Letters from Keith Rourke to his mother, and related correspondence to Mrs Rourke, 1916 - Part 2

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG0000143
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

THE VOUNS MENS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION WITH H.M. FORCE INEGUPT is 1916 10 Dear Mother arrived in canp yesterday met Harold and few of the boys he came across with, he is looking splendid. et present he is out with the battellio I had an invitation to goin the plation but declined; as I had quite enough desert 13 mouchs ago. itm hoping we will not be lovg in Egypt would like to get across to France. We had anawful trip across from England, the worst transport Ive met yet. the Maloga was submanned not very far distant from us
on the way across. Thereis still a chance of my getting the Lmas Billy, as many parcels areo waiting to be packed. according to paper repores this morning the German Mleet has left the Kiel, I juess few will get back. Well chother we are not allowed to dwulge much will close trusting this note finds everyone eryozing the best of health. Your loving som Keith.
NS tmet Harold in Cgup ew Gollan wd CARB aw same company with one, just the ard STAMP. ste k The COYTOD WRITTEN HERE. Mrs MA Rourke Ingatonga Flats Musgrave S. Modma Cs Wa New South lia Austra
Tomewhan Banie 17 My dear Moiter no doubt your are wondering why yot have not heand an rester i the jact Seve had very fthe mane little timeyourwriting bad ont at 3 con mor efem 25 I wisle you every chance Jew Mansagn thag had wot lever from Dorrie and one from plasue sag witor Now the of not reti we and gou I must at fruss not you will hear every poosd esp and Slnce Ocharn girt very cord after am o no hems Mr o rec 8 is very Penson
AT here of they have to tor much care canonot be exercised Atpresen amy seated in a very coaand with Kenls X leaming agron au l chaina to where e arene a distane wrerent which took abo night days and sa a tet tat mt valled many bo th 5 partien 12 tefettd E rl s were hapte wubit ot S not of the s bolsh 6 d 2 wit 4 ancipat 2 20
Shavbein service chvellhe h per man, I can't possing write to the CC Col Was ep or wink the 2 instructel 2 y on the a o k cant gn and account pors gou may hand pars. note thit as it is. o Dolesent me a paper wah an accoun the right to Liverpoon metty sunt sguble pitylebost e inpressed with the vale mewan at the proion aet favas I can am io the class of man anc entering in curtialed
teme will the presen erany priove on 3 to the govrn nat hly are cowa the to carry on at hore as manners the y could that not pombly he an ase foreour retent arwars are no leave too impresion tan the ches 28 2 43 Lt rothen met s whorkn D nat yom the same alatan will close present a with much lot 460 all your ean p Leith 11
no April Francedd Myr dear Mother Just hane whileI a line Hane the opportunity mail had very littl catelyy and regres to dI have abt lca ar abke to write as gren would 2 cold and i is very hasai to tht 4 wre owe care hae way in and so the ter what w e the 2 lo la w
40. Bat e 2 X 4 1

10"3"1916
Dear Mother
Arrived in camp yesterday
met Harold and few of the boys he
came across with; he is looking
splendid.
At present he is out with the battallion
I had an invitation to join the platoon
but declined; as I had quite enough
desert 12 months ago.
Am hoping we will not be long in 
Egypt would like to get across
to France.
We had an awful trip across from
England, the worst transport I've
met yet.
The Maloja was submarined
not very far distant from us     

 

on the way across.
There is still a chance of my getting
the Xmas Billy, as many parcels
are for waiting to be unpacked,
According to paper reports this morning
the German Fleet has left the Kiel,
I guess few will get back.
Well Mother we are not allowed
to divulge much so will close
trusting this note finds everyone
enjoying the best of health.
Your loving son
Keith.

 

Postcard - see original document

ST GEORGE'S CHAPEL. WINDSOR CASTLE

 

 

POST CARD
3"4"16   France
Like Johnnie Walker
still going strong.
I wrote you from Egypt
about a month or so ago.
have no news except
that I am in good health
and trust this card finds
you all enjoying the same
Your loving son Keith
I met Harold in Egypt
Andrew Gollan is in
the same company
with me, just the same
xxx old dry stick.
Mrs MA Rourke
Angatonga Flats
Musgrave St
Mosman
New South Wales
Australia
[*PRO4311*]

 

Somewhere in France
14-4-16.
My dear Mother
no doubt your are
wondering why you have not
heard so regularly, the fact
of the matter is we had very
little time for writing, have
done such an amount of
moving since leaving Egypt.
I wrote you every chance I
had. A few days ago I
had two letters from
Dorrie and one from
Stella both complaining
of not hearing. Now that
we are going to be pretty
buisy you must not
expect too many letters
you will hear every possible
chance. Find France
very cold after Egypt
Can give you no news
I would like to Mr
Censor is very strict 

 

2
here, of course they have to,
too much care cannot
be exercised. At present
I am seated in a very
cosy corner with Kendell
Brown. Coming across
from Marsailles
to where we are at
present a distance
which took about 3
days and nights we
passed through the
most beautiful
scenery, the valley
of the Rhone particularly
beautiful. The
We were treated right
royally by nurses
of the French red cross
stopping at most of
the principal towns
enroute. 

 

3
Their being only one
service envelope issued
per man, I cant possibly
write the rest of the folk.
Was one of the N.COs from
our company chosen to
visit the firing line for
instruction, tis very different
on this side to what we
were accustomed to in
Egypt, cant give you
any account possibly
you may have parts of this
note brief as it is cut
out. Dorrie sent me a
paper with an account of
the riots at Liverpool, tis
pretty rotten, what a
pity it is they cant be
impressed with the value
men are at the present
time. As far as I can
judge the class of man
enlisting in Australia 

 

at the present time will
prove unnecessary expense
to the Government, if
they are cowardly enough
to carry on at home in
that manner they could
not possibly be any use
here. Some our recent
arrivals are not leaving
too impression anywhere
they have touched
the behaviour is
pretty rotten. Trusting
this short note finds
you one and all
enjoying the same
good health as I am
at present will close
with much love to
all
Your loving son
Keith
[*PRO4311*] 

 

France 22nd April
My dear Mother
Just
a line while I have
the opportunity. Have
had very little mail
lately, and regret to
say I have not been
able to write as often
as I would like.
France is very cold and
very wet, it has rained
practically every
day since we landed
and so you may imagine
what the trenches are
every body seems very
happy. I had a note
from Stella this
morning not much
news, Alan is doing
very well I believe
and he deserves to
I could write you
heaps had I the 

 

paper and the
Censors permission
Received a mail from
England this morning
every friend is
anxious to send
either chocolate
or cigarettes to
which I promptly
replied in the
affirmative. I hope
I have better luck
than I had with the
parcels sent from
Australia. Well
Mother there is 

really no news
trusting this note
finds you all enjoying
the same good
health as I am
Your loving son
Keith
[*RL*]
[*PRO4311*] 

 

 

Last edited by:
Sandy MudieSandy Mudie
Last edited on:

Last updated: