19 December 1916 England
[Page 1]
[note top left]
I have had our photos taken WS
Return to France 22nd inst. Love Bill
[main letter]
England
17 Spratt Hall
19th Dec 1916
My dearest mother
Well here I am in good old England at last. I arrived at Southampton from Le Havre on Una's birthday (12th Dec in case you don't know) early in the morning after being on guard on the life boats all night. If a torpedo had hit us that night I know which shore I would have set out for. I left my battalion on 9th instant and had a most awful train journey to the coast, for a start I waited from 2.15 AM until 11.30 AM on a station. Talk about walk, why I think I did about a dozen miles up and down the platform, you know it gets a bit coolish in France at times.
When I got to Waterloo Station London, I was marched with the
[Page 2]
rest of the Australians to the Headquarters and left my gear there, got paid and a general clean up. Now I have a walking stick, clean book and my old gloves which I had in Sydney. They are still quite good having been in my pack all the time.
Well so far I have got no further than London. To tell you the truth I don't know what I've done and what I haven't done. I know I travelled a dinguns of a distance underground, I think the first day I travelled all under London in the tubes, they are very fast things and I felt as if they ought to have shortened the pace a bit, made a shorter step of it like! Please excuse the pencil but I'm more at home and can cut it out much quicker. Anyrate coming back to this trip. the first night I went to Harefield on speck and was not disappointed. When I arrived at the Hospital I was told where I would very likely
[Page 3]
find Roy and sure enough there he was writing to you. He rubbed his hand across his eyes when he saw me, thought he was dreaming. It was a great surprise and he couldn't sleep that night. He gave me a bed there and was surprised when he heard I could sleep with two blankets. I was on a spring mattress and I'm afraid the meeting didn't spoil my sleep, a soft bed ha! ha! besides I hadn't been to bed for three days. Next morning he took me to breakfast at the Field Kitchen. I of course expected to see dirty cooks but low and behold he works with two pretty girls one about 21 and the other a couple of years older. They call him Roy and he seems a favourite with all. I said to him is this your field kitchen, what an awful job. You would laugh at him [as he]
[Page 4]
goes round washing up and wiping the table, in fact I told him he was a regular "slushy". I sat back and simply roared at him. He and one of the girls are responsible for the puddings, and they tell me he is always worrying over them (puddings).
You and Elsie will be able to have a swifter rest when he gets back. We have had two afternoons in London together, met the twin Rileys both times and gone to the theatre. Your bumble happens to be a bit flush and has treated them. Another little thing, if Roy and I thought we would have any trouble in finding a certain place, it would be a case of "Are you engaged". "No Sir", so in we would hop into a taxi. Those beastly Australians!!!!
On Sunday morning Mr Rule and I went to St Pauls Cathedral. It is simply a marvellous place. and the
[page 5]
service was very nicely rendered. I can see now where Dick got lots of his ideas from. The peal of bells was glorious, don't ever talk about that church opposite our place, but don't I wish I could hear those old cow bells, would do me.
I am staying at Mr Rule's place and they are kindness itself, at least I mean I sleep here! They have cured a cold I had and give me bonza tucker, and I'm just the fellow at present to polish it off too. As to Rob's health let me tell you that he has a better appetite than me. That doesn't sound much to some people but to you dear it means a lot!!!
Well mother dear I must stop. Oh! I forgot I've seen Auntie
[Page 6]
Sissie, she is a little dear. I don't think she is up to my shoulder and her childish mind made it sound funny calling her Auntie. She said I was more like a big uncle and when I was leaving she stood on her toes and just about reached around me neck and pulled my face down and said "Good bye my big uncle." She seems so happy and showed me all the photos she had of our family. I gave her Ron's photo playing with that motor car on the chair.
Well mother dear I must stop now. Give my love to Sis, I will tell her about "Madam Butterfly" when I write and Dad and Ron too.
Your ever loving son
XXXX Billy
[note top left]
I have had our photos taken WS
Return to France 22nd inst. Love Bill
[main letter]
England
17 Spratt Hall
19th Dec 1916
My dearest mother
Well here I am in good old England at last. I arrived at Southampton from Le Havre on Una's birthday (12th Dec in case you don't know) early in the morning after being on guard on the life boats all night. If a torpedo had hit us that night I know which shore I would have set out for. I left my battalion on 9th instant and had a most awful train journey to the coast, for a start I waited from 2.15 AM until 11.30 AM on a station. Talk about walk, why I think I did about a dozen miles up and down the platform, you know it gets a bit coolish in France at times.
When I got to Waterloo Station London, I was marched with the
[Page 2]
rest of the Australians to the Headquarters and left my gear there, got paid and a general clean up. Now I have a walking stick, clean book and my old gloves which I had in Sydney. They are still quite good having been in my pack all the time.
Well so far I have got no further than London. To tell you the truth I don't know what I've done and what I haven't done. I know I travelled a dinguns of a distance underground, I think the first day I travelled all under London in the tubes, they are very fast things and I felt as if they ought to have shortened the pace a bit, made a shorter step of it like! Please excuse the pencil but I'm more at home and can cut it out much quicker. Anyrate coming back to this trip. the first night I went to Harefield on speck and was not disappointed. When I arrived at the Hospital I was told where I would very likely
[Page 3]
find Roy and sure enough there he was writing to you. He rubbed his hand across his eyes when he saw me, thought he was dreaming. It was a great surprise and he couldn't sleep that night. He gave me a bed there and was surprised when he heard I could sleep with two blankets. I was on a spring mattress and I'm afraid the meeting didn't spoil my sleep, a soft bed ha! ha! besides I hadn't been to bed for three days. Next morning he took me to breakfast at the Field Kitchen. I of course expected to see dirty cooks but low and behold he works with two pretty girls one about 21 and the other a couple of years older. They call him Roy and he seems a favourite with all. I said to him is this your field kitchen, what an awful job. You would laugh at him [as he]
[Page 4]
goes round washing up and wiping the table, in fact I told him he was a regular "slushy". I sat back and simply roared at him. He and one of the girls are responsible for the puddings, and they tell me he is always worrying over them (puddings).
You and Elsie will be able to have a swifter rest when he gets back. We have had two afternoons in London together, met the twin Rileys both times and gone to the theatre. Your bumble happens to be a bit flush and has treated them. Another little thing, if Roy and I thought we would have any trouble in finding a certain place, it would be a case of "Are you engaged". "No Sir", so in we would hop into a taxi. Those beastly Australians!!!!
On Sunday morning Mr Rule and I went to St Pauls Cathedral. It is simply a marvellous place. and the
[page 5]
service was very nicely rendered. I can see now where Dick got lots of his ideas from. The peal of bells was glorious, don't ever talk about that church opposite our place, but don't I wish I could hear those old cow bells, would do me.
I am staying at Mr Rule's place and they are kindness itself, at least I mean I sleep here! They have cured a cold I had and give me bonza tucker, and I'm just the fellow at present to polish it off too. As to Rob's health let me tell you that he has a better appetite than me. That doesn't sound much to some people but to you dear it means a lot!!!
Well mother dear I must stop. Oh! I forgot I've seen Auntie
[Page 6]
Sissie, she is a little dear. I don't think she is up to my shoulder and her childish mind made it sound funny calling her Auntie. She said I was more like a big uncle and when I was leaving she stood on her toes and just about reached around me neck and pulled my face down and said "Good bye my big uncle." She seems so happy and showed me all the photos she had of our family. I gave her Ron's photo playing with that motor car on the chair.
Well mother dear I must stop now. Give my love to Sis, I will tell her about "Madam Butterfly" when I write and Dad and Ron too.
Your ever loving son
XXXX Billy