we shall miss them for many a long day to come

Typed version below:-

Dear Norman,

Your welcome card came safely to hand on Friday.

I was very pleased to hear from you, also to see by it that you are having a good time.

I have just come home from Sunday school. We had the usual teacher's meeting at which we mostly discussed the coming Bazaar. I am helping on the Miscellaneous Stall. I think, in fact I am sure it will be a great success. Mr Orr has been most successfull in writing to different firms, most of them have responded well. Ada Dodd is having a sweet evening on the twenty sixth of this month to help furnish her stall, so we are looking forward to a pleasant evening.

I suppose by this time you will have heard all the sad news regarding the loss of three more of the boys Dave, Charlie and Les, it was a terrible shock to us all, knowing them as we did, but still we must not grieve for them, knowing that they are in safe keeping and out of further suffering, but we shall miss them for many a long day to come.

The trouble is who can we get to fill their place as well as they fill it. but I suppose God will provide.

We are all very pleased to have Mr Allen back with us again but of course we are sorry it has to be under the sad circumstances but I am sure he will be a great help to the school as in previous years. I dare say by this time you will have been down to Leicester to see our relations. I trust you had a pleasant time and are continuing to do so.

Well Norm I think I have told you all the news there is to tell this time. Mother and Dad wish to be kindly remembered to you and trust you are well as we all are just now. I will close with best wishes,

from yours sincerely

Doris

PS Thank you very much for the Photo. I think it is a splendid one of you. DW

11. ..can you get news about Charlie's death?

Elsinore

October 21st 1917

My dear Norman,

Another Sunday and another letter. I wonder how many more I will have to write before I get one from you? I am always thinking about you my dear boy and wondering how you are getting along and would give all to have a talk with you, but I know that you are right dear Norman and doing what is right. If I knew I couldn't trust you it would break my heart. 

We had a lovely Communion service this morning for the boys that are gone Charles Cox, Johny Borthwick and Les Thornton. We are to have a memorial service tonight.. Johnny Smith in Darling Street is killed too.  I called in to see Mr Smith and he looks like a man out of the grave. I expect we will hear of a good many more being killed before it is all over.

I have George and Maggie Goodsir here at present. They are not too much trouble, still they could go to their own relations. They are down at Manly today. 

I had a painter here on Friday dear Norman to give me a price for the painting. That is to do all round the outside, front fence, front and back doors, verandah doors to kitchen and underneath the verandah - all normal except the back that is under the iron and clean the rough cast? His price is £ 11.0.0. I don't think that is too much considering the price of things now. I think we will have it done. It will look very nice when done. 

Mr Gooud was in to have breakfast this morning, had not had time to go home. He feels Charlie's death very much.He was wishing to win the [sailing] race yesterday as it was Charlies race and he wanted to win the medal and give it to Mrs Cox, but there was a bad wind and he was nowhere. Mr Cox told me to ask you if you could get any news about Charlie's death. I suppose the Chaplain would be the best to find out from. Mr Gooud says he was buried. I believe the Chaplain and nurse was with him when he died. 

I will send you the hospital young Noble is in. Mrs Noble wants us to let you know as soon as ever we receive a letter from you and she will cable you. She says you might not be iun England now but I do hope you are; that you will not be sent anywhere else. Do you think you will?

Have you seen Charley Palmer or Clarrie, or any of the boys yet? What a surprise to them to see you over there. 

I suppose it is getting very cold over there now. The weather here is getting very hot. Eileen was here on Thursday night. Illma, George and all are well. I may go up this week while George and Maggie are here. The place looks lovely. We have had some nice rains. Now my darling boy I must conclude. Pa sends best love to you and accept heaps of love and kisses from your affectionate and loving Mother.

Dot writes a letter

Typed version of this letter:

99 Louise Rd

Long nose point Balmain

14.10.17

Dear Norm

Just a little note this mail enclosing with Xmas wishes from all at 99. It is hard to write with Xmas cheer with the spirit of a St John's this mail as we have had the bad news that little Charlie Cox, Dave Borthwick and Les Thornton have been killed. It seems strange to me that the very best of our friends have answered the last Roll Call but God alone knows the reason and we must not chastie it. We are having a memorial service next Sunday and strange that is should be just 12 months Saturday that Charlie's Communion service was held and we are having 8 O'clock Communion in memory of the 3 boys.

Of course Norm this is not as cheerful a note for you as it might be for the present when you receive this, but it is the spirit of the times with us at present and I cannot write otherwise and the mail goes at 10 tomorrow but hope to write to you a little later on and give you all the news.

This time last week I was packing a lovely parcel from C Gooud for young Charlie and put all kinds of things in it and was very happy in the thought that he would get it for Xmas only to be dampered with the news news a few hours after posting it. 

Well Norm must close now as I want to write to a few others this mail. Hoping you are well and as Happy as the times will allow with lots of Good wishes and Gods Guidance and Protection in all your good work 

from Dot.

10. ...and Norman dear, we have had bad news this week

Elsinore

October 14th  1917

My dear Norman,

Another Sunday and another letter. I am longing to get one from you, but I suppose will have to wait for some weeks yet. Well my boy how have you been since you landed? Well I hope. Aunt Mary says Clarry says he has never been sick in England. I hope you will have the same to say and that it may agree with you. I suppose it is getting cold there now. It was as cold here last week as in the middle of winter and it is quite warm today.

I suppose you have been out and about a bit in London now. Is it anything like what you thought it was? Did you receive a cable from Mrs Noble about the 8th of the month? Her son was wounded very badly and brought into England to Hospital so she was going to cable you, not to send the parcel on, and Norman dear we have had bad news this week. Poor Charley Cox was killed. Did you send his parcel to France? and Dave Borthwick is killed and Les Mountain. Mr Manning got 3 telegrams last night to go to the three Mothers. I don't know who they are but I don't think they belong to St John's. They are having a terrible battle now. I expect we will hear of a lot more being killed. It is a terrible time, is it not? Mrs Noble wants you to go to see her son in England, but I don;t know what hospital he is in. I might get the address from her. I am sending you a Xmas card Mr Manning gave me to send. I think it is very nice.

Mr Brooks was here on Sunday night. He says the men out at the P...gave you a good name; all say you were a grand chap, but the one that is there now is not much, he never gets up any Concerts or anything. How do you get on with the men over there? Well, I hope.

Now dear Norman I must close. Mr Gooud just came over and got 4 umbrellas for the girls and self. It has come on to rain and Mrs McGlonlan? has come in here and waited till it had stopped. Pa sends best love and hopes you are well. Illma and family are pretty well as all here are. 

Goodnight dear boy, 

with love and kisses from your loving Mother.