Allan
XXX
Postcard of Le Havre
France
December 1st 1918
Dear Mum,
This is the first time we have [been] allowed to send views of Havre. It is not a bad little place, but not as nice as it looks. I had a nice letter from my Colonel yesterday. I have been writing letters all day and I will get a cup of cocoa directly. It would be very [nice] if you made it mum but cheer up dear we’ll be home soon. The dam hun is knocked out thank God. Well dear mum goodbye and best love.
From your loving son
Allan XXX
Postcards of Le Havre
France Dec 1st 1918
Dear Jim
Just a few lines to let you know that I am well again and out of hospital. I was not supposed to come out until tomorrow but I asked to get out as I have to go to Rouen to morrow on duty. It will be a very nice trip for me. I do not come back until Wednesday. We are having brutal weather at present with cold winds & rain. I think it is going to snow anyway I hope so as it is much warmer when it snows. Mind you it is not cold yet and I don’t think it is going to be too bad. I am going to Paris on the 23rd I will be there for Xmas that [is] if the money comes along in time. I received two lovely parcels from home to day. There is also a big Aussy [mail] in. I will get mine to morrow. I have written a terrible lot of letters home again sent parcel, photos and goodness [knows] what. I hope you get them all. Well Jim old boy I will say goodbye for the present.
Your loving bro
Allan
On the same day, Allan wrote again to Eva, whose kindness and cooking skills he had always appreciated:
France Dec 1st 1918
Just another few lines to let you know that I received a very welcome letter from both you and Grace. I was very sorry to hear that you had not been well but trust that you are well once again. As a matter of fact I have just spent a lovely fortnight in hospital myself with tonsillitis. I was not very bad in ordinary times you would not take any notice of it. I just received two parcels from home & in one of them was a beautiful cake from you. I had some of it for tea tonight and it was simply delicious. I have not had anything so tasty for ages and I must thank you ever so much for your kindness towards me. The good work that is done and the kindness that is displayed to us by you all in Aussy is highly appreciated and is beyond praise and we all have realised thoroughly was [what] true friends we have in the distant little Aussy. Well now Eva this jolly old war is just about finished, in fact there will be no more fighting and I don’t think it will be long before we all are home …
Allan’s letter ends here. The final page is missing as are some of the numbered postcards and photos on which Allan wrote to his parents.
France
Dec 1st 1918
Dear Jim,
Just another rough snap of my premier hockey team & self, it is a very rough one I look awfully but not as bad as I look. The centre boy in the back row is Rumble from Mitiamo. I think you know him. Cheerio Jim old boy
Allan SM
Allan also describes the gifts and souvenirs he had sent home:
2/ … There [They] are very neat. One is a pipe lighter which will be just the thing for dad also a match box. I have also some views to send you which I got of different places up the line and down here. They stopped us from sending them when the bosch made his attack but now we are allowed to send them again. They will be…
4/ …but I am afraid to send them as they should go astray on me and they are battle beauties. I have a lot of little things I am going to send home to you. Well dear mum I have no more news to put on this as I have letters to write so will close with best love to all.
I remain
Your Loving Son
Allan
Allan’s hockey team at the 1st Australian Convalescent Depot, Le Havre.
A game of hockey on the parade ground, 1st ACD, Le Havre.
2/ …This is one of the parade ground & a game of hockey in play. The building on the right is another YMCA where boys get cocoa etc, then a military church (C of E) & then the men’s mess huts. This camp is recognised as the best camp in France. It is where they do their convalescing after hospital they are well treated and cared for…
Havre
7-12-18
1/ My Dear Mum & Dad
This photo is of a game of volley ball in play in the same Y.M.C.A building. Do not be a bit surprised to see Percy come home shortly. I am doing my best. There are a lot of B Class men going home now that left here today for England it will not be long before we all are home.9 I suppose there was great excitement in Aussy when the news came through about the armistice being signed. I can tell you the French people nearly went mad.
Allan’s photo of the 1st ACD at Le Havre.
France
Sunday 8-12-18
Dear Jim,
… I was awfully pleased with those photos. I think they were very good. By jove they brought back old memories alright anyway it won’t be long before we are home with you again. They seemed to have had a very successful night at Jones barn alright. G.J. seemed to have donated his money very nicely. I am [afraid] he and I will never hit it when I get back. Yes you will have your work cut out with the young horses I suppose they are pulling away at the old harvester now. I hope the crop turns out successful dont forget to let me know how it goes. No doubt you felt it lonely out at Bobs especially when the dear old boys have gone. Jim it is awfully hard alright. I am feeling it more than ever now as I know it wont be long before we go home. I have had only one letter from Pearl then people say they never hear from you and I have written dozens, it makes me sick. I cannot make out why you never got any from last mail you should have. I wish you will tell me exactly how many letters you get each mail. I had a very enjoyable trip to Rouen. One of our big hospitals there was shifting to England and I had to go up on duty. Anyway I met a lot of our bonnie Aussy nurses. No doubt Jim they are great girls & have to work awfully hard. I had some very interesting yarns. I was asked to dinner with them several times but could only get once. I felt a bit shy as I was the only officer there, anyway I had a good dinner. Well Jim old boy I will have to close now with best love to all. Trust all are well
I remain
Your loving brother
Allan
Percy wrote to Jim as he was experiencing his last Christmas on the Western Front:
29.12.18
France
Dear Jim
Well Old boy I received your letter of the 4 Oct, yes this time last year we were hopping over the bags at Ypres. Well Xmas is over again, had a good Xmas dinner Jim, best I have had for some time fowl and ham plum pudding, fruit and so on, very nice to, about thirty of us here on the staff, things are very easy. Having some very bad weather lately plenty of wind and rain, but no snow up to yet, I am not a bit anxious to see any either. Got a letter from Allan the other day, he was going on good, still at the Base. Yes Jim, I got the five pound allright, might happen to get leave shortly to Blighty. Got a parcel from Lilly Sharp, day before Xmas, very good too. Do not seem to be getting many letters from me Jim, although I write a lot. Well Jim, news is very scarce here, so I must close, hoping all are well.
I am your loving brother
Percy.
The last Christmas card Percy was to send from the Western Front.
TWENTY FOUR
EVA DON’T TELL ANYBODY BUT I WILL
BE HOME IN TIME FOR THE HARVEST
FRANCE
As the new year began, repatriation was in full swing. The men of the 38th Battalion were now at Abbeville in France where opportunities for leave were frequent. Training was now simply a means of keeping fit and the men were fully occupied with sports meetings, lectures, concerts and dances in which young ladies from England, dressed in khaki, arrived to partner the Australian soldiers.1
There are only two surviving letters from Percy from January until May. We know little of his movements during this time, except that
, at some point, he was sent for duty at the 3rd Division Headquarters. Allan remained at Le Havre and continued to express his disappointment at the lack of communication from home. He was clearly pleased that Aunt Etta’s stories had proved to be just that; any ill-feeling towards Pearl was now dismissed as unjustified and had been relegated to the past. For the first time Allan reveals to Jim that he has harboured another far greater disappointment than a lack of letters.
6-1-1919
Dear Jim
… A lot of the officers have had letters since you heard the armistice was signed but I have not and am rather anxious to get them as no doubt that would cheer you all up a lot. Well Jim old boy it is dinner time so will finish it after dinner. I have finished a dinner of roast beef vegetables & pudding so I have not done too badly. This last mail which arrived a few days ago well yours was the only letter I got and it was a beauty. I was very pleased to hear that Pearl was up home and that was all lies in regard to what Etta was saying. I was always saying exactly what you say about them. Now in regard to the relatives this side. Well Jim I have given them a lot of money and if dad is sending money he ought to send it to Wilsons. They are great people and awfully hard working. I suppose I have given them all about 35. The girls are awfully nice little things. There are a lot of things I could tell you but one never knows where this letter may get too. In regard to my recommendation. The first one was on June 7th Messines 1917 and the other one Ypres Oct 4 Paessondale show. The boys all knew about [it] Spuddy Kerr can tell you about [it] but for Gods sake Jim don’t tell I told you. Say that you heard it from one of the boys. But Jim don’t tell anyone about as I don’t want anyone to know I never got them and was disappointed so say nothing. Jim tell me all you know or heard about the Pyramid girl. Does mum or dad still think we are going strong. I did not play the game too well you know. But Jim tell me all you know about it & Jim if you ever meet her speak to her. She is dam good girl and they are dam good people and they thought the world of me. I have not written for 15 months and I think I should write but Jim be a sport and tell me all about things. Well Jim I don’t think it will be long before we are home as they are sending a lot back now. We are kept busy down here. I will not rise any higher now than I am here but Jim I am lucky to be here. I told you some of my narrow squeaks I have had you say liar but I never tell anyone about the war no-one will ever get much out of me. Well old boy this is all the news today so cheerio & best love to all.
I remain
Your Loving Brother
Allan SM
The issue of military decorations and awards was often controversial and, in some cases, remains so today. What the men of World War I endured and what they were tasked to achieve in the most horrendous of circumstances and in the face of almost certain death or the possibility of terrible wounds, defies belief. These were all courageous men who gave so much: their youth, their innocence, their mental health — sometimes, their lives.
France
7-1-19
Dear Jim
Just a few lines today to let you know that I am splendid & trust that you all are the same. We are having nice weather indeed today as a matter of fact remarkable day, just like an Aussie spring day. I received 3 lovely parcels today from the following Aunt Florrie Dolly Mahoney & Mum. They were proper beauties. I have received an awful lot this Xmas, but it is not advisable to send anymore because we might go home at any time. Personally I think every Aussie will be out of France by June, but we may have to wait in England a while for a transport. There are 55 boat loads going home this next month so that will be a [all] full. I was having a long yarn to Alf Ferris and his brother the other day. They came around and had supper in my room. His brother Stan has just left for Aussie, so I told him to call & see you all. Well Jim I came a bit of a gutzer for not many at all, but I am always writing myself. I have written 22 letters this last couple of days. I suppose you have finished harvesting now & having a bit of a rest …
14-1-19
Dear Jim
…Well Jim we had a 5 mile cross country race the other day. There were 16 in for it and some of them were professionals. Anyway I gave them a good go for it and had I been in training I would have won. The winner done it in 26min – 45 sec and I done it in 27min coming an easy second anyway I get a medal out of it. I will send you the digger paper with the full account of the race. Well I am that stiff now that I can hardly walk. Well Jim in my last letters I told you I only got one letter last mail but expected that I would get more but have come a gutzer. Well never mind I got another parcel yesterday from Annie Clee from Wakool. It was a very good one indeed. I have had an awful lot of parcels lately. Well Jim there was a lot of boys just come down from the line to go home they are going over to England now like wild fire so I don’t think it will be long before we are all home. I don’t want to land back in Aussy in the summer time not after being so well seasoned here …
Sunday
19-1-19
Dear Jim
… I’ll bet there were great jubilation when you heard of the armistice especially with the cold footers. The boys are going home very quickly now they seem quite contented too. I met little Joe Cocking the other yesterday he is leaving here today for England then Ausy. I had a letter from Perc the other day he is splendid and having a good time. The boys are doing very little now. Tom Gibson is still over in England he seems fed up.2 Well old boy this is just a short note so cheerio & best love to all.
I remain
Your loving Brother
Allan
Requests for leave were now increasingly granted as the demobilisation and repatriation of troops continued. Allan left for England on 20 January and took the opportunity to once again visit relatives in Leicestershire.
From England Allan sent Jim a series of personal postcards for which I can find no explanation. Most are dated prior to the war and belong to Mademoiselle Lucie Duvauchel from the town of Albert. There are others addressed to residents of Amiens and from Ribemont, the village where Charlie is buried. How Allan acquired these we will never know. Were they given to him by the recipients as mementoes of their villages? Did Allan form a friendship with Lucie? Did he pocket them as souvenirs from the broken homes of former residents? There is no-one left to ask. Today they remind us of gaps in the accounts of the war, battles and circumstances of which the Marlow brothers did not write — their actions, events and relationships, their nightmares and their fears; the secrets they took to the grave.
Leicester
29-1-19
My Dear Mum & Dad
Just a card to let you know that I am at the above and am quite well and having a good time. It has been snowing and raining. I got an awful shock when I came over to England to find snow and so much rain as we were having glorious weather over there. All here are quite well & send their best love to you all. I am leaving here & going back to France on Monday that is if we cannot get an extension …
He added later:
… the boys home very quickly now I am afraid we will land home in the midst of next summer & by jove wont we feel it too. Anyway it will be a blessing to get home. I believe there is a big draft going home from the 3rd Division this month so am wondering if Percy is in it. I have not heard from him for 4 days. Well dear mum & dad I will say goodbye & best love to all
from
Your loving son
Allan XXXX
FEBRUARY
Allan wrote to Jim from London:
United Forces Club
14 Belgrave Square, S.W.1.
London
Monday 3-2-19
Dear Jim
Just a few lines to let you know that I am excellent & trust that you all are the same. I have written to mum this morning and told her that I was trying for an extension of a week. Well Jim I gathered together a brave heart and asked them. I had to make a statement which they are going to verify. I told them that I had 3 brothers killed and I had a lot of business to fix up so I think I will get it alright
anyway I will know to morrow morning. Well Jim I have had an excellent time but it snowed and rained practically all the time there is 1 000 men from my brigade going home in a couple of weeks. Percy may be in the mob. I have just had news of the 1 000 going home. Well Jim I suppose you will be back from Tassy by now …
Allan’s attempts to remain in England a little longer before returning to Le Havre proved fruitless. He wrote from France just two days later. Perhaps the imminent closure of the 1st Australian Convalescent Depot ensured that his application was rejected.
France
Friday 14-2-19
Dear Jim
… I think I told you in one of my previous letters that I ran second in a 5 mile cross country race. I did it in 27 min and the winner done it in 15 sec faster than me. All the fellows had time training. There were 3 officers in it and we only went in it to give the boys a start. The winner is a professional. Anyway I got my medal alright and am sending it home. There is another one coming off on Monday and I am starting in that. I also had the proofs of my photos back so will be sending the photos shortly. We are kept very busy at present getting the men turning. A very big draft marched out for England tonight. It is believed that there is going to be a big strike in England shortly so that will affect our demobilisation a lot …
ANZAC Sons Page 66
