Letters from Keith Rourke to his mother, and related correspondence to Mrs Rourke, 1916 - Part 4

No 1. Training Depot
Perham Downs

Salisbury
4"8"16
Dear Mother
In my last note to
you I mentioned that I hoped to
get away with a draft for France
but at the last minute was disappointed.

However I hope to get
away with the next which it is
rumored will be leaving in a week     
or two. So address all correspondence 

to the Batt. The camp we
are in is in a very secluded part
tis really too quiet. Should like
to have been in France for the big
push, was down for promotion too
probably I will miss again now,
certainly it was only another stripe
but tis another ring of the ladder,
While in Hospital at Estairs
unfortunately I lost my address
book, and therefore have not
been able to write to Ethel.
Have had no word from France
though from fragments I get, I
believe our boys have been horribly
cut about. Well Mater there is
really no news trusting this note
finds you all in the best of
health with love and best
wishes to all
your loving son
Keith.

12"8 "16

B. Company
First Training Batt
No 7 Camp
Perham Down
Hants
My dear Mother
What an age it
is since Ive heard from home 
probably my letters are being held
up in France. After enjoying
a fourtnights furlough, am
off to the Batt again on
Wednesday, tis only my
third attempt since coming
into camp. Am sorry I was
not with the Batt when they
commenced the "Big Push"
was speaking to one of the old
original boys a few days ago
who was in the thick of it at
Pozieres, he was buried 3 times
with exploding shells, and
the third time his back was
injured. He gave me a great
account of the fighting. I
tell you your old Batt is some
stuff how I wish I had been
with the boys, they won the
day, but it cost us heavily.
Our 18th Reinforcements landed
here a few days ago by 

11
jove they are a sloppy lot,
we shall never get anything to
approach the old boys, not
because I am one of them, they
are a credit to Australia, and
as fighters nothing better.
Sir Newton Moore was at
church parade this morning
with our 2nd Batt Military
Cross Officer, our Machine
gun officer Captain Payne.
When you write again address
your letters to the Batt, Well
Mother there is really no news
trusting this note finds you all
in the best of health, with love
to all
Yr loving Son
Keith 

Somewhere in France
17"8"16.
My dear Mother
Again I am in France
and pleased to be with what
remain of the original boys of the
Batt, I left England on 15^th of
this month, after spending a
most enjoyable furlough. Was
able to look up most of the
friends I made on the occasion
of my just trip to England.
I spent most of my time in
the Island, where I enjoyed
plenty of boating and
surfing. This being my
fourth trip to the front am
anxious to know how I ∧shall come
off should I get into another
scrap. We had a great crowd
to cheer us off from Folkestone
and what a grand trip it was
across the channel, it was
awfully rough, and we enjoyed
a real good tossing. Trusting
this note finds you all in the
best of health:- Your loving son
Keith 

Fance 21"9"16
My dear Mother
Your welcome letter of
June 1^st just to hand, and am glad
indeed to hear. You must not expect
a lengthy letter as there is really not
the news. At present we are resting
behind the line, and as happy as larks
the weather has been a little trying
having more than our share of rain.
The Batt is holding sports tomorrow
am not taking part myself, we are
expecting a good time should the weather
stick to us. Last night I got a letter
from Tommie, she seems very happy
but looks forward to getting back
to Australia again someday.
When you write the family the
scattered family you might mention
that I really haven’t time to
write all hands. Very sorry to hear
of Poor old Uncle Johns death. 

Am pleased to know you are happy
in your new quarters. Must ring off
and get on parade trusting this note
finds you all just at it leaves me
feeling the best, with love and best
wishes to all
your long son
Keith 

France 7"10"16.
My dear Mother
Just a few lines
in answer to your letter written
when you first heard of my being
wounded. Tis now just 8.30 P M
the letter has just been handed
to me, am writing by candle
light 7 feet under the earth lying
flat on my stomach, so that you
will excuse the writing. Tis very
quiet except for the rattle of machine
gun fire, and the distant roar of
heavy artillery. You must try
not to worry either, I know we
cannot imagine the anxiety it is
for you at home, I am in the best
of health, except that the piece in
my back comes against me at times.
& worry for the simple reason that
I can't get promotion for your sake
and really it is most unfair the
way I have been treated, and Im
not the only old hand who is over
looked. You mention the fact of
you and Nell dispatching a packet
I am awfully disappointed to
think it has not turned up, I
thank you very much, and trust it
will soon turn up. Parcels sent to
me some weeks ago from England
have not yet turned up, some one
well behind the line evidently reaps
the benefit 

I have a trickle of a German belt
I picked up on one of the most famous
battle fields of Europe to send you
the first opportunity. I wonder
what Batt Ben Rourke's boy is with
Well Mother dear am afraid I
must close trusting this short note
finds you one and all in the very
best of health love and best
wishes to all
Your loving son
Keith.
I had a very long and newsy
letter from Tommie, she wrote
very cheerfully and happy. 

France 27"10"16
My dear Mother
Today I
posted a Field Service card
the only means I had of
letting you know just
how I am. However I am
now able to write you a
short note on portion of
the Anzac wallet I should
have got last Xmas along
with all the most acceptable
delicacies you so thoughtfully
sent along fancy they turned
up today, and I can conscientiously 

say the parcels
could not have turned up
at a better time. Just now
we are experiencing the worst
time as yet, as far as conditions
go, nothing but rain and
mud I never experienced 

anything like it. The extra
eatables are most acceptable
at this cold miserable
time. However we are all
cheerful through it and I 
do not suppose it will
rain for all time. Only
a few days ago I heard

of poor Harolds death
and can just imagine
what a grief it is to you
all at home, the one
consolation we have to
that he could not have
died a more honourable

death.

You remembered Jackie
Pidcock in the parcels. I 
must get his address
he is now with the
Artillery.