Letters between John Simpson Kirkpatrick and his Family, 1915 - Part 6 of 8

14 Bertram St
So. Shields

May 24th 15

Dear Jack
Today is Whitmonday &
as the mail leaves tonight I
thought I would send you a
few lines to try & cheer you up
It will be a very miserable
holiday for mother & I for we
both feel as though we have no
right to be happy as long as
you are in danger. I haven't
entered a place of amusement
since Christmas The second list
of Australian casualities was in
the Daily Mail this morning.
Mother was dreading seeing your
name, but thank the Lord Your 

2
name wasn't among. Oh Jack we
do pray & trust that you are spared
to us. Mother is to miserable & so
bitter towards the slackers at home.
Did you get that letter with Jack
Potts photo in? Poor lad he was
killed in France at the battle of
Neuve Chapelle. His married brother
Bob was wounded last week & has
been brought over to a Leeds hospital
Do you remember Hoggs lad that
lived in Fredirick St. The one I mean
was your age about 23 & was a school
teacher? Well, poor lad he inlisted
at the beginning of the war & was
killed in France last week.
Poor little Clem Chipchase was
steward in a ship that the
Huns torpedoed in the Channel &

3
his body was picked up about a
fortnight after. All lives were lost
One of Fifes lads has been wounded in
the Dardanelles. Do you remember
him living opposite us in Frederick
St back lane. He is with the
Anson Battalion. Such a lot of
Shields lads are out there, you will
very likely meet them. You will be
seeing some terrible sights. One of The war
correspondents in the Dardanelles
is giving some fine accounts of
Australian bravery. Did you get my
letter that I wrote on Thursday? I
hope you did. I ho am chancing
sending you a packet of cigarrettes
so hope you get them. It isn't
what I would like to send you
but still I know you will appreciate

4
a good old Woodbine. Now dear Jack.
I haven't any more to say just now
but hoping & trusting that you
will have a safe return home &
with love from mother & myself
I remain
Your Ever loving sister.
Annie 

PS
I won't worry you to write to me
for I know that even when you
are off duty you will need all
the rest you can get. So long as
mother gets a few lines for Jack it
would make your heart ache to see
her waiting & watching for the post.

x x x x x x
I do hope the censor will let you
have your tabs Jack
Mother is writing too.