6 April 1916 France
[Envelope]
postmark: FIELD POST OFFICE 22 MY 16
PASSED FIELD CENSOR 9519
Master Ronald Satchell
Macclesfield
Livingstone St
Burwood
Sydney
Australia
[2nd Envelope]
6-4-16
Mrs C. W. Satchell
Macclesfield
Livingstone St
Burwood
Sydney
Australia
[note in top left corner]
If Roy gets on the "Karoola" ask him that Fred McDonald "Izzie" they call him he says, would like a letter from some of the sailor men.
His address is the same as mine, of course the number is different but that doesn't matter leave it out, but address it Signaller.
[Page 1]
France
6th April 1916
My dearest mother
I haven't much to tell you since I last wrote but I mightn't have the chance to write for a while, so you might receive two letters from me this mail.
I am still well and strong Mum and can do a route march with full pack and not feel it except for a slight tiredness in the feet. Lately we have had plenty of them so you can guess I am in pretty good nick.
Would you believe that it was only on 2nd of this month that I received your letter of 24th October. It with half a dozen others had been sent to Hospital, goodness knows why, I am the only Satchell in the Battalion and have never been away from it since leaving for Gallipoli. I should have got it on Lemnos Island after the evacuation, but somebody must have thought I was sick. I also received a letter from Inez(?) telling me Fred's address, it would have been very useful while I was in Egypt. I should have made an
[Page 2]
effort to see him, as I did not find out until a few days before leaving. Another letter I got too was from Miss Thompson asking me to write and let them know all I knew about Cec. Until near the end of January I did not know her address, but I told you all I knew, knowing that you would forward it, all the same, I wonder what she thought of me not even acknowledging her letter, but of course I wrote immediately I received her letter.
This mail bought me two letters from home one from you and one from Elsie, written at Mosman during her stay there with the Broadbents.
I was so glad to hear that Roy is making an attempt to get on the "Karoola", a signaller here used to work on her and a lovely boat it is too. It will be much less worry for you too dear if he can get home occasionally, and just the thing for Roy. He is not
[Page 3]
as strong as I and would find this work at times a great tax on him. I'm not boasting mum, I'm just telling my earnest opinion.
Well mum dear no more this time. I'm so glad you are keeping well dear and in fact all of you.
I don't know the next time I will be writing but I hope it won't be long, I don't think so. I have just heard that this letter won't go for a while so you won't have two in the one mail after all.
Good bye mother dear and God bless you all.
Your loving son
Wilf
XXXXX
postmark: FIELD POST OFFICE 22 MY 16
PASSED FIELD CENSOR 9519
Master Ronald Satchell
Macclesfield
Livingstone St
Burwood
Sydney
Australia
[2nd Envelope]
6-4-16
Mrs C. W. Satchell
Macclesfield
Livingstone St
Burwood
Sydney
Australia
[note in top left corner]
If Roy gets on the "Karoola" ask him that Fred McDonald "Izzie" they call him he says, would like a letter from some of the sailor men.
His address is the same as mine, of course the number is different but that doesn't matter leave it out, but address it Signaller.
[Page 1]
France
6th April 1916
My dearest mother
I haven't much to tell you since I last wrote but I mightn't have the chance to write for a while, so you might receive two letters from me this mail.
I am still well and strong Mum and can do a route march with full pack and not feel it except for a slight tiredness in the feet. Lately we have had plenty of them so you can guess I am in pretty good nick.
Would you believe that it was only on 2nd of this month that I received your letter of 24th October. It with half a dozen others had been sent to Hospital, goodness knows why, I am the only Satchell in the Battalion and have never been away from it since leaving for Gallipoli. I should have got it on Lemnos Island after the evacuation, but somebody must have thought I was sick. I also received a letter from Inez(?) telling me Fred's address, it would have been very useful while I was in Egypt. I should have made an
[Page 2]
effort to see him, as I did not find out until a few days before leaving. Another letter I got too was from Miss Thompson asking me to write and let them know all I knew about Cec. Until near the end of January I did not know her address, but I told you all I knew, knowing that you would forward it, all the same, I wonder what she thought of me not even acknowledging her letter, but of course I wrote immediately I received her letter.
This mail bought me two letters from home one from you and one from Elsie, written at Mosman during her stay there with the Broadbents.
I was so glad to hear that Roy is making an attempt to get on the "Karoola", a signaller here used to work on her and a lovely boat it is too. It will be much less worry for you too dear if he can get home occasionally, and just the thing for Roy. He is not
[Page 3]
as strong as I and would find this work at times a great tax on him. I'm not boasting mum, I'm just telling my earnest opinion.
Well mum dear no more this time. I'm so glad you are keeping well dear and in fact all of you.
I don't know the next time I will be writing but I hope it won't be long, I don't think so. I have just heard that this letter won't go for a while so you won't have two in the one mail after all.
Good bye mother dear and God bless you all.
Your loving son
Wilf
XXXXX