Letters from John Simpson Kirkpatrick to his Mother, 1913 - Part 1 of 2

11-1-13
SS Kooringa
Bunbury

Dear Mother
Just a few lines to let you
know that we
arrived here this
morning from
Geraldton We
have had a very
feeir passage
the weather out
here just now
is terribly hot,
yesterday the heat
in the engine
room was 125
degrees of heat
so you will see
that is was
kinder hot
Now Mother
I am sending
you a P.O. for
three quid
so that this
one will be
the last one
for 1912 I have
sent you 12
P.O. for three quid
will this one
for 1912 making
it 36 pound
for last year

so when you
answer this
letter you can
letter you ca
let me know
if you have
received the
36 pound all right
counting this order
in with it Now
Mother I hope
that you and
Annie are
keeping all
right and that
things are going
all right at
home. Now
Mother I think
that I will will conclude
So Send
my love to
Annie and with
love to yourself
I remain
Your Loving Son
Jack

X X X X X X

9.2.13

SS Kooringa
Port Kembla
Dear Mother
Just a line to let
you know that I am
still alive and kicking
We arrived here
this morning from
Sydney where we
have been lying
for a week it was
all right in Sydney
I took three days
off and me and
my mate had a
good time in
Sydney, and we
missed our passage

from Sydney to
Port Kembla  We
got our photo's
taken but they
are no good for
they are those
that are done while
you wait but I
am sending you
one I will have
to get my photo
taken at a good
place when I think
on Now Mother
how are you and
Annie getting on
I hope you are

both keeping well
I am not keeping
too good myself
just at present
I am very white
and thin I am more
like a ghost than
a man as far as
colour goes but
I am making this
my last trip on the
Kooringa and then
I am going to have
a spell and then I
think I will go up
into the Bush for
a while Now Mother

I met Foster Budel's
oldest Brother last
trip in Newcastle
he is married
and he is coal
trimming in
Newcastle I was
staying at his
house for a week
end he was only
out here 12 months
when he yet married
he has got no kids
yet he is not like
his old folks for
they had about
a dozen with those
twins

Now Mother I am
you a
sending
P.0. for three
quid So remember
me to all my
friends and
with love to
Yourself and Annie
I remain
Your Loving Son
Jack

14.3.13
SS Kooringa
Port Kembla

Dear Mother
Just a line to let
you know that we
arrived here today
from the West and
we are leaving again
on Monday for the
West again and
then to Melbourne
Where I think that
I will leave for I
am not keeping
too good I went
to see a doctor in
the West and he
told me that I was

2
properly run down
and that I needed
a rest to put me
right so that I
will have to do
this trip bound
West and then to
Melbourne where
think that I
will have a couple
of months holiday
that is of course
if the exchecker
will hold out
that long and then
I will look for
another job or else

3
I will go up the
bush for a while
for I am getting
sick of going to
sea so that I think
a spell ashore will
do me good for
I feel properly
rotten and I look
more like a corpse
than any thing else
of course that is the
engine room that
does that and I
cant eat my grub
like I used to but
for all that I am

4
pretty heavy yet
for I am twelve
stone three pounds
for I am all bone
Now Mother I sent
you a photo last
month of course
it was a very
poor one of me
but it was only
a hurry up job
for you get taken
and receive your
photo while you
wait but I will
send you a proper
one from Melbourne

5
Now Mother I am
sending you a
P.O. for three
quid and I have
not had a letter
from you for
above three months
I hope you are
getting mine all
right for every
one I send you
there is a money
order in for 3 quid
Now Mother I hope
that you and
Annie are keeping
well and that

6
things are going
all right at
home Now Give
my love to
Annie and with
love to yourself
I remain
Your loving Son
Jack