Papers of Athol Cluny McPherson - Part 7

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Mrs M B McPherson
Clyne Milton
Horsham
Victoria

SS Orvieto 
Thursday
My Dearest Mother
Just a few lines to let you
know that I am alive & well.
are having a fair amount of [[?]]
weather & only hope that you
had some. I noticed by the
at M.D. Mc Leod had died the 
was a fair age though wasnt he
large family they were, I remember
one(Ina) down in Casterton with Mrs
McLeod, she was a good looking girl. [[Burt?]]
Austin is only about four tables off me
on the boat, so I often have a yarn
to him. Im glad the Boer Rebels got
such a slating in Sth Africa.  The
Indians seem to be making a name
for themselves in Sth Africa. Well Mother
dear I cant think of any news so will close

With heaps of Love to all at home also
& kind Regards to All Horsham Frends
I remain
Ever yr loving Son
Athol

"Orvieto"
Colombo
15/11/14

My Dearest Jook
Just a few hurried lines to let
you know that we are just about
at Colombo, but of course we wont
be allowed off the boat, in fact

I dont think they are going
so let the niggers on board
They say we are only going to stop
there for a co twenty four hours
So it won't be much of stop, (I just
got this far when the ink ran out & havent
got time to fill it) we have been
in sight of land for about three hours
but our pace is very slow. Ill write
a long letter home from Port Said
As Im getting the C of E Parson to get 

me a tablet tomorrow in Colomba as

he is going ashore. The Sydney

is just ahead of us she came up

last night. I believe she fairly
blew the Emden to pieces, shot

the masts & funnell all down

didnt she (The S) tear away when

she heard where the Emden was

if we had gone straight ahead we

would have seen the fight, but

as soon as they heard she was

near the Islands, "The Orvieto"

headed north. The Empress of Asia
passed us a couple of days after
going to Cocos to fix up the
cables that they had cut The
water is as calm as a Mill Pond
today, it has been fair. all the
way, I havent missed a meal

since we left, I never even

felt off, except one night after
we were innoculated (we were done
twice) & yesterday we were vaccinated
it doesnt hurt but they say it
effects one in about seven days

This letter may be held up as

I'm going to close it. I wrote
to Mother & Father a couple of
days ago, but the letters should
all go together. The New Zealand

troops are in Colombo coaling

& taking in water. They

went about a couple of

days ago. (ten in All) Well

Jook old girl the mail is about

Closing & it is about Church

Parade time so must wind

up, With heaps of love to all t

home, including Marion & wishing

you all a merry xmas. Athol

14th Nov

Friday

Colombo
My Dear Father
As I cant tell you anything about
our doings in letters that we post open.
Im writing you this to give you a bit
of an account of our trip but the letter
will most likely be a bit old when you get
it as they say all sealed letters will be
held up for a time. Im writing to mother
at the same time as this but as Im posting
her letter open it should go straight away
Well we are getting along slowly, about
240 miles a day. We have 38 transports
altogether & four or five warship as escort
including the Sydney, that you probably
heard about, settleing the Emden the
I saw her go away about 6 4.30 in
morning at full steam & she had her
settled by about ten, she was only about
fifty miles away when we they heard
of her so she got to work straight
away, it was a bonzer victory for
our fellows, & the Sydney got off
without a mark. They received a wireless
from Cocos Island, stating that there was a
strange warship hanging round so the Sydney
went away at full steam, we never saw
The Cocos Islands as they came north of

[*We have been innoculated twice & have to be vaccinated

it will most likely be done tomorrow. The innoculation. was

for typhoid & I think Cholera,[[?]]*]
 

there when they heard of the Emden, it was alright for
us, we heard at about ten that the Emden was
engaged with the Sydney & at ten∧eleven thirty, we got
the news that she was sunk, The Sydney hasnt
turned up since, she has a lot of wounded onboard
we were to have got them on here, infact
they made all arrangements to receive them, but
we heard today that they are being taken on
by another boat. It was a funny thing that
I remarked to Roth Burtchaell, that I wished
I was on the Melbourne as she followed
after the Sydney, with decks cleared for action
The guns sticking out, that I would like to
be on her for a while as we reckoned there
was something doing, but of course she was fooled
as, she was settled before the Melbourne got there
Wer we have just crossed the Equator & didn't
it rain today, talk about pour & it came
down ∧all this morning. It was very not up to
today, but the weather changes like wild fire
here. I couldnt help thinking & the dry weather
at home when it was coming down. We know very
little about what is going on on in Europe as of course
we never see a paper. The Jap Crusier that is with
us Carrys 12in guns, they do look boomers sticking
out the side of the ship. Well Father dear it is
just tea time so must close we expect to be
at Colombo about Sunday & think we will be
there for five or six days to take in water

and coal. Goodbye

With heaps of love to all 

at home Ever yr loving Son

Athol C McP

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M B McPherson Esq
"Clyne Milton"
Horsham
Victoria
Australia
 

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On Active Service

No Stamp Available

Mrs M B McPherson
"Clyne Milton"
Horsham
Victoria
Australia

11th Nov
My Dearest Mother
Just a few lines to let you know
that I am getting on alright. I havent had
a moments sea sickness so far but the sea has been
very smooth. The weather is getting very warm &
as to rule its such "muggy heat". I hope you,ve

had a fall of rain but now if it is only to
lay the dust. I know what it will be like
if you dont get rain, even if it is only
for that purpose. I nearly always knock
the deck with with Roth Burtchaell
when we are not on Parade, he is going
to be a Company Scout when out in
Europe, it will be a pretty risky game, he
is in the B Coy I expect tennis will be going
strong over at Horsham now, I thought of the

9th of Nov & all of the [[S.S. Ricules?]], I hope

you had a good day for them. I dont suppose

you & Father went to Mr. T. this year. Im putting

on condition fast, infact Im getting too much

on & would like to loose a few pounds

I hope you got the last letters that

I wrote about two weeks ago. We are having

a bonzer time. I'm wondering if Murray sent

my bike & clothes up from Sth Yarra Old Ross

might knock a bit of sport out of the

bike as it is about done.There is a
small map in my box that might be of
use o Miss Jenkins at School. Well
Mother dear as I cant put anything 

about our doings etc I really have no news

so must close. With Heaps of love to

all at home & Wishing you all a very

Merry Xmas & Bright & happy new year

& hoping it wont be like the last (this)

one. With love to Marion & Kind

Regards to all Hm friends including Miss

Jenkins. I remain

ever yr loving Son

Athol.