Papers of Edgar Sydney Worrall - Wallet 2 - Part 1

180/1
PERSONAL RECORDS.
WAR OF 1914-18
A.W.M. File No. 12/11/90

LIEUTENANT E.S. WORRALL, 24th BATTALION, A.I.F.
K.I.A.
A.W.M
LIBRARY
Class No 181.11

Photostat of copy of letters.
6/7/15 - 15/9/17

Photostat copies of letters

concerning deathof Lt. Worrall.

LIEUT. E.S. WORRALL.
PHOTOSTAT COPY OF LETTERS.
6/7/15 - 15/9/1917.

Methodist Soldiers' Tent,
Military Camp, Seymour,
6-7-15.

Later

Since writing the foregoing I

do not think it has stopped raining.

Today has been the wettest since I came

into Camp which is saying a lot.

10,000 of us went for a route march

yesterday. It was a great sight to

see the long line of fours swing 

out of the gate, with the guard presenting

arms, and we who we near

the front could still see them

pouring out, long after we had

turned the corner way down the

road. It rained all the time and

the mud was about 6 inches deep

& oft time we had to ford creeks,

but we had a good time for all

that. We did the same today in

pouring rain and I am still as fit

as a fiddle.

Ever lovingly

Edgar

Methodist Soldiers' Tent

Military Camp, Seymour,

8^th reinf

24 Batt

4th August 1915.

My Dear Father

I have just returned from our

afternoon's outing and received your budget.

I am returning all letters and post cards in

a separate letter. It is delightful to get a

little untarnished news from the front.

What day would suit you best to come out.

I think I had better wait until Sunday before

advising you when to come. I think Friday

would be best, and go back Satur. for we

have Sat afternoon off and you can have

a good view of the Camp. A train leaves

Spencer St about 9.40 and gets here between

four & five. If you could get that it would

suit me splendidly. I am enclosing 30/- in 

this. That makes us quits as far as actual

borrowing goes I think. Lights out has

just sounded so I must stop at once.

Love to all

Edgar

Methodist Soldiers' Tent,
8^th of 24^th

Military Camp, Seymour.

5th July, 1915

Dearest Mother,

Have a good dinner ready on Friday 

night, 'cause why, I'll be home for four 

days commencing Friday morning, ending

Monday night. As you can see I am in the

Methodist tents. It is the first night of

opening and the tents are jolly decent. I have

to walk about a mile to get to it however

as we have moved right to the other extreme of 

the Camp. About 400 of us are in three rows 

of tents that go by the name of Siberia on

account of their being isolated. 450 recruits came

into Camp today and about 700 are expected

on Wednesday. They certainly seem to be

waking up to the seriousness of the case in

town.

I have met Mr Cleverdon several times. He

seems very enthusiastic and keen and is young

enough to fully know what the men desire.

He preached a fine sermon last night at

the Pres. service.

Methodist Soldiers' Tent,
Military Camp, Seymour,                                  

We are now in an advanced stage

of training and the men are doing splendidly

in spite of somewhat adverse climatic

conditions.

Yesterday was ideal. We had a great

time and went for a walk down to the

Goulburne last night. It was great. The

air was fresh and breezing and the soft

lap of the river soothing to tired minds.

I shall write again before I come

home. If you write on Tuesday night I

shall get your letter before I leave.

Love to all

Edgar

No 2.
At Sea

Tuesday.

Mother Mine,

We have run into some rough 

weather today but hitherto we have had a rather

uneventful time. Two days out we sighted a whale

a good way off. Land has only appeared once & 

we have only passed one ship. The tub we are 

on rolls like a drunken sailor and just now

it is difficult to keep your seat. Plates, knifes &

forks are flying in all directions so letter writing 

is not a very easy affair. They feed us

well on board - well in comparison with

Camp fare. Meat three times a day, soup

at midday, pudding, porridge, pickles, butter

& what not! We are a very happy crowd

or have been since the first twenty four

hours when many suffered dire pains.

I am very fit and enjoying myself

immensely so don't worry on my behalf.

It was good of father to come down twice. I 

climbed the masthead to see the last of him

as the boat went out. My birthday will

have to be celebrated abroad this year -

probably in Egypt, but if Norman is still

there two of the family can have a merry time

over it. I saw by the last evening paper that the

2.
8^th L.H. were practically no more. In that 

case promotions ought to be flying about.

With Harry a flight lieut. we shall

be quite a military family and all

in different branches.

Vaccination has come upon us & 

I was operated on less than an hour

ago. That makes my third time so

I ought to be proof against typhoid

this trip.

My letters will be numbered so 

you can tell at a glance whether

any have gone astray. I wrote to

Dorothy yesterday so shall call this

2. It might be as well if you did

the same.

Owing to censorship I cannot write

all I could so my letters must hence be

scanty, but I shall try to write as often

as possible.

Love to all

Your loving son

Edgar

There are four Wesley boys aboard that

I know of so I'm among old comrades.

No 4
1915
Troopship "A 68"
T.S.S. Anchises.
Wed 7 P.M. 1st Sept.
My Dear Girls,
I am trying to beat the censor by
getting this posted at Fremantle by one of the crew
There are ten hundred troops on board and we
are to pick up another five hundred tomorrow
at Fremantle. That will probably be our
last port of call before Suez, so I will not
have the pleasure of seeing Columbo on
the way. We expect to reach port in about
six hours so when we get up we will probably
be along the pier at Fremantle.
Tomorrow morning we have to parade in
full marching order so may get a march
through the city or even entrain to Perth.
A biweekly newspaper is to be edited as soon
as we leave West Australia, so I shall try &
send you an edition or two. Keep them, they
will certainly be worth preserving. We have
a concert every couple of nights and a sports
meeting twice a week. There certainly is some
fun going them. Pillow fighting over a sail
of water and every farcial game ever invented
figure. xxxxxx We have plenty of books and
games. Old MacClleland gave us £6 of stationary

so we have plenty to write on. A phonograph,
two concertinas and a dozen or
so of mouth organs help to make the evening
lively on our deck. There are seven troop
decks and I think we have the pick of
them all.
Last night was a great experience.
After I had written the other letters I
went on deck to find huge waves
breaking right across us. The sea ran
high - some, and the way we rushed
from the crest right down into furrow
of these watery mountains was worth
remembering. Many a poor old wallaby
tracker thought each moment was his
last. As this is perhaps the last uncensored
letter I can get away before we reach
our ultimate destination ^I've told you all I can The censor has
got such a gigantic job that after this
we are to be allowed only two letters a
mail so I may have to disguise my
hand if I want to write more
Well goodnight girls, I have to up &
about fairly early so I'll shut up
Be good.
Ever your loving brother
Edgar