Portsmouth; November 27, 1917

My Dear People,

Just a few lines to let you know how I am getting along.

My leg is getting along very well. I go out every afternoon for a bit of a walk, & I find this "wounded soldier" business is the best "stunt" I have been on for a good while, that is, of course if the "crack" is not too hard. I was out walking the other day & I was "swinging" my leg so well that a young lady came & offered me a walking stick to help me along. I very very politely declined her nice offer. I do not know if you have heard the saying "swinging the leg, or "lead", but, it means dodging the "line" & it is a very common phrase this side of the world.

I went to a stock market the other day. Things were rather dear. Cattle, that would dress from 8 to 10 cwt were bringing from £30.0.0. to £40.0.0. Calves that we would knock on the head £2.0.0 and £3.0.0. and sheep that would dress about 70 lb £5.5.0. Meat is of course very dear & runs from 1/2d to 1/8d a lb. I saw a price list of Australian Jam in a shop window to-day. It was from 1/3½ d for plum to 1/8½ d for black currant per 27 oz. tin. Sugar is only obtainable on the card system. In the hospital we scarcely get any Jam but have plenty of bread & margarine. It is real good margarine, almost as good as butter. We have fish or sometimes an egg for breakfast & meat & vegetables & pudding for dinner & I do very well on it. I do not think Germany is at all likely to starve England out, but it may put a serious strain on us supplying some of our Allies.

I will be sent out of this hospital to another any day now. I may be sent to one of the Australian hospitals at Dartford or Harefield near London, or perhaps to some small place not far away. If it is no worse than this place it will do me.


I went to a Confirmation Service at a little Church not far from here last Sunday. There were a good many little boys & girls confirmed. When the Bishop was addressing them, asking catechism etc., he was very keen on their going to Church every Sunday at least - take note "all" boys who neglect Church.

We have not had any very cold weather yet, the winter being I think rather later than last year. It may not be so cold as last winter. I hope not anyhow. I had my "Phiz" taken the other day in my hospital "blues". I am enclosing one in this letter. It is a "Dinkum" likeness but, the blue shows up grey in the photo.

Fruit is very dear here. Grapes from 1/- to 2/- per lb. & other fruit in proportion. Apples being about the cheapest from -/4d -/6d per lb.

I saw in a Casualty list over here the other day where a C. Pohlner was wounded. I do not know if it was Charley or not but I think it was. I see they are having another go at conscription again but I bet No wins. I suppose you are busy hay-making now. I hope things are going alright home. Well I must close now. Hoping you are all quite well.

I remain

Your Loving Son and Brother

Tom

At Sea, November 24th 1916

My Dear People,

Just a line to let you know how I am getting on during my sea voyage. I am still very well and enjoying the sea splendid, we have had a lovely fine trip so far and we have not called anywhere since we left Adelaide, but we will be making port for coal within the next three or four days. I don't think the censor will allow me to say what port. 

Some of the fellows are very keen on getting off for a run but I don't care much, this ship will do me very nicely. The general health on board is very good, a few cases of mumps etc. but nothing serious. We had a dinner and concert in the Sergeant's Mess last night. I am enclosing the program and menu. On the menu area lot of gags at different Sgts in the mess. The concert went off very well but it was very hot here, it has been hot today - like Summer. We have mass on board here every Sunday, there are quite a lot of Catholics on board.

Saturday 25th. 

We are still going along, it is lovely and warm again today. Our mail closes tonight. So I suppose we will strike port tomorrow or next day. Some of the chaps have written thirty or forty letters since we left so I guess there will be a considerable mail. I have only written one letter card to you and this since I left, some of the stuff on the card might be struck out by the censor. When we were going through Pt. Adelaide, the little girls were holding up pieces of paper with their address on and instructions to write. I got four, but I won't write till I get to our training ground. We have drill parades on the ship but you cannot do a great lot, as there is not much room. But we do a good deal of lecturing. 

I suppose hay-making is in full swing over at Mt. Bryan by this. We have to put our watches back about twenty minutes every day; they alter the time on the ship at midnight so we get that much longer in bed. I do not know whether you will get this by Christmas or not but I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Hoping you are all well and enjoying yourselves as I am. 

I remain

Your Loving Son and Brother, 

Tom. 

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This is one of our ordinary breakfast menus, so you see it is our own fault if we do not live well. We have stewards waiting on us and generally live at about second-class mail-boat standard which does me very well. The corporals do not get many privileges on this ship. They have to eat with the men, of course this would not trouble me but some of them do not like it much, seeing that it is only bad luck that they were not allotted as sergeants. 

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A19

SS Afric                     -                    25th November 1916

Oatmeal Porridge

Smoked Schnapper

Jacket Potatoes

Grilled Mutton Chops

Boiled Cambridge Sausage

Mashed Potatoes

Irish Stew

Rolls

Jam - Tea

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