Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"Soldiers' Letters.

Writing to his mother from England, Private Charles Pitt, of Horsham, says:-

Just a note to let you know all quite well, and having a good time. Had a great sea trip over on the boat from Australia to Suez; had a great time with concerts and boxing contest on the boat, and the time passed very pleasantly. It took five weeks for the trip, and we only had about four days' rough weather altogether, and that was in the Great Australian Bight; all the rest of the journey was very pleasant indeed. We arrived in Suez and went up to our camp at Tel-el-Kebir by train. It is about 50 miles from Cairo, down along the canal. We could get plenty of tomatoes and cucumbers from the niggers. They used to be grown on the irrigation flats, which the Nile floods. I can tell you I was not sorry when we got our move-on orders. We left our camp about nine o'clock one Monday night and went up to Alexandria by train, arriving there about 4.30 on Tuesday morning. Our train was composed of open trucks, and there were about forty of us to each truck. We were taken straight on to our boat from the train, so did not get a chance to have a look around Alexandria. We were brought over to England, where we are now on a boat that was captured from the Germans at the beginning of the war. It was named Derfflingler, and they changed it to Hunscreen. We had a glorious trip over here; it took 12 days, and we had splendid weather all the way. There was always a certain amount of excitement about the trip, as there were supposed to be submarines, but we did not see any. For the last day of the trip we had a torpedo boat for an escort until we got safely into Plymouth Sound. We arrived there about 10 o'clock at night, and came off the boat next morning.

We came straight from Plymouth by train to our camp. On our way we came through Exeter (the place where the big railway smash was a while back), and were each presented with a bun and a bottle of hot tea by the mayoress, and I must say they were very acceptable, as it was about half-past two when we went through there, and it was about seven o'clock when we had breakfast. We got off the train at a place called Tidworth, and marched out to a camp named Park House, No. 3 camp. We were only there for about three days when they discovered we were in the wrong place. We had to pack up and march over to where we are at present, Perham Downs, about four miles distant. We had to climb a couple of hills on our way, and had just about enough of it when we got there, as we had to carry a full pack and our kit bags, and we were not too fit after our spell. We are settled down here now, and are very comfortable. We have huts to live in, and every hut has a stove in it. We used to have coal for fires for awhile, but it is cut out now, as it is supposed to be summer here. The summer here is very like our winter over there, with one exception. We do not have any frosts. We have a very nice camp here. It is well situated on a small hill, between other larger hills. Every thing is lovely and green, and looks very beautiful indeed. It is a big change after Egypt's sand, and a very pleasant one, I must say. We have a couple of nice little villages quite close to the camp, so we can go down there of an evening if we like. We can go anywhere within four miles of the camp. I had four days in London, and had a great look around. Saw all the sights. Would take week to write all about it, so will save it all up till I come home and tell you all about it. Have any amount of football and cricket here, so time passes quickly. Our Company has mounted the best guard in the Battalion up to date, and the General said it was as good as he has seen in the A.I.F. I was in it, so guess it was a good guard. Out of every guard mounted by the variouis companies the best dressed man is picked out, and our hut (No. 16) has easily the best record up to date. Two of the chaps have won the prize twice each, and another chap once." - from the Horsham Times 03 Oct 1916 (nla.gov.au)

"DIED OF WOUNDS.

Private Charles (Jack) Pitt died on the 11th of last month from wounds received whist on active service in France. Deceased, who was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Pitt, of Horsham, enlisted early in the present year and after a short course of training sailed with his battalion for service abroad. A telegram announcing his death was received on Friday from the Defence Department, by the Rev. F. Delbridge, who conveyed the sad intellegence to the relatives of the deceased. During his residence in the Wimmera he followed the occupation of a laborer, an avocation which fitted him for the hardships frequently met with on active service, and when he volunteered for service in the interests of his country was employed by Messrs.Broadbent Bros. as a wheat lumper. 

The late Private Pitt was well known in sporting circles, being a prominent player in the Horsham Junior Football Club, and an active member of various district cricket clubs. Deceased, who was 28 years of age, was married, but his wife pre-deceased him by about 12 months. Other misfortunes which befel hin not long since were the destruction of his home by fire, and a serious injury to one of his legs whilst playinig football with the Horsham juniors. An only son survives. His aged parents and relatives are to be commiserated in their sad bereavement. When the news of his death was made known the flags on the local Town Hall and other buildings were flown at half-mast out of respect to his memory." - from the Horsham Times 19 Dec 1916 (nla.gov.au)