Letters from Captain Walter Morris Felix Gamble to his family, 1917-1918 - Part 1

Rangoon
8^th April 1918.  
My Dear old Dad & Mum.
I suppose you
are growing tired of hearing that
I am having a bonza time, but
since I landed in India, I have
been walking on air.  
The day after I hit Bombay
a chap named Copplestone - a
dinkum Anzac - and myself went
into a shop to buy a bit of
gear, but before we had time
to speak to The man behind
the counter, we saw two Australian
Sisters, and They saw us, over
here, we are a Kind of brother
and sisterhood, we are strangers
in a strange land, and some
how or other, we prefer The
society of Australian to That of

anyone else, Kind of "The more we
see of some folk, The better we like
our dogs." So whenever, and
where ever Australia meets Australia,
it's Hallo! what part do you hail
from?. These questions having been
answered in turn, you are Then
cobbers, have been for years, it
seems, and always will be.
We had quite a little romance
at Bombay, but alas, it only
lasted Three days, and when we
had to go, They came down
to the station and Kissed us
good-bye, for luck - she's a
bonza girl, I'll send you her
photo next week.
From Bombay we came
across India to Calcutta and
strange to say, we met
two more Australian Sisters.

and we had a great time, They
were just goodo, smiling, pritty
and bubbling over with life, but
This little romance was also fated
to be Short lived, for on The evening
of The fourth day, a close observer
would have seen a little scene
fit for any Picture Show, and
until The train was rushing along
at full speed, I Thought That I
was The only Australian Soldier
She had Kissed goodbye, a mere
delusion, I'm afraid.
From Calcutta we travelled to
Rangoon by boat, it was a good
boat and There were only six
soldiers on board, but quite a
lot of girls, and we managed to
hit up quite a good time. Dancing,
playing all Kinds of deck games &
in The evenings we would sing, you
laugh, no doubt, but I manage

to make a big row, & Keep in tune
occasionally. On The boat, we met
a Managing director to of some
Motor business, and as soon as
we hit Rangoon, he sent a car
round to us, to be absolutely at
our disposal during our stay,
unfortunately I'm leaving tomorrow
but it has had a good run.
Burma is a beautiful place, &
it's people are just great, They
are yellow, small, absolutely clean,
and They dress most picturesquely
in bright coulours, which don't
clash - at least people say They
don't clash - I take it for granted.
They are a happy - go lucky crowd,
always smiling, and dont seem
to have any worries worth
bothering about.
I have been posted to The
86^th Carnatics, and They are at

present stationed at Bhamo, away
up in north east Burma, on The
China frontier. From what I can
gather from people who have lived
There, it is a very nice spot, plenty
of sport & games, and of course
a little work.
I have had a fair bit of
exercise since I have been here,
in The way of tennis & swimming,
and I'm beginning to feel very
fit. I have practically cut out
cigarettes, and am on The pipe.
-and I confine my self to The
good old Lemon & Squash. The
other stuff doesn't agree with me,
so I have cut it right out.
I hope my cables for money
didn't hit too hard, but I needed
a bit to put me on my feet
before starting a new show.

and once I get settled down, I'll
be able to pay it back.
How are all The boys progressing.
If you ask me, The Flying Corps is
The best job for Fred, a good eye
and a steady hand, is more essential
to an airman, Than a Thorough
Knowledge of mechanics. I haven't
had any letters for over two months,
but they are all chasing me.
Did Horace win anything in The
diving line this year, and I'm
also very anxious to hear if Fred
rowed in The crew, and how may
wickets Herbert has been taking,
not to mention runs, and young
Jack, what is he doing in The
sport line? I Think in his last
letter, he seemed to be more
interested in little girls. - Give my
love to every one. I'll tell you all
about my new Regiment, when
I join it - I'm as tired as blazes.
Good-Night! & Good-luck.
Ever your loving son. Wall/

Bhamo,
Burma
22^nd April. 18.
My Dear old Dad & Mum

First of all from
Egypt, Then Lemnos Island and Gallipoli,

after That, back again to Egypt, on to
France, England and Scotland, and
now of all places, I write from Bhamo,
area up in North East Burma. a days
march from China, and Three years
ago. a hundred odd miles was a very
long journey for me. - It's a poor war
That does no one any good! -
I have been with my new Regiment
now for ten days and much to
my surprise, I find myself Commanding
a Company, but although at present I
am but a Lieutenant, with a big bit
of luck, I might become a tempory Captain
in a few months time, which is far beyond
my wildest dreams. You were just

a little previous in addressing me as

Captain, but had I stayed with my

old Brigade I would have been, so

no harm was done, but now That I'm

here, stick to The good old "Loot"

until I give you The dinkum oil.

India is some place, a British Officer
here is a little tin God all on his own.
It's a hell of a joke, until you get used
to it.- It's a great life, I have five
servants, and They all find something to
do, how beats me. They almost tell by The
expressions on your face what you want,
and before you have time to utter The
words, the Thing is done.
My daily routine goes something like
this ! - At Six ah emma, I am awakened,
and sit up in bed to a cup of tea, toast, 
and fruit, I then bath, and a passive
individual stands by and hands me
the soap or sponge as I want it, I am
Then helped to dry myself, - he looks as

if he would like to clean my teeth for me, 
but I manage it alright unaided - Then
my clothes are handed to me in such

a manner, That I have only to move

an arm or a leg, and I'm into Them,

By this, it is nearing seven o'clock, when

I stroll down to parade, The company

is handed over to me, a I give lip to

a couple of commands, Then break The

Show up into small sections for

instructional purposes, and while The

latter is in progress, I wander about

looking beastly intelligent (Can you just

imagine me?) correcting a fault here 

and There till eight P.M. when The

company is dismissed. I wander back

to my Bungalow, and would under

ordinary circumstance read a book or

something of The Kind till nine, but as I

intend passing colloquial Hindustani

in Three months, I must put my nose

down to it, well at nine, I toddle

along to my office, and sign my name

to That weird and wonderful pile of

correspondents Known only in The army,

here unfortunately, I have not only to

look wise, but to a certain extent I

have to live up to it, for questions of mens

pay, are settled, and justice is dealt out

generally "seven days C.B" and generally,

The internal workings of The Company are

fixed up. This generally lasts Till about

ten. I Then go and have breakfast and

talk scandal, war and rot, till about

half past eleven, Then The old Bungalow

sees me again, and if There was nothing

better to do (hindustani for instance) I would

sleep till about Three Thirty, but as The

Signal Haveedar comes along to Teach me The

lingo at one Thirty, That is all The Time I have

to sleep, a couple of hours of hindustani and

it is time to dress again. ( on Oh! I forgot,

afternoon tea is brought along just at This

time) but here is The great worry of The

day, There are so many sports a chap

can indulge it in, That it's hard to choose

one for The evening, so far, I have given

Them all a go, shooting, fishing, tennis,

riding, Polo, hockey and all The rest of it

but of The whole lot, give me polo, every
time. Gee! It's a great game. tearing down
The field after The ball. as hard as God will 
let you, someone beats you for The ball,
and Knocks it back The other way, and
before you can say "'ell!" you are going
Hell for leather in The opposite direction, of
course I'm only one of The mugs at present,
but in a few months time, I'll be able to
hold my end up.
Well, having made yourself Thoroughly
tired at whichever game you have taken
on, you go back to your bungalow, have
a bath and dress for dinner in the
usual way. This brings you to about
six Thirty, which at this time of The year
is dusk as, dinner is, not till eight
Thirty, we all toddle down to The club, where

^we talk, play billiards and generally do
nothing till feeding time - Then for
want of something better to do. I come
home and either write, swat Hindustani
or go tout à suite to bed, for For doing
all These Things daily with a little variation
here and There, I'm paid something over
fifteen bob a day - not xxx much I

agree, but! - Do I earn even so much?
Anyhow, it is quite enough for me to live
quite comfy on, without having to weigh
a single penny, and wonder if I can
afford This or That. So far, I Think I'm on
a jolly good wicket, except That Australia is
so far away. I must to bed and get my
six hours sleep. love to all The boys & Mona.

Ever your loving son, Wally.