"I am please to say I am quite well. I am now at the Base waiting to rejoin the boys, it has been a bit of a rest for me to be away from the battalion. I am longing to get a letter from you, that is the worst of going in hospital the letters are hung about so. I hope this will find you both quite well. By the way I met a fellow in the Wilts Regt at El-Arish who comes from Woodfalls & knows all our people. He’s name is Kerly & he lives in the copse behind Shergold's shop. Do you know him?"
Lionel King, 24th November 1917
"I am still at the base. I expect to go up the line any day now. We are having it pretty cushy here. I had a lovely swim yesterday afternoon. It was a bit chilly but all the same I enjoyed it. We are quite near the canal. I have not had any letters come down from the line yet. Several letters have come down but there has not been any for this kid. Dear Mother & Dad I hope this will find you quite well. I suppose you are getting pretty rough weather now in Blighty. It is still quite warm here of a day but we find it a bit first thing in the morning & in the evening I went to a concert last night & there was a decent band there. I enjoyed it very much. There is a cinema here. I think I will pay that a visit tonight!"
Lionel King, 26th November 1917
"They don’t seem to be in any hurry to send me up the front. I haven’t had any letters down from the line yet. There must be three or four mails hung up somewhere. I haven’t heard from Edgar either. Who do you think I ran across down here? It was Will Newport. He was just leaving here to join his battalion. He has been in hospital in Cairo sick. He wasn’t in the stunt. He was looking rather thin & pale. I was watching some troops march pass when he called me. I can tell you I was surprised to see him, we could not have a very long talk as he had to get on the train."
Lionel King, 3rd December 1917
"It is Sunday today & we had a nice service this morning. There is a Garrison Church here. It is much better than having an open air service. There is an organ & it sounded like old times to hear it. It has been very cold here of a morning just lately. We are wearing singe clothing now & we have our overcoats & I can tell you I make good use of it. I am writing this in a tent. They are much better than a hole in the ground."
Lionel King, 9th December 1917
"I have not left the Base yet nor have I received any letters. I am writing this in a Y.M.C.A. that has just been opened by Lady Allenby. It is a very nice place indeed. I have just had a feed at a canteen. I had 7 eggs 4 slices of bread & butter & 4 cream bins. My word we can put something away when we are hungry. I am going to church after I have written this. How near Christmas is now. I don’t suppose I shall be with the boys for Xmas now. It is getting dusk & I can hardly see to write so I must hurry up & finish."
Lionel King, 16th December 1917
"I expect to rejoin the boys after Christmas. I have not had any letters yet. I wish they would hurry up & send them along. I have just been to the morning service at the Y.M.C.A. The speaker, the Rev John McNeil was great. He was a grand speaker. It is not often we get a man so good as he is. I am writing this in the Y.M.C.A.s writing room. There was a concert held here last night & it was a fairly good show. They called themselves the Casualties as everyone had been wounded during the recent scrapping. It is very chilly this morning. Tuesday is Christmas Day. I don’t know what sort of a time I shall have this year. The two previous years I was lucky & had a very good time. Well dear Mother & Dad I hope you are both quite well. I keep on wondering how you are getting on. I hope Fred managed to get leave for Christmas. Harry Fisher was all right a week ago. The boys have been in several set to’s since I let them."
Lionel King, 23rd December 1917
"Well Christmas Day has passed again. How different to the Christmas’s I have had in the past. We had it very quiet here. There was a concert in the afternoon. In the evening I & two pals had a feed at a canteen & joined in a few songs & I very nearly made myself sick trying to smoke a cigar. We had rather a poor diner just stew & a two pound Christmas pudding between six. The pudding was great. There was a bit of a barney in the tent last night. Four or five chaps came in a bit lively. We had a few songs then one began to cause trouble so we all “kipped” down. This morning I went had had a bath & then another feed of eggs & bread & butter. Well dear Mother & Dad I hope this is the last Christmas I spend away from home. I am feeling A.1. I don’t suppose it will be long before I am away from here I have been here much longer than I thought I should be. I heard from a chap that Edgar was alright a few days ago, also Harry. I haven’t had any letters yet. Dear Mother & Dad I suppose you had a very quiet time didn’t you? Did you have any snow? We had a little rain here & a sand storm. It is nice & bright this morning. I think I will go to the cinema tonight & have a feed of monkey nuts."
Lionel King, 26th December 1917
"I am still at the base (lucky boy). I have just been to the evening service at the Garrison Church. I am writing thus in the tent by candle light. I only have one companion at present & he is reading so it is nice and quiet. We have a lively crowd in this tent. Ten in all & they are all 1st/6th boys except one. I haven’t had any letters yet. It is two months since I heard from you last. I went to a concert at the Y.M.C.A. last night & it was a very good show. Dear Mother & Dad I hope this will find you both quite well. I am anxious to hear from you to know how you are getting on I miss the books too."
Lionel King, 30th December 1917
"I am please to say I am quite well. I have not left the “Base” yet. I haven’t had any letters yet. I don’t know when they will turn up. I haven’t heard from Edgar either. Dear Mother & Dad I can’t write a very good letter not having any letters to answer. It is the first Sunday in the New Year today. I am going to the church service tonight. I suppose most people will be going to church tonight as it a general thanks giving service throughout the British Empire. I pray it won’t be long before the war will be over & then we shall have something really to be thankful for."
Lionel King, 6th January1918
"I am going up the line today. I dread the long journey in the open trucks but when I reach the boys I hope to get a few letters & that will compensate all discomforts etc. I was surprised to see Harry Fisher stroll into this camp the other day. He left the battalion sick just before Christmas. It is the first time he has left the batt since we came out. He had Malaria Fever & he is now waiting to follow me up the line. Dear Mother & Dad I will write at every opportunity on my way to the battalion, but as it is such a long journey, part of which we do by train & the rest on foot. It may take a week or longer before I am properly settled down again."
Lionel King, 15th January1918
"Things are very quiet out this way at present and we are having a fairly good time. The country out this way is very pretty especially the orange groves which contain plenty of oranges but I do not think it comes up to the scenery round Salisbury way and I hope it will not be long before I can pay another visit that way. "
Edgar Bigg, 25th January 1918
"At last I am back with the boys. We had a long journey in the train about 34 hours all told. Then we had a three day march & late on Thursday night the 24th we saw some of the boys. I saw Edgar last night and he was looking well. He was pleased to see me as I was him. I brought him back some cigarettes & he was as please as punch with them. Cigarettes are very scarce around here. The country we marched through was lovely. One can get as many oranges as one wishes here. There are orange groves every where here. The letters had been around the hospitals once & back again to the Batt. I hope I shall soon get a recent letter from you. Dear Mother & Dad I am please to say I am quite well & I expect to have a fairly decent time up here. Our boys are out of the line at present. I hope this will find you both quite well. I want to hear how Fred is getting along. I wish he could come out on the front. Harry & Claude Warren are both here & quite well. I expect Harry Fisher will join us by the next lot from the Base."
Lionel King, 26th January1918
"Edgar & myself are still in the pink. I left him riding a donkey not a half hour ago. Harry is quite well. I think Con came through the fighting alright but we have not heard from him for a long time."
Lionel King, 31st January1918
"I was with Edgar last night & we had a quiet evening together reading one another’s correspondence. We are billeted in a village. Edgar is in the stables near his mules & I am a little better off. I am in a house that was once occupied by Germans. In fact it is a German village. I went to a church service this morning in the schoolroom. It was a very nice service. In the room was a portrait of the Kaiser & his family also a lot of maps etc. our battalion is now in the line. Most of the furniture is left in the houses. In this house we have a harmonium & several beds which of course were collared by the N.C.O.’s. they also left their cows here so the boys have fresh milk in their tea now. The dairy is under proper control. The houses have not been knocked about much. I was please to know you had plenty of food at Xmas. It must be awful for the people to have to line up for food. I think the rationing of all foods should come into force. I am please to say we are getting splendid food here. We can get oranges in galore. I have got to go digging at 11.30 so must hurry up & finish this."
Lionel King, 3rd February 1918
"We’re in the line at present & would be having a good time if it wasn’t for the rain. It has been wet now for the last three days."
Lionel King, 9th February 1918
"We have been expecting a mail every day. I am glad to say we have had splendid weather for the last two or three days. It is such a change from the rain & mud. We are still in the line & we are having a fine time. I have not seen Edgar for a few days but I know he is quite well."
Lionel King, 14th February 1918
"I am please to say I am quite well & that we are out of the line again. We came out today & we are billeted in the same place as we were before. We are very comfortable. I am writing this on a table with a lamp for light & I have a chair minus the back for a seat. I received the Xmas parcel of sweets last night. I thank you very very much for them also for the books. Well dear Mother & Dad the weather here has been great today. Our boys are doing a bit of gardening, replanting beetroots, lettuces, onions, etc. I have not seen Edgar today. I expect I shall run across him tomorrow. Harry is quite well but I have no news of Con."
Lionel King, 16th February 1918
" I am still jogging along A.1. & we are still in billets. Most of the chaps in this room are playing cards. I must tell you the two books you sent in the parcel were great. I do enjoy reading a good book. You need not send out the U.F. any more for I can’t read such books when I can get hold of better books by better writers, do you or Dad ever read them, you ask me the price I paid for the eggs. They were a 1¼d but they are not very big. I brought four eggs here the other day & the cost me 5d each but they were beauties. I put them in a biscuit pudding & it was fine, I am making a bread pudding tomorrow for my section there are nine men & we all dig in together so if we have any stale bread we buy some figs & make a pudding. I am generally cook. I am following Dad’s footsteps in that respect. I have not seen Edgar since I came out of the line but he has been here after me. We had a very pleasant afternoon this afternoon. There were some boxing contests & our boys won all their fights. Jolly good what! But they were unlucky yesterday they were beaten at football after a very hard struggle & with a half hours extra time."
Lionel King, 20th February 1918
"We are still in billets. Edgar has left this village today & has gone a little further back so I shall not see quite so much of him. We had a Whist Drive last night but I did not get a prize. It was a nice way to spend an evening. Did I tell you we had a concert the other night. I was jolly decent. It was held in the village school room. We had a hard job to sit down in the desk. Our legs were much too big. Our boys always make the best of their time when we are out of the trenches. There is always something on either football, boxing, concerts or Whist Drives. The weather here has been great for the last week. We have had a few showers of a night but one does not notice them with a roof over head. I had a letter from George Oliver the other day. He lost one of his chums in the Nov scrapping. He told me he volunteered to the masked “A” but the doctor would not hear of it. He has a good job in Cairo. I have not heard anything of Bert Warren just lately. He is still out of the Army I believe although he can use his hand a bit. Harry is quite well. I don’t know is I have to you I have got a new hobby. That is boiling pudding for the section. If the section is issued with broken bed they just hand it over to me & I do the rest. We have had some fine fig, date & jam pudding. I must tell you three days ago we had the first issue of war bread. Don’t you think we were lucky to have white bread so long I think the war bread is very good indeed."
Lionel King, 27th February 1918
"Edgar was quite well when I saw him last. He is not in this village now, he has gone a little further back. We are going in the trenches tomorrow. We have had a grand 18 days spell in these billets. What bad news there was in the papers we have just received about the air raids. I saw a very exciting air fight this morning. Our airmen brought down a Taube. This is the sixth one we have brought down in our sector in three days."
Lionel King, 4th March 1918
"I have a little surprise for you. Our batt have reorganised their band & I have been enrolled as a member. I am playing a flute & I am please to say I can play much better than I thought I could. It is much clearer to me than it was in the B.B. I was not old enough to grasp things then. Being in the band I was sent from the trenches & am now in a nice billet in the village. They have given me quite a dozen marches to learn but as they are mostly the one our band played in England I know the tunes & with the help of the music I get on fairly well. This is the forth day. We have four hours practise a day so it ought not to be long before we can play the battalion on a march. The flutes are exactly the same as I had in the B.B."
Lionel King, 9th March 1918
"Our boys are out of the line now & are doing a bit of training. We had a route march today & the band were in attendance. Don’t you think we have succeeded to get a band together quick. It is only just over a week since we started. The village we marched to I saw Edgar. He was looking quite well. I showed him your photo & he thought it was fine & he said “Is this for me” & I said “La” which is Arabic for no. The weather here has been fairly fine today. We had a little shower of rain half way through our march this morning. The corn & grass was looking lovely & green. Much better than the sand, what say you? "
Lionel King, 14th March 1918
"It is Sunday today. We were waiting already for Church Parade this morning when it began to rain in torrents so it was cancelled. What do you think? Last night after we had finished beating ‘Retreat’ we were asked if we would plat at a sacred concert. Of course as it was the first time we had played at a concert we were naturally nervy. We played three pieces (being a waltz & two marches). We did very good indeed. I expect we shall get some more engagements now. The other part of the concert was very good indeed. It is still raining outside. The roads are in an awful state again worst luck. We have been dished out will drill clothing. We look quite smart with all new clothes. Edgar is quite well. I shall take him out when the rain stops & have a yarn with him."
Lionel King, 31st March 1918
"We are still in the same billets & we are having a fairly decent time. The weather is much better. We had a route march this morning & the roads were fairly good. I detest the wet weather & wind. I don’t know how I will get on with the old English climate. I have not heard from you since I wrote last, neither have I rec’d any books. I have run right out of writing material. I borrowed this of Edgar. I saw Edgar this afternoon & he is quite well. Harry is also in the best. I have not heard anything of Con for ever such a long while."
Lionel King, 4th April 1918
"Edgar & myself are both in the best of health. Edgar, Claude Warren & I went to a concert last night & we quite enjoyed ourselves. We played the Batt to church this morning. The roads were very bad as it rained very hard the night before last. Sorry you were disturbed by the Bang boys. Two have been brought down near here today. I saw one fight. It’s a grand sight."
Lionel King, 7th April 1918
" I am please to say Edgar & myself are still in the best of health. We are having some lovely weather at present. I am not in a billet now but in bivouacs again. It is much better now the weather is finer. There are three of us in one booby & we are very comfortable. We had a church parade this morning & we (the band) played the batt to church. We are playing to the boys this afternoon. I have got on very well with the flute. I can practically played all the marches now. We have not been together long but I know the Colonel is satisfied with us. He gave us three months to do it in but we were playing the boys on route march under a fortnight. Where my booby is situated we are near some almond trees & the are thousands of nuts on them but they are not ripe yet worst luck! We had a visitor last night in the shape of a centipede & you would have smiled to have seen the scuffle till we had killed it. We were awakened this morning by a saucy ‘bang boy’ but our guns soon drove it off. I hope you haven’t had any unwelcome visitors over Ealing. I had a letter from Nellie & she says Dick has gone to France again & that John Seaman was in hospital with a serious wound in his stomach. I also had a letter from Rosie Smith. She said she had written to you but up to the time of writing had not received a reply. Have you heard from her? Edgar thanks you very much for your kind birthday wishes. He sends his kind regards to you both. Edgar’s sister Rose is getting married early in August. Alf is also thinking of settling down soon. Edgar has just looked me up he is here drawing rations. Harry is not far away from here. He is quite well & still going strong as a signaller."
Lionel King, 14th April 1918
"We have been on the move. We are in the line now. Edgar is a good distance back. I saw him yesterday & he was quite well. The weather still continues to be nice & fine. We were issued with Sun helmets yesterday. Things are fairly quiet up this way. I hope this will find you both fairly well. I suppose you have started on the garden by now. All around here there is plenty of young corn. There are only two of us in this bivouac. The band is attached to B.Hqts at present. I very often look my old mates in the company. I haven’t heard anything of Con for a long while. Harry is quite well."
Lionel King, 19th April 1918
"We are having a fairly decent time here. The weather is getting very hot. I wish we were near the sea so as we could have a good bathe. We still get plenty off oranges. Bow we are in the line the transport bring them to us. Yesterday two limbers brought us five thousand oranges & they were A.1. I can tell you. I saw Edgar yesterday & he was quite well. He managed to get me a writing pad which he sent up with one of the transport this morning. Without it I would have been in a fix for writing paper."
Lionel King, 22nd April 1918
"We are still in the line but having a fairly quiet time. What a lot I have to be thankful for! What terrible times our boys have had in France. They can’t beat the boys of the Bulldog breed can they! It is a relief to know Fred is well behind. Well done Mother every little bit helps but you mustn’t hurt yourself doing too much digging. I don’t suppose Dad feels like doing much work in the garden after he has finished at the laundry. I hope you are both keeping quite well. I expect to see Edgar again tonight. He was quite well when I saw him last. I must tell you I have got the new pay entered in my pay book. I am now getting 25 shillings a day. The band is still going strong. We do about three hours practise a day & play for half an hour of a night. The weather is still keeping nice & fine. It will be nice for you to have Daisy with you for a while. By the way you want to know who else it was in the snapshot. He was my mate on the stretcher in the November shunt. He was wounded through the shoulder soon after we went over the top. He is back with us now."
Lionel King, 26th April 1918
"We are still in the line. Edgar is quite well. I saw him this morning & we had a little yarn together. We had rather a rough time this morning. After the stand to arms this morning which was from 3:15 am till 4:30am we turned in for what we thought two hour ‘kip’. We had been turned in for about an half an hour when it began to rain like cats & dogs. My booby was backed to a rock & the rain simply rolled down the rocks & into the booby. All our blankets etc got wet. Our ‘kip’ was finished then. When the rain stopped we set to & made another booby in a better position & now we are once more comfy. I hope it will prove to be waterproof when we get the next shower. It is Sunday today & of course the rain stopped the church parade. We were to have played but it was washed out."
Lionel King, 5th May 1918
" It has been a trifle too hot this last day or two to be comfortable. I can tell you we welcome sunset. I saw Edgar this morning & he is quite well. He has not heard from home for the last two mail. He has only received a packet of books in a month. Harry is on leave in Cairo. He did not go last year. I was please to know Arthur had won the D.C.M. I hope Leon’s wound is not serious. It is Sunday today. We haven’t had a church parade yet. Very likely they will have it in the close of the evening. We are still in the line. Dear Mother & Dad the ‘drums’ are still going on alright. We get as much practise as we can when we are in the line. I am not doing any trench duties or patrols but I am attached the H.Q. Company & I only do fatigues now & again & practice when I can. I can tell you I am on a good thing."
Lionel King, 11th May 1918
"I was awakened this morning by someone tugging my leg nearly off & yelling “Stand to, Stand to” at the unearthly hour of 3:15am. No Sunday morning lay in when we are in the line. We had a Church Service & the ‘Drums’ attended. We played 3 Whitsun hymns & the hymn for absent friends (Holy Father in the Mercy). It is the first time we have played at a service (other Sundays it had rained) & we played very good in my idea we have been having some grand weather this past week. It rained a little after ‘Stand to’ this morning & I thought we were in for another wet Sunday. Dear Mother & Dad I hope this will find you both quite well. I am still jogging along A.1. I saw Edgar last night when he came up with the rations & he was quite well. We are expecting to be relieved from the line very shortly. I hope Fred is getting on alright & still at the Base. I had a letter from George Oliver the other day. He his still at Cairo. He is a sergeant now. He wrote to me from Hospital. His health was never very great. The last news I heard of Bert Warren was that his hand had gone wrong & that he was attending a Military Hospital twice a week with it. Harry is not back from leave yet. Edgar expects to go in a week or two. I don’t suppose I shall go till late in the year as it is only 10 months since I had leave. We get pestered with a lot of flies here. I am writing this outside my booby in the sun as there are so many flies inside. My face, arms & knees have got quite brown again. This summer clothing is very comfortable. I do not know what we would do if we had to wear serge. I suppose you are getting some fine weather in Blighty now. I daresay you will be both going for a nice walk this evening. I think I will spend the evening (that’s if things are quiet) with Claude & Harry Warren. They are not very far from here (on the next hill)."
Lionel King, 19th May 1918
"Yes I was issued out with a new helmet & shorts. The weather is nice & bright. We have got another pest now & they are mosquitoes. I am stung nearly all over. Now I will tell you a little of how I am getting on in the Drums. We do three hours practice in the morning & I can tell you I quite enjoy it. We do a little bit of tooting on our own in the boobies & clean up for the C.C.s parade at 5:30pm. We play whilst the boys are having their evening meal. We usual give a mixture if we can. This evening we are beginning with a march than a song march, Irish jigs, march & finish up with the Regimental march & the ‘King’. This programme lasts a little over a half an hour. We are hard up for some up to date music but out here it does not matter much. When Edgar goes to Cairo I am giving him the money to buy a mandolin. Last evening we had a bit of a sing-song. The transport brought a piano up form a Y.M.C.A. It was a fairly good turn out. I think most of us were more interested in a bombardment that was in progress than the concert."
Lionel King, 26th May 1918
"This last two or three days there has been a fairly strong wind & it is very welcome. When there is no wind we are pestered with a lot of little flies not much bigger than a pins head. We had two days like that. The flies nearly drove us potty. They got in our ears, eyes & up our nose. We had to stop playing as it was torture to let the flies have their own way. Yesterday & this morning we were able to continue our practise without any interruption. I am getting on fine with the flute. I am getting a sight reader too! It is about the best thing that could have happen for the ‘Drums’ to come into existence for I am learning now more than ‘Borhinger’s’ could ever have taught me. I saw Edgar yesterday & he was quite well. Harry is ditto. Edgar is looking forward to his leave. I will tell you a little bit about where I am aboding. Five of us are in a booby in a grove of trees. They are Eucalyptus trees. We are fairly comfortable. They are a decent set of fellows in the ‘Drums’. I often go round & see my old pals in ‘A’ Company."
Lionel King, 2nd June1918
"We are in the line now. The ‘Drums’ are attd to H.Q. again & we are having a fairly decent time. We are in another plantation of Eucalyptus trees. I can tell you it is fine to be surrounded by trees. The weather is grand. We do not find the heat half so bad here as was on the desert. I suppose we have to thank the trees for that. It is Sunday today. We have just had a Church parade. All men who could be spared from the line attended. I set to & washed my drill clothes after the parade. Now I am going to try & write four letters, this is the first. Edgar is on leave at Cairo. He went two days ago. I am sorry to say Harry us in hospital. He has Appendicitis. He was taken queer whilst on a digging fatigue. I have not heard how he is progressing. We have not had a mail up since I wrote last & at present there is no signs of one coming up. I hope Fred is still keeping in the best of health. I hope he has got his transfer by now. Dear Mother & Dad how is the garden looking now? Tell me what you have in it in your next letter. We had some beetroots dished up the other day with the dinner. They were quite a change. They were just put in the Dixie as they were & we winder what they were at first when we took the lid of & found them floating on top. By the way we had the Divisional concert party the night before the batt moved into the line. They were very good indeed. Two fellows were dressed up as girls. They played their part well."
Lionel King, 9th June1918
" This is the fifth day of Edgar’s leave. I hope he is having a good time. I only wish I could have gone with him. I haven’t heard how Harry is getting on. We have had several hot days here just lately. We have been issued with mosquito nets. They do everything to prevent us getting malaria fever. Troops out here are extremely lucky I think. It’s like playing at soldiers sometimes. We in the ‘Drums’ polish up our buttons & belts & to see us you wouldn’t think we were in the line."
Lionel King, 13th June1918
"I expect Edgar back tomorrow so I will let you know how he has enjoyed himself in my next letter. I have no news of Harry. I am glad Fred was in the ‘Pink’ when you wrote. I have not kept my promise to write & written to him but I will write after I have finished answering this mail. I had photograph taken yesterday with the ‘Drums’. I will let you have one or two as soon as I get them. I should like you to have a photo of me in my booby but I don’t know how I could get it taken."
Lionel King, 17th June1918
"We have just had breakfast which consisted of tea, bread, fried bacon & some smoked alberts or haddocks which we procured from the regimental canteen. I then tided up my kit & booby & my self. We have no parade today except a church parade at 6:15 this evening. The weather is at its best. Of course the flies are very troublesome during the hot weather. I am in the best of health at present. By the way I knew there was something I had to mention. I did not write to you mid week as I was inoculated for Typhoid & it made me feel groggy for a couple of days. All I felt good for was to loll & lop about all the time. I was excused duty for 48 hours so I was not troubled in anyway. I saw Edgar couple of days ago. He looks well after his holiday. I am enclosing a photograph of him & 3 others from this batt. Edgar had a photograph of himself alone. He has not got them yet. I will send one on when I get it. I have not had a very long talk with Edgar of how he enjoyed himself as he was on duty when I saw him. He brought me a fairly good mandolin. One of the signalers on H.qts has one too & last night we played together & the boys around joined in with their voices & we were a happy little crowd. We kept it up till lights out & we had to make our beds without a light. It was a good job Mr Moon was out or I am afraid we should have had to disobeyed orders & lit a candle. If you know anyone who has any mandolin music to give to a few Tommies who try to get a few hours of enjoyment out of anything I should be greatly obliged. Dear Mother & Dad I hope this will find you both quite well. This weeks mail has not been heard of yet. I wish they would arrived a bit more regularly. I have written to Fred. I have not heard how Harry is getting on. I must tell you it was read out on orders the night before last about Blighty leave. Four applications per company with the usual documentary evidence etc. I don’t think I will waste paper & labour by applying as I suppose it will fizzle out the same as it did last year & the year before. Only a certain class of men get leave to Blighty. You know who I mean. They are not the Tommies. I should dearly love to see Blighty but it is 3 years now since I left so I think I can wait a little while longer for my wish to see you both again. My candid opinion is it won’t be long before we are together again, we are still in the line but things are fairly quiet. "
Lionel King, 23rd June1918
"We are out the line at present & the whole battalion is together. I see quite a lot of Edgar. We usually spend our evenings together. We cannot get any oranges here but we can get plenty of water melons. You would smile to see us with a large slice of melon wetting our ears. They are very cheep. Tomatoes are also very plentiful here. I am glad your garden is getting on alright. Nellie says they haven’t a garden this year. So you see everybody doesn’t spend the spare time on that hobby. Nellie sent me a photograph of herself & her workmates & a photograph of her workshop. She said she was writing to you. I am enclosing a photo of Edgar. I think it is jolly good, don’t you? The weather is still grand out here. Yesterday we went on a bit of a march & the roads were awfully dusty. We were smothered with dust after a very little marching. It isn’t much cop trying to play a flute when so much dust is about. It wants some of the corporation water carts out this way. Do they still water the roads or have they done away with that labour? Dear Mother & Dad I hope this will find you both on the very best of health. We are still getting splendid food here. We are still getting white bread & we can get stuff the Y.M.C.A. now & again. Edgar is trying to get me some today."
Lionel King, 5th July1918
"I am please to say I am still in the pink & Edgar is likewise. Harry was getting on alright when I heard of him last. Now Mother this is especially for you. You have misunderstood what I’m doing in the “Drums”. I will try & explain. A Drum & Fife Band in the Army is known as a “Corp of Drums” & its members are called “Drummers”. I do play a flute but my rank now is really drummer not private. In peace time a drummer has an extra penny a day. It has been ‘washed out’ now. Have I made it plain? I am getting on fine with the flute. Where we are now there is an Indian Military Band & each morning we practise for about an hour with them. We can only play marches with them. It is rather difficult for us as we have to transpose our music. You may not understand but our flutes are a tine lower than their instrument there fore to play together we have to write our music one note or two higher. Anyone who understands music will know what I mean. It is rather a tiresome job writing out music but it is good practise for us. I shall be a full time musician by the time I get home. Well I think that is enough about the “Drums”. I am sorry to say we have no ‘Lovers Lanes’ where we are at present. We are among some rocky hills. They are practically bare except for a tree here & there. It has been very hot here lately. I am writing this in my booby with only my shorts & shirt on. Don’t I miss the lovely swims I use to have last year. Flies are rather troublesome & it is a hard job to keep down the other little fellows as we do not get so over much water."
Lionel King, 22nd July1918
"It is three years today since I left old England so I am writing a short letter for the occasion. Three years!! Wow time flies! I am now entitled to wear four blue chevrons. Edgar & myself are both fairly well. We are still having the hot weather. We have been expecting a mail up but it hasn’t arrived yet. I shall be glad when it arrives. I can write better letters then. I hope this will find you both quite well."
Lionel King, 25th July1918
"Yes I am still going strong in the “Drums”. We played the ‘Ash Grove’ last night for ‘Retreat’. We are still getting plenty of white bread. Our rations are really to much during this hot weather for one can’t eat so over much when it is so hot. The bread soon gets so dry too! Dear Mother I am sorry bit I have no idea as to what message Ernie left in his pay book. They have just been round again about Cairo leave & once again I have given my particulars. When I shall go I don’t know & I don’t suppose anyone else does! "
Lionel King, 29th July1918
"We have been on the move since I wrote last. It is a much better place here. We are away from the hills & rocky ground. There plenty of trees here. They are mostly olive trees. They give plenty of shade. I am sitting under one at present writing the usual. It is extremely hot out in the sun. As it is Sunday today we had a church parade. We were in the sun all through the service & I perspired like anything. After coming off parade I set to & washed my drill clothing & one shirt. Washing clothes is a job I do detest but it has to be done. Edgar is quite well. His ‘booby’ is not far from here. I spent last evening with him. We lushed our selves to a tin of preserved cherries& a tin of unsweetened milk. It was a treat! I am still going strong in the “Drums”. We play at ‘Retreat’ every night & we get a fairly big audience. There is a native village near here. The first night we were here there was such horrible noises coming from this village. We learnt next morning they were celebrating a wedding. We can buy grapes, nuts, water melons & a few odds & ends at the native market."
Lionel King, 4th August 1918
"I am please to say Edgar & myself are still in the ‘Pink’. Yesterday was the anniversary of our Batt landing on Gallipoli. I wonder how many of those boys are with the battalion at the present time. I should really like to know! I don’t think it would be three figures by a long way! I have had no news of Harry. We are having a decent time here. It is rather trying with the heat & so many flies, but one gets use to that. I get plenty of practise on the flute. I am getting on grand. I hope to be a surprise to you when I come home. We are still among the olive trees. The trees do not look very healthy & the grass etc is scorched right up. There are plenty of natives around here. Two women are just passing me now with their water bottles on there head. There are two wells in this neighbourhood & ever so many caves. Dear Mother & Dad I hope you will like the cards I am sending you. I brought them off a native."
Lionel King, 14th August 1918
"The weather here is about the same except it has been dull of an evening for the last two or three days. If we had been in Blighty we would have said “more rain” but out here at this time of the year rain is not thought of. Yesterday we had a very merry time. The Battalion had a sprts day. There were the usual flat races etc, also horse & mules racing, tug of war, band race & several other comical events. I will try & describe a few. First I will tell you how I got on. I entered the potato, obstacle & band races. I lost the heat of the potato race. That race nearly knocked me up. Eight stones that represented potatoes were laid in a line in front of each competitor; the farthest one being about 30 yards & the nearest about 20 yards. Each stone has to be picked up & brought back to the start point & put in a basket in its turn so by the time you have picked up all eight
[second page of the letter difficult to read]
we had to read a piece of paper on which was written a drill exercise. This exercise we had to do & another chap & myself were the only two who stopped, read the paper & did the exercise & though we were not first at the winning post we were giving first & second prize for doing all the obstacles. The band race was a bit of a scream. We had a brass band on the field besides our ‘Drums’. Well our ‘Drums’ & the brass band must have number somewhere near 50 men. As we all ran at once there wasn’t very much room. Of course the big drummers, side drummers, heavy brass instrumentalist had their usual start & us flutist (flute players), light brass & buglers were scratch. We had to run playing our instruments so you can guess what a row we made. Two of the brass band won 1st & 2nd prizes. We behind did not get a look in for the others in front barred our way. Any how it caused some laughter. Other events were:- Sack bumping; teams of 4 in sacks try to knock each other down or out of the ring. One of the funniest events was the Boat race. Teams of 7 men with a pole between their legs. Six had to run backwards & the seventh was a guide. Edgar was in several events. He won a prize for fancy dress. He dressed up as an Egyptian Bint (girl). After the sports our concert party known as the “Walads” (boys) gave a show & they were very decent indeed. We do not get such days very often & I am sure everyone enjoyed themselves. The ‘Drums’ have got a little pup for a ‘mascot’. We call it ‘Drummie’."
Lionel King, 18th August 1918
" I have not heard from Edgar or Harry. I have a bit of news for you I am going on leave to Jerusalem tomorrow for 4 days. I will write to you from there. You must excuse scribble as I a, writing this by candle light & I am in a bit of a hurry. We are leaving here at 8 in the morning & I have to pack up yet."
Lionel King, 3rd September 1918
"I promised to write to you from Jerusalem but it was so much of a rush that I did not feel like writing after I had been sightseeing all day. We only had two clear days in Jerusalem. I am please I took the opportunity of visiting the Holy City. I have several things that I brought there that I will send on in due course. I will tell you my adventures in my next letter."
Lionel King, 10th September 1918
"We finished a eight day trek yesterday & now we are having a few days rest or at least we hope so. I hope you received my letter & two field cards that I have sent since the stunt. I received two very nice letters from you yesterday afternoon. It was a pleasant surprise to find a mail up. I had one from Nellie & one from Renie. So glad to know you were both fairly well & that you enjoyed yourselves at Madame Tussards. I hope this will find you in the best of health. Edgar has not rejoined the Batt yet but Harry joined us just before we started the march. I have tried to let you have a few lines when possible. If we write letters we cannot always post them. While we are on the move it is impossible to get rid of them at all. Well dear Mother & Dad don’t you think our boys have done well out here. As in the last November stunt our batt was in the first line of the attack. Our batt gained their objectives & other troops went through us. We had a few days rest & by that time we were left a long way behind & now we are on our way to catch up to them. We had our instruments issued just before we began the trek & I think we helped the boys a great deal. The time doesn’t seem so long when yu have a little music even if it is only a few mouth organs. We did as many as 15 miles one day but the average is 9 or 10 miles a day. We cannot march as far out here as we did in Blighty. Do you remember our Norwich to Colchester march. Sixty five miles in three days. We could never do that out here. Our kits are much heavier too! It is surprising what we do carry. The ‘Drums’ have their rifles & packs carried so we do not have it so bad. I am sorry I misunderstood your last letter about the photo. I had quite forgotten about the photo’s on the ‘Drums’. Well I have seen them and they were very good but the officer who took them is away in hospital at present so I don’t know if I shall be able to get any. I hope I can for I should like you to see them. By the way Mother you might send me a few of those headache tablets. I do not suffer from the headache very much but the sun & heat knocks me up sometimes & gives me a slight headache so they might do me a bit of good."
Lionel King, 7th October 1918
"I am please to say I am quite well & have been having a fairly decent time. The news we have been having of late has been grand. I think you had better start airing my bed. We have not moved since I wrote last. We have not moved since I wrote last. We have a chance for a swim or two here. We usually have about two hours march then have our midday meal after we have had a good swim. To have a swim & our dinner it takes nearly two hours. The weather is fine. It hasn’t rained since I told you in my last letter. The ‘Drums’ are getting on A.1. We practise for 2½ hours of a morning when we are not on a march & beat “Retreat” at night. I am sorry to say Edgar is back in hospital again. He is at Alexandria. Harry is quite well. Dear Mother & Dad we haven’t a mail up lately. I have been looking for it day by day. Things are going back to their normal conditions now. We a getting bread & fresh meat instead of bully beef & biscuits, I have had two passes into a town that is near by. It is in a dirty condition. It is partly inhabited by Germans by the majority are natives. We can buy a few things there. They charge exorbitant process. For instance they charged me 2 piastres or 5d for a small cup of tea. They had no milk so they put in a little lemon juice. It was like drinking a lemon hot drink. A German woman owned the place. I wonder if the Huns would have paid such a price if things had been vice-versa. I think not? I don’t think I will go there again. How nice it will be to have a cup of tea at home. Do you know I have never thought so much of going home as I have since we have heard the good news. All one can hear now from the chaps is when do you think we will be sent home."
Lionel King, 16th October 1918
"Just a few lines hoping they will find you & all your chums quite safe & in the best of health. Of course at the same time [??] Edgar is the [??]. I suppose you know I met him at reinforcement camp & [??] should [??] he told you the way I went up and spoke to him naturally after four years of foreign clime and a little moustache made a lot of difference & of course you can guess how pleased I was to meet my old school chum named Rohnstead, you might ask if a Mr Elles is an officer in your Batt. Rohnstead knows him as he was our teacher so when you write again you might let me know. Well Lionel dear I must tell you of a sad piece of news and that us my latest letter from Lizzie dated Sept 11th that poor old Dick has been reported killed after all this time but she told me not to take it for granted yet a while and only two or three days ago her mother wrote to me telling me that her dear old Dick had been made a Corporal. I can tell you honestly that Mrs Seaman & her family thought a lot of him. I sincerely hope it is not true."
William E Newport, 16th October 1918
"We have been staying quite near the sea & we have been having some fine times in the water. I think we a starting on the move again soon. I hope we march near the sea so that we can have a bathe after each days march. The weather is still nice & fine out here but we are expecting some rough weather soon. I hope you won’t have a very severe winter in Blighty. During our stay here the battalion has been doing training etc. Yesterday we went for a route march. We marched for two hours then had a two hours halt during which we had a bathe & had our midday meal. We were rather a long time getting back to camp being an hour late when we did eventually get back you can bet the boys were not in the best of humour & when our Brigade Band struck up “The end of the Perfect day” that put the tin hat on it & the boys gave them what is commonly called the “bird”. We can get a little fruit at present. Pomegranates, grapes, water melons, date & figs are fairly cheep when one can buy them but oranges are not in season yet. My didn’t I have a field of oranges last season. I do not care for the prickly pears you mention. They want to much cleaning. Those little prickles are awful if the get in one mouth & fingers. Yes the natives & their customs are very interesting. But aren’t a disgrace of humanity. I don’t think a pig would live in such hovels as one sees out here. How did you used to get on with the different lingos. One word known too well for our liking out here is ‘Bachsheesh’. “Gib it Bachsheesh, ana missheen” (Give me something I am poor) is a one can get from the young & old natives. "
Lionel King, 22nd October 1918
"You will be surprised to know I am in hospital but I am please to say there is nothing much wrong with me now. It is 10 days since I was admitted into the Field Ambulance. I had a temperature of 103 when I left the boys. I was only bad for 3 days then the fever left me & I felt fairly well except feeling a little weak. A week or so here at Alexandria will soon put me right. We were on the march when I left the boys. I marched for two days & the third day I was carried in a wagon & the next day I was sent in the Ambulance. By series of rides in sand carts & motor lorries I reached Beirut & from there a Hospital ship brought me here to Alexandria. I don’t think I shall be kept here long as I am nearly my old self again. Well my dear Mother & Dad what do you think of the news? Isn’t it splendid? We shall soon be together shan’t we? I hope I can get back with the boys for as I came out with them I should like to come home with them. Quite a lot of our boys have been queer. The ‘Drums’ have lost several of its players so it will go bad with them till they get back with the boys. I have not been able to you have a letter before. We had a fine voyage on the boat. We were 36 hours on the water. I never thought I should have another trip on the water before the trip home. I daresay I shall be without your letters for a while now. That is the worst of going to hospital. If we had not been on the move I shouldn’t have gone if I could have helped it. The boys were on a hundred mile march so I could not get along, they had to put me were I could be carried."
Lionel King, 7th November 1918