France; January 9th, 1919

My Dear People,

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well. I got back to the Batt yesterday from Paris. I had a splendid trip, I did not get into Paris till Boxing day.

It is a very fine city & the life is very gay there. I sent home some views which I hope you get alright. When I was coming home I came on the express to Brussels & stayed there two days, Brussels is a good lively place & the war does not seem to have hurt it much, but everything is dreadful dear. I would not care to have a wife & family to keep over here, a pair of boots cost £6.0.0, meat is 5/- per pound, butter the same, eggs 1/3d each & a ladies costume about £16.0.0 for quite an ordinary dress. The people all seem to have any amount of money. Fritz did not take very much stuff away, as I think he expected to always have Belgium. The towns here all have electric light & any sized place has electric cars.

I came back from Brussels to Charleroi, passing through the village of Waterloo, but the battlefield was a couple of miles away. When I got to Charleroi I met Mat & went out & stayed with him for two days & saw all the other lads. Frank, Aleck, Bert, Noel & Ern Ray, they are all billeted in & around Charleroi & most of them are sleeping in beds in private houses, with the trams (on which they ride for nothing) running right past their doors. They are all very well & lucky to be in such a good place. Ern Ray has not altered much & tells me he is going to get married in England. Mat has gone to Blighty on leave, he told me he was going to Ireland. So you see I had quite a big trip & enjoyed it very much, it cost me £12.0.0 & I was away 16 days. I should get Blighty leave inside two months.

When I got back there were two letters for me one from Dad (October 27th) & one from Annie (October 25th) I was sorry to hear Uncle Dan was ill & hope he is well again now.

(Jar 10th) I got 4 more letters from home today, one from Mum (Nov 11th: one from Annie (Nov 7th) one from Siss (Nov 10th) & a Xmas card from Nell. I was very sorry to hear Uncle Dan was so ill.

A few of our earlier men are going home now & they seem to be getting them home fairly quick now. The winter has been very mild so far & we have not had any snow in France yet. A lot of Canadians & Americans are going down to Nice for their leave. The climate is lovely down there, sunshine all day; it only rains there about twice a year, but, I do not think there is as much life there as there is in Paris.

Well I will close now hoping you are all well.

I remain

Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom.

Belgium; October 6, 1917

My Dear People,

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well.

Since last writing I have received a lot of letters, one each from Siss & George, 2 from Kathleen, & 2 or 3 from Mum & Annie the latest being August 9th. As I expected, there was evidently some of my letters on the "Mongolia". In one of these I acknowledged the parcel of flannels & told you not to send me any eatables as I can buy plenty here if I want it, but any warm clothing arriving here between October & March are always very welcome. I have only received that one parcel so I suppose the others were lost at sea.

It is raining here now & it is getting very cold, the first snap of winter. I sent a lot of Christmas cards away yesterday. I hope they reach their destinations safely.

October 19th.

Since writing the first part of this letter I have been wounded as I expect you will know before you receive this. I was hit on the inside of the left leg, about a foot above the knee, by a piece of shell. I expect it will be about two months before I will be fit for duty again. It is a fairly big cut but did not touch the bone, but it cut some big veins & I lost a fair drop of blood. I am in an American hospital on the coast of France but may be sent to England at any time.

Nurses in American hospital in France

Now do not worry about me because I will be alright soon & Remain

Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom

France; August 28, 1917

My Dear People,

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well.

Since last writing I have received 4 letters - one from Annie (June 3rd) & one from Nell (June 17th), one from Mum & Annie (June 24 & 27th) & one from Mrs. Taylor. I was glad to hear you were all quite well but I am sorry Dad could not get a man for the tilling as it is rather heavy work on Will.

I saw Sgt Lackman the other day. He is quite well & wished to be remembered to you. I saw in a casualty list that Joe Statton was severely wounded. Frank Cahill showed me a letter from his mother the other day, she said she was quite well & was working somewhere near Adelaide. She said Will's girl (Ada O.) had left Beckwith's & was back in Town. I suppose Will had a real good time while she was up. Her brother is returning, he has lost his arm. Mrs. Taylor told me Len was going to marry a Miss Rielly shortly.

I suppose Jack Connors will soon be getting married now. I am sorry my little Jane is leaving the Mount as I expect she will get some other boy now. How about Paddy? Does he still try & beat Frank Richards for his girl?

Lyell Bell's Brigade are up this way somewhere, they have had a good spell in the line, but I think they are out now, but it is too far away for me to go & see him. We are going to be reviewed by some big head to-morrow & have got all our gear cleaned & polished as if we were on garrison duty.

I do not know when we are going in the line, but I think, it is nearly time we had a turn. It has been very rough & windy to-day & it rains pretty often, but soon dries up again.

Rain-soaked trenches in France

I think some of your letters have been sunk, as I did not get the one saying that Mrs. Cutts had paid the money and that you had sent her the receipt. Harry Tralaggan not been very well & is in Hospital for a few days but is getting on alright now.

Well I must close now, hoping you are all well.

I remain,

Your Loving Son and Brother,

Tom