Dartford Hospital; March 21st, 1919

No 3 Aust Aux Hospital
Dartford

My Dear People,

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well. We have been under isolation in our ward for a few days, one of the chaps got chicken pox & was sent away & we were isolated, but the isolation will be removed in a few days & when it is, I expect to be sent out, probably to Weymouth.

I got a letter from Davenport in the Batt this morning & he tells me there are not many of them left in France now, the old 32nd forms D Coy of 30th Batt. I changed the last of my French money the other day, as I do not expect to go back to France again. I have got plenty of money, my pay-book has a credit balance of over £40- & I have some £12- on me that I did not spend when on leave.

I do not know how they send the lads home from Weymouth and whether I will have to wait my turn by enlistment or whether I will be sent home as an invalid (some invalid). If I have to wait my turn it will be a good while before I get on a boat but, if I go as an invalid it would not be so very long.

Well I will close now hoping you are all quite well.

I remain

Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom.

Dartford Hospital; February 25th, 1919

No: 3 Aust Aux Hospital
Dartford

My Dear people,

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

I got a letter from Mick Griffen when he was nearing Colombo the other day. I also had a letter from Davenport in the Battalion, he told me the boys had got a parcel of mine which, of course, they would make short work of as soon as they heard I was in hospital, but I hope they let me know who it was from.

Things are going on quietly over here & there is very little news, the weather is very mild for this time of the year & spring promises to be fairly early this year. I am still getting my leg massaged.

Well I will close now as there is nothing to write about.

Hoping you are all quite well

I remain Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom

Dartford Hospital; February 19th, 1919

No. 3 Aust Aux Hospital
Dartford

My Dear People,

Just a few lines to let you know I am still "swinging the lead" at Dartford, I am getting along quite well. Since last writing to you I have received 7 letters one from Mum (Nov 26th) one from Kath (Dec 26th) 3 from Annie (Nov 22nd, Dec 4th, Dec 13th) one from Hilda Pohlner & one from Mary Duggan.

I was very shocked to hear Uncle Dan had died & I am very sorry for Aunty Ada & the little boys, but, I hope they get on alright. I do not know how Aunty will be able to keep the place going till Allan grows up.

Things are pretty quiet here & the strikes are mostly over now but there is a threat of a big coal strike, also one of all transport workers for a 44 hour week, so I do not know if there will be any more trouble.

Well I will close now hoping you are all quite well.

I remain

Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom

Dartford Hospital; February 13th, 1919

No. 3 Aust Aux Hospital
Dartford

My Dear People,

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well. I was in hospital about a week in Glasgow & then reported back to London. When  I reported there I was quite rid of the "flu" but asked the "doc" if he thought they could give me any treatment to improve my leg & he sent me down here for massage treatment. This is the same place that I was in last year. You see although my leg was good enough for the soldiering business, it will be a different tale when I have to punch a shovel into a heap of metal, or carry a bag of wheat. So if I can get some treatment that would improve it at all I will take it, but I do not think they can do much for me. Anyhow if I stay in hospital long enough I will not be sent back to France & might get home a bit quicker. I do not want to go back to France if I can help it, as the army is not the some as it used to be, nobody cares how things go now & the life seems so useless that I would like to get out of it.

The weather here was very frosty & cold early in the week but to-day was quite a nice day. I went to a "Whist Drive" at Bexley Heath last night & got 3rd prize, a fairly decent pocket wallet. I sent home a parcel to-day with a lot of post-cards & views of different places, also two matchbox holders one a Batt souvenir & one that was given me last night at Bexley Heath. I hope they get home alright.

I saw in the paper here the other day where the Government had received applications from 360,000 people who want to go to Australia, that will give some idea of the advertisement the A.I.F. has given Australia in this country.

Also I believe about 300 of the Aussies English wives, could not find their "husbands" or anyone who knew anything about them at all when they got out there, but of course any girl who married an "Aussie" took a big risk that way. There is going to be a concert here to-night. They generally have about two a week & we have pictures on Tuesday night.

There are a good many cases of influenza about & I see by the papers that it is very bad in Sydney & Melbourne. I do not know how long I will be able to "swing the lead" here but might go out any day.

Well, I will close now, hoping you are all quite well.

I remain Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom

France; October 4, 1918

My Dear People,

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well & doing alright. Things are going fairly well over here & there is every prospect of us giving Fritz a real good licking before another year is out. I saw Mat Griffen when I was coming back from the line yesterday, he was quite well. I got a letter from Mick a day or two ago he had just come back from leave in Ireland & is in No. 4 Command Depot at Hurdcott.

Wally Arnolds was killed by a machine gun bullet the last trip we done in the line. It struck him in the chest & I think he died almost immediately. I was very sorry to hear it, as he was a fine cheerful fellow & very popular with the boys.

Wally Arnolds - A close friend of TJQ

Henry Tralaggan injured his shoulder and again & I suppose is away in hospital somewhere. Frank Richards is still away.

Well I will close now hoping you are all quite well.

I remain your Loving Son & Brother

Tom