Letters from Keith Rourke to his mother, and related correspondence to Mrs Rourke, 1914-1915 - Part 4

xxxxxx
Gallipoli
2nd 8 " 15
My dear Mother
being lucky enough
to grab this piece of paper from our
Company Sgt Major it enables me 
to let you know how I am going
along. Our end of the stick has
been very quiet lately nothing
much doing at au all. The 3rd
Brigade made an attack a few
nights ago, carrying out successfully
old work given them, with small
casualty list. It being our rest
day I was able to get to the beach
for a surf and to wash 3 pairs of sox
and a pair of trousers, the water was
glorious and the first wash for a
fortnight it was a great treat.
Going through my pocket book
a week or so ago I came across
the ticket given me by the Dr who
dressed my wounds on the beach
prior to going aboard the Clan 

McGillivray. I specially buy on 
to it to send it across to you but
somehow neglected it trust you
get it with the letter I enclosed it
in a week or so ago. We were paid
a few weeks ago and I had rather
bad luck with my money 5 or 6 of
us were let in for £5 or 6 amongst

them Lieut Phillips our platoon
commander. You see it being unable
for we people to get to the beach
we have to entrust our money with
some one who is more often at the
beach and stand a good show
of securing perhaps a tin of milk
occasionally perhaps a few 
packets of envelopes and a bit
of writing paper, brought ashore
occasionally by the sailors,
which you stand no hope of getting 
unless you are right on the spot
To cut the tale short the beggar gambled
our money consequently we 
are again broke, but our pay master
is handy perhaps we soon will get
another pay. Today has been a
typical Australian Spring day.
I daresay we will soon have winter
on us now. I can hardly realise that
on the 27 of this month I have been
12 months with the Imperial Forces,
and what lot has been crammed
into the 12 months which seems only
like yesterday. Well Mother as 
space will not permit must
close with love to all
you affect. son
Keith.
I trust this note finds you all enjoying 
the best of health. 

Anzac Cove
Gallipoli
13 " 8 "15
My dear Mother
I dare say by the time
this note reaches you, you will
have read through the papers
of some more good work, though
very hard that we have done.
I could x indeed give you a
very good account as I have
so far been one of the lucky
boys, i too get this far through
Tis an awful time since I have
had any word it is not like
you have not been writing
you understand things have
been a little mixed lately.
Today (Friday) is Turkos Turday 
if I often wish they had two
3 a or three Sundays a week
as they are generally a little
quieter. Warren Anderson is 
there with the Light Horse
which we read so much of in
the news papers I have not
had a chance of getting round
to see him yet; Laurie Caddell
who joined up from Quirindi

has returned to Australia I believe
with an injured knee. Living as
we are something approaching
the rabbit well dug in and
hearing very little of what is
going on in the outside world
there is really no news so must
close with much love to all
Your loving son
Keith
I trust this note finds you all
in the same good health as it
leaves me just now.
Have enclosed a flake of
edgeworth tobacco for
Dalgetty. I had a note from
Alan the other day he was in
great form, his note was
full of the usual good wit
I wish I could get an advane
of money I would send him
along £20 or £30 If I have the
luck to get into a civilized
part I shall do my utmost
to fix up a banking account
I wish I had taken yours
and Alans advice. How is
Mollie I never hear of her

I only know of two now on the 
field, myself and Dr Brown
a Scotchman. In Nells letter
she said you never hear from
me, you never know how I am 
or where I am, tis very disheartening
considering I write
every available opportunity, and
you never get my letters, when
I have no writing paper I send
Field Service Cards. A few
days ago we were presented with 
Queen Marys Gifts which were
made up of Tobacco pouches
purses and pipe lights, the old
original hands who left with the
first Division were given preference
of first draw, and there were only
23 of the old hands left, I drew
a pipe light. It came in very handy
in more ways than one, for about
a week after the charge it was put
THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

ARMY DEPARTMENT.

Mediterranean Expeditionary Force

Alexandria, Egypt.

29 " 8 1915
My dear Mother
Same old routine 48 hrs
in the firing line, 48 hours out, at present 
I am seated in my dug out in the
portion of the firing line occupied
by C. Company to which I belong.
Tis portion of one of the trenches we
captured from the enemy 2 or 3 weeks
ago I gave Nell a short account
of the mad bayonet attack on the
enemys trenches. You must excuse
writing Mater I have a veldt sore
on between my thumb and first
finger, nothing serious you know
but awkward. I am enclosing a 
photo of poor old Sergeant Moore
who went across with us to Malta
a fine old fellow, out of 6 or 8 of 
us who palled up on the way over

3
in charge of a bombing post with
six men, and I found it very
handy for lighting bombs, as we
were not allowed to use matches
as they flare so at night. I 
believe Harold has enlisted well I
trust it will be all over before 
he gets here. We dont find the
new trenches we captured as comfortable
as our own, the Turks
you know are great lovers of
dogs and many of them have their
dogs in the trenches with them you
can of course guess the rest. Often
of a morning when the air is clear
we can hear the crowing of roosters
bracing of Donks and barking of
dogs at Maidoes the centre of the
Turkish headquarters and supplies
xx The heat of late has been most
trying likewise the flies, but am
glad to say the days and nights
are growing cooler. I believe poor
old Cyril had a rough wet trip
leaving Adelaide, I should like to
have been with him only a few
days ago I managed my first wash
for 3 weeks, I didn't half enjoy
it. Well Mother no news trusting
this note finds you all in the
best of health from
Your loving son
Keith 

get letters notifying them of parcels
sent and I only know of 5 or 6 arriving
out of 30 or 40 sent to different fellows
in the company, you see they go through
so many different hands your lucky
to get them. During the penning of
this note there is a good deal of shelling
going on all shrapnell and so I feel
fairly safe lying in my bed in the
dugout which is dug well in the
side of our rest trench where we are
at present, but when they start
hurling 11.2 and 8 inch shells about
which fall lob lolly fashion to then
feel safe one would need a tunnel
about 16 ft. deep, that is a a roof
about 16ft through, I then feel I
would like to be at Terrigal fishing
I have done quite enough shooting.
Dont let Alan come away Mother
see he stops right where he is tis
a good place to be and the correct
place for a married man.
THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

ARMY DEPARTMENT.

Mediterranean Expeditionary Forch

Alexandria,, Egypt

Anzac Cove Gallipoli
 1 " 9 " 1915
Dear Mother
Having just finished my tea
which consisted of a couple of biscuits (meal)
boild in unsweetned milk which I procured
from a friend in the. A.M.C. and sweetned
up with a little Golden syrup went very
well for a change, and after dining with
Pidcock for tea yesterday am feeling
quite energetic, Piddy had a very flash
tea prepared, nicely fried bacon and egg
sauce, boiled rice flavoured with the
rhind of a Lisbon lemon a nice cup
of tea and plenty of strawberry jam
and biscuits, and before hand a nip
of good rum with a little lemon juice in it.
Piddy intends writing you, he gave
me a couple of pairs of sox, some Abdullah
and 3 castle cigarettes. Heaps of our fellows 

I loaned my watch to Lieutenant Phillips
who is away wounded at present and
I tell you I miss it very much, however 
Im pleased to think tis in good
hands, and reliable. Rumour has it
we are shortly to be relieved for a
spell away from shot and shell
and I think we have earned a
holiday after spending over 100
days in the firing line, what a
treat to be away from the roar of
the Artillery and the never failing
crack of the rifle. Well Mother
I really have no news so will close
with much love to you all from
your loving son Keith. 

[*As far as I know bound for)
England, Boarded (Gania)
17=9=15*]

Hospital Ship
(Aquitania) at sea
(18=9"15) C deck cabin
198
We are wonderfully well looked after, the Nurses and Dr's are
grand.
My dear Mother
must drop you a line now that I have
the opportunity and am feeling like describing my movements 
during the last fortnight. After putting in just
over 4 months on Gallipoli Peninsular we have been
relieved and high time too, I should really have been
in hospital when I left the show. But determined I
hung on did my share of fatigues, getting away our stores
to the transport. Moving day commenced on the 8 of 9 -

15 we marched off from the Batt. Head Quarters to a
spot known as Rest Gully after a little dinner
we had so many of us from each company to trudge
back again over hills and gullies some 3½ miles and
cart away to our transport any Batt stough. After
that we were allowed to sleep until 12 oclock that
night when we were marched off and embarked aboard
Partridge (a lovely thing) for xxx Lemnos Island
eventually we landed at Lemnos disembarked
marched 3½ miles to our rest camp we had to trudge
through salt water up to our knees a distance of some
200 yds, Before being dismissed our Colnel (Cass)
had a few appropriate words of advice to deliver.
According to our Colnel the whole of the First
Division ^of which I am proud to belong is to have one months complete spell
(rest at least) had he said 10 years it wouldnt have
bucked me up I was done, done before I left the Penin
no I never fell out on the march yet. However
Sunday morning found me in no 2 General Hospital 

couldn't have been better treated (No2 general)
Western Australian Nurses, completely run down
broken down like an old cab horse, the frame is left
and the appetite gaining so should Quickly be
in prime condition. Would like then to go to
France and have a cut at the unjust German
and have the pleasure of seeing the brute mowed
down like poor Turko, who has fought so far
very fairly, the opinion of course of the boys.
I have been fortunate enough to strike a fellow
named Addison 1st Field Ambulance I quickly
butted in found he was a cousin of the addisons
who one were lived in Singleton, he told me
Wilfred you might remember him was killed
he belonged to the 7 Batt. He is awfully eager
that we should stick together the other crowd
drive him balmy. Have done every deck today
am feeling a little done so good night for the
present. Monday Sunday 19^th
Have just passed through Straits of Messina
the scenery is wonderfully beautiful. Mr Etna
was visible from a distance of 20 or 30 miles. Messina
of course is a new city, I was fortunate in striking a
a sergeant of the Welsh Pioneers with a splendid pair
of glasses, which showed quite distinctly some of
the most beautiful buildings, and the finest scenery
how I should love to spend a few days in some of
the places I have seen. Portions of ruined city still
remain, tis practically all rebuilt We expect to be in
Naples by 5 or 6 this afternoon. Naples, Sunday very
pretty from our ship, some lovely buildings, have
purchased a book of post cards which I think I
think will give you a better idea than I, of course
could one land for a day or two one could get an idea
of things. Vesuvius is on view at a great distance tis
only occasionally she gets out of sorts, and during
her angry moments she sometimes throws out a dense
volume of smoke, flames, accompanied with a little
lava, so far she has been awfully cool am hoping