Letters from Captain Walter Morris Felix Gamble to his family, 1917-1918 - Part 14

long. for it has
given me time to
recover a bit from
my Gallipoli Stomach
Most Australians who
were on the peninsula
for a few months have
it in some form or
another
My symptoms are
when the spasm is
on me, - every
morning I wake
up with a devil of
a pain in the stomach
which lasts any time
up to three hours.
it makes me look
and feel rotten, when
it goes, I can be
sure not to have
another pain till the
following morning,
between pains, I feel
quite all right, but
I'm told I don't look
well,
The family Doctor came
along to see me, but
couldn't find any
serious trouble, after
prodding me for half
an hour. He gave me
some medicine, & I'm
improving A.I. Love to
all your loving Son
Wally.
 

P.S. Same old address.
WELLBANK, 
PRESTWICK,
MANCHESTER.
Jan 28^th 1918
Dear old Dad & Mum
I'm still
on leave, and will
probably continue to
be on leave for another
two weeks on so. I think
I said this in my last
letter, but still that
how it is - gloriously
indefinite -
Mrs McConnel asked
Ivor up for the week end
 

and I can tell you
it was great to see
him again, we talked
and played Billiards
well into sunday morning.
It was oven a year
since I had seen him.
and he hadn't altered
much except that he
had filled out a bit
more, he is still the same
old loveable chap. He
and I are the only two
who are left still standing
of the school boy soldiers
who left in 1915, who
ava - excuse mess -
It's pretty solid when
 

you came to count them
up.
The other day I went
down to say Good-day
and shake hands with
the King. They gave us
three hours to admire
the Palace.  and it's a
very beautiful place.
but I was just about
fed up when my turn
came, about as fed
up as the King was, but
he smiled and shook
hands, and said he
was pleased to etc.
etc.
I had just got this
far yesterday, when
the November mail was
brought into the room
on a silver tray - rather
an unusual way for
me to get my letters,-
but still, it was very
fitting for it is one
of the best mails I've
had, - wonderful what
a bit of an M.C. can do. -
I was jolly pleased
to know that it made
you all feel happy
 

P.S. Will be sailing for
India soon.
WELLBANK, 
PRESTWICK,
MANCHESTER.
and a little bit proud.
An M.C. would be a
mere nothing, if a chap
didn't have someone
at home to make happy,
for the very thought that
it will please you, is
the real value of the thing.
You seemed to have
rather a good November
for you received - if
I remember rightly -
my flowing description
of my visit to Paris.
 

I was a bit afraid 
when I wrote it. that
you would think that
I had gone, or was
going to the dogs, I'm
glad you didn't think
so, because I'm not
really.
Tell Fred, I wont
call him the "weed of
the family" any more
partly because he looks
too biong big and might
be able to give me a
rough house, and
partly because he is
keen to be a soldier.
 

There are many worse
things than soldiering, if
you can keep your head
above water - but make
sure it's just above -
Pat Horace on the back
for me, for his musical
efforts at school, and
more especially for
having his design hung
beneath the old "Wesley.2."
By the time the family
has passed through the
old school.  There won't
be anything worth talking
about.  That a Gamble
was not at sometime or
other connected with.
So far we have been
a failure at cricket
and you can tell Herbert
for me, that if he doesn't
make good in the first
XI - but I feel sure he
will - I'll get Jack to
give him a hiding. He
must cut rowing to
be any good a cricket.
His Jack got into any
of his school teams yet?
He ought to be able to play
Cricket some day.
Tell Horace his photoes
were very good indeed.
Very best of luck
Ever you loving son
Wally.
 

P.S. Same old address 
Wally
WELLBANK, 
PRESTWICK,
MANCHESTER.
Jan 18^th 1918
My Dear old Mona
I'm sitting
in a luxurious arm
Chair, before a beautiful
fire with my feet upon
a lesser chair.  At my
side is a delightful
little girl, - Doris by
name, - we write
and talk alternately
When we are finished
writing, she will sing
 

to me - she can sing
too - . and this is
war, the greatest war
the world has even seen
or known. Some people
have all the luck.
I'm glad to see that
the Gamble family, is
winning races, getting into
cricket teams, and playing
flutes & acting before large
crowds, - Jolly good -
The boys will almost
have grown out of
recognition by the time
I get home.

I'm going down to
London shortly to shake
hands with the King, and
get my little silver Cross.
I saw my first Grand
Opera last night. -
Samson & Delilah, It was
grand. I'm going to
see Aida tomorrow, - What
a g curse was this !!!!
I had my photo taken
with my gun and bag.
and am sending it
over to you It might
give you some idea
of the fine time I
have been having
How are things in
Australia these days? Is
there plenty of food?
There doesn't seem to
be much here, - meat
tea, sugar, butter, and
all that kind of thing are
apparently very scarce.
It is more than my poor
pen can cc do to describe
in feelings when I learnt
that the Australian people
have decided to let the
glorious little A.1.F. fade away
Doris has finishes writing.
I must turn over the music
Ever your loving brother
Wally