I remain
Your Loving Bro
George
I hope you have better luck with the second ticket
The following day he wrote to Albert:
September 7th 1916
Dear Albert
… I told you in my letters that I received the both parcels one took 5 months to reach me, don’t send any more papers as I haven’t got one yet they give them away to anybody they want stirring up about it, I would like to get the one with the piece about K. Lairds death in it, I didn’t know he was dead, tell me what he died from when you write. You need not send those addresses any more as I have all the lads addresses also the English addresses. I have written to Al & Percy several times and have had two letters from them. I had a letter yesterday from Cousin Ida saying that they were out to Leicester to see them. I wrote to Charlie yesterday also to Mother last week and will write to Jim in a few days time. I am doing a lot of writing this last week as I have had a good chance to write since we came out of this Advance. This is a picnic here where we are now to where we just came from but is a great place for mines and gas. I am not in the front line at present but soon go in and relieve the other part of the Battery. I am going to drop a line to Jack Price to see if he has joined the Batt. yet. Tom Alford and some of the others might have to go into the 58 Battalion as some of the reinforcements that come from the sixth have to go to the 58 Batt. Amos is alright I often have a yarn with him, I told you in other letters that Arch Bailey and Harry Burrows were wounded in the “Big Push”. Well Albert news is exhausted so will close hoping all are in the best of health as I am at present.
I remain Your Loving Bro
Geo.
While George described life in the trenches protecting Ypres as a ‘picnic’ compared to the hell of Pozieres, the regular clouds of gas and the constant shell and mortar fire continued unabated, not only in the front line but also in the rear support areas. George wrote in a letter home of his surprise at the death of Ken Laird. Ken was a 27-year-old farmer from nearby Calivil who had enlisted in July 1915 and served in the 22nd Battalion.7 He married just prior to leaving Australia and had survived the tough Gallipoli campaign. In the early hours of 2 July 1916 Ken was guarding an ammunition store behind British lines near the busy staging post of Bailleul, north-west of Armentieres. He was hit by a long-range shell and severely wounded. Ken died in the field ambulance as it struggled through congested roads to seek treatment for the wounded Australian.8
September 12th
Dear Jim
Just a few lines to say that I received a letter from you, Charlie and Allan also my first Pyramid Paper with the piece about Ken Laird’s death and the Honour Roll, I suppose Charlie’s name will be down on it by now. Allan said in his letter that Jack Price is in England and has been in the hospital sick and does not look to well, Dave Glass is also there, he said Ewin & Charlie have left there for France so when we go out of these trenches I will have a look through the 6 Batt. for them but they might be sent to the 58 Batt as some of the reinforcements that come for the 2nd brigade have to go the 15 brigade. Bert Gibson has got his discharge and they call him the returned “Hero” I don’t think he saw a shot fired, if he had been through the fighting here he would have room to talk. You don’t seem to have got my letters telling you that I received both parcels although one was travelling for about 5 months. Well Jim I started to write this letter two days ago but had to stop well since then I received a letter each from Charlie, Albert and Aunt Lizz. Dated 1st August, I have received a lot of letters lately. I hope you like the new plough it will be much quieter. I often see Amos and have a yarn with him. We do a lot of Mortar work here when Fritz fires his bombs over we give him about twice as much back. Well Jim I will now close hoping all are well as I am at present.
Your aff. Bro
George
Bert Gibson enlisted in June 1915 and was allocated to the 13th Light Horse Regiment. Soon after arriving in Egypt he was kicked by a horse and the resulting injury proved so severe that he was invalided back to Australia and discharged in February 1916. He married later that year but was recalled for special duty at the AIF Depot in Cape Town, where he served from March to November 1917.9
George found time to pen a letter to his parents:
… You mentioned about sending money, well I have had money all the time I have been in France and being in the trenches so often don’t get the chance to spend it, it would come in handy if I got leave to England but there is no such luck so you need not send any, but take ₤15 out of my pay and buy yourself something. Charlie is lucky getting such good tucker in camp we do fairly well here … I was very sorry to hear about Ken Laird and Donaldson that used to play with Calival I used to see him in Egypt very often, he was camped along side us there, I suppose there are others that have been knocked in the same place as we were fighting. I had a letter from Al saying that [they] have no word of shifting yet but said Ewan and Charlie had left for France and that Jack Price has been sick in the hospital. I don’t think they will see much heavy fighting before the winter and doubt if they see any, we do a lot of firing bombs here, have just finished having a bit of a duel with Fritz. Do you know how Ray is getting on I think he was with Campbell that got wounded. Has Vic Winterbottom left yet. Well I have no more news so will close hoping all are well as I am at present.
I remain
Your Loving Son
George
P.S. be sure and buy yourself something out of that money
Robert Campbell (photo courtesy Pyramid Hill Historical Society).
George was yet to hear that Ray Leed had been killed near Fromelles almost two months before while Robert Campbell was recovering from a gunshot wound to the head. Robert had been Head Teacher at Mologa Central School when he enlisted at the age of 22 and, like Ray, he had been sent to the 57th Battalion. He returned to the front on 10 November 1916. Thirteen days later he was reported killed in action.10
George wrote to Allan and Percy describing the recent casualties:
… It is rumoured here that your division is being split up for reinforcements for the others that are here, but must be a furfie as you say you have no word about shifting, if you should try and get into this brigade. Did I tell you that Ken Laird has died of wounds he was in the 6th Brigade Trench Mortar also Donaldson that used to play football with Calival has been killed and his brother had a leg blown off and Campbell the school teacher and a son of Pentreath’s has been wounded they were telling me about these chaps in their letters from home, we only here [hear] of the ones that are in our own brigade, Amos is well he is only a little way along the way from me. We do a lot of bomb firing here it gets lively at times. Well boys I don’t think you will see much fighting this year as it will soon be winter and things will be at a standstill then we are preparing for the cold now, it will be very miserable here…
While George was expecting a miserable winter, he could not have foreseen that this would be one of the worst European winters on record.
ENGLAND, SEPTEMBER
Throughout September, Allan and Percy enjoyed moments of respite from training and continued to find opportunities to familiarise themselves with their father’s homeland. But thoughts of their own birthplace were never too distant. The twins frequently wrote home, anxious for news and to send news of George and their friends and neighbours.
Amesbury
Sunday 3rd September
My Dear Mother and Father
…Well mother just as I am getting a good start again after Jack Price has gone Dave Glass has just come to see me so I am finishing this letter off on Monday night. Well, Jack Price came down to see me on Sunday afternoon so I can tell you that I had a hell of a shock. He is camped about 2 miles away from us. I am often going down to see the poor devil, I feel sorry for Jack on account of him being away on his own. I am going to do my best to get him into the 38th Batt and I think I can do it. He has just come out of the hospital. He had measles and numonia.
He does not look too well on it. Well mum Percy and Will Street got leave to go to London on Saturday they came back Sunday night. They had a pretty decent time. The rest of us lads went down to Andover to see the town there. It is not a bad little place. I think I have seen most of the sights around about our camp now. Well Mum I am terribly pleased to night, do [you] know what happened, I got a letter from Georgie, this is the first since I wrote to him, he got my letters all right and good many from home. He said he was well. Him and Amos came out of the trenches together. He said he had not seen Ray Leed or Charlie Cockcroft, he said their division was not in the Big Push. He also said they were shifting to where the fighting was not so heavy. He said he heard they were going to be sent to London for a holiday. I only hope he is, as I would like to see him. He said in his letter that Harry Burrows and Archie Bailey had been wounded. Well mum dear it is raining here again today. All the battalion bar us have gone for a two day route march, so you can see we are lucky to be M Gun Section. Mum everything over here is good we are all happy - I expect a letter or two from you in a few days. Jack Price is getting a lot of letters he says. He has not had his 4 days leave in London yet but expects to go this week. We get a good many letters from Leicester and our other relations. There has been some big zeppelin raids in London lately. They brought a big one down on Saturday night. So things were very exciting. Well dear mum and dad I think I have told you all the news, so I trust and hope you are all well as it leaves me and the rest at present,
Goodbye I remain your loving son
Allan S
Charlie Fyffe and Hughie Johnson have gone to France. Tell their people that we met all the Mologa boys that have gone lately. They all look well.
I have been wondering if you got my cables and letters from Cape Town. I do hope so.
It is getting very cold here now
We get pretty good tucker now.
To Jim, he briefly mentioned Charlie’s wedding:
… The 2/38 have just come in so Charlie wont be long. I have not got any letters referring to the wedding … You will be busy with the crops by the time you get this letter. They say we are in for a cold winter. I will send my photo by next mail. Give my love to your girl that is if I know her …
German airships known as Zeppelins were frequently used for bombing raids across England and were responsible for killing and injuring many civilians and causing widespread damage. The raid Allan refers to occurred on the night of 2/3 September, a Saturday night. Sixteen airships crossed the English Channel under cover of darkness. A 19-year-old British pilot took to the air and shot one of the zeppelins in the early hours of Sunday morning. As further letters describe, the pilot was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery. In 1917, German long-range heavy bomber aircraft, Gotha Bombers, were to cause greater loss of life and destruction as they targeted the busy port of Folkestone, various army camps and, in a daring daylight raid, were responsible for the death of children attending a London school.
Percy was in London the night the Zeppelins set their sights on the city:
… We went to London last Saturday, there was a zeppelin raid in London while we were there, it was two oclock in the morning, when they came we did not see them, we slept too sound, they were firing at them and they brought one down. Well Jim we have plenty of drill now, not near as bad a time as the infantry, they get plenty of marching, news is scarce at present I only hope to hear about your marriage any day now …
Allan’s card, ‘Daily routine of a soldier’, which he sent to Albert.
Allan scribbled a quick note to Albert on the back of a postcard and, a few days later, wrote lengthy letters to his brothers in Australia:
“Daily Routine for a Soldier”
No.3 Letter
Lark Hill Camp
Amesbury
Tuesday 5 September
Dear Albert
Well Albert old boy this is our daily routine so you can see we are kept going. The battalion has just arrived home from their route march. The poor devils look tired. We are going through our machine gun tests on Saturday. I think we ought to do well enough. Well Albert when you write don’t forget to tell me all the Mologa news etc. I am sending over some English papers to you.
I remain your loving Brother
Allan
Bye Albert old boy
No word of going to the front
I have just got Pyramid paper
Amesbury
Lark Hill Camp
8/9/16
Dear Jim
… Well Jim you are having a wet year over there alright. It must be delaying you with the plowing and I suppose it inconveniences you as regards going to see this new girl of yours. Jim you are dead mean every time you write, you never mention her name so next time you write please do mention her name. Well Jim we were inoculated the day before yesterday and by hell it gave us blazes. We went out on parade yesterday, but had to come in again. We heard that there was a route march today so some of us malingered out of it. It is the first time ever I malingered but we cant be too cunning in the army. I saw Jack Price again the other night, he is still on light duty and is going into London today. I am finishing this letter Sunday 10th. Well Jim my arm is alright now and I am on duty again. On Saturday a few of us went to a place called Whitchurch but it [is] a very poor place and we did not stop long. On Sunday morning Percy, Les and a few more of us went over to a place called Stonehenge. I am sure you have read about it in History. This afternoon I am busy writing letters, but a few of the lads have gone to Salisbury. Well Jim yesterday we saw a big mob of German prisoners. They got out of the train at Amesbury and were marched out into our german prison in the camp. They were the biggest men I ever saw. They were as fat as pigs. We have to travel in 3rd class carriages, but the b- germans travel in first class carriages. We have a terrible lot of them in the prison out here. About 3 weeks ago a nurse down at the prison went into prison to dress the wounds of one of them and the b- got the stuff she had in the bowl and threw it over her face and it blinded her. She called out to the chap that was on guard and he was an Australian. He came in and bashed him to pieces now he is in the clink and is to be tried. Yesterday they took the reinforcements out of our battalion and they went to Perim Downs. Things are very quiet here today. I think I will be going to London next Saturday. Only 2 a week are allowed to go. The fare to London from here is 14 /- but we go for 7/-. Les seems to be getting better now; but does not [look] to well on it yet. Well Jim I hope you and all at home are well as it leaves me at present. Remember me to your new girl whoever she might be. Jim let me know by return of post who she is …
To Albert he added:
… I had a terrible job to read Etters letter and all the news Lily Sharp had was that they had not got any letters from me yet and that she had just finished washing her hair. Well Albert old boy I don’t suppose it will be long before you will be cutting hay. It don’t seem anytime since last harvest … I am glad you like your job on the cutter, the only job I would like on it, would be the boss … I am sending those Pyramid papers onto Georgie, he will get them in 4 days from here. He had a very interesting letter in it. Jack Wales must have had a great welcome home. It is very funny the pub in Pyramid being isolated. Hu Martin wouldn’t like that would he. Auntie Etter said in her letter about a ghost chasing a girl in Bendigo. I expected something like that from her. I think she delights in these b- ghosts. I suppose Charlie knows what camp life is like by now. I supposed you cursed the rain up dale when you could not go to see the girl no doubt it must be a bit of a b-. Does it delay Jim too. He never says in his letter who his girl is. I wish I knew… I saw Jack Price again last night, he is still on light duty and is going into London today. I wish I was going too. London is a lovely place for a holiday but for nothing else. I have just read in the paper when poor old Jacka has died of wounds.11 Yesterday there was 2 700 Australians put out of action. The poor Australians are in the hottest of fighting. Ted Bennitts is pretty crook with lumbago. He
does not look well at all but don’t say a word. They split our battalion up the other day they took 50 out of each company for reinforcements but now they have brought them back. There were a lot more Australians come in the other day. They say they are going to shift us out of here for the winter. They tell us it is a fair brute in winter time …
Jack Price was a neighbour and classmate of Albert. He was also a keen member of the Mologa Football Club. On his 18th birthday he persuaded his parents to sign his enlistment papers and was allocated to the 46th Battalion. Allan, believing that Jack needed the support of familiar faces, would soon attempt to have him transferred to the 38th.
On 10 September Percy and Allan spent much of their day writing home to each family member. Percy wrote to his parents of his visit to ‘marvellous’ Stonehenge, also telling them that the 3rd Division was to be inspected by the Commander-in-Chief of the British Home Forces:
… We went to the Stonehenge this morning, it is marvellous how the big stones were brought there, it is very interesting to see it … General French is coming out here tomorrow, I am sure he will be struck with the 38th Battalion …
Allan wrote a lengthy letter to his mother:
Sunday 10.9.16
My Dear Mum
… We are having a lot of rain over here and I hope it keeps like this for a while. Sometimes when you get up in the morning it is lovely, and perhaps in a couple of hours it is raining like billy o. Well mum I am glad you got my cable but then you wrote you never said when you got it and where it came from … It is very funny about all the rumours of our boat going down, well mum they said it was in this mornings paper that she was sunk in the Mediterranian. I got a very interesting letter from Georgie. I write to him every week I am sending the Pyramid papers over to him.
ANZAC Sons Page 18
