This wording is from two of the letters written by Oscar Kloeden, born 2 April 1894, uncle of Una Trewartha, who died in action in France on 16 August 1916, buried at Moquet Farm, near Pozieres. He embarked at Adelaide on HMAT A30 Borda on 11 January 1916. Photo to follow. Oscar’s letter Morphettville Camp, 6 Sept 1915 My dear sister, You will no doubt be anxiously awaiting a letter from me, I must say that I never felt better and more fit, in fact I’m getting fat on it. Camp life is really good, a wonderful life, it agrees tip top with me. I am quite used to my hard bed now. When I first enlisted we were at the Exhibition Grounds, you know where that is! Now we have been shifted to Morphettville Racecourse near Glenelg. We sleep in the Grandstands on the steps. There are about one thousand soldiers here in this camp - one camp at Mitcham, one at the Exhibition Grounds, at Morphettville, at Gawler and at Oakbank. There must be a good few thousand soldiers altogether. Our camp is a good camp, the average are very decent fellows. Every morning we are marched down to Glenelg to the beach, where we have to take our boots off and walk in the water. Otherwise our work is the same, learning a little more every day. I applied for the Red Cross, but have had no answer yet, if I can get in there I will be in the Red Cross the same time. The band is to be formed, it will be the first Military Band. Picker from Charra (schoolteacher) is in my Company, he sleeps just a little away from me. We often go out together. We have off every night from 5.30pm till 9.30pm. If we want longer leave, we must apply for it, then we can go out till 11pm. Sunday mornings we have church parade in camp. This afternoon we were told that the military authorities are going to pick three hundred men for reinforcements to go away in November to the front, first to Egypt. I may be picked as well as any one else. Paul wants me to come and see him when I get long leave, I will send him the money for him to come and see me, so I may be able to come to Denial Bay for my long leave... Somewhere in France, August 1st 1916 Dear Father and Sister, I shall try and write before the next mail closes. I haven’t heard from home just lately, but I suppose that’s due to us moving about so much. I don’t mind, I know you write often enough, I only hope you get all my letters. Well, the climate is fairly warm now and my word I have never perspired so much in my life as what I do on the marches. We have a lot of marching to do now and I have done them well so far. I surprise myself sometimes. I read in the Adelaide Chronicle where S. Lindsay was in hospital and Clarrie Hunt died of sickness, poor Mrs Hunt will be cut up about him. I hope B Whyborn is allright, I thought I would see him the other night, but my luck was out. I wish I knew what units the other West Coast lads are in and I would have a chance of looking them up. I hope you will have plenty of rain and get a good harvest. I don’t suppose I’ll be back to help you take the crop off. Anyways Lina (sister)you can start to get a huge Christmas pudding ready, I may want a taste of that. Well, I must close, as we are moving directly. I hope these few lines will find you all in perfect health, as it leaves me at present. God be with you till we meet again. Love from Oscar
Posted on: Sun, 10 Nov 2013 21:32:48 +0000
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