. I
wish I could keep
 

his letters but it is
impossible. (the army
does not supply toilet
paper)
I have lost a bit
of weight lately. I only
turn about twelve and
a half stone now where as
I was thirteen six when
I was last on Lemnos
Island.
I received a telegram
last week saying that a
tenner was waiting for me
at the bank. Thanks so
much. You see I sent
the Cable gram to you on
Wednesday but it left on
Friday - as a week end
cable. and on Friday I
went to Hospital so that
is why it looked fishy.
Well Dad, I am quite
well.
The same old Wally
 

Sandville
20-5-16
P.S. I will try to
write more often
Wally
Dear old Mum
I have entered
into my second year of
soldiering, and have not
found it too hard. I have
a good time before me
because old soldiers say,
that after [[??]] five
years of [service soldiering
becomes a passtime. 
We are leaving this
beastly hole thank goodness,
but where our destination
will be, the devil only
knows.
In the photo you look
the same old Mum, and
Dad the same old Dad. and
the house the same old
home. Nothing has
 

altered, except that Mona
and I have no longer
quarrel about my
missdoings
I have not seen Horace
since I met him on
Lemnos; that quaint, time
worn, ^little communistic
settlement in the Mediterranean.
If I were asked where
I spent my most enjoyable
fortnight in the Army I
would answer without
hesitation - Lemnos Island.
We are resting, now
that the scare is over.
My word it was tough
while it lasted, digging
trenches during the day,
and doing outpost duty
 

at night, and standing
to arms at 03.00. but that's
xx all gone and forgotten.
the excitement of a new
sphere of action under more
agreeable conditions has
counterbalanced to a 
large extent the weariness
of the men.
I am talking my
School boy French xxxx
day and night, and
have driven my cobbers
almost off their heads.
Well Mum I am
looking forward to
receiving another parcel
soon.
Your loving
Wally.