Letters from Robert Edmund Antill to his Family, 1917 - Part 1 of 5

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.
H.M. FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE
Y.M.C.A.
PATRON
MILITARY CAMP DEPT
H.R.H. DUKE OF CONNAUGHT
Reply to 1228  Company Bat 14  Regt.
16. 1. 1917
Stationed at No. 1 Command Depot

Dear Mother & Father
Recieved Dolly's
letter yesterday evening & as she says
it is rather a long while since you
heard from me, well I am doin very
well & in the best of health.
I quite forgot yesterday was Elsies
birthday until the day was nearly over
my word she is getting quite old.
I have still charge of this Bhurtpore
fatigue party & I can tell you its not
a bad job I have nothing to do all
day.
I should be very pleased if Father
would come down to have a look
at us here it will not be a
very enjoyable trip for him

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
H.M. FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE
Y.M.C.A.
PATRON
MILITARY CAMP DEPT
H.R.H. DUKE OF CONNAUGHT
Reply to   Company Bat  Regt.
191
Stationed at

but I can tell you the chaps
here would be very pleased with
a bottle of strong stuff for wl we
cant bye it here so I I think if
you brought a bottle with you
it would be very acceptable
Well as regards to this day, any
day this or next week will suit
me down to the ground so come as
soon as you like only drop me a
line & let me now you are coming
& I will meet you a Tidworth
station.  Well I will now draw to a
close hoping this finds you one
& all in the best
I remain
Your loving Son
Bob.

No 1 Command Depot
Perham Downs
Via Andover
Hants.
30  1  17.

Dear Mother & Father
I am having a day
off to day & I am feeling pretty rotten
on it, I thought I was goin on to well
with this awful cold weather well at
last I have come a croper I have a
cold on me & it is the worst one I
have ever had or ever hope to have
it has got down on my chest & as I
sit here & write I almost have
to struggle for my breath.
Last night I got Darby to rub my
chest & back with camphorated oil
& I am glad to say it eased me a
great deal & the sooner it leaves
me the better for I am feeling
just any how at the present moment

After Dad went the chaps here
came up to me & passed their different
opinons & they all re con you were a
real Britton to put up with the
row they made at night
I played in the billard match & the
fellow I played just beat me & [[a?]]
the he he could beat me quite easily
any other time we were both scratch
& in the end he beat me by 9, well
I will now close hoping one & all
are well at home
I remain
Your very loving Son
Bob.

Reg No 1228 14 Btn  A.I.F.
No 1 Command Depot
Perham Downs
via Andover
Hants.
9. 2. 17.

Dear Mother
I am just droping
you this short note to let you
know I am still in the land of
the living but only just, I am
just feeling dead queer & my
throat is more than sore & very
painful
I have had the last 3 days in
bed & I think I have just about
shaken the cold off but am feel
crook all over but there I
suppose I shall get better in time
any way I have started eating
again so I think I must be
improving.
We have had very heavy

falls of snow here in the last
few days & the cold just
goes right through one
Well I don't think I will write
any more but hop streght into
bed, for I think its faviroute
hoping this finds you one &
all in the very best
I remain
Your very loving son
Bob.

AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH
MILITARY FORCES
Reg No 1228 14 Battn.
No 1 Command Depot
Perham Downs
Via Andover
Hants.
Feb 25.
1917.

Dear Mother & Father,
It is quite
a time since I wrote to you &
the reason I have been holding
back is because I have been
expecting marching orders to
France it was about a week
ago I arrived home from Tidworth
& was warned for orderly room
at once & there I learned of our
fate the fatigue party has
got to be changed well it
hasent up to the present but
I think it will be during the

AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH
MILITARY FORCES

next week well we cant grumble
for we have had a very good
run taking it all round.
I have got rid of my cold
altogether now & right glad
I am for it was just a pest.
We have just been isued with
our new pay books & what a
book they are great big things
& enough room in them to
recieve payment for 2 years &
I sincerly hope I will all of
us shall f have f the pleasure
of seeing the war over before
they are quarter filled.
Mud, we have enough here to
bury all the germans in.  I
think we are up to our eyes
& the road leading from here
to Tidworth is unpassable so
you can just gess how bad it is

AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH
MILITARY FORCES

Well I think I will draw
to a close hoping this weather
will take a change for the
better for it is pouring at the
present moment & that all are
in the very best as I am my
self
Believe me to be
Your very loving Son
Bob.