20 May 1916 France
[Envelope]
postmark: FIELD POST OFFICE 22 MY 16
Mrs C. W. Satchell
Macclesfield
Livingstone St
Burwood
Sydney
Australia
[Page 1]
[Note in top left corner]
Received a splendid photo of Ron taken at Ashfield. Ron must be a little darling
Love
Bill
France
20/5/16
My dearest mother
During the last two days I have received 22 letters and 2 papers. The dates on them being from about 19th March to 3rd April, so you can guess how pleased I am. My home letters were 2 from Sis 1 letter and 2 papers from you and two bonza letters from Una. By the same mail I heard from Sidney Claydon the very sad news of poor Fred's death, it was a great shock to me and I am very sorry indeed for Mrs Guille and the girls.
Sid said he took a fit
[Page 2]
while he was up to his waist in water giving the horses a wash. I also received a telegram from Sidney telling me when the funeral was taking place and where (Minia) he evidently thought that I might be still in Egypt, but I had been in France a month when the sad event happenned. Sidney himself must be sick for he wrote from a hospital at Minia. I don't know where Minia is.
[Minia or Minya is located approximately 250 km south of Cairo on the River Nile.]
You ask me to solve the mystery about a photo you have received, taken on board boat you say, 5 of us. Well Mum dear to my knowledge I never sent
[Page 3]
you such a photo. Surely some mistake must have occurred when the letter was censored. Send me the photo mum and I'll see if I can explain. I sent you a few little snaps of the peninsula and a group of signallers on Lemnos Island after the evacuation and one of myself at Zeitoun after signal practice, but as for the other I know nothing about it. I also sent one to Una of myself taken to blazes out on the other side of the Canal.
The photos anyrate seem to have caused some amusement, what with Sis telling me
[Zeitoun - New Zealand Camp, near Cairo]
[Page 4]
by my leg and you by my hands and Bern by my nose.
Don't you worry about me when I tell you I have had to put up with a few hardships at times, so far Mum dear I have had to do nothing that I can't stand and don't you believe all of the rot they write in the newspapers dear, they are the biggest liars under the sun in some things.
So Roy and Mary are friends again eh? I will have something to rub into Rob when I see him. Hope it won't be long now, I gather from different letters that it must have been about 5th April that he left. I'm
[Page 5]
wondering whether he will come straight to France or stop in Egypt for a while. At present the 5th Field Ambulance is about six or seven miles from the firing line unless Roy is a stretcher bearer I don't think he will ever be stationed close to it.
You ask about our chaplain, the chaplain for our Battalion is an R.C. the 18th and 20th having the C of E men. I have not been to a Communion Service since leaving Sydney, often found out there was one just too late. Jack called for me once but I was
[Page 6]
on parade, of course if I had known I could have easily escaped it. Church parades are a farce generally, lots of the men have never been taught, but of course I don't know what the Communion Service is like, I should think that it would be better than the other.
I haven't got my leave to England yet, but it may come soon, it would be nice to see Aunt Sisie wouldn't it?
Well mother dear I have no more news this time. Give my love to all and keep plenty for yourself dearest.
Ever your affect son
Wilf.
XX For Ronnie
postmark: FIELD POST OFFICE 22 MY 16
Mrs C. W. Satchell
Macclesfield
Livingstone St
Burwood
Sydney
Australia
[Page 1]
[Note in top left corner]
Received a splendid photo of Ron taken at Ashfield. Ron must be a little darling
Love
Bill
France
20/5/16
My dearest mother
During the last two days I have received 22 letters and 2 papers. The dates on them being from about 19th March to 3rd April, so you can guess how pleased I am. My home letters were 2 from Sis 1 letter and 2 papers from you and two bonza letters from Una. By the same mail I heard from Sidney Claydon the very sad news of poor Fred's death, it was a great shock to me and I am very sorry indeed for Mrs Guille and the girls.
Sid said he took a fit
[Page 2]
while he was up to his waist in water giving the horses a wash. I also received a telegram from Sidney telling me when the funeral was taking place and where (Minia) he evidently thought that I might be still in Egypt, but I had been in France a month when the sad event happenned. Sidney himself must be sick for he wrote from a hospital at Minia. I don't know where Minia is.
[Minia or Minya is located approximately 250 km south of Cairo on the River Nile.]
You ask me to solve the mystery about a photo you have received, taken on board boat you say, 5 of us. Well Mum dear to my knowledge I never sent
[Page 3]
you such a photo. Surely some mistake must have occurred when the letter was censored. Send me the photo mum and I'll see if I can explain. I sent you a few little snaps of the peninsula and a group of signallers on Lemnos Island after the evacuation and one of myself at Zeitoun after signal practice, but as for the other I know nothing about it. I also sent one to Una of myself taken to blazes out on the other side of the Canal.
The photos anyrate seem to have caused some amusement, what with Sis telling me
[Zeitoun - New Zealand Camp, near Cairo]
[Page 4]
by my leg and you by my hands and Bern by my nose.
Don't you worry about me when I tell you I have had to put up with a few hardships at times, so far Mum dear I have had to do nothing that I can't stand and don't you believe all of the rot they write in the newspapers dear, they are the biggest liars under the sun in some things.
So Roy and Mary are friends again eh? I will have something to rub into Rob when I see him. Hope it won't be long now, I gather from different letters that it must have been about 5th April that he left. I'm
[Page 5]
wondering whether he will come straight to France or stop in Egypt for a while. At present the 5th Field Ambulance is about six or seven miles from the firing line unless Roy is a stretcher bearer I don't think he will ever be stationed close to it.
You ask about our chaplain, the chaplain for our Battalion is an R.C. the 18th and 20th having the C of E men. I have not been to a Communion Service since leaving Sydney, often found out there was one just too late. Jack called for me once but I was
[Page 6]
on parade, of course if I had known I could have easily escaped it. Church parades are a farce generally, lots of the men have never been taught, but of course I don't know what the Communion Service is like, I should think that it would be better than the other.
I haven't got my leave to England yet, but it may come soon, it would be nice to see Aunt Sisie wouldn't it?
Well mother dear I have no more news this time. Give my love to all and keep plenty for yourself dearest.
Ever your affect son
Wilf.
XX For Ronnie