LETTERS SENT HOME BEFORE EMBARKATION OR FROM THE SHIP
FRASER Hugh 110, Banlai, Qld – 1ATC
Letter to his girlfriend Vera – Sydney – January 19, 1916:
Last night I went to see “So Long Letty” it was splendid, I wish you had been with me, the scenery was almost the best I have ever seen.
Just briefly I will tell you of it. Letty was a charming useless, high spirited young woman married to a robust staid young man “Tommy”. In the house quite adjoining there was another couple in this instance it was the man “Harry” who was the master, comes home half tiddly smoking his cigars, lolled about the house, left everything untidy, wouldn’t touch the weed-grown garden or do a hands turn. His wife “Grace” was after the Tommy style, a good cook a fine Housekeeper and her appearance she had every estimatable quality you could imagine, and one amongst her many admirable characteristics was sympathy for Tommy’s unhappiness. She was also foolish in that she adapted rather a motherly way of sympathising with him and this of course warmed Tommy’s heart and eventually they made violent love to one another, which was first discovered by Harry. Meanwhile Harry was sympathising with Letty because she had such a staid old stay at home for a hubby, and they were getting quite confidential when Tommy happened upon the scene. First of all he upbraided his wife, and then he began in no uncertain manner to accuse Harry of treachery and so forth, when that worthy began to tell of what he knew, and to prevent absolute pandemonium, in the two homes they arrived at a certain armistice. When our two worthies H & T at last found themselves alone they began to discuss things in quite a businesslike matter, and eventually came to the conclusion that they desired to exchange wifes. They however realised that the women would not agree to such a cold blooded proposition, and as a means to an end they began to neglect and find fault with their respective homes shamefully, until thinking that the time for their disclosure was ripe they had a sort of a general meeting and put the proposition to their women. Needless to say they were quite horrified, for each actually although flirting with the hubby of the other loved their own particular man, and to poor high-spirited Letty it was indeed a knock back for she had imagined Tommy and the world at large so much at her disposal that the revelation was verging upon the painful. However she stuck to her guns and all four consented to the new temporary arrangement. Useless letty became for the time being the wife of useless Harry and staid old Tommy and good old Grace led their monotonous life. Eventually they all began to long for their own particular little bit of property and then the fun actually commenced, the methods each one adopted seemed to clash with that of the other, and at the end of the first act we see them all quite dejected. Letty is dressed in a sweet little Kim and a glorious little night cap leaning out of the balcony window, dreaming over again the bliss and joy of youth longing again for a return to those happy evenings with Tommy before he began to realise that she had faults, she is crying and it only makes her more adorable. Grace is dressed in a roomy and plain nightie standing by her particular window. The men folk came home together, part at the gates and each goes to the house that doesn’t belong to him. They sit down on the doorsteps and each following the cadence of their own heart sings. “So Long Letty” “So Long Grace”. Then the women sing their “So Long Tommy” “So Long Harry” and altogether its very fine.
It would take too long and perhaps weary you to tell of the second act but eventually they come together again and generally speaking are much better for their several little experiences.
[In Sydney and Melbourne during World War I, Christine Dorothy (1890-1977) Brunton starred, almost without a break, in musical comedies—such as High Jinks (1915) and The Girl in the Taxi (1915)—and enlivened them with her charm, humour, 'zest and sparkle'. In addition to singing and dancing, she was an accomplished actress, especially as a soubrette. Her most famous role was Letty in So Long, Letty (1915-16); its marching song was adopted by servicemen who carried their golden-haired 'Diggers' Delight' shoulder-high to her cab each night.]
CHISNALL George Roberts 1346, Charters Towers, Qld – 3ATC
The following letter of patriotism, written before his departure from Fremantle, W.A., appeared in The Northern Miner Saturday April 20, 1916:
EUROPEAN WAR
Corporal G.R. Chisnall writes the following vigorous letter to Alderman Johnson under date – “April 1 that they had a good reception in Melbourne and Fremantle. They all say the Miners’ Corps are the finest body of men which has left Australia. The average age of the men is nearly 40 and 75 percent are married. How does that hit some of the cold footed young ones, the stay at homes, the ones who ought to be at the front instead of the men whose official ages are anything between 40 and 50, but whose birth certificates would tell a different tale.
Good luck to the man who is man enough to fight for the flag and Damn the waster who hides behind anything, be it mother, wife or sweetheart. What would these men do in the event of the war being brought right here to Australia. They’d have to fight then and they would be cursing themselves because they did not go when they had a chance at the start of the war, when their services would have helped to crush the Prussian militarism that threatened to overrule the world. Thank God, we will be in time to try and do what we can to help the men who are over there.”
THOMPSON James 397, Bendigo, Vic - 1ATC
Letter from James Thompson to his sister Mrs Maude Savige, Melbourne, Vic
“Transport A 38
S.S. Ulysses 5/3/16
Dear Maude,
Just a line to let you know how I am getting on. We expect to land at Fremantle tomorrow for a few days & then go on again. I was sorry I did not see you. If you write to Min tell her to look out for the Mining Corps when we get to England and we will not get there until 15th April. I have been sick ever since we left Melbourne but I am alright now, never felt better. I was looking for you just when the boat left Melbourne but I could not see you among the crowd. One of our chaps said he saw Allan in the crowd on the wharf but I would not know him. Well dear do not forget to collect my money and put it in your name and if anything happens to me keep it for yourself. It will save me the trouble of making a will. Do not forget this. Sapper James Thompson xxxxxxxxxxxx
397
do not forget this No 1 Company A.I.F.
my number and company Miners Battalion
whatever you do do not forget my c/o High Commissioner for Australia
number and company London
to No 1 company England
I remain
Your loving brother
Jim
I will write as
often as I can
Farewell”
NILSSON Roy Charles 823, Summer Hill, NSW, - AEMMBC
A dutiful son, Roy wrote to his mother on YMCA stationary, posting the following letter on the 12th of October 1915:
“Dear Mother,
Nothing like getting in easy. I hope you have not been wondering where I got to but suppose Vida told you where I was.
I rang up at the camp at Holdsworthy and told her to tell you. I have got good mates up here and the authorities show you every consideration. I wouldn’t mind if you would send us up a few bob because we don’t get paid till the 30th of the month. You don’t want to worry about me. I am as right as rain. There are a lot of Botany Boys up here.
Well I will have to leave you now. I am putting my address underneath.
I remain
Your loving soldier
Roy
ps
Private Roy C Nilsson
D Company
6th Battalion
Holdsworthy
ps – I will try an get down for the week end. If I can get leave.”