ANZAC Sons
Page 64
Allan also wrote to the Townsend family:
… I wrote to you immediately after the death of our dear old Les., but have since heard that the mail had gone down, so thought it my duty to write again. Words alone cannot express my greatest sympathy towards you all in the loss of dear old Les., who was killed by a bullet near Curlu in one of our advances on the Bosch. He was killed instantly along with three other boys, and a cross has been erected over his grave. I know exactly how you will miss dear old Les., but believe me no one could miss him more than I do. Les. was always a great friend of mine, but I never knew what a great pal he was until we joined the army. He was just like a brother to me, as we were in camp together, sailed together, and fought together; and I am sorry I was not close to him at the fatal moment. He was a gallant young soldier, always a great pal of everybody in the battalion. Many a great time we spent together, and some very rough ones, but Les. never lost his smile. I don’t think it will be long before we are home, and then I can tell you of some of his good work and our experience together. Dear old Les., who nobly did his bit, lost his life in the hour of a great struggle, in fighting for King and Country. In your sad loss I convey to you the deepest sympathy of all the officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the battalion …
The battle for Mont St Quentin had cost the community around Mologa dearly. Australian forces had suffered another 3000 casualties.9 The numbers of Australians left to fight on the Western Front were rapidly diminishing. The battalions were now at one-fifth of their full strength.
SEPTEMBER 1918
FRANCE
Allan had enjoyed his short period of leave in England, spending time with relatives and relishing the opportunity to experience some normality away from the front. He returned to Le Havre on 7 September. The following day he wrote home to reassure his brother that, while Percy was in France with the battalion, he was not in danger:
Sunday 8-9-18
Dear Jim
Just a few lines to let you know that I am splendid & do hope that you all are the same. Percy is also ok. Just before I went to England I met Percy and he was going up the line. Well I had a letter from him today and he is away back out [of] the fighting. The adj and Major said if he came back they would keep him out of it so everything [is] ok. Well Jim I got back from England alright and had a very nice time. I wrote you a lot of letters from England and told you about my trip in Leicester. Well when I got back from Leicester I went to Headquarters and they gave me another 4 days leave. Mr Gollan was always wanting me to go and see his friend in Scotland and they have wrote and asked me to go at several times so I spent the few days with them and I had a glorious time. They [are] bonnie people and so awfully good. I will enclose some little snaps they gave so Jim will you keep them until I get back. Well old boy what do you think of the war news now. Aint it glorious but we are losing a lot of men. Jim I am not a bit surprised at what you say about the certain class. I am absolutely full up of them. They are disgraceful. When I got back from England there were 35 letters waiting for me. What a treat what letters from everybody. I got 2 very nice letters of sympathy from Mrs Braddish. I generally get a letter or two every mail from Eileen. Yes old boy I know how you all feel about 3 dear boys. I feel just [the] same but as you know Jim we must keep going. I believe now that poor old Les Townsend is killed it is awful. But don’t say anything until you [have] heard definitely. No doubt you are all very busy but perhaps the days will come when I will be back to give a hand. Fancy Bill Johnson getting married and Edgar Saville, oh well…
I am sending home a couple of little parcels of things that I collected off the battle field some time ago. Well Jim old boy this is all the news so will close with best love to all.
I remain
Your Loving Brother
Allan
THE RACE TO THE HINDENBURG LINE
German forces continued their retreat to the Hindenburg Line and the old British trenches which faced it. The Allies pursued the German soldiers with speed and vengeance; villages burned while bridges and roads were destroyed in the retreat. The Australians, in desperate need of rest, were instead to be thrust against the final bastion of German defence, an extensive three-trench system some six kilometres deep, fortified by barbed wire and machine-guns and built along the deep St Quentin Canal.
The men were exhausted. The lack of reinforcements on the front necessitated lengthy stays holding recaptured ground often subjected to repeated counter-attack. The Australian casualty rate in proportion to their numbers was higher than that of any other units of the British Empire. They had been consistently thrown into the most costly battles. Others were spurred on by their successes. The ominous Hindenburg Line loomed as Monash sent the 3rd, 5th and British 23rd divisions to clear the villages and German outposts close to the old British trenches.10 On 18 September a total of ten divisions, including the 1st and 4th Australian and a number of British and American divisions, finally pushed through, taking over 12,000 German prisoners. The two Australian divisions took 4300 of these alone.11
Allan wrote to Jim, but with obvious signs of frustration as he answered queries over missing letters and his missive home to inform his parents that they had lost another son. Dealing with a lack of understanding and sense of criticism delivered from the safety of Australia was difficult and Allan made sure his brother knew exactly how he felt.
Sunday
France
22-9-18
Dear Jim
I have just returned from church parade so I think I will drop you a few lines. I received about 12 letters from Ausy yesterday 2 from home 1 each from Mrs & M Stone one each from Eva & Elsie Jones one each from Nell Sherlock & M Gamble. I was very pleased to hear that you are all well and that you are getting the letters alright you said in your letters that it was 7 weeks since I wrote well I write every week and if you don’t get [them] that is not my fault. You say you don’t know how poor Charlie could have got shot. Well Jim you have no idea what the game is like or of what conditions or circumstances we have to fight against. It is quite possible for anyone to be killed with a bullet at any time when poor Charlie was killed certainly he was in a trench it was only shallow though and he put his head up and a sniper got him through the top part of the nose and it went into his head. He died instantly. You said Mum was disappointed with my letter, well that was the morning it occurred that I wrote and you ought to know how it affected me. I wrote the next day and told you all about it. Well Jim it is raining like billy o today. The winter is beginning to creep in on us but I don’t think it will be like the 1916 one anyway I hope not. I never want to witness another one like that one. I am glad there is every indication of a good harvest. Well Jim what do you think of the war news now. Aint the b- hun getting hell and that is nothing to what he will get directly. I think we ought to be home Xmas 12 months. Let us hope so anyway. The way the RC are behaving is absolutely rotten. Mrs Stone gave me the full strength of it all. Well Jim I will say cheerio for the present and best love to all.
I remain
Your Loving Bro
Allan SM
Postcard of North Inch and Boating Station Perth [Scotland]
France
Sunday
22-9-19
My Dear Mum,
I have written already this morning I have just come from Church parade and we had a very nice service. It is raining like billy o. These two bits of paper don’t look much but will be able to tell a good half day story about the one written in pencil. SO please keep them till I get back. I have lots of little things like these.
I remain your loving son
Allan XXXX
Postcard Tay Street, Perth
France
24-9-18
Dear Jim
Just received a letter from Percy he is splendid and away back out of the line. So there is no need to worry. Poor old Les Townsend has been killed and I feel awfully sorry. Have written to Mrs Townsend & Rene. Well old boy no news as I wrote on Sund
ay so cheerio and best love to all
Loving Bro
Allan
All along the Western Front, German troops were retreating. To the north of the Somme, the British and Belgian forces were attacking towards Ghent. Passchendaele had been reclaimed. To the south, American, French and British troops were advancing. Monash and his Australians were to take the line at Bellicourt, east of Peronne, although there were few Australians left to complete the task. The battalions had been decimated by enormous casualties and, for the first time, original Anzac troops were being granted two months’ leave to return to their families in Australia. Some of the most experienced and courageous men were at last going home for a brief period of respite that had always been available to British and French soldiers but not to the distant dominion troops. With the strength of the battalions severely compromised, seven of the Australian battalions were scheduled to be disbanded to form reinforcements for their sister battalions. In the 10th Brigade, the 37th Battalion was ordered to disband. The troops refused, as they did in other battalions and, on their last parade, stubbornly declined to complete the order to move off to their new battalions. Instead, for several days they continued their routine duties without their officers.12
This was effectively a mutiny but no Australian soldiers were punished. This was not about refusing to fight. There was no mass uprising. These battle-weary troops simply sought to preserve the identity under which they had fought and lived — their battalion name and their colours. Monash chose not to punish the dissidents in his army of volunteer citizen soldiers.
On 29 September American forces advanced on the Hindenburg Line at Bellicourt. Once their objectives had been reached, the troops of the Australian 3rd and 5th divisions were to leap-frog the Americans. But the inexperienced Americans were no match for the defenders of the mighty Hindenburg Line and took heavy casualties. Australian troops moved in and, over two days of bitter fighting in freezing rain, they pushed forward.
On the same day, 29 September, at the age of 40, father of eight and Military Medal winner Jack McDonald was shot in the neck. He returned to Pyramid Hill but passed away just two years later from lung disease, a result of the effects of an earlier gas attack.
OCTOBER
On 1 October the 3rd Division seized the village of Bony. The Australian infantry had captured the first and second trench systems on their front.13 The 2nd Division moved in to relieve the remaining men of the 1st and 3rd. The Hindenburg Line was crumbling. The final line was breached on 3 October. Two days later, after the 2nd Division captured the village of Montbrehain, the last of the Australian battalions was withdrawn and replaced by American units. Since 8 August the ‘diggers’ had been continuously in the line for two months. They had advanced some 50 kilometres, liberated scores of villages and taken thousands of prisoners. The cost was heavy; close to 27,000 Australian soldiers had been killed or wounded.14 There were few reinforcements. The Australian forces were almost spent.
Percy wrote to Jim from behind the line. It seems there was now some concern within the family over Charlie’s will and estate. Over the next few months the concerns would escalate, perhaps fuelled by rumours circulated by a meddling relative. Fortunately, later letters reveal that the rift had been healed.
In the Field
1-10-18
Dear Jim
Well Jim how are things going, I have received several letters from you lately, which I was very pleased to get, and glad to hear you are well. I am not with the Batt at present, at a Reinforcement Wing, behind the line not a great way from the line. I think I told you in my last letter Les Townsend was killed. He was shot through the head, it was stiff luck, he was so game. It has been very cold weather lately, and a little rain on and off. I got that little slip of paper, with the inquiry, I was surprised Jim. Very nice isn’t it what [is] going on at 208 Barnard St, if the little kiddie got it instead of her, it would be allright, she [is] not entitled to a penny. Heard from Allan the other day, he was still at the Base, and going on well. So you have a piano in the house now Jim, it will make you feel quite young again Jim. Fritz comes over here bombing at times. Well Jim, it ought to soon be over now, by the way things are going, they are knocking old Fritz about now. Yes, Uwen Johnson has had his share of wounds, I believe this last one was pretty bad, his wife was over to see him. Albert Brookes was going strong last time I saw him. I met Tom Alford not long ago, he looked real well also Amos Haw, he was going to Blighty to the I.B. for six months. Well Jim I must close, hoping [this] finds you all well
I am your loving brother
Percy
A week later, Allan wrote to Jim:
Monday
7-10-18
Dear Jim
Just a few lines to let you know that I am [well] & hope that you all are the same. We are just dwelling on a big Ausy mail which ought to reach us today or tomorrow. I can tell you we do look forward for these. Well Jim old boy it is raining like hell again and things are now beginning to feel a bit chilly but I don’t think it will be a severe winter. Poor old Les Townsend has been killed alright and I have written to his people and told them everything I could find out about him. It will be a terrible shock to his people. He was a good soldier and well liked. Col. Henderson has also been killed.15 He was a gallant leader of men and holds a high reputation over here. Well Jim old boy I suppose you are up to your neck in work as the harvest must be coming on now. I hope it turns out successful. Well old boy cheerio for the present.
Your loving Brother
Allan
As Percy wrote to Jim, the end of the war was closer than either man realised. The Central Powers were now faltering in all the theatres of war. In Flanders to the north, along the Somme and to the south at Verdun, the Allies continued their rapid advance to the east. Bulgaria and Turkey were defeated and Austria-Hungary was soon to seek peace. The German fleet mutinied on 29 October. On the home front Germany was on the verge of revolution. The people were hungry. They were desperate for an end to the relentless slaughter.
Percy wrote to reassure Jim that he would not have to return to front-line duties:
In the Field
22.10.18
Dear Jim
… Well I am going good, we are out of the line just now, for a little time. I was very sorry to hear Mother was not well, she needs a good spell away. Myrtle is still with you Jim, you are set now. I had a letter from Allan, he was going good at the Base got a good job, it will last till the shoot is over from what I hear. Its been a bit cold lately, of course we must expect it now, its getting late in the year. I am at present a guide at a station, for men coming in, its not a bad stunt, I sleep in a little hut every second night on the station, with some English chaps, that are on the station duty we have a fire and it is “bon”. I tell you I am kept busy writing, get a lot of letters from the relations in England. Well Jim, its drawing near Xmas, I can see another one in France, I would like to get to Blighty for Xmas, the last two have been here. Well Jim, I will not have to go in the line again, might be close to it, for the wing move up when the Battalions are in, but one would be very stiff if he got hit then.
Well Old boy Must close now
With love To all
I am your loving brother
Percy
Jim’s mate, Tom Alford, wrote after enjoying some leave in England. He was as frank and laconic as ever:
France
October 23rd 16
Dear Jimmy
Just a line in answer to your welcome letter dated July 14th & I think I had another one written out at the bush since I last wrote. I was pleased to hear from you again. I don’t get so many letters now I expect because I’ve dropped most of my correspondence. I know Jim it must be very galling to you the way a certain crowd are carrying on out their but buggar them. One will know what to do when the next war is on. A friend of mine who lives in a suburb of Melbourne had a letter from his mother & she wanted to know of him: How it was that all the lads of that place
who were returning were all the wasters etc. By what I can make of it the bigger lead-swinger & bloody nuisance you make of yourself the better you get on in the Army. Not that I’ve anything to go crook about but by just what you see. Well since I last wrote I’ve had fourteen days leave in England. Had a real ding-dong time. Went to Wales. Stayed in Cardiff & Aberdare. Got in with some real good people in the latter place & they couldn’t do enough for us. There were not many Aussies in the place so people used to get us off a bit. Talk about sitters you could catch a different one every hour of the day. Of course you know I don’t bother the fair sex much. Had a night in Bristol & finished up with a few days in London. I had a real little Beauty in London. Saw Joe Stone in London & Jimmy in Boulougne on his way back. Jim had a bullet through his chin. It will be nice for you all to have Myrtle over with you for a while. Well we are out having our long promised spell but we are in a very quiet place. Yesterday I had leave to Abbeyville for the day. There is really nothing to see but you seem to be your own boss for the day. Well this is all this time so will conclude by wishing you all a Happy Xmas & trusting you are all well with kind regards to Ma & Dad from your old Pal Tom