I am your loving brother
Percy
Hows the new or old girl
Percy (front 2nd from right) in hospital in England.
MOLOGA, MARCH
Among the letters from his brothers, Jim kept one he had received from the father of his mate, Tom Alford. The letter provides some insight into the social divisions of the time. The letter also reveals that life on the farm has not been easy. Jim appears to have been ill, although the nature of his illness is not specified. Throughout his lifetime Jim suffered from severe headaches; perhaps these were now causing him problems.
134 Victoria Avenue
Albert Park
March 12 1918
Dear Jim you will no doubt be a bit surprised a [at] getting a note from me but I have just got a letter from Ella, telling me you were very ill & she said I ought to write you one of my newsey letters but I can tell you for a start that I don’t feel in the best of trim for writing, especially to a sick person. In the first place I am very sorry to hear that you have been so ill & I sincerely hope that you will soon be quite well again, I know you must have had a tough time of it through the summer with your long harvest. I know you must feel a bit lonely too with all your brothers away so long & the loss of two fine boys but cheer up Jim, it makes any one feel very proud of what our boys are doing over at the Front when we see so much rotten flashness and laziness as there is going on this side of the world. I feel as though I would like to get my No 11 in to some of their bread baskets. Melbourne fairly stinks of flashness and spungers (both sexes). We are having a fairly long holiday but cant say as I am enjoying it much as I begrulle [begrudge] both the time & the money but it as [has] done Mrs Alford a lot of good so far & we have seen a lot of old friends & we have a very nice place to stay & it is not very expensive living, we are boarding ourselves & we get things very much cheaper (in most cases) than we can in Mologa & we can always get nice fruit & vegetables & plenty fish & nice meat & ice cream & Kola beer galore. I have had a few days work each week for the last 3 weeks wood cutting, draining & fruit picking out at a place called Mitcham & Ringwood about 16 miles from here we get up about 5 am Mum gets my bit of breakfast in a few minutes we have everything nice and handy. Electric light in the three front rooms & gas stove for the cooking so it is quick & easy & we have a very clean place & nice people just a couple in the house beside ourselves & we are very close to the train & beach & traveling is cheap & go from the door to Ringwood & back (33 miles) for ½ [d]. So you see town traveling is far cheaper than country traveling. I have been getting 1/- an hour & dinner & fair bit of fruit. I like going out it is a great chance after the north, in fact if Tom come back all right I think I will try & get down Mitcham or Ringwood for the balance of my term of life. There are some very fine gardens out that way & some very nice homes & some pretty scenery. I keep the house well stocked with fruit and flowers (Gum leaves). I was over at Williamstown yesterday having a look at the wheat stacks that they are pulling down & I can tell you it would make your back ache to see the waste & destruction with wet weavel & rats & the way the men work beat cock fighting. Generally about 6 or 7 in a batch about an average of two working & the balance looking on we tried to get a look at the shipping but you get a bayonet poked at you at every gate way I suppose it is quite right as there are a lot of sneakes prowling round they say. Well Jim this is rather a ramblin sort of note & I don’t seem to have any very cheery news so will close remember us to your Mother & Father & I do hope you will soon be well again.
Yours respectfully
Thos Alford
C/o Mr St Clair
134 Victoria Avenue
Albert Park
P.S. Hope you have had letters from the boys & that they are alright. I had a nice letter from our Tom
NINETEEN
I HAVE SEEN TOO MUCH OF
BROTHERS BEING TOGETHER
IN THESE BATTLES
BELGIUM, MARCH
Charlie was still at a training facility near Poperinghe and took the opportunity to visit George’s grave. He wrote to his family to describe his brother’s final resting place:
3rd March 1918
My Dear Mother, Father & Jim
This morning I went to the Lyssenthoek Military Cemetery and found poor Geordie’s grave, the cemetery is about ¾ of a hours walk from here, it is a tremendous size of a cemetery there are all battalions and regiments of the British Empire buried there and rank from a private to a major general. There is a party of men who do nothing else but look after the graves, it is on a nice piece of high ground and is a great number of miles behind the line, it could never be disturbed by shell fire. There are Australians of the same Brigade as Geordie buried in the same row. There is a place in England who takes photos of the graves, this I did not know before, but the Corporal in charge told me, so I have written and am getting a photo taken of Geordie’s grave and also of Albert’s. I also made arrangements to have a cross erected similar to Alberts, it will also have a plate on it, the words are - In loving memory of our dear Brother No 2748 Cpl. G. T. Marlow 2 A.L.T.M.B. AIF Died of Wounds 21-9-1917 Erected by his loving Brothers/ The cross is costing me 40 francs (a franc is worth 10d). The cemetery is at the 2nd Canadian C.C.S., the place where Geordie died was the 3rd Canadian C.C.S. which is about 200 yds further up the road I could not find out anything regarding his death only that all his personal things will be sent home to you, the Chaplain who buried him was Major Ambrose C of E who is at present away. Well I do not know if there is anything else I can tell you about it if there is anything you want to know write and ask me and I will answer it. It opened my eye to see such a large cemetery and to know the number buried there. I am still at the school I do not have much to do, I have not heard from Percy yet but there is no need to be anxious about him …
A few days later he wrote again:
March 7th 1918
In the Field
My Dear Mother, Father and Jim,
I am writing a few lines to Pearl so I will send a line or two to you at the same time I have not got too many green envelopes so have to make the most use of them they issue us with them about once a month. I am still at the school having an easy time. I told you before I would be here for about five weeks, I heard this morning that our battalion is moving back for a rest so that is not too bad. Since I have been here I have not had any mail, but I hope to get some next week from Percy and from them in England. I also hope to get some Australian mail in I believe there is another mail in. I wrote to our Quarter Master to send on my mail. I told you that I went and saw Geordie’s grave last Sunday and that I am getting a cross erected over the grave, it will be similar to the one I put over Albert it is costing 40 francs (10d) is the value of a franc, it will also have a plate with the name etc. When I landed here we were having rotten weather but this last two days the weather has been lovely, we are camped on a hill and when the winds blow it blows. There were some parcels come up for Percy but I think they have sent then on to him there is a new arrangement about parcels now, we have to sign for them and they will not give them to anyone else …
10th March 1918
In the Field
My Dear Mother, Father & Jim,
… Percy is getting on alright he will get his mail about a week after the rest of us as his mail will come to the battalion and then readdressed on to him, he gets a lot of mail from the relations in England. I am still at the school our battalion has gone back for a rest, so that is not too bad. I told you in my last letter that I made arrangements to have a cross erected over Geordie’s grave it is to be finished next Tuesday I am going down one day this week to see it, I have also written about having a photo taken of both Albert and Geordie Grave which I will send on to you when I get it, it will take some time to get the photos done as I think there is a party comes out to France twice a year, to do this work. Pearl said in her letter that Tom Alford was missing well I think he has since turned up there are some of his battalion here I will try a
nd find out from them. We are having lovely weather over here, this last few days, I think the winter has gone it was nothing like as severe as it was last year we did not have near as much snow and rain this year as we did last year. I suppose by the time this reaches you you will have finished cropping again, there must be a terrible amount of wheat in Australia now, it would be a great thing if they could send half of it to England where it is needed so badly, the food question is going to be a big thing with England we are not cut down at all we get splendid food and plenty of it of course we pay for a few extras when we are out of the line, and at this school we pay two francs a week for extras. The daylight Savings Bill is in force over here the clock was put on one hour last night. I reckon it is a silly idea they have it in all these countries the Huns time is one hour ahead of us, some of our chaps have got watches from prisoners which are one hour in advance of ours …
He added a note to his mother the following day:
… I suppose you will be anxious about Percy but there is nothing seriously wrong with him, I think he will be there for some time yet as trench fever is likely to come on again, at any rate he is safer there … There was a parcel sent to Allan from the Trench Mortars it was one that had been sent to Geordie I think it was from Stones, there were two parcels for Percy, they would not give them to me but I think they will be sent on to him. Our battalion is out for a rest at present, will be here another three weeks …
In the field
Sunday 17th March 1918
My Dear Mother, Father & Jim
… I got a letter from Ida today she said that Allan had had leave and he was down to Brighton to see Percy I got a letter from Percy during the early part of last week he was getting on alright. Flo said in a letter to me that he was likely to be shifted to another hospital but I have not heard anything more about it. Today I went to Geordie’s grave the cross that I ordered was finished and put up it looks very nice I have also ordered a metal plate which is going to be finished this week. There are some of our battalion men buried in the same cemetery Major Tubb V.C. is buried a few yards from Geordie’s grave, he was killed the same day as Geordie was wounded, there is a lot I could tell you about the place but I fear it would be stopped by censor. We are having lovely weather over here now the trees and hedges are beginning to show signs of Spring. I am still at the school and will be here for another fortnight. I am hoping to get a letter from Allan this week to hear about his trip to England he was lucky to get leave so soon after his other leave, when I go back I think I can get leave to Paris it would be for about 8 days. I have not got any more mail from you since I wrote last which was about the middle of last week. Did you get Albert’s and Geordie’s deferred pay and let me know if you got Geordie’s things, in one lot there should have been a safety razor, wallet, and photos, they would be sent from the base. I do not know what became of his watch I think he always wore it and I suppose he would have it on him when he got to the hospital, when I last saw him it would not go, let me know if you got [it]. I got some photos of Geordie taken off one he gave to Paynes, they are finished and Ida said she would send them across this week, so when I get them I will send them home to you. I think I told you before that Hughie Martin is likely to be sent back home, he was badly wounded and one of his legs is an inch shorter than the other, I think Spuddie Kerr is on his way home. Well I have no more news this time so will draw to a close, again hoping you are all well as this leaves me.
I will say goodbye with best wishes to all
I remain
Your Loving
Charlie
FRANCE, MARCH
Allan had now returned to France, rejoining his unit on 16 March. The battalion had moved from the Warneton line to the Lumbres area near St Omer and the men were now billeted throughout the district. Allan returned to the battalion via Le Touquet, a popular holiday destination on the coast of France.
20.3.1918
My Dear Mum & dad
At present we are out resting in a very nice place. We are having glorious weather. I received your lovely parcels. I also got a lovely billy of butter from Mrs J McKay. It was beautiful. I don’t think I ever tasted any nicer. I am writing a letter so Cheerio with best love … Please keep these views I send you till I get home & I will tell you all about them …
Le Touquet
20.3.18
Dear Mum
This is one of the prettiest little places I have seen. I spent a couple of days here when I was coming back from school. We have had a glorious winter. It has been sunny every day. Hope you had a glorious harvest …
Lumbre
20.3.18
Dear Mum,
Just a few lines to let you know I am O.C. 38th Batt football team and we are playing a big match today …
Allan may not have had the opportunity to write his promised letter as there is a gap in his letters until 4 April, a fortnight later. His period of rest and comparative tranquillity was about to come to an abrupt end.
As Allan wrote home on 20 March, German forces, bolstered by troops redeployed from the Eastern Front, were ready to launch General Ludendorff’s Die Kaiserschlatt, the Kaiser’s Battle, comprising four attacks along the front. The first and largest of these, ‘Operation Michael’, was to be launched on the old Somme battlefields. Ludendorff knew that American soldiers would soon arrive in force and his numerical advantage would be lost. The following day, 21 March, a concentration of German forces, some half a million men, launched an attack along a 90-kilometre front from Arras in the north to La Fere in the south. The British Third and Fifth armies, some 160,000 soldiers, were thinly spread along what was a weak point in the Somme front line, an area just north of Cambrai and to the south of St Quentin where they protected the vital rail junction of Amiens. A German breakthrough here would sever the British and French lines, push the British north toward the ports and, ultimately, perhaps even force their withdrawal across the English Channel.1
Ludendorff’s Operation Michael commenced at 4.40 am on the foggy morning of 21 March. The Allied front line was shattered as the full force of German artillery opened up in a massive barrage. For five hours the German guns pounded the Allied line and its support areas. The bombardment concentrated on supply and communication lines, artillery formations and machine-gun posts. Gas overcame many troops as they raced to defend their lines. The bombardment lifted and the storm troopers — elite soldiers trained to assault defences and destroy communication lines — charged what remained of the British troops. The outposts were soon overwhelmed and German forces rushed forward in pursuit of the retreating British. The nature of the war had now changed from stagnation to momentum as the German infantry raced across fields the Allies had held since 1916. The heavy artillery followed and rapidly overran those troops who had gallantly remained at their posts. Losses on both sides were heavy. Close to 80,000 men were killed or wounded with 21,000 British soldiers taken prisoner. Two hundred and fifty square kilometres of ground was captured by German forces.2
Much of the land that Allied forces had claimed and defended for two years with staggering loss of life had been recaptured in just five days by the rapidly advancing Germans. The English and French lines had been breached. The road to Paris was all but open and the channel ports vulnerable to the rapid enemy advance.
As the disaster began to unfold, the majority of Australian forces were positioned 170 kilometres north of Amiens in the Flanders region. By 26 March they were moving, on their way to reinforce the 60 kilometres of broken line south of Amiens. Along the congested roads they met fleeing civilians and panicked troops withdrawing in the face of the German onslaught. With dogged determination, the men marched forward despite the chaos that now enveloped an area so familiar to many of the Australian troops. They were marching to defend the land they had helped protect since 1916. As Charles Bean wrote:
Again and again the Diggers were told by the passers-by, “You can’t hold them!” and some of the leaders were a little anxious
as to how all this advice and the depressing sights would affect their men. They need have had no worry; it was immediately evident – as was constantly found in the coming months – that the confidence of these troops was overflowing. Each man knew that every blow now counted; this, they felt was what they had come from Australia for – and the sight of their cheerful, grim faces and confident gait put new heart into French and British alike. “They were the first cheerful stubborn people we had met in retreat,” said a British major of artillery. In the French villages whenever during those weeks these hearty, stalwart battalions marched in they were met by striking demonstrations of affection and trust – and this, too, reacted strongly on them. 3
The 3rd Division was to fight on the Somme battlefield for the first time. Allan was to assist in defending the countryside for which, just under two years before, his brother George had courageously fought. To the north in Belgium, Charlie was writing home as Allan was moving forward to meet the advancing foe. Charlie appears unaware of events unfolding to the south.
ANZAC Sons Page 57