27. Mr Gillanders says good things about ANS's work in London

Elsinore

27 Spring Street

Jan 19th 1918

My dearest Norman,

Another letter though I have received non from you for nearly 3 weeks. Some of the Back? girls were saying last night there would be no mail for 7 weeks and others said there would be one next week. I don't see any advertised to leave here on Monday but I write my letter all the same and post it. I know it will catch the first mail.

Well, my dear son, how are you getting on. I must tell you a little incident. I was in town and called in to Mr Gillanders. I wanted to know if he knew anything of the Anchises. He said she was in Melbourne a couple a weeks ago and thought she was there still. I told him tou were sending a parcel by one of the officers on her and he said they would surely post it if they were not coming on. I don't know if he mistook me for someone else but he said I love your son. He is a splendid man. He said he is one of the best Secretaries we have had over there and that they had started a new branch of something over there and you were put at the head of it. So many men under you and that you were a conscientious Christian and a lot more. He said if I had any parcels to send, I ought to send them by their Secretaries. The last two he said, one from Adelaide and one from Melbourne, but there might be one going from here soon. I was very pleased to hear him say all that Norm. if it is true, but you never say anything about that to me when you wrote last, but said you would tell me more next letter. He called me Mrs Barwick when leaving so it must be you he meant.

I saw the Backs and a lot of the girls at a wedding at the church last night. Gin? Woodward was married. She told Mr manning she wanted it very quiet, that he was a very shy man and only wanted their own there but there was a good many of the girls and others in the church. I guess she was surprised when she came in.

I believe Mr Gooud won the sailing race today. I think it was the Championship race. I suppose he will tell you all about when he writes and no doubt feels very proud. Archie Beard is still here. The boat he was on is sold. I asked him would he take a parcel for you. He said he would but he didn't know when that would be. He had heard nothing definite yet he is a funny fellow. That is the same boat Jack Waite was on so I don't know if he is out of a billet. It won't do and then just getting married, will it. I think it was the Victoria. She is sold to the Japanese but they are not to take her out of Australian waters or put a Chinese crew on her.

I sent you another parcel on Wednesday dear Norman. Did you get the one I sent before? I don't think I will send anymore till I hear from you what you want. Don't you get any sugar and butter? and have you none? I did not send any of my pudding for the little mites got into it, but I sent you a cake, butter, sugar and lollies. Tell me what you want most of and I can send it. It is no use sending eggs. They would be bad or broken but I think I will chance a few, if I send a parcel by Charlie Beard.

Well Norm, tomorrow week will be our Harvest festival. It is early this year on account of Easter being early. April Fool's day will be Easter Monday. Pa is going up with George on Wednesday. Mr Manning wants him to go and get some corn and stuff, but they have nothing ripe up there. I don't know what he can get. I believe the school Picnic is to be in April, that is late isn't it, but I suppose they have to wait till after Lent.

I hope you get the papers I send. I sent 4 last week, and a Melbourne Argus. George Goodsir sent. I don't suppose you see many Melbourne papers. Mr Hughes is still Premier, but he may be going to England soon. I am sending you the photos this time, dear Norm. I hope you get them safe. I don't think much of them. Pa's is very good but Illma and I are not so good. Illma had Claud's taken to send to you I think, they are splendid. He is growing a fine boy.

Well now dear Norm, I must say goodnight. Best love from Pa and same from your ever loving Mother.

PS I don't think I told you Mr Gooud gave me a little teapot, milk jug and sugar basin for Xmas. Kind of him wasn't it. He won the Championships yesterday.

unknown friend... page missing...I still think our boy is alive Norm.

Lincoln Street

Campsie

27 Jan 1918

Dear Norm,

How are you old boy? I should have answered your letter before this but circumstances have prevented me and I would like you to understand that it does not mean that you have not been in my thoughts. I often think of you and wish you were back again like the good old times and everything was as it used to be, but nevertheless Norm it is a great thing our Nation is doing - this upholding of Honour and Righteousness for the world. - how terrible and yet how beautiful - what noble souls and brave, it has brought out - we also have lost them and yet still greater - we have found them now love them ever still fonder - long for them and can ever see them before our aching eyes, may we never for one moment forget their divine sacrifice - so many of our St John's boys dear Norm, dear souls! - their bodies will never come back and you know there is always a one - a mother or somebody else who loved them, more than anybody.

I must stop going on like this and give you a bit of news, but before I do let me thanks you for the kind and thoughtful letter you wrote to my Mother and Dad, Doug and I (Dorrie) . It was a lovely letter Norm and the beautiful thoughts in it and it was good of you to find out the particulars you did about our missing lad. He was reported killed I suppose you know, but nothing has been traced of him. There has been a number of prisoners exchanged from Germany who were captured on the 20th July 1916. I was wandering if there were any unknown ones amongst them. It was a cable that came through in one of the evening papers last week. I still think our boy is alive Norm.

I have seen your mother a fair number of times since you left and she is looking well and your Dad too. I often have a little chip to him when I am having a practice on the organ. (Tring?)

It is good to know that you like your new...........

26. Mum hears about "that sort of woman" in London and warns her son

Elsinore

27 Spring street

January 12 1918

23 letter (Maria is a little out with her counting)

            Dear Norm, you never said if you had seen Mr Fisher and what did he say to you - did he receive 

 you friendly?

My dear darling Norman,

Another letter to you. I was in hopes I would have another letter from you before I wrote again, but such is not the case. I don't know when there will be another mail in. I believe the Anchises came to Melbourne last week, but I have not seen anything of the Officer of the parcel yet. The troops from here came overland by train. I don't know if she came on to Sydney or not, but I suppose it will turn up one of these days.

Well my dear boy how are you getting on and what are your duties and how do you like it?is it up to your expectations? Tell me all when you write.

You are away 5 months now. I can hardly believe it. Time flies doesn't it? What sort of weather are you having. Is it very cold. it is more like winter weather here. It has been raining all day yesterday and today and tonight. I see by the paper that Windsor expects a flood. The river is rising. There is one thing George has all he potatoes sold. He had them in early, so had them dug early. He got a fair price for them, but they are very cheap now. Of course George has corn in and lucerne in. I don't know if a flood will injure them or not, but the rain is easing off a bit. There may not be a flood and the rain will do good.

You know they are making our side street. We will have a step down from our back gate, but it will be nice when finished. The only thing it will bring more traffic up and down and not so private as it was and we will get more dust. I saw Jonny Anderson, the returned soldier in Church last Sunday. He looks splendid. So fit and well and joining Colin Candsell. He looks fit and well too. You know he used to take fits I think that is what he was sent home for. The Dr says if he went into hospital and under an operation he may be cured of them. So I think he is going to.

I had Eileen here last night. She looks very well now. She has gone home tonight.

Claud is to be moved to Richmond soon. That will be better for Illma, she won't have to be up so early in the morning. George looks well. He is fat, if only a little of his fat she would do.

Young Cansdall does talk a lot about the London girls. He says they are terrible - come up and say anything to you. Some of the boys say some of the girls asked them while they were over there. I trust and hope my dear boy that you keep clear of that sort. I wanted your father to give you a talking too, before you left, about that sort of woman, but I don't think he did and it was only his place to do so. For I don't think you knew too much about that sort of thing. I think you were pretty innocent, but my dear boy mind yourself and live a clean life. No doubt you will meet nice responsible girls and you will know how to treat them and they will respect you and think more of you.

I will enclose September papers in this letter, I thought the last too heavy. I expect I will have the photos to send next letter. You will see what frights. I never make a good photo, but Illma's and mine are not too good. If you had been in the group I would have had an enlargement taken of it. When you come back we must have them all taken together. You will be able to tell us all about the King and Queen when you come back. I guess you took a good quizz of them.

Out trees are growing so big in the year now, we have no view of the water. We must have them cut down again. Poor Uncle Arthur won't be here to cut them up this time. Now my dearest boy, I must close. Pa sends best love to you and I hope you have his letter before this. I sent tyhe duplicate of that raft last letter. I hope you got one or the other. I will send another parcel with my Pudding and cake. When they are sending again and then won't end any till I hear from you. 

Goodnight dear Norman, with best love and 15 kisses, from your loving Mother.

ps Sunday afternoon. Archie Beard just came in, says to tell you he may be over soon. he will find you out. I think he will be going next week so he told Mrs Gooud, but doesn't want it to be known.