Letters from Robert Edmund Antill to his Parents, 1916 - Part 13 of 13

Reg No 1228 14 Battn A.I.F.

No. I Command Depot

Perham Downs

Via Andover 

13.12.16

Dear Mother,

Recieved Dollys most 

welcome letter last night & I must

say she is getting first class at letter 

writing. 
Am so glad that Father has got another 

order for 600 more pup pump stands which 

will see you well on your way for a 

couple of months yet. I am writing 

this letter under great difficulties  I

have a drunk (he is properly molo) 

at this table eating bread & salmon 

& kicking up a devil of a row, he 

keeps wanting to shake hands with 

me & keeps shouting in my ear that I 

am the only soldier in the hut

 

 

In about half an hours time I am goin into 

Tidworth with a fatigue party of 20 men

I was on this job yesterday and I can tell 

you it’s not too bad, we are shifting a 

whole heap of old clothes at the Aus. 

ordance stores, well they call them old 

clothes but I have fited myself out 

with pretty well, last night I came

 back with a pair of boots , pair of riding 

pants, singlet, under pants, white wollen 

sweater & a few pairs of socks & all are 

in good condition, tomorrow if I am on 

this I have hopes of getting a pair of leggings

A couple of days ago I was marked A 

class again & I dont think it will be 

long before I am moved off to my 

training Battn but there it all comes 

in a life time I shall be thinking I 

am still a soldier a gain when I get 

a pack & rifle again once more. 

Did you have any snow yesterday!? 

for we did & my word down it came in

lumps as big as ink bottles. 

Well I think I shall have to knock off

for I cant get rid of this drunk, so hoping 

this letter finds you as it leaves me 

in the very best

Believe me to be 

Your sincerely loving son

Bob.  

Reg No 1228 14 Battn A.I.F. 

No I Command Depot

Perham Downs

Via Andover

Harts.

17. 12. 16. 

Sunday 

Morning

 

Dear Mother, 

Have just arrivied back

from post office with your parcel

& those jam tarst are just grand.

They are giving me a spell to day

off this fatigue party & another Cpl

has gone down in my place so I

have a chance to write a few letters

to day.

I wrote a letter to Lollie & mentioned 

the Christmas leave in it & I can 

tell you it will be very hard to get 

so I want you to make this letter you

send to our Col. a real digger & if he

wont give it to me well I must take 

it & also the result but whats the

odds. 

Realy it dont seem so merry Christmas 

as it is, especially down here, we carry

on in just the same old way come

day go day & God bless Sunday,

this afternoon I am goin  to have a 

hot shower & a change of clothes

that is one thing about this one

can get a good bath either of

each hot or cold.

Well I shall have to finish up now

as news is so scarce, so hoping 

this letter finds you all in the best 

I remain

Your very loving son

Bob. 

Reg No 1228 14 Batt A.I.F. 

No I Command Depot

Perham Downs

via Andover

Harts.

22. 12. 16

Dear Mother & Father, 

Well after all I shall

have to spend my Christmas in this camp

does not it seam hard but there it all

comes in in a life time. 

I put in for leave 3 times & each time

I was turned down & learnt yesterday

for final that it was all knocked on the 

head, so I thought & thought & at last it 

dawned on me to send down a wire & get 

Father to come up & interview the Colonel

himself but thing I left it too late

again although I sent the wire a 1.45PM

from Tidworth but there never mind

might get leave for the New Year well 

I hope so. 

I will get you if you do not mind to send

me down a couple pounds to see me over 

the Christmas for they wont give us any extra 

here & one always like to have a little more

these times. 

You know it makes my blood boil when I 

think of it so far & yet so near if I 

was in France I would not mind a bit

but only a few miles away why once 

in the army & one is a slave. 

Well I wont write any more so hoping

this finds you all as it leaves me in

the very best of health, hoping you one & 

all will enjoy your Christmas

Believe me to be 

Your loving son

Bob.  

For God, For King & For Country

 

Y.M.C.A.

PATRON

Y.M.C.A NATIONAL COUNCIL

H.M. THE KING

Y.M.C.A.

WITH THE

AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

Y.M.C.A

PATRON

YMCA NATIONAL COUNCIL 

H.M. THE KING

Y.M.C.A

PATRON

MILITARY CAMP DEPT

HR.H. DUKE  OF CONNAUGHT

 

Address reply to Reg No 1228 R.E. Antill

14 Battn No 1 Command Depot

Perham Downs

Harts

 

December 31st 1916 

Sunday morning

 

Dear Mother

I havent writen you for a

while so I think I will have a try

having half an hour or so to spare.

Well after all I shall not be home

for the New Year, but there worse

troubles at sea

I put in for leave & to it I attached

that letter of yours which you

recieved from our Col. but it was

all in vain for leave is cut out

until Jan 3 1917.

Now I dont think I shall put in for

leave for a while. my reason being

this with a bit of luck I shall

catch a staff job down here well

now if I start on leave it may

For God, For King & For Country

Y.M.C.A.

WITH THE

AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

Y.M.C.A.

Patron

Y.M.C.A NATIONAL COUNCIL

H.M. THE KING

Y.M.C.A

PATRON

MILITARY CAMP DEPT

HR.H. DUKE  OF CONNAUGHT

 

Address reply to                                                                       191

 

upset things somewhat so I think I will

let it go for the time.

I recieved Fathers letter with the

money in it safely but the parcel

you sent hasnt come to view yet

but I suppose will eventualy.

Had a very quite Christmas in fact it

was just the same as any other day only

all work cut out & a terrible lot of drunks

kicking around.

We had a fair Christmas dinner & a

concert in the evening & in another letter

I am sending the menu card & programme

also a greeting card I got out of my 

Christmas gift from Australia, a copy

of Roll of Honour from Mrs Downing

I received a letter from her a few

For God, For King & For Country

Y.M.C.A.

WITH THE

AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

Y.M.C.A

Patron

Y.M.C.A NATIONAL COUNCIL

H.M. THE KING

Y.M.C.A

PATRON

MILITARY CAMP DEPT

HR.H. DUKE  OF CONNAUGHT

 

Address reply to                                                                       191

 

days ago, there all seam to be goin

on pretty well out there.

Well now I will come to a close

hoping one & all are in the very best

I remain

Your loving Son

Bob.