ANZAC Sons

by Allison Marlow Paterson

  Jack Price

  While Jack was hoping soon to reach the firing line, further north in Belgium, George had returned to the front line near Hill 60. He noted with discontent on 8 October that he had spent his 24th birthday in the trenches. Hill 60 was a small rise in the landscape that afforded significant advantage to the enemy forces who held the area, particularly the snipers who posed a constant threat to the soldiers moving about those trenches that were in range.

  October 12th, 1916

  Dear Jim

  As I am sitting in the dugout I thought I would drop you a few lines but have no news to tell you but am well and that’s about the main thing. I wrote to Dad and Albert a few days ago we were out for a few days spell then, it was my birthday the other day so kept it up in military style by going into the trenches that day. We are not allowed to say what part of the line we are in but are in where there has been much heavy fighting but isn’t bad at present, while we were out I often used to see Amos, Charlie [Cockcroft] and Ewin they have just joined their Battalion but Tom hasn’t joined up yet they don’t seem to fancy it at all. I am well used to it now, Ewin was telling me that he is getting a lot of letters, Charlie and I went to a concert one night, Ewin wouldn’t come, he didn’t seem to shift from the camp, Charlie is just the same talk for a month without stopping young Charlie Wales is with them also I saw Harry Burrrows he is back again was only slightly wounded. I got Mother’s letter saying that she got my letter about receiving the parcel well I told you a long while ago that I got both parcels although one was travelling five months it was as good as gold when I got it. Well Jim I will now close hoping all are well,

  I remain

  Your affectionate Bro

  Geo

  You remember me telling you about that chap named Lousada that said he used to go to school with the Alfords at Warragul he was killed up on the Somme, he was a great mate of mine up till he went to the 21 Battalion.

  The first of the Field Service postcards George sent from the trenches.

  George now sent the first of many government-generated Field Service postcards that the Marlow brothers posted home to their family from the front line. While designed to bypass the censor and thus speed mail delivery, Field Service postcards represented their own form of censorship, with soldiers crossing out pre-printed lines which did not apply, leaving only the words officially supplied. While far more impersonal, they were popular with weary soldiers or those with little time to write before the mail closed as a means of briefly reassuring their families that they were alive and well and that letters from home had been received.

  Figure 29: Field Service cards were both a means of censorship and rapid communication.

  The soldiers of I Anzac Corps were astonished when they were suddenly ordered to leave the Ypres sector and return to the devastated Somme front. They were to prepare for an attack that would finally secure the higher ground of Bapaume. Now reinforced after the disaster of Fromelles, the 5th Division went into the line at Gueudecourt. The 1st, 2nd and 4th divisions were soon to follow. At the same time, as the Australians were en route from Ypres to the Somme, the weary soldiers were required to cast their vote in the impending conscription referendum.

  As November approached, autumn rain turned the shattered battlefields into a sea of mud. Trenches were filled with muddy water, roads and routes to the front line became impassable, exhausted troops sank into thick mud with every step, cursing as they pulled their feet from the morass. Standing up to their knees in mud in the trenches, the troops were to endure a bitter winter on the Somme. The conditions were compounded by the cold weather that was now descending. The incidence of trench foot quickly soared and the front-line troops were instructed to massage whale oil into their feet to protect them from the debilitating condition.

  George was camped at Montauban, some nine kilometres from the Gueudecourt front. He had grown increasingly concerned as he waited to hear from his mate Ray Leed. When the opportunity arose he set off to find Ray’s battalion, but could not locate his mate. The bad news was to come to George from Mologa. He was distressed to discover that Ray had not been the only Mologa boy killed. On 15 July as the 5th Division had moved forward in preparation for the disastrous Fromelles attack of 19 July, Ray and his mate Pat Ryan had both lost their lives. They were buried close to each other at Rue du Boix Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, five kilometres from Fromelles. Pat was 23, a farm labourer who had enlisted in July 1915 and transferred from the 22nd Battalion to the 57th in February 1916. While training in Egypt, his parents had been notified that their son was listed as dangerously ill with pneumonia; just six months later, they were to receive the worst news of all.1

  October 25th

  My Dear Mother,

  Just a few lines to say I am well hoping all at home are the same. I haven’t time to write a letter. Well today I was over to Ray Leeds Battalion inquiring for him but no one knew anything of him, it is the first time I have been anywhere near his division since I have been in France, well I got a shock when I got back to my unit there was a letter from you dated September 3rd saying that he and Pat Ryan had been killed, I told Amos, he is about 100 yds from me, there are only us two that have escaped so far. Charlie Fyffe, Hughie Johnson and Charlie Wales are well. I got a letter from Jim today and got 6 others a few days ago dated August 27th. I suppose the parcel will be along any day. It is wet and muddy, we have had some frosts. I will write some letters when I get the chance.

  Goodbye

  George

  Jack Price was now with the 46th Battalion and had experienced the perils of the front-line trenches. He now understood that luck played a considerable part in the survival of the soldier on the Western Front. He wrote to Albert, describing some of the hazards of service that came not from the enemy lines …

  France

  Monday, October 30/1916

  Dear Albert

  Just a line or two to let you know that I am still well. I hope you are all the same. I had a card from Allan yesterday morning. It is the only mail I have got since I joined up the Batt. I joined the Batt about 2 weeks ago up in Belgium and am in the C Company so that will be my new address. The Reinforcements all got their letters allright when they join the Batt. There is another Jack Price in my Company but a different Platoon. We shifted down here to France the other day and are billeted in a village. We get a lot better treatment since we joined up plenty of cigarettes and some gift stuff. Things were fairly quiet up at the last place but I think they will be a bit different next time we go in. I was on guard the other day and our orderly got a punch in the nose. They are a rough mob some that you strike over here in the clinks. We have been out on a route march this morning and doing some Battalion drill. How is Mologa getting on. I suppose Ralph Alford will be just about leaving by now. What Battalion is Geordie attached to now. He must be very lucky to get this far allright. By what they say he is among those that went through a bit. Allan and them are lucky to be so long over the other side. I hear that they have had 6 days kings leave lately. Well Albert I think I will close by wishing you all a merry Xmas and a happy new year from your old pal.

  Jack

  ENGLAND, OCTOBER

  In England, the men of the 3rd Division continued their training in the techniques of trench warfare: night training attacks, sleeping in the trenches and bomb-throwing were just some of the activities listed on the schedule. Allan and Percy, unaware that their youngest brother had enlisted, were anxious for Charlie to arrive prior to their departure to France and keen to pass on news of their comrades and Australian successes. As the month drew to a close the prospect of their first Christmas away from their family prompted early messages of Christmas and New Year wishes to ensure the long mail journey did not cheat their loved ones of their thoughts.

  Percy penned a number of letters in which he, like Allan and George, voiced his surprise that Charlie had chosen to marry:

  Lark Hill

  Sunday 1 Oct

  Dear
Albert

  … Well Albert we had the King out to see us; he reviewed the troops, and then we had a march past, it took an hour and half for all the troops to go past, his arm must have been tired, we were not marching in fours but twenty wide. It was a terrible wet day, it made it miserable. I suppose you would see it in the paper it was all the third division, and all the reinforcements. Well Albert I got quite a surprise when you mentioned about Charlie being married, I never thought it was coming off so soon, good luck to him … Lets know who Jim’s tart is, he is always talking about the new one. I hope you are having a good time with Myrtle lets know if its coming off soon …

  Dear Mum and Dad

  … We had the King out to see us last week, I was not talking to him, he had a very wet day. There was a big crowd of men, when they were all lined up. The King reviewed the troops and then there was a march past, it looked all right. We have had some nice weather lately, just like spring time, they are still carting in hay over here, they have enough men with one wagon, to do two or three in Australia. We are going out to the trenches next week, for five days they have trenches here like those in France, about three miles from the camp, it will be very good. We got a letter from George yesterday, he was well, when he wrote he was having a rest. You have a daughter now. I got quite a surprise when I heard I never thought it was coming off so soon …

  5 Oct

  Dear Mum and Dad

  Just a few words, I have no news, we are getting plenty of rain, I do not think it will ever stop. We had a letter from George, he says it is terrible wet, he was saying he met Gordon McKay. Well Mum I will not be sorry when we go to France the camp life gets sickening…

  Lark Hill

  8th Oct

  Dear Jim

  Just a few lines Jim, but I don’t know what I can tell you. Well Jim Charlie has broke the ice, you will not be long after by your advance; don’t you think he was silly to break his independence so soon. We had a lovely trip out to the trenches this week, they were out at the back of the camp, about four miles, it rained all the time we were going out, and while we were there. The first night we had tents to sleep in, but the next night was a night attack, and it did not rain a little bit; we were out till five in the morning, I can tell you it was good. The trenches were all chalk, and we were white when we came out of them. It is all chalk after you dig down about eight inches, it is funny how things grow. We have been on bomb throwing this last few days, its very interesting we had the mills [hand grenade] …

  Allan sent Albert a studio photo recently taken in London. Inside this envelope was also a newspaper clipping from The Argus describing the Australian role in the taking of Pozieres. The reader could be forgiven for thinking that Pozieres had been a pleasant afternoon sports meeting.

  Allan in London.

  New York, Aug 7

  American correspondents, writing from the Western battle-front, praise the gallantry and mettle of the Australians at Pozieres. They point out that the Allies bombardment was so complete that it destroyed all the German defences, shelters and entanglements. The Australians with the Sussex Regiment, then advanced, and captured six lines of trenches north-west of Pozieres without striking a blow. They carried a large work at the intersection of Thiepval road, continuing their vigorous advance towards Thiepval. The operation was the most brilliant in the Somme offensive, and resulted in the position being carried rapidly and with certainty. At one point the bombardment had buried some German machine-gunners. In one counter-attack the Germans found their retreat cut off by the British fire, and the Germans threw up their hands. They were taken prisoner, and the Australians unconcernedly dug themselves in in their new positions under a sweltering sun.2

  8th October 1916

  Dear Old Albert

  … Well Albert we are still enjoying ourselves. In my last letter I told you we were going into the trenches on the Monday. Well on Monday it was raining like mad, but at 9 oclock we all started off. We had to march out about 4 ½ miles to the trenches still raining like blazes, we went into them for about an hour then came out for dinner. Then we went back again still raining Albert, till tea. We had tea then they told us we had to sleep in tents, anyway that was not to bad. They put 15 of us in a round tent but still that was better [than] out in the pouring rain. We got up at 6 had breakfast then went in the trenches again, it was still raining. We came out for dinner then we went back again. We had a big night attack and got to bed at 5.30 in the morning. It was still raining like mad. All the time we were in the trenches the MG Section never dug any trenches but the other lads did. We had breakfast about nine and we never went back till 1 oclock. It was dreadful in the trenches but the rain had ceased. The doctors got together and took us out at 2.30 and we came home. We were supposed to stop for five days but we have to go out again. Albert it just reminded me of when we were kids when we used to play in the water. By hell we had a pack to carry out there too. We had a spare pair of boots shirt singlet cardigan jacket socks underpants waterproof and over coat. Well Albert we have just finished a course of bomb throwing. It is not a bad game but you cant beat the machine gun. I got a letter from Jack Price the other day he is in France but not in the firing line. He says it is good over there where he is. Well Albert you are going to have a good year alright and I am glad of that. I have got my photo but it is rotten all the same I am sending you all one. Percy and I are going to be taken together one of these days. Our officer just came into the hut and wants our section all taken together so I will send one home. Well Albert they tell us they are going to give us another 4 days leave, so that will be good. I am looking out for Charlie now he will soon be here. I was sorry to hear about the boys getting wounded but I suppose it cant be helped. Well Albert I think I have told you all the news so I will close hoping all are well as it leaves me at present. Hoping all you are the same.

  Goodbye Albert

  I remain

  Your Loving Brother

  Allan

  No word of making a move yet. It is raining here today.

  A week later Percy wrote to his parents:

  Lark Hill

  15 Oct

  Dear Mum & Dad

  Well Mum we are still alive and still in England. We are going to the trenches for a few days next week. I hope it does not rain, like it did last time we was out there. The voting is tomorrow there will be a lot voting against conscription, if it comes in, it will cause a stir. We had a brigade stunt this week, we were advancing as in battle and then it ended up in a sham fight, we camped for dinner near a wood, there was a bee hive near where we stopped, of course we had some of the honey it was very good. We saw plenty of hares and pheasants, I would have liked to had a gun. Sunday is a very quiet day, nothing to do but to write letters. We had a letter from Geordie he was out of the trenches for a spell, he met Charlie Fyffe and Uhen Johnson they are joining his brigade. Tom Alford was not with them. We have not heard from Jack Price lately. Well Mum news is terrible scarce. I think I will close wish love to all from

  Your Loving Son

  Percy

  Allan also wrote to Albert and his parents:

  Sunday 15-10-16

  Dear Old Albert,

  Well Albert this is the second letter to you that I am writing for this mail and I hope you get them both. We expect a mail tomorrow, Well Albert this is the coldest day that ever I witnessed in my life, oh it is a brute. The other day they issued us with straw bunks and pillows and it makes a big difference too. Last week we were out on field operations and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We were out in some lovely fields and there was a few steep hills to climb. Talk about hares, I never saw so many hares in my life before I tell you it brought back old memories when we used to shoot the b_. They tell me if a man shot a hare over here they would dam near get hung for it. Well Albert we are off to the camp trenches again on Tuesday morning until Friday. I hope it don’t rain again, but it looks very much like it. If ever it looks like rain here you can depend on getting it. Well Albert
we are going to move at last thank God. Our Colonel told us last night that we are going to move to France and we would be going sooner than we expected. Well Albert it is time we made a move. I have been in the army 8 months and I reckon I am fit for the fray. The boys over in France reckon we are cold footed. They reckon we are holding the front line of trenches at Lark Hill. Albert I will tell you why we have been so long. Now none of the other boys have trained for open warfare and we are doing a lot of it. Now they reckon by the time we get there we will have a lot of open work. I got another letter from Geordie yesterday. He is well and has met Hughie [and] Charlie over there. Well Albert I thought I had finished studying but have not yet. On Saturday O’Donnel our MG Officer picked 4 of us to go through a course of scouting. In the day time we are on the gun, and at night time we have to go out scouting for the enemy. You see we have listening posts out and we have to go out to them at night to listen what the enemy is doing and we have to send word back to our officer what is going on. We have to learn the dot dash business and we carry these machines with us. When we got over here they cut all this out, but now the 4 of us have to learn it. There is none of the other boys from our way in it. Every company has its own scouts as well. Well Albert I done my washing yesterday. I washed 1 shirt underpants singlet and 5 pair of socks and handkerchiefs. I have got it up drying. I rather like washing now when I go back I think I will do my own. I don’t know for certain Albert anyway we will see…