Casterton News and the Merino and Sandford Record (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), Thursday 16 September 1915, page 4


Our Soldiers. On War Service. Private Norman Seymour, writing to his mother, Mrs. T. Seymour, Addison Street, Casterton, on July 22, from camp at Helioplis, Egypt, where he is one of the soldiers left in charge of horses, after expressing delight at re-ceipt of letters from home, says, re-ferring to his brother, Private James Seymour, "My word his luck is in. I feel sure he will go right through. We can only hope for the best. What tale he will have to tell, and won't we all be proud of him. I am as pleased as Punch to think he was one of those at the great landing at Gallipoli. That landing will always live in history. There are no other soldiers in the world who would have done the job so well. A German officer, taken prisoner, said that our men were either mad, or they were the best soldiers in the world. I don't think they were mad. They did the best thing possible. Everyone here seems to think that the Dardanelles is the key to unlock the box." So when our fellows beat the Turks, the war ought to be nearing an end. A lot of troops left here for the front yesterday. A few lads from home (Abe Stanford, Malcolm Mc-Donald from Nareen, Mick Larkin from Wurtwurt Koort and Hector Patterson went back for a second turn at the front. Hector Patterson soon got over his wounds. They were only slight. The last of my old mates that I used to be with in the depot at Broadmeadows went too. I thought when I left them in Victoria to get into this, that I would be the first to the front, but I am sure now we will be the last. I might he better off where I am, but a fellow doesn't like to come over this far and see none of it. But, what is to be, will be, and growling won't help it, although it is hard when a fellow sees them all marching away to the front, singing and happy, just like going to a picnic. The spirit of our fellows it wonderful. They know what they are going into, and yet I don't think they were ever happier in their lives. A fellow is proud to be an Australian. Our commanding officer and five stretcher hearers went yesterday too. C.O. Captain - , is a real white man. He nearly went mad with joy when he received the word to pack up and go. Before he left, he gave us great praise, said we had done our work perfectly, and that he knew himself things got sickening waiting here. He said our horse lines were the cleanest and best in the camp, and he felt proud that he could go and tell the Colonel how well we had put up with things. We take real pride in our camp, and our tent is the pride of the lot. Further on the writer says : "I met young Arthur Marshall the other day; my word he has grown and is looking real well. His own mother won't know him when he gets home. I also met young Les Rae, Jack Jeffreys, and Ern Vickery. Ernie Livock came over to see me last night, but I was out and missed him. I also saw Don Fisken, who used to bake for Jack Stewart. I will soon be 12 months a soldier, as I enlisted on September 15th last year. Fancy, I will he 22 on the 10th. I'm sure to celebrate that birthday in Egypt. Al-though things are pretty good here, I wouldn't mind having a look at the old green hills again."