Extracts from letters by Captain Robert Burnside Carter to his Family, 1915-1918 - Part 1

1 
Letters from Dr. Robert Burnside Carter: M.C. (R.A.M.C)
who left Sydney March 22nd to join the R.A.M.C. in England - with several
other young Australian Doctors.

Grand Hotel Melbourne
23/3/15.

My Dear Mother. - 
After a slight wash we went to the Barracks to get our
final instructions. Here we had a typical example of
Defence Dept. Red Tape. First we were sent from one
building to another looking for our boss - Col: Fetherstone.
When we got there he was'nt in. Next the flunkey in charge
casually murmured that our Boat Tickets had not yet been
sent for & so we had to cool our heels while a small office
boy – [[?about]] 9 ^1/2 or thereabouts went off on a large bicycle to the
P & O office. He returned about an hour later with them
Besides our 13 there is. O’'Neill from Melbourne, Wibberley
Penny & J.B. Dawson from Adelaide, Stone from Fremantle
making 18 in our boat. 
Your loving son
Robert B. Carter
R.M.S. Mongolia
29/3/15

off. albany or thereabouts.

Dear Father & Mother
on Saturday boat drill 

was held & 2 boats were lowered after a great deal of persuasion.

The drill has not inspired us with confidence in case we are 

torpedoed in the Channel & I think jumping overboard with 

a bathing costume on will be far easier
R .B. Carter
R.M S. Mongolia
Indian Ocean 5/4/15

My Dear Father & Mother
After leaving Fremantle we started a new sort of life
Up at 7 a.m. regularly & go up on the boat deck for physical
exercises - under the Captain's tuition. After half an hour we
feel a stone lighter – Dumb bells, skipping ropes, clubs, 2 sets
of 6 oz boxing gloves - at first we got horribly stiff & sore

2
& now feel much more fit - Since leaving Fremantle
- -  all the deck lights have brown paper or sacking shades
tied round them – In the cabins we are supposed to draw
the curtains over our ports – – but the officers are not
very strict in carrying out this regulation as bare lights are
visible all over the place most of the night -
They have been holding Fire & Boat Drills fairly often lately -
which is very cheerful. Each one seems more of a mess than the
last.- The natives _^(lascars) are the funniest things to watch
Robie
R.MS Mongolia

G.of Aden
14/4/15.

My Dear Father & Mother
Our big boy on board is now Sir West Ridgeway
 __ as well as people from all over China & the East
generally - various parts of the Straits Settlements –  Naval
men from Hong Kong & military men from all over the place
recalled home _ Then there are Engineers, Planters
Correspondents & every blessed occupation under the sun,
all going home to join various regiments.
The Naval & Military have an opposition show at 7 a.m.
to our Physical Exercise class.
Robert B. Carter
R.M.S. Mongolia.
Suez Canal.

19/4/15

My Dear Father & Mother
Canal by night!  -- I think we must be passing that part of the
Canal which is guarded by Territorials as the voices are quite
different to the shrill cries of the Indian men further back.
Robert B Carter
R.M.S. Mongolia
22/4/15

(Mediterranean)

My dear Father & Mother,
  _ _ In the afternoon we had a little excitement - The alarm
whistle blew & the boat stopped. We all had visions of Periscopes
& Submarines - but when we got on deck we saw a lighter
calmly drifting about the Mediterranean with nobody on board -
a boat was lowered & some men went on board & removed the
covering over the hold & found it empty.
R B C

(3
RMS Mongolia

30/4/15.

My Dear Father & Mother,
 __ There is quite a lot of news from the Dardanelles
I suppose Gordon will be over there.
We arrived at Marseilles Sunday - The method of coaling there
is even more primitive than at Port Said – The use tiny little
baskets which the men fill themselves with a sort of mattock &
then carry it up --
Dozens of French about the streets were wounded - at La Corniche - there is a convalescent hospital for English
officers, containing 4000 of them. -
next day we were anchored in the Bay of Gibraltar. -
The Inflexible was in dry dock after being torpedoed in

the Dardanelles. -
I weighed myself at the Barbers, & went 15 stone in a light suit
about ½ stone more than I have ever been before.

Wandsworth [[Convoy?]] S.W.

7/5/15.

My Dear Father & Mother
Amongst all the relations -
Last Sat^y. was our exciting day – During the previous night I
could feel we were going faster. The next day we were going
all out - chimneys belching clouds of smoke. Boats swinging,
& rockets all carefully set on the Bridge. Double watches
-a black stick was seen sticking out of the water about
a mile away. -  Every one said 'Periscope'! Our barge swung
hard over. . .  but it was merely the end of a trawler's net.
Monday morning I went straight to the War office. One has
great difficulty in getting inside – not by reason of the crush,
but by policemen. -  - we finally reached the R.A.M.C. depot.
Here we filled in at least a dozen forms . Then we were
brought before – the Director General. Sir Somebody Something.
He officially thanked us for coming across . shook hands &
gave us a slight outline of our work.
Robert. B. Carter 

4
R.A.M.C Mess
Crookham. Surrey
20/5/15

My Dear Father & Mother,
  - Our typical days go something like this.
7.a.m.   Crawl out & face the awful plunge bath - this is about
as bad as being bayonetted.
7.45 - 8.15.   Scratch breakfast.
8.45.   If wet lecture men - 1st aid work -  or Stretcher Drill-
If fine. Route marches - collecting wounded. etc.
12.45 - Lunch - a good square meal.
2.pm  More work
3 pm. Special Parades under a Sergt Major & go right through
Stretcher & Waggon Drill. Among our class are several Majors
& Captains none of whom seem to know their drill at all!
4.30 - 6.  Riding School
6.  Twice a week lecture. - otherwise free time
7.30   Dinner- a very swagger meal at which everybody has to
be up to time or  apologize to the Mess President.

I had read letters through about a dozen times -
Tuffs. (Sister U. M. Carter) was really "most interesting  account of
a lot of the casualties I had never heard of.  She also mentioned
a good deal about treatment of wounds which was of extreme
interest to me. - The discipline is very good throughout the Camp
It would please Mother's heart to see all the papers being burnt,
and the number of times a day the huts are swept.
(Humorous account of the Riding School  -  "Several
acrobatic feats here done by the horsemen -  "clinging to
the horse in any part except the saddle.")
Your loving son

Robert. B. Carter. 

5.

Crookham. Surrey
27/5/15.

My Dear Father & Mother,
A sham fight. -- One of the best days we have had. & I learnt more,
in the general management of a F- ambulance than I would by reading
all the text books in the world. All the cases as they came in had to be
sorted & arranged for transport & knowing which cases to give preference
to.  -  -  -  Last Tuesday another batch of Australians arrived --

ex R.M.S. Malwa.  Altogether about 75 of the 100 Australians are

over here.

Crookham
3/6/15

My dear Father & Mother.
We have been passed out of the officers' class as proficient
Likewise [[?bruged]] out of the Riding School - but I got a shock
yesterday when riding the horse suddenly kicked out at the back.
& I very nearly went over the handle bars but managed to
land round his neck somewhere. - Last Friday an order
came that all Australians here, previous to our arrival were
to be ready for active service. -- Amongst the men from here
were Jamieson & Cohen from Sydney

123 Brigade. R.F. A
Tidworth Pennings

Wills

17/6/15

My dear Father & Mother
At last transferred to a new job. I am regimental
M.O. to the above Brigade of Field Artillery - The unit contains
about 25 officers & 700 - 800 men. Orders came from the W.O.
for Donovan & myself to report at Marlborough. Next morning
Monday, we got another shock. The commandant had received a
wire to say that instead of Marlborough we had to report at a
place called Cholderton (H.Q of the 37th Div). The C.O. did'nt know
where Cholderton was & with great difficulty the local P.O. found
it for us; miles away from anywhere. - Started at 11.30 for
Salisbury - where we had to cool our heels, till 10 to 5. Got
to Newton & Toney (branch line) at 5.45. - Walked to Cholderton
House which we found after many enquiries - Here we were not
expected in the least, but they appointed us to units. Then began a long
wait for luggage & finally in desperation they, thinking we might be  

 6.

thrust on them for the night, lent us a beautiful H.Q. car
& we drove back to Newton Toney & found our kit – & then
off again in the most luxurious car I have ever been in - & they
landed me here - dumped fair in the middle of Salisbury
Plain. I have the job of vaccinating the lot.
R.B Carter
123rd Brig: R.F.A.
Tidworth Pennings Camp

30/6/15.
My dear Father & Mother
Bee's letters come with great regularity - likewise several Mails
& a Town & Country Journal. I take these papers into the
Mess & the other officers are rather interested in them as several
I shd  think, had never heard of Australia
(Long account of trip to Marlborough (my birth place) & its quaint
old world details - also the lovely Savernake Forest near)
My programme goes something like this
7.a.m.  Sick Parade
8.30 Breakfast. - morning spent in vaccinations - & giving
the other M.O.'s a hand in the same.
12.  Camp Inspection wi the Orderly officer
1. Lunch - Afternoon see odd sick - official reports.

& talk over matters with the C.O.
4. Tea
5 - 8. Ride or amuse myself.

8.  Dinner.
Last Friday the whole of the 37th Divn was inspected by the King.
& his suite of Generals. I had a glorious view, first from
Sidbury Hill - then perched myself about 10 yds behind the

King & had an excellent view of H.M.
 123rd Brig.  R.F.A.

Tidworth Pennings Camp

8-7-15.

My Dear Father & Mother
 -The war news of late has'nt been too good - & a good many
here take a serious view of it, in face of the Russian reverses.
The Government is taking rather a silly view of it all by holding
back the news & not publishing many of the bungles that
were made in the earlier part of the war.
Your loving son

Robie.

7

123d Brig. R.F.A.
15/7/15.

My dear Father & Mother
My leave started from Friday -
went off to Liverpool St & got thro' train to Ipswich.
Thence to Aldeborough - where the Aunts had a house right
on the water front. It was the first watering town in England
I had seen. Barb wire entanglements the whole length of
the beach about a dozen yards from the shore – Behind
all the barb. wire there is a line of trenches dug into the
beach & farther back there are 1st & 2nd lines of defence,
so you can see they are quite ready for invasion.
Tidworth Pennings Camp
26/7/15.

My dear Father & Mother
Today definite orders came & the Division starts to
move out tomorrow. – I have had to medically examine every
blessed Officer & man for fitness overseas - It took from
8.30 a.m. to 8. p.m. with a short halt for dinner. Also the
next day for 3 hrs.  Robie
H.Q. 123rd Brig. R.F.A.

Overseas.
My dear Father & Mother.
We spent a whole day where we disembarked. That night we
entrained & had a rotten trip – long & slow. The men in trucks
with the horses – the officers crowded into one stuffy carriage &
the amount of sleep was negligible – The journey took well over
20 hrs. -- We have now been in billets 4 days. The Vet and I
are billeted at the Cure's house. - very comfortable . The men
are extremely well – my work is generally patching up horse kicks

H.Q. 123d Brg R.F.A
Overseas
22/8/15

My dear Father & Mother

It is hard to start this letter - knowing the news about

poor old Edward. (Sapper E M Carter - Died of wounds at Malta)
my work has kept me very busy – While the Brigade is in a village they
have complete control of all citizens & often I am getting pushed
off into sanitation jobs. Billets of the men in barns are a constant
source of annoyance as there are always vermin about. Then the
Fly pest is another serious problem. - I get up about 6 every morning

& am feeling very fit. - - Be brave and cheerful!  Robie .

H.Q.123^rd B. R.F.A.

Overseas  8

5/9/15

My dear Father & Mother

I had a real good scare just now - heard
an awful bombardment & expected to see the village
coming down in bits, but it was only our 'Archies' crumping some
Bosch aeroplanes. – We got all sorts of stores from the Base
at cheap rates from the Exp. Force Canteens which are regular
A. Horderns & Sons where things from an elephant to a needle
are obtained at cost price. The village folk carry on business
& live as if nothing was happening & seem utterly regardless
of danger. I have a nice little room fixed up for my invalids
in the school house. One gets quite used to the noise (of guns)
after a time. At night it is far worse – In the day time it only
seems as if the daily 1 oclock gun were going off every few
minutes - only several horse power harder – In some of the farm
houses we have the greatest difficulty to keep them clean & as soon
as we have men cleaning up the stables & yards they undo all
the good work & empty the contents of kitchen & scullery
just outside the front door.  etc. It would break your heart trying
to keep the village clean.

H.Q. 123rd Brig. R.F.A.

Somewhere in France

27/9/15

My dear Father & Mother
Since last writing a great deal has happened. Suffice to say
last week was extremely noisy. I hav'nt heard a bombardment like
it - guite naturally enough. The fields are hopeless quagmires -
I have learnt out here the power of the modern big shell.
R.B.C

H.Q. 123rd B.

In France

3/10/15

My dear Father & Mother
I hope you have been following the news about this date, as there
has been plenty doing, some quite close to us, & there is always a tremendous

row & we all see the aftereffects - I can't lie quite as well as some of our 

men who say in their letters. I must close now as 'Jack Johnsons' are starting 

to rain round me like tennis balls! The cold is getting like the
mountain nip in winter. The morning wash consists of a quick shiver. 

H.Q. 123 Brg. R.F.A  9

B.E.F.

11/10/15
My dear Father & Mother
I sometimes get patients from the civil population here, & they
are most amusing & always ask "how much?" after being treated.
They bring gifts of eggs &c which I give to my orderly - as the poor
devils get little beyond their rations. There is plenty doing fairly close
to us.-     R.B.Carter

(The same/ 18/10/15
During the week an old pot who has a bit of a farm round here presented
me with a beautiful pair of chickens as I had been dressing an old
chronic ulcer in his leg. Today again he produced a parcel which
contained a large lump of Ginger Bread.
Thank goodness I still retain the faculty- of being able to sleep well -
In the winter I shall hibernate & probably you wont hear from me for
months -
 The Same.

25/10/15

One day foggy, the next foggier &c. ad. inf-

1/11/15
Personally I believe we shall be successful in the long run but
it will be a very long job.

15/11/15
Some of the dugouts have fallen in this recent bad weather
& the trenches are something too ghastly. You only want to
see the poor devils coming out in mud absolutely to their
armpits. - I quite look forward to turning in these days.-

20 Baskerville Rd
Wandsworth Common
London

19/12/15

My Dear Father & Mother,
Back in London - near the end of my leave - I am sending
you a Daily Mail map. - & on it I have marked where we are -
We went out in July. Southampton to Havre. Thence by train up to
Coast via Serqueux, Abbeville, Boulogne, Calais to Andruick
on the Calais - Hazebrouck line. We stayed there a few days &
then marched thro' Wallen Telgues, St Omer to Hazebrouck & then
to a little village St. Marie Cappel just below Cassel. The latter place is
on the top of a mountain in contrast to the rest of Flanders. From Cassel you
get an excellent view right up to Dunkirk, & in the other direction overlooking

Ypres to Armentieres. From St Marie Cappel we went to Kemmel. 

10.

& the brigade was attached for instruction to the 28th Divn      
& we saw the attack on Hooge (about Aug 10). About Aug 26 we
again got on a train & went via Hazebrouck, Bethene,  St Tol,
Doulleus to Mondicourt. - For a week we were messing about in
a dirty little village called Famechon, while arrangements were being
made for us to take over more of the French line - so  we were for some
time right amongst the French troops. –  Regulars, territorials, Zouaves,
Spahis &c. They entertained us royally & I had some & the finest
luncheons in my life. 6 different glasses in front & it was hard to
tell which wine to put into which glass, but it always ended up
all right. Eventually we marched to a final spot- La Cauchie-
where I have stuck - Berles is a place I often have to go to - a
network of trenches, redoubles & fortifications of a sort, all the
roads are barricaded. The Germans opposite us have lots of guns
about that big Adinfer wood & quite often they have a shot at
that Railway behind us from Doullens to Arras. At the time of the
great push north we had a great idea that we were going to advance,
so everything was ready - horses & limbers kept in harness for days
& nights. The French on our immediate left did make a bit of
a push but got horribly cut up & had to retreat back to their
old line. I have been along the road to Arras. & it is a
pitiful sight to see the beautiful town almost knocked flat.
My leave home was an awful trip. Left 6 p.m. Sunday - had
Dinner with Col. Donovan at Humb.- ∨(illegible)- camp. - motor lorry at midnight
- freezing to the bone - bumpy roads to Doullens about 3 a.m. Here
we shivered for an hour. & crept into train at 5 am. At Amiens we
stopped 1½ hrs & had a tuck in at a Buffet. Here who should we meet
but Adrian Cousett Stephen;  in charge of a trench mortar Battery.
Havre about 7 p.m. (Monday) & made a B line for the boat- where I
slept to Southampton - We got off about 8 a.m..- my word it was luxurious
after the French trains.