24 July 1917 Emmanuel College Cambridge
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Emmanuel College
Cambridge
24th July 1917
My dearest mother
I don't think this will be a very long letter dear for I have no news and no letters to answer. I hear that a couple of boats with our mail on board have been sent to the bottom, rather bad luck, but it is better than for our letters home to be sunk.
Roy came down to see me last Tuesday and I am glad to say that he is ok and likes this place very much. I showed him a little more of this college than when he was last here, it being much prettier now. He had dinner with me in the College Dining Hall, I first of all getting permission from the Quartermaster Sergeant to do so. I asked him to bring his late mail with him but he is as badly off as I. Later we went on the river and Roy remarked how
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like National Park it was in places. About 2 miles or more up the river there is an orchard and underneath the trees are tea tables, so being a peckish we managed to have a little nourishment. He caught a train home about 9pm after a fairly good half day I think.
The other day I received a letter from Maurice Pearse asking me could I get 48 hrs leave and come to London. I went straight away to our major and put the hard word on him, and he turned out trumps. So Bill and I expect to spend next Saturday and Sunday together. He remarked in his letter "I know some bonza girls so I can assure you a good time". Bet yer life we won't let the grass grow under our feet, you know what a terror he is with the girls, as for me, I like them too!!! Certainly it is only a couple of days before the examination, but it will be good for the brain.
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I have more news than I thought! A week ago I received a letter from Auntie Sissie in answer to one from me. She tells me how she likes getting letters from Roy and me and says she always likes to hear that we have been together and have a good time. I will copy part of her letter and show you what a little dear she is.
"It will indeed be great when you can both go home, and I can well imagine both your joy and those at home. I only wish I could see that meeting, for I have got quite fond of you and Roy and shall miss counting the time for you both to come, but still we know it means more that this dreadful war will be over and that you are going home to all you love, so it would be very selfish for me to wish to keep you here".
Just fancy her talking about being selfish, poor soul I believe it has been the greatest joy of her life seeing we boys from Australia.
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She ends up her letter like this "Lots of love to my dear boy, even though he is my big uncle from your loving Auntie Sissie X".
Well mother dear I have no more to say this time. I shall be sending you some views of Cambridge and a lovely book of snaps my pal Armstrong gave me, taken mostly by himself. Best of love to Dad, Sis and Ron, keeping tons for yourself.
Your ever loving Son
Billy
XXXX
PS Perhaps next letter I shall be Lieutenant Satchell!
Emmanuel College
Cambridge
24th July 1917
My dearest mother
I don't think this will be a very long letter dear for I have no news and no letters to answer. I hear that a couple of boats with our mail on board have been sent to the bottom, rather bad luck, but it is better than for our letters home to be sunk.
Roy came down to see me last Tuesday and I am glad to say that he is ok and likes this place very much. I showed him a little more of this college than when he was last here, it being much prettier now. He had dinner with me in the College Dining Hall, I first of all getting permission from the Quartermaster Sergeant to do so. I asked him to bring his late mail with him but he is as badly off as I. Later we went on the river and Roy remarked how
[Page 2]
like National Park it was in places. About 2 miles or more up the river there is an orchard and underneath the trees are tea tables, so being a peckish we managed to have a little nourishment. He caught a train home about 9pm after a fairly good half day I think.
The other day I received a letter from Maurice Pearse asking me could I get 48 hrs leave and come to London. I went straight away to our major and put the hard word on him, and he turned out trumps. So Bill and I expect to spend next Saturday and Sunday together. He remarked in his letter "I know some bonza girls so I can assure you a good time". Bet yer life we won't let the grass grow under our feet, you know what a terror he is with the girls, as for me, I like them too!!! Certainly it is only a couple of days before the examination, but it will be good for the brain.
[Page 3]
I have more news than I thought! A week ago I received a letter from Auntie Sissie in answer to one from me. She tells me how she likes getting letters from Roy and me and says she always likes to hear that we have been together and have a good time. I will copy part of her letter and show you what a little dear she is.
"It will indeed be great when you can both go home, and I can well imagine both your joy and those at home. I only wish I could see that meeting, for I have got quite fond of you and Roy and shall miss counting the time for you both to come, but still we know it means more that this dreadful war will be over and that you are going home to all you love, so it would be very selfish for me to wish to keep you here".
Just fancy her talking about being selfish, poor soul I believe it has been the greatest joy of her life seeing we boys from Australia.
[Page 4]
She ends up her letter like this "Lots of love to my dear boy, even though he is my big uncle from your loving Auntie Sissie X".
Well mother dear I have no more to say this time. I shall be sending you some views of Cambridge and a lovely book of snaps my pal Armstrong gave me, taken mostly by himself. Best of love to Dad, Sis and Ron, keeping tons for yourself.
Your ever loving Son
Billy
XXXX
PS Perhaps next letter I shall be Lieutenant Satchell!