Letters from Captain Walter Morris Felix Gamble to his family, 1917-1918 - Part 6

and came home with, ____

and no fish. But it was  

good fun.

By the way things are

going, we ought to be into

German territory before

many months are out and

I often wonder what will

happen to "Der Fandenlandt,"
when our fellows are let

loose there. I'm thinking it

will get a rough handling.

We are having a spell

at present, fill in the day

at Gun practice and football.

Oh' I got those snaps of a

French Montano in action, but

thank goodness we don't use 

them, They are the first

decent kind we used in this

war, xxxxx fired about three

xxxxx rounds a minute, with

a maximum range of 350 yds,

and made more noise than

anything else, our gun

given over fourty rounds a

minute, has a maximum

range of 750 yds and does

 more than make a noise

she's accurate too. In fact

she's a little bonzer. I told

you all about her her some

time ago, but you couldn't

have received my letter.

The boys seem to be

getting on well - at the "Best

School of all" - as they put it.

I wonder if Fred goes

into the bathroom for coming

home half an hour late. he

seems to hit it pretty well

with the "abandoned" fair sex.

Personally I haven't seen

a bit of fluff for over two

months, - this is one of the

hardships of war - horribly

hard - Isn't it?

I have not yet received 

the pipes you sent me. I am

smoking a cherry wood, &

have been for the last two

months, consequently it's a

wee bit rank.

The fire is almost paper 

mafeesh, so I think I will

turn me to my lonely but

comfy bed - Good night

Your loving son

Wally.

France

April. 15^th 1917

My Dear old Mum,

I'm so sorry

mum, I meant to write

you a long letter this mail,

but those in authority

didn't seem to take much

notice of my good resolution

We have all got our

tails up, as you may

guess, by reading the papers

of about this date.

I am expecting to

get your parcel any

day now, but I suppose

this skidaddle will

delay it a while.

I want to write to

Mrs Warne Smith, but

like me, I lost her address.

I received an absolutely

beautiful parcel from

her the other day, for Ivor

& I, but unluckily Ivor

is not with me now. We

will probably be together

again in about a fortnight

Ever your loving. Wally

France

April, 28^th 1917

My Dear old Dad.

This is a cruel

war. I am absolutely dog

 tired. I've been on the go

all day, - This morning I

had to walk about five

miles to the canteen to

replenish the mess box, and

this afternoon I played centre

half back for four solid

quarters, after which I had

to wade through a three

course dinner. - This has

been my daily programme

for the last week or so.

Things are still looking

up round these parts, - the

weather is grand, & the Boche

is getting it in the neck.

Is this news of Malcolm

dinkum ? I hardly know

what to believe, but when

I got your letter telling me

of the Head's announcement

I jumped for joy.

How did the boys get

on at the Swimming Sports?

Did Charlie Donald think

Fred was worth a place

in the Crew?

I have often wondered

why I have not been

promoted to the rank of

uncle, It's high time, Don't

you think?

I am beginning to look

forward to another trip to

England, I would like

to strike it in the Summer

time, and see what kind

of Sea Side resorts she

boasts of.

I am not in a writing

mood, but the mail

closes in the morning, so

I had to scribble a note.

I am feeling much fitter

these days. than I have

for a long long while,

plenty of exercise, in

green fields under a blue

sky is doing the trick.

I am afraid mine is only

a two pager pen. so Good night

Your loving Son

Wally. 

France

19^th June 1917.

My Dear old Dad & Mum

I suppose you

will think I am grown lazy

again making one job of

writing to you, but I haven't.

In fact. I am in absolutely

great nick. I haven't enjoyed

such condition since I have

been in the army.

I am at an Army School,

where work and sport are

combined to make a soldier.

It's a great idea, for in

nine cases out of ten, if a

chap goes in for sport, he

will make a good soldier

both on the parade ground, and

in the line.

When a unit comes out

of the line these days, The

mornings are set apart for

training for stoush, while

in the afternoons all kinds of

sports are held, with the

result that the men take a 

keen interest in everything

which means when they go

back into the line they are

fifty per cent better fighters -

being fit - and are able

to stand the strain much

more easily.

After we do our days

work here, which is very

interesting and instructive,

we have afternoon tea, and

then go up to the sports ground

where old Indian army

champions, teach us. Boxing,

Fencing, Bayonet fighting,

jumping, hurdling, and

many other less strenuous

games.

After I do my round of

these I come home, have a

good cold spray, and then

a rub down.

I have been doing this

for the past four weeks, so

you can imagine I am in

fair condition, I have got

rid of a stone of superfluous

fat and it has made a

new man of me. (at least,

a man next November)

As you know, ever since

I stood four feet in my socks,

I have held an ambition to

become a soldier, well I

have been at the game

solidly now for more than

two years, and I still like

the idea.

So I have been thinking

of having a shot for the

Indian Army, I have taken

this opportunity while at this

school to find out as much

about it as possible, and all

things taken into consideration

I think I will like the life,

in fact I'm sure I will.

Moreover after serving

four or seven years in

India, - I'm not sure which-

I can transfer to the

Australian A. and I staff,

which was my aim when

I was trying for Duntroon.

What do you think about

it? I know more about

soldiering than anything

else, although that's not

saying much.

Well, I have that

beautiful tired feeling. a

chap gets after a days good

w sport, so I think I'll to

bed.

How are all the boys

getting on at School? Do

The wowsers  still go to

Grannies for dinner? I'm

afraid they'd make a

mess of on one of Grannies

pies.

Good night.

Your loving son

Wally.

France
July 15^th 1917.
My Dear old Dad and Mum.
For the last two
mails I can picture you eagerly
answering the postmans call, but
returning disappointed and wondering
what has happened to me. and
what hardships I am enduring which
prevent me from writing. and I
on xx think what a thoughtless son
of a gun I have been.
As a matter of fact, for the last
two months I have been enjoying
life  propperly. Four hours work
in the morning, cricket, Football,
or some other such sport in the afternoon
and in the evenings I have been
so restless, and full of energy.
That I absolutely couldn't settle
down at home and read or write
but had to ride across to some
neighbouring village some eight
or ten miles distant and look
up some old pal, on my return.