Papers of Edgar Sydney Worrall - Wallet 2 - Part 10

AUSTRALIAN AUXILIARY HOSPITAL NO.1,
HAREFIELD PARK,
HAREFIELD,
MIDDLESEX.
And so you would like me to get a 
decoration. Perhaps I may get one for a
Christmas box. This is not meant for
swank, but I should like one for your sake.
Our regiment is getting really famous
we have a CMG, a D.S.O. several M.C.s
A.V.C is all we want to make the list
complete.
I hope to be out of here by the end
of next week. I am afraid the Wander Lust
is very strong in me amd I am
yearning to feel the straining pack and
hear the rhythm of marching feet in
swinging stride, although often I bemoaned
of them.
There is very little more to say
The Autumn is nearly on us and the
weather is becoming delightfully crisp
The very best of love to all.
Edgar

Received
Frid 5^th Nov 1915
32 days after
posting
24th BATTALION
ZEITOUN
OCT  4 1915
Zeitoun Camp
(Monday) 4^th Oct. 1915.
12.30 A.M.
My Dearest Dad,
In three or four hours we leave for
Gallipoli, and my ambition will be realized. We have
only been in Egypt a week today. It is a wonderful
country, but the gross immorality of the place takes
all the gloss from its beauty. How a fellow dare
go astray with danger so plainly visable passes all
understanding. As Norman said Australia's worst is
a revival meeting to everyday sights in Egypt. I
thank God that my upbringing has been sufficient
proof against its manifold temptations.
Sweet memories of home cling to me and shall
ever do so. I am afraid this letter cannot be much
longer as I want to snatch an hour's rest & have still a
lot to do. Accompanying this is an informal will.
According to law it would be null & void but it
is how I should like my personal property to be
distributd.
Best of love Edgar
P.S. I am acting as censor myself at present.

18^th October '16.
Mother Mine,
i am nearly free as it is possible
to be in uniform. Of course you will at once deduce
that I am on Furlough. I left Harefield
on Thursday last and spent Thursday and
-Friday nights at Salisbury plains. On Saturday
I was gra^nted two weeks furlough and have
still ten more ^ days to run. Harry's friends have
been more than kind to me and have made
me feel quite at home.
On Monday last I went to Westminster
Abbey and was just in time to witness the
end of a service. The great organ pealing
-through the mighty edifice seemed to catch
and hold one with its harmony.

I had a good look around at the price-

less treasures and came away thrilled and

awed by the grandeur of the palace. It

would be impossible to attempt to describe

what I saw. Goldsmith and others have 

attempted and made a harsh of it so

what chance have I. The next best

thing is the guide and photographs I am 

sending by this mail.

Tonight I am going down to strat

ford-on-Avon to worship at the shrine of

the world's greatest poet, and should the

weather hold clear.  I shall add to my

collection of snapshots.

London by night is like a up town

village except for the unceasing rush of 

taxis and motors, We dined last night

at the Regent Palace in Piccadilly. It is

just thronged with officers and men, and

it did one's heart good to see our own big

bronzed goodlooking officers mingling with

the pride of England, and not only hold

-ing their own, but wearing an unmistake

able distinctiveness, that surely gives the lie

to those who hold that we are rough + crude.

Next mail I hope to be able to tell you

a lot more of my travels. In the mean

-time the very best of love to all from 

Edgar

with him - he was a

tent-mate in Egypt _ I

have no hesitation in say-

ing he was one if the best.

A willing worker, he was 

always ready for anything

in the way of adventure,

and I know he leaves be-

hind manby friends in the

company that will mourn

his loss. I was wounded

before his turn, came so 

know nothing of the details.

 

1916

24th October

My Dear Father,

Letters to hand 

this morning from Mother

[[Edie?]] and yourself. About

Pte A.M. Crook - not Cook 

as you stated. He left 

Australia with me and

up to the time we landed

in France, he was in the

same platoon as I. He

was a fine man, and

being in constant touch

3

surrounding his case, but

I have written to our Comp

-any Sgt Major to see if he

can give me any news,

and will forward it on

at once should I receive

any information. Should 

you acquaint his mother

of what details I have

given, will you add my

deepest sympathy for her

in her bereavement.

 

4

I am afraid you should

not listen to the stories

you have heard about me,

and I hope to goodnes you

haven't and will not

repeat any of them,

I am writing to Mother

tonight so excuse this very

short and disjointed

attempt from

Your loving son

Edgar

Received

13.12.16

Perham Downs

Salisbury Plain

30th October 1916

 

My Dear Father,

I am back again in harness

having returned from leave on Saturday last.

Whilst in town I called round a Head

Quarters and made out a further allottment

of two shilling a day to you, from date

16th December 1916. This will  mean a 

daily rate of 5/6 will be paid you as soon

as the papers get to Melbourne, and also

arrears amounting to somewhere between 

₤30 and ₤40 will be paid in a lump sum.

The transaction left me slightly in debt

on my field account so U have cabled to

you for ten pounds to be sent to the 

Commonwealth Bank. This will be a

standby should I come to England again

and not have Harry to fall back on you.

This will reach you in the midst of

the festive season. It is too far to send

presents so would you hand ₤10 over

to Mother for you all to have a bit of a 

spree of. I'd be awfully glad if you do

for I'm sure you all need a holiday

after the past weary year.

Auntie and Elsie wrote to me  and

their letters come as rather a surprise

today. Harry wrote and enclosed a letter

from you which made good reading.

I saw a lot of London's renowned places

St Pauls almost defies description. It is 

so large and contains to many monuments

of our great leaders that it would take days to 

see everything. I sent home the guide which

will give you a much better idea of the 

edifice than I can.

May this Christmas be amongst your

happiest and you may be assured my

thoughts will be with you all.

Very best of good wishes from

Your loving son

Edgar

Perham Downs

Salisbury Plain

30th October 1916

 

Mother Mine,

This the Christmas mail or

at least on of them, and I send my very

best of greetings to you each and all.

I packed three small ornaments with

the Stratford-on-Avon arms on them and

also Shakespeares arms. I hope you receive them.

Tomorrow about two hundred of us are

going to a new Camp down near the South

coast - a bvery pleasant spot.

I am writing to thank Mrs Lanyon for

the handkerchiefs although as yet I haven't

received. Still I can thank her for the

good intentions that prompted the gifts.

Harry wrote from Port Said and

does not seem in love with the place.

When he has seen as much of the sand

and sand again as I have he will love

it still less.

Before returning from furlough in 

Saturday night I went into the House

of Commons and listened to the debate

for a couple of hours. Ramsay Mac Donald

was making a please for the Conscientious

Objetors, but his oratory left the House

very cold and some members passed very

strong criticism upon the advisability of

listening to the C.O.'s at all.

I have written both to Aunt and

Elsie in return to two very nice letters from

them.

This time last year I was writing the

Christmas mail in the deep entrenchments

of Lone Pine, wondering whether I would

still be there in a year's time. But what 

a lot of changes since then.

The evening is drawing to a close and I 

have to be up at five, so goodnight mother

mine, and the very best of Christmas wishes

Your loving son

Edgar