The Baker Boys Episode 1

August 8^th, 1915

My dear Mother,

Just a line to let you know I arrived safely. I am going out to camp after dinner. I will let you know how I get on next mail. I got my teeth just now they make a wonderful difference. I look different altogether. It was a pretty crook trip down on the coach, a good mob of recruits came down last night. Jack Midwinter came. I saw his three sisters in town. I also saw Borly Blore.

By Joves it is hot down here. By jingoes I keep thinking I have a bottle in my mouth.

Well Mother I can’t tell you much this time will write Sunday.

Hoping you and all at home are quite well I will say tat-ta.

From your loving son Ross

Adelaide
August 15th 1915

My dear Mother,

Just a line to let you know we are both well and having a good time. We went to the races on Saturday and saw the Grand National Steeple. We went to a play the other night, Charlies Aunt, a real character. I saw the Jordans as I came through the Hill.

We are going in to camp in the morning. We will be here a long time, I think. There is a lot of Mt Gambier fellows here. It is only about two doors from where we are staying to the recruiting office, a good mob went in this morning.

We had a cold old trip on the coach was glad when Austin caught us up. There was about 20 of us left the Hill, we marched from the Barrier Boys Brigade down to the Railway Station. There was a mob of Heads there at our carriage singing and hoorah-ing.

We are both putting on condition and feel confident in bringing back a V.C. each. I would have died only for Tom’s overcoat. It is very cold down here.

Gordon Shaw went last Thursday, I think. There is another mob going on the 6th September. There is a terrible mob in camp there coming in from the country like sheep. There was one bloke that came down with us, got cold feet, he passed alright and then told the doc when he walked about five miles his feet bung on him. So, the doc went crook on him told him he had no business to volunteer, said he had a good mind to give him in charge, a real cocktail.

We went and had a look at the Zoo yesterday. WFK nearly got put in the monkey’s cage.

Keeper thought he escaped.

My funds stood out well, am still financial. Had to get a pair of tan boots, I will be no mug when I get my uniform. I think I will go back to Milparinka before I sail.

There is a lot of returned soldiers, here they don’t look too bad. They are giving the infantry leggings now instead of putties because over in the trenches they get wet and the leggings keep the wet out better.

Well Mother, I hope you are well and don’t worry about me because it is alright in camp, not as rough as they reckon we were at home, with love from Ross

Currie Street
Adelaide
8th September

My dear Mother, I received your welcome letter the other day and was pleased to hear you were all well. We are both in the one company. We were to go to Gawler last week but have not gone yet. We had everything packed up and all on Friday I think we are going Monday though.

We get our pay Monday. I think should have got it last Wednesday.

We just came back from Church Parade. It has been raining all night and is still raining, we have not had much leave this week been kept in every night but one.

We got off yesterday from 2 till 11 last night, we get off from 2 till 9.30 tonight. We went to the Theatre Royal last night and saw ‘Within the Lines’ war drama. It was very good.

I had a couple of letters from Les and Jack they are getting along tip top. Tell Lizzie they took proof sheets from us and gave them to the blokes at Mitcham.

It is very wet out there, we are in good shelter here under a good iron roof. I suppose Lizzie’s hinting at us about wetting the blankets.

How is the new posty getting along? WFK is pretty narky on it. He is getting on well though for a bloke that never roughed it. I have to shake him up a bit sometimes. I suppose we will see Les and Jack soon. I think there will be plenty of work in the south east this year.

Yes, address our letters to the John Bull we are always there when we get off. What did you think of my photo? Anything like me do you think? If we get paid Monday I will send some more along.

Well, the races will soon be on. I hope they have a good time. We never bother about going out to the races here of a Saturday. We go to the football, gave Wests a darny yesterday.

Forty-two of us were picked out of A Company to go to Gawler so we might get away before Christmas yet. We have not been on guard lately on account of us going away. Some of the pickets had a rough time the other night, one of the Mitcham soldiers drew his bayonet on them but they arrested him without anyone getting hurt.

We went to a Catholic Concert. There was no general leave but all R.Cs could go so I went. We all had to march to the church and then back again. We had a good time while we were there. We left 10.30. It was better than staying in camp. There was a lot went that weren’t R.Cs I think.

Me and WFK are orderlies today. We have to get the boys their dinner then sweep and wash up, then we all get dismissed on the parade ground.

Well mother I can’t think of any more news to tell you so I will say Good-bye for this time with heaps of love to all

Your loving son Private Rossie 5th Section, A. Company, 2nd Battalion

We are always getting altered in our sections and companies. I suppose we will be reinforcements when we go to Gawler. Gawler is 27 mile from here.

John Bull Hotel
Currie Street
Sunday morning

My dear Mother,

Just a line to let you know I am getting on tip top we have been in camp all the week and it’s not too bad, plenty to eat. We got off yesterday at 2 o’clock till half past six tonight we have to go to picket duty. Fourteen of us together march around different streets looking out for drunken soldiers.

We got our photos taken yesterday. I will send some up next week if I have any left. We got taken in uniform. We got our big overcoats yesterday afternoon. We were no mugs, I can I tell you, walking about with them on. The photographer supplied us with coat and cap to get taken. We won’t get our uniform for a while yet. We are camped in the Jubilee oval.

We went to a football match yesterday, got in free wearing the Kings uniform. If you have the overcoat on or even a pair of military boots you can get in at the races free at any of those places but you have a better chance with the overcoat. Tell Girlie and Nellie they can think of us marching round on patrol. But I’ll bet WFK would rather be walking down Milparinka Street (with a Lassie by his side).

Well Mother I will be glad to hear from you soon. It seems like months since we left. It has been raining a lot here lately. Is Les coming down here when he finishes at Holowiliena?  

We get up at quarter past six. We have physical drill for half an hour then we go to breakfast then we fall in again at 9 o’clock, drill and march about will 12. Then we start again at 2 and knock off of 5 o’clock, we have tea at 5.30. Then we have off till 9.30 that night, got to be in camp at that time.

We don’t get in to … … till we’re in camp about a month or 5 weeks. They are making small camps now so we might be shifted from here after a while. There was one mob went away from our camp the other day to Gawler, that’s about 25 miles along the line.

Oh, I forgot to tell you my number, B6361 34 Platoon, 5th Section, A Company. There is fourteen in a section. We all tucker together. They give you matting to lay on, two pair of blankets and a water proof sheeting. I have my white hat too, but have not worn it yet.

Well dear Mother I can’t think of any more this time sol will say tat-to. Give my love to all at home and remember me to the Milparinka folk.

With love, I remain Your loving son Private Baker

Gawler
13th September

Dear Mother,

Just a line to let you know Les and Jack went down on the 10 o’clock express this morning, we will be going down tomorrow.

We had stiff luck this morning, they wanted 300 volunteers for reinforcements but we had no chance.  All those that were in camp after the 20th of August had no chance. So, we are pretty down hearted. I think we are here for a long time. We are just as far advanced as the next in drill two. If we stop here don’t be surprised if you see Corporal Baker.

Well tat-ta mother. I wrote yesterday. Your loving son Ross

Gawler Camp
October 1st 1915

Dear Mother,

I received your ever welcome letter some time ago. We have been up here a fortnight now. We are going back to Adelaide Monday, going to camp in the Adelaide Oval. We were to go down last Tuesday but have not got away yet. We got on the good side of the Gawler folk. They give the Companies a real good name. And there is about 550 of us here. The Cheer Up society gave us a send-off Wednesday night. We had a bonza time. I went to a hop last night stayed till 11 o’clock, had a good time.

We all got weekend leave last week from 2 o’clock Saturday till 9 Monday morning. About 450 of us went down, they brought up a special train. I think we will get leave this week too. We are on guard today to 10 o’clock tomorrow.

We did not see Barky or Tammy. I don’t think they went down. Might see them tomorrow. Pay day today. I think.

Well, there is the cook house call just blown, the orderlies are going with their buckets and dishes. I am hungry as a hawk too. One of our cobbers that came down from the Hill with us got the bugling here. We have been doing a lot of extended order drill and signalling lately.

It is very interesting, when we get to town we will have all musketry drill, that is the best of the lot. We were out on the Hill the other day in extended order lying down on our bingies. Our commander sent a word along we had to pass it along from mouth to mouth. It was Enemy advancing through the trees at 3 o’clock and when it got to him at the other end, some-one misunderstood or done it for devilment but it was Enemy will be here for tea at three o’clock”.

The two companies are going to get the photos taken this evening one big photo we are all putting in 6 pence each and giving one to the Gawler cheer up and we are giving one to our own platoon command. In our dungarees and white hats too. He left us last night, nearly all our officers have left us, we get our officers today that go right through with us. We were sorry to lose our chap.

Well mother I am putting on beef and no mistake, 12 stone 9 now.  The Gawler people are talking about putting in a petition to try and stop us from leaving this camp. They all reckon we are a bonza lot of chaps. But hang them, I would sooner be in town.

How did the races turnout? Well Mother if I don’t hurry up with this letter it will miss the mail. So, I will say Good bye. Remember me to all up there. With heaps of love from your loving son Private R.B. 7th Section A Company 2nd Platoon Reinforcements. 

Address John Bull Currie St.

Gawler
Oct 14th 1915

My Dear Sister,

I received your very nice letter the other day and was very pleased to see you write such a good hand. Well Nell, I wish you all could have been down in Adelaide yesterday it was a sight a fellow don’t see every day. In the procession there was on a big trolley. Just like a big hill with Turks on top and Australians charging up the hill the Turks had a cannon on top. There was about 6 or 8 on each side. Our men were popping them over it was real good.

And there was a turn-out of our own selection and old man and woman in an old broken down buggy and an old slokem horse, a dog, and mag-pie at the back of a real bush turn out on and mobs of other things. You girls up there would laugh if you was to see us in our dungaree suits and white hats.

We are off for a route march today, I think. We get up at 6.15am have physical drill till 7 o’clock then we go on parade at 9 o’clock. We have medical inspection have to bare our chests, poke out our tongues for the doctor to examine. And take our boots and socks off to see that our feet are clean. We have to take a little piece of bread with us also.  The A.M.C. men come along put Eucalyptus on it. We have to do this lot every morning seems funny don’t it.

If a fellow has to mind his P’s and Q’s. I have not got a mark against me yet. I don’t intend to either. But it is all good sport all the different kinds of drill we do.

Well Nell old kid there is lots I could tell you but I will sign off now. Will tell you all when I see you again. So I will say tat-to with mobs of xxxxx to you all.

Your loving brother Ross

Gawler
Oct 14th 1915

My dear Mother,

I received your letter the other day and was pleased to hear you were all well. Well, we got a full day’s holiday yesterday, Anzac day. We got off till 20 to 11 last night. All feel pretty tired on it this morning. We all went to Adelaide, by gee it was a bonza day. We had a real good time. I suppose you will receive all about it in the papers. We were in town last Saturday and Sunday. We went and got a boat and rowed about the river till dinner time. In the afternoon we went out the Henly beach. It was lovely.

I will be expecting Mick and Jack down next week. We did not have to march yesterday. We could not get our uniforms, in time we get the full rig out though. I have a citizen’s force uniform but next week we will be one of the boys we get them for certain.

I have not seen Lil Bonnett yet but I will look her up one of these days.

It has been very hot down here lately. I don’t know when we are shifting from Gawler. By jove they must have took some money yesterday for the wounded soldiers. The streets were just alive. I would have liked Les and Jack to have been there.

I will send Tom’s port and overcoat back next time I go to town. I will address it to you. What clothes are left can do Les. We have to wear all the military clothes. We have everything now except the uniforms. 2 pair boots, 2 undershirts, 2 long sleeved flannels and 2 pair of underpants, 2 pair dungarees, 2 pair sox. So we are set up. The knitted socks look tip top, I did not fit them on, it is a bit too hot to wear them now.

Yes, mutton head does his share at the grub. He has put on about 1 stone.

I got a letter from Elsie the other day.  She told me she had a letter from Dadey also a photo of the car. I am going to get my photo taken full size. I did not like that last one at all.

Well, the races are over. I suppose we will see Gill, Mac and Fred and all the boys from up there coming into camp soon. They miss the time of their lives. You are not in it at all unless you can talk something about forming fours or signalling. I am an expert at signalling now. I take a keen interest in it. I can send a message and receive it nearly as quick as the bloke himself. I have not gone up to a N.C.O. yet it is no good here. They keep you here too long, a fellow could easy get corporal. It is a very simple test. But I’m going to put in when I get over in Egypt.

There is some of the section commanders here don’t know how to form fours even. One bloke had our platoon the other day, he said now I’m going to describe to you how to form fours.  The even numbers take a step to the rear with the right foot and a step to the left with the left foot and everything else he gave us was up -side down. We were marching along in single file he gave the order form fours. Yet he got a stripe. They will take anyone.

The company got their photos taken the other day. W.F.K. and I were on guard so we missed it. You can send the fountain pen along if you like. A fellow is lucky to get a bad pencil here to write with. If you buy a pen and ink of your own it don’t last long.

Well Mother fancy poor old Mrs Phelan. Did you give Ruby my address?

Well Mother I think I have told you all for the time so I will say tat-ta.

With love to all. Your Loving son Private Rossie

John Bull Hotel
Currie Street Adelaide
Dec 12th 1915

My dear Mother, I got down to camp again had a few days in the Hill. I stayed with Bert Hendy you remember our Bugler. I stayed at his place. It was at the Southern Cross for a while. I had a lovely time. I had to parade before the camp commandant yesterday and he dismissed me. So, there was no harm done. WFK is back. The camp closes for a week Christmas time but I don’t think I will be able to come home.

Jack is with us, I suppose he will be home as soon as this letter. By Joves they are having recruiting meetings here every day now. We have to go on guard while the recruiting meetings are on, we march through the street all the time. We are on Saturday again too.

We are not sailing on the 20th. Now go in Jan some time. Old pea at the coach office wanted my fare, he could not get it.  Thought, don’t you pay it if they write about it. We got another uniform and hat, razor, first aid bandage and everything.

Well Mother I have not much news to tell you this time so I will say Good-by with heaps of love to all from Your loving son Rossie

Mitcham
January 10^th 1916

My dear Mother,

Just a line to let you know that I am quite well and we are sailing in the morning Tuesday.  I have been inoculated this morning and it is stirring me up. I had to parade before the camp commandant when I came back but got dismissed.

Got my full pay as well. Do not write till you hear from me as we do not know where we are going yet but I think Egypt. Eighteen hundred are going tomorrow and eight hundred on Wednesday.

I am sending you a brooch, a rising sun, it is not much but I know that you will appreciate it more than a gold one, and one for Nell, Girlie and Bubs.

We got our flag this morning and have it flying and are all in great spirits.

Well Mother, I can’t think of much more news to tell you but I suppose the next letter will be from Egypt. I will be able to tell you a little then. We sail on the ship Borda.

Well Mother, remember me kindly to all and I will say Good-bye with best love till I see you all again.

I am going to take Bert Hendy up with me for a while.  My regimental number has been altered, it is now 4127 Private ER Baker, 13/16^th Reinforcements, No 4127 AIF.

Well, I will say ta ta Mother with best love to all.  Kisses for all.

I remain, your loving son, Ross.

I made a mistake in our colours, are sending right one. Am sending photos, give Austin Clune one each.