7 January 1918 France
Please note that this letter is incorrectly dated. It was definitely written in 1918. The death records for three friends mentioned and postmark confirms this.
[Envelope]
postmark: ARMY POST OFFICE 8 JA 18
C. W. Satchell
"Macclesfield"
Livingstone St
Burwood
Sydney
Australia
[Page 1]
France 7th January 1917 (sic)
My dear old Dad
I am not going to write you a long letter just a word of greeting to show you I have not forgotten your birthday. Many happy Returns of the Day Dad, you only want to drive one past cover now and you'll have that half hundred or am I one out in my reckoning. Anyhow its like my hide to enquire.
Tonight I received my Australian mail I have been so anxiously waiting for, but though letters are great I hate to hear such news as the deaths of John Bryant, Phil Kemp and Cecil Mallett.
[Page 2]
I wonder when this ghastly affair will finish, everyone, our enemies as well, are fed up, surely things can't last much longer. I think a mighty effort will be made by Fritz shortly after the break of winter, but though casualties are sure to be heavy, he will never break through as he did in the early stages of the war. Enough of this subject.
You may remember Dad I promised mother in a letter sometime ago to send some money. At the time I thought I could do so, but expenses are very solid, besides by remitting it through our Pay Office it takes something like 3 months for you to get it. That's no good. Take it from my account at Moore St if you want any, and
[page 3]
I expect leave to England about the end of March or earlier perhaps, then I shall cable through Thos Cook and Sons what I can spare.
It is pretty cold here now in fact damnably so at times and for the next six weeks I am attending a Signal School. It is the first such school I have had since January '16 so it will do me good. My days as Signal Officer with the Battalion are numbered I think for Arthur Cooke will be back shortly and he stands alone at that work. I shall be his assistant but will have a platoon as well. If Arthur should go away any time then I hop in.
Well Dad give my love to all the dear ones. I don't write often to you but a letter from me does not go amiss I daresay, although it is mainly business. Best of love and good luck this year.
Your loving son
Billy
postmark: ARMY POST OFFICE 8 JA 18
C. W. Satchell
"Macclesfield"
Livingstone St
Burwood
Sydney
Australia
[Page 1]
France 7th January 1917 (sic)
My dear old Dad
I am not going to write you a long letter just a word of greeting to show you I have not forgotten your birthday. Many happy Returns of the Day Dad, you only want to drive one past cover now and you'll have that half hundred or am I one out in my reckoning. Anyhow its like my hide to enquire.
Tonight I received my Australian mail I have been so anxiously waiting for, but though letters are great I hate to hear such news as the deaths of John Bryant, Phil Kemp and Cecil Mallett.
[Page 2]
I wonder when this ghastly affair will finish, everyone, our enemies as well, are fed up, surely things can't last much longer. I think a mighty effort will be made by Fritz shortly after the break of winter, but though casualties are sure to be heavy, he will never break through as he did in the early stages of the war. Enough of this subject.
You may remember Dad I promised mother in a letter sometime ago to send some money. At the time I thought I could do so, but expenses are very solid, besides by remitting it through our Pay Office it takes something like 3 months for you to get it. That's no good. Take it from my account at Moore St if you want any, and
[page 3]
I expect leave to England about the end of March or earlier perhaps, then I shall cable through Thos Cook and Sons what I can spare.
It is pretty cold here now in fact damnably so at times and for the next six weeks I am attending a Signal School. It is the first such school I have had since January '16 so it will do me good. My days as Signal Officer with the Battalion are numbered I think for Arthur Cooke will be back shortly and he stands alone at that work. I shall be his assistant but will have a platoon as well. If Arthur should go away any time then I hop in.
Well Dad give my love to all the dear ones. I don't write often to you but a letter from me does not go amiss I daresay, although it is mainly business. Best of love and good luck this year.
Your loving son
Billy
Death notices for