Letters from John Collingwood Angus to his Sister, 1915-1916

Gallipoli

Oct 19^th1915

Dear Nance,

Just a few lines hoping

they find you in better health than

when you wrote me last. I have not

a great deal to say as you will

know by this time that we are in

the firing line, and we do not

hear much of the outside world. I have

been here six weeks now, and we are

all old soldiers now, I have had a 

wash about twice, and you would not

know me now, the dirt makes a lot of

difference. I received a letter from Lexie

and one from Maudie, I think it was 

from her, she did not sign her name

but I guess who it was. I have not time

to write back to them but you can 

tell them I got the letters. I hope big

Lex has still got plenty of work and

keeping in the best of health. I have

not met any more lad from home that

I know there is a lot of Engllish troops

out here but they are a long way

from where we are. We have not done

 

 any great deeds yet but that will come

later on. I think this is all this time

hoping to hear from you soon.

John

 

 

France

14 April 1916

Dear Nance,

Hope you and the

children are all in the best

of health. I have not much

to write about we have

just come out of the trench

and the weather is beastly

raining and everything is

wet and sloppy. we are

having a rest in one of

the towns behind the firing 

line and will be in the

trenches again in a few

days. It is a very quiet

part of the front just here

and we have only lost 

4 men so far. I was talking

to a North Shields fellow

he is in the Tyneside

Scottish, he knows Lex and

 

 

his brother Ben. his name is

Harrison and he used to

work on the fish quay, he

expects to get leave home

and he said that he would

come and tell you he had

seen me. I might be able to

get leave myself later on

and I will come and see 

you, I suppose I would not

know the youngsters now

they must be getting big

by now. how is Lex getting 

on is he still working away

from home. It is a terriable

job writing letter as we have

nothing to write about

and they are pretty strict

with the censor. I think this

is about all that I have

to say hope to receive some

 

news from you soon. I had

a letter from Tom and Bella

the other day but they did

not have much to tell me.

remember me to everyone

John

 

1591 Pte J.C. Angus

D Company 28th Batt.

A.I.F.

France

 

 

France

May 5^th, 1916

Dear Nance,

Just a few lines, I received your

letters and one from Lex and one from Lexie

and I am pleased to hear you are all

well, these few lines will have to do

for all of you. I am pleased to hear

Lex is sticking and doing his bit and

building these battleships. There is a chance

of getting leave, one or two fellow in

our mob have got it and are in England

now and I am just hoping that my

turn comes before very long. We are

having splendid weather this last couple

of weeks and we needed it, it is simply

rotten here in the bad weather up to

our knees in mud and water and no

chance of getting dry, well I hope we

had the last of that kind for a

while. Lexie says he has passed an

other exam for the paino, he must be 

pretty smart. I suppose thing will be

very quite in the shop just now.

things seem to be pretty livly in Ireland

 

 

just now, well I wish they would send

some of our boys there. we would make

things hot enough for them rebels in a

pretty short time. You can thank Blanche

and Edith Walker for their kindness in

sending me those things. I think this is

all this time hoping to see you all

soon.

John