Letters from Robert Edmund Antill to his Parents, 1916 - Part 9 of 13

Brigade Hospital
Perham Downs
Ludgershall
Wilts. 
Oct 18. 1916

Dear Mother & Father,
Have just
recieved your very welcome letter
& parcel of tobacco & I can tell you
the lads were very pleased with
it of course including myself.
What do you think of this_^ wether we have
been having for the last few days
well down here it has been rotten &
also very wet & cold I can tell you
its not too great in a tent.
In your letter you say you are coming
down to see me, well I am very
sorry to have to tell you that its
no use coming down for our

camp is closed to visitors because
of the different illnesses about here.
The meningitis complaint & also mealsels
are very bad here, one died last week
here with the first complaint.
You will now see that its no use
you coming here as I shant be able
to see you so we will have be content
with writing to one another.
Yesterday was our poling day it
was for Conscription in Australia
& of course I voted "yes".
I hope Dolly & Nellie have a good
day tomorrow & also a good sale
of flags which no doubt they will.
The day before yesterday was my
washing day, & it turned out very
successful. I boiled my shirt & under
pants & the old sunlight soap came
in very useful I also wh washed
my towles, the only thing I could not
wash were my socks because I
had no change so I will get you
to send me a pair down next
time you are sending.

Well now I think I will wind up
as it is just on tea time hoping this
letter finds one & all at home in
best of health as I am myself
Believe me to be
Your very loving Son
Bob
P.S.  We all like Players

Navy cut best.

AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH MILITARY FORCES
1228
14 Batt
No 1 Comand Depot
Perham Downs
Ludgershall
Wilts.
Oct 24^th
Tuesday afternoon.

Dear Mother & Father,
You will see
now by the address that I am out of
hospital, well as a matter of fact I came
out last Saturday.
The doctor told me that I shall have
to look after myself & should I
feel any pain in my back to
report at once to him he also gave
me a 7 days no duty pass so you
see I am just having a weeks
holiday about the camp but I 

AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH MILITARY FORCES
cant get leave until I get to L my
training Batt which is about 18
miles from here, but I shant go
there yet if I can stay a bit
longer in this camp, when my 7
days are up I am goin to ask
for 7 more & I h think I have
every chance of getting it as
the doctor seams a very nice chap.
I recieved both parcels yesterday
morning (Mon) & two letters this morning
one from Dolly & one from Lallie &
what a find we had that jam tart
was just great & so were those little
cakes it makes one reliase the value
of home made food, we had the salmon
for supper last night & it was A1.
The letter I recieved from Dolly was
very well written for a girl her age & it
was very welcome as you can gess &
I am very glad she had a good flag
day, have you herd from Uncle
Cris again I supose not.

AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH MILITARY FORCES
I have met a XXXX lot of my pals here
out of the 14 why there are 8 here
out of my section & I can tell
you we had a hearty meeting, if you
see Bill Eckhardt again you can
tell him that Spud Murphy is
down here he is out of the old
Lewis section he was cooking for
us for a while & a very nice fellow
too.
Well I dont think I have much more
to say only that I am sending
you home this £6 to look after
for me I know it is safer in
your hands at home than in mine
down here, so will now close
hoping any & all are well at
home as I am myself
Believe me to be
Your very son
Bob 

AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH MILITARY FORCES
1228 14 Batt A.I.F.
No. 1 Comand Depot
Perham Downs
Ludgershall
Andover
Wilts.
Nov 1st

Dear Mother,
I am sending you a parcel
with a tunic in it, it is no use to me
here as it is too big but what I want
you to do please if it is not too much
trouble is to send down that other one
which we cut the hooks from the neck.
So as I can wear it here & save my
best one from this dirt & mud.
I have not recieved any line for about
a week now or Lallie's parcel which
she sent last week end but I
supose they will turn up before
long.  We are having very wet

AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH MILITARY FORCES
weather here & mud why its awful, I went
into Tidworth last night & came home
drenched to the skin & sliping & sliding
all over the place & finished up by
falling up the hut XXXX steps & back
into the mud.
Well I have very little news to
tell you only that in one of the
pockets of tunic there are a few
cigerette cards for Hilton & Jack so
I will now close hoping one & all
are in best of health as I am myself
Believe me to be
Your loving son
Bob.