Letters from Captain Walter Morris Felix Gamble to his family, 1917-1918 - Part 10

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
AWM2021.22.9
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

The The football. on fe The The Mede Indian to with lome leters t much to a foothall in to
Belquim Frane 5 Oct 1917 hrs mum The not such all fou Ses e ee his lan Inance ned pleased withou 2 hunsell and the would in general eting meeting of omple oh in 120 four on fi but it was long ough frengsh re talk of all the friend t wed to know. He was sure that you would nt consent to an jounng the Indian anny but somepow I trut you will be preased, altough I havent had any word from you got conceiving to outfit Thanks so fough mum you he pancle It was fine, they always seem to come at pontune time inamely
of the line 1as I come on ane some class at making weet, they handly see day light. Thank you so much you etng mond a butday present you mne, I was foll nies when I reud because it is insocately impossible to get anking at all in these wild pats. mona monking to liten she t seem to like the ed l she probble like the present which after ill is the main thing The way kings ane looking event it will be practica unpossible i get an thing receit to send you all you Fur is will you daw on in account, and gu he bop a couple of guid each ontb be anthing with it I remember I wted to like the hied cash that hes used to me, especially about time, fona and you mun
176 man on accom something you Dad and bad yet something you mern and clck of ou eare nomeing you mona now peease i don't think that his is a lary way fresents sending& fon from all preper finication will se in the weeds of surope you the en coupse of months. ing it will be impossible you me to send anning from here The move I see hustation sting The fronden I am tI am one of them. Tey ane deon he 4 nt seem an. Is quan use be austiation, an to say it good and lon when yet lump a formin counte wer such fe fellens as ovr crowd come out we have just stant you hive robable about it before this and It was some show and can ee you
The Hun ii is ifis only a mitter now lasting secr e term How lon this will tak but we an cont or him down and he knows it you his morall 7 low is I went out intending to kill son sun I saw, but the binds, we got were so misendale, that I sompe couldnt the besex but I have the stisfection of Dnowing that swende a cloud moke with te fine ou will have eand tow one this, Fot Cpt. H.S. Leckinss and Cupt Stockfild, were both Killer aoe oe werl B0p fine soeigus. The whole twee Be are migses tem we but cest ea querre and let is all there is be that Edoarnit yur loving gew wall an n24 conaition.
Shisien 14th Octr. 1917 8 a spell at sve tmes fell a l conchit The Doctor is Ii in a - an an The day an x weaher has I set here, the tovents of eain upo making it aificult to heaw onersell s na at such times, I feel jolly gead son on the sisk list for its gueat to niceaa et before listen to the cleme
Camble was killed in our edst spenation He waso re of the finest officers in his Bata io ding pe and he was killed the He wa sived where te fell, and he white a ors manks the spot in seron - you w ad of the place 4 partee ays. I have I got the pipe mant ge stee 076 eing mch D
France Nov. 1917 M Dean ald Dad & mum Im so sow about the mas sands, we andened some special one with the Batter badge etc on here, but up to date they have not come along, we ane expecting hem daily, and with a bit of euch you may get them soon aften the hew peaw We are out of the line just now, and from all accounts wont
anthing very thick fo you some time, pnobably not tell get some good weaten iesended a sand from es yestenday, telling me hat he was quite all right Poon sed Edgan Warrall as killed a stout while +0. which leaves soon and alone. It is good to know That augus, Malcolm and Eagan although only boys, died like ten mere and custedlian at that I think I told you that Jack Famble was killed,to both officers and men of his Battalian thought the would
of him. I an giite all neght again after my spell at the dear station, it was a very pleasant stange for a while duct itens oy tree weeks we up I was glad to get back to my unit ggain How is the lendding hir Henbert Lace I I suppose he has broken all the taces long ago and as neaveed al wander shevce to a mean also san Is Houace still the appli of John Amadis's eye? Jack will have to reau the Piaco, Henbert can play the Piandla, I am a past mastin on the Enamaphone. so when I come back, we will have quite a musical fanly, She only pity is that ona nt beet io her ringing erions Its a bit on the cold side for wreting, so in ene the as ands dont come along I will you all a very meen wes and a happ her pear. You can have one you I will be on leave at that time Love to earone your loving sow Wally

timed after your game of

football". So you see, it  

would be much better

for you if I didn't have

such a cosy little home,

you would get more letters

from me.

There is not much to

write about, as each day

brings the same old game,

 - Drill, cricket, football -

until now I am as hard

as nails, and shouldn't

have much difficulty in

the Medical Examination for

the Indian Army

Bon Soir.

Toujours votre Giugen

th 

Belgium

France.

5th Oct. 1917.

My Dear old Dad & Mum

This is not such

a large Army after all, for

I struck Leo, very shortly

after his landing in France.

He was looking splendid, 

and seemed pleased withou

himself and the world in general.

We one had a fleeting

meeting of a couple of hours

or so, four or five days ago.

but it was long enough to

renew our friendship, and

tak talk of all the friends we

used to know. He was sure

that you wouldn't consent

to my joining the Indian

Army, but somehow I think

you will be pleased, although

I haven't had any word from

you yet concerning the outfit.

Thanks so much Mum for

the parcel, it was fine. They

always seem to come at a

very opportune time. namely

 

just as I come out of the line.

You are some class at making

sweets, they hardly see day

light.

Thank you so much for

getting Mona a birthday

present for me, I was jolly

pleased when I heard, because

it is absolutely impossible to

get anything at all in these

wild parts.

According to Mona's 

letter she didn't seem to

like the idea, but she probably

liked the present which after

all is the main thing.

The way things are looking

at present it will be practically

impossible to get anything

decent to send you all for

Xmas, so will you draw

on my account, and give

the boys a couple of quid each

don't bry buy anything with it,

I remember I used to like

the hard cash that Leo used to

give me, especially about

Xmas time, and you Mum

 

draw on my account to get

something for Dad, and Dad

get something for Mum and

both of you choose something

for Mona.

Now please me don't think

that this is a lazy way of

sending Xmas presents, for

from all present indications,

we will be in the wilds of Europe

for the next couple of months.

so it will be impossible for 

me to send anything from here.

The more I see Australians

fighting, the prouder I am

that I am one of them, they

are absolutely wonderful,

and don't seem to know the

use of fear. "It's grand to

be Australian, and to say it

good and loud.

when yeh bump a forrin

country wiv such -fl  fellers as

our crowd."

We have just come out of

a stunt. You have probably

heard about it before this.

It was "some" show. and

I can tell you, I'm glad

 

I'm on our side. The Hun

is beaten, it is only a matter

now of securing lasting

terms, How long this will

take I don't know, but we are

steadily wearing him down

and he knows it, for his morale

is very low.

I went out intending to

kill every Hun I saw, but

the birds we got were so

miserable, that I simply couldn't

press the trigger, but I have

the satisfaction of knowing that

I sent several up in a cloud

of smoke with the guns.

You will have heard long

before this, that Capt. H.S. Dickinson

and Capt. Stockfeld, were both

killed. Two old Wesley Boys, and

two fine soldiers. The whole 

Brigade misses them a whole

lot, but, "C'est la guerre" and

that is all there is to be said.

Good Night!

Your loving son Wally.

P.S. I am in A.1 condition.

 

In The Field

14th Oct. 1917.

My Dear old Dad & Mum

I am having 

a spell at a Divisional Rest Station.

I've got a bit of a cold and at

times feel a bit off colour, Bronchitis

The Doctor calls it.

I'm in a good home, sit in

an armchair before a fire during

the day, and sleep in a good

bed at night.

The weather has broken, even as

I sit here. The wind is blowing

torrents of rain upon our hut

making it difficult to hear

ones-self speak and at such

times I feel jolly glad I'm on

the sick list for it's great to

sit nice & comfy before a

fire and listen to the elements

raging outside.

 

Jack Gamble was killed in our

last operation. He was one of the

finest officers in his Battalion, and

was doing splendid work when

he was killed. the He was buried

where he fell, and a little white

cross marks the spot in Polygon

Wood - you have doubtless heard

of the place - .

The mail is not a bit particular

when it comes these days. I have

not had a letter for some time,

but I got the pipe all right, for

which many thanks. my old

one was getting awfully rank.

There is not much news. I

haven't seen Dr Woollard for

months, Ivor is still at an O.T.C.,

and Leo is probably up to his

ears in mud. I'm feeling much

better today.

Your loving son Wally.

 

France

7th Nov. 1917.

My Dear old Dad & Mum

I'm so sorry

about the Xmas cards, we

ordered some special ones

with the Battery badge etc.

on them, but up to date they

have not come along. we

are expecting them daily, and

with a bit of luck you

may get them soon after

The New Year.

We are out of the line

just now, and from all

accounts wont be in

 

anything very thick fu for

some time. probably not till

we get some good weather.

I received a card from

Leo yesterday, telling me

that he was quite all right.

Poor old Edgar Warrall

was killed a short while

ago. which leaves Ivor and

I alone. It is good to know

that Angus, Malcolm and Edgar,

although only boys, died like

ten men, and Australians

at that.

I think I told you that

Jack Gamble was killed. so

both officers and men of his

Battalion thought the world

 

of him.

I am quite all right

again after my spell at the

Rest Station, it was a very

pleasant change for a while,

but when my three weeks were

up, I was glad to get back

to my unit again.

How is the budding Sir Herbert

Tree? I suppose he has broken

all the  traces long ago and

has reduced Alexander Prince

to a mear also man.

Is Horace still the apple

of John Amadio's eye? Jack

will have to learn the

Piano, Herbert can play

the Pianola, I am a past

master on the Gramaphone.

so when I come back, we

will have quite a musical 

family. The only pity is

that we Mona didn't keep

up her singing lessons.

It's a bit on the cold

side for writing, so in

case the Xmas cards don't

come along. I wish you all

a very Merry Xmas and

a happy New Year. You

can have one, for I will

be on leave at that time.

Love to everyone

Your loving son

Wally.

 

 

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