My Dear People,
Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well. Since writing to you I have received 6 letters - one for Siss (April 4th) one from Kath (March 29th) one from Aunt Bessie (April 8th) one from Nell (March 31st) and two from Annie (9th and 21st of April). I was very pleased to get these letters and to hear that you are all doing well. I also got my Records and see that there had been a lot of socials etc. around there lately.
I was surprised to hear of the rumour that John Best was married, but I hope that it is true, and if it is I wish him the best of luck. I was sorry to hear that Ralph Thomas had lost his leg. I did not know he had been wounded as badly as that.
I got a letter from Mat Griffen. He is in hospital in England, wounded in the elbow, very near the same place as before. He does not expect to be laid up very long with it this time.
I went and saw Buzz Simmons about a fortnight ago. He looks well and hardly knew me. He was mending boots and says the job will do him - better than carting ammunition.
Kathleen says Mrs. Siegert wanted to know if I had heard anything of her boy George, but I have not been near his Battalion so I have not had a chance to make any enquiries. "Missing" is a very unsatisfactory return in a casualty list. I feel sorry for anyone who has their soldier laddies reported that way. If they are not reported Prisoners of War within 2 or 3 months, there is very little chance of them being heard of again. So I am very much afraid that little Georgie was killed. I see by the Record that Augie Pohler was given a great reception home. Hilda is evidently doing well too with her reciting etc. By the way I hear that she has got herself a returned soldier boy - is that so?
I am very glad I did not order a French tart for John Best if that is his game. Frank Richards and Harry Tralaggan are quite alright. Wally Arnolds is having a spell out of the line this trip, he well deserves it as he has done a lot of line work.
We got some Christmas parcels yesterday and some shirts and socks from the Australian Comfort Fund. It was rather late for Christmas parcels, but they are just as welcome. We often get tobacco, cocoa and milk etc. from the Fund.
I will close now hoping you are all well.
I remain
Your Loving Son and Brother,
Tom.
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Dartford; December 25, 1917
No 3. Australian Army Auxiliary Hospital
My Dear People,
Just a few lines to let you know I am getting on alright.
My wound is not quite healed up yet. We have had a good day to-day, the Sisters and doctors have done all they possibly could to make the day enjoyable for us.
They gave us a very nice dinner, Turkey, ham, pudding etc. half a pint of beer for those who could drink it. The Australian Red Cross gave us a parcel consisting of 1/2 doz packets of cigarettes, a pipe and tin of tobacco, a packet of cards, handkerchief and some chocolate. We also got some small cigars and other cigarettes, all of which were no use except for the handkerchief and the chocolate. The YMCA gave us a very handy writing wallet. We had some snow here the other day and a sharp frost after, but it has all thawed away now.
There has been an air raid or two on London since I have been here. We can hear the planes and anti-aircraft guns going.
I have seen some good displays in France, a plane shines like gold with the searchlights on it, but of course they score with their bombs sometimes. I have never had a bomb drop near me yet, only shells.
I hope you had a merry Christmas to-day, we are to have a concert here tonight.
Well I must close now hoping you are all quite well.
I remain
Your Loving Son and Brother,
Tom.
My Dear People,
Just a few lines to let you know I am getting on alright.
My wound is not quite healed up yet. We have had a good day to-day, the Sisters and doctors have done all they possibly could to make the day enjoyable for us.
They gave us a very nice dinner, Turkey, ham, pudding etc. half a pint of beer for those who could drink it. The Australian Red Cross gave us a parcel consisting of 1/2 doz packets of cigarettes, a pipe and tin of tobacco, a packet of cards, handkerchief and some chocolate. We also got some small cigars and other cigarettes, all of which were no use except for the handkerchief and the chocolate. The YMCA gave us a very handy writing wallet. We had some snow here the other day and a sharp frost after, but it has all thawed away now.
There has been an air raid or two on London since I have been here. We can hear the planes and anti-aircraft guns going.
I have seen some good displays in France, a plane shines like gold with the searchlights on it, but of course they score with their bombs sometimes. I have never had a bomb drop near me yet, only shells.
I hope you had a merry Christmas to-day, we are to have a concert here tonight.
Well I must close now hoping you are all quite well.
I remain
Your Loving Son and Brother,
Tom.
Dartford; December 18, 1917
No. 3 Australian Auxiliary Hospital
(Addressed to Miss C. K. Quinn)
My Dear Sister,
As I have received several letters from you lately I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along.
I suppose you hear a fair bit of my doings from home. Well my leg is getting along pretty well and I am able to get about alright now, but I still have a bit of a limp. We had a heavy fall of snow the night before last, the first I have seen this winter. It has froze hard since and the roads are as slippery as glass.
Our wards are heated by steam pipes so we do not notice it but it is very cold outside.
I have had a very good time since I was hit and as I never had very much pain. I have enjoyed my spell pretty well. I have not heard from France since I left. I received the P.C. of you and Nell alright a very nice photo it is too. I am enclosing one of myself in hospital "blues" which I had taken in Milton. I will be going on furlough directly and hope to have a real good time. They are doing a bit of decorating here for Christmas. I expect I will still be here for that day. I am sorry that I never received the little parcel of gloves etc. that you sent me but they may have been sunk. There are a lot of Australians here and a good many of them who have been badly hit are going home.
Well I must close now, hoping that you are quite well.
I remain
Your Affectionate Brother
Tom
(Addressed to Miss C. K. Quinn)
My Dear Sister,
As I have received several letters from you lately I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know how I am getting along.
I suppose you hear a fair bit of my doings from home. Well my leg is getting along pretty well and I am able to get about alright now, but I still have a bit of a limp. We had a heavy fall of snow the night before last, the first I have seen this winter. It has froze hard since and the roads are as slippery as glass.
Our wards are heated by steam pipes so we do not notice it but it is very cold outside.
I have had a very good time since I was hit and as I never had very much pain. I have enjoyed my spell pretty well. I have not heard from France since I left. I received the P.C. of you and Nell alright a very nice photo it is too. I am enclosing one of myself in hospital "blues" which I had taken in Milton. I will be going on furlough directly and hope to have a real good time. They are doing a bit of decorating here for Christmas. I expect I will still be here for that day. I am sorry that I never received the little parcel of gloves etc. that you sent me but they may have been sunk. There are a lot of Australians here and a good many of them who have been badly hit are going home.
Well I must close now, hoping that you are quite well.
I remain
Your Affectionate Brother
Tom
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