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 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; 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.

France; December 17th, 1918

My Dear People,

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well. We have been in this place about 10 days & expect to be moving into Belgium in a few days. The weather has been very wet, but it is not cold. I went over & saw some of the Mt. Bryan boys yesterday, they were 5-miles away & are moving on to-day. I saw Mat, Bert, Frank & Aleck Burton, it is the first time I have seen Bert since I was hit. They are all quite well & hope to be home soon. Noel Tiver has been to Paris on leave & is not back yet, they kept him for some work down at the Base. Ernest Ray is in the 27th. I did not see him but I believe he is as hard a case as ever. I got a letter from Mick last night, he was sailing for Aussie in a few days, so I suppose he will be home by the time you get this.

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

I remain

Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom.

France; November 19th, 1918

My Dear People

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well & doing alright.  Since last writing to you I have received three letters one from Nell (Sept 10th) one from Kath (Sept. 2nd) & one from Mum (Sep. 1st). I was very pleased to hear you were all well & I hope the top paddock turns out well so that Will can get his motor-bike. I suppose he is pretty sure to want a side-car as well, I have heard over here that machinery is very dear in Aussie, a chap was telling me that a 20 hoe Sun drill cost nearly £100 now & a six foot harvester about £140, of course I do not know if that is correct or not.

I am enclosing a little calender that was given to me at a little concert that some Aussies gave, with the assistance of some French people, in aid of the Red Cross at a village not far away. We had some very severe frosts the last few days & it was very cold, (our first taste of winter) but it is fairly warm again now. There is some probability of us being sent in to Germany to occupy some of the territory Fritz has to hand over, but, that may be cancelled.

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

I remain

Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom.

France; November 13th, 1918

My Dear People,

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

Since last writing to you we have heard very good news indeed & everybody is delighted to know the Germans have thrown in the towel & the armistice terms are so severe that it is not likely they will want to box-on again.

Yesterday every house & vehicle was flying the flags of the Allies & I believe in Paris the people went fairly wild with delight, it is a big thing for the French people. The chief topic of conversation among the troops of the A.I.F. is how soon are we to get home, but I do not expect to get home much before the end of 1919. I sent Henry Tralaggan £3.0.0 (three pounds) the other day which his people will pay to you. We had our first frost this morning & there was plenty of ice about but it is a lovely sunshiny day now. We had our Brigade sports the other day, our Batt is 12 points to the good for the Brigade cup, you see they give a cup to the Batt that gets the largest number of firsts & seconds in all contests.


Well I will close now hoping you are all well.

I remain Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom.

France; October 29th, 1918

My Dear People,

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

Things are going fairly well over here now. We won the Brigade drilling competition yesterday & will now represent the Brigade in the Divisional competition. The weather has been very nice lately & we have not had any cold weather to speak of yet. The French people are as busy as bees digging up their root crops, potatoes, marigolds, turnips etc. The women here work dreadful hard, they are at it first thing in the morning & last thing at night, young & old just the same.

I had a letter from Mick Griffen the other day, he is doing alright in Hurdcott. I also heard from Henry Tralaggan, he is on a Base job now & will very likely not be sent to the line again on account of his shoulder, which is quite right, as it has been out ten times now.

We are to be reviewed by General Hobbs, commanding officer of our division to-morrow so I suppose their will be some fussing. When we are out spelling we have to keep our equipment scrubbed & the brass-work polished; especially on those drilling stunts & I can tell you the Aussies look very smart indeed.

Major General Talbot Hobbs inspecting troops

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

I remain
Your Loving Son & Brother
Tom

France; August 20, 1918

My Dear People, 

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well. Since last writing to you I have received 5 letters to from Mum (May 12th and June 2nd) two from Annie (May 13th and 27th) and one from Siss (May 12th). I was very pleased to hear from you and hope you are still going on alright. The P.C. of Siss & George was very good indeed. I was rather surprised to hear that Jack & Maude were married. I saw Mat Griffin a few days ago, he is was quite well then.

It will be a bit of a handicap to poor old Ralph Thomas to have lost his leg, but I suppose he will have to make the best of it. Charlie Pohlner is lucky getting home, as I supposed to shoulder does not affect him very much.

(August 22) I received 3 more letters yesterday dated June 16th, one from Dad, one from Siss & one from Essie Bryce. I was glad to hear you had received my little parcel of souvenirs from Ireland. I sent a parcel of books of views as well I do not know if that if you got them or not. Petrol & oil is certainly very dear, but they use immense quantities of it over here in lorries, tractors, tanks & planes. I do not know how they keep up the supply at all. At any rate I suppose the demand will ease off a bit after the war. I hope Mum had a nice trip to Mildura & found the folks fairly well over there. 

Essie tells me Roy Beckwith is married (good going Eh). John Best must be having a real good time now he has got a housekeeper, I thought he was married.

It was a real hot day here today & we had a nice swim this morning in some lovely cool water. I just got a letter from Mick Griffin, he is still being treated for his ears. He tells me Pat has bought a new house, things must be looking up over that way.

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

I remain

You're loving Son and Brother

Tom

France; May 25th, 1918

My Dear People,

Just a few lines to let you know that I am quite well. I am writing this in a dug-out, but we have been having a fairly good time. The weather has been lovely and warm with bright moonlit nights but it rained a little today.

I received the Burra Record last week and I expect there will be another Australian mail in shortly.

June 3rd

I am still quite well. At present, we are out spelling & I don't suppose we will have much to do while we are here. We are in a nice place & should have a pretty good time.

Frank Richards is back with us again. He had three month's spell and looks splendid. Wally Arnolds shot a Fritz in the leg the last time we were in the line. They took him prisoner & carried him back to the dressing station.

I received 4 letters a day or so ago - 2 from Annie (17th and 26th March) one from Nell and Mum (25th March). I was very glad to hear from you and to know you were doing alright.

I was surprised to hear C. Thomas had married Miss Nutt and tell Aurthur Rush from me that I think it is time that he gave up being the best man at weddings and tried being the Bride-Groom for a change.

I see by the Record that the fire must have been a serious one and could have not been too far from Uncle Dave's place last January. I did not know Gebhardts had sold so much of their country.

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

I remain,

Your Loving Son and Brother,

Tom

France; May 6, 1918

My Dear People,

Just a short note to let you know how I am getting along.

Since last writing to you I have received 9 letters - one from Sis, 2 from Uncle Dan & Aunty Ada & a photo, one from Pat Griffen, one from Hilda Taylor, 2 from Annie (Feb 26th, March 6th), one from Mum (Feb 27) & one from Dad (Feb 17th). I was glad to hear you were all doing well & very pleased to know your wheat & wool turned out so well.

We are still on our good job & doing quite well.

May 8th

I am still doing quite alright but, we have shifted out of our comfortable house & are in little bivouacs now, still things are very nice & we are all quite happy. We had some rain yesterday, but it is fine & a bit cloudy to-day.

Poor Ada Onley had bad luck losing her husband so soon. How is Mrs. Cahill getting along?

Uncle Dan tells me he had a lovely crop, the family look quite well in the photo they sent me.

By the way the Block must have had a lot of wheat on it if you got 3,400 bags, as I think someone mentioned that you had 700 bags at Ilfradale. I am not quite sure of this. That would leave 2,700 for the Block or a few bags more than I got off it & I suppose they were heavier bags than mine (some crop). I suppose Poor Will was grease & dust all over when he was reaping it. Who is his girl, now? & who does John use his bike after?

Well I must close now as I have to get the rations directly, hoping you are all quite well.

I remain

Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom.

I heard Frank Richards was wounded (W. Arnold told me) but I do not think he got to Blighty (England).

France; April 9th 1918

My Dear People,

Just few lines to let you know I am getting along alright.

Since last writing I have received a Burra Record & 3 letters - one from Mum (Jan 9th) & two from Annie (Dec 2nd & 12th). I told you in my last letter that I had received 2 letters before that, so I think I have got just about all my letters now.

We were up near the line for a day or so but are back in fairly decent billets now. It has been raining a lot lately. Things have been a bit sloppy at times.

April 22nd

I am still quite well, but, have not been able to get any letters away since I started to write this. I hope you do not worry if my letters are a bit straggly now as we are likely to be fairly busy for a while. Just at present we are having the time of our lives in a village which the French have left and this soldier has never been on such a good job in the army before, it would do me quite well for the duration of the war.

When we came here last night I got six letters. Two from Mum (Jan 27th & Feb 5th) 1 from Kath (Feb 6th) 2 from Annie (Jan 29th & Feb 9th), one from Siss (Feb 10th) & one from Hilda Pohlner. I was very glad to hear you were all doing fairly well & that you had received my Photo etc. from Portsmouth. I told you in my last letter that I had received the 10/- note Kathleen sent me.

I would like to be able to tell you about the things I see in this village. It is a terrible thing to have to pack up & leave your home at very short notice & I am very sorry for the poor people who have to do it. There are some beautiful homes here & the soldiers are sleeping on feather beds with eider-down quilts & generally living like lords, as of course the French did not have time to take their stores with them. I have got some flour & intend having fritters for breakfast in the morning, the first since I left home.

All this comes strange after being in the line & I am afraid the troops will be ill, having such a good time. It is however a terrible shame for the people who have had to leave it & war is a rotten thing.

April 24th

We are still in the same place & I am doing quite well, although Fritz annoys us now & again with nasty things that go bang. Ralph Thomas is indeed lucky to be exchanged as a prisoner of war & I suppose he will soon be back home now. I guess his mother will be pleased to have him home again.

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

I remain

Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom

Warminster, UK; March 3, 1918

No 3 Battalion
Overseas Training Brigade
Sandhill Camp

My Dear People,

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

I received 7 letters last week, one from Mum (Dec 16th) two from Siss (Dec 18th and 30th) one from Aunt Bessie, one from Elsie Bryce and two from Annie (Dec 28th and 1st Jan). I was very glad to hear you were all doing alright but sorry that you were worrying about me as I was having a splendid time.

There are a good many of my letters missing. I suppose they are chasing me round the hospitals I have been in. Noel Tiver is in this camp. He had an ingrowing toenail & was lucky enough to be sent to England with it.

From Mum's letter I see that some of your ideas of a wounded man's treatment are wrong. For instance, when you heard I had been sent to England you thought I was badly hit. This is not always so as men are sent to England with very slight affairs sometimes. It depends on the hospitals in France. If a big "stunt" is coming off all the hospitals in France are cleared out to make room for the wounded who are sure to come. That was how Noel got over with such a trifle. He was in hospital in France & nearly right, when a special clear-out was made for the Cambrai business.

So if I get wounded again & sent to England, do not think it is serious until the Military tell you so. You can rely on the casualty reports being pretty correct, as I have seen men wounded & then seen the reports on them & they are pretty accurate. Do not worry the Red Cross or cable, as if a man is dangerously ill the authorities always let his people know. If an English soldier is very ill in a French hospital the doctor sends for his people & the Government pay their expenses & send them over to France to see their son. Of course that would be impossible for an Australian. I do not know if you are aware of it but that is what most soldiers pray for - a nice little wound to get them into hospital for a spell. A man who is so seriously damaged as to be discharged is considered the luckiest man alive.

The weather here is lovely now (real spring) & yesterday was the nicest day I have seen in England. At Church this morning the priest gave us a great sermon on our boys marrying English girls. (There were 800 Australians married English girls last month). He was pointing out the difficulties & dangers of doing this especially to Catholics who, of course, generally marry Protestant girls. Besides this he did not think it fair to forget about the girls that most of our chaps have waiting for them in Australia. I do not think it is fair either. It is a standing joke in this country that the "Aussies" English wife does not have to knit him any socks as he gets plenty of parcels from the girl he left in Australia. Of course some of the English girls are alright, but, the class that most of our chaps marry are, well "not much".

I expect to go to France on Thursday to have another go at the horrible Hun. If I don't have any harder time than I did last trip I will be alright. The weather from now on should not be so bad. Aunty tells me Kath has got six months leave (what's the matter Kathy tired of the game?) & that Annie is going to T.T.C.

I suppose Will put in some good work while Megs was staying with you (go for it while you're young Will). By the way, who is Phil O'Rielly marrying, Miss Nugent? I am enclosing a little sprig of shamrock. Noel Tiver tells me that there were big bush fires in the North East. The feed must have been pretty good & the wheat crops must have been pretty good too. It is a pity you cannot sell it straight out for full price.

I was glad to hear Ralph Thomas had only been taken prisoner. I expect he will have a pretty rough time for a while, but he will be fairly sure of getting home alright. I suppose his mother is worrying about him.

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

I remain

Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom

Warminster, UK; March 3rd, 1918

No 3 Battalion
Overseas Training Brigade,
Sandhill Camp. Warminster

My Dear People,
Just a few lines to let You know I am quite well. I came down here Thursday & have been fitted out with a full set of fighting equipment, rifle, steel helmets, & gas mask etc. & things are beginning to look very like France again. I am supposed to stop here for 3 weeks training, but if they will let me go I will get put on the first draft for France.


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We have had very cold winds here the last day or two. I went to Warminster yesterday. It is a nice little town, but crowded with Australians as there are a lot of camps about here. We are about 20 miles from Salisbury. One of the Earles boys is in the same hut as I am here. He was in the 32nd Transport. It was his brother you had working for you last year.

I sent you 2 parcels from Hurdcott. One books of views & the other a little box of souvenirs. I hope you get them alright as I sent something for each one of you - all little trinkets of Ireland. I have got four parcels, one with the leather waistcoat from M.B.C., one from home with a tin of pudding which I like very much, one from Siss & George with some very nice preserved fruit & a parcel of woollens from Mt. B. Red cross circle. I was very pleased to get all these parcels and of course am writing to thank the societies for theirs, but the mail route is a bit risky now.

I am enclosing a photo of myself taken at Hurdcott just before I went on leave. You will notice that I am wearing two stripes. I was a Lance Cpl in the Battalion for a good while and about a fortnight before I was hit was promoted Temporary Cpl and of course was being paid for it, but as soon as I was hit my pay stopped, though I still wore my stripes. When I go back to the Battalion I may be paid again but if I am not then I will hand in my stripes altogether as I do not believe in having charge of a section and get no pay for it. I do not care very much about my position in the photo and prefer my stand on the donkey cart at Killarney. They are cutting down the rations a bit for home service men here, but men under training for France still get plenty & I am in pretty good condition. I do not think my leg will give me any trouble.

I see by the papers that they are sending soldiers to the part of Ireland I was floating about in, to enforce law and order a bit. I thought that would happen.

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

I remain

Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom

Hurdcott; February 3, 1918

My Dear People,

Just a few lines to let you know I am getting on alright.

Things are very dull here and I am just about stuck for news.

I struck Roy McBride here the other day, he has been wounded too, but is pretty alright now.

My classification is B1A1 now and unless I dodge it I get a bit of marching and Physical Jerks. I expect I will be going on Furlough next Thursday.

I got my Phiz taken yesterday and will send you one when I get them.

I am enclosing a P.C. of the Rising Sun on the hill here. We had a little rain yesterday but it is fine to-day and not too cold at all. I hope the weather is good when I am on Furlough. We have church here and I have just come back. The priest is not as good as a preacher as the one that was here last year.

I strolled into Wilton yesterday - it is pretty quiet there. We had some pretty good concert parties here last week.

Well must close now. Hoping you are all quite well as I am

Your Loving Son and Brother,

Tom.

Hurdcott; January 19, 1918

No. 3 Command Depot
No. 5 Camp
My Dear People,

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

I have been here nearly a fortnight now and according to my own opinion, I am nearly fit for active service again. This camp is only a few hundred yards from where I was living here last year.

No. 3 Command Depot, Hurdcott

I noticed it as a bit cold here in the huts after the steam-heated ones at Dartford, but it is not nearly so cold as it was last winter. We had a little bit of frost and some heavy falls of snow & a lot of rain. Last year it was very cold & dry at this time. We have practically nothing to do here in this camp. Every few days we are classified by the M.O. & as you improve you are sent along to other camps & have to do fatigues, drills & guards. I will stay here as long as I have nothing to do. But as soon as I am sent drilling etc. I will put in to go to the overseas depot & then to France. Our boys are having an easy time in France now & I guess they deserve it.

We wear our uniforms here so I have finished with "blues" for this trip, in Milton & Dartford you were not allowed out in uniform & if you wore your overcoat, you had to have a blue band on the arm. This is so you cannot get the good and joyful liquor which makes the boys sing. There are a lot of "pubs" in England and a lot of drinking is done here. The women drink a lot too & come into the bar to drink it. Of course I know there are plenty of "hussies" who drink in Australia, but they do not generally go into the bar to drink it. I have got a very nice uniform & will look fairly decent on leave.

Australian Soldiers in England 1918

I wrote to the Australian Hospitality Bureau & got a very nice letter from the Secretary. She tells me she has plenty of invitations for men on furlough to spend a few days at private houses, & as I think it would be very nice to stay a few days at a private house. I will go & see her when I go to London.

I intend to go to Ireland & it will not be my fault if I do not get some fun out of my fourteen days. I hope the Sinn Fieners do not hang me when I get over there.

It is not much of a game stopping in London, as the place is fairly swarming with Australians. I want to get away where we are not so well known.

We have a fairly decent time here - concert parties at the Y.M.C.A.s and the old Picture show is still going. I am enclosing a card of some of the badges on the hills here they are made of white
stone. There are a lot of them on the hills here of different Regiments. There is a big map of Australia & I will send it to you. I saw a pack of hounds out the other day & a considerable number of ladies and gentlemen after them, but they did not stir up any fox while I was watching them.

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

I remain

Lour Loving Son & Brother

Tom.

P.S. We got another parcel from the Red Cross the other day, more tobacco & Sweets. I swapped my tobacco for chocolate.

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

Dartford; December 13, 1917

No. 3 Australian Auxiliary Hospital

My Dear People,

Just a few lines to let you know how I am getting along.

My leg is progressing very well but it will be some time before I am fit for furlough. I will most probably be in a hospital for Christmas which will do me very well. I do not like this place as well as Milton, but, still it is very comfortable and we get plenty of good food. I hit the scales at 12st 4 lb so you can guess I am not doing too bad.

This is a big place and there are hundreds of Australians here. They come from hospitals all over England. Those who are fit are sent out on furlough and anyone who required massage treatment is sent to Hurdcott. This is a very cold place, quite close to the Thames but the wards are heated with steam pipes and are quite warm enough. There are a lot of factories about here but the town of Dartford does not seem much of a place.


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We have had some frosty weather lately but I have not seen any snow yet. We had a polling day for the Conscription Referendum yesterday but, as I did not feel interested I did not vote.

Anti-conscription leaflet 1917

Well I will close now as there is a concert on and yours truly loves a bit of music or a good song.

Hoping you are all well.

I remain

Your Loving Son and Brother

Tom

Portsmouth; November 27, 1917

My Dear People,

Just a few lines to let you know how I am getting along.

My leg is getting along very well. I go out every afternoon for a bit of a walk, & I find this "wounded soldier" business is the best "stunt" I have been on for a good while, that is, of course if the "crack" is not too hard. I was out walking the other day & I was "swinging" my leg so well that a young lady came & offered me a walking stick to help me along. I very very politely declined her nice offer. I do not know if you have heard the saying "swinging the leg, or "lead", but, it means dodging the "line" & it is a very common phrase this side of the world.

I went to a stock market the other day. Things were rather dear. Cattle, that would dress from 8 to 10 cwt were bringing from £30.0.0. to £40.0.0. Calves that we would knock on the head £2.0.0 and £3.0.0. and sheep that would dress about 70 lb £5.5.0. Meat is of course very dear & runs from 1/2d to 1/8d a lb. I saw a price list of Australian Jam in a shop window to-day. It was from 1/3½ d for plum to 1/8½ d for black currant per 27 oz. tin. Sugar is only obtainable on the card system. In the hospital we scarcely get any Jam but have plenty of bread & margarine. It is real good margarine, almost as good as butter. We have fish or sometimes an egg for breakfast & meat & vegetables & pudding for dinner & I do very well on it. I do not think Germany is at all likely to starve England out, but it may put a serious strain on us supplying some of our Allies.

I will be sent out of this hospital to another any day now. I may be sent to one of the Australian hospitals at Dartford or Harefield near London, or perhaps to some small place not far away. If it is no worse than this place it will do me.


I went to a Confirmation Service at a little Church not far from here last Sunday. There were a good many little boys & girls confirmed. When the Bishop was addressing them, asking catechism etc., he was very keen on their going to Church every Sunday at least - take note "all" boys who neglect Church.

We have not had any very cold weather yet, the winter being I think rather later than last year. It may not be so cold as last winter. I hope not anyhow. I had my "Phiz" taken the other day in my hospital "blues". I am enclosing one in this letter. It is a "Dinkum" likeness but, the blue shows up grey in the photo.

Fruit is very dear here. Grapes from 1/- to 2/- per lb. & other fruit in proportion. Apples being about the cheapest from -/4d -/6d per lb.

I saw in a Casualty list over here the other day where a C. Pohlner was wounded. I do not know if it was Charley or not but I think it was. I see they are having another go at conscription again but I bet No wins. I suppose you are busy hay-making now. I hope things are going alright home. Well I must close now. Hoping you are all quite well.

I remain

Your Loving Son and 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

Belguim; September 29, 1917

My Dear People,

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

I am writing this in the front line on some ground that has only just been taken. Except for a few odd shells we are having a fairly quiet time as Fritz is considerably frightened of our artillery barrage & does not care to expose himself to it.

Yesterday morning, about a 100 Fritz's came in & gave themselves up to the people just alongside us. It was funny to see them coming in in little parties of about a dozen & our chaps taking charge of them, getting souvenirs & giving them cigarettes. They have had their hearts knocked out by our artillery which is something terrible up here when it opens up & I do not wonder that Fritz is getting tired of it.

Since last writing to you I have received two letters. One from Kath (July 11th) & one from Annie (July 16th) & was glad to hear you were getting on alright.

I saw Mat & Mick Griffen last Sunday they had just come out after being in one of those big attacks that have been going on here. They both got through alright, but Mat had a narrow escape. A piece of shell whizzed past his face & just took a bit off his nose. Pretty close I reckon. Sgt. Lackmann I believe was killed, but, the other lads we know are alright.

Lyall Bell came & saw me the other day. He is quite well & had a hand in the Messines stunt. He told me he was nearly buried by a shell there, but little trifles like that don't count much in this part of the world.

2nd October.

We are back from the line again & having a quiet spell for a few days, when I think we will be going back for a bit more "stoush". When I got back I received two letters one from Mum & Annie (July 24th) & one from George Dare (July 18th). I was sorry you had not received any letters from me but they must have been sunk because I write fairly regularly & you should hear from me every mail.

I do not know how much longer the war will last but I think it will go at at least another twelve months although Fritz is a beaten man. If the Russians had done anything this summer it would most likely have been over by this time. The weather is still keeping good but the nights are getting chilly. I believe there were some heavy floods in S.A. in July, especially down Adelaide way.

Well I must close now as I have to go on guard directly.

Hoping you are all quite well as I am.

I remain

Your Loving Son & Brother

Tom.