Letters of Athol Cluny McPherson, April - August 1915 - Part 10
CABLEGRAM
Phoned 9.49
EC
Eastern 6 9 Cairo 2nd 9.10pm 8E375
Murray
McPherson Horsham
Vic
Quite well sixteenth
June
McPherson
9.22
Gaba Tepe
6/7/15
My Dearest Mother
Just a line or two to let you know that I am well & hope
you are all the same at home I think it is ten weeks since we landed here
& as we have been under shrapnel for nearly every day, we are getting quite used to
it. One of my old tent mates (Vic Parkmore), who was in the same tent as I was at Broadmeadows
was killed last week by a bomb exploding, I was only a few yards
away at the time, it wounded another fellow in the leg but only slightly, they dont
do very much harm as a rule, at night we can see them coming as they look just
like a rocket in the air. Our fellows blew up a Turkish trench on Sunday night, it
shook the ground like an earthquake, you would never believe that explosives
could be so powerful I dont know what it must be like in a trench when
the charge goes off. Yes, I agree with you that it is better to be fighting
against the Turks than the Germans, they done seem to be half so brutal, we
have had either one or two Hospital ships here ever since we landed & altho
they always shell other boats they never attempt to fire on the hospital ships
but Ive heard the Germans never respect the Red Cross in France. [[Loth Brice
Archwell]] was wounded again last week but it wasnt anything serious, after he had
been attended to by the Dr, he came round to see me before he left for the hospital
I was sorry he was wounded, as Ive seen him nearly every day since we came into
the trenches. Please remember me to all Horsham friends , also Mr & Mrs Millar
& give my love to [[Les?]] & Will when next you write I may write to Will
in a few days Im sending are army [[?]] Its [[?]] by this mail I'll try & write
to her soon. This paper is done so must close with heaps of love to
all at home, unclearly merrier. I remain always your loving son
Athol
Gallipoli 16/7/15
My Dearest Mother,
As there will most likely be a mail leaving today I must
write you my usual weekly letter to let you know that I am well
needless to say I was glad to receive letters from home by the last mail
& to know that all were well I got letters from you, Jock, Fred Ross &
Dickie the date were the 9th & 10th June they just took about two days
over the month so it wasnt bad going. Things are going [[?]] just
about the same here, we have been under fire here now for nearly
twelve weeks. I was sorry to hear from your letter that Roy
McLean was killed I inquired about him several time &
couldnt find out where he was or what had happened to him
He came to see me the day we left here to go to Cape Helles
so he must have been that up there, I feel very sorry for
his people I think Harold Smiths wound was very slight but
he was back yet I saw Gil Arnott a few days ago, he seems
to be A1 I haven't heard how Roth [[?]] is getting on
as he would have gone away in a Hospital [[?]], I would have
written & told his mother about him, only I know he will
write himself as he isnt badly hurt Thank you very much for
sending me the [[?]] [[muffins?]] they arrived by the same mail
as the letters I was very glad of the [[?]], they were just what
I wanted. I was sorry to hear you were without a girl again,
& hope you soon get another. Thank you very much for sending
me the Roll of honour list with Mr [[?]] I of [[?]] get the
Horsham Times now, as a J Smith from [[?]] gets it sent to him
by George Carter, he was wounded here the first day we landed
& has just come back again he came across Frank Webb
in Cairo so I've got his number & Battalion now, I'll look him up
if ever we get near there, I'd like to know what Battalion Clarence
Fillies is in, he may have my number & in that case he would
trust me [[?]]. Was glad you had good rain again & wouldnt
be a bit surprised if you had a very heavy fall since as we
had it posted on the board a few days ago that, it had been
raining for three days [[?]] [[?]] Australia & still raining
given a good season this year you ought to make up for
the last one & wheat promised to be so high. Well Mother
dear this paper is done so must close Wish kinds regards to all
friends "Billy" & Mrs Smith included With love to all at home
as well for T Dick & all at [[?]] I remain always
your loving son Athol
Gallipoli July 22nd
My Dear Father
As I think the mail leave here tomorrow I must send
you a few lines to let you know that I am well, I never received
any letter by the mail that came in yesterday, but dont for are [[?]]
think that a mail was missed from home
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