Letters from Captain Walter Morris Felix Gamble to his family, 1917-1918 - Part 7

I would be so tired, pleasurably

tired. that I would have a cup

of cocoa, and toddle straight off

to bed. and sleep like a top

until 7 am. And so my letters

remained unwritten, I have been

awfully selfish I know, but I was

restless, and still am for that matter.

only to a lesser degree, and could

not get my nose to the stone and

write.

So much for my frame of mind

and physical fitness.

At the termination of the Army

school, I was personally complimented

by the Commandant on my show

he threw "bullsh" at me for about

five minutes, and ^then told me he

had recommended me for a

learner on Staff. The Brig had

also, I learned later. done the

same thing. Hope it comes off. It 

will make my passage into the

Indian Army much easier, and

the latter of course is only a pathway

to the A & I Staff in Australia, which

I think is my best means of

livlihood, for I like the game,

and don't even dislike the dinkum

part of the show.

We celebrated the Battery's

first birthday on the 5^th of this

month. - Mona's birthday too, strange

isn't it?- First of all we

gave the men a spread about

6 pm and they, some fifty of the

best, got outside three barrells of

beer. - French beer mind - just

enough to make them see the

silver lining of the clouds. It

was a perfect night and their

feast was spread in a garden,

it was grand, while we were

still some distance off, we could

hear their merry careless laughing

and when we arrived they were

giving the dinner rats like a

crowd of holiday makers in the

bush, instead of time ^& war worn

soldiers. Bill Freeman spoke a

few words to them, complimenting

them on their years work. he

recalled a few of the good times we

had had during the year. - and

when I weigh the good & bad, I

wouldn't have missed that year

for words - when Bill had

finished ome one of the men stood

up and said a few words. I'll

never forget them, and I know

he meant what he said. and

by the support his cobbers gave

him I am sure they felt the same.

It's good to think that your work

hasn't been in vain. I'm sorry old

Cocky wasn't there, but he is on

his way to Australia now, lucky

beggar.

You sent me a newspaper

cutting some time ago about some

stunt, we did just before the Hun

retired. Yes, we were in it, well

and truly. Leo & Ivor are still going

strong in Blighty. Good night.

Your loving son Wally.

France

July. 27^th. 1917.

My Dear Fred.

The three mail preceeding 

yesterdays were sunk, so

you can imagine our joy when 

at last, after many weary

weeks of waiting. a mail boat

managed to get through.

I know nothing of the Boat

Race, beyond the fact that Geelong

Grammar caught a crab

during the race. Thus losing

something over a length, but

in spite of this finished up

a length to the good. and I

can't for the life of me

and do them well, if he only

tries hard enough.

Horace, whom you all thought

was a "dud" is the only one

of you who has won anything

this year so far.

Remember me kindly to

Mr Hargraves, Mr Givillim and

all the masters,  and tell

Charlie Donald, he has not

answered my letter yet.

Before I sing off, I ask you

to go easy on Dad with that

ear rending instrument of

yours for I am very much

afraid your music is where

mine is.- nuff said -

Your loving brother

Wally.

understand it.

What kind of a football 

team did we put on the field

this year? I hope it is a winning

one, for as a large percentage

of our officers are old Public

School boys, we still maintain

our old friendly rivalry, &

it's good to be able to boast

of a win.

You, Horace, and Herbert,

ought, - if you try hard enough.

and don't leave your training

till the last minute. - to get

into the Athletic team.

Poor old Wesley seems

sadly in need of a few

hard triers these days, for

a chap can do most things

France

July 27^th 1917

My Dear old Horace,

I started to

write to you this afternoon

but I heard sounds of

revelry coming from the

direction of the sports ground,

and I had to go. Luckily

I have nothing to do this

evening, or else you would

have had to wait till

next mail for a letter

They tell me you are

becoming some knut on

the flute, but what does

will have to wait just a 

wee while longer until I

can get across to Blighty

again, which ought to be

in the near future.

I hope Mum is quite

all right again. I didn't

know she was ill until

yesterday when I got

Mum's letter telling me that

she was up again.

Well old chap keep

going as hard as ever

you can & see if you

can get into some of Wesley

teams. Some day.

Your loving brother

Wally.

John Amadio think?

How did you and

Herbert compare in the

terminal examinations.

Have you managed to

take him down a peg

yet?

It is very difficult to

send any souvenirs home

from here. I thought I

would be able to manage

it, but found out later

that it was very risky and

I don't like throwing away

things which took a bit

of trouble to get to you

 

France

July 27^th 1917.

My Dear Herbert

Well Old Chap I'm

afraid you are a little stiff.

I write to you in order

of your ages, and as you

come third on the list I am

beginning to grow just a

wee bit tired.

You had better not

write and tell me that you

didn't get into the under

15 cricket & football teams

that is of course if you

didn't but on the other

hand if you did, I would

like to hears very much

how you got on.

If you ask Dad

nicely he will let you

go to Geo Sparrow to

be trained for the under

fifteen events for the sports

but for goodness sake

don't let sport interfere

with your lessons like

I did. If you do you

will be sorry for it afterwards

and you probably

won't of have the chance I have

of making soldiering a

profession. So stick to it

while the going is good.

Your loving brother Wally.

France
July 27th 1917
My Dear old Jack
I am very 
thankful that I haven't any
more brothers, because if
I had. the youngest would
have to go without a letter
This mail, as I'm very
tired, for I have been playing
cricket all the afternoon and
football in the cool of the
evening. So it is not such
a bad war. Is it?
I think with all the 
practice I have had. I