I remain
Albert
Pte A Marlow
B/Co
4/38 Batt
Royal Park
Royal Park
Thursday
Dear Mum,
Just a few lines to say I am going on well. We got out to this camp last night at about 6 oclock, and it was as wet as blazes, but it is dry again now. It dries up very quick. We unloaded the equipment last night and our corporal shouted us to town to the theatre. We had a great time. I never laughed so much in all my life, as I did yesterday. We get up at 6.30 here, and have stew for breakfast, then at dinner, we have roast mutton and for tea tonight we had bread, jam and cheese. The bread is lovely here, quite fresh, in Bendigo it was as stale as blazes. The tucker is better here than in Bendigo, and there is plenty of it. It is a very big camp, and there is a hell of a crowd here. About 100 new recruits came here today. I done my first real drill today. The sergeant had a dozen of us to drill, and when he finished told us, we were the smartest men he ever drilled. There is a big canteen here, and seems to be plenty of amusement at night. There is a concert tonight. I think I will go if I finish writing letters in time. This is much better than in Bendigo, but I would sooner be there all the same. Eight of us sleep in one tent here. They are all decent fellows. I sleep fairly well on the boards. All of our company who have not had final leave had to step out at roll call, so I think I will get final leave soon. Nearly all the volunteers in Victoria are in this camp. A lot came here today from the Domain camp. I think I will be vaccinated soon as a lot out of our company were done today. Harry Street is in the same company as me. We got dismissed at half past four this afternoon, and get half an hour a day smoke-o besides about two hours standing easy. Well Mum, I will ring off, as I have more letters to write. Don’t forget to write. Excuse scribble.
I remain
Your Loving Son
Albert
I got two letters and two packets of books and postcards from Allan, and a letter from Percy. Did you get any from Geordie
Royal Park
Sat 1916
Dear Jim,
Just a line to let you know I am still here and like it tip-top. I got leave till tomorrow night but I got tired of walking about the town, so I came back to camp. I am going to the zoo tomorrow. 30 out of our company had to stay in camp to look after the lines. There are some damn thieves here, I haven’t lost anything yet but a lot have. This is a great camp. Miles ahead of Bendigo. The tucker here is good. We have a mess in each tent, and two go mess orderlies each day. There is about 3 000 men here and you have a job to get a wash in the morning. I have a cold bath every night before tea. We had church parade this morning. All the Protestants have theirs together. The Catholics fall out but don’t make much difference. I am applying for weekend leave to Bendigo next Sat. I couldn’t get right home so I am trying to get that far. Well Jim, this is all this time
I remain Your Loving brother
Albert
Albert’s final leave came suddenly. He made the journey home from Melbourne, little suspecting that, on his return to his company, embarkation would be scheduled for the following day, 20 October, when the men would board the Port Lincoln. The desperate need for reinforcements demanded their immediate move to England for training.
Albert returned to Mologa for his farewell which was reported in the Pyramid Hill Advertiser. The article also describes the family’s attempt to delay Albert’s departure. The harvest was about to begin and Albert was needed on the farm.
Private A. W. Marlow farewell
On Tuesday, 11th October, the friends of Pte. A. W. Marlow met together in the Mologa Hall to bid him farewell prior to his departure for the front. Private Marlow, the youngest member of the family, 18 years of age, had been in the camp only 10 days, and in that short time military life improved him so much that he appeared to have grown … Mr. W. Fyffe occupied the chair, and on the conclusion of the programme made the presentation of a gold medal to the departing soldier. In doing so he spoke at some length and referred to the fine qualities Private Marlow possessed, and instanced his readiness to assist in preparing for, or promoting any worthy social function happening to be on the tapis, altogether, a youthful, useful member of the community. Mr. and Mrs. Marlow in giving their fifth son had done much for their country. In conclusion the chairman expressed the hope that Mr. Marlow, along with his brothers, would return safely … Pte. Marlow in responding thanked his many friends for coming to see him that night, and for the nice medal presented to him, which, if he safely returned, he would proudly wear … Three cheers were then given for the Marlow family.
Pte. Marlow left by the afternoon train on Wednesday, when a number of friends assembled to see him off. On behalf of Pte. Marlow, Cr Jones endeavoured to get leave granted to him for part of the harvest only. It was thought that four sons having gone they would stand a good chance. Cr Jones forwarded a letter to Mr. Angus, M.L.A., who sent it on to Mr. Sampson, M.H.R, who in turn interviewed the Defence Department. The result was that word was received that it would be favourably considered. A few days passed and Pte. Marlow came up on final leave. Cr Jones wired to the Defence Department, who then granted the leave asked for. By this time Pte. Marlow was back in camp getting his sea kit ready for sailing. His parents received a post card announcing the fact that in an hour’s time he would be marching to the boat. He need not have gone into camp till the 28th October. However, as he wished his leave to be during November he decided to go to camp a month earlier, thinking that by doing so he would have a better chance of leave, as his purpose was honest and his mission to fight for his country well meant …6
Thursday morning [19 October]
Dear Mum,
Just a few lines to let you know that we are going to embark this morning and are sailing tomorrow. We had to get up at 4.30 this morning. I got here about 12 last night. They roared me up a bit about staying away, but I don’t think I will be fined. I got the surprise of my life, when I heard we were going today. We are just getting issued with our sea kit, no time to write any more, so goodbye.
Your loving son
Albert
There is a photo of mine at Kalma’s, a full length one, you had better get it and get some off it, I have no time to get it taken again.
The postcard Albert sent before he embarked.
With only an hour to spare, Albert quickly wrote to his mother before leaving Australian soil, writing on the back of a photo postcard taken in Melbourne. The youngest and last of Sarah’s sons to leave for war was now on his way. The photo is haunting. Despite the uniform, his staunchness and resolve, Albert looks every inch the young boy farewelling his devoted mother as he sets off on a great adventure.
Friday
Dear Mum
Just a line or two before I sail We are going to march to the boat in about an hours time, and are sailing about 1 oclock. I never had time to get my photo taken, You had better write to Kalma and ask him to send that one (in full length) up, and get some taken off it, You had better get 1 dozen and 1/2 and pay for them out of my allotments.
I will write a list of those to send them to, Well Goodbye mum,
From your loving son
Albert
One more loving son was about to depart. Like those before him, Albert was keen to ensure that his family had a handsome photo of himself in uniform. For families farewelling their men a photo was akin to an insurance policy, reassurance that their brave soldier would never be forgotten in the event he did not return. While the Marlow family assembled a large collection of photos, it proved little insurance against wounding or death, nor against the concern that Sarah and Charles Marlow must surely have felt with five sons now on active service.
SEVEN
A LOT OF THE MEN THOUGHT
THEIR LAST DAY HAD COME
AT SEA, OCTOBER
Charlie was now almost two weeks into his journey on the Shropshire and heading towards South Africa as his reference to
Uncle Arthur reveals:
Sunday at Sea [8 October 1916]
Dear Jim,
Just a few lines today we are not allowed now to put the date but today is Geordie’s birthday. I am getting on alright but my cold still hangs to me it is getting better now I used all the medicine that I got in Bendigo so now I go to the hospital dispensary and of course get it for nicks, I wrote home about 7 or 8 days ago and have also written to Pearl and Arthur & George our letter box closes on Thursday next as I will be seeing Uncle Arthur in a few days we are following the same course as Al and Percy. There are a lot on board that I know and nearly all of them have been a bit seasick. I said in my last letter that I felt a bit sick the second day out but since I feel splendid. Les Cant is in the hospital and also George Humbert and that young Miles that was in camp with me, they have got measles or influenza we get war news every day now by wireless according to if things are going good. I went to church parade this morning there is 2 Protestant and one Catholic Chaplain on board. There is a canteen on board but I could not get any ink so I had to write with a pencil, we get good food on board and plenty of it, the tucker here is far better than in camp. I suppose Albert is in camp now the two Stones didnt come as they were in the hospital. I hope to be able to get to some of the relations for christmas. Willie Crossman is down on our deck he belongs to Castlemaine lot I see all the Mologa boys every day Jim Baker is also on board. They have all sorts of games on board and a good band and a concert every Saturday night. I suppose by the time you receive this you will be harvesting and I suppose the crop will be pretty good, we don’t see much crop out here for water …
South Africa Durban
Oct 16th 1916
Excuse the type but I write this somewhat under difficulties.
Dear Mother,
Just a few lines to let you know that I am getting on alright my cold has completely gone I had to go on guard on the ship one night and being out in the fresh air all night done me the world of good and ever after that I slept up on top it is very healthy sleeping up in the sea air, so now I felt better than I have ever felt in my life. We landed in Durban at 4 oclock on Sunday Oct 15 and got leave from 5 oclock till 10 pm that night we were marched in the town and dismissed, I was out with Tom Roberts from the Ox and Bill Crossman we had tea and a good look round and today Monday we had a march for about 2 miles this morning and after dinner we were marched in the town and dismissed and we are allowed out till 11 oclock tonight so that is not too bad.1 I am writing this in a place called Wesley Hall it is something like a Methodist Church in Australia, they give all the soldiers and sailors tea and coffee and sandwiches cake and fruit including tomatoes free to all there are ladies waiting on the tables all day long I am sure I don’t know how they do it for nothing. I am sure this is the best place I have struck since I have joined the army they have also a band playing here tonight and they supply the writing paper free in fact they are only to pleased to do anything for the soldiers, they gave us a great reception as the boat pulled in. There are about 1700 men on board and we had great weather coming over it was as calm as the bullock creek. I felt a bit sick the second day but it was my cold I think that made me sick if it is rough I will not be sick I think I have gained weight for I can eat like a horse, things are very dear I sent a little present to Pearl it was a tea strainer I hope she gets it alright I registered it so she ought to get it I also wrote to her telling her that I sent it. I believe we will call at Cape Town for a day or two and I think we will be leaving tomorrow. I have written to you before and to Jim and to all the relations in Australia. Well mother I will draw to a close, do not worry over me as I am alright and getting on fine I hope all are well at home if Albert is in camp show him this note so goodbye all.
I am your loving son
Charlie
South Africa
Cape Town
21st Oct 1916
Dear Albert
Just a few lines to let you know that I am still alive and today we are in Cape Town we are not allowed off so far and I believe we will not be getting off here at all we had a great time in Durban we got there on the Sunday night at 4 oclock 15th Oct and left on the Wednesday morning at 7 am, it is a very nice town and we had a real good time it rained while we were there, but here we cannot see much from the boat there are a lot of ships in the harbour at present the table top mountains look very nice with the clouds on top of them they are very high if you come this way you will see them we followed close to land all the way from Durban the coast is very pretty especially near Cape Town we pulled in at 7.30 last night and it is very cold here today. I do not know when we leave but I think it will be today sometime. I hope this note will reach you alright I suppose you will be on the job when this reaches you be sure and try and get in the 38th. I believe we are bound straight for England now and this is our last port of call, I wrote to Jim and Mother and also to Pearl I hope they are all getting on alright. I am enjoying the trip first rate and feel splendid my cold has got alright. I am writing this and will throw it overboard to the South African soldiers to post so excuse the type as I have not much time. I hope you have a good trip over and hope to see you there so I will close for the present so goodbye and good luck.
I am your affectionate
Charlie
Charlie must have been surprised to discover that Albert was now steaming westward aboard the Port Lincoln, following the same route as the Shropshire across the Indian Ocean:
At Sea
21st Oct-16
Dear Mum,
Well we are out on the sea now. We left Royal Park yesterday morning and went onto the pier at 9 oclock and then waited there till two oclock. We then went on the boat and sailed at a quarter past two (Friday). There was a hell of a crowd at the pier and there was some sad hearts there when we left. All the men seemed to take it all right. We had to get up at 5 yesterday morning. I had nothing to eat from 6 oclock on Thursday night till 7 oclock on Friday night, so you can see I did a bit of a starve. And the tucker I had last night wasn’t much good for an empty stomach. We got butter on board, I think the tucker will be good when we settle down a bit. We anchored just inside the heads last night and are still here. I think we will be moving off shortly. There will be a few sick when we go, I bet. I got a bit of a surprise on Wednesday night, when I heard we had to sail next day. I went to the C.O. and told him that I had applied for harvest leave, and he said it was too late. He said if I had not stopped away without leave, he might have fixed me up. Then I tried to get it with Gil Hansford, but it was too late too. I would have liked to stop another week longer as I had no time to get anything. We got leave from a quarter to six on Thursday, so I went into town and got a wristlet watch. I didn’t have time to get anything else. I never got any notepaper, but I think I can get some at the canteen when it opens. We slept on hammocks last night, they are not bad, but I think I would rather have the boards. Well Mum I don’t know if you can read this as I am writing this on the boards. I don’t know if you will get this before we get to Cape Town but I heard the mail was leaving the boat at Queenscliff so I will close, hoping all are well,
I remain
your loving son
Albert
Don’t worry about me, I am in the best of health and spirits.
Send a photo to Dolly Rouse 23 Chum St Golden Square
If you don’t get that full length photo from Kalmas, write and ask Myrtle for it. I told her to call for it. If you get it you had better order 18 and pay for them out of my allotment – don’t forget. These are the ones I want you to send photos too Auntie Etta, Annie, Liza and Florrie, Myrtle Stone, Myrtle Saville, Winnie Price, Mollie Gamble, Ralph Alford, Pearl Saville and anybody else you like, I think Mrs Stone wanted one too.
At Sea
25th/10/16
Dear Mum, Dad and Jim
Just a line to let you know I am not too bad now, I have been a bit seasick … the smell on the 2nd deck was enough to turn any fellow off. I felt crook when I
went on the boat and the smell settled me. We had terrible rough weather and the boat rocks like hell. The only thing I ate was pears preserved which I got at the canteen. It is a rotten boat, and there is no comforts on it. The canteen is about as big as our dairy, and a trap door to get things through, and it is closed half the time. My mate managed to get some lemonade for me, and a few biscuits, I got a writing pad a while ago, but have got to wait till tomorrow for envelopes. On Sat and Sunday nearly every man on board was sea-sick, it was horrible to see the poor devils. The sharks done a hell of a business. The boat travels very slow, we will pass near [censored] tomorrow or tonight, but I don’t think we will call in there. We will be in calmer water tomorrow. It has been terrible rough so far, and a lot of the men are still sick. I never had a decent feed until today. The tucker is getting better now. I often fancied some before, but the smell of the 2nd deck used to finish me. There was bully beef for tea, and I was as hungry as blazes, so I got some onions out of a bag and had a feed. I had to go down a while ago and have another feed, and I could eat some more now. I think the trip will be real good from now on, but a day or two ago, I did not give a damn if the boat sank or not. You have to buy your own notepaper on this boat, they don’t supply you with anything here. We get butter on board, and plenty of salt so I am right. I never got any of those letters you wrote to the camp, but I got one from Bert Gibson asking me to go to his wedding, but I was too late as it was on the day I left Mologa … There was a fair few on Bendigo station to see me off, also a few at Mitiamo. Lily Stone gave me three khaki handkerchiefs and some oranges …
At Sea
Sunday 29/10/16
Dear Mum, Dad and Jim,
Well I am still going strong and enjoying this life a treat. We called in close to a port on Thursday night, but not close enough to get off. We only stopped there a few hours. I am feeling tip top now, and am getting as fat as mud, so my mates say. I have got a bonzer appetite … My word the tucker is a change after Royal Park. We don’t have so much amusement on board, No music, but there is plenty of singing and boxing. We had a C of Eng church parade this morning. About ¾ of our company are C of England. There are a terrible lot of boys in our company. There is 11 at our mess table and 6 of us are under 19 and two under 21. There is no news on board so I will finish this some other time. –
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