Windsor & Richmond Gazette, Saturday, March 3, 1900 - page 6 A Soldier's Letter. The following letter has been received by Mrs. Norris, of "Elysian Vale," Comleroy Road, from her son, Mr. T. H. Norris, who went to South Africa in the troopship Kent :- Orange River, 6/11/99 Dear Mother, - I got your letter only to-day which was written before I went to National Park. I have been away ten days, and when I came back I found no less than 9 letters waiting for me. I have scarcely had time to read them - just skimmed them over - and then started writing. I must answer a few of them ; I would willingly answer the lot if time would permit, but I am going away again to-morrow. I think everybody would be soldiers if they only knew the things we are having over here; why, I intend to 'soldier' all my life. I will be back again with you before long, mother, and will then tell you all about the war. You will no doubt see by the papers all about the fight at Douglas ; I was in that ; rendering first aid to the wounded. I take a great interest in my work. I think I must have known something when I came with the A.M.C. ; we are equally as comfortable as we would be in Barracks ; have real easy work, and no night duty. When on the line of march we sle! ep in the ambulance wagons, and they are as good as a house. I could not possibly be made more comfortable than I am with the A.M.C. The A.M.C. have formed two different companies ; one is termed "The Field Hospital," consisting of about 30 men and 20 horses. The other is the "Bearer Company," consisting of 40 men and 30 horses. I belong to the latter. The Field Hospital is stationed at Orange River, and I think it will remain there until the war is over. The hospital is now full of sick and wounded. We have about 20 wounded Boers in it (taken prisoners). They get just the same treatment as our own fellows, and appear to be contented. I think they would sooner be with us than fighting against us. Some of them can talk English. I am beginning to understand a little of the Boer language ; they talk the same language as the darkies in this country, and knocking about with the darkies one naturally picks up their language. I would very much like to learn it, although! I don't suppose it will benefit me in any way ; still, it is no burde n to carry. How did you put in your Christmas ? I spent mine under canvas. Of course it was different to how you spent yours, but still I cannot complain ; if I never have worse times than I am at present having I will have no room for complaint. After a few months, when the war is over and old England again rules the waves, it is then I will return to sunny New South Wales and tell you of the glorious time I have been having in South Africa fighting for the honor of old England and Australia. It will be something to boast about, will it not. When I come to Kurrajong with my medal on my breast, I am sure you will feel proud of your soldier son. How are father and Fred getting on - I hope they have a good crop of summer fruit. I draw Imperial wages out here (14/- a week) which just does me nicely for pocket money. My wages in Sydney are kept for me until I return. I have 15/9 kept at the Battery for me, and I think will get ration money there also. If I do, that wi! ll be another 5/10 a week, so if I am away a few months I will have a nice little cheque to draw when I return. Most of the fellows are having their wages drawn in Sydney. I think they were afraid of being done in for it if they left it until they returned, but there is no danger of that - it is equally as safe there as if it was in the bank. The A.M.C. draws 10d a day more than any other corps whilst on active service. It is not much, still it amount to 5/10 a week. I suppose the papers over there are giving great tales about the Australian troops. I tell you they are considered something out here. You will see the papers out here headed, "Australia takes her part" ; "Australia to the Front" ; "What the Australians are doing," and all sorts of things. No doubt they deserve it all - they are doing splendid work, especially the Queenslanders. I was with them when they took possession of Douglas, and we had a shining time after the fight. The Boers are again in Doug! las, and have sent word that they are coming down to go through the ca mp at Orange River, but we are starting to-morrow to meet them. I think they will turn back with a nasty taste in the back of their head (they won't like it Bob). Will now finish with warm love to yourself and to all at home, from your fond son. Tom.

Thank you Maureen, I love original letters, I have kept every one I have received from my Mother (she is 83) and have many hand written letters from my Grandmother and Aunty in England and also stacks of letters from my husband while on duty in Vietnam, actually still covered in red dust. Regards Colleen ----- Original Message ----- From: "Maureen" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, March 02, 2006 12:00 PM Subject: [HHHV] Snippets from 1900 - A Soldier's Letter - Tom Norris > Windsor & Richmond Gazette, Saturday, March 3, 1900 - page 6 > > A Soldier's > Letter. > > The following letter has been received by Mrs. Norris, of "Elysian Vale," > Comleroy Road, from her son, Mr. T. H. Norris, who went to South Africa in > the troopship Kent :- > > Orange River, > > 6/11/99 > > Dear Mother, - I got your letter only to-day which was written before I > went to National Park. I have been away ten days, and when I came back I > found no less than 9 letters waiting for me. I have scarcely had time to > read them - just skimmed them over - and then started writing. I must > answer a few of them ; I would willingly answer the lot if time would > permit, but I am going away again to-morrow. I think everybody would be > soldiers if they only knew the things we are having over here; why, I > intend to 'soldier' all my life. I will be back again with you before > long, mother, and will then tell you all about the war. You will no doubt > see by the papers all about the fight at Douglas ; I was in that ; > rendering first aid to the wounded. I take a great interest in my work. > I think I must have known something when I came with the A.M.C. ; we are > equally as comfortable as we would be in Barracks ; have real easy work, > and no night duty. When on the line of march we sle! > ep in the ambulance wagons, and they are as good as a house. I could not > possibly be made more comfortable than I am with the A.M.C. The A.M.C. > have formed two different companies ; one is termed "The Field Hospital," > consisting of about 30 men and 20 horses. The other is the "Bearer > Company," consisting of 40 men and 30 horses. I belong to the latter. > The Field Hospital is stationed at Orange River, and I think it will > remain there until the war is over. The hospital is now full of sick and > wounded. We have about 20 wounded Boers in it (taken prisoners). They > get just the same treatment as our own fellows, and appear to be > contented. I think they would sooner be with us than fighting against us. > Some of them can talk English. I am beginning to understand a little of > the Boer language ; they talk the same language as the darkies in this > country, and knocking about with the darkies one naturally picks up their > language. I would very much like to learn it, although! > I don't suppose it will benefit me in any way ; still, it is no burde > n to carry. How did you put in your Christmas ? I spent mine under > canvas. Of course it was different to how you spent yours, but still I > cannot complain ; if I never have worse times than I am at present having > I will have no room for complaint. After a few months, when the war is > over and old England again rules the waves, it is then I will return to > sunny New South Wales and tell you of the glorious time I have been having > in South Africa fighting for the honor of old England and Australia. It > will be something to boast about, will it not. When I come to Kurrajong > with my medal on my breast, I am sure you will feel proud of your soldier > son. How are father and Fred getting on - I hope they have a good crop of > summer fruit. I draw Imperial wages out here (14/- a week) which just > does me nicely for pocket money. My wages in Sydney are kept for me until > I return. I have 15/9 kept at the Battery for me, and I think will get > ration money there also. If I do, that wi! > ll be another 5/10 a week, so if I am away a few months I will have a nice > little cheque to draw when I return. Most of the fellows are having their > wages drawn in Sydney. I think they were afraid of being done in for it > if they left it until they returned, but there is no danger of that - it > is equally as safe there as if it was in the bank. The A.M.C. draws 10d a > day more than any other corps whilst on active service. It is not much, > still it amount to 5/10 a week. I suppose the papers over there are > giving great tales about the Australian troops. I tell you they are > considered something out here. You will see the papers out here headed, > "Australia takes her part" ; "Australia to the Front" ; "What the > Australians are doing," and all sorts of things. No doubt they deserve it > all - they are doing splendid work, especially the Queenslanders. I was > with them when they took possession of Douglas, and we had a shining time > after the fight. The Boers are again in Doug! > las, and have sent word that they are coming down to go through the ca > mp at Orange River, but we are starting to-morrow to meet them. I think > they will turn back with a nasty taste in the back of their head (they > won't like it Bob). Will now finish with warm love to yourself and to all > at home, from your fond son. Tom. > > > ==== AUS-NSW-HILLS-HAWKESBURY-HUNTER-VALLEY Mailing List ==== > To unsubscribe from the List Mode send an email with the word ubsubscribe > in the subject heading to: > [email protected] > > ============================== > Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the > areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. > Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx >