33 Green Lane Rd
Leicester
2.9.17
My Dear George
I am almost ashamed to write to you after keeping you so long for a letter. I hope you will forgive me and I’ll promise to write oftener in the future. I was away on my holidays when I got your last letter and that is why I was so long sending your parcel. I hope you got it safely and liked the contents. I sent it last Thursday. I began a letter to you on Thurs and some thing or other put me off. We had Allan here on Friday. We were finely pleased to see him. He had to go away again on Saturday so it was a short stay. He looks well but thinner than when we saw him twelve months ago. How the time flies. We hope to see Percy soon. Allan says he will be sure to have leave before long. When shall you be having leave again? It’s about time you did. We should love to see you again. Cousin Flo was here so she saw him this time too. She missed him last year as she was away at the time. He didn’t half tease her. We were glad to hear in your last letter you had been to see the boys. I can guess how pleased you all were to meet again. Allan says Charlie is much thinner. Clem has been in a rest camp in India again. He sounded rather doleful when we heard last. He said he was not lucky enough to get “winged”. Allan made us laugh. He said he would like a nice little wound that would mean Blighty for a bit. He spoke as if he could get one to order. We are having a terrible lot of wet here lately. The harvest will spoil, I fear. We hope this will find you still quite safe and well. Have you had a mail from home lately?
Mother and the girls all send their love and say they hope to see you soon.
With best love
I remain your affectionate cousin
Ida
Drayton
Uppingham
September 8th
My Dear George
I was pleased to hear from you again & to hear that you were well. It would be quite a treat not being in the trenches for so long wasn’t it? Have you gone in yet? It would be very nice to see your brothers, it was nearly 2 years since you had seen them wasn’t it? I was staying at Leicester when Allan came, so of course I was able to see him, he had a very short stay with us, but it was very nice to see him. I am thinking of going to Leicester to live on the 1st of October, so will give you my address when I write you again. I am not quite sure if I shall go, but shall know on Wednesday. At last we are having some decent weather, it rained nearly every day I was at Leicester. It was the wettest August for 50 years. You haven’t had very good weather either have you. It has made the harvest very late here but have been getting on well these last few days. I had a letter from Jim about a fortnight ago so expect you have a mail in. I have no news of interest so will close Trusting this finds you quite well.
With love & best wishes
Your Loving Cousin Flo
George appears to have met a young lady during his stay in England and was now corresponding with her. Maudie was one of four ladies whose names and addresses appear in his notebook, although he never mentions her in his letters home. The Australians were often stopped in the street and asked home to dine; they were so far from loved ones, many with no English relatives to visit, that such offers of hospitality were welcomed with alacrity.
325 Wilmot Street
Bethnal Green
London E2
12/9/17
Dear George
Received your ever welcome letter, & was pleased to hear you are still in the pink.
I am glad to hear that the weather is keeping fine over there, as it must be much better for you, the weather is just lovely in London, in fact everything in the garden would be A1 if it were not for those beastly air raids, last week we had a big moonlight raid & I can tell you it was a bit OT [hot?] I think I shall have to go out to Australia where they don’t get air raids. Well George at last I have had my photo taken, & as soon as I get them I will forward one on to you, that is if they are good. Have no more news so will conclude wishing you the best of luck.
With Fond Love
Sincerely Yours
Maudie xxxxxx [Miss Maude Mealing]
Of course some invitations were not as well-intentioned as others, as Tom Alford’s letter to his mate Jim may suggest. Tom was enjoying his leave in Brighton, although he was clearly shocked by the number of maimed soldiers who were recovering in hospitals in the area:
London
Sept 26th 1917
Dear Old Jimmy
Expect you will be wondering what the ‘ell I’m doing over here. Well I’m on my leave & I’ll give you the oil its just the thing. I got it a bit before I expected it but it is just as well as the weather has been real tip-top. I’m due to go back tomorrow but am going to take a day or so extra if all goes well. We just came back from a week at Brighton at the seaside. Had a real ripping time. You know the seaside air etc, & there’s plenty of little brides about. Talk about females. This country is just full of them. I don’t know what half of them will do for a man. I’ve not been sight-seeing much used to spend most of the day on the beach & go to the theatre at night. Any amount of Music along the beach, perriots, orchestras etc. It is one of England’s premier watering places. So you can guess what it was like. We were staying at a place overlooking the sea. Didn’t go in Bathing as it was a bit cold. Talk about getting lazy I’d hardly stand up. Don’t know how I’m going to cotton on to work again. Brighton was full of wounded principally legless and armless. By God it was pitiful to see them, thousands with only one leg or one arm & it was not an uncommon sight to see one with no legs at all. Yet the poor buggars seem happy. I expect they’ll feel it later on all the same. There was an air-raid here last night, but they kept them off London itself pretty well. Only three killed I think. Look Jim our aircraft is absolutely up to shit along side of Fritz. He has done pretty well as he liked up till lately. It used to make me rave and curse the way he carried on last winter in France. Our buggars were never about when they were wanted. Well Jim old sport I was so sorry to hear of poor Alberts death. I heard a long while ago but I didn’t know which one. Poor little buggar he didn’t reign long. Bear up old cock and remember me to your people. I know how you will feel it especially as some of the buggars around Mologa show scant sympathy in their actions. I wish to Christ it was over. Must say I’ve had a very lucky run so far & I am missing a big stunt now. My Fabby just tells me not to put too many lies I stayed at her flat last night & am writing in the sitting room. She is buzzing about so you will have to excuse mistakes. She is a bonzer little girl. Pesters the bludie life out of me. I tell you if a man can get through this war it is an experience. I know you would like to be in it and take the risk. Expect by the time this reaches you harvest will be near at hand again. Time soon goes. It was a poor harvest here and in France this year too much wet. Well must close this now hoping you are all well
I am your old pal
Tom Alford.
Tell G. Johnson if he wants a girl he better come to London & he can have his pick of a lot.
FRANCE, SEPTEMBER
As Allan crossed the channel, Charlie was writing to his mother:
2nd Sept. 1917
My dear Mother,
… I got a post card last week from Geordie he was quite well he is near that place where poor Albert is buried. We are still out of the trenches and having a splendid time, it is the easiest time I have ever had since I have been in the army, and we get plenty to eat, we are camped in a big barn which belongs to the Mayor of the village, we can buy coffee, bread, milk, and anything that we want, they are very fine people. I cut one of the old lady’s son’s hair yesterday and she gave me a lovely drink of coffee and scalded milk I can tell you I enjoyed it tip top, there are a terrible lot of apple trees about here, the trees grow a great height, but some of the fruit is not very nice, there are also pear trees here and the pears are grand. Well mother I have no news as I don’t see much and I wrote to you last week, I am sending this note with a letter for Pearl, she will send it on to you, I hope you are all well and that you are no
t worrying too much over us, I will say goodbye for this time with love and sympathy.
I remain
Your Loving Son
Charlie E
Percy is here and is quite well he may be writing to you today.
George replied to his mother who had written to warn him that he had lost the young lady Sarah had considered promised to her son. As George had commented in May, he was not concerned that Winnie Price was being courted by another local man. Somewhat defensively, he added that there were plenty of options for him abroad.
France
September 4th 1917
My Dear Mother
A few lines to let you know I am sending a small parcel home hoping that you will get it alright. I have received two letters from you lately dated the 19 and 26 June. They were the only two I got from Ausie. You say I have lost Winnie Price well I didn’t know that I had her anyway there are plenty in England and here too. One of our chaps have just come back from leave to England he told me he met Allan over there I didn’t know he had gone he told me when I met them that he expected it soon. Yes I used to hear from Miss Lowrie but haven’t had a letter from her for a long time. I met Tommy Gray a few nights ago he looks well he is a saddler in the Light Horse and a good job too never has to go in the firing line, he is expecting leave to England again soon, he’s lucky don’t you think. Some of our chaps are getting a few days leave to Paris I would like to see the place, they say it is better than London. Well we are still out of the line we have had a long spell now. It has been lovely this last two days I hope it continues for awhile we wont have much more good weather …
Charlie wrote to George:
Monday
September 10th 1917
My Dear Geordie,
Just a few lines to say we are all well we have received no word from you for some time the only word I have had was a post card which came some time ago. I hope you are well I wrote to you last week and I think Allan wrote when he was in England … I heard that your division had gone to the line, we are having a grand time here and having real good weather this last week …
Two days later, Charlie wrote to his mother with the news that he had received a letter from George:
Sept. 12th 1917
My dear Mother,
… we are all well and out of the trenches I got a letter from Geordie last night he is still out of the line and is quite well, Allan is back from England I suppose he told you all about his trip, he had to give up one stripe as there were a lot of N.C.O. come over out of another division and there were to many for the company, he being a temporary sergeant had to go back to corporal … We are still in the same place, I think I told you about being in a show Platoon the other day, well we won it easy the officers gave me great praise for the way in which my rifle and equipment etc was cleaned, we are going before the Colonel on Friday he is giving us a decent prize also the officers out of our company. I will tell you what we get next time I write. I will close for this time with love and my sympathy.
I am Your Loving Son
Charlie
Percy wrote:
In the field
September
My Dear Mother, Father & Jim
Just a few lines to let you know we are all well still in the same place, I think we will be shifting soon. Allan is back from leave, he had a good time, he did not like coming back. Well Mum, we were out on a route march yesterday we were going nearly all day. I was glad when it was finished, we get plenty of route marches here. They seem to delight in giving us route marches. We had a letter from Geordie the other night he was not in the trenches when he wrote, he has had a long run out this time. They are busy carting in their hay here now, the women have to do a lot of work, there are very few young men about here. We ought to be getting another mail soon, it’s a good while since we had the last. Well Mum, its very amusing trying to understand some of the people. The sports that was supposed to come off are knocked in the head. I will have to close now no more news hoping all are well.
I remain Your Loving Son
Percy
Following another delivery of mail, Charlie penned a reply to his mother:
… I was very sorry to hear that Pearl has been so ill, in her last letters she was getting on splendid and the baby was splendid, but she must have taken a bad turn, according to their letters. Poor Pearl has had a very severe time, I feel sorry for her. I hope that by this she is quite well and that they are both getting on alright. I was glad to hear that there was another payment on the wheat and I hope it will be followed up with a little more. There seems to have been a great go in with the Queen business, so the Mayor’s Queen won easily, I bet he would spend a few pounds to win. I believe Billy Jones and Nellie Gamble are engaged they has started young enough … I got a letter from Geordie the other night he was well and out of the line. Do not at any time put my letters in the papers as I do not care about it. I will write a longer letter tomorrow so I will close for now as I am in a hurry, we are having a grand time here …
Allan was finally promoted to sergeant, having briefly reverted to corporal. His rank was now permanent, a fact that he was clearly pleased to report to his family. He also described his pleasure at the sight of the lovely French countryside:
In the field
13-9-17
My Dear Mum & Dad
… I received your most welcome letter & no one knows how delighted I was. No doubt you are glad you have finished your cropping but it wont be long before you are cutting it down again. Well dear mum I am pleased to hear you are getting my letters now. We get yours pretty often well you know there is no use growling. We are still out of the trenches but for how long we don’t know but hope for the best. I was terrible surprised to hear that about the Barber girl but as for D Smith I am not. I use to see him doing things when I was there and always told him to give it up, but don’t say anything …Well Auntie Florrie tells me in her letter about Myrtle Stone and Lowe but I know better mum you don’t [know] as much about that as me. Where we are now the French people are very busy with the harvest and different lads are helping them after parade. Percy has just come in on a big load of hay. The other night a big load came in and I thought I would give a hand well I got up and threw off a few sheaves and blisters started to rise so Allan got down. Where we are now it is just like home. We have a bonza time. The best I have had since being in the army. We had a letter from Geordie the other night he is well as it still out of the trenches. What a fine spell he has had. But good luck to him. Well mum I am going to a school on Sunday it lasts a month. I was pleased as punch as I was made temporary sergeant about 2 months ago and so reinforcements came in and I was reverted to Corporal but to morrow I will have my three stripes back again and will be of permanent rank so that is good. It was only for a week that I was reverted. I am sending you three photo. I hope you like them alright. Well dear mum & dad I think I have told you a lot of news this time so will say goodbye for the present. I don’t think we will be home for Xmas but may get home for the proceeding one.
I remain
Your Loving Son
Allan
Charlie wrote to Sarah:
… I was sorry to hear that Pearl had been so ill I hope that she is better by now, I thank you for sending the fowl to her, I am glad that the little baby is fine. Percy and Al got a good few letters Al got a parcel from Ida with a nice cake and some lollies it was tip top, we have not received your last parcels yet but we will get them alright as we have got all the parcels you have sent so far … We are still out of the line and will be out for some time we are having a grand time here the best we have ever had. I got a letter from Geordie through the week he was quite well and was out of the line. Percy and Al are quite well. Percy got a letter from Auntie Florrie saying that Mrs Ogilvie died, she must have had an awful death.4 Well dear mother I have no news much this time so will draw to a close with love and sympathy to you all. I will write to Jim tomorrow so goodbye for this time.
I remain
Your loving son
C.E.
The 38th Battalion remained billeted close to the French town of Devres near the coast where the men enjoyed rest, the pleasant countryside and opportunities to help the French villagers with their daily routine. Training continued with the 3rd Division preparing for the role it would play in Third Ypres. By late September the men were once again moved forward to the support areas of the front line. Unlike George, they would not take part in the battles of September.
FIFTEEN
I WAS 15 YDS FROM MARLOW
WHEN HE WAS HIT …
MENIN ROAD PUSH, BELGIUM
In an effort to reinvigorate his plan for the capture of the high ground surrounding Ypres, Haig now placed General Plumer in command of the southern Gheluvelt sector, just to the north of Messines where Plumer and Monash had been successful two months earlier. General Gough was to continue to lead the advance on the battlefields to the north of Ypres. Plumer decided to take the Gheluvelt Plateau in a series of ‘bites’, not unlike his successful Messines campaign in which the infantry would advance no more than 1500 yards (1370 metres) per day under cover of an intense artillery barrage. This approach was designed to provide maximum protection for the attacking troops; it allowed regrouping and reorganisation under a screen of smoke and dust created by the dense bombardment. However, success was reliant on dry weather.
In the few days of preparation prior to the attack George hastily penned a field postcard to tell his mother he had received her letter and would reply as soon as time permitted.
George found a moment to send a field card to his mother before the Battle of Menin Road.
On 20 September the 1st and 2nd Australian divisions were to go into battle side by side for the first time in an attack involving 11 divisions on a 13-kilometre front. To the north was Gough’s British infantry with Plumer’s to the south. The prospect of going into battle with fellow Australians elated the troops who marched by night through the devastated town of Ypres, past the shattered ruins of the once magnificent Cloth Hall, along the Menin Road then on to rough roads constructed of logs to occupy their positions. Three and a half million shells were fired in the week prior to and on the opening day of the Menin Road ‘push’. The weather was mercifully dry, the only water lying in shell holes. As the men waited, it began to rain, although by early morning the rain had ceased.1
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