Letters from Geoffrey Gordon McCrae to his family, October - December 1915 - Part 4

LEMNOS   4.11.1915
Dearest Mother & Father
I must thank you for your
long and interesting letters of 20th.
Sept. It is very gratifying to have
such kind things said of one's
work as Col Bryant & Major Isaacson
have said, I trust I may continue
to uphold the family's honor. I
am informed that Col Bryant
has returned to Australia owing
to his health breaking down. You
ought to call on him, He is such
a loveable old man - I received
the socks you speak of in your
letter, also the waterproof headgear,
which will be a veritable God send
in the trenches. I received a lovely
pair of socks from Maude; also, a
pair from her mother, and some
butter-scotch which was most
acceptable. I have got an awfully
sweet tooth, and it proved a
lovely change from the inevitable
choclate. The parcel Mrs Hamilton 

saw at the Mutual Store was
from Maude; it contained nearly
every conceivable thing under the
sun; Cake, biscuits, Ham & chicken paste,
Chutney, Chocolates etc. I see
you are living up to your reputation
as the "Pelican", in the manner in
which you are dealing with
Uncle Nicholas' bequest - Why don't
you think of yourself more? I wish
you would take my share ^if any and
instead of Keeping it for me
spend it on your dear self, that
would please me more than anything -
This is some Regiment to belong to!
out of nine V.C's awarded to the
Army Corps for the fighting early
in August, the 7th Battalion was
awarded four, Lieuts Tubb & Symonds
& LCpls Burton & Dunstan being
the recipients - I hope you have
recovered from seeing Helen off
by now, I expect she will stay
her full six weeks if not more
From the scale issued for
winter-clothing, you need not 

be at all anxious about our
welfare they are giving us
fur waistcoats, Macintosh Cloaks,
Gum boots, mittens, mufflers etc
etc. - I must thank you for the
many papers you have sent
me: it is very enjoyable reading
about Melbourne people and seeing
pictures of the place to which I
am longing to return.
You need not worry about my
contemplating early matrimony -
no one is x more conscious of how
far off that blessed state is than
I. If I ever get back I will
have to start off scratch and
make my way in life and it
will be many a weary year before
I can provide for a wife. I have
not bound Maude to me ^in any way
& for this express reason. But nevertheless 
I love her, and told her, if
I ever got back, I wanted her for
my own; now, you know exactly
how matters stand twixt myself 

and her. I am feeling very
well and we are well fed
here. Shortage of water is the
only drawback: it is very
difficult to get a bath; that
was what I enjoyed most
on H.MS "Laforey" - a hot
bath every morning for five
consecquective days: - no more
news, much love
from
Geoff.
1DRL427
4/13 

SOMEWHERE
12.11 .1915
Dearest Mother father & Helen
I must thank you for your
letters and papers of September. I can't
think of anything you can send me -
we are well provided for by the Ordnance
and as we are only allowed to carry
35 lbs baggage, one is rather put to
it when you ^he hase a lot of surplus
stuff. The Olympus of Cyprus is
supposed to be the Windless Olympus
which old Homer used to write
about, and it is most remarkable
that the day I went up, there was
quite a breeze in the foothills, but
on the summit the air was
quite still. We have had the
honor of being inspected by
K. of K. He addressed us and thanked
and congratulated us on the work
done at Anzac and gave us a
message which the King had
personally given him to deliver
Expressing the King's and the people 

of England's gratitude for our work.
Kitchener did not look the ferocious
man he is pictured. He struck me
as a most genial old man. The
senior officers were introduced to
him and he squeezed my hand
and gave me a beaming smile -
We all feel very happy _^at having
received his commendation and
praise, and feel very honored,
as he is not noted for showering
round compliments unless they
have been well earned. - There is
no more news at present, so
I must conclude, I hope the
films arrived safely.- If Blezard
doesn't give you that parcel
soon, you had better ring up
the Barracks for his address -
my best wishes.
much love
from
Geoff.

LEMNOS.
12.11.1915.
Dearest Mother father & Helen
I am enclosing some
negatives taken on the island and
during my cruise on the Laforey
I should be very grateful if you
would send copies to the following
people.
Maude.
Commander G.R.L Edwards
H.M.S. Laforey c/o Admiralty
London.
Mrs H.T.C Layh,
85 Munro Street Coburg
Melbourne.
I am in the best of health. We are
getting some Christmas Cards I
designed printed in Egypt but
in case they do not arrive  here
in time I take this opportunity
of wishing you a happy Christmas
and the best of New Years and
I sincerely hope I may be 

with you before its termination
should I be spared. Hoping
you are all well
I am your loving son
& brother
Geoff.

 1DRL427
4113
12.11.15