Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Letter from Arthur Sherwin, 10 October 1915
MLMSS 5767/Item 4

[Page 1]
[Envelope – The Salvation Army Camp and Institute]
Miss F. Sherwin
Llanfoyst
Bright Street
Marrickville
Sydney

[Page 2]
[Letterhead – The Salvation Army]
[Printed text]
The Salvation Army.
Headquarters: 69 Bourke St., Melbourne.

W. Bramwell Booth, General
James Hay, Commissioner

Salvation Army Institute, Military Camp at

Bendigo
B Coy 10/10/15

Dear Auntie Florrie & Evie
I expect you think it about time you had a few lines from me, but I suppose Doris has given you the outlines of my first experiences of camp life.

The first week I used to feel very tired of a night & used to be glad to get to bed. The getting up at 6 am of a morning is rather hard, but a fellow has got to get used to it.

We went for a route march the other day & the following comprises our kit. 1 Military great Coat, 1 hat, 2 pairs of Blueys 2 pairs of under pants & shirts, 2 pairs of sox, 2 pairs of heavy boots 1 Cardington Jacket, 1 double pair of grey blankets 1 single pair of white & a water proof sheet, & a kit bag. I can tell you it is rather a heavy load to lug along, I know I found it so.

[Page 3]
Bendigo
10/10/15

I had a letter from Mum a few days ago & she says that Norm has gone back to the front again, I only hope he comes out of it alright. Three hundred are leaving this Camp for the front in a few days, they received their final instructions last week, & look very brown & well. Doris’s Brother Jim is amongst them, he is quite delighted. I only wish I were amongst them. Doris thinks otherwise.

I am going up to Deniliquin on Saturday next for week end leave, but have to return again on Monday so wont have a very long stay will I. I dont know how I would get on if it were not for Doris, as I think the Stew & Bully beef awful stuff. I can put up with the bread & jam, it’s not too bad, the coffee is awful stuff, we get it pretty frequently too, 6.30 am Coffee & hard biscuits & by jove they

[Page 4]
Bendigo
10/10/15

are hard too.

Will drill from a quarter to seven until eight o clock, then breakfast of stew. Drill again from 9.30 until 12.15 then Bully beef : drill again from 1.45 until 4.30 then we are finished for the day: thank goodness.

I generally lie down afterwards for I generally feel pretty tired: but however I am getting a little more used to it now. I am getting quite burned my hands being very brown but my face is very red & sore, it is also very warm here just now & a few more weeks of it will see me a seasoned soldier.

We were measured for our uniforms on Thursday last, so it wont be long now before we have them: I had twenty five hours sentry duty the other night from 9 am on Thursday until 10 am on Friday morning

[Page 5]
finished up by drilling all the afternoon, as you may imagine I was rather tired & sleepy by the time I finished my drill, I will be on sentry again on day this week but what day I dont know yet. I think it is a little solid for a new chum, but I expect we have to be broken in. Our Commander gave us great praise anyhow, for he said he had no fault whatever to find & when doing inspection rounds he found every sentry alert & at his post.

Well Aunty I will end now hoping you are all well & looking forward to a line from you both shortly

With love to all from
Your loving Nephew
Arthur

[Transcribed by Sandra Mutton for the State Library of New South Wales]