9 October 1916 France
[Page 1]
Did you receive the photo of the "mob"
WS
France
9/10/16
My darling mother
I hope dear that I haven't missed a mail, it is just over a fortnight since I have written but to tell you the honest truth I have been very busy for one thing and the other is that I have had no writing paper. You are wondering I suppose why I didn't buy some but I was "stone motherless", how is that for an expression of having no dough. The reason I had none was a fellow (one of the section) wrote me from England asking me could I send him a few francs to buy stamps and writing paper and other little odds and ends. He was in hospital and could not get any pay so I sent him along 20 francs, but low and behold our pay was put off over a week, so I fell in. I don't think you need send any paper enclosed
[Page 2]
in your letter, it was just the thing on Gallipoli but it is very often lost here. I meant to have told you before but you know what I am. Oh! I say it is the first time I have been really broke since I left Sydney so don't say "Oh! the poor boy must suffer etc etc".
Well mother I am expecting my leave any time now and By Jove! I'm looking forward to it, the thought makes me almost jump up to the ceiling of this old barn. I'm just waiting to stand on the channel steamer and look out and say "Damn the military". For 10 whole days I'll be my own boss and if I want to to to a place I'll go and not have to ask may I go (Don't say I always do, but).
How different the billet life is to what I always imagined. You know I imagined some room in a house with two or three in it, but it is nothing like that. Anything up to 100 men in big barns sleeping on straw, that is what it is. Of course straw is not bad but we don't always get it.
[Page 3]
By George! mother, what a character Ron is getting. Just fancy the pill incident of which you told me. I can hardly believe it he was a hard case when I left but nothing like what he is now evidently. Last night I received a letter from Roy and he has just moved to Hartfield. He works pretty solidly but has not got ward work to do at present, he is working in the Field Kitchen. But of course you know all about it ere(?)this from him. I asked him what he did in the kitchen. Did he cook? Goodness help them if he did and a bit more chaff. What a pity he didn't go there sooner, he may have seen Bruce Brown, he was there wasn't he? Isn't that the place where Dr Wills is too.
A friend of the Ashfield Guilles was killed in the trenches last time. Poor chap it was his first time in. Jim Langley it was, he came across from Australia with Roy. He only joined our battalion about a
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week previously and I had only a couple of talks with him. I had met him before at an Evening at "Edgeroi". Arthur Cooke also knew him, in fact worked with him for two years and he tells me he has no mother or father, only his sister. Poor girl I'm sorry for her, if I have time I will write to her, I've met her too. Shrapnell in the chest was the cause of his death which was instantaneous. Isn't it remarkable how some get it straight away and others miss it time after time.
This mail I received a letter from "Edgy" North. And a very nice one too. He sent me a little book called "Day by Day" which will be very useful. I did enjoy his letter for he is about the ideal reverent gentleman to me.
Well mother dear I must stop once more. Forgive me dear if I have missed a mail but you understand don't you.
Give my love to all and thank you for the parcel which will come in a few days.
Best of love from your loving son.
Billy
XXXX for Ron
Did you receive the photo of the "mob"
WS
France
9/10/16
My darling mother
I hope dear that I haven't missed a mail, it is just over a fortnight since I have written but to tell you the honest truth I have been very busy for one thing and the other is that I have had no writing paper. You are wondering I suppose why I didn't buy some but I was "stone motherless", how is that for an expression of having no dough. The reason I had none was a fellow (one of the section) wrote me from England asking me could I send him a few francs to buy stamps and writing paper and other little odds and ends. He was in hospital and could not get any pay so I sent him along 20 francs, but low and behold our pay was put off over a week, so I fell in. I don't think you need send any paper enclosed
[Page 2]
in your letter, it was just the thing on Gallipoli but it is very often lost here. I meant to have told you before but you know what I am. Oh! I say it is the first time I have been really broke since I left Sydney so don't say "Oh! the poor boy must suffer etc etc".
Well mother I am expecting my leave any time now and By Jove! I'm looking forward to it, the thought makes me almost jump up to the ceiling of this old barn. I'm just waiting to stand on the channel steamer and look out and say "Damn the military". For 10 whole days I'll be my own boss and if I want to to to a place I'll go and not have to ask may I go (Don't say I always do, but).
How different the billet life is to what I always imagined. You know I imagined some room in a house with two or three in it, but it is nothing like that. Anything up to 100 men in big barns sleeping on straw, that is what it is. Of course straw is not bad but we don't always get it.
[Page 3]
By George! mother, what a character Ron is getting. Just fancy the pill incident of which you told me. I can hardly believe it he was a hard case when I left but nothing like what he is now evidently. Last night I received a letter from Roy and he has just moved to Hartfield. He works pretty solidly but has not got ward work to do at present, he is working in the Field Kitchen. But of course you know all about it ere(?)this from him. I asked him what he did in the kitchen. Did he cook? Goodness help them if he did and a bit more chaff. What a pity he didn't go there sooner, he may have seen Bruce Brown, he was there wasn't he? Isn't that the place where Dr Wills is too.
A friend of the Ashfield Guilles was killed in the trenches last time. Poor chap it was his first time in. Jim Langley it was, he came across from Australia with Roy. He only joined our battalion about a
[Page 4]
week previously and I had only a couple of talks with him. I had met him before at an Evening at "Edgeroi". Arthur Cooke also knew him, in fact worked with him for two years and he tells me he has no mother or father, only his sister. Poor girl I'm sorry for her, if I have time I will write to her, I've met her too. Shrapnell in the chest was the cause of his death which was instantaneous. Isn't it remarkable how some get it straight away and others miss it time after time.
This mail I received a letter from "Edgy" North. And a very nice one too. He sent me a little book called "Day by Day" which will be very useful. I did enjoy his letter for he is about the ideal reverent gentleman to me.
Well mother dear I must stop once more. Forgive me dear if I have missed a mail but you understand don't you.
Give my love to all and thank you for the parcel which will come in a few days.
Best of love from your loving son.
Billy
XXXX for Ron