Papers of Edgar Sydney Worrall - Wallet 2 - Part 13

2.
WIndswept and frozen
they did not present a very
welcome appearance.
Oxford is a fine city, and
chock full of University
Buildings and colleges of
ancient and predominating
architecture. Very few civil
students inhabit the place
now; their places are taken
with khaki clad aspirents
after "stars".
New College, where I am
could put Wesley in one of its
quads or nearly so. I don't
know how old the place is

but there is one date about
the place 1444 and I daresay
it is a good deal older than
that. Haven't had time to find
out yet.
It was often my ambition
to become an Oxonian, and
now my wishes have come
truer than my wildest
dreams. Funny how these
things do happen.

"A" Company.
No. 4 Officer Cadet Battn.
10^th Feb. 1917.
NEW COLLEGE
OXFORD
Mother Mine,
My letter to Father
under the same date will
explain how and why I am in
England again so I need not

dwell on the subject.
On the way I up here I
was a night in London, and
called round to see Mrs
Bidencope. They made me
very welcome, and didn't
even pass remarks on my
mud and travel stained
clothes and trench boots I
was wearing. Mrs B. is
looking remarkably well, and
wishes to be very kindly
remembered to you.
The London streets were
very cold and desolate.

3
I have had no home news
for about a month, but
I xxx am a firm believer in
"No news is good news."
Still I need hardly say
that my thoughts are with
you daily and the family
gallery decorates my mantle.
As for myself and I am A.1.
and did not feel the bitter
frosts and snow as much
as might be expected.
Tenderest wishes
Your loving son
Edgar
 

4
sent, and it would arrive at
the Battalion, soon after I left.
No parcels are forwarded from
one's unit, - the rule being
one's friend receives them in
his place. The system is a
good one, as the boys out
yonder need them far more
urgently than those of us who
are lucky enough to be absent.
The weather is beginning
to show signs of Spring, and
in another month all Nature
should be singing.
Best of love and tender
wishes, mother dear,
Edgar
 

"A" COMPANY,
No. 4 Officer Cadet Battn.
11^th March 1917.
NEW COLLEGE
OXFORD.
Mother Mine,
The same, as at
the other end, we have no
idea when the mails are
due to leave, so I write
every Sunday. Consequently,
I daresay, you have either a
feast or a famine.
Yesterday, I received a
large budget of old mail
from France - all written
just previous to Christmas
and under several dates.
You were all preparing for
the festive season, and hoping
to go on to Dromana.
The next mail should tell
of the happy time you all
had, and I am eagerly
looking forward for the news.
 

2.
The result of my first examination
is posted, and I find
I scored 82%, which was
very high up on the list.
The section I am in, is composed
wholly of Australians
and we have the reputation
of so far topping everything
in sport, work and exams.
The popular belief that we
are a "ragtime" crowd is
being rudely repudiated, and
we have shown that we are
the equal to say the least
of representative of most of
the crack home regiments.
I have just been talking
to one of the Brownells of
Hobart. He is round at
3
Exeter College with the Royal
Flying Corps School and
will probably get his star
some time this week.
Minna Stanfield sent me
along a pair of socks which
she knitted whilst at Sandringham,
but as I do not
know her home address,
I cannot write and thank
her. Will you do so for
me, please.
By-the-way, Mrs Clark
wrote some months ago, stating
she was sending along a parcel.
Miss Hillier, in a letter I have
just had sent across from
France, says she reposted one
one to me; the parcel in question
probably being the one Mrs Clark
 

2
calculating I find it is 
well over six years, and
I was only a [[?]] abe
in arms, or nearly so.
By-the-way, the letters
were addressed to Wareham,
and some delay was caused
in my getting them.  In
future, always address correspondence
to
24^th Battalion
6^th Aust. Inf Brigade
A.I.F
France (or Abroad)
if they won't let you put in
a name.
Do this whatever address
I may place at the top of
my letters, unless I particularly
state otherwise.
I daresay you would
like to hear of the rest of