Letters from Robert Edmund Antill to his Parents, 1914-1915 -Part 11

Lemnos Island
June 18th 1915

Dear Mother & Father
Well
& how are things going on,
I have not heard from you
yet, I suppose its because
I have been sent down to 
this base. You will say
what am I doing down here
well its like this, after be-
ing 7 weeks on & off in
the trenches we got relieved
for a spell down to the
beach, well I had been
down there 3 days when I fell
sick & by jove I was
bad I can tell you.
I held on for a couple of 

days but at last they
had to send me here, well
I am glad to say I am
getting much better now
though I am still very
weak. When I left the
firing line things had
quitened down a lot with
a lively tuck up now
& again, I suppose in a week
or two I shall be returning
to my section & to I can
say this, that I would
rather be with them.
Now well & how are all
you going on I hope you
are all well, & many
happy returns to Pa as it 
is his berth-day to day
2.

I often wonder how he is
getting on down in Red
Lion St & little Jim I
often wish I were back
with them, well I hope
to be some day I think
after being luckey enough
to get through this
lot I think I will be
luckey enough to see
you all again what do
you say, well I don't
think I have any more
to say so I will now
close hopping one & all
are I well at home
I remain
Your loving son
Bob.
3

(1)
Lemnos Island.
June 23rd 1915.

Dear Mother & Father
Well &
how are things going on
you will see by the
address that I am still
down at this base, but
I don't suppose I shall
be here long for I
am very much better
now & well very soon
be returned to my
siction at Gallipoli & I
can tell you I shant
be at all sorry for I have
just about had enough
of this place although 

(2)
I have only been here
a week.  The day before
yesterday a fellow came
& took our photo for
the Daily Mirror &
Mail & for the Govmunt
weekly gazette (moving
pictures) so you may
see some of our dials
on the pictures well I
can tell you we dont
look too bad on it.
I suppose you have
just about got the
truth of our attack on the
Dardanelles which was
pretty warm as you can
see by the casualty list 

(3)
but sill I think the worst
of it is over well at
least I hope so for I
can tell you none of
us want a lot like the
last lot it was nothing
more or less than awful.
If we get over this lot
quick & lively I suppose
they will send us over
to France but not until
they have given us a
few months spell in
England & by jove that
would suit me down to
the ground would not
it you, a fellow may
have a chance of getting 

(4.)
home yet. Well now &
how are you all getting
on I hope you are all
well its a long time
since I have heard from
you all.  Do you think you
could send a few papers
over especialy some with
some pictures in & do you
think you could send
parcel along with a
few tasties in it, such
as toffy, chos & a few
things that will go down
to the taste for I can
tell you its pretty dry
up here on bully f beef &
biscuits. I remain
Your loving son
Bob.