Letters from Captain Walter Morris Felix Gamble to his family, 1917-1918 - Part 11

France

10^th Nov 1917

My Dear old Dad & Mum

Dame Fortune

smiled on me today. In

fact, I think she must

have laughed: for when

The postman came home from

his usually fruitless trip

to the Post Office, he brought

for me, Mum & Mona's photo - 

I could hardly see for

looking when I first opened

it. It's absolutely delightful.

Dad's and Fred's also came

and I can tell you Dad,

it's good to see the twinkle

still in your eye, although

not quite so pronounced as

Fred's, still, it's there.

I can't help gazing at

Mum & Mona. It is

easily the best photo I have 

ever seen of Mum. I love

it. While Mona has grown

more beautiful than ever.

A while ago, I received

a cutting from the 'Herald',

in which Brig. Gen. H.E. Elliot

described an action against

the enemy in conjunction

with Light French Mortars,

or Stock Stokes Motors,

- same thing - yes. I was

there. They were my two

guns which went up in

a cloud of smoke, but

yours truly was burried

instead of going upwards,

just as well too. - 

I'm sorry the General 

told you all that we used

"Shocking language" but

I'm afraid one is apt to

under such sircumstanes

I suppose to you reading

of the collapse of Russia

followed by the betrayal of

the Italian Army. The

situation is somewhat to

say the least of it - critical.

From the point of view that 

the war will last longer. It 

is. But the war is not

going to be won on the Eastern

Front. It is on the Western

Front that the Hun is continually

suffering defeat and

is steadily but surely being

worn down and nobody

knows this better than the Hun

himself.

It's true that his success

in the East, will enable

him to bring large numbers

of troops - war war worn - 

across to the Western Theatre,

while we in our turn will

be able to put in the 

field hoards of eager, glory

hunting Americans, who

in my opinion, will fight

as well as the Colonials,

which is the best tribute I 

can pay them.

The only effect it will 

have is that we will come home

 a couple of days late, but

that is neither here nor there

as long as we win.

The Tobacco comes along

regularly, - I got a tin today

and I can tell you it's a 

rare treat.

The boys can all expect

a letter each next mail.

I think it's about there due.

Don't you?

I got a letter from [[Prannie]]

The first since I've been here,

but I know it is not the first

written. I was pleased beyond

words. Cheer AO!

Ever your loving Son

Wally. 

address my letters to

The Carlyle Club

211 Piccadilly

London

TELEPHONE

1274 REGENT (6 LINES)

J.C. GRIFFINS

TELEGRAMS:-

"GRIFFINOTA, LONDON"

JERMYN COURT HOTEL

PICCADILLY CIRCUS.

MAIN ENTRANCE:- JERMYN STREET, S.W.I.

30.11.17.

My Dear old Dad & Mum.

I have

been accepted for the

Indian Army and am 

at present enjoying five

weeks leave in England,

tomorrow on the day after

I off to Scotland.

I hope you didn't get

too much of a shock when

you received my cable

for £100 but a chap

must start on his career

well dressed and all 

the rest of it.

I think I will get on

all night as I like the

game and I know I will

like India.

This is what [[?]] Cox

says about India - 

Apart from Soldiering,

life in India offers attractions

in the way of games, sport,

and social pleasures, which

cannot be beaten anywhere .

Big & small game shooting

such as in Europe is mostly

open only to the very rich

in India is within the reach 

of all. Polo which in England

is so expensive that few can

afford to play, in India is,

or can be, played by everyone.

Every small station has its

polo ground & club. Pig sticking

again, of which India has

practically a monopoly, is the

King of Sports, but not the

Sport of Kings, as the most

[[?]] subaltern can

join in it. Fishing for Mahaseer

affords splendid sport. The

[[?]] with very few exceptions

are open to everyone and fish

up to 50 & 60 pounds are frequently

to be caught, amidst surroundings

& scenery which make

Scotland seem tame. Add

to these , race meeting, 

[[?]], , plenty of tennis

racquets, hockey, football

and frequent social gatherings

and it will be seen that

life in India in ordinary

times can hardly be beaten.

For a keen soldier, India is

a laud of many opportunities

and for the keen sportsman

of moderate means, a paradise.

Leave is liberal. Nearly

everyone can get two months

leave on full pay every year

and  many get three months

while long leave to England

(Australia in my case) can be 

had at reasonable intervals.

Love to everyone

Ever your loving son

Wally

 TELEGRAMS COLMONELL

STATION PINWHERRY

KNOCKDOLIAN,

COLMONELL,

AYRSHIRE.

12^th Dec 17

My Dear old Dad & Mum

I'm in

one of the finest old

Scotish mansions you

every saw, a cobber

and myself, left

London a few days

ago.

The stunt is this being

Australian Officers on 

leave in London, with

no real homes to go

to we come under

the notice of "overseas

Officers Club" which

is run by ladies &

gentlemen who want

to make us as much

at home as possible

while ^ we are on leave.

They have absolutely

succeeded as far as

I'm concerned. The

surroundings are

absolutely similar

to those of Sunbury;

There is plenty of shooting, 

fishing, golf, billiards

and all that kind of

thing; and our Hostess, 

Mrs McConnell is a